Book IV

Homeric Greek

1οἱ δ' ἷξον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,

πρὸς δ' ἄρα δώματ' ἔλων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

τὸν δ' εὗρον δαινύντα γάμον πολλοῖσιν ἔτῃσιν

υἱέος ἠδὲ θυγατρὸς ἀμύμονος ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

5τὴν μὲν Ἀχιλλῆος ῥηξήνορος υἱέι πέμπεν:

Transliteration

1hoi d' hixon koilēn Lakedaimona kētōessan,

pros d' ara dōmat' elōn Menelaou kudalimoio.

ton d' heuron dainunta gamon polloisin etēisin

huieos ēde thugatros amumonos hōi eni oikōi.

5tēn men Achillēos rhēxēnoros huiei pempen:

English · Butler

They reached the low lying city of Lacedaemon, where they drove straight to the halls of Menelaos. They found him in his own house, feasting with his many clansmen in honor of the wedding of his son, and also of his daughter, whom he was marrying to the son of that valiant warrior Achilles. He had given his consent and promised her to

Homeric Greek

ἐν Τροίῃ γὰρ πρῶτον ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε

δωσέμεναι, τοῖσιν δὲ θεοὶ γάμον ἐξετέλειον.

τὴν ἄρ' ὅ γ' ἔνθ' ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι πέμπε νέεσθαι

Μυρμιδόνων προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν.

10υἱέι δὲ Σπάρτηθεν Ἀλέκτορος ἤγετο κούρην,

Transliteration

en Troiēi gar prōton hupescheto kai kateneuse

dōsemenai, toisin de theoi gamon exeteleion.

tēn ar' ho g' enth' hippoisi kai harmasi pempe neesthai

Murmidonōn proti astu perikluton, hoisin anassen.

10huiei de Spartēthen Alektoros ēgeto kourēn,

English · Butler

him while he was still at Troy, and now the gods were bringing the marriage about; so he was sending her with chariots and horses to the city of the Myrmidons over whom Achilles’ son was reigning. For his only son he had found a bride from Sparta, daughter of Alektor. This son, Megapenthes, was born to

Homeric Greek

ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος γένετο κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης

ἐκ δούλης: Ἑλένῃ δὲ θεοὶ γόνον οὐκέτ' ἔφαινον,

ἐπεὶ δὴ τὸ πρῶτον ἐγείνατο παῖδ' ἐρατεινήν,

Ἑρμιόνην, ἣ εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης.

15ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο καθ' ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα

Transliteration

hos hoi tēlugetos geneto krateros Megapenthēs

ek doulēs: Helenēi de theoi gonon ouket' ephainon,

epei dē to prōton egeinato paid' erateinēn,

Hermionēn, hē eidos eche chruseēs Aphroditēs.

15hōs hoi men dainunto kath' hupserephes mega dōma

English · Butler

him of a bondwoman, for heaven granted Helen no more children after she had borne Hermione, who was fair as golden Aphrodite herself. So the neighbors and kinsmen of Menelaos were feasting and making merry in his house.

Homeric Greek

γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

τερπόμενοι: μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

φορμίζων, δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατ' αὐτούς,

μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος, ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.

20τὼ δ' αὖτ' ἐν προθύροισι δόμων αὐτώ τε καὶ ἵππω,

Transliteration

geitones ēde etai Menelaou kudalimoio,

terpomenoi: meta de sphin emelpeto theios aoidos

phormizōn, doiō de kubistētēre kat' autous,

molpēs exarchontos, edineuon kata messous.

20tō d' aut' en prothuroisi domōn autō te kai hippō,

English · Butler

So the neighbors and kinsmen of Menelaos were feasting and making merry in his house. There was a singer also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune. Telemakhos and the son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate, whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaos came out, and as soon as he saw them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master.

Homeric Greek

Τηλέμαχός θ' ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,

στῆσαν: ὁ δὲ προμολὼν ἴδετο κρείων Ἐτεωνεύς,

ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν,

25ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Transliteration

Tēlemachos th' hērōs kai Nestoros aglaos huios,

stēsan: ho de promolōn ideto kreiōn Eteōneus,

otrēros therapōn Menelaou kudalimoio,

bē d' imen angeleōn dia dōmata poimeni laōn,

25anchou d' histamenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

English · Butler

Telemakhos and the son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate, whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaos came out, and as soon as he saw them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master. He went close up to him and said, "Menelaos, there are some strangers come here, two men, who look like sons of Zeus. What are we to do? Shall we take

Homeric Greek

"ξείνω δή τινε τώδε, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,

ἄνδρε δύω, γενεῇ δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἔικτον.

ἀλλ' εἴπ', ἤ σφωιν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους,

ἦ ἄλλον πέμπωμεν ἱκανέμεν, ὅς κε φιλήσῃ."

30τὸν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

Transliteration

"xeinō dē tine tōde, diotrephes ō Menelae,

andre duō, geneēi de Dios megaloio eikton.

all' eip', ē sphōin katalusomen ōkeas hippous,

ē allon pempōmen hikanemen, hos ke philēsēi."

30ton de meg' ochthēsas prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

English · Butler

their horses out, or tell them to find friends elsewhere as they best can?" Menelaos was very angry and said, "Eteoneus, son of Boethoos, you never used to be a fool, but now you talk like a simpleton.

Homeric Greek

"οὐ μὲν νήπιος ἦσθα, Βοηθοί̈δη Ἐτεωνεῦ,

τὸ πρίν: ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πάϊς ὣς νήπια βάζεις.

ἦ μὲν δὴ νῶι ξεινήια πολλὰ φαγόντε

ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρ' ἱκόμεθ', αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

35ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύ' ἵππους

Transliteration

"ou men nēpios ēstha, Boēthoïdē Eteōneu,

to prin: atar men nun ge païs hōs nēpia bazeis.

ē men dē nōi xeinēia polla phagonte

allōn anthrōpōn deur' hikometh', ai ke pothi Zeus

35exopisō per pausēi oizuos. alla lu' hippous

English · Butler

Menelaos was very angry and said, "Eteoneus, son of Boethoos, you never used to be a fool, but now you talk like a simpleton. Take their horses out, of course, and show the strangers in that they may have supper; you and I have stayed often enough at other people's houses before we got back here, where heaven grant that we

Homeric Greek

ξείνων, ἐς δ' αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι."

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δὲ μεγάροιο διέσσυτο, κέκλετο δ' ἄλλους

ὀτρηροὺς θεράποντας ἅμα σπέσθαι ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.

οἱ δ' ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,

40καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐφ' ἱππείῃσι κάπῃσι,

Transliteration

xeinōn, es d' autous proterō age thoinēthēnai."

hōs phath', ho de megaroio diessuto, kekleto d' allous

otrērous therapontas hama spesthai heoi autōi.

hoi d' hippous men lusan hupo zugou hidrōontas,

40kai tous men katedēsan eph' hippeiēisi kapēisi,

English · Butler

may rest in peace henceforward." So Eteoneus bustled back and bade other servants come with him. They took their sweating hands from under the yoke, made them fast to the mangers, and gave them a feed of oats and barley mixed. Then they leaned the chariot against

Homeric Greek

πὰρ δ' ἔβαλον ζειάς, ἀνὰ δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἔμιξαν,

ἅρματα δ' ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,

αὐτοὺς δ' εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες

θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος:

45ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

Transliteration

par d' ebalon zeias, ana de kri leukon emixan,

harmata d' eklinan pros enōpia pamphanoōnta,

autous d' eisēgon theion domon. hoi de idontes

thaumazon kata dōma diotrepheos basilēos:

45hōs te gar ēeliou aiglē pelen ēe selēnēs

English · Butler

the end wall of the courtyard, and led the way into the house. Telemakhos and Peisistratos were astonished when they saw it, for its splendor was as that of the sun and moon; then, when they had admired everything to their

Homeric Greek

δῶμα καθ' ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ἔς ῥ' ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐυξέστας λούσαντο.

τοὺς δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,

50ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,

Transliteration

dōma kath' hupserephes Menelaou kudalimoio.

autar epei tarpēsan horōmenoi ophthalmoisin,

es rh' asaminthous bantes euxestas lousanto.

tous d' epei oun dmōiai lousan kai chrisan elaiōi,

50amphi d' ara chlainas oulas balon ēde chitōnas,

English · Butler

heart's content, they went into the bath room and washed themselves. When the servants had washed them and anointed them with oil, they brought them woolen cloaks and shirts, and the two took their seats by the side of Menelaos. A maidservant brought them water in a beautiful

Homeric Greek

ἔς ῥα θρόνους ἕζοντο παρ' Ἀτρεί̈δην Μενέλαον.

χέρνιβα δ' ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

νίψασθαι: παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

55σῖτον δ' αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,

Transliteration

es rha thronous hezonto par' Atreïdēn Menelaon.

cherniba d' amphipolos prochoōi epecheue pherousa

kalēi chruseiēi huper argureoio lebētos,

nipsasthai: para de xestēn etanusse trapezan.

55siton d' aidoiē tamiē parethēke pherousa,

English · Butler

golden ewer, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands; and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought them bread, and offered them many good things of what there was in the

Homeric Greek

εἴδατα πόλλ' ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.

δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας

παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα.

τὼ καὶ δεικνύμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

60"σίτου θ' ἅπτεσθον καὶ χαίρετον. αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

Transliteration

eidata poll' epitheisa, charizomenē pareontōn.

daitros de kreiōn pinakas parethēken aeiras

pantoiōn, para de sphi tithei chruseia kupella.

tō kai deiknumenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

60"sitou th' haptesthon kai chaireton. autar epeita

English · Butler

house, while the carver fetched them plates of all manner of meats and set cups of gold by their side. Menelaos then greeted them saying, "Eat up, and welcome; when you have finished supper I shall ask who you are, for the lineage of such men as you cannot have been lost. You must be descended

Homeric Greek

δείπνου πασσαμένω εἰρησόμεθ', οἵ τινές ἐστον

ἀνδρῶν: οὐ γὰρ σφῷν γε γένος ἀπόλωλε τοκήων,

ἀλλ' ἀνδρῶν γένος ἐστὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων

σκηπτούχων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε κακοὶ τοιούσδε τέκοιεν."

65ὣς φάτο, καί σφιν νῶτα βοὸς παρὰ πίονα θῆκεν

Transliteration

deipnou passamenō eirēsometh', hoi tines eston

andrōn: ou gar sphōin ge genos apolōle tokēōn,

all' andrōn genos este diotrepheōn basilēōn

skēptouchōn, epei ou ke kakoi toiousde tekoien."

65hōs phato, kai sphin nōta boos para piona thēken

English · Butler

from a line of scepter-bearing kings, for poor people do not have such sons as you are." On this he handed them a piece of fat roast loin, which had been set near him as being a prime part, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them; as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemakhos said to the son of Nestor, with his head so close that no one might hear, "Look, Peisistratos, man after my own heart, see the gleam of bronze and gold - of amber, ivory, and silver.

Homeric Greek

ὄπτ' ἐν χερσὶν ἑλών, τά ῥά οἱ γέρα πάρθεσαν αὐτῷ.

οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν,

70ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθ' οἱ ἄλλοι:

Transliteration

opt' en chersin helōn, ta rha hoi gera parthesan autōi.

hoi d' ep' oneiath' hetoima prokeimena cheiras iallon.

autar epei posios kai edētuos ex eron hento,

dē tote Tēlemachos prosephōnee Nestoros huion,

70anchi schōn kephalēn, hina mē peuthoiath' hoi alloi:

English · Butler

On this he handed them a piece of fat roast loin, which had been set near him as being a prime part, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them; as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemakhos said to the son of Nestor, with his head so close that no one might hear, "Look, Peisistratos, man after my own heart, see the gleam of bronze and gold - of amber, ivory, and silver. Everything is so splendid that it is like seeing the palace of Olympian Zeus.

Homeric Greek

"φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,

χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κὰδ δώματα ἠχήεντα

χρυσοῦ τ' ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδ' ἐλέφαντος.

Ζηνός που τοιήδε γ' Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή,

75ὅσσα τάδ' ἄσπετα πολλά: σέβας μ' ἔχει εἰσορόωντα."

Transliteration

"phrazeo, Nestoridē, tōi emōi kecharismene thumōi,

chalkou te steropēn kad dōmata ēchēenta

chrusou t' ēlektrou te kai argurou ēd' elephantos.

Zēnos pou toiēde g' Olumpiou endothen aulē,

75hossa tad' aspeta polla: sebas m' echei eisoroōnta."

English · Butler

I am lost in admiration."

Homeric Greek

τοῦ δ' ἀγορεύοντος ξύνετο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

"τέκνα φίλ', ἦ τοι Ζηνὶ βροτῶν οὐκ ἄν τις ἐρίζοι:

ἀθάνατοι γὰρ τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματ' ἔασιν:

80ἀνδρῶν δ' ἤ κέν τίς μοι ἐρίσσεται, ἠὲ καὶ οὐκί,

Transliteration

tou d' agoreuontos xuneto xanthos Menelaos,

kai spheas phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

"tekna phil', ē toi Zēni brotōn ouk an tis erizoi:

athanatoi gar tou ge domoi kai ktēmat' easin:

80andrōn d' ē ken tis moi erissetai, ēe kai ouki,

English · Butler

Menelaos overheard him and said, "No one, my sons, can hold his own with Zeus, for his house and everything about him is immortal; but among mortal men - well, there may be another who has as much wealth as I have, or there may not; but at all events I have traveled much and have undergone much hardship, for it was nearly eight years before I could get home with my fleet. I went to Cyprus, Phoenicia and the Egyptians; I went also to the Ethiopians, the Sidonians, and the Erembians, and to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are born, and the sheep bear lambs three times a year.

Homeric Greek

κτήμασιν. ἦ γὰρ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλ' ἐπαληθεὶς

ἠγαγόμην ἐν νηυσὶ καὶ ὀγδοάτῳ ἔτει ἦλθον,

Κύπρον Φοινίκην τε καὶ Αἰγυπτίους ἐπαληθείς,

Αἰθίοπάς θ' ἱκόμην καὶ Σιδονίους καὶ Ἐρεμβοὺς

85καὶ Λιβύην, ἵνα τ' ἄρνες ἄφαρ κεραοὶ τελέθουσι.

Transliteration

ktēmasin. ē gar polla pathōn kai poll' epalētheis

ēgagomēn en nēusi kai ogdoatōi etei ēlthon,

Kupron Phoinikēn te kai Aiguptious epalētheis,

Aithiopas th' hikomēn kai Sidonious kai Erembous

85kai Libuēn, hina t' arnes aphar keraoi telethousi.

English · Butler

Every one in that country, whether master or man, has plenty of cheese, meat, and good milk, for the ewes yield all the year round. But while I was traveling and getting great riches among these people, my brother was secretly and shockingly murdered through the perfidy of his

Homeric Greek

τρὶς γὰρ τίκτει μῆλα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.

ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε ἄναξ ἐπιδευὴς οὔτε τι ποιμὴν

τυροῦ καὶ κρειῶν οὐδὲ γλυκεροῖο γάλακτος,

ἀλλ' αἰεὶ παρέχουσιν ἐπηετανὸν γάλα θῆσθαι.

90ἧος ἐγὼ περὶ κεῖνα πολὺν βίοτον συναγείρων

Transliteration

tris gar tiktei mēla telesphoron eis eniauton.

entha men oute anax epideuēs oute ti poimēn

turou kai kreiōn oude glukeroio galaktos,

all' aiei parechousin epēetanon gala thēsthai.

90hēos egō peri keina polun bioton sunageirōn

English · Butler

wicked wife, so that I have no pleasure in being lord of all this wealth. Whoever your parents may be they must have told you about all this, and of my heavy loss in the ruin of a stately mansion fully and magnificently furnished. Would that I had only a third of

Homeric Greek

ἠλώμην, τῆός μοι ἀδελφεὸν ἄλλος ἔπεφνεν

λάθρῃ, ἀνωιστί, δόλῳ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο:

ὣς οὔ τοι χαίρων τοῖσδε κτεάτεσσιν ἀνάσσω.

καὶ πατέρων τάδε μέλλετ' ἀκουέμεν, οἵ τινες ὑμῖν

95εἰσίν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον, καὶ ἀπώλεσα οἶκον

Transliteration

ēlōmēn, tēos moi adelpheon allos epephnen

lathrēi, anōisti, dolōi oulomenēs alochoio:

hōs ou toi chairōn toisde kteatessin anassō.

kai paterōn tade mellet' akouemen, hoi tines humin

95eisin, epei mala polla pathon, kai apōlesa oikon

English · Butler

what I now have so that I had stayed at home, and all those were living who perished on the plain of Troy, far from Argos. I often grieve, as I sit here in my house, for one and all of them. At times I cry aloud for sorrow, but presently I leave off again, for crying is cold comfort and one soon tires of it.

Homeric Greek

εὖ μάλα ναιετάοντα, κεχανδότα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.

ὧν ὄφελον τριτάτην περ ἔχων ἐν δώμασι μοῖραν

ναίειν, οἱ δ' ἄνδρες σόοι ἔμμεναι, οἳ τότ' ὄλοντο

Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.

100ἀλλ' ἔμπης πάντας μὲν ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων

Transliteration

eu mala naietaonta, kechandota polla kai esthla.

hōn ophelon tritatēn per echōn en dōmasi moiran

naiein, hoi d' andres sooi emmenai, hoi tot' olonto

Troiēi en eureiēi hekas Argeos hippobotoio.

100all' empēs pantas men oduromenos kai acheuōn

English · Butler

Yet grieve for these as I may, I do so for one man more than for them all. I cannot even think of him without loathing both food and sleep, so miserable does he make me, for no one of all the Achaeans worked so hard or risked so much as he did.

Homeric Greek

πολλάκις ἐν μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισιν

ἄλλοτε μέν τε γόῳ φρένα τέρπομαι, ἄλλοτε δ' αὖτε

παύομαι: αἰψηρὸς δὲ κόρος κρυεροῖο γόοιο.

τῶν πάντων οὐ τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ,

105ὡς ἑνός, ὅς τέ μοι ὕπνον ἀπεχθαίρει καὶ ἐδωδὴν

Transliteration

pollakis en megaroisi kathēmenos hēmeteroisin

allote men te goōi phrena terpomai, allote d' aute

pauomai: aipsēros de koros krueroio gooio.

tōn pantōn ou tosson oduromai, achnumenos per,

105hōs henos, hos te moi hupnon apechthairei kai edōdēn

English · Butler

He took nothing by it, and has left a legacy of sorrow to myself, for he has been gone a long time, and we know not whether he is alive or dead. His old father,

Homeric Greek

μνωομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν τόσσ' ἐμόγησεν,

ὅσσ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἐμόγησε καὶ ἤρατο. τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἔμελλεν

αὐτῷ κήδε' ἔσεσθαι, ἐμοὶ δ' ἄχος αἰὲν ἄλαστον

κείνου, ὅπως δὴ δηρὸν ἀποίχεται, οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν,

110ζώει ὅ γ' ἦ τέθνηκεν. ὀδύρονταί νύ που αὐτὸν

Transliteration

mnōomenōi, epei ou tis Achaiōn toss' emogēsen,

hoss' Oduseus emogēse kai ērato. tōi d' ar' emellen

autōi kēde' esesthai, emoi d' achos aien alaston

keinou, hopōs dē dēron apoichetai, oude ti idmen,

110zōei ho g' ē tethnēken. odurontai nu pou auton

English · Butler

his long-suffering wife Penelope, and his son Telemakhos, whom he left behind him an infant in arms,

Homeric Greek

Λαέρτης θ' ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια

Τηλέμαχός θ', ὃν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ."

