Book XXIV

Homeric Greek

1Ἑρμῆς δὲ ψυχὰς Κυλλήνιος ἐξεκαλεῖτο

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων: ἔχε δὲ ῥάβδον μετὰ χερσὶν

καλὴν χρυσείην, τῇ τ' ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει

ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δ' αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει:

5τῇ ῥ' ἄγε κινήσας, ταὶ δὲ τρίζουσαι ἕποντο.

Transliteration

1Hermēs de psuchas Kullēnios exekaleito

andrōn mnēstērōn: eche de rhabdon meta chersin

kalēn chruseiēn, tēi t' andrōn ommata thelgei

hōn ethelei, tous d' aute kai hupnōontas egeirei:

5tēi rh' age kinēsas, tai de trizousai heponto.

English · Butler

Then Hermes of Cyllene summoned the ghosts of the suitors, and in his hand he held the fair golden wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases; with this he roused the ghosts and led them, while they followed whining and gibbering behind him. As bats fly squealing in the hollow of some great cave, when one of them has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang, even so did

Homeric Greek

ὡς δ' ὅτε νυκτερίδες μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο

τρίζουσαι ποτέονται, ἐπεί κέ τις ἀποπέσῃσιν

ὁρμαθοῦ ἐκ πέτρης, ἀνά τ' ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,

ὣς αἱ τετριγυῖαι ἅμ' ἤϊσαν: ἦρχε δ' ἄρα σφιν

10Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα κατ' εὐρώεντα κέλευθα.

Transliteration

hōs d' hote nukterides muchōi antrou thespesioio

trizousai poteontai, epei ke tis apopesēisin

hormathou ek petrēs, ana t' allēlēisin echontai,

hōs hai tetriguiai ham' ēïsan: ērche d' ara sphin

10Hermeias akakēta kat' eurōenta keleutha.

English · Butler

the ghosts whine and squeal as Hermes the healer of sorrow led them down into the dark abode of death. When they had passed the waters of Okeanos and the rock Leukas, they came to the gates of the

Homeric Greek

πὰρ δ' ἴσαν Ὠκεανοῦ τε ῥοὰς καὶ Λευκάδα πέτρην,

ἠδὲ παρ' Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων

ἤϊσαν: αἶψα δ' ἵκοντο κατ' ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,

ἔνθα τε ναίουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων.

15εὗρον δὲ ψυχὴν Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

Transliteration

par d' isan Ōkeanou te rhoas kai Leukada petrēn,

ēde par' Ēelioio pulas kai dēmon oneirōn

ēïsan: aipsa d' hikonto kat' asphodelon leimōna,

entha te naiousi psuchai, eidōla kamontōn.

15heuron de psuchēn Pēlēïadeō Achilēos

English · Butler

sun and the dêmos of dreams, whereon they reached the meadow of asphodel where dwell the souls and shadows of them that can labor no more. Here they found the ghost of Achilles son

Homeric Greek

καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο

Αἴαντός θ', ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε

τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεί̈δαο

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ κεῖνον ὁμίλεον: ἀγχίμολον δὲ

20ἤλυθ' ἔπι ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεί̈δαο

Transliteration

kai Patroklēos kai amumonos Antilochoio

Aiantos th', hos aristos eēn eidos te demas te

tōn allōn Danaōn met' amumona Pēleïdao

hōs hoi men peri keinon homileon: anchimolon de

20ēluth' epi psuchē Agamemnonos Atreïdao

English · Butler

of Peleus, with those of Patroklos, Antilokhos, and Ajax, who was the finest and handsomest man of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus himself. They gathered round the ghost of the son of Peleus, and the ghost of Agamemnon joined them, sorrowing bitterly. Round him were gathered also the

Homeric Greek

ἀχνυμένη: περὶ δ' ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθ', ὅσσαι ἅμ' αὐτῷ

οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.

τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεε Πηλεί̈ωνος:

"Ἀτρεί̈δη, περὶ μέν σ' ἔφαμεν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

25ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων φίλον ἔμμεναι ἤματα πάντα,

Transliteration

achnumenē: peri d' allai agēgerath', hossai ham' autōi

oikōi en Aigisthoio thanon kai potmon epespon.

ton proterē psuchē prosephōnee Pēleïōnos:

"Atreïdē, peri men s' ephamen Dii terpikeraunōi

25andrōn hērōōn philon emmenai ēmata panta,

English · Butler

ghosts of those who had perished with him in the house of Aigisthos; and the ghost of Achilles spoke first. "Son of Atreus," it said, "we used to say that Zeus had loved you better from first to last than any other hero, for you were leader over many and brave men, when we were all fighting together in the dêmos of the Trojans; yet the hand of death, which no mortal can escape, was laid upon you all too early. Better for you had you

Homeric Greek

οὕνεκα πολλοῖσίν τε καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἄνασσες

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγε' Ἀχαιοί.

ἦ τ' ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρῶϊ παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν

μοῖρ' ὀλοή, τὴν οὔ τις ἀλεύεται ὅς κε γένηται.

30ὡς ὄφελες τιμῆς ἀπονήμενος, ἧς περ ἄνασσες,

Transliteration

houneka polloisin te kai iphthimoisin anasses

dēmōi eni Trōōn, hothi paschomen alge' Achaioi.

ē t' ara kai soi prōï parastēsesthai emellen

moir' oloē, tēn ou tis aleuetai hos ke genētai.

30hōs opheles timēs aponēmenos, hēs per anasses,

English · Butler

fallen in the Trojan dêmos in the hey-day of your renown, for the Achaeans would have built a mound over your ashes, and your son

Homeric Greek

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν:

τῷ κέν τοι τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,

ἠδέ κε καὶ σῷ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρα' ὀπίσσω:

νῦν δ' ἄρα σ' οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι."

35τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρείδαο:

Transliteration

dēmōi eni Trōōn thanaton kai potmon epispein:

tōi ken toi tumbon men epoiēsan Panachaioi,

ēde ke kai sōi paidi mega kleos ēra' opissō:

nun d' ara s' oiktistōi thanatōi heimarto halōnai."

35ton d' aute psuchē prosephōneen Atreidao:

English · Butler

would have been heir to your kleos, whereas it has now been your lot to come to a most miserable end." "Happy son of Peleus," answered the ghost of Agamemnon, "for having died at Troy far from Argos, while the bravest of the Trojans and the Achaeans fell round you fighting for your body.

Homeric Greek

"ὄλβιε Πηλέος υἱέ, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,

ὃς θάνες ἐν Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος: ἀμφὶ δέ σ' ἄλλοι

κτείνοντο Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν υἷες ἄριστοι,

μαρνάμενοι περὶ σεῖο: σὺ δ' ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης

40κεῖσο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.

Transliteration

"olbie Pēleos huie, theois epieikel' Achilleu,

hos thanes en Troiēi hekas Argeos: amphi de s' alloi

kteinonto Trōōn kai Achaiōn huies aristoi,

marnamenoi peri seio: su d' en strophalingi koniēs

40keiso megas megalōsti, lelasmenos hipposunaōn.

English · Butler

"Happy son of Peleus," answered the ghost of Agamemnon, "for having died at Troy far from Argos, while the bravest of the Trojans and the Achaeans fell round you fighting for your body. There you lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and hugely, heedless now of your chivalry. We fought the whole of the livelong day, nor should we ever have left off if Zeus had not sent a gale to stay us. Then, when we had borne you to the ships out of the fray, we

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δὲ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐμαρνάμεθ': οὐδέ κε πάμπαν

παυσάμεθα πτολέμου, εἰ μὴ Ζεὺς λαίλαπι παῦσεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σ' ἐπὶ νῆας ἐνείκαμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο,

κάτθεμεν ἐν λεχέεσσι, καθήραντες χρόα καλὸν

45ὕδατί τε λιαρῷ καὶ ἀλείφατι: πολλὰ δέ σ' ἀμφὶ

Transliteration

hēmeis de propan ēmar emarnameth': oude ke pampan

pausametha ptolemou, ei mē Zeus lailapi pausen.

autar epei s' epi nēas eneikamen ek polemoio,

katthemen en lecheessi, kathērantes chroa kalon

45hudati te liarōi kai aleiphati: polla de s' amphi

English · Butler

laid you on your bed and cleansed your fair skin with warm water and with ointments. The Danaans tore their hair and wept bitterly round about you. Your mother, when she heard, came with her immortal nymphs from out of the sea, and the sound

Homeric Greek

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέον Δαναοὶ κείροντό τε χαίτας.

μήτηρ δ' ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν

ἀγγελίης ἀί̈ουσα: βοὴ δ' ἐπὶ πόντον ὀρώρει

θεσπεσίη, ὑπὸ δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε πάντας Ἀχαιούς:

50καί νύ κ' ἀναί̈ξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,

Transliteration

dakrua therma cheon Danaoi keironto te chaitas.

mētēr d' ex halos ēlthe sun athanatēis haliēisin

angeliēs aïousa: boē d' epi ponton orōrei

thespesiē, hupo de tromos ellabe pantas Achaious:

50kai nu k' anaïxantes eban koilas epi nēas,

English · Butler

of a great wailing went forth over the waters so that the Achaeans quaked for fear. They would have fled panic-stricken to their ships had not wise old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest checked them

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ ἀνὴρ κατέρυκε παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς,

Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή:

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:

"ἴσχεσθ', Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ φεύγετε, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν:

55μήτηρ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἥδε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν

Transliteration

ei mē anēr kateruke palaia te polla te eidōs,

Nestōr, hou kai prosthen aristē phaineto boulē:

ho sphin eüphroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipen:

"ischesth', Argeioi, mē pheugete, kouroi Achaiōn:

55mētēr ex halos hēde sun athanatēis haliēisin

English · Butler

saying, ‘Hold, Argives, flee not sons of the Achaeans, this is his mother coming from the sea with her immortal nymphs to view

Homeric Greek

ἔρχεται, οὗ παιδὸς τεθνηότος ἀντιόωσα."

"ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἔσχοντο φόβου μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί:

ἀμφὶ δέ σ' ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος

οἴκτρ' ὀλοφυρόμεναι, περὶ δ' ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσαν.

60Μοῦσαι δ' ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ

Transliteration

erchetai, hou paidos tethnēotos antioōsa."

"hōs ephath', hoi d' eschonto phobou megathumoi Achaioi:

amphi de s' estēsan kourai halioio gerontos

oiktr' olophuromenai, peri d' ambrota heimata hessan.

60Mousai d' ennea pasai ameibomenai opi kalēi

English · Butler

the body of her son.’ "Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans feared no more. The daughters of the old man of the sea stood round you weeping bitterly, and clothed you in immortal raiment. The nine muses also came and lifted up their sweet voices in lament - calling and answering one another; there was not an Argive but wept for pity of the dirge they chanted.

Homeric Greek

θρήνεον: ἔνθα κεν οὔ τιν' ἀδάκρυτόν γ' ἐνόησας

Ἀργείων: τοῖον γὰρ ὑπώρορε Μοῦσα λίγεια.

ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μέν σε ὁμῶς νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ

κλαίομεν ἀθάνατοί τε θεοὶ θνητοί τ' ἄνθρωποι:

65ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἔδομεν πυρί, πολλὰ δέ σ' ἀμφὶ

Transliteration

thrēneon: entha ken ou tin' adakruton g' enoēsas

Argeiōn: toion gar hupōrore Mousa ligeia.

hepta de kai deka men se homōs nuktas te kai ēmar

klaiomen athanatoi te theoi thnētoi t' anthrōpoi:

65oktōkaidekatēi d' edomen puri, polla de s' amphi

English · Butler

Days and nights seven and ten we mourned you, mortals and immortals, but on the eighteenth day we gave you to the flames, and many a fat sheep with many an ox did we slay in sacrifice around you. You were burnt in raiment of the gods, with rich resins and with honey, while heroes,

Homeric Greek

μῆλα κατεκτάνομεν μάλα πίονα καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.

