Odyssey

But Athena went to the fair city of Lacedaemon to tell Odysseus’ son that he was to return [ nostos ] at once. She found him and Peisistratos sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaos’ house; Peisistratos was fast asleep, but Telemakhos could get no rest all night for thinking of his unhappy father, so Athena went close up to him and said:

ἡ δʼ εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

ᾤχετʼ, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν

νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.

εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν

εὕδοντʼ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ·

Τηλέμαχον δʼ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

"Telemakhos, you should not remain so far away from home any longer, nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house; they will eat up everything you have among them, and you will have been on a fool's errand. Ask Menelaos to send you home at once if you wish to find your excellent mother still there when you get back. Her father and brothers are already urging her to marry Eurymakhos, who has given her more than any of the others, and has been greatly increasing his wedding presents. I hope nothing valuable may have been taken from the house in spite of you, but you know what women are - they always want to do the best they can for the man who marries them, and never give another thought to the children of their first husband, nor to their father either when he is dead and done with. Go home, therefore, and put everything in charge of the most respectable woman servant that you have, until it shall please heaven to send you a wife of your own. Let me tell you also of another matter which you had better attend to. The chief men among the suitors are lying in wait for you in the Strait between Ithaca and Samos , and they mean to kill you before you can reach home. I do not much think they will succeed; it is more likely that some of those who are now eating up your property will find a grave themselves. Sail night and day, and keep your ship well away from the islands; the god who watches over you and protects you will send you a fair wind. As soon as you get to Ithaca send your ship and men on to the town, but yourself go straight to the swineherd who has charge your pigs; he is well disposed towards you, stay with him, therefore, for the night, and then send him to Penelope to tell her that you have got back safe from Pylos ."

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι καλὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ ἀλάλησαι,

κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν

οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι

κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.

ἀλλʼ ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον

πεμπέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.

ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται

Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας

μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·

μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.

οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·

κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,

παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο

οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηκότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα

δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,

εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.

ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.

μνηστήρων σʼ ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν

ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης.

ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.

ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.

ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν εὐεργέα νῆα,

νυκτὶ δʼ ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν

ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,

νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,

αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,

ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.

ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἀέσαι· τὸν δʼ ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω

ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.

Then she went back to Olympus ; but Telemakhos stirred Peisistratos with his heel to rouse him, and said, "Wake up Peisistratos, and yoke the horses to the chariot, for we must set off home."

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρεν

λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ἔγρεο, Νεστορίδη Πεισίστρατε, μώνυχας ἵππους

ζεῦξον ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.

But Peisistratos said, "No matter what hurry we are in we cannot drive in the dark. It will be morning soon; wait till Menelaos has brought his presents and put them in the chariot for us; and let him say good-bye to us in the usual way. So long as he lives a guest should never forget a host who has shown him kindness."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐπειγομένους περ ὁδοῖο

νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν· τάχα δʼ ἔσσεται ἠώς.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ

ἥρως Ἀτρείδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

καὶ μύθοις ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.

τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα

ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.

As he spoke day began to break, and Menelaos, who had already risen, leaving Helen in bed, came towards them. When Telemakhos saw him he put on his shirt as fast as he could, threw a great cloak over his shoulders, and went out to meet him. "Menelaos," said he, "let me go back now to my own country, for I want to get home [ nostos ]."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα

δῦνεν, καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις

ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα

Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

ἤδη νῦν μʼ ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·

ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.

And Menelaos answered, "Telemakhos, if you insist on going I will not detain you. I do not like to see a host either too fond of his guest or too rude to him. Moderation is best in all things, and not letting a man go when he wants to do so is as bad as telling him to go if he would like to stay. One should treat a guest well as long as he is in the house and speed him when he wants to leave it. Wait, then, till I can get your beautiful presents into your chariot, and till you have yourself seen them. I will tell the women to prepare a sufficient dinner for you of what there may be in the house; it will be at once more proper and cheaper for you to get your dinner before setting out on such a long journey. If, moreover, you have a fancy for making a tour in Hellas or in the Peloponnese , I will yoke my horses, and will conduct you myself through all our principal cities. No one will send us away empty handed; every one will give us something - a bronze tripod, a couple of mules, or a gold cup."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἐγώ γε πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύξω

ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ

ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κʼ ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,

ἔξοχα δʼ ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.

ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθʼ, ὅς τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι

ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.

χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω

καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ

δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.

ἀμφότερον, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,

δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.

εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,

ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,

ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας

αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,

ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων,

ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.

"Menelaos," replied Telemakhos, "I want to go home at once, for when I came away I left my property without protection, and fear that while looking for my father I shall come to ruin myself, or find that something valuable has been stolen during my absence."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν

οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·

μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι,

ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.