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ' ἄρα πατρὸς ὑφ' ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.

δάκρυ δ' ἀπὸ βλεφάρων χαμάδις βάλε πατρὸς ἀκούσας,

115χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντ' ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχὼν

Transliteration

Laertēs th' ho gerōn kai echephrōn Pēnelopeia

Tēlemachos th', hon eleipe neon gegaōt' eni oikōi."

hōs phato, tōi d' ara patros huph' himeron ōrse gooio.

dakru d' apo blepharōn chamadis bale patros akousas,

115chlainan porphureēn ant' ophthalmoiin anaschōn

English · Butler

are plunged in grief on his account." Thus spoke Menelaos, and the heart of Telemakhos yearned as he bethought him of his father. Tears fell from his eyes as he heard him thus mentioned, so that he held his cloak before his face with both hands.

Homeric Greek

ἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσί. νόησε δέ μιν Μενέλαος,

μερμήριξε δ' ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,

ἠέ μιν αὐτὸν πατρὸς ἐάσειε μνησθῆναι

ἦ πρῶτ' ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.

120ἧος ὁ ταῦθ' ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,

Transliteration

amphoterēisin chersi. noēse de min Menelaos,

mermērixe d' epeita kata phrena kai kata thumon,

ēe min auton patros easeie mnēsthēnai

ē prōt' exereoito hekasta te peirēsaito.

120hēos ho tauth' hōrmaine kata phrena kai kata thumon,

English · Butler

When Menelaos saw this he doubted whether to let him choose his own time for speaking, or to ask him at once and find what it was all about. While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high-vaulted and perfumed room, looking as lovely as Artemis herself.

Homeric Greek

ἐκ δ' Ἑλένη θαλάμοιο θυώδεος ὑψορόφοιο

ἤλυθεν Ἀρτέμιδι χρυσηλακάτῳ ἐικυῖα.

τῇ δ' ἄρ' ἅμ' Ἀδρήστη κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,

Ἀλκίππη δὲ τάπητα φέρεν μαλακοῦ ἐρίοιο,

125Φυλὼ δ' ἀργύρεον τάλαρον φέρε, τόν οἱ ἔθηκεν

Transliteration

ek d' Helenē thalamoio thuōdeos hupsorophoio

ēluthen Artemidi chrusēlakatōi eikuia.

tēi d' ar' ham' Adrēstē klisiēn eutukton ethēken,

Alkippē de tapēta pheren malakou erioio,

125Phulō d' argureon talaron phere, ton hoi ethēken

English · Butler

While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high-vaulted and perfumed room, looking as lovely as Artemis herself. Adraste brought her a seat, Alkippe a soft woolen rug, while Phylo fetched her the silver work-box which Alkandra wife of Polybos had given her. Polybos lived in Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world; he gave Menelaos two baths, both of pure silver, two tripods, and ten talents of gold; besides all this, his wife gave

Homeric Greek

Ἀλκάνδρη, Πολύβοιο δάμαρ, ὃς ἔναι' ἐνὶ Θήβῃς

Αἰγυπτίῃς, ὅθι πλεῖστα δόμοις ἐν κτήματα κεῖται:

ὃς Μενελάῳ δῶκε δύ' ἀργυρέας ἀσαμίνθους,

δοιοὺς δὲ τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα.

130χωρὶς δ' αὖθ' Ἑλένῃ ἄλοχος πόρε κάλλιμα δῶρα:

Transliteration

Alkandrē, Poluboio damar, hos enai' eni Thēbēis

Aiguptiēis, hothi pleista domois en ktēmata keitai:

hos Menelaōi dōke du' argureas asaminthous,

doious de tripodas, deka de chrusoio talanta.

130chōris d' auth' Helenēi alochos pore kallima dōra:

English · Butler

Helen some beautiful presents, to wit, a golden distaff, and a silver work-box that ran on wheels, with a gold band round the top of it. Phylo now placed this by her side, full of fine

Homeric Greek

χρυσέην τ' ἠλακάτην τάλαρόν θ' ὑπόκυκλον ὄπασσεν

ἀργύρεον, χρυσῷ δ' ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράαντο.

τόν ῥά οἱ ἀμφίπολος Φυλὼ παρέθηκε φέρουσα

νήματος ἀσκητοῖο βεβυσμένον: αὐτὰρ ἐπ' αὐτῷ

135ἠλακάτη τετάνυστο ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχουσα.

Transliteration

chruseēn t' ēlakatēn talaron th' hupokuklon opassen

argureon, chrusōi d' epi cheilea kekraanto.

ton rha hoi amphipolos Phulō parethēke pherousa

nēmatos askētoio bebusmenon: autar ep' autōi

135ēlakatē tetanusto iodnephes eiros echousa.

English · Butler

spun yarn, and a distaff charged with violet colored wool was laid upon the top of it. Then Helen took her seat, put her feet upon the footstool, and

Homeric Greek

ἕζετο δ' ἐν κλισμῷ, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.

αὐτίκα δ' ἥ γ' ἐπέεσσι πόσιν ἐρέεινεν ἕκαστα:

"ἴδμεν δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οἵ τινες οἵδε

ἀνδρῶν εὐχετόωνται ἱκανέμεν ἡμέτερον δῶ;

140ψεύσομαι ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.

Transliteration

hezeto d' en klismōi, hupo de thrēnus posin ēen.

autika d' hē g' epeessi posin ereeinen hekasta:

"idmen dē, Menelae diotrephes, hoi tines hoide

andrōn euchetoōntai hikanemen hēmeteron dō;

140pseusomai ē etumon ereō; keletai de me thumos.

English · Butler

began to question her husband. "Do we know, Menelaos," said she, "the names of these strangers who have come to visit us? Shall I guess right or wrong? But I cannot help saying what I think.

Homeric Greek

οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι

οὔτ' ἄνδρ' οὔτε γυναῖκα, σέβας μ' ἔχει εἰσορόωσαν,

ὡς ὅδ' Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαλήτορος υἷι ἔοικε,

Τηλεμάχῳ, τὸν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

145κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ὅτ' ἐμεῖο κυνώπιδος εἵνεκ' Ἀχαιοὶ

Transliteration

ou gar pō tina phēmi eoikota hōde idesthai

out' andr' oute gunaika, sebas m' echei eisoroōsan,

hōs hod' Odussēos megalētoros huii eoike,

Tēlemachōi, ton eleipe neon gegaōt' eni oikōi

145keinos anēr, hot' emeio kunōpidos heinek' Achaioi

English · Butler

Never yet have I seen either man or woman so like somebody else (indeed when I look at him I hardly know what to think) as this young man is like Telemakhos, whom Odysseus left as a baby behind him, when you Achaeans went to Troy with battle in

Homeric Greek

ἤλθεθ' ὑπὸ Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

"οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐγὼ νοέω, γύναι, ὡς σὺ ἐίσκεις:

κείνου γὰρ τοιοίδε πόδες τοιαίδε τε χεῖρες

150ὀφθαλμῶν τε βολαὶ κεφαλή τ' ἐφύπερθέ τε χαῖται.

Transliteration

ēltheth' hupo Troiēn polemon thrasun hormainontes."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

"houtō nun kai egō noeō, gunai, hōs su eiskeis:

keinou gar toioide podes toiaide te cheires

150ophthalmōn te bolai kephalē t' ephuperthe te chaitai.

English · Butler

your hearts, on account of my most shameless self." "My dear wife," replied Menelaos, "I see the likeness just as you do. His hands and feet are just like Odysseus’ so is his hair, with the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes. Moreover, when I was talking about

Homeric Greek

καὶ νῦν ἦ τοι ἐγὼ μεμνημένος ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆι

μυθεόμην, ὅσα κεῖνος ὀιζύσας ἐμόγησεν

ἀμφ' ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ὁ πικρὸν ὑπ' ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβε,

χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντ' ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχών."

155τὸν δ' αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Transliteration

kai nun ē toi egō memnēmenos amph' Odusēi

mutheomēn, hosa keinos oizusas emogēsen

amph' emoi, autar ho pikron hup' ophrusi dakruon eibe,

chlainan porphureēn ant' ophthalmoiin anaschōn."

155ton d' au Nestoridēs Peisistratos antion ēuda:

English · Butler

Odysseus, and saying how much he had suffered on my account, tears fell from his eyes, and he hid his face in his mantle." Then Peisistratos said, "Menelaos, son of Atreus, you are right in thinking that this young man is Telemakhos, but he is very modest, and is ashamed to come here and begin opening up discourse with one whose conversation is so divinely interesting as your own.

Homeric Greek

"Ἀτρεί̈δη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

κείνου μέν τοι ὅδ' υἱὸς ἐτήτυμον, ὡς ἀγορεύεις:

ἀλλὰ σαόφρων ἐστί, νεμεσσᾶται δ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ὧδ' ἐλθὼν τὸ πρῶτον ἐπεσβολίας ἀναφαίνειν

160ἄντα σέθεν, τοῦ νῶι θεοῦ ὣς τερπόμεθ' αὐδῇ.

Transliteration

"Atreïdē Menelae diotrephes, orchame laōn,

keinou men toi hod' huios etētumon, hōs agoreueis:

alla saophrōn esti, nemessatai d' eni thumōi

hōd' elthōn to prōton epesbolias anaphainein

160anta sethen, tou nōi theou hōs terpometh' audēi.

English · Butler

Then Peisistratos said, "Menelaos, son of Atreus, you are right in thinking that this young man is Telemakhos, but he is very modest, and is ashamed to come here and begin opening up discourse with one whose conversation is so divinely interesting as your own. My father, Nestor, sent me to escort him hither, for he wanted to know whether you could give him any counsel or suggestion. A son has always trouble at home when his father has gone away leaving him without supporters; and this is

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προέηκε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ

τῷ ἅμα πομπὸν ἕπεσθαι: ἐέλδετο γάρ σε ἰδέσθαι,

ὄφρα οἱ ἤ τι ἔπος ὑποθήσεαι ἠέ τι ἔργον.

πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλγε' ἔχει πατρὸς πάϊς οἰχομένοιο

165ἐν μεγάροις, ᾧ μὴ ἄλλοι ἀοσσητῆρες ἔωσιν,

Transliteration

autar eme proeēke Gerēnios hippota Nestōr

tōi hama pompon hepesthai: eeldeto gar se idesthai,

ophra hoi ē ti epos hupothēseai ēe ti ergon.

polla gar alge' echei patros païs oichomenoio

165en megarois, hōi mē alloi aossētēres eōsin,

English · Butler

how Telemakhos is now placed, for his father is absent, and there is no one among

Homeric Greek

ὡς νῦν Τηλεμάχῳ ὁ μὲν οἴχεται, οὐδέ οἱ ἄλλοι

εἴσ' οἵ κεν κατὰ δῆμον ἀλάλκοιεν κακότητα."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

"ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ φίλου ἀνέρος υἱὸς ἐμὸν δῶ

170ἵκεθ', ὃς εἵνεκ' ἐμεῖο πολέας ἐμόγησεν ἀέθλους:

Transliteration

hōs nun Tēlemachōi ho men oichetai, oude hoi alloi

eis' hoi ken kata dēmon alalkoien kakotēta."

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

"ō popoi, ē mala dē philou aneros huios emon dō

170hiketh', hos heinek' emeio poleas emogēsen aethlous:

English · Butler

his own dêmos to stand by him." "Bless my heart," replied Menelaos; "then I am receiving a visit from the son of a very dear friend, who suffered much hardship for my sake. I had always hoped to entertain him with most marked distinction when heaven had granted us a safe return from beyond the seas.

Homeric Greek

καί μιν ἔφην ἐλθόντα φιλησέμεν ἔξοχον ἄλλων

Ἀργείων, εἰ νῶιν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα νόστον ἔδωκε

νηυσὶ θοῇσι γενέσθαι Ὀλύμπιος εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.

καί κέ οἱ Ἄργεϊ νάσσα πόλιν καὶ δώματ' ἔτευξα,

175ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἀγαγὼν σὺν κτήμασι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧ

Transliteration

kai min ephēn elthonta philēsemen exochon allōn

Argeiōn, ei nōin hupeir hala noston edōke

nēusi thoēisi genesthai Olumpios euruopa Zeus.

kai ke hoi Argeï nassa polin kai dōmat' eteuxa,

175ex Ithakēs agagōn sun ktēmasi kai tekeï hōi

English · Butler

I should have founded a city for him in Argos, and built him a house. I should have made him leave Ithaca with his goods, his son, and all his people, and should have sacked for them some one of the neighboring cities that are subject to me. We should thus have seen one

Homeric Greek

καὶ πᾶσιν λαοῖσι, μίαν πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξας,

αἳ περιναιετάουσιν, ἀνάσσονται δ' ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.

καί κε θάμ' ἐνθάδ' ἐόντες ἐμισγόμεθ': οὐδέ κεν ἡμέας

ἄλλο διέκρινεν φιλέοντέ τε τερπομένω τε,

180πρίν γ' ὅτε δὴ θανάτοιο μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.

Transliteration

kai pasin laoisi, mian polin exalapaxas,

hai perinaietaousin, anassontai d' emoi autōi.

kai ke tham' enthad' eontes emisgometh': oude ken hēmeas

allo diekrinen phileonte te terpomenō te,

180prin g' hote dē thanatoio melan nephos amphekalupsen.

English · Butler

another continually, and nothing but death could have interrupted so close and happy an intercourse. I suppose, however, that heaven grudged us such good fortune, for it has prevented the poor

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν που μέλλεν ἀγάσσεσθαι θεὸς αὐτός,

ὃς κεῖνον δύστηνον ἀνόστιμον οἶον ἔθηκεν."

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφ' ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.

κλαῖε μὲν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,

185κλαῖε δὲ Τηλέμαχός τε καὶ Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος,

Transliteration

alla ta men pou mellen agassesthai theos autos,

hos keinon dustēnon anostimon oion ethēken."

hōs phato, toisi de pasin huph' himeron ōrse gooio.

klaie men Argeiē Helenē, Dios ekgegauia,

185klaie de Tēlemachos te kai Atreïdēs Menelaos,

English · Butler

man from ever getting home at all." Thus did he speak, and his words set them all to weeping. Helen wept, Telemakhos wept, and so did Menelaos, nor could Peisistratos keep

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἄρα Νέστορος υἱὸς ἀδακρύτω ἔχεν ὄσσε:

μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο,

τόν ῥ' Ἠοῦς ἔκτεινε φαεινῆς ἀγλαὸς υἱός:

τοῦ ὅ γ' ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεα πτερόεντ' ἀγόρευεν:

190"Ἀτρεί̈δη, περὶ μέν σε βροτῶν πεπνυμένον εἶναι

Transliteration

oud' ara Nestoros huios adakrutō echen osse:

mnēsato gar kata thumon amumonos Antilochoio,

ton rh' Ēous ekteine phaeinēs aglaos huios:

tou ho g' epimnēstheis epea pteroent' agoreuen:

190"Atreïdē, peri men se brotōn pepnumenon einai

English · Butler

his eyes from filling, when he remembered his dear brother Antilokhos whom the son of bright Dawn had killed. Thereon he said to Menelaos, "Sir, my father Nestor, when we used to talk about you at home, told me you were a person of rare and excellent understanding.

Homeric Greek

Νέστωρ φάσχ' ὁ γέρων, ὅτ' ἐπιμνησαίμεθα σεῖο

οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐρέοιμεν.

καὶ νῦν, εἴ τί που ἔστι, πίθοιό μοι: οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε

τέρπομ' ὀδυρόμενος μεταδόρπιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἠὼς

195ἔσσεται ἠριγένεια: νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδὲν

Transliteration

Nestōr phasch' ho gerōn, hot' epimnēsaimetha seio

hoisin eni megaroisi, kai allēlous ereoimen.

kai nun, ei ti pou esti, pithoio moi: ou gar egō ge

terpom' oduromenos metadorpios, alla kai ēōs

195essetai ērigeneia: nemessōmai ge men ouden

English · Butler

"Sir, my father Nestor, when we used to talk about you at home, told me you were a person of rare and excellent understanding. If, then, it be possible, do as I would urge you. I am not fond of crying while I am getting my supper. Morning will come in due course, and in the forenoon I care not how much I cry for those that are dead and gone. This is all we can do for the poor things.

Homeric Greek

κλαίειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι βροτῶν καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.

τοῦτό νυ καὶ γέρας οἶον ὀιζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν,

κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τ' ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν.

καὶ γὰρ ἐμὸς τέθνηκεν ἀδελφεός, οὔ τι κάκιστος

200Ἀργείων: μέλλεις δὲ σὺ ἴδμεναι: οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε

Transliteration

klaiein hos ke thanēisi brotōn kai potmon epispēi.

touto nu kai geras oion oizuroisi brotoisin,

keirasthai te komēn baleein t' apo dakru pareiōn.

kai gar emos tethnēken adelpheos, ou ti kakistos

200Argeiōn: melleis de su idmenai: ou gar egō ge

English · Butler

We can only shave our heads for them and wring the tears from our cheeks. I had a brother who died at Troy; he was by no means the worst man there; you are sure to have known him - his name was Antilokhos; I never set eyes upon him myself,

Homeric Greek

ἤντησ' οὐδὲ ἴδον: περὶ δ' ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι

Ἀντίλοχον, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

"ὦ φίλ', ἐπεὶ τόσα εἶπες, ὅσ' ἂν πεπνυμένος ἀνὴρ

205εἴποι καὶ ῥέξειε, καὶ ὃς προγενέστερος εἴη:

Transliteration

ēntēs' oude idon: peri d' allōn phasi genesthai

Antilochon, peri men theiein tachun ēde machētēn."

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

"ō phil', epei tosa eipes, hos' an pepnumenos anēr

205eipoi kai rhexeie, kai hos progenesteros eiē:

English · Butler

but they say that he was singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant." "Your discretion, my friend," answered Menelaos, "is beyond your years. It is plain you take after your father. One can soon see when a man is

Homeric Greek

τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ὃ καὶ πεπνυμένα βάζεις,

ῥεῖα δ' ἀρίγνωτος γόνος ἀνέρος ᾧ τε Κρονίων

ὄλβον ἐπικλώσῃ γαμέοντί τε γεινομένῳ τε,

ὡς νῦν Νέστορι δῶκε διαμπερὲς ἤματα πάντα

210αὐτὸν μὲν λιπαρῶς γηρασκέμεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,

Transliteration

toiou gar kai patros, ho kai pepnumena bazeis,

rheia d' arignōtos gonos aneros hōi te Kroniōn

olbon epiklōsēi gameonti te geinomenōi te,

hōs nun Nestori dōke diamperes ēmata panta

210auton men liparōs gēraskemen en megaroisin,

English · Butler

son to one whom Zeus grants blessedness both as regards wife and offspring - and he has blessed Nestor from first to last all his days, giving him a green old age in his own house, with sons about him who are both well disposed and valiant.