καίεο δ' ἔν τ' ἐσθῆτι θεῶν καὶ ἀλείφατι πολλῷ

καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ: πολλοὶ δ' ἥρωες Ἀχαιοὶ

τεύχεσιν ἐρρώσαντο πυρὴν πέρι καιομένοιο,

70πεζοί θ' ἱππῆές τε: πολὺς δ' ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει

Transliteration

mēla katektanomen mala piona kai helikas bous.

kaieo d' en t' esthēti theōn kai aleiphati pollōi

kai meliti glukerōi: polloi d' hērōes Achaioi

teuchesin errōsanto purēn peri kaiomenoio,

70pezoi th' hippēes te: polus d' orumagdos orōrei

English · Butler

horse and foot, clashed their armor round the pile as you were burning, with the tramp as of a great multitude. But when the flames of heaven had done their work, we gathered your white bones at daybreak and laid them in ointments and in pure wine. Your mother brought us a golden

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή σε φλὸξ ἤνυσεν Ἡφαίστοιο,

ἠῶθεν δή τοι λέγομεν λεύκ' ὀστέ', Ἀχιλλεῦ,

οἴνῳ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ καὶ ἀλείφατι: δῶκε δὲ μήτηρ

χρύσεον ἀμφιφορῆα: Διωνύσοιο δὲ δῶρον

75φάσκ' ἔμεναι, ἔργον δὲ περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο.

Transliteration

autar epei dē se phlox ēnusen Hēphaistoio,

ēōthen dē toi legomen leuk' oste', Achilleu,

oinōi en akrētōi kai aleiphati: dōke de mētēr

chruseon amphiphorēa: Diōnusoio de dōron

75phask' emenai, ergon de periklutou Hēphaistoio.

English · Butler

vase to hold them - gift of Bacchus, and work of Hephaistos himself; in this we mingled your bleached bones with those of Patroklos who had gone before you, and separate we enclosed

Homeric Greek

ἐν τῷ τοι κεῖται λεύκ' ὀστέα, φαίδιμ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,

μίγδα δὲ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος,

χωρὶς δ' Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸν ἔξοχα τῖες ἁπάντων

τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων, μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα.

80ἀμφ' αὐτοῖσι δ' ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον

Transliteration

en tōi toi keitai leuk' ostea, phaidim' Achilleu,

migda de Patrokloio Menoitiadao thanontos,

chōris d' Antilochoio, ton exocha ties hapantōn

tōn allōn hetarōn, meta Patroklon ge thanonta.

80amph' autoisi d' epeita megan kai amumona tumbon

English · Butler

also those of Antilokhos, who had been closer to you than any other of your comrades now that Patroklos was no more. "Over these the host of the Argives built a noble tomb, on a point jutting out over the open Hellespont, that it might be seen from far out upon the sea by those now living and by them that shall be born hereafter.

Homeric Greek

χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων

ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ,

ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη

τοῖς οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται.

85μήτηρ δ' αἰτήσασα θεοὺς περικαλλέ' ἄεθλα

Transliteration

cheuamen Argeiōn hieros stratos aichmētaōn

aktēi epi prouchousēi, epi platei Hellēspontōi,

hōs ken tēlephanēs ek pontophin andrasin eiē

tois hoi nun gegaasi kai hoi metopisthen esontai.

85mētēr d' aitēsasa theous perikalle' aethla

English · Butler

"Over these the host of the Argives built a noble tomb, on a point jutting out over the open Hellespont, that it might be seen from far out upon the sea by those now living and by them that shall be born hereafter. Your mother begged prizes from the gods, and offered them to be contended for by the noblest of the Achaeans. You must have been present at the funeral of many a hero, when the young men gird themselves and make ready

Homeric Greek

θῆκε μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἤδη μὲν πολέων τάφῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας

ἡρώων, ὅτε κέν ποτ' ἀποφθιμένου βασιλῆος

ζώννυνταί τε νέοι καὶ ἐπεντύνονται ἄεθλα:

90ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν θηήσαο θυμῷ,

Transliteration

thēke mesōi en agōni aristēessin Achaiōn.

ēdē men poleōn taphōi andrōn antebolēsas

hērōōn, hote ken pot' apophthimenou basilēos

zōnnuntai te neoi kai epentunontai aethla:

90alla ke keina malista idōn thēēsao thumōi,

English · Butler

to contend for prizes on the death of some great chieftain, but you never saw such prizes as silver-footed Thetis offered in your honor; for the gods loved you well. Thus even in death your kleos, Achilles, has not been lost, and your name lives evermore among all humankind.

Homeric Greek

οἷ' ἐπὶ σοὶ κατέθηκε θεὰ περικαλλέ' ἄεθλα,

ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις: μάλα γὰρ φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν.

ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομ' ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ

πάντας ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ,

95αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τί τόδ' ἦδος, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσα;

Transliteration

hoi' epi soi katethēke thea perikalle' aethla,

arguropeza Thetis: mala gar philos ēstha theoisin.

hōs su men oude thanōn onom' ōlesas, alla toi aiei

pantas ep' anthrōpous kleos essetai esthlon, Achilleu,

95autar emoi ti tod' ēdos, epei polemon tolupeusa;

English · Butler

But as for me, what solace had I when the days of my fighting were done? For Zeus willed my destruction on my return, by the hands of

Homeric Greek

ἐν νόστῳ γάρ μοι Ζεὺς μήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον

Αἰγίσθου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης,

100ψυχὰς μνηστήρων κατάγων Ὀδυσῆϊ δαμέντων,

Transliteration

en nostōi gar moi Zeus mēsato lugron olethron

Aigisthou hupo chersi kai oulomenēs alochoio."

hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon,

anchimolon de sph' ēlthe diaktoros argeïphontēs,

100psuchas mnēstērōn katagōn Odusēï damentōn,

English · Butler

Aigisthos and those of my wicked wife." Thus did they converse, and presently Hermes came up to them with the ghosts of the suitors who had been killed by Odysseus. The ghosts of Agamemnon and Achilles were astonished at seeing them, and went up to them at once. The ghost of Agamemnon

Homeric Greek

τὼ δ' ἄρα θαμβήσαντ' ἰθὺς κίον, ὡς ἐσιδέσθην.

ἔγνω δὲ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεί̈δαο

παῖδα φίλον Μελανῆος, ἀγακλυτὸν Ἀμφιμέδοντα:

ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.

105τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεί̈δαο:

Transliteration

tō d' ara thambēsant' ithus kion, hōs esidesthēn.

egnō de psuchē Agamemnonos Atreïdao

paida philon Melanēos, agakluton Amphimedonta:

xeinos gar hoi eēn Ithakēi eni oikia naiōn.

105ton proterē psuchē prosephōneen Atreïdao:

English · Butler

recognized Amphimedon son of Melaneus, who lived in Ithaca and had been his host, so it began to talk to him.

Homeric Greek

"Ἀμφίμεδον, τί παθόντες ἐρεμνὴν γαῖαν ἔδυτε

πάντες κεκριμένοι καὶ ὁμήλικες; οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως

κρινάμενος λέξαιτο κατὰ πτόλιν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.

ἦ ὔμμ' ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν,

110ὄρσας ἀργαλέους ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα μακρά;

Transliteration

"Amphimedon, ti pathontes eremnēn gaian edute

pantes kekrimenoi kai homēlikes; oude ken allōs

krinamenos lexaito kata ptolin andras aristous.

ē umm' en nēessi Poseidaōn edamassen,

110orsas argaleous anemous kai kumata makra;

English · Butler

"Amphimedon," it said, "what has happened to all you choice young men - all of an age too - that you are come down here under the ground? One could select no finer body of men from any city. Did Poseidon raise his winds and waves against you when you were at sea, or did your enemies make an end of you on

Homeric Greek

ἦ που ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντ' ἐπὶ χέρσου

βοῦς περιταμνομένους ἠδ' οἰῶν πώεα καλά,

ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενοι ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ: ξεῖνος δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.

115ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε κεῖσε κατήλυθον ὑμέτερον δῶ,

Transliteration

ē pou anarsioi andres edēlēsant' epi chersou

bous peritamnomenous ēd' oiōn pōea kala,

ēe peri ptolios macheoumenoi ēde gunaikōn;

eipe moi eiromenōi: xeinos de toi euchomai einai.

115ē ou memnēi hote keise katēluthon humeteron dō,

English · Butler

the mainland when you were cattle-lifting or sheep-stealing, or while fighting in defense of their wives and city? Answer my question, for I have been your guest. Do you not remember how I came to your house with Menelaos, to persuade Odysseus to join us with his ships against Troy? It was a whole month

Homeric Greek

ὀτρυνέων Ὀδυσῆα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ

Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμ' ἕπεσθαι ἐϋσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν;

μηνὶ δ' ἄρ' οὔλῳ πάντα περήσαμεν εὐρέα πόντον,

σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον."

120τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀμφιμέδοντος:

Transliteration

otruneōn Odusēa sun antitheōi Menelaōi

Ilion eis ham' hepesthai eüsselmōn epi nēōn;

mēni d' ar' oulōi panta perēsamen eurea ponton,

spoudēi parpepithontes Odussēa ptoliporthon."

120ton d' aute psuchē prosephōneen Amphimedontos:

English · Butler

ere we could resume our voyage, for we had hard work to persuade Odysseus to come with us." And the ghost of Amphimedon answered, "Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of men, I remember everything that you have said, and will tell you fully and accurately about the way in which our end was brought about.

Homeric Greek

"Ἀτρεί̈δη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,

μέμνημαι τάδε πάντα, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις:

σοὶ δ' ἐγὼ εὖ μάλα πάντα καὶ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω,

ἡμετέρου θανάτοιο κακὸν τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη.

125μνώμεθ' Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα:

Transliteration

"Atreïdē kudiste, anax andrōn Agamemnon,

memnēmai tade panta, diotrephes, hōs agoreueis:

soi d' egō eu mala panta kai atrekeōs katalexō,

hēmeterou thanatoio kakon telos, hoion etuchthē.

125mnōmeth' Odussēos dēn oichomenoio damarta:

English · Butler

And the ghost of Amphimedon answered, "Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of men, I remember everything that you have said, and will tell you fully and accurately about the way in which our end was brought about. Odysseus had been long gone, and we were courting his wife, who did not say point blank that she would not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, for she meant to compass our destruction: this, then, was the trick she played us. She set up a great tambour frame in her room and began to work on an enormous piece of fine needlework.

Homeric Greek

ἡ δ' οὔτ' ἠρνεῖτο στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτ' ἐτελεύτα,

ἡμῖν φραζομένη θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,

ἀλλὰ δόλον τόνδ' ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε:

στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,

130λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον: ἄφαρ δ' ἡμῖν μετέειπε:

Transliteration

hē d' out' ērneito stugeron gamon out' eteleuta,

hēmin phrazomenē thanaton kai kēra melainan,

alla dolon tond' allon eni phresi mermērixe:

stēsamenē megan histon eni megaroisin huphaine,

130lepton kai perimetron: aphar d' hēmin meteeipe:

English · Butler

‘Sweethearts,’ said she, ‘Odysseus is indeed dead, still, do not press me to marry again immediately; wait - for I would not have my skill in needlework perish unrecorded - till I have completed a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when death shall take him. He is very rich, and the women of

Homeric Greek

"'κοῦροι ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

μίμνετ' ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος

ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματ' ὄληται,

Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν

135μοῖρ' ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,

Transliteration

"'kouroi emoi mnēstēres, epei thane dios Odusseus,

mimnet' epeigomenoi ton emon gamon, eis ho ke pharos

ektelesō, mē moi metamōnia nēmat' olētai,

Laertēi hērōï taphēïon, eis hote ken min

135moir' oloē kathelēisi tanēlegeos thanatoio,

English · Butler

the dêmos will talk if he is laid out without a shroud.’ This is what she said, and we assented; whereupon we could see her working upon her great web all day long, but at night she would unpick the stitches again by torchlight. She fooled us in this way for three years without our finding it

Homeric Greek

μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,

αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.'

"ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡμῖν δ' αὖτ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,

140νύκτας δ' ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαί̈δας παραθεῖτο.

Transliteration

mē tis moi kata dēmon Achaiïadōn nemesēsēi,

ai ken ater speirou keitai polla kteatissas.'

"hōs ephath', hēmin d' aut' epepeitheto thumos agēnōr.

entha kai ēmatiē men huphainesken megan histon,

140nuktas d' alluesken, epei daïdas paratheito.

English · Butler

out, but as time wore on and she was now in her fourth year, and the waning of moons and many days had been accomplished, one of her maids who knew what she

Homeric Greek

ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς:

ἀλλ' ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,

μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δ' ἤματα πόλλ' ἐτελέσθη,

καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,

145καὶ τήν γ' ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.

Transliteration

hōs trietes men elēthe dolōi kai epeithen Achaious:

all' hote tetraton ēlthen etos kai epēluthon hōrai,

mēnōn phthinontōn, peri d' ēmata poll' etelesthē,

kai tote dē tis eeipe gunaikōn, hē sapha ēidē,

145kai tēn g' alluousan epheuromen aglaon histon.

English · Butler

was doing told us, and we caught her in the act of undoing her work, so she had to finish it whether she would or not; and when she showed us the robe she had made,

Homeric Greek

ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσ', ὑπ' ἀνάγκης.

"εὖθ' ἡ φᾶρος ἔδειξεν, ὑφήνασα μέγαν ἱστόν,

πλύνασ', ἠελίῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠὲ σελήνῃ,

καὶ τότε δή ῥ' Ὀδυσῆα κακός ποθεν ἤγαγε δαίμων

150ἀγροῦ ἐπ' ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε συβώτης.

Transliteration

hōs to men exetelesse kai ouk ethelous', hup' anankēs.

"euth' hē pharos edeixen, huphēnasa megan histon,

plunas', ēeliōi enalinkion ēe selēnēi,

kai tote dē rh' Odusēa kakos pothen ēgage daimōn

150agrou ep' eschatiēn, hothi dōmata naie subōtēs.

English · Butler

after she had had it washed, its splendor was as that of the sun or moon. "Then some malicious daimôn conveyed Odysseus to the upland farm where his swineherd lives. Thither presently came also his son, returning from a

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' ἦλθεν φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,

ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος ἰὼν σὺν νηὶ̈ μελαίνῃ:

τὼ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον κακὸν ἀρτύναντε

ἵκοντο προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς

155ὕστερος, αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθ' ἡγεμόνευε.

Transliteration

enth' ēlthen philos huios Odussēos theioio,

ek Pulou ēmathoentos iōn sun nēï melainēi:

tō de mnēstērsin thanaton kakon artunante

hikonto proti astu perikluton, ē toi Odusseus

155husteros, autar Tēlemachos prosth' hēgemoneue.

English · Butler

voyage to Pylos, and the two came to the town when they had hatched their plot for our destruction. Telemakhos came first, and then after him, accompanied by the swineherd, came Odysseus, clad in rags and leaning on a staff as though he were some miserable old beggar. He came so unexpectedly that none of us knew him, not even the older ones among us, and we reviled him and threw things at him.

Homeric Greek

τὸν δὲ συβώτης ἦγε κακὰ χροὶ̈ εἵματ' ἔχοντα,

πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι

σκηπτόμενον: τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροὶ̈ εἵματα ἕστο:

οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο γνῶναι τὸν ἐόντα

160ἐξαπίνης προφανέντ', οὐδ' οἳ προγενέστεροι ἦσαν,

Transliteration

ton de subōtēs ēge kaka chroï heimat' echonta,

ptōchōi leugaleōi enalinkion ēde geronti

skēptomenon: ta de lugra peri chroï heimata hesto:

oude tis hēmeiōn dunato gnōnai ton eonta

160exapinēs prophanent', oud' hoi progenesteroi ēsan,

English · Butler

He endured both being struck and insulted without a word, though he was in his own house; but when the will of Aegis-bearing Zeus inspired him, he and Telemakhos took the armor and hid it in an inner chamber, bolting the doors behind them. Then he cunningly made his wife offer his bow and a quantity of iron to be contended for by us ill-fated suitors;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἔπεσίν τε κακοῖσιν ἐνίσσομεν ἠδὲ βολῇσιν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ τῆος ἐτόλμα ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσι

βαλλόμενος καὶ ἐνισσόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ:

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νοός αἰγιόχοιο,

165σὺν μὲν Τηλεμάχῳ περικαλλέα τεύχε' ἀείρας

Transliteration

all' epesin te kakoisin enissomen ēde bolēisin.

autar ho tēos etolma eni megaroisin heoisi

ballomenos kai enissomenos tetlēoti thumōi:

all' hote dē min egeire Dios noos aigiochoio,

165sun men Tēlemachōi perikallea teuche' aeiras

English · Butler

and this was the beginning of our end, for not one of us could string the bow - nor nearly do so. When it was about to reach the hands of Odysseus, we all of us shouted out that it should not be

Homeric Greek

ἐς θάλαμον κατέθηκε καὶ ἐκλήϊσεν ὀχῆας,

αὐτὰρ ὁ ἣν ἄλοχον πολυκερδείῃσιν ἄνωγε

τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον,

ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.

170οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο κρατεροῖο βιοῖο

Transliteration

es thalamon katethēke kai eklēïsen ochēas,

autar ho hēn alochon polukerdeiēisin anōge

toxon mnēstēressi themen polion te sidēron,

hēmin ainomoroisin aethlia kai phonou archēn.

170oude tis hēmeiōn dunato krateroio bioio

English · Butler

given him, no matter what he might say, but Telemakhos insisted on his having it. When he had got it in his hands he strung it with ease and sent his arrow through the iron. Then he stood on the floor of the room and poured his arrows on the ground, glaring fiercely about him.

Homeric Greek

νευρὴν ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δ' ἐπιδευέες ἦμεν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε χεῖρας ἵκανεν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον,

ἔνθ' ἡμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὁμοκλέομεν ἐπέεσσι

τόξον μὴ δόμεναι, μηδ' εἰ μάλα πολλ' ἀγορεύοι:

175Τηλέμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν.

Transliteration

neurēn entanusai, pollon d' epideuees ēmen.

all' hote cheiras hikanen Odussēos mega toxon,

enth' hēmeis men pantes homokleomen epeessi

toxon mē domenai, mēd' ei mala poll' agoreuoi:

175Tēlemachos de min oios epotrunōn ekeleusen.

English · Butler

First he killed Antinoos, and then, aiming straight before him, he let fly his deadly darts and they fell thick on one another. It was plain that some one of the gods was helping them, for they fell upon us with

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὁ δέξατο χειρὶ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ῥηϊδίως δ' ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δ' ἧκε σιδήρου,

στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰών, ταχέας δ' ἐκχεύατ' ὀϊστοὺς

δεινὸν παπταίνων, βάλε δ' Ἀντίνοον βασιλῆα.

180αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' ἄλλοις ἐφίει βέλεα στονόεντα,

Transliteration

autar ho dexato cheiri polutlas dios Odusseus,

rhēïdiōs d' etanusse bion, dia d' hēke sidērou,

stē d' ar' ep' oudon iōn, tacheas d' ekcheuat' oïstous

deinon paptainōn, bale d' Antinoon basilēa.

180autar epeit' allois ephiei belea stonoenta,

English · Butler

might and main throughout the cloisters, and there was a hideous sound of groaning as our brains were being battered in, and the ground seethed with our blood. This, Agamemnon, is how we came by our end, and

Homeric Greek

ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος: τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.

γνωτὸν δ' ἦν ὅ ῥά τίς σφι θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦεν:

αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ δώματ' ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ

κτεῖνον ἐπιστροφάδην, τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτ' ἀεικὴς

185κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δ' ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.

Transliteration

anta tituskomenos: toi d' anchistinoi epipton.

gnōton d' ēn ho rha tis sphi theōn epitarrothos ēen:

autika gar kata dōmat' epispomenoi meneï sphōi

kteinon epistrophadēn, tōn de stonos ōrnut' aeikēs

185kratōn tuptomenōn, dapedon d' hapan haimati thuen.

English · Butler

our bodies are lying still un-cared for in the house of Odysseus, for our friends at home do not yet know what has happened, so

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἡμεῖς, Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀπωλόμεθ', ὧν ἔτι καὶ νῦν

σώματ' ἀκηδέα κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος:

οὐ γάρ πω ἴσασι φίλοι κατὰ δώμαθ' ἑκάστου,

οἵ κ' ἀπονίψαντες μέλανα βρότον ἐξ ὠτειλέων

190κατθέμενοι γοάοιεν: ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων."

Transliteration

hōs hēmeis, Agamemnon, apōlometh', hōn eti kai nun

sōmat' akēdea keitai eni megarois Odusēos:

ou gar pō isasi philoi kata dōmath' hekastou,

hoi k' aponipsantes melana broton ex ōteileōn

190katthemenoi goaoien: ho gar geras esti thanontōn."

English · Butler

that they cannot lay us out and wash the black blood from our wounds, making moan over us according to the offices due to the departed."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεί̈δαο:

"ὄλβιε Λαέρταο πάϊ, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,

ἦ ἄρα σὺν μεγάλῃ ἀρετῇ ἐκτήσω ἄκοιτιν.

ὡς ἀγαθαὶ φρένες ἦσαν ἀμύμονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

195κούρῃ Ἰκαρίου: ὡς εὖ μέμνητ' Ὀδυσῆος,

Transliteration

ton d' aute psuchē prosephōneen Atreïdao:

"olbie Laertao paï, polumēchan' Odusseu,

ē ara sun megalēi aretēi ektēsō akoitin.

hōs agathai phrenes ēsan amumoni Pēnelopeiēi,

195kourēi Ikariou: hōs eu memnēt' Odusēos,

English · Butler

"Happy Odysseus, son of Laertes," replied the ghost of Agamemnon, "you are indeed blessed in the possession of a wife endowed with such rare excellence of understanding, and so faithful to her wedded lord as Penelope the daughter of Ikarios. The kleos, therefore, of her excellence shall never die, and the immortals shall compose a song that shall be welcome to all humankind in honor of the constancy of Penelope. How far otherwise was the wickedness of the daughter of Tyndareus who killed her lawful husband;

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρὸς κουριδίου: τῷ οἱ κλέος οὔ ποτ' ὀλεῖται

ἧς ἀρετῆς, τεύξουσι δ' ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδὴν

ἀθάνατοι χαρίεσσαν ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

οὐχ ὡς Τυνδαρέου κούρη κακὰ μήσατο ἔργα,

200κουρίδιον κτείνασα πόσιν, στυγερὴ δέ τ' ἀοιδὴ

Transliteration

andros kouridiou: tōi hoi kleos ou pot' oleitai

hēs aretēs, teuxousi d' epichthonioisin aoidēn

athanatoi chariessan echephroni Pēnelopeiēi,

ouch hōs Tundareou kourē kaka mēsato erga,

200kouridion kteinasa posin, stugerē de t' aoidē

English · Butler

her song shall be hateful among men, for she has brought disgrace on all womankind

Homeric Greek

ἔσσετ' ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους, χαλεπὴν δέ τε φῆμιν ὀπάσσει

θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κ' εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

ἑσταότ' εἰν Ἀί̈δαο δόμοις, ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίης:

205οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ ἐκ πόλιος κατέβαν, τάχα δ' ἀγρὸν ἵκοντο

Transliteration

esset' ep' anthrōpous, chalepēn de te phēmin opassei

thēluterēisi gunaixi, kai hē k' euergos eēisin."

hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon,

hestaot' ein Aïdao domois, hupo keuthesi gaiēs:

205hoi d' epei ek polios kateban, tacha d' agron hikonto

English · Butler

even on the good ones." Thus did they converse in the house of Hades deep down within the bowels of the earth. Meanwhile Odysseus and the others passed out of the town and soon reached the fair and well-tilled farm of Laertes, which he had reclaimed with infinite labor.