When Menelaos heard this he immediately told his wife and servants to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there might be in the house. At this moment Eteoneus joined him, for he lived close by and had just got up; so Menelaos told him to light the fire and cook some meat, which he at once did. Then Menelaos went down into his fragrant store room, not alone, but Helen went too, with Megapenthes. When he reached the place where the treasures of his house were kept, he selected a double cup, and told his son Megapenthes to bring also a silver mixing-bowl. Meanwhile Helen went to the chest where she kept the lovely dresses which she had made with her own hands, and took out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with embroidery; it glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then they all came back through the house again till they got to Telemakhos, and Menelaos said, "Telemakhos, may Zeus, the mighty husband of Hera, bring you safely home [ nostos ] according to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and most precious piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing-bowl of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold, and it is the work of Hephaistos. Phaidimos king of the Sidonians made me a present of it in the course of a visit that I paid him while I was on my return home. I should like to give it to you."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε

δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.

ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,

ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ·

τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γʼ Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο,

Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,

υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν

ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,

ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.

τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,

ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,

ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.

βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο

Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,

ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

δώρων δʼ, ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,

δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.

δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ

ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,

ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,

Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε

κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.

With these words he placed the double cup in the hands of Telemakhos, while Megapenthes brought the beautiful mixing-bowl and set it before him. Hard by stood lovely Helen with the robe ready in her hand.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν

θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,

ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος

πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

"I too, my son," said she, "have something for you as a keepsake from the hand of Helen; it is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day [ hôra ]. Till then, get your dear mother to keep it for you; thus may you go back rejoicing to your own country and to your home."

δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο δίδωμι,

μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,

σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ

κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο

οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

So saying she gave the robe over to him and he received it gladly. Then Peisistratos put the presents into the chariot, and admired them all as he did so. Presently Menelaos took Telemakhos and Peisistratos into the house, and they both of them sat down to table. A maid servant brought them water in a beautiful 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 house. Eteoneus carved the meat and gave them each their portions, while Megapenthes poured out the wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good things that were before them, but as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemakhos and Peisistratos yoked the horses, and took their places in the chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court, and Menelaos came after them with a golden goblet of wine in his right hand that they might make a drink-offering before they set out. He stood in front of the horses and pledged them, saying, "Farewell to both of you; see that you tell Nestor how I have treated you, for he was as kind to me as any father could be while we Achaeans were fighting before Troy ."

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως

δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·

τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα·

εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·

πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·

οἰνοχόει δʼ υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.

τοὺς δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,

ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην.

στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

χαίρετον, ὦ κούρω, καὶ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν

εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,

ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

"We will be sure, sir," answered Telemakhos, "to tell him everything as soon as we see him. I wish I were as certain of finding Odysseus returned when I get back to Ithaca , that I might tell him of the very great kindness you have shown me and of the many beautiful presents I am taking with me."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

καὶ λίην κείνῳ γε, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

πάντα τάδʼ ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν· αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς

νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε, κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

εἴποιμʼ ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης

ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.

As he was thus speaking a bird flew on his right hand - an eagle with a great white goose in its talons which it had carried off from the farm yard - and all the men and women were running after it and shouting. It came quite close up to them and flew away on their right hands in front of the horses. When they saw it they were glad, and their hearts took comfort within them, whereon Peisistratos said, "Tell me, Menelaos, has heaven sent this omen for us or for you?"

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,

αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,

ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δʼ ἰΰζοντες ἕποντο

ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθʼ ἵππων· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες

γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·

φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

ἢ νῶϊν τόδʼ ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ.

Menelaos was thinking what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Helen was too quick for him and said, "I will read this matter as heaven has put it in my heart, and as I doubt not that it will come to pass. The eagle came from the mountain where it was bred and has its nest, and in like manner Odysseus, after having traveled far and suffered much, will return to take his revenge - if indeed he is not back already and hatching mischief for the suitors."

ὣς φάτο, μερμήριξε δʼ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,

ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας.

τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·

κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.

ὡς ὅδε χῆνʼ ἥρπαξʼ ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,

ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς

οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τίσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη

οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.

"May Zeus so grant it," replied Telemakhos; "if it should prove to be so, I will make vows to you as though you were a god, even when I am at home."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης·

τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.