Homeric Greek

υἱέας αὖ πινυτούς τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν εἶναι ἀρίστους.

ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαυθμὸν μὲν ἐάσομεν, ὃς πρὶν ἐτύχθη,

δόρπου δ' ἐξαῦτις μνησώμεθα, χερσὶ δ' ἐφ' ὕδωρ

χευάντων. μῦθοι δὲ καὶ ἠῶθέν περ ἔσονται

215Τηλεμάχῳ καὶ ἐμοὶ διαειπέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν."

Transliteration

huieas au pinutous te kai enchesin einai aristous.

hēmeis de klauthmon men easomen, hos prin etuchthē,

dorpou d' exautis mnēsōmetha, chersi d' eph' hudōr

cheuantōn. muthoi de kai ēōthen per esontai

215Tēlemachōi kai emoi diaeipemen allēloisin."

English · Butler

We will put an end therefore to all this weeping, and attend to our supper again. Let water be poured over our hands. Telemakhos and I can talk with one another fully in the morning."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀσφαλίων δ' ἄρ ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευεν,

ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησ' Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα:

220αὐτίκ' ἄρ' εἰς οἶνον βάλε φάρμακον, ἔνθεν ἔπινον,

Transliteration

hōs ephat', Asphaliōn d' ar hudōr epi cheiras echeuen,

otrēros therapōn Menelaou kudalimoio.

hoi d' ep' oneiath' hetoima prokeimena cheiras iallon.

enth' aut' all' enoēs' Helenē Dios ekgegauia:

220autik' ar' eis oinon bale pharmakon, enthen epinon,

English · Butler

On this Asphalion, one of the servants, poured water over their hands and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them. Then Zeus’ daughter Helen bethought her of another matter. She drugged the wine with the herb nêpenthes, which banishes all care, sorrow, and anger.

Homeric Greek

νηπενθές τ' ἄχολόν τε, κακῶν ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.

ὃς τὸ καταβρόξειεν, ἐπὴν κρητῆρι μιγείη,

οὔ κεν ἐφημέριός γε βάλοι κατὰ δάκρυ παρειῶν,

οὐδ' εἴ οἱ κατατεθναίη μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε,

225οὐδ' εἴ οἱ προπάροιθεν ἀδελφεὸν ἢ φίλον υἱὸν

Transliteration

nēpenthes t' acholon te, kakōn epilēthon hapantōn.

hos to katabroxeien, epēn krētēri migeiē,

ou ken ephēmerios ge baloi kata dakru pareiōn,

oud' ei hoi katatethnaiē mētēr te patēr te,

225oud' ei hoi proparoithen adelpheon ē philon huion

English · Butler

Whoever drinks wine thus drugged cannot shed a single tear all the rest of the day, not even though his father and mother both of them drop down dead, or he sees a brother or a son hewn in pieces before his very eyes. This drug, of such sovereign power and virtue,

Homeric Greek

χαλκῷ δηιόῳεν, ὁ δ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῷτο.

τοῖα Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἔχε φάρμακα μητιόεντα,

ἐσθλά, τά οἱ Πολύδαμνα πόρεν, Θῶνος παράκοιτις

Αἰγυπτίη, τῇ πλεῖστα φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα

230φάρμακα, πολλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὰ μεμιγμένα πολλὰ δὲ λυγρά:

Transliteration

chalkōi dēioōien, ho d' ophthalmoisin horōito.

toia Dios thugatēr eche pharmaka mētioenta,

esthla, ta hoi Poludamna poren, Thōnos parakoitis

Aiguptiē, tēi pleista pherei zeidōros aroura

230pharmaka, polla men esthla memigmena polla de lugra:

English · Butler

had been given to Helen by Polydamna wife of Thon, a woman of Egypt, where there grow all sorts of herbs, some good to put into the mixing-bowl and others poisonous. Moreover, every one in the whole country is a skilled physician, for they are of the race of Paieon. When Helen had put

Homeric Greek

ἰητρὸς δὲ ἕκαστος ἐπιστάμενος περὶ πάντων

ἀνθρώπων: ἦ γὰρ Παιήονός εἰσι γενέθλης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐνέηκε κέλευσέ τε οἰνοχοῆσαι,

ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπεν:

235"Ἀτρεί̈δη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἠδὲ καὶ οἵδε

Transliteration

iētros de hekastos epistamenos peri pantōn

anthrōpōn: ē gar Paiēonos eisi genethlēs.

autar epei rh' eneēke keleuse te oinochoēsai,

exautis muthoisin ameibomenē proseeipen:

235"Atreïdē Menelae diotrephes ēde kai hoide

English · Butler

this drug in the bowl, and had told the servants to serve the wine round, she said: "Menelaos, son of Atreus, and you my good friends, sons of honorable men (which is as Zeus wills, for he is the giver both of good and evil, and can do what he chooses), feast here as you will, and listen while I tell you a tale in season.

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν ἐσθλῶν παῖδες: ἀτὰρ θεὸς ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳ

Ζεὺς ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε διδοῖ: δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα:

ἦ τοι νῦν δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι ἐν μεγάροισι

καὶ μύθοις τέρπεσθε: ἐοικότα γὰρ καταλέξω.

240πάντα μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδ' ὀνομήνω,

Transliteration

andrōn esthlōn paides: atar theos allote allōi

Zeus agathon te kakon te didoi: dunatai gar hapanta:

ē toi nun dainusthe kathēmenoi en megaroisi

kai muthois terpesthe: eoikota gar katalexō.

240panta men ouk an egō muthēsomai oud' onomēnō,

English · Butler

"Menelaos, son of Atreus, and you my good friends, sons of honorable men (which is as Zeus wills, for he is the giver both of good and evil, and can do what he chooses), feast here as you will, and listen while I tell you a tale in season. I cannot indeed name every single one of the exploits of Odysseus, but I can say what he did when he was in the Trojan dêmos, and you Achaeans were in all sorts of difficulties. He covered himself with wounds and bruises, dressed himself all in rags, and entered the enemy's

Homeric Greek

ὅσσοι Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονός εἰσιν ἄεθλοι:

ἀλλ' οἷον τόδ' ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματ' Ἀχαιοί.

αὐτόν μιν πληγῇσιν ἀεικελίῃσι δαμάσσας,

245σπεῖρα κάκ' ἀμφ' ὤμοισι βαλών, οἰκῆι ἐοικώς,

Transliteration

hossoi Odussēos talasiphronos eisin aethloi:

all' hoion tod' erexe kai etlē karteros anēr

dēmōi eni Trōōn, hothi paschete pēmat' Achaioi.

auton min plēgēisin aeikeliēisi damassas,

245speira kak' amph' ōmoisi balōn, oikēi eoikōs,

English · Butler

city looking like a menial or a beggar, quite different from how he looked when he was among his own people. In this disguise he entered the city of Troy, and no one said anything to him. I alone recognized him and began to question him, but he was too cunning for me. When, however, I had washed and anointed

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων κατέδυ πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν:

ἄλλῳ δ' αὐτὸν φωτὶ κατακρύπτων ἤισκε,

δέκτῃ, ὃς οὐδὲν τοῖος ἔην ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

τῷ ἴκελος κατέδυ Τρώων πόλιν, οἱ δ' ἀβάκησαν

250πάντες: ἐγὼ δέ μιν οἴη ἀνέγνων τοῖον ἐόντα,

Transliteration

andrōn dusmeneōn katedu polin euruaguian:

allōi d' auton phōti katakruptōn ēiske,

dektēi, hos ouden toios eēn epi nēusin Achaiōn.

tōi ikelos katedu Trōōn polin, hoi d' abakēsan

250pantes: egō de min oiē anegnōn toion eonta,

English · Butler

him and had given him clothes, and after I had sworn a solemn oath not to betray him to the Trojans till he had got safely back to his own camp and to the ships, he explained to me the whole noos of the Achaeans.

Homeric Greek

καί μιν ἀνηρώτων: ὁ δὲ κερδοσύνῃ ἀλέεινεν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή μιν ἐγὼ λόεον καὶ χρῖον ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσα καὶ ὤμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον

μὴ μὲν πρὶν Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ Τρώεσσ' ἀναφῆναι,

255πρίν γε τὸν ἐς νῆάς τε θοὰς κλισίας τ' ἀφικέσθαι,

Transliteration

kai min anērōtōn: ho de kerdosunēi aleeinen.

all' hote dē min egō loeon kai chrion elaiōi,

amphi de heimata hessa kai ōmosa karteron horkon

mē men prin Odusēa meta Trōess' anaphēnai,

255prin ge ton es nēas te thoas klisias t' aphikesthai,

English · Butler

He killed many Trojans and got much information before he reached the Argive camp, for all which things the Trojan women made lamentation, but for my own part I was

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότε δή μοι πάντα νόον κατέλεξεν Ἀχαιῶν.

πολλοὺς δὲ Τρώων κτείνας ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ

ἦλθε μετ' Ἀργείους, κατὰ δὲ φρόνιν ἤγαγε πολλήν.

ἔνθ' ἄλλαι Τρῳαὶ λίγ' ἐκώκυον: αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ

260χαῖρ', ἐπεὶ ἤδη μοι κραδίη τέτραπτο νέεσθαι

Transliteration

kai tote dē moi panta noon katelexen Achaiōn.

pollous de Trōōn kteinas tanaēkeï chalkōi

ēlthe met' Argeious, kata de phronin ēgage pollēn.

enth' allai Trōiai lig' ekōkuon: autar emon kēr

260chair', epei ēdē moi kradiē tetrapto neesthai

English · Butler

glad, for my heart was beginning to long after my home, and I was unhappy about the wrong that Aphrodite had done me in taking me over there, away

Homeric Greek

ἂψ οἶκόνδ', ἄτην δὲ μετέστενον, ἣν Ἀφροδίτη

δῶχ', ὅτε μ' ἤγαγε κεῖσε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης,

παῖδά τ' ἐμὴν νοσφισσαμένην θάλαμόν τε πόσιν τε

οὔ τευ δευόμενον, οὔτ' ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι εἶδος."

265τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

Transliteration

aps oikond', atēn de metestenon, hēn Aphroditē

dōch', hote m' ēgage keise philēs apo patridos aiēs,

paida t' emēn nosphissamenēn thalamon te posin te

ou teu deuomenon, out' ar phrenas oute ti eidos."

265tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

English · Butler

from my country, my girl, and my lawful wedded husband, who is indeed by no means deficient either in looks or understanding." Then Menelaos said, "All that you have been saying, my dear wife, is true.

Homeric Greek

"ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, γύναι, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

ἤδη μὲν πολέων ἐδάην βουλήν τε νόον τε

ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, πολλὴν δ' ἐπελήλυθα γαῖαν:

ἀλλ' οὔ πω τοιοῦτον ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

270οἷν Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἔσκε φίλον κῆρ.

Transliteration

"nai dē tauta ge panta, gunai, kata moiran eeipes.

ēdē men poleōn edaēn boulēn te noon te

andrōn hērōōn, pollēn d' epelēlutha gaian:

all' ou pō toiouton egōn idon ophthalmoisin,

270hoin Odussēos talasiphronos eske philon kēr.

English · Butler

Then Menelaos said, "All that you have been saying, my dear wife, is true. I have traveled much, and have learned the plans and noos of many a hero, but I have never seen such another man as Odysseus. What endurance too, and what courage he displayed within the wooden horse, wherein all the bravest of the Argives were lying in wait to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans.

Homeric Greek

οἷον καὶ τόδ' ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ

ἵππῳ ἔνι ξεστῷ, ἵν' ἐνήμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι

Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.

ἦλθες ἔπειτα σὺ κεῖσε: κελευσέμεναι δέ σ' ἔμελλε

275δαίμων, ὃς Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι:

Transliteration

hoion kai tod' erexe kai etlē karteros anēr

hippōi eni xestōi, hin' enēmetha pantes aristoi

Argeiōn Trōessi phonon kai kēra pherontes.

ēlthes epeita su keise: keleusemenai de s' emelle

275daimōn, hos Trōessin ebouleto kudos orexai:

English · Butler

At that moment you came up to us; some daimôn who wished well to the Trojans must have set you on to it and you had Deiphobos with you. Three times did you go all round our hiding place and pat it; you called our chiefs each by his own name, and mimicked all our wives.

Homeric Greek

καί τοι Δηί̈φοβος θεοείκελος ἕσπετ' ἰούσῃ.

τρὶς δὲ περίστειξας κοῖλον λόχον ἀμφαφόωσα,

ἐκ δ' ὀνομακλήδην Δαναῶν ὀνόμαζες ἀρίστους,

πάντων Ἀργείων φωνὴν ἴσκουσ' ἀλόχοισιν.

280αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ Τυδεί̈δης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

Transliteration

kai toi Dēïphobos theoeikelos hespet' iousēi.

tris de peristeixas koilon lochon amphaphoōsa,

ek d' onomaklēdēn Danaōn onomazes aristous,

pantōn Argeiōn phōnēn iskous' alochoisin.

280autar egō kai Tudeïdēs kai dios Odusseus

English · Butler

Diomedes, Odysseus, and I from our seats inside heard what a noise you made. Diomedes and I could not make up our minds whether to spring out then and there, or to answer you from inside, but Odysseus

Homeric Greek

ἥμενοι ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀκούσαμεν ὡς ἐβόησας.

νῶι μὲν ἀμφοτέρω μενεήναμεν ὁρμηθέντε

ἢ ἐξελθέμεναι, ἢ ἔνδοθεν αἶψ' ὑπακοῦσαι:

ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένω περ.

285ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,

Transliteration

hēmenoi en messoisin akousamen hōs eboēsas.

nōi men amphoterō meneēnamen hormēthente

ē exelthemenai, ē endothen aips' hupakousai:

all' Oduseus kateruke kai eschethen hiemenō per.

285enth' alloi men pantes akēn esan huies Achaiōn,

English · Butler

held us all in check, so we sat quite still, all except Antiklos, who was beginning to answer you, when Odysseus clapped his two brawny hands over his mouth, and kept them there. It was this

Homeric Greek

Ἄντικλος δὲ σέ γ' οἶος ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσιν

ἤθελεν. ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶ πίεζεν

νωλεμέως κρατερῇσι, σάωσε δὲ πάντας Ἀχαιούς:

τόφρα δ' ἔχ', ὄφρα σε νόσφιν ἀπήγαγε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη."

290τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Transliteration

Antiklos de se g' oios ameipsasthai epeessin

ēthelen. all' Oduseus epi mastaka chersi piezen

nōlemeōs kraterēisi, saōse de pantas Achaious:

tophra d' ech', ophra se nosphin apēgage Pallas Athēnē."

290ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnumenos antion ēuda:

English · Butler

that saved us all, for he muzzled Antiklos till Athena took you away again." "How sad," exclaimed Telemakhos, "that all this was of no avail to save him, nor yet his own iron courage.

Homeric Greek

"Ἀτρεί̈δη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

ἄλγιον: οὐ γάρ οἵ τι τάδ' ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,

οὐδ' εἴ οἱ κραδίη γε σιδηρέη ἔνδοθεν ἦεν.

ἀλλ' ἄγετ' εἰς εὐνὴν τράπεθ' ἡμέας, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη

295ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες."

Transliteration

"Atreïdē Menelae diotrephes, orchame laōn,

algion: ou gar hoi ti tad' ērkese lugron olethron,

oud' ei hoi kradiē ge sidēreē endothen ēen.

all' aget' eis eunēn trapeth' hēmeas, ophra kai ēdē

295hupnōi hupo glukerōi tarpōmetha koimēthentes."

English · Butler

"How sad," exclaimed Telemakhos, "that all this was of no avail to save him, nor yet his own iron courage. But now, sir, be pleased to send us all to bed, that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀργείη δ' Ἑλένη δμῳῇσι κέλευσεν

δέμνι' ὑπ' αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρε' ἐμβαλέειν στορέσαι τ' ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,

χλαίνας τ' ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.

300αἱ δ' ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,

Transliteration

hōs ephat', Argeiē d' Helenē dmōiēisi keleusen

demni' hup' aithousēi themenai kai rhēgea kala

porphure' embaleein storesai t' ephuperthe tapētas,

chlainas t' enthemenai oulas kathuperthen hesasthai.

300hai d' isan ek megaroio daos meta chersin echousai,

English · Butler

On this Helen told the maid servants to set beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, and to make them with good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with woolen cloaks for the guests to wear. So the maids went out, carrying a torch, and made the beds, to which a man-servant presently conducted the strangers. Thus, then, did Telemakhos and Peisistratos sleep there

Homeric Greek

δέμνια δὲ στόρεσαν: ἐκ δὲ ξείνους ἄγε κῆρυξ.

οἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντο,

Τηλέμαχός θ' ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός:

Ἀτρεί̈δης δὲ καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,

305πὰρ δ' Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἐλέξατο, δῖα γυναικῶν.

Transliteration

demnia de storesan: ek de xeinous age kērux.

hoi men ar' en prodomōi domou autothi koimēsanto,

Tēlemachos th' hērōs kai Nestoros aglaos huios:

Atreïdēs de katheude muchōi domou hupsēloio,

305par d' Helenē tanupeplos elexato, dia gunaikōn.

English · Butler

in the forecourt, while the son of Atreus lay in an inner room with lovely Helen by his side.

Homeric Greek

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

ὤρνυτ' ἄρ' ἐξ εὐνῆφι βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτ' ὤμῳ,

ποσσὶ δ' ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

310βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην,

Transliteration

ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktulos Ēōs,

ōrnut' ar' ex eunēphi boēn agathos Menelaos

heimata hessamenos, peri de xiphos oxu thet' ōmōi,

possi d' hupo liparoisin edēsato kala pedila,

310bē d' imen ek thalamoio theōi enalinkios antēn,

English · Butler

When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Menelaos rose and dressed himself. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, girded his sword about his shoulders, and left his room looking like an immortal god. Then, taking a seat near

Homeric Greek

Τηλεμάχῳ δὲ παρῖζεν, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

"τίπτε δέ σε χρειὼ δεῦρ' ἤγαγε, Τηλέμαχ' ἥρως,

ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ἐπ' εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης;

δήμιον ἦ ἴδιον; τόδε μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες."

315τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Transliteration

Tēlemachōi de parizen, epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

"tipte de se chreiō deur' ēgage, Tēlemach' hērōs,

es Lakedaimona dian, ep' eurea nōta thalassēs;

dēmion ē idion; tode moi nēmertes enispes."

315ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnumenos antion ēuda:

English · Butler

Telemakhos he said: "And what, Telemakhos, has led you to take this long sea voyage to Lacedaemon? Are you on public or private business? Tell me all about it." "I have come, sir replied Telemakhos, "to see if you can tell me anything about my father.

Homeric Greek

"Ἀτρεί̈δη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

ἤλυθον, εἴ τινά μοι κληηδόνα πατρὸς ἐνίσποις.

ἐσθίεταί μοι οἶκος, ὄλωλε δὲ πίονα ἔργα,

δυσμενέων δ' ἀνδρῶν πλεῖος δόμος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶ

320μῆλ' ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς,

Transliteration

"Atreïdē Menelae diotrephes, orchame laōn,

ēluthon, ei tina moi klēēdona patros enispois.

esthietai moi oikos, olōle de piona erga,

dusmeneōn d' andrōn pleios domos, hoi te moi aiei

320mēl' hadina sphazousi kai eilipodas helikas bous,

English · Butler

"I have come, sir replied Telemakhos, "to see if you can tell me anything about my father. I am being eaten out of house and home; my fair estate is being wasted, and my house is full of miscreants who in overweening hubris keep killing great numbers of my sheep and oxen, on the pretense of wooing my mother. Therefore, I am suppliant at your knees if

Homeric Greek

μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες.

τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθ' ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσθα

κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας

ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας

325πλαζομένου: περὶ γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.

Transliteration

mētros emēs mnēstēres huperbion hubrin echontes.

touneka nun ta sa gounath' hikanomai, ai k' ethelēistha

keinou lugron olethron enispein, ei pou opōpas

ophthalmoisi teoisin ē allou muthon akousas

325plazomenou: peri gar min oizuron teke mētēr.

English · Butler

haply you may tell me about my father's melancholy end, whether you saw it with your own eyes, or heard it from some other traveler; for he was a man born to trouble. Do not soften things out of any pity for myself, but tell me in all plainness exactly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever

Homeric Greek

μηδέ τί μ' αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδ' ἐλεαίρων,

ἀλλ' εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.

λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε

330δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματ' Ἀχαιοί,

Transliteration

mēde ti m' aidomenos meilisseo mēd' eleairōn,

all' eu moi katalexon hopōs ēntēsas opōpēs.

lissomai, ei pote toi ti patēr emos, esthlos Odusseus

ē epos ēe ti ergon hupostas exetelesse

330dēmōi eni Trōōn, hothi paschete pēmat' Achaioi,

English · Butler

did you loyal service either by word or deed, when you Achaeans were harassed in the dêmos of the Trojans, bear it in mind now as in my favor

Homeric Greek

τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες."

τὸν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέθη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

"ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ

ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.

335ὡς δ' ὁπότ' ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος

Transliteration

tōn nun moi mnēsai, kai moi nēmertes enispes."

ton de meg' ochthēsas prosethē xanthos Menelaos:

"ō popoi, ē mala dē kraterophronos andros en eunēi

ēthelon eunēthēnai analkides autoi eontes.

335hōs d' hopot' en xulochōi elaphos krateroio leontos

English · Butler

and tell me truly all." Menelaos on hearing this was very much shocked. "So," he exclaimed, "these cowards would usurp a brave man's bed? A hind might as well lay her new born young in the lair of a lion,

Homeric Greek

νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς

κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα

βοσκομένη, ὁ δ' ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,

ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,

340ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.

Transliteration

nebrous koimēsasa neēgeneas galathēnous

knēmous exereēisi kai ankea poiēenta

boskomenē, ho d' epeita heēn eisēluthen eunēn,

amphoteroisi de toisin aeikea potmon ephēken,

340hōs Oduseus keinoisin aeikea potmon ephēsei.

English · Butler

and then go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell: the lion when he comes back to his lair will make short work with the pair of them - and so will Odysseus with these suitors. By father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, if Odysseus is still the man that he

Homeric Greek

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτ' ἐυκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ

ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεί̈δῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,

κὰδ δ' ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,

345τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

ai gar, Zeu te pater kai Athēnaiē kai Apollon,

toios eōn, hoios pot' euktimenēi eni Lesbōi

ex eridos Philomēleïdēi epalaisen anastas,

kad d' ebale kraterōs, kecharonto de pantes Achaioi,

345toios eōn mnēstērsin homilēseien Odusseus:

English · Butler

was when he wrestled with Philomeleides in Lesbos, and threw him so heavily that all the Achaeans cheered him - if he is still such and were to come near these suitors, they would have a swift doom and a sorry wedding.

Homeric Greek

πάντες κ' ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.

ταῦτα δ' ἅ μ' εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε

ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδόν, οὐδ' ἀπατήσω,

ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,

350τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω.

Transliteration

pantes k' ōkumoroi te genoiato pikrogamoi te.

tauta d' ha m' eirōtāis kai lisseai, ouk an egō ge

alla parex eipoimi paraklidon, oud' apatēsō,

alla ta men moi eeipe gerōn halios nēmertēs,

350tōn ouden toi egō krupsō epos oud' epikeusō.

English · Butler

As regards your questions, however, I will not prevaricate nor deceive you, but will tell you without concealment all that the old man of the sea told me.

Homeric Greek

"Αἰγύπτῳ μ' ἔτι δεῦρο θεοὶ μεμαῶτα νέεσθαι

ἔσχον, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφιν ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.

οἱ δ' αἰεὶ βούλοντο θεοὶ μεμνῆσθαι ἐφετμέων.

νῆσος ἔπειτά τις ἔστι πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ

355Αἰγύπτου προπάροιθε, Φάρον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσι,

Transliteration

"Aiguptōi m' eti deuro theoi memaōta neesthai

eschon, epei ou sphin erexa telēessas hekatombas.

hoi d' aiei boulonto theoi memnēsthai ephetmeōn.

nēsos epeita tis esti poluklustōi eni pontōi

355Aiguptou proparoithe, Pharon de he kiklēskousi,

English · Butler

"I was trying to come on here, but the gods detained me in Egypt, for my hecatombs had not given them full satisfaction, and the gods are very strict about having their dues. Now off Egypt, about as far as a ship can sail in a day with a good stiff breeze behind her, there is an island called Pharos - it has a good

Homeric Greek

τόσσον ἄνευθ' ὅσσον τε πανημερίη γλαφυρὴ νηῦς

ἤνυσεν, ᾗ λιγὺς οὖρος ἐπιπνείῃσιν ὄπισθεν:

ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ὅθεν τ' ἀπὸ νῆας ἐίσας

ἐς πόντον βάλλουσιν, ἀφυσσάμενοι μέλαν ὕδωρ.

360ἔνθα μ' ἐείκοσιν ἤματ' ἔχον θεοί, οὐδέ ποτ' οὖροι

Transliteration

tosson aneuth' hosson te panēmeriē glaphurē nēus

ēnusen, hēi ligus ouros epipneiēisin opisthen:

en de limēn euormos, hothen t' apo nēas eisas

es ponton ballousin, aphussamenoi melan hudōr.

360entha m' eeikosin ēmat' echon theoi, oude pot' ouroi

English · Butler

harbor from which vessels can get out into open sea when they have taken in water - and the gods becalmed me twenty days without so much as a breath of fair wind to help me forward. We should have run clean out of

Homeric Greek

πνείοντες φαίνονθ' ἁλιαέες, οἵ ῥά τε νηῶν

πομπῆες γίγνονται ἐπ' εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.

καί νύ κεν ἤια πάντα κατέφθιτο καὶ μένε' ἀνδρῶν,

εἰ μή τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο καί μ' ἐσάωσε,

365Πρωτέος ἰφθίμου θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος,

Transliteration

pneiontes phainonth' haliaees, hoi rha te nēōn

pompēes gignontai ep' eurea nōta thalassēs.

kai nu ken ēia panta katephthito kai mene' andrōn,

ei mē tis me theōn olophurato kai m' esaōse,

365Prōteos iphthimou thugatēr halioio gerontos,

English · Butler

provisions and my men would have starved, if a goddess had not taken pity upon me and saved me in the person of Eidothea, daughter to Proteus, the old man of the sea, for she

Homeric Greek

Εἰδοθέη: τῇ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά γε θυμὸν ὄρινα.

ἥ μ' οἴῳ ἔρροντι συνήντετο νόσφιν ἑταίρων:

αἰεὶ γὰρ περὶ νῆσον ἀλώμενοι ἰχθυάασκον

γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός.

370ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε:

Transliteration

Eidotheē: tēi gar rha malista ge thumon orina.

hē m' oiōi erronti sunēnteto nosphin hetairōn:

aiei gar peri nēson alōmenoi ichthuaaskon

gnamptois ankistroisin, eteire de gastera limos.

370hē de meu anchi stasa epos phato phōnēsen te:

English · Butler

had taken a great fancy to me. "She came to me one day when I was by myself, as I often was, for the men used to go with their barbed hooks, all over the island in the hope of catching a fish or two to save them from the pangs of hunger. ‘Stranger,’ said she, ‘it seems to me that you like starving in this way - at any rate

Homeric Greek

"'νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνε, λίην τόσον ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,

ἦε ἑκὼν μεθίεις καὶ τέρπεαι ἄλγεα πάσχων;

ὡς δὴ δήθ' ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκεαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ

εὑρέμεναι δύνασαι, μινύθει δέ τοι ἦτορ ἑταίρων.'"

375"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

Transliteration

"'nēpios eis, ō xeine, liēn toson ēde chaliphrōn,

ēe hekōn methieis kai terpeai algea paschōn;

hōs dē dēth' eni nēsōi erukeai, oude ti tekmōr

heuremenai dunasai, minuthei de toi ētor hetairōn.'"

375"hōs ephat', autar egō min ameibomenos proseeipon:

English · Butler

it does not greatly trouble you, for you stick here day after day, without even trying to get away though your men are dying by inches.’ "‘Let me tell you,’ said I, ‘whichever of the goddesses you may happen to be, that I am not staying here of my own accord, but must have offended the gods that live in heaven.

Homeric Greek

'ἐκ μέν τοι ἐρέω, ἥ τις σύ πέρ ἐσσι θεάων,

ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν κατερύκομαι, ἀλλά νυ μέλλω

ἀθανάτους ἀλιτέσθαι, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.

ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,

380ὅς τίς μ' ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,

Transliteration

'ek men toi ereō, hē tis su per essi theaōn,

hōs egō ou ti hekōn katerukomai, alla nu mellō

athanatous alitesthai, hoi ouranon eurun echousin.

alla su per moi eipe, theoi de te panta isasin,

380hos tis m' athanatōn pedaāi kai edēse keleuthou,

English · Butler

"‘Let me tell you,’ said I, ‘whichever of the goddesses you may happen to be, that I am not staying here of my own accord, but must have offended the gods that live in heaven. Tell me, therefore, for the gods know everything: which of the immortals it is that is hindering me in this way, and tell me also how I may sail the sea so

Homeric Greek

νόστον θ', ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.'

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων:

'τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

πωλεῖταί τις δεῦρο γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς

385ἀθάνατος Πρωτεὺς Αἰγύπτιος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης

Transliteration

noston th', hōs epi ponton eleusomai ichthuoenta.'

"hōs ephamēn, hē d' autik' ameibeto dia theaōn:

'toigar egō toi, xeine, mal' atrekeōs agoreusō.

pōleitai tis deuro gerōn halios nēmertēs

385athanatos Prōteus Aiguptios, hos te thalassēs

English · Butler

as to reach my home ?’ "‘Stranger,’ replied she, ‘I will make it all quite clear to you. There is an old immortal who lives under the sea hereabouts and whose name is Proteus. He is an Egyptian, and people say he is my father; he is Poseidon's head man and knows every inch of ground all over the bottom of the sea.

Homeric Greek

πάσης βένθεα οἶδε, Ποσειδάωνος ὑποδμώς:

τὸν δέ τ' ἐμόν φασιν πατέρ' ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ τεκέσθαι.

τόν γ' εἴ πως σὺ δύναιο λοχησάμενος λελαβέσθαι,

ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου

390νόστον θ', ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.

Transliteration

pasēs benthea oide, Poseidaōnos hupodmōs:

ton de t' emon phasin pater' emmenai ēde tekesthai.

ton g' ei pōs su dunaio lochēsamenos lelabesthai,

hos ken toi eipēisin hodon kai metra keleuthou

390noston th', hōs epi ponton eleuseai ichthuoenta.

English · Butler

If you can snare him and hold him tight, he will tell you about your voyage, what courses you are to take, and how you are to sail the sea so as to reach your home. He will also tell you, if you so will, all that has been

Homeric Greek

καὶ δέ κέ τοι εἴπῃσι, διοτρεφές, αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσθα,

ὅττι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν τ' ἀγαθόν τε τέτυκται

οἰχομένοιο σέθεν δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.'

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

395'αὐτὴ νῦν φράζευ σὺ λόχον θείοιο γέροντος,

Transliteration

kai de ke toi eipēisi, diotrephes, ai k' ethelēistha,

hotti toi en megaroisi kakon t' agathon te tetuktai

oichomenoio sethen dolichēn hodon argaleēn te.'

"hōs ephat', autar egō min ameibomenos proseeipon:

395'autē nun phrazeu su lochon theioio gerontos,

English · Butler

going on at your house both good and bad, while you have been away on your long and dangerous journey.’ "‘Can you show me,’ said I, ‘some strategy by means of which I may catch this old god without his suspecting it and finding me out? For a daimôn is

Homeric Greek

μή πώς με προϊδὼν ἠὲ προδαεὶς ἀλέηται:

ἀργαλέος γάρ τ' ἐστὶ θεὸς βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ δαμῆναι.'

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων:

'τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

400ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκῃ,

Transliteration

mē pōs me proïdōn ēe prodaeis aleētai:

argaleos gar t' esti theos brotōi andri damēnai.'

"hōs ephamēn, hē d' autik' ameibeto dia theaōn:

'toigar egō toi, xeine, mal' atrekeōs agoreusō.

400ēmos d' ēelios meson ouranon amphibebēkēi,

English · Butler

not easily caught - not by a mortal man.’ "‘Stranger,’ said she, ‘I will make it all quite clear to you. About the time when the sun shall have reached mid heaven, the old man of the sea comes up from under the

Homeric Greek

τῆμος ἄρ' ἐξ ἁλὸς εἶσι γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς

πνοιῇ ὕπο Ζεφύροιο μελαίνῃ φρικὶ καλυφθείς,

ἐκ δ' ἐλθὼν κοιμᾶται ὑπὸ σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσιν:

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φῶκαι νέποδες καλῆς ἁλοσύδνης

405ἁθρόαι εὕδουσιν, πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐξαναδῦσαι,

Transliteration

tēmos ar' ex halos eisi gerōn halios nēmertēs

pnoiēi hupo Zephuroio melainēi phriki kaluphtheis,

ek d' elthōn koimatai hupo spessi glaphuroisin:

amphi de min phōkai nepodes kalēs halosudnēs

405hathroai heudousin, poliēs halos exanadusai,

English · Butler

waves, heralded by the West wind that furs the water over his head. As soon as he has come up he lies down, and goes to sleep in a great sea cave, where the seals - (Halosydne's chickens as they call them) - come up also from the gray sea, and go to sleep in shoals all round him;

Homeric Greek

πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς πολυβενθέος ὀδμήν.

ἔνθα σ' ἐγὼν ἀγαγοῦσα ἅμ' ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν

εὐνάσω ἑξείης: σὺ δ' ἐὺ κρίνασθαι ἑταίρους

τρεῖς, οἵ τοι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐυσσέλμοισιν ἄριστοι.

410πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια τοῖο γέροντος.

Transliteration

pikron apopneiousai halos polubentheos odmēn.

entha s' egōn agagousa ham' ēoi phainomenēphin

eunasō hexeiēs: su d' eu krinasthai hetairous

treis, hoi toi para nēusin eusselmoisin aristoi.

410panta de toi ereō olophōia toio gerontos.

English · Butler

and a very strong and fish-like smell do they bring with them. Early tomorrow morning I will take you to this place and will lay you in ambush. Pick out, therefore, the three best men you have in your fleet, and I will tell you all the tricks that the old man will play you.

Homeric Greek

φώκας μέν τοι πρῶτον ἀριθμήσει καὶ ἔπεισιν:

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πάσας πεμπάσσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,

λέξεται ἐν μέσσῃσι νομεὺς ὣς πώεσι μήλων.

τὸν μὲν ἐπὴν δὴ πρῶτα κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,

415καὶ τότ' ἔπειθ' ὑμῖν μελέτω κάρτος τε βίη τε,

Transliteration

phōkas men toi prōton arithmēsei kai epeisin:

autar epēn pasas pempassetai ēde idētai,

lexetai en messēisi nomeus hōs pōesi mēlōn.

ton men epēn dē prōta kateunēthenta idēsthe,

415kai tot' epeith' humin meletō kartos te biē te,

English · Butler

"‘First he will look over all his seals, and count them; then, when he has seen them and tallied them on his five fingers, he will go to sleep among them, as a shepherd among his sheep. The moment you see that he is asleep seize him; put forth all your strength and hold him fast, for he will do his very utmost to get away from you. He will turn himself into every kind of creature that goes upon the earth, and will become also both fire and water;

Homeric Greek

αὖθι δ' ἔχειν μεμαῶτα καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἀλύξαι.

πάντα δὲ γιγνόμενος πειρήσεται, ὅσσ' ἐπὶ γαῖαν

ἑρπετὰ γίγνονται, καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ:

ὑμεῖς δ' ἀστεμφέως ἐχέμεν μᾶλλόν τε πιέζειν.

420ἀλλ' ὅτε κεν δή σ' αὐτὸς ἀνείρηται ἐπέεσσι,

Transliteration

authi d' echein memaōta kai essumenon per aluxai.

panta de gignomenos peirēsetai, hoss' epi gaian

herpeta gignontai, kai hudōr kai thespidaes pur:

humeis d' astempheōs echemen mallon te piezein.

420all' hote ken dē s' autos aneirētai epeessi,

English · Butler

but you must hold him fast and grip him tighter and tighter, till he begins to talk to you and comes back to what he was when you saw him go to sleep; then you may slacken your hold and let him go; and you can ask him which

Homeric Greek

τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν κε κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,

καὶ τότε δὴ σχέσθαι τε βίης λῦσαί τε γέροντα,

ἥρως, εἴρεσθαι δέ, θεῶν ὅς τίς σε χαλέπτει,

νόστον θ', ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.'

425"ὣς εἰποῦσ' ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.

Transliteration

toios eōn hoion ke kateunēthenta idēsthe,

kai tote dē schesthai te biēs lusai te geronta,

hērōs, eiresthai de, theōn hos tis se chaleptei,

noston th', hōs epi ponton eleuseai ichthuoenta.'

425"hōs eipous' hupo ponton eduseto kumainonta.