Homeric Greek

καλὸν Λαέρταο τετυγμένον, ὅν ῥά ποτ' αὐτὸς

Λαέρτης κτεάτισσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλ' ἐμόγησεν.

ἔνθα οἱ οἶκος ἔην, περὶ δὲ κλίσιον θέε πάντη,

ἐν τῷ σιτέσκοντο καὶ ἵζανον ἠδὲ ἴαυον

210δμῶες ἀναγκαῖοι, τοί οἱ φίλα ἐργάζοντο.

Transliteration

kalon Laertao tetugmenon, hon rha pot' autos

Laertēs kteatissen, epei mala poll' emogēsen.

entha hoi oikos eēn, peri de klision thee pantē,

en tōi siteskonto kai hizanon ēde iauon

210dmōes anankaioi, toi hoi phila ergazonto.

English · Butler

Here was his house, with a lean-to running all round it, where the slaves who worked for him slept and sat and ate, while inside the house there was an old Sicel woman, who looked after him in this his country-farm.

Homeric Greek

ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηὺ̈ς πέλεν, ἥ ῥα γέροντα

ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπ' ἀγροῦ, νόσφι πόληος.

ἔνθ' Ὀδυσεὺς δμώεσσι καὶ υἱέϊ μῦθον ἔειπεν:

"ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἔλθετ' ἐϋκτίμενον δόμον εἴσω,

215δεῖπνον δ' αἶψα συῶν ἱερεύσατε ὅς τις ἄριστος:

Transliteration

en de gunē Sikelē grēüs pelen, hē rha geronta

endukeōs komeesken ep' agrou, nosphi polēos.

enth' Oduseus dmōessi kai huieï muthon eeipen:

"humeis men nun elthet' eüktimenon domon eisō,

215deipnon d' aipsa suōn hiereusate hos tis aristos:

English · Butler

When Odysseus got there, he said to his son and to the other two: "Go to the house, and kill the best pig that you can find for dinner. Meanwhile I want to see

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πατρὸς πειρήσομαι ἡμετέροιο,

αἴ κέ μ' ἐπιγνώῃ καὶ φράσσεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ἦέ κεν ἀγνοιῇσι, πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα."

ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἀρήϊα τεύχε' ἔδωκεν.

220οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα δόμονδε θοῶς κίον, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Transliteration

autar egō patros peirēsomai hēmeteroio,

ai ke m' epignōēi kai phrassetai ophthalmoisin,

ēe ken agnoiēisi, polun chronon amphis eonta."

hōs eipōn dmōessin arēïa teuche' edōken.

220hoi men epeita domonde thoōs kion, autar Odusseus

English · Butler

whether my father will know me, or fail to recognize me after so long an absence." He then took off his armor and gave it to Eumaios and Philoitios, who went straight on to the house, while he turned off into the vineyard to make trial of his father. As he went down into the great orchard,

Homeric Greek

ἆσσον ἴεν πολυκάρπου ἀλωῆς πειρητίζων.

οὐδ' εὗρεν Δολίον, μέγαν ὄρχατον ἐσκαταβαίνων,

οὐδέ τινα δμώων οὐδ' υἱῶν: ἀλλ' ἄρα τοί γε

αἱμασιὰς λέξοντες ἀλωῆς ἔμμεναι ἕρκος

225ᾤχοντ', αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσι γέρων ὁδὸν ἡγεμόνευε.

Transliteration

asson ien polukarpou alōēs peirētizōn.

oud' heuren Dolion, megan orchaton eskatabainōn,

oude tina dmōōn oud' huiōn: all' ara toi ge

haimasias lexontes alōēs emmenai herkos

225ōichont', autar ho toisi gerōn hodon hēgemoneue.

English · Butler

he did not see Dolios, nor any of his sons nor of the other bondsmen, for they were all gathering thorns to make a fence for the vineyard, at the place where the old man had told them; he therefore found his father alone, hoeing a vine.

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' οἶον πατέρ' εὗρεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,

λιστρεύοντα φυτόν: ῥυπόωντα δὲ ἕστο χιτῶνα

ῥαπτὸν ἀεικέλιον, περὶ δὲ κνήμῃσι βοείας

κνημῖδας ῥαπτὰς δέδετο, γραπτῦς ἀλεείνων,

230χειρῖδάς τ' ἐπὶ χερσὶ βάτων ἕνεκ': αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν

Transliteration

ton d' oion pater' heuren eüktimenēi en alōēi,

listreuonta phuton: rhupoōnta de hesto chitōna

rhapton aeikelion, peri de knēmēisi boeias

knēmidas rhaptas dedeto, graptus aleeinōn,

230cheiridas t' epi chersi batōn henek': autar huperthen

English · Butler

He had on a dirty old shirt, patched and very shabby; his legs were bound round with thongs of oxhide to save him from the brambles, and he also wore sleeves of leather; he had a goat skin cap on his head, and was looking very woe-begone. When Odysseus saw him so worn,

Homeric Greek

αἰγείην κυνέην κεφαλῇ ἔχε, πένθος ἀέξων.

τὸν δ' ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

γήραϊ τειρόμενον, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,

στὰς ἄρ' ὑπὸ βλωθρὴν ὄγχνην κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβε.

235μερμήριξε δ' ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

Transliteration

aigeiēn kuneēn kephalēi eche, penthos aexōn.

ton d' hōs oun enoēse polutlas dios Odusseus

gēraï teiromenon, mega de phresi penthos echonta,

stas ar' hupo blōthrēn onchnēn kata dakruon eibe.

235mermērixe d' epeita kata phrena kai kata thumon

English · Butler

so old and full of sorrow, he stood still under a tall pear tree and began to weep. He doubted whether to embrace him, kiss him, and tell him all about his having come home, or whether he should first question him and see what he would say.

Homeric Greek

κύσσαι καὶ περιφῦναι ἑὸν πατέρ', ἠδὲ ἕκαστα

εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτ' ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

ἦ πρῶτ' ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,

240πρῶτον κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσιν πειρηθῆναι.

Transliteration

kussai kai periphunai heon pater', ēde hekasta

eipein, hōs elthoi kai hikoit' es patrida gaian,

ē prōt' exereoito hekasta te peirēsaito.

hōde de hoi phroneonti doassato kerdion einai,

240prōton kertomiois epeessin peirēthēnai.

English · Butler

In the end he deemed it best to be crafty with him, so in this mind he went up to

Homeric Greek

τὰ φρονέων ἰθὺς κίεν αὐτοῦ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν κατέχων κεφαλὴν φυτὸν ἀμφελάχαινε:

τὸν δὲ παριστάμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός:

"ὦ γέρον, οὐκ ἀδαημονίη σ' ἔχει ἀμφιπολεύειν

245ὄρχατον, ἀλλ' εὖ τοι κομιδὴ ἔχει, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν,

Transliteration

ta phroneōn ithus kien autou dios Odusseus.

ē toi ho men katechōn kephalēn phuton amphelachaine:

ton de paristamenos prosephōnee phaidimos huios:

"ō geron, ouk adaēmoniē s' echei amphipoleuein

245orchaton, all' eu toi komidē echei, oude ti pampan,

English · Butler

his father, who was bending down and digging about a plant. "I see, sir," said Odysseus, "that you are an excellent gardener - what pains you take with it, to be sure. There is not a single plant, not a fig tree,

Homeric Greek

οὐ φυτόν, οὐ συκέη, οὐκ ἄμπελος, οὐ μὲν ἐλαίη,

οὐκ ὄγχνη, οὐ πρασιή τοι ἄνευ κομιδῆς κατὰ κῆπον.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ μὴ χόλον ἔνθεο θυμῷ

αὐτόν σ' οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κομιδὴ ἔχει, ἀλλ' ἅμα γῆρας

250λυγρὸν ἔχεις αὐχμεῖς τε κακῶς καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσαι.

Transliteration

ou phuton, ou sukeē, ouk ampelos, ou men elaiē,

ouk onchnē, ou prasiē toi aneu komidēs kata kēpon.

allo de toi ereō, su de mē cholon entheo thumōi

auton s' ouk agathē komidē echei, all' hama gēras

250lugron echeis auchmeis te kakōs kai aeikea hessai.

English · Butler

vine, olive, pear, nor flower bed, but bears the trace of your attention. I trust, however, that you will not be offended if I say that you take better care of your garden than of yourself. You are old, unsavory, and very meanly clad. It cannot be because you are idle that your master

Homeric Greek

οὐ μὲν ἀεργίης γε ἄναξ ἕνεκ' οὔ σε κομίζει,

οὐδέ τί τοι δούλειον ἐπιπρέπει εἰσοράασθαι

εἶδος καὶ μέγεθος: βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.

τοιούτῳ δὲ ἔοικας, ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε,

255εὑδέμεναι μαλακῶς: ἡ γὰρ δίκη ἐστὶ γερόντων.

Transliteration

ou men aergiēs ge anax henek' ou se komizei,

oude ti toi douleion epiprepei eisoraasthai

eidos kai megethos: basilēï gar andri eoikas.

toioutōi de eoikas, epei lousaito phagoi te,

255heudemenai malakōs: hē gar dikē esti gerontōn.

English · Butler

takes such poor care of you, indeed your face and figure have nothing of the slave about them, and proclaim you of noble birth. I should have said that you were one of those who should wash well, eat well, and lie soft at night as old men have a right to do; but tell me, and tell me true, whose laborer are you, and in whose garden are you working?

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

τεῦ δμὼς εἶς ἀνδρῶν; τεῦ δ' ὄρχατον ἀμφιπολεύεις;

καὶ μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐὺ̈ εἰδῶ,

εἰ ἐτεόν γ' Ἰθάκην τήνδ' ἱκόμεθ', ὥς μοι ἔειπεν

260οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν δὴ ξυμβλήμενος ἐνθάδ' ἰόντι,

Transliteration

all' age moi tode eipe kai atrekeōs katalexon,

teu dmōs eis andrōn; teu d' orchaton amphipoleueis;

kai moi tout' agoreuson etētumon, ophr' eü eidō,

ei eteon g' Ithakēn tēnd' hikometh', hōs moi eeipen

260houtos anēr nun dē xumblēmenos enthad' ionti,

English · Butler

Tell me also about another matter. Is this place that I have come to really Ithaca? I met a man just now who said so, but he was a dull fellow, and had not the patience to hear my story out when I

Homeric Greek

οὔ τι μάλ' ἀρτίφρων, ἐπεὶ οὐ τόλμησεν ἕκαστα

εἰπεῖν ἠδ' ἐπακοῦσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ὡς ἐρέεινον

ἀμφὶ ξείνῳ ἐμῷ, ἤ που ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν

ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀί̈δαο δόμοισιν.

265ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον:

Transliteration

ou ti mal' artiphrōn, epei ou tolmēsen hekasta

eipein ēd' epakousai emon epos, hōs ereeinon

amphi xeinōi emōi, ē pou zōei te kai estin

ē ēdē tethnēke kai ein Aïdao domoisin.

265ek gar toi ereō, su de suntheo kai meu akouson:

English · Butler

was asking him about an old friend of mine, whether he was still living, or was already dead and in the house of Hades. Believe me when I tell you that this man came to my house once when I was in my own country and never yet did any stranger come to me whom I liked better.