As he spoke he lashed his horses and they started off at full speed through the town towards the open country. They swayed the yoke upon their necks and traveled the whole day long till the sun set and darkness was over all the land. Then they reached Pherai , where Diokles lived who was son of Ortilokhos, the son of Alpheus. There they passed the night and were treated hospitably. When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, they again yoked their horses and their places in the chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court. Then Peisistratos lashed his horses on and they flew forward nothing loath; ere long they came to Pylos , and then Telemakhos said:

ἦ καὶ ἐφʼ ἵπποιϊν μάστιν βάλεν· οἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα

ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.

οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·

ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,

υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.

ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·

μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄκοντε πετέσθην.

αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·

καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·

"Peisistratos, I hope you will promise to do what I am going to ask you. You know our fathers were old friends before us; moreover, we are both of an age, and this journey has brought us together still more closely; do not, therefore, take me past my ship, but leave me there, for if I go to your father's house he will try to keep me in the warmth of his good will towards me, and I must go home at once."

Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας

μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι

ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·

ἥδε δʼ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.

μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ,

μή μʼ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.

Peisistratos thought how he should do as he was asked, and in the end he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship, and put Menelaos’ beautiful presents of gold and raiment in the stern of the vessel. Then he said, "Go on board at once and tell your men to do so also before I can reach home to tell my father. I know how obstinate he is, and am sure he will not let you go; he will come down here to fetch you, and he will not go back without you. But he will be very angry."

ὣς φάτο, Νεστορίδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἑῷ συμφράσσατο θυμῷ,

ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·

στρέψʼ ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,

νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρύμνῃ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,

ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·

καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

σπουδῇ νῦν ἀνάβαινε κέλευέ τε πάντας ἑταίρους,

πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.

εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·

οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρʼ εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι

ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.

With this he drove his goodly steeds back to the city of the Pylians and soon reached his home, but Telemakhos called the men together and gave his orders. "Now, my men," said he, "get everything in order on board the ship, and let us set out home."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἔλασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους

ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δʼ ἄρα δώμαθʼ ἵκανε.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·

ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχεʼ, ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,

αὐτοί τʼ ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.

Thus did he speak, and they went on board even as he had said. But as Telemakhos was thus busied, praying also and sacrificing to Athena in the ship's stern, there came to him a man from a distant dêmos , a seer [ mantis ], who was fleeing from Argos because he had killed a man. He was descended from Melampos, who used to live in Pylos , the land of sheep; he was rich and owned a great house, but he was driven into exile by the great and powerful king Neleus. Neleus seized violently [ biê ] his goods and held them for a whole year, during which he was a close prisoner in the house of king Phylakos, and in much distress of mind both on account of the daughter of Neleus and because he was haunted by a great sorrow [ atê ] that dread Erinyes had laid upon him. In the end, however, he escaped with his life, drove the cattle from Phylake to Pylos , avenged the wrong that had been done him, and gave the daughter of Neleus to his brother. Then he left the dêmos and went to Argos , where it was ordained that he should reign over many people. There he married, established himself, and had two famous sons Antiphates and Mantios. Antiphates became father of Oikleus, and Oikleus of Amphiaraos, who was dearly loved both by Zeus and by Apollo, but he did not live to old age, for he was killed in Thebes by reason of a woman's gifts. His sons were Alkmaion and Amphilokhos. Mantios, the other son of Melampos, was father to Polypheides and Kleitos. Aurora, throned in gold, carried off Kleitos for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals, but Apollo made Polypheides the greatest seer [ mantis ] in the whole world now that Amphiaraos was dead. He quarreled with his father and went to live in Hyperesia , where he remained and prophesied for all men.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν τὰ πονεῖτο καὶ εὔχετο, θῦε δʼ Ἀθήνῃ

νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ

τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,

μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,

ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,

ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγʼ ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·

δὴ τότε γʼ ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων

Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,

ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν

εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο

δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων

εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,

τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους

ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτίσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς

ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα

ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν

ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντʼ Ἀργείοισιν

ἔνθα δʼ ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,

γείνατο δʼ Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.

Ἀντιφάτης μὲν ἔτικτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,

αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάραον,

ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων

παντοίην φιλότητʼ· οὐδʼ ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,

ἀλλʼ ὄλετʼ ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.

τοῦ δʼ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντʼ Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.

Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς

κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·

αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων

θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάραος·

ὅς ῥʼ Ὑπερησίηνδʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσιν.

His son, Theoklymenos, it was who now came up to Telemakhos as he was making drink-offerings and praying in his ship. "Friend’" said he, "now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices themselves, and by the daimôn to whom you make them, I pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers, tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. Who and whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents."

τοῦ μὲν ἄρʼ υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἦεν,

ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανεν

σπένδοντʼ εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε θύοντα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,

λίσσομʼ ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

σῆς τʼ αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδʼ ἐπικεύσῃς·

τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

Telemakhos said, "I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca , and my father is ‘Odysseus, as surely as that he ever lived. But he has come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he has been away a long time."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,

εἴ ποτʼ ἔην· νῦν δʼ ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.

τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν

ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.

"I too," answered Theoklymenos, am an exile, for I have killed a man of my own race. He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argos , and they have great power among the Argives. I am fleeing to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth. I am your suppliant; take me, therefore, on board your ship that they may not kill me, for I know they are in pursuit."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐγὼν ἐκ πατρίδος, ἄνδρα κατακτὰς

ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε

Ἄργος ἀνʼ ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν

φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.

ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,

μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.

"I will not refuse you," replied Telemakhos, "if you wish to join us. Come, therefore, and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably according to what we have."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

οὐ μὲν δή σʼ ἐθέλοντά γʼ ἀπώσω νηὸς ἐΐσης,

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κʼ ἔχωμεν.

On this he received Theoklymenos’ spear and laid it down on the deck of the ship. He went on board and sat in the stern, bidding Theoklymenos sit beside him; then the men let go the hawsers. Telemakhos told them to catch hold of the ropes, and they made all haste to do so. They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it and made it fast with the forestays, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of twisted ox hide. Athena sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and strong to take the ship on her course as fast as possible. Thus then they passed by Krounoi and Khalkis .

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

καὶ τό γʼ ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης·

ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.

ἐν πρύμνῃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ

εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν

ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.

ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης

στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,

ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα διʼ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα

νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.

βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.

Presently the sun set and darkness was over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to Pherai and thence on to Elis , where the Epeans rule. Telemakhos then headed her for the flying islands, wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be taken prisoner.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·

ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ

ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.

ἔνθεν δʼ αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν,

ὁρμαίνων ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ.

Meanwhile Odysseus and the swineherd were eating their supper in the hut, and the men supped with them. As soon as they had had to eat and drink, Odysseus began trying to prove the swineherd and see whether he would continue to treat him kindly, and ask him to stay on at the station or pack him off to the city; so he said:

τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς

δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,

ἤ μιν ἔτʼ ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ, ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·

"Eumaios, and all of you, tomorrow I want to go away and begin begging about the town, so as to be no more trouble to you or to your men. Give me your advice therefore, and let me have a good guide to go with me and show me the way. I will go the round of the city begging as I needs must, to see if any one will give me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like also to go to the house of Odysseus and bring news of her husband to queen Penelope. I could then go about among the suitors and see if out of all their abundance they will give me a dinner. I should soon make them an excellent servant in all sorts of ways. Listen and believe when I tell you that by the blessing of Hermes who gives grace [ kharis ] and good name to the works of all men, there is no one living who would make a more handy servant than I should - to put fresh wood on the fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine, and do all those services that poor men have to do for their betters."

κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι·

ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι

πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.

ἀλλά μοι εὖ θʼ ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον

ὅς κέ με κεῖσʼ ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ

πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.

καί κʼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,

εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρίʼ ἔχοντες.

αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν ἅσσʼ ἐθέλοιεν.

ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·

Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων

ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,

δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,

πῦρ τʼ εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,

δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,

οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες.

The swineherd was very much disturbed when he heard this. "Heaven help me," he exclaimed, "what ever can have put such a notion as that into your head? If you go near the suitors you will be undone to a certainty, for their overweening pride [ hubris ] and violent insolence [ biê ] reach the very heavens. They would never think of taking a man like you for a servant. Their servants are all young men, well dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well looking faces and their hair always tidy, the tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with bread, meat, and wine. Stay where you are, then; you are not in anybody's way; I do not mind your being here, no more do any of the others, and when Telemakhos comes home he will give you a shirt and cloak and will send you wherever you want to go."

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·

ὤ μοι, ξεῖνε, τίη τοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα

ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.

εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,

τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.

οὔ τοι τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,

ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,

αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,

οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι

σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδʼ οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,

οὔτʼ ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,

πέμψει δʼ ὅππη σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

Odysseus answered, "I hope you may be as dear to the gods as you are to me, for having saved me from going about and getting into trouble; there is nothing worse than being always ways on the tramp; still, when men have once got low down in the world they will go through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies. Since however you press me to stay here and await the return of Telemakhos, tell about Odysseus’ mother, and his father whom he left on the threshold of old age when he set out for Troy . Are they still living or are they already dead and in the house of Hades?"

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο

ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μʼ ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.

πλαγκτοσύνης δʼ οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·

ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔχουσιν

ἀνέρες, ὅν τινʼ ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.

νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναι τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,

εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

πατρός θʼ, ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,

ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,

ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.