English · Butler

of the gods it is that is angry with you, and what you must do to reach your home over the fishy sea.’ "Having so said she dived under the waves, whereon I turned back to the place where my ships were ranged upon the shore; and my heart was clouded with care as I went along.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας, ὅθ' ἕστασαν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,

ἤια: πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,

δόρπον θ' ὁπλισάμεσθ', ἐπί τ' ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ:

430δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

Transliteration

autar egōn epi nēas, hoth' hestasan en psamathoisin,

ēia: polla de moi kradiē porphure kionti.

autar epei rh' epi nēa katēluthon ēde thalassan,

dorpon th' hoplisamesth', epi t' ēluthen ambrosiē nux:

430dē tote koimēthēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs.

English · Butler

"Having so said she dived under the waves, whereon I turned back to the place where my ships were ranged upon the shore; and my heart was clouded with care as I went along. When I reached my ship we got supper ready, for night was falling, and camped down upon the beach.

Homeric Greek

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

καὶ τότε δὴ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο

ἤια πολλὰ θεοὺς γουνούμενος: αὐτὰρ ἑταίρους

τρεῖς ἄγον, οἷσι μάλιστα πεποίθεα πᾶσαν ἐπ' ἰθύν.

435"τόφρα δ' ἄρ' ἥ γ' ὑποδῦσα θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπον

Transliteration

ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktulos Ēōs,

kai tote dē para thina thalassēs euruporoio

ēia polla theous gounoumenos: autar hetairous

treis agon, hoisi malista pepoithea pasan ep' ithun.

435"tophra d' ar' hē g' hupodusa thalassēs eurea kolpon

English · Butler

"When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, I took the three men on whose prowess of all kinds I could most rely, and went along by the sea-side, praying heartily to heaven. Meanwhile the goddess fetched me up four seal skins from the bottom of the sea, all of them just skinned, for she meant to play a trick upon her father. Then she dug four pits for us to lie in, and sat down to wait till we should come up. When we were close to her, she made

Homeric Greek

τέσσαρα φωκάων ἐκ πόντου δέρματ' ἔνεικε:

πάντα δ' ἔσαν νεόδαρτα: δόλον δ' ἐπεμήδετο πατρί.

εὐνὰς δ' ἐν ψαμάθοισι διαγλάψασ' ἁλίῃσιν

ἧστο μένουσ': ἡμεῖς δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλθομεν αὐτῆς:

440ἑξείης δ' εὔνησε, βάλεν δ' ἐπὶ δέρμα ἑκάστῳ.

Transliteration

tessara phōkaōn ek pontou dermat' eneike:

panta d' esan neodarta: dolon d' epemēdeto patri.

eunas d' en psamathoisi diaglapsas' haliēisin

hēsto menous': hēmeis de mala schedon ēlthomen autēs:

440hexeiēs d' eunēse, balen d' epi derma hekastōi.

English · Butler

us lie down in the pits one after the other, and threw a seal skin over each of us. Our ambuscade would have been intolerable, for the stench of the fishy seals was most distressing - who would go to bed with a sea monster if he

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα κεν αἰνότατος λόχος ἔπλετο: τεῖρε γὰρ αἰνῶς

φωκάων ἁλιοτρεφέων ὀλοώτατος ὀδμή:

τίς γάρ κ' εἰναλίῳ παρὰ κήτεϊ κοιμηθείη;

ἀλλ' αὐτὴ ἐσάωσε καὶ ἐφράσατο μέγ' ὄνειαρ:

445ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσα

Transliteration

entha ken ainotatos lochos epleto: teire gar ainōs

phōkaōn haliotrepheōn oloōtatos odmē:

tis gar k' einaliōi para kēteï koimētheiē;

all' autē esaōse kai ephrasato meg' oneiar:

445ambrosiēn hupo rhina hekastōi thēke pherousa

English · Butler

could help it?-but here, too, the goddess helped us, and thought of something that gave us great relief, for she put some ambrosia under each man's nostrils, which was so fragrant that

Homeric Greek

ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν, ὄλεσσε δὲ κήτεος ὀδμήν.

πᾶσαν δ' ἠοίην μένομεν τετληότι θυμῷ:

φῶκαι δ' ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθον ἀολλέες. αἱ μὲν ἔπειτα

ἑξῆς εὐνάζοντο παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης:

450ἔνδιος δ' ὁ γέρων ἦλθ' ἐξ ἁλός, εὗρε δὲ φώκας

Transliteration

hēdu mala pneiousan, olesse de kēteos odmēn.

pasan d' ēoiēn menomen tetlēoti thumōi:

phōkai d' ex halos ēlthon aollees. hai men epeita

hexēs eunazonto para rhēgmini thalassēs:

450endios d' ho gerōn ēlth' ex halos, heure de phōkas

English · Butler

it killed the smell of the seals. "We waited the whole morning and made the best of it, watching the seals come up in hundreds to bask upon the sea shore, till at noon the old man of the sea came up too, and when he had found his fat seals he went over them and counted them. We were among the first he counted, and he never suspected any guile, but laid himself down to sleep as soon as he had done counting. Then we rushed upon him with a shout and seized him;

Homeric Greek

ζατρεφέας, πάσας δ' ἄρ' ἐπῴχετο, λέκτο δ' ἀριθμόν:

ἐν δ' ἡμέας πρώτους λέγε κήτεσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

ὠί̈σθη δόλον εἶναι: ἔπειτα δὲ λέκτο καὶ αὐτός.

ἡμεῖς δὲ ἰάχοντες ἐπεσσύμεθ', ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας

455βάλλομεν: οὐδ' ὁ γέρων δολίης ἐπελήθετο τέχνης,

Transliteration

zatrepheas, pasas d' ar' epōicheto, lekto d' arithmon:

en d' hēmeas prōtous lege kētesin, oude ti thumōi

ōïsthē dolon einai: epeita de lekto kai autos.

hēmeis de iachontes epessumeth', amphi de cheiras

455ballomen: oud' ho gerōn doliēs epelētheto technēs,

English · Butler

on which he began at once with his old tricks, and changed himself first into a lion with a great mane; then all of a sudden he became a dragon, a leopard, a wild boar; the next moment he was running water, and then again directly he

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετ' ἠυγένειος,

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς:

γίγνετο δ' ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον:

ἡμεῖς δ' ἀστεμφέως ἔχομεν τετληότι θυμῷ.

460ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἀνίαζ' ὁ γέρων ὀλοφώια εἰδώς,

Transliteration

all' ē toi prōtista leōn genet' ēugeneios,

autar epeita drakōn kai pardalis ēde megas sus:

gigneto d' hugron hudōr kai dendreon hupsipetēlon:

hēmeis d' astempheōs echomen tetlēoti thumōi.

460all' hote dē rh' aniaz' ho gerōn olophōia eidōs,

English · Butler

was a tree, but we stuck to him and never lost hold, till at last the cunning old creature became distressed, and said, Which of the gods was it, Son of

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότε δή μ' ἐπέεσσιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπε:

"'τίς νύ τοι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς,

ὄφρα μ' ἕλοις ἀέκοντα λοχησάμενος; τέο σε χρή;'

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

465'οἶσθα, γέρον, τί με ταῦτα παρατροπέων ἐρεείνεις;

Transliteration

kai tote dē m' epeessin aneiromenos proseeipe:

"'tis nu toi, Atreos huie, theōn sumphrassato boulas,

ophra m' helois aekonta lochēsamenos; teo se chrē;'

"hōs ephat', autar egō min ameibomenos proseeipon:

465'oistha, geron, ti me tauta paratropeōn ereeineis;

English · Butler

Atreus, that hatched this plot with you for snaring me and seizing me against my will? What do you want?’ "‘You know that yourself, old man,’ I answered. ‘You will gain nothing by trying to put me off.

Homeric Greek

ὡς δὴ δήθ' ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκομαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ

εὑρέμεναι δύναμαι, μινύθει δέ μοι ἔνδοθεν ἦτορ.

ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,

ὅς τίς μ' ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,

470νόστον θ', ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.'

Transliteration

hōs dē dēth' eni nēsōi erukomai, oude ti tekmōr

heuremenai dunamai, minuthei de moi endothen ētor.

alla su per moi eipe, theoi de te panta isasin,

hos tis m' athanatōn pedaāi kai edēse keleuthou,

470noston th', hōs epi ponton eleusomai ichthuoenta.'

English · Butler

It is because I have been kept so long in this island, and see no sign of my being able to get away. I am losing all heart; tell me, then, for you gods know everything, which of the immortals it is that is hindering me, and tell me also how I may sail the sea so as to reach my home ?’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν:

'ἀλλὰ μάλ' ὤφελλες Διί τ' ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι

ῥέξας ἱερὰ κάλ' ἀναβαινέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα

σὴν ἐς πατρίδ' ἵκοιο πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.

475οὐ γάρ τοι πρὶν μοῖρα φίλους τ' ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

Transliteration

"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' autik' ameibomenos proseeipen:

'alla mal' ōphelles Dii t' alloisin te theoisi

rhexas hiera kal' anabainemen, ophra tachista

sēn es patrid' hikoio pleōn epi oinopa ponton.

475ou gar toi prin moira philous t' ideein kai hikesthai

English · Butler

"Then,’ he said, ‘if you would finish your voyage and get home quickly, you must offer sacrifices to Zeus and to the rest of the gods before embarking; for it is decreed that you shall not get back to your friends, and to your own house, till you have returned to the heaven-fed stream of Egypt, and offered holy hecatombs to the immortal gods that reign in heaven. When you have done this

Homeric Greek

οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

πρίν γ' ὅτ' ἂν Αἰγύπτοιο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο,

αὖτις ὕδωρ ἔλθῃς ῥέξῃς θ' ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας

ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι:

480καὶ τότε τοι δώσουσιν ὁδὸν θεοί, ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς.'

Transliteration

oikon euktimenon kai sēn es patrida gaian,

prin g' hot' an Aiguptoio, diipeteos potamoio,

autis hudōr elthēis rhexēis th' hieras hekatombas

athanatoisi theoisi, toi ouranon eurun echousi:

480kai tote toi dōsousin hodon theoi, hēn su menoināis.'

English · Butler

they will let you finish your voyage.’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,

οὕνεκά μ' αὖτις ἄνωγεν ἐπ' ἠεροειδέα πόντον

Αἴγυπτόνδ' ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον:

485"'ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω δὴ τελέω, γέρον, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

Transliteration

"hōs ephat', autar emoi ge kateklasthē philon ētor,

houneka m' autis anōgen ep' ēeroeidea ponton

Aiguptond' ienai, dolichēn hodon argaleēn te.

alla kai hōs muthoisin ameibomenos proseeipon:

485"'tauta men houtō dē teleō, geron, hōs su keleueis.

English · Butler

"I was broken-hearted when I heard that I must go back all that long and terrible voyage to Egypt; nevertheless, I answered, ‘I will do all, old man, that you have laid upon me; but now tell me, and tell me true, whether all the Achaeans whom Nestor and I left behind us when we

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

ἢ πάντες σὺν νηυσὶν ἀπήμονες ἦλθον Ἀχαιοί,

οὓς Νέστωρ καὶ ἐγὼ λίπομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,

ἦέ τις ὤλετ' ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέι ἧς ἐπὶ νηὸς

490ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν'.

Transliteration

all' age moi tode eipe kai atrekeōs katalexon,

ē pantes sun nēusin apēmones ēlthon Achaioi,

hous Nestōr kai egō lipomen Troiēthen iontes,

ēe tis ōlet' olethrōi adeukei hēs epi nēos

490ēe philōn en chersin, epei polemon tolupeusen'.

English · Butler

set sail from Troy have got home safely, or whether any one of them came to a bad end either on board his own ship or among his friends when the days of his fighting were done.’

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν:

Ἀτρεί̈δη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

ἴδμεναι, οὐδὲ δαῆναι ἐμὸν νόον: οὐδέ σέ φημι

δὴν ἄκλαυτον ἔσεσθαι, ἐπὴν ἐὺ πάντα πύθηαι.

495πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γε δάμεν, πολλοὶ δὲ λίποντο:

Transliteration

"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' autik' ameibomenos proseeipen:

Atreïdē, ti me tauta dieireai; oude ti se chrē

idmenai, oude daēnai emon noon: oude se phēmi

dēn aklauton esesthai, epēn eu panta puthēai.

495polloi men gar tōn ge damen, polloi de liponto:

English · Butler

"‘Son of Atreus,’ he answered, ‘why ask me? You had better not know my noos, for your eyes will surely fill when you have heard my story. Many of those about whom you ask are dead and gone, but many still remain, and only two of the chief men among the Achaeans perished during their return home. As for what happened on the field of battle - you were there yourself.

Homeric Greek

ἀρχοὶ δ' αὖ δύο μοῦνοι Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

ἐν νόστῳ ἀπόλοντο: μάχῃ δέ τε καὶ σὺ παρῆσθα.

εἷς δ' ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ.

"Αἴας μὲν μετὰ νηυσὶ δάμη δολιχηρέτμοισι.

500Γυρῇσίν μιν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐπέλασσεν

Transliteration

archoi d' au duo mounoi Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn

en nostōi apolonto: machēi de te kai su parēstha.

heis d' eti pou zōos kateruketai eurei pontōi.

"Aias men meta nēusi damē dolichēretmoisi.

500Gurēisin min prōta Poseidaōn epelassen

English · Butler

A third Achaean leader is still at sea, alive, but hindered from returning. Ajax was wrecked, for Poseidon drove him on to the great rocks of Gyrae; nevertheless, he let him get safe out of the water, and in spite of all Athena's hatred he would have escaped death, if he had not ruined himself by boasting.

Homeric Greek

πέτρῃσιν μεγάλῃσι καὶ ἐξεσάωσε θαλάσσης:

καί νύ κεν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἐχθόμενός περ Ἀθήνῃ,

εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε καὶ μέγ' ἀάσθη:

φῆ ῥ' ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης.

505τοῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων μεγάλ' ἔκλυεν αὐδήσαντος:

Transliteration

petrēisin megalēisi kai exesaōse thalassēs:

kai nu ken ekphuge kēra kai echthomenos per Athēnēi,

ei mē huperphialon epos ekbale kai meg' aasthē:

phē rh' aekēti theōn phugeein mega laitma thalassēs.

505tou de Poseidaōn megal' ekluen audēsantos:

English · Butler

He said the gods could not drown him even though they had tried to do so, and when Poseidon heard this large talk, he seized his trident in his two brawny hands, and split the rock of Gyrae in two pieces.

Homeric Greek

αὐτίκ' ἔπειτα τρίαιναν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν

ἤλασε Γυραίην πέτρην, ἀπὸ δ' ἔσχισεν αὐτήν:

καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, τὸ δὲ τρύφος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ,

τῷ ῥ' Αἴας τὸ πρῶτον ἐφεζόμενος μέγ' ἀάσθη:

510τὸν δ' ἐφόρει κατὰ πόντον ἀπείρονα κυμαίνοντα.

Transliteration

autik' epeita triainan helōn chersi stibarēisin

ēlase Guraiēn petrēn, apo d' eschisen autēn:

kai to men autothi meine, to de truphos empese pontōi,

tōi rh' Aias to prōton ephezomenos meg' aasthē:

510ton d' ephorei kata ponton apeirona kumainonta.

English · Butler

The base remained where it was, but the part on which Ajax was sitting fell headlong into the sea and carried Ajax with it; so he drank salt water

Homeric Greek

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθ' ἀπόλωλεν, ἐπεὶ πίεν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.

"'σὸς δέ που ἔκφυγε κῆρας ἀδελφεὸς ἠδ' ὑπάλυξεν

ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι: σάωσε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τάχ' ἔμελλε Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ

515ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή μιν ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα

Transliteration

hōs ho men enth' apolōlen, epei pien halmuron hudōr.

"'sos de pou ekphuge kēras adelpheos ēd' hupaluxen

en nēusi glaphurēisi: saōse de potnia Hērē.

all' hote dē tach' emelle Maleiaōn oros aipu

515hixesthai, tote dē min anarpaxasa thuella

English · Butler

and was drowned. "‘Your brother and his ships escaped, for Hera protected him, but when he was just about to reach the high promontory of Malea, he was caught by a heavy gale which carried him out to sea again sorely against his will, and drove him to the foreland where Thyestes used to dwell, but where Aigisthos was then living. By and by, however, it seemed as though he was to return

Homeric Greek

πόντον ἐπ' ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα,

ἀγροῦ ἐπ' ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε Θυέστης

τὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ τότ' ἔναιε Θυεστιάδης Αἴγισθος.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖθεν ἐφαίνετο νόστος ἀπήμων,

520ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν, καὶ οἴκαδ' ἵκοντο,

Transliteration

ponton ep' ichthuoenta pheren barea stenachonta,

agrou ep' eschatiēn, hothi dōmata naie Thuestēs

to prin, atar tot' enaie Thuestiadēs Aigisthos.

all' hote dē kai keithen ephaineto nostos apēmōn,

520aps de theoi ouron strepsan, kai oikad' hikonto,

English · Butler

safely after all, for the gods backed the wind into its old quarter and they reached home; whereon Agamemnon kissed his native soil, and shed tears

Homeric Greek

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν χαίρων ἐπεβήσετο πατρίδος αἴης

καὶ κύνει ἁπτόμενος ἣν πατρίδα: πολλὰ δ' ἀπ' αὐτοῦ

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντ', ἐπεὶ ἀσπασίως ἴδε γαῖαν.

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδε σκοπός, ὅν ῥα καθεῖσεν

525Αἴγισθος δολόμητις ἄγων, ὑπὸ δ' ἔσχετο μισθὸν

Transliteration

ē toi ho men chairōn epebēseto patridos aiēs

kai kunei haptomenos hēn patrida: polla d' ap' autou

dakrua therma cheont', epei aspasiōs ide gaian.

ton d' ar' apo skopiēs eide skopos, hon rha katheisen

525Aigisthos dolomētis agōn, hupo d' escheto misthon

English · Butler

of joy at finding himself in his own country. "‘Now there was a watchman whom Aigisthos kept always on the watch, and to whom he had promised two talents of gold. This man had been looking out for a whole year to

Homeric Greek

χρυσοῦ δοιὰ τάλαντα: φύλασσε δ' ὅ γ' εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,

μή ἑ λάθοι παριών, μνήσαιτο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἀγγελέων πρὸς δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν.

αὐτίκα δ' Αἴγισθος δολίην ἐφράσσατο τέχνην:

530κρινάμενος κατὰ δῆμον ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους

Transliteration

chrusou doia talanta: phulasse d' ho g' eis eniauton,

mē he lathoi pariōn, mnēsaito de thouridos alkēs.

bē d' imen angeleōn pros dōmata poimeni laōn.

autika d' Aigisthos doliēn ephrassato technēn:

530krinamenos kata dēmon eeikosi phōtas aristous

English · Butler

make sure that Agamemnon did not give him the slip and prepare war; when, therefore, this man saw Agamemnon go by, he went and told Aigisthos who at once began to lay a plot for him. He picked twenty of his bravest warriors from the dêmos and placed them in ambuscade on one side the room, while on the opposite side he prepared a banquet. Then he sent his chariots and horsemen to Agamemnon, and invited him to the feast, but he meant foul play.