Homeric Greek

ἄνδρα ποτ' ἐξείνισσα φίλῃ ἐνὶ πατρίδι γαίῃ

ἡμέτερόνδ' ἐλθόντα, καὶ οὔ πω τις βροτὸς ἄλλος

ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα:

εὔχετο δ' ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἔφασκε

270Λαέρτην Ἀρκεισιάδην πατέρ' ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.

Transliteration

andra pot' exeinissa philēi eni patridi gaiēi

hēmeterond' elthonta, kai ou pō tis brotos allos

xeinōn tēledapōn philiōn emon hiketo dōma:

eucheto d' ex Ithakēs genos emmenai, autar ephaske

270Laertēn Arkeisiadēn pater' emmenai autōi.

English · Butler

He said that his family came from Ithaca and that his father was Laertes, son of Arceisius. I received him hospitably, making him welcome to all the abundance of my house, and when he went away I gave him all customary presents. I gave him seven talents of fine gold, and a cup of solid silver with flowers chased upon it. I gave him twelve light cloaks, and as many pieces of tapestry;

Homeric Greek

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματ' ἄγων ἐὺ̈ ἐξείνισσα,

ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,

καί οἱ δῶρα πόρον ξεινήϊα, οἷα ἐῴκει.

χρυσοῦ μέν οἱ δῶκ' εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,

275δῶκα δέ οἱ κρητῆρα πανάργυρον ἀνθεμόεντα,

Transliteration

ton men egō pros dōmat' agōn eü exeinissa,

endukeōs phileōn, pollōn kata oikon eontōn,

kai hoi dōra poron xeinēïa, hoia eōikei.

chrusou men hoi dōk' euergeos hepta talanta,

275dōka de hoi krētēra panarguron anthemoenta,

English · Butler

I also gave him twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts. To all this I added four good looking women

Homeric Greek

δώδεκα δ' ἁπλοί̈δας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,

τόσσα δὲ φάρεα καλά, τόσους δ' ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας,

χωρὶς δ' αὖτε γυναῖκας, ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας,

τέσσαρας εἰδαλίμας, ἃς ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι."

280τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πατὴρ κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων:

Transliteration

dōdeka d' haploïdas chlainas, tossous de tapētas,

tossa de pharea kala, tosous d' epi toisi chitōnas,

chōris d' aute gunaikas, amumona erga iduias,

tessaras eidalimas, has ēthelen autos helesthai."

280ton d' ēmeibet' epeita patēr kata dakruon eibōn:

English · Butler

skilled in all useful arts, and I let him take his choice." His father shed tears and answered, "Sir, you have indeed come to the country that you have named, but it is fallen into the hands of wicked people.

Homeric Greek

"ξεῖν', ἦ τοι μὲν γαῖαν ἱκάνεις, ἣν ἐρεείνεις,

ὑβρισταὶ δ' αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν:

δῶρα δ' ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρί' ὀπάζων:

εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γ' ἐκίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ,

285τῷ κέν σ' εὖ δώροισιν ἀμειψάμενος ἀπέπεμψε

Transliteration

"xein', ē toi men gaian hikaneis, hēn ereeineis,

hubristai d' autēn kai atasthaloi andres echousin:

dōra d' etōsia tauta charizeo, muri' opazōn:

ei gar min zōon g' ekicheis Ithakēs eni dēmōi,

285tōi ken s' eu dōroisin ameipsamenos apepempse

English · Butler

His father shed tears and answered, "Sir, you have indeed come to the country that you have named, but it is fallen into the hands of wicked people. All this wealth of presents has been given to no purpose. If you could have found your friend here alive in the dêmos of Ithaca, he would have entertained you hospitably and would have required your presents amply when you left him - as would have been only right considering what you have already given him. But tell me, and tell me true, how many years

Homeric Greek

καὶ ξενίῃ ἀγαθῇ ἡ γὰρ θέμις, ὅς τις ὑπάρξῃ.

ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

πόστον δὴ ἔτος ἐστίν, ὅτε ξείνισσας ἐκεῖνον

σὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον, ἐμὸν παῖδ', εἴ ποτ' ἔην γε,

290δύσμορον; ὅν που τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

Transliteration

kai xeniēi agathēi hē gar themis, hos tis huparxēi.

all' age moi tode eipe kai atrekeōs katalexon,

poston dē etos estin, hote xeinissas ekeinon

son xeinon dustēnon, emon paid', ei pot' eēn ge,

290dusmoron; hon pou tēle philōn kai patridos aiēs

English · Butler

is it since you entertained this guest - my unhappy son, as ever was? Alas! He has perished far from his own country; the fishes of the sea have eaten him, or he has fallen a prey to the birds and wild beasts of some continent. Neither his mother, nor I his father, who were his

Homeric Greek

ἠέ που ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ἢ ἐπὶ χέρσου

θηρσὶ καὶ οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ γένετ': οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ

κλαῦσε περιστείλασα πατήρ θ', οἵ μιν τεκόμεσθα:

οὐδ' ἄλοχος πολύδωρος, ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια,

295κώκυσ' ἐν λεχέεσσιν ἑὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἐπεῴκει,

Transliteration

ēe pou en pontōi phagon ichthues, ē epi chersou

thērsi kai oiōnoisin helōr genet': oude he mētēr

klause peristeilasa patēr th', hoi min tekomestha:

oud' alochos poludōros, echephrōn Pēnelopeia,

295kōkus' en lecheessin heon posin, hōs epeōikei,

English · Butler

parents, could throw our arms about him and wrap him in his shroud, nor could his excellent and richly dowered wife Penelope bewail her husband as was natural upon his death bed, and close his eyes according to the offices due to the departed. But now, tell me truly for I want to know.

Homeric Greek

ὀφθαλμοὺς καθελοῦσα: τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐὺ̈ εἰδῶ:

τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

ποῦ δὲ νηῦς ἕστηκε θοή, ἥ σ' ἤγαγε δεῦρο

300ἀντιθέους θ' ἑτάρους; ἦ ἔμπορος εἰλήλουθας

Transliteration

ophthalmous kathelousa: to gar geras esti thanontōn.

kai moi tout' agoreuson etētumon, ophr' eü eidō:

tis pothen eis andrōn; pothi toi polis ēde tokēes;

pou de nēus hestēke thoē, hē s' ēgage deuro

300antitheous th' hetarous; ē emporos eilēlouthas

English · Butler

Who and whence are you - tell me of your town and parents? Where is the ship lying that has brought you and your men to Ithaca? Or were you a passenger on some other man's ship, and those who brought you here have gone

Homeric Greek

νηὸς ἐπ' ἀλλοτρίης, οἱ δ' ἐκβήσαντες ἔβησαν;"

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι πάντα μάλ' ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.

εἰμὶ μὲν ἐξ Ἀλύβαντος, ὅθι κλυτὰ δώματα ναίω,

305υἱὸς Ἀφείδαντος Πολυπημονίδαο ἄνακτος:

Transliteration

nēos ep' allotriēs, hoi d' ekbēsantes ebēsan;"

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"toigar egō toi panta mal' atrekeōs katalexō.

eimi men ex Alubantos, hothi kluta dōmata naiō,

305huios Apheidantos Polupēmonidao anaktos:

English · Butler

on their way and left you?" "I will tell you everything," answered Odysseus, "quite truly. I come from Alybas, where I have a fine house. I am son of king Apheidas, who is the son of Polypemon. My own name is Eperitus;

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γ' ὄνομ' ἐστὶν Ἐπήριτος: ἀλλά με δαίμων

πλάγξ' ἀπὸ Σικανίης δεῦρ' ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα:

νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδ' ἕστηκεν ἐπ' ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.

αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆϊ τόδε δὴ πέμπτον ἔτος ἐστίν,

310ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης,

Transliteration

autar emoi g' onom' estin Epēritos: alla me daimōn

planx' apo Sikaniēs deur' elthemen ouk ethelonta:

nēus de moi hēd' hestēken ep' agrou nosphi polēos.

autar Odussēï tode dē pempton etos estin,

310ex hou keithen ebē kai emēs apelēluthe patrēs,

English · Butler

a daimôn drove me off my course as I was leaving Sicania, and I have been carried here against my will. As for my ship it is lying over yonder, off the open country outside the town, and this is the fifth year since Odysseus left my country. Poor fellow, yet the omens were good for him when he left me. The birds all flew on our right

Homeric Greek

δύσμορος: ἦ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι,

δεξιοί, οἷς χαίρων μὲν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμπον ἐκεῖνον,

χαῖρε δὲ κεῖνος ἰών: θυμὸς δ' ἔτι νῶϊν ἐώλπει

μίξεσθαι ξενίῃ ἠδ' ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδώσειν."

315ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα:

Transliteration

dusmoros: ē te hoi esthloi esan ornithes ionti,

dexioi, hois chairōn men egōn apepempon ekeinon,

chaire de keinos iōn: thumos d' eti nōïn eōlpei

mixesthai xeniēi ēd' aglaa dōra didōsein."

315hōs phato, ton d' acheos nephelē ekalupse melaina:

English · Butler

hands, and both he and I rejoiced to see them as we parted, for we had every hope that we should have another friendly meeting and exchange presents." A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened.

Homeric Greek

ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν

χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς πολιῆς, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.

τοῦ δ' ὠρίνετο θυμός, ἀνὰ ῥῖνας δέ οἱ ἤδη

δριμὺ μένος προὔτυψε φίλον πατέρ' εἰσορόωντι.

320κύσσε δέ μιν περιφὺς ἐπιάλμενος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα:

Transliteration

amphoterēisi de chersin helōn konin aithaloessan

cheuato kak kephalēs poliēs, hadina stenachizōn.

tou d' ōrineto thumos, ana rhinas de hoi ēdē

drimu menos proutupse philon pater' eisoroōnti.

320kusse de min periphus epialmenos, ēde prosēuda:

English · Butler

A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened. He filled both hands with the dust from off the ground and poured it over his gray head, groaning heavily as he did so. The heart of Odysseus was touched, and his nostrils quivered as he looked upon his father; then he sprang towards him, flung his arms about him and kissed him, saying, "I am he, father,

Homeric Greek

"κεῖνος μέν τοι ὅδ' αὐτὸς ἐγώ, πάτερ, ὃν σὺ μεταλλᾷς,

ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

ἀλλ' ἴσχεο κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.

ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω: μάλα δὲ χρὴ σπευδέμεν ἔμπης:

325μνηστῆρας κατέπεφνον ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι,

Transliteration

"keinos men toi hod' autos egō, pater, hon su metallāis,

ēluthon eikostōi eteï es patrida gaian.

all' ischeo klauthmoio gooio te dakruoentos.

ek gar toi ereō: mala de chrē speudemen empēs:

325mnēstēras katepephnon en hēmeteroisi domoisi,

English · Butler

about whom you are asking - I have returned after having been away for twenty years. But cease your sighing and lamentation - we have no time to lose, for I should tell you that I have been killing the suitors in my house, to

Homeric Greek

λώβην τινύμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα."

τὸν δ' αὖ Λαέρτης ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε:

"εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεύς γε ἐμὸς πάϊς ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνεις,

σῆμά τί μοι νῦν εἰπὲ ἀριφραδές, ὄφρα πεποίθω."

330τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

lōbēn tinumenos thumalgea kai kaka erga."

ton d' au Laertēs apameibeto phōnēsen te:

"ei men dē Oduseus ge emos païs enthad' hikaneis,

sēma ti moi nun eipe ariphrades, ophra pepoithō."

330ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

English · Butler

punish them for their insolence and crimes." "If you really are my son Odysseus," replied Laertes, "and have come back again, you must give me such manifest proof of your identity as shall convince me." "First observe this scar," answered Odysseus, "which I got from a boar's tusk when I was hunting on Mount Parnassus.