"I will tell you all about them," replied Eumaios, " Laertes is still living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the absence of his son, and also about the death of his wife, which grieved him greatly and aged him more than anything else did. She came to an unhappy end through sorrow for her son: may no friend or neighbor who has dealt kindly by me come to such an end as she did. As long as she was still living, though she was always grieving, I used to like seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me up along with her daughter Ktimene, the youngest of her children; we were boy and girl together, and she made little difference between us. When, however, we both grew up, they sent Ktimene to Same and received a splendid dowry for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt and cloak with a pair of sandals for my feet, and sent me off into the country, but she was just as fond of me as ever. This is all over now. Still it has pleased heaven to prosper my work in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to eat and drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger who comes here; but there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress, for the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people. Servants want sometimes to see their mistress and have a talk with her; they like to have something to eat and drink at the house, and something too to take back with them into the country. This is what will keep servants in a good humor."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δʼ εὔχεται αἰεὶ

θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν·

ἐκπάγλως γὰρ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται οἰχομένοιο

κουριδίης τʼ ἀλόχοιο δαΐφρονος, ἥ ἑ μάλιστα

ἤκαχʼ ἀποφθιμένη καὶ ἐν ὠμῷ γήραϊ θῆκεν.

ἡ δʼ ἄχεϊ οὗ παιδὸς ἀπέφθιτο κυδαλίμοιο,

λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ, ὡς μὴ θάνοι ὅς τις ἐμοί γε

ἐνθάδε ναιετάων φίλος εἴη καὶ φίλα ἔρδοι.

ὄφρα μὲν οὖν δὴ κείνη ἔην, ἀχέουσά περ ἔμπης,

τόφρα τί μοι φίλον ἔσκε μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,

οὕνεκά μʼ αὐτὴ θρέψεν ἅμα Κτιμένῃ τανυπέπλῳ,

θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ, τὴν ὁπλοτάτην τέκε παίδων·

τῇ ὁμοῦ ἐτρεφόμην, ὀλίγον δέ τί μʼ ἧσσον ἐτίμα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβην πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ ἄμφω,

τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα Σάμηνδʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ μυρίʼ ἕλοντο,

αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐκείνη

καλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφιέσασα, ποσὶν δʼ ὑποδήματα δοῦσα

ἀγρόνδε προΐαλλε· φίλει δέ με κηρόθι μᾶλλον.

νῦν δʼ ἤδη τούτων ἐπιδεύομαι· ἀλλά μοι αὐτῷ

ἔργον ἀέξουσιν μάκαρες θεοὶ ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω·

τῶν ἔφαγόν τʼ ἔπιόν τε καὶ αἰδοίοισιν ἔδωκα.

ἐκ δʼ ἄρα δεσποίνης οὐ μείλιχον ἔστιν ἀκοῦσαι

οὔτʼ ἔπος οὔτε τι ἔργον, ἐπεὶ κακὸν ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ,

ἄνδρες ὑπερφίαλοι· μέγα δὲ δμῶες χατέουσιν

ἀντία δεσποίνης φάσθαι καὶ ἕκαστα πυθέσθαι

καὶ φαγέμεν πιέμεν τε, ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι φέρεσθαι

ἀγρόνδʼ, οἷά τε θυμὸν ἀεὶ δμώεσσιν ἰαίνει.

Odysseus answered, "Then you must have been a very little fellow, Eumaios, when you were taken so far away from your home and parents. Tell me, and tell me true, was the city in which your father and mother lived sacked and pillaged, or did some enemies carry you off when you were alone tending sheep or cattle, ship you off here, and sell you for whatever your master gave them?"

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὢ πόποι, ὡς ἄρα τυτθὸς ἐών, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα,

πολλὸν ἀπεπλάγχθης σῆς πατρίδος ἠδὲ τοκήων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

ἠὲ διεπράθετο πτόλις ἀνδρῶν εὐρυάγυια,

ᾗ ἔνι ναιετάασκε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,

ἦ σέ γε μουνωθέντα παρʼ οἴεσιν ἢ παρὰ βουσὶν

ἄνδρες δυσμενέες νηυσὶν λάβον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσαν

τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.