Homeric Greek

εἷσε λόχον, ἑτέρωθι δ' ἀνώγει δαῖτα πένεσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ καλέων Ἀγαμέμνονα, ποιμένα λαῶν

ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν, ἀεικέα μερμηρίζων.

τὸν δ' οὐκ εἰδότ' ὄλεθρον ἀνήγαγε καὶ κατέπεφνεν

535δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.

Transliteration

heise lochon, heterōthi d' anōgei daita penesthai.

autar ho bē kaleōn Agamemnona, poimena laōn

hippoisin kai ochesphin, aeikea mermērizōn.

ton d' ouk eidot' olethron anēgage kai katepephnen

535deipnissas, hōs tis te katektane boun epi phatnēi.

English · Butler

He got him there, all unsuspicious of the doom that was awaiting him, and killed him when the banquet was over as though he were butchering an ox in the shambles; not one of Agamemnon's followers was left alive, nor yet one

Homeric Greek

οὐδέ τις Ἀτρεί̈δεω ἑτάρων λίπεθ' οἵ οἱ ἕποντο,

οὐδέ τις Αἰγίσθου, ἀλλ' ἔκταθεν ἐν μεγάροισιν'.

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,

κλαῖον δ' ἐν ψαμάθοισι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ

540ἤθελ' ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.

Transliteration

oude tis Atreïdeō hetarōn lipeth' hoi hoi heponto,

oude tis Aigisthou, all' ektathen en megaroisin'.

"hōs ephat', autar emoi ge kateklasthē philon ētor,

klaion d' en psamathoisi kathēmenos, oude nu moi kēr

540ēthel' eti zōein kai horan phaos ēelioio.

English · Butler

of Aigisthos’, but they were all killed there in the cloisters.’ "Thus spoke Proteus, and I was broken hearted as I heard him. I sat down upon the sands and wept; I felt as though I could no longer bear to live nor look upon the light of the sun.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην,

δὴ τότε με προσέειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής:

"'μηκέτι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, πολὺν χρόνον ἀσκελὲς οὕτω

κλαῖ', ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄνυσίν τινα δήομεν: ἀλλὰ τάχιστα

545πείρα ὅπως κεν δὴ σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι.

Transliteration

autar epei klaiōn te kulindomenos te koresthēn,

dē tote me proseeipe gerōn halios nēmertēs:

"'mēketi, Atreos huie, polun chronon askeles houtō

klai', epei ouk anusin tina dēomen: alla tachista

545peira hopōs ken dē sēn patrida gaian hikēai.

English · Butler

Presently, when I had had my fill of weeping and writhing upon the ground, the old man of the sea said, ‘Son of Atreus, do not waste any more time in crying so bitterly; it can do no manner of good; find your way home as fast as ever you can, for

Homeric Greek

ἢ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κιχήσεαι, ἤ κεν Ὀρέστης

κτεῖνεν ὑποφθάμενος, σὺ δέ κεν τάφου ἀντιβολήσαις.'

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

αὖτις ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀχνυμένῳ περ ἰάνθη,

550καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων:

Transliteration

ē gar min zōon ge kichēseai, ē ken Orestēs

kteinen hupophthamenos, su de ken taphou antibolēsais.'

"hōs ephat', autar emoi kradiē kai thumos agēnōr

autis eni stēthessi kai achnumenōi per ianthē,

550kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēudōn:

English · Butler

Aigisthos be still alive, and even though Orestes anticipates you in killing him, you may yet come in for his funeral.’ "On this I took comfort in spite of all my sorrow, and said, ‘I know, then, about these two; tell me, therefore, about the third man of whom you spoke; is he still alive, but at sea, and unable to get home? Or is he dead? Tell me,

Homeric Greek

"'τούτους μὲν δὴ οἶδα: σὺ δὲ τρίτον ἄνδρ' ὀνόμαζε,

ὅς τις ἔτι ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ

ἠὲ θανών: ἐθέλω δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀκοῦσαι'.

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν:

555'υἱὸς Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων:

Transliteration

"'toutous men dē oida: su de triton andr' onomaze,

hos tis eti zōos kateruketai eurei pontōi

ēe thanōn: ethelō de kai achnumenos per akousai'.

"hōs ephamēn, ho de m' autik' ameibomenos proseeipen:

555'huios Laerteō, Ithakēi eni oikia naiōn:

English · Butler

no matter how much it may grieve me.’ "‘The third man,’ he answered, ‘is Odysseus who dwells in Ithaca. I can see him in an island sorrowing bitterly

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἴδον ἐν νήσῳ θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντα,

νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ

ἴσχει: ὁ δ' οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι:

οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,

560οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπ' εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.

Transliteration

ton d' idon en nēsōi thaleron kata dakru cheonta,

numphēs en megaroisi Kalupsous, hē min anankēi

ischei: ho d' ou dunatai hēn patrida gaian hikesthai:

ou gar hoi para nēes epēretmoi kai hetairoi,

560hoi ken min pempoien ep' eurea nōta thalassēs.

English · Butler

in the house of the nymph Calypso, who is keeping him prisoner, and he cannot reach his home for he has no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea. As for your own end, Menelaos, you shall not die in Argos, but the gods will

Homeric Greek

σοι δ' οὐ θέσφατόν ἐστι, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,

Ἄργει ἐν ἱπποβότῳ θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν,

ἀλλά σ' ἐς Ἠλύσιον πεδίον καὶ πείρατα γαίης

ἀθάνατοι πέμψουσιν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Ῥαδάμανθυς,

565τῇ περ ῥηίστη βιοτὴ πέλει ἀνθρώποισιν:

Transliteration

soi d' ou thesphaton esti, diotrephes ō Menelae,

Argei en hippobotōi thaneein kai potmon epispein,

alla s' es Ēlusion pedion kai peirata gaiēs

athanatoi pempsousin, hothi xanthos Rhadamanthus,

565tēi per rhēistē biotē pelei anthrōpoisin:

English · Butler

take you to the Elysian plain, which is at the ends of the world. There fair-haired Rhadamanthus reigns, and men lead an easier life than any where else in the world, for in Elysium there falls not rain, nor hail, nor snow, but Okeanos breathes ever

Homeric Greek

οὐ νιφετός, οὔτ' ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτ' ὄμβρος,

ἀλλ' αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήτας

Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους:

οὕνεκ' ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι'.

570"ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.

Transliteration

ou niphetos, out' ar cheimōn polus oute pot' ombros,

all' aiei Zephuroio ligu pneiontos aētas

Ōkeanos aniēsin anapsuchein anthrōpous:

hounek' echeis Helenēn kai sphin gambros Dios essi'.

570"hōs eipōn hupo ponton eduseto kumainonta.

English · Butler

with a West wind that sings softly from the sea, and gives fresh life to all men. This will happen to you because you have married Helen, and are Zeus’ son-in-law.’ "As he spoke he dived under the waves, whereon I turned back to the ships with my companions, and my heart was clouded with care as I went along.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμ' ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν

ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,

δόρπον θ' ὁπλισάμεσθ', ἐπί τ' ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ,

575δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

Transliteration

autar egōn epi nēas ham' antitheois hetaroisin

ēia, polla de moi kradiē porphure kionti.

autar epei rh' epi nēa katēlthomen ēde thalassan,

dorpon th' hoplisamesth', epi t' ēluthen ambrosiē nux,

575dē tote koimēthēmen epi rhēgmini thalassēs.

English · Butler

"As he spoke he dived under the waves, whereon I turned back to the ships with my companions, and my heart was clouded with care as I went along. When we reached the ships we got supper ready, for night was falling, and camped down upon the beach. When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, we drew our ships into the water, and put our masts and sails within them; then we went on board ourselves, took our seats on the benches, and smote the gray sea with our oars.

Homeric Greek

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,

ἐν δ' ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς,

ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον:

580ἑξῆς δ' ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.

Transliteration

ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktulos Ēōs,

nēas men pamprōton erussamen eis hala dian,

en d' histous tithemestha kai histia nēusin eisēis,

an de kai autoi bantes epi klēisi kathizon:

580hexēs d' hezomenoi poliēn hala tupton eretmois.

English · Butler

I again stationed my ships in the heaven-fed stream of Egypt, and offered hecatombs that were full and sufficient. When I had thus appeased heaven's anger, I raised a tomb to

Homeric Greek

ἂψ δ' εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων,

χεῦ' Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵν' ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη.

585ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον

Transliteration

aps d' eis Aiguptoio diipeteos potamoio

stēsa neas, kai erexa telēessas hekatombas.

autar epei katepausa theōn cholon aien eontōn,

cheu' Agamemnoni tumbon, hin' asbeston kleos eiē.

585tauta teleutēsas neomēn, edosan de moi ouron

English · Butler

the memory of Agamemnon that his kleos might be inextinguishable, after which I had a quick passage home, for the gods

Homeric Greek

ἀθάνατοι, τοί μ' ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδ' ἔπεμψαν.

ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν,

ὄφρα κεν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται:

καὶ τότε σ' εὖ πέμψω, δώσω δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,

590τρεῖς ἵππους καὶ δίφρον ἐύξοον: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

Transliteration

athanatoi, toi m' ōka philēn es patrid' epempsan.

all' age nun epimeinon eni megaroisin emoisin,

ophra ken hendekatē te duōdekatē te genētai:

kai tote s' eu pempsō, dōsō de toi aglaa dōra,

590treis hippous kai diphron euxoon: autar epeita

English · Butler

sent me a fair wind. "And now for yourself - stay here some ten or twelve days longer, and I will then speed you on your way. I will make you a noble present of a chariot and three horses. I will also give you a beautiful chalice that so long as you live

Homeric Greek

δώσω καλὸν ἄλεισον, ἵνα σπένδῃσθα θεοῖσιν

ἀθανάτοις ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα."

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

"Ἀτρεί̈δη, μὴ δή με πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδ' ἔρυκε.

595καὶ γάρ κ' εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἐγὼ παρὰ σοί γ' ἀνεχοίμην

Transliteration

dōsō kalon aleison, hina spendēistha theoisin

athanatois emethen memnēmenos ēmata panta."

ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnumenos antion ēuda:

"Atreïdē, mē dē me polun chronon enthad' eruke.

595kai gar k' eis eniauton egō para soi g' anechoimēn

English · Butler

you may think of me whenever you make a drink-offering to the immortal gods." "Son of Atreus," replied Telemakhos, "do not press me to stay longer; I should be contented to remain with you for another twelve months; I find your conversation so delightful that I should never once wish myself at home with my parents; but my crew whom I have left at Pylos are already impatient, and you are detaining me from them. As for any present you may be disposed to make me, I had rather that it should he a piece of plate.

Homeric Greek

ἥμενος, οὐδέ κέ μ' οἴκου ἕλοι πόθος οὐδὲ τοκήων:

αἰνῶς γὰρ μύθοισιν ἔπεσσί τε σοῖσιν ἀκούων

τέρπομαι. ἀλλ' ἤδη μοι ἀνιάζουσιν ἑταῖροι

ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ: σὺ δέ με χρόνον ἐνθάδ' ἐρύκεις.

600δῶρον δ' ὅττι κέ μοι δοίης, κειμήλιον ἔστω:

Transliteration

hēmenos, oude ke m' oikou heloi pothos oude tokēōn:

ainōs gar muthoisin epessi te soisin akouōn

terpomai. all' ēdē moi aniazousin hetairoi

en Pulōi ēgatheēi: su de me chronon enthad' erukeis.

600dōron d' hotti ke moi doiēs, keimēlion estō:

English · Butler

I will take no horses back with me to Ithaca, but will leave them to adorn your own stables, for you have much flat ground in your kingdom where lotus thrives, as also meadowsweet and wheat and barley, and oats with their white and spreading ears;

Homeric Greek

ἵππους δ' εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐκ ἄξομαι, ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ

ἐνθάδε λείψω ἄγαλμα: σὺ γὰρ πεδίοιο ἀνάσσεις

εὐρέος, ᾧ ἔνι μὲν λωτὸς πολύς, ἐν δὲ κύπειρον

πυροί τε ζειαί τε ἰδ' εὐρυφυὲς κρῖ λευκόν.

605ἐν δ' Ἰθάκῃ οὔτ' ἂρ δρόμοι εὐρέες οὔτε τι λειμών:

Transliteration

hippous d' eis Ithakēn ouk axomai, alla soi autōi

enthade leipsō agalma: su gar pedioio anasseis

eureos, hōi eni men lōtos polus, en de kupeiron

puroi te zeiai te id' euruphues kri leukon.

605en d' Ithakēi out' ar dromoi eurees oute ti leimōn:

English · Butler

whereas in Ithaca we have neither open fields nor racecourses, and the country is more fit for goats than horses, and I like it the better for that. None of our islands have much

Homeric Greek

αἰγίβοτος, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος ἱπποβότοιο.

οὐ γάρ τις νήσων ἱππήλατος οὐδ' ἐυλείμων,

αἵ θ' ἁλὶ κεκλίαται: Ἰθάκη δέ τε καὶ περὶ πασέων."

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

610χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

Transliteration

aigibotos, kai mallon epēratos hippobotoio.

ou gar tis nēsōn hippēlatos oud' euleimōn,

hai th' hali kekliatai: Ithakē de te kai peri paseōn."

hōs phato, meidēsen de boēn agathos Menelaos,

610cheiri te min katerexen epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

English · Butler

level ground, suitable for horses, and Ithaca least of all." Menelaos smiled and took Telemakhos’ hand within his own. "What you say," said he, "shows that you come of good family.

Homeric Greek

"αἵματός εἰς ἀγαθοῖο, φίλον τέκος, οἷ' ἀγορεύεις:

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μεταστήσω: δύναμαι γάρ.

δώρων δ' ὅσσ' ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,

δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστιν:

615δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον: ἀργύρεος δὲ

Transliteration

"haimatos eis agathoio, philon tekos, hoi' agoreueis:

toigar egō toi tauta metastēsō: dunamai gar.

dōrōn d' hoss' en emōi oikōi keimēlia keitai,

dōsō ho kalliston kai timēestaton estin:

615dōsō toi krētēra tetugmenon: argureos de

English · Butler

I both can, and will, make this exchange for you, by giving you the finest and most precious piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing-bowl by Hephaistos’ own hand, of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold. Phaidimos, king of the Sidonians, gave it me in the course of

Homeric Greek

ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δ' χείλεα κεκράανται,

ἔργον δ' Ἡφαίστοιο. πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,

Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθ' ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε

κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα: τεὶ̈ν δ' ἐθέλω τόδ' ὀπάσσαι."

620ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

Transliteration

estin hapas, chrusōi d' cheilea kekraantai,

ergon d' Hēphaistoio. poren de he Phaidimos hērōs,

Sidoniōn basileus, hoth' heos domos amphekalupse

keise me nostēsanta: teïn d' ethelō tod' opassai."

620hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon,

English · Butler

a visit which I paid him when I returned there on my homeward journey. I will make you a present of it." Thus did they converse as guests kept coming to the king's house.

Homeric Greek

δαιτυμόνες δ' ἐς δώματ' ἴσαν θείου βασιλῆος.

οἱ δ' ἦγον μὲν μῆλα, φέρον δ' ἐυήνορα οἶνον:

σῖτον δέ σφ' ἄλοχοι καλλικρήδεμνοι ἔπεμπον.

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο.

625μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο

Transliteration

daitumones d' es dōmat' isan theiou basilēos.

hoi d' ēgon men mēla, pheron d' euēnora oinon:

siton de sph' alochoi kallikrēdemnoi epempon.

hōs hoi men peri deipnon eni megaroisi penonto.

625mnēstēres de paroithen Odussēos megaroio

English · Butler

Thus did they converse as guests kept coming to the king's house. They brought sheep and wine, while their wives had put up bread for them to take with them; so they were busy cooking their dinners in the courts. Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark on the leveled ground in front of Odysseus’ house, and were behaving with all their old hubris.

Homeric Greek

δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες

ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.

Ἀντίνοος δὲ καθῆστο καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,

ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων, ἀρετῇ δ' ἔσαν ἔξοχ' ἄριστοι.

630τοῖς δ' υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

Transliteration

diskoisin terponto kai aiganeēisin hientes

en tuktōi dapedōi, hothi per paros, hubrin echontes.

Antinoos de kathēsto kai Eurumachos theoeidēs,

archoi mnēstērōn, aretēi d' esan exoch' aristoi.

630tois d' huios Phronioio Noēmōn enguthen elthōn

English · Butler

Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark on the leveled ground in front of Odysseus’ house, and were behaving with all their old hubris. Antinoos and Eurymakhos, who were their ringleaders and much the foremost in aretê among them all, were sitting together when Noemon son of Phronios came

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίνοον μύθοισιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπεν:

"Ἀντίνο', ἦ ῥά τι ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί,

ὁππότε Τηλέμαχος νεῖτ' ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος;

νῆά μοι οἴχετ' ἄγων: ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς

635Ἤλιδ' ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι, ἔνθα μοι ἵπποι

Transliteration

Antinoon muthoisin aneiromenos proseeipen:

"Antino', ē rha ti idmen eni phresin, ēe kai ouki,

hoppote Tēlemachos neit' ek Pulou ēmathoentos;

nēa moi oichet' agōn: eme de chreō gignetai autēs

635Ēlid' es euruchoron diabēmenai, entha moi hippoi

English · Butler

up and said to Antinoos, "Have we any idea, Antinoos, on what day Telemakhos returns from Pylos? He has a ship of mine, and I want it, to cross over to Elis: I have twelve brood mares there with yearling mule foals by their side not yet

Homeric Greek

δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δ' ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοὶ

ἀδμῆτες: τῶν κέν τιν' ἐλασσάμενος δαμασαίμην."

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον: οὐ γὰρ ἔφαντο

ἐς Πύλον οἴχεσθαι Νηλήιον, ἀλλά που αὐτοῦ

640ἀγρῶν ἢ μήλοισι παρέμμεναι ἠὲ συβώτη.

Transliteration

dōdeka thēleiai, hupo d' hēmionoi talaergoi

admētes: tōn ken tin' elassamenos damasaimēn."

hōs ephath', hoi d' ana thumon ethambeon: ou gar ephanto

es Pulon oichesthai Nēlēion, alla pou autou

640agrōn ē mēloisi paremmenai ēe subōtē.

English · Butler

broken in, and I want to bring one of them over here and break him." They were astounded when they heard this, for they had made sure that Telemakhos had not gone to the city of Neleus. They thought he was only away somewhere on the farms, and was with the sheep, or with the swineherd; so Antinoos said, "When did he go?

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίνοος προσέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός:

"νημερτές μοι ἔνισπε, πότ' ᾤχετο καὶ τίνες αὐτῷ

κοῦροι ἕποντ'; Ἰθάκης ἐξαίρετοι, ἦ ἑοὶ αὐτοῦ

θῆτές τε δμῶές τε; δύναιτό κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσαι.

645καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐὺ εἰδῶ,

Transliteration

ton d' aut' Antinoos prosephē Eupeitheos huios:

"nēmertes moi enispe, pot' ōicheto kai tines autōi

kouroi hepont'; Ithakēs exairetoi, ē heoi autou

thētes te dmōes te; dunaito ke kai to telessai.

645kai moi tout' agoreuson etētumon, ophr' eu eidō,

English · Butler

Tell me truly, and what young men did he take with him? Were they freemen or his own bondsmen - for he might manage that too? Tell me also, did you let him have the ship of your own free will because he asked

Homeric Greek

ἤ σε βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρα νῆα μέλαιναν,

ἦε ἑκών οἱ δῶκας, ἐπεὶ προσπτύξατο μύθῳ."

τὸν δ' υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἀντίον ηὔδα:

"αὐτὸς ἑκών οἱ δῶκα: τί κεν ῥέξειε καὶ ἄλλος,

650ὁππότ' ἀνὴρ τοιοῦτος ἔχων μελεδήματα θυμῷ

Transliteration

ē se biēi aekontos apēura nēa melainan,

ēe hekōn hoi dōkas, epei prosptuxato muthōi."

ton d' huios Phronioio Noēmōn antion ēuda:

"autos hekōn hoi dōka: ti ken rhexeie kai allos,

650hoppot' anēr toioutos echōn meledēmata thumōi

English · Butler

you, or did he take it by force without your leave?" "I lent it him," answered Noemon. "What else could I do when a man of his position said he was in a difficulty and asked me to oblige him? I could not possibly refuse.

Homeric Greek

αἰτίζῃ; χαλεπόν κεν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν εἴη.

κοῦροι δ', οἳ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριστεύουσι μεθ' ἡμέας,

οἵ οἱ ἕποντ': ἐν δ' ἀρχὸν ἐγὼ βαίνοντ' ἐνόησα

Μέντορα, ἠὲ θεόν, τῷ δ' αὐτῷ πάντα ἐῴκει.

655ἀλλὰ τὸ θαυμάζω: ἴδον ἐνθάδε Μέντορα δῖον

Transliteration

aitizēi; chalepon ken anēnasthai dosin eiē.

kouroi d', hoi kata dēmon aristeuousi meth' hēmeas,

hoi hoi hepont': en d' archon egō bainont' enoēsa

Mentora, ēe theon, tōi d' autōi panta eōikei.

655alla to thaumazō: idon enthade Mentora dion

English · Butler

As for those who went with him they were the best young men we have in the dêmos, and I saw Mentor go on board as leader - or some god who was exactly like him. I cannot understand it, for I saw Mentor here myself yesterday morning, and yet

Homeric Greek

χθιζὸν ὑπηοῖον, τότε δ' ἔμβη νηὶ Πύλονδε."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα πατρός,

τοῖσιν δ' ἀμφοτέροισιν ἀγάσσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

μνηστῆρας δ' ἄμυδις κάθισαν καὶ παῦσαν ἀέθλων.

660τοῖσιν δ' Ἀντίνοος μετέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός,

Transliteration

chthizon hupēoion, tote d' embē nēi Pulonde."

hōs ara phōnēsas apebē pros dōmata patros,

toisin d' amphoteroisin agassato thumos agēnōr.

mnēstēras d' amudis kathisan kai pausan aethlōn.

660toisin d' Antinoos metephē Eupeitheos huios,

English · Butler

he was then setting out for Pylos." Noemon then went back to his father's house, but Antinoos and Eurymakhos were very angry. They told the others to leave off competing, and to come and sit down along with themselves. When they came, Antinoos son of Eupeithes spoke in anger. His heart was black with

Homeric Greek

ἀχνύμενος: μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι

πίμπλαντ', ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην:

"ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως ἐτελέσθη

Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε: φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.

665ἐκ τοσσῶνδ' ἀέκητι νέος πάϊς οἴχεται αὔτως

Transliteration

achnumenos: meneos de mega phrenes amphimelainai

pimplant', osse de hoi puri lampetoōnti eiktēn:

"ō popoi, ē mega ergon huperphialōs etelesthē

Tēlemachōi hodos hēde: phamen de hoi ou teleesthai.

665ek tossōnd' aekēti neos païs oichetai autōs

English · Butler

rage, and his eyes flashed fire as he said: "Good heavens, this voyage of Telemakhos is a very serious matter; we had made sure that it would come to nothing, but the young man has got away in spite of us, and with a crew picked from the best of the dêmos, too. He will be giving us trouble presently; may Zeus destroy him with violence before he is full grown.

Homeric Greek

νῆα ἐρυσσάμενος, κρίνας τ' ἀνὰ δῆμον ἀρίστους.

ἄρξει καὶ προτέρω κακὸν ἔμμεναι: ἀλλά οἱ αὐτῷ

Ζεὺς ὀλέσειε βίην, πρὶν ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι.

ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσ' ἑταίρους,

670ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν ἰόντα λοχήσομαι ἠδὲ φυλάξω

Transliteration

nēa erussamenos, krinas t' ana dēmon aristous.

arxei kai proterō kakon emmenai: alla hoi autōi

Zeus oleseie biēn, prin hēbēs metron hikesthai.

all' age moi dote nēa thoēn kai eikos' hetairous,

670ophra min auton ionta lochēsomai ēde phulaxō

English · Butler

Find me a ship, therefore, with a crew of twenty men, and I will lie in wait for him in the straits between Ithaca and Samos; he will then rue the day that he set

Homeric Greek

ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,

ὡς ἂν ἐπισμυγερῶς ναυτίλλεται εἵνεκα πατρός."

"ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδ' ἐκέλευον.

αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.

675οὐδ' ἄρα Πηνελόπεια πολὺν χρόνον ἦεν ἄπυστος

Transliteration

en porthmōi Ithakēs te Samoio te paipaloessēs,

hōs an epismugerōs nautilletai heineka patros."

"hōs ephath', hoi d' ara pantes epēineon ēd' ekeleuon.

autik' epeit' anstantes eban domon eis Odusēos.

675oud' ara Pēnelopeia polun chronon ēen apustos

English · Butler

out to try and get news of his father." Thus did he speak, and the others applauded his saying; they then all of them went inside the buildings. It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were plotting; for a man servant, Medon, overheard them from outside the outer court as they were laying their schemes within, and went to tell his mistress.

Homeric Greek

μύθων, οὓς μνηστῆρες ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον:

κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλὰς

αὐλῆς ἐκτὸς ἐών: οἱ δ' ἔνδοθι μῆτιν ὕφαινον.

βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα Πηνελοπείῃ:

680τὸν δὲ κατ' οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια:

Transliteration

muthōn, hous mnēstēres eni phresi bussodomeuon:

kērux gar hoi eeipe Medōn, hos epeutheto boulas

aulēs ektos eōn: hoi d' endothi mētin huphainon.

bē d' imen angeleōn dia dōmata Pēnelopeiēi:

680ton de kat' oudou banta prosēuda Pēnelopeia:

English · Butler

It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were plotting; for a man servant, Medon, overheard them from outside the outer court as they were laying their schemes within, and went to tell his mistress. As he crossed the threshold of her room Penelope said: "Medon, what have the suitors sent you here for? Is it to tell the maids to leave their master's business and cook dinner for them? I wish they may neither woo nor dine henceforward, neither here nor

Homeric Greek

"κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ σε πρόεσαν μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί;

ἦ εἰπέμεναι δμῳῇσιν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

ἔργων παύσασθαι, σφίσι δ' αὐτοῖς δαῖτα πένεσθαι;

μὴ μνηστεύσαντες μηδ' ἄλλοθ' ὁμιλήσαντες

685ὕστατα καὶ πύματα νῦν ἐνθάδε δειπνήσειαν:

Transliteration

"kērux, tipte de se proesan mnēstēres agauoi;

ē eipemenai dmōiēisin Odussēos theioio

ergōn pausasthai, sphisi d' autois daita penesthai;

mē mnēsteusantes mēd' alloth' homilēsantes

685hustata kai pumata nun enthade deipnēseian:

English · Butler

anywhere else, but let this be the very last time, for the waste you all make of my son's estate. Did not your fathers tell you when you were children how good Odysseus had been to them - never doing anything high-handed, nor speaking harshly to anybody in the dêmos?

Homeric Greek

οἳ θάμ' ἀγειρόμενοι βίοτον κατακείρετε πολλόν,

κτῆσιν Τηλεμάχοιο δαί̈φρονος: οὐδέ τι πατρῶν

ὑμετέρων τὸ πρόσθεν ἀκούετε, παῖδες ἐόντες,

οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μεθ' ὑμετέροισι τοκεῦσιν,

690οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον οὔτε τι εἰπὼν

Transliteration

hoi tham' ageiromenoi bioton katakeirete pollon,

ktēsin Tēlemachoio daïphronos: oude ti patrōn

humeterōn to prosthen akouete, paides eontes,

hoios Odusseus eske meth' humeteroisi tokeusin,

690oute tina rhexas exaision oute ti eipōn

English · Butler

Such is the justice of divine kings: they may take a fancy to one man and dislike another, but Odysseus never did an unjust thing

Homeric Greek

ἐν δήμῳ, ἥ τ' ἐστὶ δίκη θείων βασιλήων:

ἄλλον κ' ἐχθαίρῃσι βροτῶν, ἄλλον κε φιλοίη.

κεῖνος δ' οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἀτάσθαλον ἄνδρα ἐώργει.

ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ὑμέτερος θυμὸς καὶ ἀεικέα ἔργα

695φαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς ἐστι χάρις μετόπισθ' ἐυεργέων."

Transliteration

en dēmōi, hē t' esti dikē theiōn basilēōn:

allon k' echthairēisi brotōn, allon ke philoiē.

keinos d' ou pote pampan atasthalon andra eōrgei.

all' ho men humeteros thumos kai aeikea erga

695phainetai, oude tis esti charis metopisth' euergeōn."

English · Butler

by anybody - which shows what bad hearts you have, and that there is no such thing as gratitude left in this world."

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς:

"αἲ γὰρ δή, βασίλεια, τόδε πλεῖστον κακὸν εἴη.

ἀλλὰ πολὺ μεῖζόν τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερον ἄλλο

μνηστῆρες φράζονται, ὃ μὴ τελέσειε Κρονίων:

700Τηλέμαχον μεμάασι κατακτάμεν ὀξέι χαλκῷ

Transliteration

tēn d' aute proseeipe Medōn pepnumena eidōs:

"ai gar dē, basileia, tode pleiston kakon eiē.

alla polu meizon te kai argaleōteron allo

mnēstēres phrazontai, ho mē teleseie Kroniōn:

700Tēlemachon memaasi kataktamen oxei chalkōi

English · Butler

Then Medon said, "I wish, my lady, that this were all; but they are plotting something much more dreadful now - may heaven frustrate their design. They are going to try and murder Telemakhos as he is coming home from Pylos and Lacedaemon, where

Homeric Greek

οἴκαδε νισόμενον: ὁ δ' ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν

ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδ' ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν."

ὣς φάτο, τῆς δ' αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,

δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε: τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

705δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

Transliteration

oikade nisomenon: ho d' ebē meta patros akouēn

es Pulon ēgatheēn ēd' es Lakedaimona dian."

hōs phato, tēs d' autou luto gounata kai philon ētor,

dēn de min amphasiē epeōn labe: tō de hoi osse

705dakruophi plēsthen, thalerē de hoi escheto phōnē.

English · Butler

he has been to get news of his father." Then Penelope's heart sank within her, and for a long time she was speechless; her eyes filled with tears, and she could find no utterance. At last, however, she said, "Why did my son leave me? What business had he to go

Homeric Greek

ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε:

"κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ μοι πάϊς οἴχεται; οὐδέ τί μιν χρεὼ

νηῶν ὠκυπόρων ἐπιβαινέμεν, αἵ θ' ἁλὸς ἵπποι

ἀνδράσι γίγνονται, περόωσι δὲ πουλὺν ἐφ' ὑγρήν.

710ἦ ἵνα μηδ' ὄνομ' αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι λίπηται;"

Transliteration

opse de dē min epessin ameibomenē proseeipe:

"kērux, tipte de moi païs oichetai; oude ti min chreō

nēōn ōkuporōn epibainemen, hai th' halos hippoi

andrasi gignontai, peroōsi de poulun eph' hugrēn.

710ē hina mēd' onom' autou en anthrōpoisi lipētai;"

English · Butler

sailing off in ships that make long voyages over the ocean like sea-horses? Does he want to die without leaving any one behind him to keep up his name?"

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς:

"οὐκ οἶδ' ἤ τίς μιν θεὸς ὤρορεν, ἦε καὶ αὐτοῦ

θυμὸς ἐφωρμήθη ἴμεν ἐς Πύλον, ὄφρα πύθηται

πατρὸς ἑοῦ ἢ νόστον ἢ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν."

715ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κατὰ δῶμ' Ὀδυσῆος.

Transliteration

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita Medōn pepnumena eidōs:

"ouk oid' ē tis min theos ōroren, ēe kai autou

thumos ephōrmēthē imen es Pulon, ophra puthētai

patros heou ē noston ē hon tina potmon epespen."

715hōs ara phōnēsas apebē kata dōm' Odusēos.

English · Butler

"I do not know," answered Medon, "whether some god set him on to it, or whether he went on his own impulse to see if he could find out if his father was dead, or alive and on his way home." Then he went downstairs again, leaving Penelope in an agony of grief.

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἄχος ἀμφεχύθη θυμοφθόρον, οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτ' ἔτλη

δίφρῳ ἐφέζεσθαι πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,

ἀλλ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδοῦ ἷζε πολυκμήτου θαλάμοιο

οἴκτρ' ὀλοφυρομένη: περὶ δὲ δμῳαὶ μινύριζον

720πᾶσαι, ὅσαι κατὰ δώματ' ἔσαν νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί.

Transliteration

tēn d' achos amphechuthē thumophthoron, oud' ar' et' etlē

diphrōi ephezesthai pollōn kata oikon eontōn,

all' ar' ep' oudou hize polukmētou thalamoio

oiktr' olophuromenē: peri de dmōiai minurizon

720pasai, hosai kata dōmat' esan neai ēde palaiai.

English · Butler

Then he went downstairs again, leaving Penelope in an agony of grief. There were plenty of seats in the house, but she had no heart for sitting on any one of them; she could only fling herself on the floor of her own room and cry; whereon all the maids in the house, both old and young, gathered round her and began to cry too, till at last

Homeric Greek

τῇς δ' ἁδινὸν γοόωσα μετηύδα Πηνελόπεια:

"κλῦτε, φίλαι: πέρι γάρ μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἄλγε' ἔδωκεν

ἐκ πασέων, ὅσσαι μοι ὁμοῦ τράφεν ἠδ' ἐγένοντο:

ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,

725παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,

Transliteration

tēis d' hadinon gooōsa metēuda Pēnelopeia:

"klute, philai: peri gar moi Olumpios alge' edōken

ek paseōn, hossai moi homou traphen ēd' egenonto:

hē prin men posin esthlon apōlesa thumoleonta,

725pantoiēis aretēisi kekasmenon en Danaoisin,

English · Butler

in a transport of sorrow she exclaimed, "My dears, heaven has been pleased to try me with more affliction than any other woman of my age and country. First I lost my brave and lion-hearted husband, who had every good quality under heaven, and whose kleos was great over all Hellas and middle Argos; and now my darling son is at the mercy

Homeric Greek

ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθ' Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.

νῦν αὖ παῖδ' ἀγαπητὸν ἀνηρείψαντο θύελλαι

ἀκλέα ἐκ μεγάρων, οὐδ' ὁρμηθέντος ἄκουσα.

σχέτλιαι, οὐδ' ὑμεῖς περ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θέσθε ἑκάστη

730ἐκ λεχέων μ' ἀνεγεῖραι, ἐπιστάμεναι σάφα θυμῷ,

Transliteration

esthlon, tou kleos euru kath' Hellada kai meson Argos.

nun au paid' agapēton anēreipsanto thuellai

aklea ek megarōn, oud' hormēthentos akousa.

schetliai, oud' humeis per eni phresi thesthe hekastē

730ek lecheōn m' anegeirai, epistamenai sapha thumōi,

English · Butler

of the winds and waves, without my having heard one word about his leaving home. You hussies, there was not one of you would so much as think of giving me a call out of my bed, though you all of you very well knew when he was starting. If I had known he meant taking this voyage,

Homeric Greek

ὁππότ' ἐκεῖνος ἔβη κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν.

εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ πυθόμην ταύτην ὁδὸν ὁρμαίνοντα,

τῷ κε μάλ' ἤ κεν ἔμεινε καὶ ἐσσύμενός περ ὁδοῖο,

ἤ κέ με τεθνηκυῖαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπεν.

735ἀλλά τις ὀτρηρῶς Δολίον καλέσειε γέροντα,

Transliteration

hoppot' ekeinos ebē koilēn epi nēa melainan.

ei gar egō puthomēn tautēn hodon hormainonta,

tōi ke mal' ē ken emeine kai essumenos per hodoio,

ē ke me tethnēkuian eni megaroisin eleipen.

735alla tis otrērōs Dolion kaleseie geronta,

English · Butler

he would have had to give it up, no matter how much he was bent upon it, or leave me a corpse behind him - one or other. Now, however, go some of you and call old Dolios, who was given me by my father on my marriage, and who is my gardener. Bid him go at once and

Homeric Greek

δμῶ' ἐμόν, ὅν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,

καί μοι κῆπον ἔχει πολυδένδρεον, ὄφρα τάχιστα

Λαέρτῃ τάδε πάντα παρεζόμενος καταλέξῃ,

εἰ δή πού τινα κεῖνος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μῆτιν ὑφήνας

740ἐξελθὼν λαοῖσιν ὀδύρεται, οἳ μεμάασιν

Transliteration

dmō' emon, hon moi dōke patēr eti deuro kiousēi,

kai moi kēpon echei poludendreon, ophra tachista

Laertēi tade panta parezomenos katalexēi,

ei dē pou tina keinos eni phresi mētin huphēnas

740exelthōn laoisin oduretai, hoi memaasin

English · Butler

tell everything to Laertes, who may be able to hit on some plan for enlisting public sympathy on our side, as against those who are trying to exterminate his own

Homeric Greek

ὃν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος φθῖσαι γόνον ἀντιθέοιο."

τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια:

"νύμφα φίλη, σὺ μὲν ἄρ με κατάκτανε νηλέι χαλκῷ

ἢ ἔα ἐν μεγάρῳ: μῦθον δέ τοι οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.

745ᾔδε' ἐγὼ τάδε πάντα, πόρον δέ οἱ ὅσσ' ἐκέλευε,

Transliteration

hon kai Odussēos phthisai gonon antitheoio."

tēn d' aute proseeipe philē trophos Eurukleia:

"numpha philē, su men ar me kataktane nēlei chalkōi

ē ea en megarōi: muthon de toi ouk epikeusō.