Homeric Greek

"οὐλὴν μὲν πρῶτον τήνδε φράσαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

τὴν ἐν Παρνησῷ μ' ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι

οἰχόμενον: σὺ δέ με προί̈εις καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

ἐς πατέρ' Αὐτόλυκον μητρὸς φίλον, ὄφρ' ἂν ἑλοίμην

335δῶρα, τὰ δεῦρο μολών μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν.

Transliteration

"oulēn men prōton tēnde phrasai ophthalmoisi,

tēn en Parnēsōi m' elasen sus leukōi odonti

oichomenon: su de me proïeis kai potnia mētēr

es pater' Autolukon mētros philon, ophr' an heloimēn

335dōra, ta deuro molōn moi hupescheto kai kateneusen.

English · Butler

"First observe this scar," answered Odysseus, "which I got from a boar's tusk when I was hunting on Mount Parnassus. You and my mother had sent me to Autolykos, my mother's father, to receive the presents which when he was over here he had promised to give me. Furthermore I will point out to you the trees in the vineyard which you gave me, and I asked you all about them as I followed you round the garden.

Homeric Greek

εἰ δ' ἄγε τοι καὶ δένδρε' ἐϋκτιμένην κατ' ἀλωὴν

εἴπω, ἅ μοί ποτ' ἔδωκας, ἐγὼ δ' ᾔτεόν σε ἕκαστα

παιδνὸς ἐών, κατὰ κῆπον ἐπισπόμενος: διὰ δ' αὐτῶν

ἱκνεύμεσθα, σὺ δ' ὠνόμασας καὶ ἔειπες ἕκαστα.

340ὄγχνας μοι δῶκας τρισκαίδεκα καὶ δέκα μηλέας,

Transliteration

ei d' age toi kai dendre' eüktimenēn kat' alōēn

eipō, ha moi pot' edōkas, egō d' ēiteon se hekasta

paidnos eōn, kata kēpon epispomenos: dia d' autōn

hikneumestha, su d' ōnomasas kai eeipes hekasta.

340onchnas moi dōkas triskaideka kai deka mēleas,

English · Butler

We went over them all, and you told me their names and what they all were. You gave me thirteen pear trees, ten apple trees, and forty fig trees; you also said you would give me fifty rows of vines; there was wheat planted between each row, and

Homeric Greek

συκέας τεσσαράκοντ': ὄρχους δέ μοι ὧδ' ὀνόμηνας

δώσειν πεντήκοντα, διατρύγιος δὲ ἕκαστος

ἤην: ἔνθα δ' ἀνὰ σταφυλαὶ παντοῖαι ἔασιν--

ὁππότε δὴ Διὸς ὧραι ἐπιβρίσειαν ὕπερθεν."

345ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ' αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,

Transliteration

sukeas tessarakont': orchous de moi hōd' onomēnas

dōsein pentēkonta, diatrugios de hekastos

ēēn: entha d' ana staphulai pantoiai easin--

hoppote dē Dios hōrai epibriseian huperthen."

345hōs phato, tou d' autou luto gounata kai philon ētor,

English · Butler

they yield grapes of every kind when the seasons of Zeus have been laid heavy upon them." Laertes’ strength failed him when he heard the convincing proofs which his son had given him.

Homeric Greek

σήματ' ἀναγνόντος τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδ' Ὀδυσσεύς.

ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε: τὸν δὲ ποτὶ οἷ

εἷλεν ἀποψύχοντα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,

350ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε:

Transliteration

sēmat' anagnontos ta hoi empeda pephrad' Odusseus.

amphi de paidi philōi bale pēchee: ton de poti hoi

heilen apopsuchonta polutlas dios Odusseus.

autar epei rh' ampnuto kai es phrena thumos agerthē,

350exautis muthoisin ameibomenos proseeipe:

English · Butler

Laertes’ strength failed him when he heard the convincing proofs which his son had given him. He threw his arms about him, and Odysseus had to support him, or he would have gone off into a swoon; but as soon as he came to, and was beginning to recover his senses, he said, "O father Zeus, then you gods are still in Olympus after all, if the suitors have really been punished for their insolence and folly.

Homeric Greek

"Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥα ἔτ' ἔστε θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

εἰ ἐτεὸν μνηστῆρες ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔτισαν.

νῦν δ' αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μὴ τάχα πάντες

ἐνθάδ' ἐπέλθωσιν Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀγγελίας δὲ

355πάντη ἐποτρύνωσι Κεφαλλήνων πολίεσσι."

Transliteration

"Zeu pater, ē rha et' este theoi kata makron Olumpon,

ei eteon mnēstēres atasthalon hubrin etisan.

nun d' ainōs deidoika kata phrena mē tacha pantes

enthad' epelthōsin Ithakēsioi, angelias de

355pantē epotrunōsi Kephallēnōn poliessi."

English · Butler

Nevertheless, I am much afraid that I shall have all the townspeople of Ithaca up here directly, and they will be sending messengers everywhere throughout the cities of the Cephallênians."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.

ἀλλ' ἴομεν προτὶ οἶκον, ὃς ὀρχάτου ἐγγύθι κεῖται:

ἔνθα δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην

360προὔπεμψ', ὡς ἂν δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσωσι τάχιστα."

Transliteration

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"tharsei, mē toi tauta meta phresi sēisi melontōn.

all' iomen proti oikon, hos orchatou enguthi keitai:

entha de Tēlemachon kai boukolon ēde subōtēn

360proupemps', hōs an deipnon ephoplissōsi tachista."

English · Butler

Odysseus answered, "Take heart and do not trouble yourself about that, but let us go into the house hard by your garden. I have already told Telemakhos, Philoitios, and Eumaios to go on there and get dinner ready as soon as possible."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε βάτην πρὸς δώματα καλά.

οἱ δ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,

εὗρον Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην

ταμνομένους κρέα πολλὰ κερῶντάς τ' αἴθοπα οἶνον.

365τόφρα δὲ Λαέρτην μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

Transliteration

hōs ara phōnēsante batēn pros dōmata kala.

hoi d' hote dē rh' hikonto domous eu naietaontas,

heuron Tēlemachon kai boukolon ēde subōtēn

tamnomenous krea polla kerōntas t' aithopa oinon.

365tophra de Laertēn megalētora hōi eni oikōi

English · Butler

Thus conversing the two made their way towards the house. When they got there they found Telemakhos with the stockman and the swineherd cutting up meat and mixing wine with water. Then the old Sicel woman took Laertes inside and washed him and anointed him with oil. She put him on a good

Homeric Greek

ἀμφίπολος Σικελὴ λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρα χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν: αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη

ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλε' ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν,

μείζονα δ' ἠὲ πάρος καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.

370ἐκ δ' ἀσαμίνθου βῆ: θαύμαζε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,

Transliteration

amphipolos Sikelē lousen kai chrisen elaiōi,

amphi d' ara chlainan kalēn balen: autar Athēnē

anchi paristamenē mele' ēldane poimeni laōn,

meizona d' ēe paros kai passona thēken idesthai.

370ek d' asaminthou bē: thaumaze de min philos huios,

English · Butler

cloak, and Athena came up to him and gave him a more imposing presence, making him taller and stouter than before. When he came back his son was surprised to see him looking so like an

Homeric Greek

ὡς ἴδεν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον ἄντην:

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

"ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μάλα τίς σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἀμείνονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι."

375τὸν δ' αὖ Λαέρτης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Transliteration

hōs iden athanatoisi theois enalinkion antēn:

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

"ō pater, ē mala tis se theōn aieigenetaōn

eidos te megethos te ameinona thēken idesthai."

375ton d' au Laertēs pepnumenos antion ēuda:

English · Butler

immortal, and said to him, "My dear father, some one of the gods has been making you much taller and better-looking." Laertes answered, "Would, by Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that I were the man I was when I ruled among the Cephallênians, and took Nericum, that strong fortress on the foreland.

Homeric Greek

"αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

ἀκτὴν ἠπείροιο, Κεφαλλήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων,

τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν,

380τεύχε' ἔχων ὤμοισιν, ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

Transliteration

"ai gar, Zeu te pater kai Athēnaiē kai Apollon,

hoios Nērikon heilon, eüktimenon ptoliethron,

aktēn ēpeiroio, Kephallēnessin anassōn,

toios eōn toi chthizos en hēmeteroisi domoisin,

380teuche' echōn ōmoisin, ephestamenai kai amunein

English · Butler

Laertes answered, "Would, by Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that I were the man I was when I ruled among the Cephallênians, and took Nericum, that strong fortress on the foreland. If I were still what I then was and had been in our house yesterday with my armor on, I should have been able to stand by you and help you against the suitors. I should have killed a great

Homeric Greek

ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας: τῷ κε σφέων γούνατ' ἔλυσα

πολλῶν ἐν μεγάροισι, σὺ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐγήθεις."

ὣς οἷ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.

οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,

385ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε:

Transliteration

andras mnēstēras: tōi ke spheōn gounat' elusa

pollōn en megaroisi, su de phrenas endon egētheis."

hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon.

hoi d' epei oun pausanto ponou tetukonto te daita,

385hexeiēs hezonto kata klismous te thronous te:

English · Butler

many of them, and you would have rejoiced to see it." Thus did they converse; but the others, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, left off working, and took each his proper place on the benches and seats. Then they began eating; by and by old Dolios and his

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' οἱ μὲν δείπνῳ ἐπεχείρεον, ἀγχίμολον δὲ

ἦλθ' ὁ γέρων Δολίος, σὺν δ' υἱεῖς τοῖο γέροντος,

ἐξ ἔργων μογέοντες, ἐπεὶ προμολοῦσα κάλεσσεν

μήτηρ γρηῦς Σικελή, ἥ σφεας τρέφε καί ῥα γέροντα

390ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν, ἐπεὶ κατὰ γῆρας ἔμαρψεν.

Transliteration

enth' hoi men deipnōi epecheireon, anchimolon de

ēlth' ho gerōn Dolios, sun d' huieis toio gerontos,

ex ergōn mogeontes, epei promolousa kalessen

mētēr grēus Sikelē, hē spheas trephe kai rha geronta

390endukeōs komeesken, epei kata gēras emarpsen.

English · Butler

sons left their work and came up, for their mother, the Sicel woman who looked after Laertes now that he was growing old, had been to fetch them. When they saw Odysseus and were certain it was he, they stood there lost in astonishment; but Odysseus scolded them good-naturedly

Homeric Greek

οἱ δ' ὡς οὖν Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον φράσσαντό τε θυμῷ,

ἔσταν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεθηπότες: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν:

"ὦ γέρον, ἵζ' ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἀπεκλελάθεσθε δὲ θάμβευς:

395δηρὸν γὰρ σίτῳ ἐπιχειρήσειν μεμαῶτες

Transliteration

hoi d' hōs oun Odusēa idon phrassanto te thumōi,

estan eni megaroisi tethēpotes: autar Odusseus

meilichiois epeessi kathaptomenos proseeipen:

"ō geron, hiz' epi deipnon, apeklelathesthe de thambeus:

395dēron gar sitōi epicheirēsein memaōtes

English · Butler

and said, "Sit down to your dinner, old man, and never mind about your surprise; we have been wanting to begin for some time and have been

Homeric Greek

μίμνομεν ἐν μεγάροις, ὑμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί."

ὣς ἄρ ἔφη, Δολίος δ' ἰθὺς κίε χεῖρε πετάσσας

ἀμφοτέρας, Ὀδυσεῦς δὲ λαβὼν κύσε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

400"ὦ φίλ', ἐπεὶ νόστησας ἐελδομένοισι μάλ' ἡμῖν

Transliteration

mimnomen en megarois, humeas potidegmenoi aiei."

hōs ar ephē, Dolios d' ithus kie cheire petassas

amphoteras, Oduseus de labōn kuse cheir' epi karpōi,

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

400"ō phil', epei nostēsas eeldomenoisi mal' hēmin

English · Butler

waiting for you." Then Dolios put out both his hands and went up to Odysseus. "Sir," said he, seizing his master's hand and kissing it at the wrist, "we have long been wishing you home: and now heaven has restored you to us after we had given up hoping.