"Stranger," replied Eumaios, "as regards your question: sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine, and listen to me. The nights are now at their longest; there is plenty of time both for sleeping and sitting up talking together; you ought not to go to bed till bed time [ hôra ], too much sleep is as bad as too little; if any one of the others wishes to go to bed let him leave us and do so; he can then take my master's pigs out when he has done breakfast in the morning. We two will sit here eating and drinking in the hut, and telling one another stories about our misfortunes; for when a man has suffered much, and been buffeted about in the world, he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have long gone by. As regards your question, then, my tale is as follows:

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·

ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,

σιγῇ νῦν ξυνίει καὶ τέρπεο, πῖνέ τε οἶνον

ἥμενος. αἵδε δὲ νύκτες ἀθέσφατοι· ἔστι μὲν εὕδειν,

ἔστι δὲ τερπομένοισιν ἀκούειν· οὐδέ τί σε χρή,

πρὶν ὥρη, καταλέχθαι· ἀνίη καὶ πολὺς ὕπνος.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει,

εὑδέτω ἐξελθών· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι

δειπνήσας ἅμʼ ὕεσσιν ἀνακτορίῃσιν ἑπέσθω.

νῶϊ δʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ πίνοντέ τε δαινυμένω τε

κήδεσιν ἀλλήλων τερπώμεθα λευγαλέοισι,

μνωομένω· μετὰ γάρ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι τέρπεται ἀνήρ,

ὅς τις δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθῇ.

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.

"You may have heard of an island called Syra that lies over above Ortygia, where the land begins to turn round and look in another direction. It is not very thickly peopled, but the soil is good, with much pasture fit for cattle and sheep, and it abounds with wine and wheat. Dearth never comes there, nor are the people [ dêmos ] plagued by any sickness, but when they grow old Apollo comes with Artemis and kills them with his painless shafts. It contains two communities, and the whole country is divided between these two. My father Ktesios son of Ormenus, a man comparable to the gods, reigned over both.

νῆσός τις Συρίη κικλήσκεται, εἴ που ἀκούεις,

Ὀρτυγίης καθύπερθεν, ὅθι τροπαὶ ἠελίοιο,

οὔ τι περιπληθὴς λίην τόσον, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ μέν,

εὔβοτος, εὔμηλος, οἰνοπληθής, πολύπυρος.

πείνη δʼ οὔ ποτε δῆμον ἐσέρχεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη

νοῦσος ἐπὶ στυγερὴ πέλεται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε γηράσκωσι πόλιν κάτα φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων,

ἐλθὼν ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξὺν

οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.

ἔνθα δύω πόλιες, δίχα δέ σφισι πάντα δέδασται·

τῇσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευε,

Κτήσιος Ὀρμενίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν.

"Now to this place there came some cunning traders from Phoenicia (for the Phoenicians are great mariners) in a ship which they had freighted with trinkets of all kinds. There happened to be a Phoenician woman in my father's house, very tall and comely, and an excellent servant; these scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing near their ship, seduced her, and cajoled her in ways that no woman can resist, no matter how good she may be by nature. The man who had seduced her asked her who she was and where she came from, and on this she told him her father's name. ‘I come from Sidon ,’ said she, ‘and am daughter to Arybas, a man rolling in wealth. One day as I was coming into the town from the country some Taphian pirates seized me and took me here over the sea, where they sold me to the man who owns this house, and he gave them their price for me.’

ἔνθα δὲ Φοίνικες ναυσίκλυτοι ἤλυθον ἄνδρες,

τρῶκται, μυρίʼ ἄγοντες ἀθύρματα νηῒ μελαίνῃ.

ἔσκε δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο γυνὴ Φοίνισσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

καλή τε μεγάλη τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυῖα·

τὴν δʼ ἄρα Φοίνικες πολυπαίπαλοι ἠπερόπευον.

πλυνούσῃ τις πρῶτα μίγη κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ

εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι, τά τε φρένας ἠπεροπεύει

θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.

εἰρώτα δὴ ἔπειτα τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι·

ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ·

ἐκ μὲν Σιδῶνος πολυχάλκου εὔχομαι εἶναι,

κούρη δʼ εἴμʼ Ἀρύβαντος ἐγὼ ῥυδὸν ἀφνειοῖο·

ἀλλά μʼ ἀνήρπαξαν Τάφιοι ληΐστορες ἄνδρες

ἀγρόθεν ἐρχομένην, πέρασαν δέ τε δεῦρʼ ἀγαγόντες

τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.

"The man who had seduced her then said, ‘Would you like to come along with us to see the house of your parents and your parents themselves? They are both alive and are said to be well off.’

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐμίσγετο λάθρη·

ἦ ῥά κε νῦν πάλιν αὖτις ἅμʼ ἡμῖν οἴκαδʼ ἕποιο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ὑψερεφὲς δῶ

αὐτούς τʼ; ἦ γὰρ ἔτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.

"‘I will do so gladly,’ answered she, ‘if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by the way.’

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

εἴη κεν καὶ τοῦτʼ, εἴ μοι ἐθέλοιτέ γε, ναῦται,

ὅρκῳ πιστωθῆναι ἀπήμονά μʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀπάξειν.