745ēide' egō tade panta, poron de hoi hoss' ekeleue,

English · Butler

race and that of Odysseus." Then the dear old nurse Eurykleia said, "You may kill me, my lady, or let me live on in your house, whichever you please, but I will tell you the real truth. I knew all about it, and gave him everything he wanted in the way of bread and wine, but he made me take my solemn oath that I would not

Homeric Greek

σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ: ἐμεῦ δ' ἕλετο μέγαν ὅρκον

μὴ πρὶν σοὶ ἐρέειν, πρὶν δωδεκάτην γε γενέσθαι

ἢ σ' αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,

ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃς.

750ἀλλ' ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροὶ̈ εἵμαθ' ἑλοῦσα,

Transliteration

siton kai methu hēdu: emeu d' heleto megan horkon

mē prin soi ereein, prin dōdekatēn ge genesthai

ē s' autēn pothesai kai aphormēthentos akousai,

hōs an mē klaiousa kata chroa kalon iaptēis.

750all' hudrēnamenē, kathara chroï heimath' helousa,

English · Butler

tell you anything for some ten or twelve days, unless you asked or happened to hear of his having gone, for he did not want you to spoil your beauty by crying. And now, my lady, wash your face, change your dress, and go upstairs with your maids to offer prayers to Athena, daughter of Aegis-bearing Zeus, for she can save him even though he be in the jaws of death.

Homeric Greek

εἰς ὑπερῷ' ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν

εὔχε' Ἀθηναίῃ κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο:

ἡ γάρ κέν μιν ἔπειτα καὶ ἐκ θανάτοιο σαώσαι.

μηδὲ γέροντα κάκου κεκακωμένον: οὐ γὰρ ὀίω

755πάγχυ θεοῖς μακάρεσσι γονὴν Ἀρκεισιάδαο

Transliteration

eis huperōi' anabasa sun amphipoloisi gunaixin

euche' Athēnaiēi kourēi Dios aigiochoio:

hē gar ken min epeita kai ek thanatoio saōsai.

mēde geronta kakou kekakōmenon: ou gar oiō

755panchu theois makaressi gonēn Arkeisiadao

English · Butler

Do not trouble Laertes: he has trouble enough already. Besides, I cannot think that the gods hate the race of the son of Arceisius so much, but there will be a son left to come up after him,

Homeric Greek

ἔχθεσθ', ἀλλ' ἔτι πού τις ἐπέσσεται ὅς κεν ἔχῃσι

δώματά θ' ὑψερεφέα καὶ ἀπόπροθι πίονας ἀγρούς."

ὣς φάτο, τῆς δ' εὔνησε γόον, σχέθε δ' ὄσσε γόοιο.

ἡ δ' ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροὶ̈ εἵμαθ' ἑλοῦσα

760εἰς ὑπερῷ' ἀνέβαινε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν,

Transliteration

echthesth', all' eti pou tis epessetai hos ken echēisi

dōmata th' hupserephea kai apoprothi pionas agrous."

hōs phato, tēs d' eunēse goon, schethe d' osse gooio.

hē d' hudrēnamenē, kathara chroï heimath' helousa

760eis huperōi' anebaine sun amphipoloisi gunaixin,

English · Butler

and inherit both the house and the fair fields that lie far all round it." With these words she made her mistress leave off crying, and dried the tears from her eyes. Penelope washed her face, changed her dress, and went upstairs with her maids. She then put some bruised barley into

Homeric Greek

ἐν δ' ἔθετ' οὐλοχύτας κανέῳ, ἠρᾶτο δ' Ἀθήνῃ:

"κλῦθί μευ, αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, Ἀτρυτώνη,

εἴ ποτέ τοι πολύμητις ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἢ βοὸς ἢ ὄϊος κατὰ πίονα μηρί' ἔκηε,

765τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι φίλον υἷα σάωσον,

Transliteration

en d' ethet' oulochutas kaneōi, ērato d' Athēnēi:

"kluthi meu, aigiochoio Dios tekos, Atrutōnē,

ei pote toi polumētis eni megaroisin Odusseus

ē boos ē oïos kata piona mēri' ekēe,

765tōn nun moi mnēsai, kai moi philon huia saōson,

English · Butler

a basket and began praying to Athena. "Hear me," she cried, "Daughter of Aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable. If ever Odysseus while he was here burned you fat thigh bones of sheep or heifer, bear it in mind now as in my favor, and save

Homeric Greek

μνηστῆρας δ' ἀπάλαλκε κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντας."

ὣς εἰποῦσ' ὀλόλυξε, θεὰ δέ οἱ ἔκλυεν ἀρῆς.

μνηστῆρες δ' ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα:

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων:

770"ἦ μάλα δὴ γάμον ἄμμι πολυμνήστη βασίλεια

Transliteration

mnēstēras d' apalalke kakōs huperēnoreontas."

hōs eipous' ololuxe, thea de hoi ekluen arēs.

mnēstēres d' homadēsan ana megara skioenta:

hōde de tis eipeske neōn huperēnoreontōn:

770"ē mala dē gamon ammi polumnēstē basileia

English · Butler

my darling son from the villainy of the suitors." She cried aloud as she spoke, and the goddess heard her prayer; meanwhile the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered room, and one of them said: "The queen is preparing for her marriage with one or other of us.

Homeric Greek

ἀρτύει, οὐδέ τι οἶδεν ὅ οἱ φόνος υἷι τέτυκται."

"ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, τὰ δ' οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.

τοῖσιν δ' Ἀντίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε:

"δαιμόνιοι, μύθους μὲν ὑπερφιάλους ἀλέασθε

775πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πού τις ἀπαγγείλῃσι καὶ εἴσω.

Transliteration

artuei, oude ti oiden ho hoi phonos huii tetuktai."

"hōs ara tis eipeske, ta d' ouk isan hōs etetukto.

toisin d' Antinoos agorēsato kai meteeipe:

"daimonioi, muthous men huperphialous aleasthe

775pantas homōs, mē pou tis apangeilēisi kai eisō.

English · Butler

"The queen is preparing for her marriage with one or other of us. Little does she dream that her son has now been doomed to die." This was what they said, but they did not know what was going to happen. Then Antinoos said, "Comrades, let there be no loud talking, lest some of it get carried inside. Let us be up and do that in

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε σιγῇ τοῖον ἀναστάντες τελέωμεν

μῦθον, ὃ δὴ καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤραρεν ἡμῖν."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐκρίνατ' ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους,

βὰν δ' ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.

780νῆα μὲν οὖν πάμπρωτον ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,

Transliteration

all' age sigēi toion anastantes teleōmen

muthon, ho dē kai pasin eni phresin ēraren hēmin."

hōs eipōn ekrinat' eeikosi phōtas aristous,

ban d' ienai epi nēa thoēn kai thina thalassēs.

780nēa men oun pamprōton halos benthosde erussan,

English · Butler

silence, about which we are all of a mind." He then chose twenty men, and they went down to their ship and to the sea side; they drew the vessel into the water and got her mast and sails inside her; they bound the oars to the thole-pins with twisted thongs of leather, all in due course, and spread the white sails aloft, while their fine servants brought them their armor. Then they made the ship fast

Homeric Greek

ἐν δ' ἱστόν τ' ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,

ἠρτύναντο δ' ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισιν,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θ' ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν:

τεύχεα δέ σφ' ἤνεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.

785ὑψοῦ δ' ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γ' ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δ' ἔβαν αὐτοί:

Transliteration

en d' histon t' etithento kai histia nēi melainēi,

ērtunanto d' eretma tropois en dermatinoisin,

panta kata moiran, ana th' histia leuka petassan:

teuchea de sph' ēneikan huperthumoi therapontes.

785hupsou d' en notiōi tēn g' hōrmisan, ek d' eban autoi:

English · Butler

a little way out, came on shore again, got their suppers, and waited till

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα δὲ δόρπον ἕλοντο, μένον δ' ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.

ἡ δ' ὑπερωίῳ αὖθι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια

κεῖτ' ἄρ' ἄσιτος, ἄπαστος ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,

ὁρμαίνουσ' ἤ οἱ θάνατον φύγοι υἱὸς ἀμύμων,

790ἦ ὅ γ' ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι δαμείη.

Transliteration

entha de dorpon helonto, menon d' epi hesperon elthein.

hē d' huperōiōi authi periphrōn Pēnelopeia

keit' ar' asitos, apastos edētuos ēde potētos,

hormainous' ē hoi thanaton phugoi huios amumōn,

790ē ho g' hupo mnēstērsin huperphialoisi dameiē.

English · Butler

night should fall. But Penelope lay in her own room upstairs unable to eat or drink, and wondering whether her brave son would escape, or be overpowered by the wicked suitors. Like a lioness caught in the toils with huntsmen hemming her in on every side

Homeric Greek

ὅσσα δὲ μερμήριξε λέων ἀνδρῶν ἐν ὁμίλῳ

δείσας, ὁππότε μιν δόλιον περὶ κύκλον ἄγωσι,

τόσσα μιν ὁρμαίνουσαν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος:

εὗδε δ' ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα.

795ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:

Transliteration

hossa de mermērixe leōn andrōn en homilōi

deisas, hoppote min dolion peri kuklon agōsi,

tossa min hormainousan epēluthe nēdumos hupnos:

heude d' anaklintheisa, luthen de hoi hapsea panta.

795enth' aut' all' enoēse thea, glaukōpis Athēnē:

English · Butler

she thought and thought till she sank into a slumber, and lay on her bed bereft of thought and motion. Then Athena bethought her of another matter, and made a vision in the likeness of Penelope's sister Iphthime daughter of Ikarios who had married Eumelos and lived in Pherai.

Homeric Greek

εἴδωλον ποίησε, δέμας δ' ἤικτο γυναικί,

Ἰφθίμῃ, κούρῃ μεγαλήτορος Ἰκαρίοιο,

τὴν Εὔμηλος ὄπυιε Φερῇς ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.

πέμπε δέ μιν πρὸς δώματ' Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,

800ἧος Πηνελόπειαν ὀδυρομένην γοόωσαν

Transliteration

eidōlon poiēse, demas d' ēikto gunaiki,

Iphthimēi, kourēi megalētoros Ikarioio,

tēn Eumēlos opuie Pherēis eni oikia naiōn.

pempe de min pros dōmat' Odussēos theioio,

800hēos Pēnelopeian oduromenēn gooōsan

English · Butler

Then Athena bethought her of another matter, and made a vision in the likeness of Penelope's sister Iphthime daughter of Ikarios who had married Eumelos and lived in Pherai. She told the vision to go to the house of Odysseus, and to make Penelope leave off crying, so it came into her room by the hole

Homeric Greek

παύσειε κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.

ἐς θάλαμον δ' εἰσῆλθε παρὰ κληῖδος ἱμάντα,

στῆ δ' ἄρ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

"εὕδεις, Πηνελόπεια, φίλον τετιημένη ἦτορ;

805οὐ μέν σ' οὐδὲ ἐῶσι θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες

Transliteration

pauseie klauthmoio gooio te dakruoentos.

es thalamon d' eisēlthe para klēidos himanta,

stē d' ar huper kephalēs, kai min pros muthon eeipen:

"heudeis, Pēnelopeia, philon tetiēmenē ētor;

805ou men s' oude eōsi theoi rheia zōontes

English · Butler

through which the thong went for pulling the door to, and hovered over her head, saying, "You are asleep, Penelope: the gods who live at ease will not suffer you to weep and be so sad. Your son has done them

Homeric Greek

κλαίειν οὐδ' ἀκάχησθαι, ἐπεί ῥ' ἔτι νόστιμός ἐστι

σὸς παῖς: οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θεοῖς ἀλιτήμενός ἐστι."

τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,

ἡδὺ μάλα κνώσσουσ' ἐν ὀνειρείῃσι πύλῃσιν:

810"τίπτε, κασιγνήτη, δεῦρ' ἤλυθες; οὔ τι πάρος γε

Transliteration

klaiein oud' akachēsthai, epei rh' eti nostimos esti

sos pais: ou men gar ti theois alitēmenos esti."

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita periphrōn Pēnelopeia,

hēdu mala knōssous' en oneireiēisi pulēisin:

810"tipte, kasignētē, deur' ēluthes; ou ti paros ge

English · Butler

no wrong, so he will yet come back to you." Penelope, who was sleeping sweetly at the gates of dreamland, answered, "Sister, why have you come here? You do not come very often, but I suppose that is because you live such a long way off. Am I, then, to leave off crying and refrain from all the sad thoughts that torture me?

Homeric Greek

πωλέ', ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίεις:

καί με κέλεαι παύσασθαι ὀιζύος ἠδ' ὀδυνάων

πολλέων, αἵ μ' ἐρέθουσι κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,

ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,

815παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,

Transliteration

pōle', epei mala pollon apoprothi dōmata naieis:

kai me keleai pausasthai oizuos ēd' odunaōn

polleōn, hai m' erethousi kata phrena kai kata thumon,

hē prin men posin esthlon apōlesa thumoleonta,

815pantoiēis aretēisi kekasmenon en Danaoisin,

English · Butler

I, who have lost my brave and lion-hearted husband, who had every good quality under heaven, and whose kleos was great over all Hellas and middle Argos; and now my darling son has gone off on board of a ship - a foolish man who has never been used to undergoing ordeals, nor to going about among gatherings of men.

Homeric Greek

ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθ' Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος:

νῦν αὖ παῖς ἀγαπητὸς ἔβη κοίλης ἐπὶ νηός,

νήπιος, οὔτε πόνων ἐὺ εἰδὼς οὔτ' ἀγοράων.

τοῦ δὴ ἐγὼ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀδύρομαι ἤ περ ἐκείνου:

820τοῦ δ' ἀμφιτρομέω καὶ δείδια, μή τι πάθῃσιν,

Transliteration

esthlon, tou kleos euru kath' Hellada kai meson Argos:

nun au pais agapētos ebē koilēs epi nēos,

nēpios, oute ponōn eu eidōs out' agoraōn.

tou dē egō kai mallon oduromai ē per ekeinou:

820tou d' amphitromeō kai deidia, mē ti pathēisin,

English · Butler

I am even more anxious about him than about my husband; I am all in a tremble when I think of him, lest something should happen to him, either from the people in the dêmos where he has gone, or at

Homeric Greek

ἢ ὅ γε τῶν ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἵν' οἴχεται, ἢ ἐνὶ πόντῳ:

δυσμενέες γὰρ πολλοὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ μηχανόωνται,

ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν:

825"θάρσει, μηδέ τι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ δείδιθι λίην:

Transliteration

ē ho ge tōn eni dēmōi, hin' oichetai, ē eni pontōi:

dusmenees gar polloi ep' autōi mēchanoōntai,

hiemenoi kteinai prin patrida gaian hikesthai."

tēn d' apameibomenon prosephē eidōlon amauron:

825"tharsei, mēde ti panchu meta phresi deidithi liēn:

English · Butler

sea, for he has many enemies who are plotting against him, and are bent on killing him before he can return home." Then the vision said, "Take heart, and be not so much dismayed. There is one gone with him whom many

Homeric Greek

τοίη γάρ οἱ πομπὸς ἅμ' ἔρχεται, ἥν τε καὶ ἄλλοι

ἀνέρες ἠρήσαντο παρεστάμεναι, δύναται γάρ,

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη: σὲ δ' ὀδυρομένην ἐλεαίρει:

ἣ νῦν με προέηκε τεὶ̈ν τάδε μυθήσασθαι."

830τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

Transliteration

toiē gar hoi pompos ham' erchetai, hēn te kai alloi

aneres ērēsanto parestamenai, dunatai gar,

Pallas Athēnaiē: se d' oduromenēn eleairei:

hē nun me proeēke teïn tade muthēsasthai."

830tēn d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

English · Butler

a man would be glad enough to have stand by his side, I mean Athena; it is she who has compassion upon you, and who has sent me to bear you this message." "Then," said Penelope, "if you are a god

Homeric Greek

"εἰ μὲν δὴ θεός ἐσσι θεοῖό τε ἔκλυες αὐδῆς,

εἰ δ' ἄγε μοι καὶ κεῖνον ὀιζυρὸν κατάλεξον,

ἤ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο,

ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι."

835τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν:

Transliteration

"ei men dē theos essi theoio te eklues audēs,

ei d' age moi kai keinon oizuron katalexon,

ē pou eti zōei kai horāi phaos ēelioio,

ē ēdē tethnēke kai ein Aidao domoisi."

835tēn d' apameibomenon prosephē eidōlon amauron:

English · Butler

or have been sent here by divine commission, tell me also about that other unhappy one - is he still alive, or is he already dead and in the house of Hades?" And the vision said, "I shall not tell

Homeric Greek

"οὐ μέν τοι κεῖνόν γε διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω,

ζώει ὅ γ' ἦ τέθνηκε: κακὸν δ' ἀνεμώλια βάζειν."

ὣς εἰπὸν σταθμοῖο παρὰ κληῖδα λιάσθη

ἐς πνοιὰς ἀνέμων. ἡ δ' ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνόρουσε

840κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο: φίλον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἰάνθη,

Transliteration

"ou men toi keinon ge diēnekeōs agoreusō,

zōei ho g' ē tethnēke: kakon d' anemōlia bazein."

hōs eipon stathmoio para klēida liasthē

es pnoias anemōn. hē d' ex hupnou anorouse

840kourē Ikarioio: philon de hoi ētor ianthē,

English · Butler

you for certain whether he is alive or dead, and there is no use in idle conversation." Then it vanished through the thong-hole of the door and was dissipated into thin air; but Penelope rose from her sleep refreshed and comforted, so

Homeric Greek

ὥς οἱ ἐναργὲς ὄνειρον ἐπέσσυτο νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ.

μνηστῆρες δ' ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα

Τηλεμάχῳ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες.

ἔστι δέ τις νῆσος μέσσῃ ἁλὶ πετρήεσσα,

845μεσσηγὺς Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,

Transliteration

hōs hoi enarges oneiron epessuto nuktos amolgōi.

mnēstēres d' anabantes epepleon hugra keleutha

Tēlemachōi phonon aipun eni phresin hormainontes.

esti de tis nēsos messēi hali petrēessa,

845messēgus Ithakēs te Samoio te paipaloessēs,

English · Butler

vivid had been her dream. Meantime the suitors went on board and sailed their ways over the sea, intent on murdering Telemakhos. Now there is a rocky islet called Asteris, of no great size, in mid channel between Ithaca and Samos, and there is a harbor on either side of it where a ship can lie.

Homeric Greek

Ἀστερίς, οὐ μεγάλη: λιμένες δ' ἔνι ναύλοχοι αὐτῇ

ἀμφίδυμοι: τῇ τόν γε μένον λοχόωντες Ἀχαιοί.

Transliteration

Asteris, ou megalē: limenes d' eni naulochoi autēi

amphidumoi: tēi ton ge menon lochoōntes Achaioi.

English · Butler

Here then the Achaeans placed themselves in ambush.