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἔτ' ὀϊομένοισι, θεοὶ δέ σ' ἀνήγαγον αὐτοί,

οὖλέ τε καὶ μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.

καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐὺ̈ εἰδῶ,

ἢ ἤδη σάφα οἶδε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια

405νοστήσαντά σε δεῦρ', ἦ ἄγγελον ὀτρύνωμεν."

Transliteration

oud' et' oïomenoisi, theoi de s' anēgagon autoi,

oule te kai mala chaire, theoi de toi olbia doien.

kai moi tout' agoreuson etētumon, ophr' eü eidō,

ē ēdē sapha oide periphrōn Pēnelopeia

405nostēsanta se deur', ē angelon otrunōmen."

English · Butler

All hail, therefore, and may the gods prosper you. But tell me, does Penelope already know of your return, or shall we send some one

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

"ὦ γέρον, ἤδη οἶδε: τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα πένεσθαι;"

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δ' αὖτις ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου.

ὣς δ' αὔτως παῖδες Δολίου κλυτὸν ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆα

410δεικανόωντ' ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐν χείρεσσι φύοντο,

Transliteration

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus

"ō geron, ēdē oide: ti se chrē tauta penesthai;"

hōs phath', ho d' autis ar' hezet' eüxestou epi diphrou.

hōs d' autōs paides Doliou kluton amph' Odusēa

410deikanoōnt' epeessi kai en cheiressi phuonto,

English · Butler

to tell her?" "Old man," answered Odysseus, "she knows already, so you need not trouble about that." On this he took his seat, and the sons of Dolios gathered round Odysseus to give him greeting and embrace him one after the other; then they took their seats in

Homeric Greek

ἑξείης δ' ἕζοντο παραὶ Δολίον, πατέρα σφόν.

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο:

Ὄσσα δ' ἄρ' ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντη,

μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρ' ἐνέπουσα.

415οἱ δ' ἄρ' ὁμῶς ἀί̈οντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

Transliteration

hexeiēs d' hezonto parai Dolion, patera sphon.

hōs hoi men peri deipnon eni megaroisi penonto:

Ossa d' ar' angelos ōka kata ptolin ōicheto pantē,

mnēstērōn stugeron thanaton kai kēr' enepousa.

415hoi d' ar' homōs aïontes ephoitōn allothen allos

English · Butler

due order near Dolios their father. While they were thus busy getting their dinner ready, Rumor went round the town, and noised abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suitors; as soon, therefore, as the people heard of it they gathered from every quarter, groaning and hooting before the house of Odysseus. They took the dead away, buried every man his own, and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take each of them to his own place.

Homeric Greek

μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθ' Ὀδυσῆος,

ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,

τοὺς δ' ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον

πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες:

420αὐτοὶ δ' εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.

Transliteration

muchmōi te stonachēi te domōn proparoith' Odusēos,

ek de nekus oikōn phoreon kai thapton hekastoi,

tous d' ex allaōn poliōn oikonde hekaston

pempon agein halieusi thoēis epi nēusi tithentes:

420autoi d' eis agorēn kion athrooi, achnumenoi kēr.

English · Butler

They then met angrily in the place of assembly, and when they were got together Eupeithes rose to speak. He was overwhelmed with grief for the death of his son Antinoos, who had been the first man killed by Odysseus, so he said, weeping bitterly, "My friend, this man has done the Achaeans great wrong.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τ' ἐγένοντο,

τοῖσιν δ' Εὐπείθης ἀνά θ' ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε:

παιδὸς γάρ οἱ ἄλαστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔκειτο,

Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:

425τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:

Transliteration

autar epei rh' ēgerthen homēgerees t' egenonto,

toisin d' Eupeithēs ana th' histato kai meteeipe:

paidos gar hoi alaston eni phresi penthos ekeito,

Antinoou, ton prōton enērato dios Odusseus:

425tou ho ge dakru cheōn agorēsato kai meteeipen:

English · Butler

He took many of our best men away with him in his fleet, and he has lost both ships and men; now, moreover, on his return he has been killing all the foremost men among the Cephallênians. Let us be up and doing before he can get away to

Homeric Greek

"ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὅδ' ἐμήσατ' Ἀχαιούς:

τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δ' ὤλεσε λαούς:

τοὺς δ' ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχ' ἀρίστους,

430ἀλλ' ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι

Transliteration

"ō philoi, ē mega ergon anēr hod' emēsat' Achaious:

tous men sun nēessin agōn poleas te kai esthlous

ōlese men nēas glaphuras, apo d' ōlese laous:

tous d' elthōn ekteine Kephallēnōn och' aristous,

430all' agete, prin touton ē es Pulon ōka hikesthai

English · Butler

Pylos or to Elis where the Epeans rule, or we shall be ashamed of ourselves for ever afterwards. It will be an everlasting disgrace to us if we do not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers. For my own part I should have no more pleasure in life, but had rather die at once.

Homeric Greek

ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,

ἴομεν: ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθ' αἰεί:

λώβη γὰρ τάδε γ' ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,

εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας

435τισόμεθ'. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο

Transliteration

ē kai es Ēlida dian, hothi krateousin Epeioi,

iomen: ē kai epeita katēphees essometh' aiei:

lōbē gar tade g' esti kai essomenoisi puthesthai,

ei dē mē paidōn te kasignētōn te phonēas

435tisometh'. ouk an emoi ge meta phresin hēdu genoito

English · Butler

Let us be up, then, and after them, before they can

Homeric Greek

ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.

ἀλλ' ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι."

ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, οἶκτος δ' ἕλε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

440ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,

Transliteration

zōemen, alla tachista thanōn phthimenoisi meteiēn.

all' iomen, mē phtheōsi peraiōthentes ekeinoi."

hōs phato dakru cheōn, oiktos d' hele pantas Achaious.

anchimolon de sph' ēlthe Medōn kai theios aoidos

440ek megarōn Odusēos, epei spheas hupnos anēken,

English · Butler

cross over to the mainland." He wept as he spoke and every one pitied him. But Medon and the bard Phemios had now woke up, and came to them from the house of Odysseus. Every one was astonished at seeing them, but

Homeric Greek

ἔσταν δ' ἐν μέσσοισι: τάφος δ' ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς:

"κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι: οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδ' ἐμήσατο ἔργα:

445αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥ' Ὀδυσῆϊ

Transliteration

estan d' en messoisi: taphos d' helen andra hekaston.

toisi de kai meteeipe Medōn pepnumena eidōs:

"keklute dē nun meu, Ithakēsioi: ou gar Odusseus

athanatōn aekēti theōn tad' emēsato erga:

445autos egōn eidon theon ambroton, hos rh' Odusēï

English · Butler

they stood in the middle of the assembly, and Medon said, "Hear me, men of Ithaca. Odysseus did not do these things against the will of heaven. I myself saw an immortal god take the form of Mentor and stand beside him. This god appeared, now in front of him encouraging him,

Homeric Greek

ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.

ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθ' Ὀδυσῆος

φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων

θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον: τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον."

450ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δ' ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.

Transliteration

enguthen hestēkei kai Mentori panta eōikei.

athanatos de theos tote men proparoith' Odusēos

phaineto tharsunōn, tote de mnēstēras orinōn

thune kata megaron: toi d' anchistinoi epipton."

450hōs phato, tous d' ara pantas hupo chlōron deos hēirei.

English · Butler

and now going furiously about the court and attacking the suitors whereon they fell thick on one another." On this pale fear laid hold of them, and old

Homeric Greek

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης

Μαστορίδης: ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω:

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε:

"κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω:

455ὑμετέρῃ κακότητι, φίλοι, τάδε ἔργα γένοντο:

Transliteration

toisi de kai meteeipe gerōn hērōs Halithersēs

Mastoridēs: ho gar oios hora prossō kai opissō:

ho sphin eüphroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipe:

"keklute dē nun meu, Ithakēsioi, hotti ken eipō:

455humeterēi kakotēti, philoi, tade erga genonto:

English · Butler

Halitherses, son of Mastor, rose to speak, for he was the only man among them who knew both past and future; so he spoke to them plainly and in all honesty, saying, "Men of Ithaca, it is all your own fault that things have turned out as they have; you would not listen to me, nor yet to Mentor, when we bade you check the folly of your sons who were doing much wrong in the wantonness of their hearts - wasting the substance and dishonoring the wife of a chieftain who they thought would not return. Now, however, let it be as I say, and do as I tell you.

Homeric Greek

οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πείθεσθ', οὐ Μέντορι ποιμένι λαῶν,

ὑμετέρους παῖδας καταπαυέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,

οἳ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξαν ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσι,

κτήματα κείροντες καὶ ἀτιμάζοντες ἄκοιτιν

460ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος: τὸν δ' οὐκέτι φάντο νέεσθαι.

Transliteration

ou gar emoi peithesth', ou Mentori poimeni laōn,

humeterous paidas katapauemen aphrosunaōn,

hoi mega ergon erexan atasthaliēisi kakēisi,

ktēmata keirontes kai atimazontes akoitin

460andros aristēos: ton d' ouketi phanto neesthai.

English · Butler

Do not go out against Odysseus, or you may find that you have been drawing

Homeric Greek

καὶ νῦν ὧδε γένοιτο. πίθεσθέ μοι ὡς ἀγορεύω:

μὴ ἴομεν, μή πού τις ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν εὕρῃ."

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρ' ἀνήϊξαν μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ

ἡμίσεων πλείους: τοὶ δ' ἀθρόοι αὐτόθι μίμνον:

465οὐ γὰρ σφιν ἅδε μῦθος ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἀλλ' Εὐπείθει

Transliteration

kai nun hōde genoito. pithesthe moi hōs agoreuō:

mē iomen, mē pou tis epispaston kakon heurēi."

hōs ephath', hoi d' ar' anēïxan megalōi alalētōi

hēmiseōn pleious: toi d' athrooi autothi mimnon:

465ou gar sphin hade muthos eni phresin, all' Eupeithei

English · Butler

down evil on your own heads." This was what he said, and more than half raised a loud shout, and at once left the assembly. But the rest stayed where they were, for the speech of Halitherses displeased them, and they sided with Eupeithes; they therefore hurried off for their armor, and

Homeric Greek

πείθοντ': αἶψα δ' ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ τεύχεα ἐσσεύοντο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἕσσαντο περὶ χροὶ̈ νώροπα χαλκόν,

ἀθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο πρὸ ἄστεος εὐρυχόροιο.

τοῖσιν δ' Εὐπείθης ἡγήσατο νηπιέῃσι:

470φῆ δ' ὅ γε τίσεσθαι παιδὸς φόνον, οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔμελλεν

Transliteration

peithont': aipsa d' epeit' epi teuchea esseuonto.

autar epei rh' hessanto peri chroï nōropa chalkon,

athrooi ēgerethonto pro asteos euruchoroio.

toisin d' Eupeithēs hēgēsato nēpieēisi:

470phē d' ho ge tisesthai paidos phonon, oud' ar' emellen

English · Butler

when they had armed themselves, they met together in front of the city, and Eupeithes led them on in their folly. He thought he was going to avenge the murder of his son, whereas in truth he was never to return, but

Homeric Greek

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐφέψειν.

αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη Ζῆνα Κρονίωνα προσηύδα:

"ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε, Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῃ, τί νύ τοι νόος ἔνδοθι κεύθει;

475ἢ προτέρω πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν

Transliteration

aps aponostēsein, all' autou potmon ephepsein.

autar Athēnaiē Zēna Kroniōna prosēuda:

"ō pater hēmetere, Kronidē, hupate kreiontōn,

eipe moi eiromenēi, ti nu toi noos endothi keuthei;

475ē proterō polemon te kakon kai phulopin ainēn

English · Butler

was himself to perish in his attempt. Then Athena said to Zeus, "Father, son of Kronos, king of kings, answer me this question - What does your noos bid you? Will you set them fighting still further, or will you make

Homeric Greek

τεύξεις, ἦ φιλότητα μετ' ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησθα;"

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς:

"τέκνον ἐμόν, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς;

οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,

480ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;

Transliteration

teuxeis, ē philotēta met' amphoteroisi tithēstha;"

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē nephelēgereta Zeus:

"teknon emon, ti me tauta dieireai ēde metallāis;

ou gar dē touton men ebouleusas noon autē,

480hōs ē toi keinous Oduseus apotisetai elthōn;

English · Butler

peace between them?" And Zeus answered, "My child, why should you ask me? Was it not by your own arrangement that Odysseus came home and took his revenge upon the suitors? Do whatever you like, but I will tell you what I think will be the most reasonable arrangement. Now that Odysseus is revenged, let them

Homeric Greek

ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις: ἐρέω τέ τοι ὡς ἐπέοικεν.

ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτίσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,

ἡμεῖς δ' αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο

485ἔκλησιν θέωμεν: τοὶ δ' ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων

Transliteration

erxon hopōs etheleis: ereō te toi hōs epeoiken.

epei dē mnēstēras etisato dios Odusseus,

horkia pista tamontes ho men basileuetō aiei,

hēmeis d' au paidōn te kasignētōn te phonoio

485eklēsin theōmen: toi d' allēlous phileontōn

English · Butler

swear to a solemn covenant, in virtue of which he shall continue to rule, while we cause the others to forgive and forget the massacre of their sons and brothers. Let them then all become friends as heretofore, and

Homeric Greek

ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω."

ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,

βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀί̈ξασα.

οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

490τοῖς δ' ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

hōs to paros, ploutos de kai eirēnē halis estō."

hōs eipōn ōtrune paros memauian Athēnēn,

bē de kat' Oulumpoio karēnōn aïxasa.

hoi d' epei oun sitoio meliphronos ex eron hento,

490tois d' ara muthōn ērche polutlas dios Odusseus:

English · Butler

let peace and plenty reign." This was what Athena was already eager to bring about, so down she darted from off the topmost summits of Olympus. Now when Laertes and the others had done dinner, Odysseus began by saying, "Some of you go out and see if they are not getting close up to us." So one of Dolios’ sons went as he was bid. Standing on the threshold

Homeric Greek

"ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι μὴ δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες."

ὣς ἔφατ': ἐκ δ' υἱὸς Δολίου κίεν, ὡς ἐκέλευεν:

στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν ἔσιδε πάντας:

αἶψα δ' Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

495"οἵδε δὴ ἐγγὺς ἔασ': ἀλλ' ὁπλιζώμεθα θᾶσσον."

Transliteration

"exelthōn tis idoi mē dē schedon ōsi kiontes."

hōs ephat': ek d' huios Doliou kien, hōs ekeleuen:

stē d' ar' ep' oudon iōn, tous de schedon eside pantas:

aipsa d' Odussēa epea pteroenta prosēuda:

495"hoide dē engus eas': all' hoplizōmetha thasson."

English · Butler

he could see them all quite near, and said to Odysseus, "Here they are, let us put on our armor at once."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ὤρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσι δύοντο,

τέσσαρες ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆ', ἓξ δ' υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο:

ἐν δ' ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τ' ἐς τεύχε' ἔδυνον,

καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.

500αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἕσσαντο περὶ χροὶ̈ νώροπα χαλκόν,

Transliteration

hōs ephath', hoi d' ōrnunto kai en teuchessi duonto,

tessares amph' Odusē', hex d' huieis hoi Dolioio:

en d' ara Laertēs Dolios t' es teuche' edunon,

kai polioi per eontes, anankaioi polemistai.

500autar epei rh' hessanto peri chroï nōropa chalkon,

English · Butler

They put on their armor as fast as they could - that is to say Odysseus, his three men, and the six sons of Dolios. Laertes also and Dolios did the same - warriors by necessity in spite of their gray hair. When they had all put on their armor, they opened the gate and sallied

Homeric Greek

ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δ' ἤϊον, ἄρχε δ' Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:

505αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν:

Transliteration

ōïxan rha thuras, ek d' ēïon, arche d' Odusseus.

toisi d' ep' anchimolon thugatēr Dios ēlthen Athēnē

Mentori eidomenē ēmen demas ēde kai audēn.

tēn men idōn gēthēse polutlas dios Odusseus:

505aipsa de Tēlemachon prosephōneen hon philon huion:

English · Butler

forth, Odysseus leading the way. Then Zeus’ daughter Athena came up to them, having assumed the form and voice of Mentor. Odysseus was glad when he saw her, and said to his son Telemakhos, "Telemakhos, now that you are about to fight

Homeric Greek

"Τηλέμαχ', ἤδη μὲν τόδε γ' εἴσεαι αὐτὸς ἐπελθών,

ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,

μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

ἀλκῇ τ' ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπ' αἶαν."

510τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Transliteration

"Tēlemach', ēdē men tode g' eiseai autos epelthōn,

andrōn marnamenōn hina te krinontai aristoi,

mē ti kataischunein paterōn genos, hoi to paros per

alkēi t' ēnoreēi te kekasmetha pasan ep' aian."

510ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnumenos antion ēuda:

English · Butler

in an engagement, which will show every man's mettle, be sure not to disgrace your ancestors, who were eminent for their strength and courage all the world over." "You say truly, my dear father," answered Telemakhos,

Homeric Greek

"ὄψεαι, αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσθα, πάτερ φίλε, τῷδ' ἐπὶ θυμῷ

οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις."

ὣς φάτο, Λαέρτης δ' ἐχάρη καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε:

"τίς νύ μοι ἡμέρη ἥδε, θεοὶ φίλοι; ἦ μάλα χαίρω:

515υἱός θ' υἱωνός τ' ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσιν."

Transliteration

"opseai, ai k' ethelēistha, pater phile, tōid' epi thumōi

ou ti kataischunonta teon genos, hōs agoreueis."

hōs phato, Laertēs d' echarē kai muthon eeipe:

"tis nu moi hēmerē hēde, theoi philoi; ē mala chairō:

515huios th' huiōnos t' aretēs peri dērin echousin."

English · Butler

"and you shall see, if you will, that I am in no mind to disgrace your family." Laertes was delighted when he heard this. "Good heavens, he exclaimed, "what a day I am enjoying: I do indeed rejoice at it. My son and grandson are vying with one another in the matter of valor."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:

"ὦ Ἀρκεισιάδη, πάντων πολὺ φίλταθ' ἑταίρων,

εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,

αἶψα μαλ' ἀμπεπαλὼν προί̈ει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος."

520ὣς φάτο, καί ῥ' ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

Transliteration

ton de paristamenē prosephē glaukōpis Athēnē:

"ō Arkeisiadē, pantōn polu philtath' hetairōn,

euxamenos kourēi glaukōpidi kai Dii patri,

aipsa mal' ampepalōn proïei dolichoskion enchos."

520hōs phato, kai rh' empneuse menos mega Pallas Athēnē

English · Butler

On this Athena came close up to him and said, "Son of Arceisius - best friend I have in the world - pray to the gray-eyed damsel, and to Zeus her father; then poise your spear and hurl it." As she spoke she infused fresh vigor into him, and when he had prayed to her he poised his spear and hurled it.

Homeric Greek

εὐξάμενος δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,

αἶψα μάλ' ἀμπεπαλὼν προί̈ει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.

ἡ δ' οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

525δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.

Transliteration

euxamenos d' ar' epeita Dios kourēi megaloio,

aipsa mal' ampepalōn proïei dolichoskion enchos,

kai balen Eupeithea koruthos dia chalkoparēiou.

hē d' ouk enchos eruto, diapro de eisato chalkos,

525doupēsen de pesōn, arabēse de teuche' ep' autōi.

English · Butler

As she spoke she infused fresh vigor into him, and when he had prayed to her he poised his spear and hurled it. He hit Eupeithes’ helmet, and the spear went right through it, for the helmet stayed it not, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Meantime Odysseus and his son fell the front line of the foe and smote them with their swords and spears;

Homeric Greek

ἐν δ' ἔπεσον προμάχοις Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,

τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.

καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἀνόστους,

εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

530ἤϋσεν φωνῇ, κατὰ ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα.

Transliteration

en d' epeson promachois Oduseus kai phaidimos huios,

tupton de xiphesin te kai enchesin amphiguoisi.

kai nu ke dē pantas olesan kai ethēkan anostous,

ei mē Athēnaiē, kourē Dios aigiochoio,

530ēüsen phōnēi, kata eschethe laon hapanta.

English · Butler

indeed, they would have killed every one of them, and prevented them from ever getting home again, only Athena raised her voice aloud, and made every one pause. "Men of Ithaca," she cried, "cease this dreadful war,

Homeric Greek

"ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,

ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα."

ὣς φάτ' Ἀθηναίη, τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν:

τῶν δ' ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,

535πάντα δ' ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης:

Transliteration

"ischesthe ptolemou, Ithakēsioi, argaleoio,

hōs ken anaimōti ge diakrinthēte tachista."

hōs phat' Athēnaiē, tous de chlōron deos heilen:

tōn d' ara deisantōn ek cheirōn eptato teuchea,

535panta d' epi chthoni pipte, theas opa phōnēsasēs:

English · Butler

and settle the matter at once without further bloodshed." On this pale fear seized every one; they were so frightened that their arms dropped from their hands and fell upon the ground at the sound of the goddess’ voice, and they fled back to the city for their lives. But Odysseus gave a great cry, and gathering himself together swooped down like a soaring eagle. Then the son of

Homeric Greek

πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.

σμερδαλέον δ' ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τ' αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.

καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,

540κὰδ δ' ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.

Transliteration

pros de polin trōpōnto lilaiomenoi biotoio.

smerdaleon d' eboēse polutlas dios Odusseus,

oimēsen de aleis hōs t' aietos hupsipetēeis.

kai tote dē Kronidēs aphiei psoloenta keraunon,

540kad d' epese prosthe glaukōpidos obrimopatrēs.

English · Butler

Kronos sent a thunderbolt of fire that fell just in front of Athena, so she said to Odysseus, "Odysseus, noble

Homeric Greek

δὴ τότ' Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:

"διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,

ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιί̈ου πολέμοιο,

μή πως τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς."

545ὣς φάτ' Ἀθηναίη, ὁ δ' ἐπείθετο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.

Transliteration

dē tot' Odussēa prosephē glaukōpis Athēnē:

"diogenes Laertiadē, polumēchan' Odusseu,

ischeo, paue de neikos homoiïou polemoio,

mē pōs toi Kronidēs kecholōsetai euruopa Zeus."

545hōs phat' Athēnaiē, ho d' epeitheto, chaire de thumōi.

English · Butler

son of Laertes, stop this warful strife, or Zeus will be angry with you." Thus spoke Athena, and Odysseus obeyed her gladly.

Homeric Greek

ὅρκια δ' αὖ κατόπισθε μετ' ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκεν

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

Transliteration

horkia d' au katopisthe met' amphoteroisin ethēken

Pallas Athēnaiē, kourē Dios aigiochoio,

Mentori eidomenē ēmen demas ēde kai audēn.

English · Butler

Thus spoke Athena, and Odysseus obeyed her gladly. Then Athena assumed the form and voice of Mentor, and presently made a covenant of peace between the two contending parties.