"They all swore as she told them, and when they had completed their oath the woman said, ‘Hush; and if any of your men meets me in the street or at the well, do not let him speak to me, for fear some one should go and tell my master, in which case he would suspect something. He would put me in prison, and would have all of you murdered; keep your own counsel therefore; buy your merchandise as fast as you can, and send me word when you have done loading. I will bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on, and there is something else also that I can do towards paying my fare. I am nurse to the son of the good man of the house, a funny little fellow just able to run about. I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get a great deal of wealth for him if you take him and sell him in foreign parts.’

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπώμνυον ὡς ἐκέλευεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

σιγῇ νῦν, μή τίς με προσαυδάτω ἐπέεσσιν

ὑμετέρων ἑτάρων, ξυμβλήμενος ἢ ἐν ἀγυιῇ,

ἤ που ἐπὶ κρήνῃ· μή τις ποτὶ δῶμα γέροντι

ἐλθὼν ἐξείπῃ, ὁ δʼ ὀϊσάμενος καταδήσῃ

δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπιφράσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.

ἀλλʼ ἔχετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ μῦθον, ἐπείγετε δʼ ὦνον ὁδαίων.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηῦς πλείη βιότοιο γένηται,

ἀγγελίη μοι ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθω·

οἴσω γὰρ καὶ χρυσόν, ὅτις χʼ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ·

καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλʼ ἐπίβαθρον ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσά γε δοίην.

παῖδα γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀτιτάλλω,

κερδαλέον δὴ τοῖον, ἅμα τροχόωντα θύραζε·

τόν κεν ἄγοιμʼ ἐπὶ νηός, ὁ δʼ ὑμῖν μυρίον ὦνον

ἄλφοι, ὅπῃ περάσητε κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους.

"On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians stayed a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and then, when they had got freight enough, they sent to tell the woman. Their messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father's house bringing a necklace of gold with amber beads strung among it; and while my mother and the servants had it in their hands admiring it and bargaining about it, he made a sign quietly to the woman and then went back to the ship, whereon she took me by the hand and led me out of the house. In the fore part of the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father, as being in attendance on him; these were now all gone to a meeting of the population [ dêmos ] assembly, so she snatched up three cups and carried them off in the bosom of her dress, while I followed her, for I knew no better. The sun was now set, and darkness was over all the land, so we hurried on as fast as we could till we reached the harbor, where the Phoenician ship was lying. When they had got on board they sailed their ways over the sea, taking us with them, and Zeus sent then a fair wind; six days did we sail both night and day, but on the seventh day Artemis struck the woman and she fell heavily down into the ship's hold as though she were a sea gull alighting on the water; so they threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left all sorrowful and alone. Presently the winds and waves took the ship to Ithaca , where Laertes gave sundry of his chattels for me, and thus it was that ever I came to set eyes upon this country."

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα καλά,

οἱ δʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα παρʼ ἡμῖν αὖθι μένοντες

ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ βίοτον πολὺν ἐμπολόωντο.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίλη νηῦς ἤχθετο τοῖσι νέεσθαι,

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελον ἧκαν, ὃς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί.

ἤλυθʼ ἀνὴρ πολύϊδρις ἐμοῦ πρὸς δώματα πατρὸς

χρύσεον ὅρμον ἔχων, μετὰ δʼ ἠλέκτροισιν ἔερτο.

τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ δμῳαὶ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

χερσίν τʼ ἀμφαφόωντο καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶντο,

ὦνον ὑπισχόμεναι· ὁ δὲ τῇ κατένευσε σιωπῇ.

ἦ τοι ὁ καννεύσας κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα βεβήκει,

ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα δόμων ἐξῆγε θύραζε.

εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ ἠμὲν δέπα ἠδὲ τραπέζας

ἀνδρῶν δαιτυμόνων, οἵ μευ πατέρʼ ἀμφεπένοντο.

οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς θῶκον πρόμολον, δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,

ἡ δʼ αἶψα τρίʼ ἄλεισα κατακρύψασʼ ὑπὸ κόλπῳ

ἔκφερεν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀεσιφροσύνῃσι.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν ὦκα κιόντες,

ἔνθʼ ἄρα Φοινίκων ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὠκύαλος νηῦς.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,

νὼ ἀναβησάμενοι· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς οὖρον ἴαλλεν.

ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,

τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα γυναῖκα βάλʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,

ἄντλῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησε πεσοῦσʼ ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ.

καὶ τὴν μὲν φώκῃσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι

ἔκβαλον· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ·

τοὺς δʼ Ἰθάκῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ,

ἔνθα με Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.

οὕτω τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι.

Odysseus answered, "Eumaios, I have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity, but Zeus has given you good as well as evil, for in spite of everything you have a good master, who sees that you always have enough to eat and drink; and you lead a good life, whereas I am still going about begging my way from city to city."

τὸν δʼ αὖ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·

Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα δή μοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸν ὄρινας

ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἄλγεα θυμῷ.

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σοὶ μὲν παρὰ καὶ κακῷ ἐσθλὸν ἔθηκε

Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ ἀνδρὸς δώματʼ ἀφίκεο πολλὰ μογήσας

ἠπίου, ὃς δή τοι παρέχει βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε

ἐνδυκέως, ζώεις δʼ ἀγαθὸν βίον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω.

Thus did they converse, and they had only a very little time left for sleep, for it was soon daybreak. In the meantime Telemakhos and his crew were nearing land, so they loosed the sails, took down the mast, and rowed the ship into the harbor. They cast out their mooring stones and made fast the hawsers; they then got out upon the sea shore, mixed their wine, and got dinner ready. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemakhos said, "Take the ship on to the town, but leave me here, for I want to look after the herdsmen on one of my farms. In the evening, when I have seen all I want, I will come down to the city, and tomorrow morning in return for your trouble I will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

καδδραθέτην δʼ οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·

αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου

Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δʼ ἕλον ἱστὸν

καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρυσσαν ἐρετμοῖς·

ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·

ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,

δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·

ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδʼ ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·

ἑσπέριος δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.

ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,

δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.

Then Theoklymenos said, ‘And what, my dear young friend, is to become of me? To whose house, among all your chief men, am I to repair? Or shall I go straight to your own house and to your mother?"

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

πῆ γὰρ ἐγώ, φίλε τέκνον, ἴω; τεῦ δώμαθʼ ἵκωμαι

ἀνδρῶν οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;

ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;

"At any other time," replied Telemakhos, "I should have bidden you go to my own house, for you would find no want of hospitality; at the present moment, however, you would not be comfortable there, for I shall be away, and my mother will not see you; she does not often show herself even to the suitors, but sits at her loom weaving in an upper chamber, out of their way; but I can tell you a man whose house you can go to - I mean Eurymakhos the son of Polybos, who is held in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca . He is much the best man and the most persistent wooer, of all those who are paying court to my mother and trying to take Odysseus’ place. Zeus, however, in heaven alone knows whether or not they will come to a bad end before the marriage takes place."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ἄλλως μέν σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην

ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ

χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ

ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

φαίνεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.

ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,

Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,

τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·

καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα

μητέρʼ ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.

ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,

εἴ κέ σφι πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.

As he was speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand - a hawk, Apollo's messenger. It held a dove in its talons, and the feathers, as it tore them off, fell to the ground midway between Telemakhos and the ship. On this Theoklymenos called him apart and caught him by the hand. "Telemakhos," said he, "that bird did not fly on your right hand without having been sent there by some god. As soon as I saw it I knew it was an omen; it means that you will remain powerful and that there will be no house in the dêmos of Ithaca more royal than your own."

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,

κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι

τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε

μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.

τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας

ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἔπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις

ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.

ὑμετέρου δʼ οὐκ ἔστι γένος βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο

ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.

"I wish it may prove so," answered Telemakhos. "If it does, I will show you so much good will and give you so many presents that all who meet you will congratulate you."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·

τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα

ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.

Then he said to his friend Peiraios, "Peiraios, son of Klytios, you have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos ; I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till I can come for him."

ἦ καὶ Πείραιον προσεφώνεε, πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·

Πείραιε Κλυτίδη, σὺ δέ μοι τά περ ἄλλα μάλιστα

πείθῃ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἵ μοι Πύλον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο·

καὶ νῦν μοι τὸν ξεῖνον ἄγων ἐν δώμασι σοῖσιν

ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.

And Peiraios answered, "Telemakhos, you may stay away as long as you please, but I will look after him for you, and he shall find no lack of hospitality."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ γάρ κεν σὺ πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδε μίμνοι,

τόνδε τʼ ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.

As he spoke he went on board, and bade the others do so also and loose the hawsers, so they took their places in the ship. But Telemakhos bound on his sandals, and took a long and doughty spear with a head of sharpened bronze from the deck of the ship. Then they loosed the hawsers, thrust the ship off from land, and made on towards the city as they had been told to do, while Telemakhos strode on as fast as he could, till he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding, and where dwelt the excellent swineherd, who was so devoted a servant to his master.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβη, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους

αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.

οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

νηὸς ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.

οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε

Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

τὸν δʼ ὦκα προβιβάντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,

ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης

ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς,