Odyssey

Now there came a certain common tramp who used to go begging all over the city of Ithaca , and was notorious as an incorrigible glutton and drunkard. This man had no strength [ biê ] nor stay in him, but he was a great hulking fellow to look at; his real name, the one his mother gave him, was Arnaios, but the young men of the place called him Iros, because he used to run errands for any one who would send him. As soon as he came he began to insult Odysseus, and to try and drive him out of his own house.

ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ πτωχὸς πανδήμιος, ὃς κατὰ ἄστυ

πτωχεύεσκʼ Ἰθάκης, μετὰ δʼ ἔπρεπε γαστέρι μάργῃ

ἀζηχὲς φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἦν ἲς

οὐδὲ βίη, εἶδος δὲ μάλα μέγας ἦν ὁράασθαι.

Ἀρναῖος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τὸ γὰρ θέτο πότνια μήτηρ

ἐκ γενετῆς· Ἶρον δὲ νέοι κίκλησκον ἅπαντες,

οὕνεκʼ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε κιών, ὅτε πού τις ἀνώγοι·

ὅς ῥʼ ἐλθὼν Ὀδυσῆα διώκετο οἷο δόμοιο,

καί μιν νεικείων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

"Be off, old man," he cried, "from the doorway, or you shall be dragged out neck and heels. Do you not see that they are all giving me the wink, and wanting me to turn you out by force, only I do not like to do so? Get up then, and go of yourself, or we shall come to blows."

εἶκε, γέρον, προθύρου, μὴ δὴ τάχα καὶ ποδὸς ἕλκῃ.

οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅτι δή μοι ἐπιλλίζουσιν ἅπαντες,

ἑλκέμεναι δὲ κέλονται; ἐγὼ δʼ αἰσχύνομαι ἔμπης.

ἀλλʼ ἄνα, μὴ τάχα νῶϊν ἔρις καὶ χερσὶ γένηται.

Odysseus frowned on him and said, "My friend, I do you no manner of harm; people give you a great deal, but I am not jealous. There is room enough in this doorway for the pair of us, and you need not grudge me things that are not yours to give. You seem to be just such another tramp as myself, but perhaps the gods will give us better luck [ olbos ] by and by. Do not, however, talk too much about fighting or you will incense me, and old though I am, I shall cover your mouth and chest with blood. I shall have more peace tomorrow if I do, for you will not come to the house of Odysseus any more."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

δαιμόνιʼ, οὔτε τί σε ῥέζω κακὸν οὔτʼ ἀγορεύω,

οὔτε τινὰ φθονέω δόμεναι καὶ πόλλʼ ἀνελόντα.

οὐδὸς δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ὅδε χείσεται, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

ἀλλοτρίων φθονέειν· δοκέεις δέ μοι εἶναι ἀλήτης

ὥς περ ἐγών, ὄλβον δὲ θεοὶ μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν.

χερσὶ δὲ μή τι λίην προκαλίζεο, μή με χολώσῃς,

μή σε γέρων περ ἐὼν στῆθος καὶ χείλεα φύρσω

αἵματος· ἡσυχίη δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτʼ εἴη

αὔριον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σʼ ὑποστρέψεσθαι ὀΐω

δεύτερον ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

Iros was very angry and answered, "You filthy glutton, you run on trippingly like an old fish-fag. I have a good mind to lay both hands about you, and knock your teeth out of your head like so many boar's tusks. Get ready, therefore, and let these people here stand by and look on. You will never be able to fight one who is so much younger than yourself."

τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος προσεφώνεεν Ἶρος ἀλήτης·

ὢ πόποι, ὡς ὁ μολοβρὸς ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγορεύει,

γρηῒ καμινοῖ ἶσος· ὃν ἂν κακὰ μητισαίμην

κόπτων ἀμφοτέρῃσι, χαμαὶ δέ κε πάντας ὀδόντας

γναθμῶν ἐξελάσαιμι συὸς ὣς ληϊβοτείρης.

ζῶσαι νῦν, ἵνα πάντες ἐπιγνώωσι καὶ οἵδε

μαρναμένους· πῶς δʼ ἂν σὺ νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχοιο;

Thus roundly did they rate one another on the smooth pavement in front of the doorway, and when Antinoos saw what was going on he laughed heartily and said to the others, "This is the finest sport that you ever saw; heaven never yet sent anything like it into this house. The stranger and Iros have quarreled and are going to fight, let us set them on to do so at once."

ὣς οἱ μὲν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων

οὐδοῦ ἔπι ξεστοῦ πανθυμαδὸν ὀκριόωντο.

τοῖϊν δὲ ξυνέηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀντινόοιο,

ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνει μνηστήρεσσιν·

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μέν πώ τι πάρος τοιοῦτον ἐτύχθη,

οἵην τερπωλὴν θεὸς ἤγαγεν ἐς τόδε δῶμα.

ὁ ξεῖνός τε καὶ Ἶρος ἐρίζετον ἀλλήλοιϊν

χερσὶ μαχέσσασθαι· ἀλλὰ ξυνελάσσομεν ὦκα.

The suitors all came up laughing, and gathered round the two ragged tramps. "Listen to me," said Antinoos, "there are some goats’ paunches down at the fire, which we have filled with blood and fat, and set aside for supper; he who is victorious and proves himself to be the better man shall have his pick of the lot; he shall be free of our table and we will not allow any other beggar about the house at all."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀνήϊξαν γελόωντες,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα πτωχοὺς κακοείμονας ἠγερέθοντο.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι εἴπω.

γαστέρες αἵδʼ αἰγῶν κέατʼ ἐν πυρί, τὰς ἐπὶ δόρπῳ

κατθέμεθα κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος ἐμπλήσαντες·

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,

τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀναστὰς αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω·

αἰεὶ αὖθʼ ἡμῖν μεταδαίσεται, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον

πτωχὸν ἔσω μίσγεσθαι ἐάσομεν αἰτήσοντα.

The others all agreed, but Odysseus, to throw them off the scent, said, "Sirs, an old man like myself, worn out with suffering, cannot hold his own against a young one; but my irrepressible belly urges me on, though I know it can only end in my getting a drubbing. You must swear, however that none of you will give me a foul blow to favor Iros and secure him the victory."

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὦ φίλοι, οὔ πως ἔστι νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχεσθαι

ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον· ἀλλά με γαστὴρ

ὀτρύνει κακοεργός, ἵνα πληγῇσι δαμείω.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,

μή τις ἐπʼ Ἴρῳ ἦρα φέρων ἐμὲ χειρὶ βαρείῃ

πλήξῃ ἀτασθάλλων, τούτῳ δέ με ἶφι δαμάσσῃ.

They swore as he told them, and when they had completed their oath Telemakhos put in a word and said, "Stranger, if you have a mind to settle with this fellow, you need not be afraid of any one here. Whoever strikes you will have to fight more than one. I am host, and the other chiefs, Antinoos and Eurymakhos, both of them men of understanding, are of the same mind as I am."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀπώμνυον ὡς ἐκέλευεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·

ξεῖνʼ, εἴ σʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

τοῦτον ἀλέξασθαι, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τινʼ Ἀχαιῶν

δείδιθʼ, ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσεται ὅς κέ σε θείνῃ·

ξεινοδόκος μὲν ἐγών, ἐπὶ δʼ αἰνεῖτον βασιλῆες,

Ἀντίνοός τε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος, πεπνυμένω ἄμφω.

Every one assented, and Odysseus girded his old rags about his loins, thus baring his stalwart thighs, his broad chest and shoulders, and his mighty arms; but Athena came up to him and made his limbs even stronger still. The suitors were beyond measure astonished, and one would turn towards his neighbor saying, "The stranger has brought such a thigh out of his old rags that there will soon be nothing left of Iros."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ζώσατο μὲν ῥάκεσιν περὶ μήδεα, φαῖνε δὲ μηροὺς

καλούς τε μεγάλους τε, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι

στήθεά τε στιβαροί τε βραχίονες· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη

ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως ἀγάσαντο·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

ἦ τάχα Ἶρος Ἄϊρος ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν ἕξει,

οἵην ἐκ ῥακέων ὁ γέρων ἐπιγουνίδα φαίνει.

Iros began to be very uneasy as he heard them, but the servants girded him by force, and brought him into the open part of the court in such a fright that his limbs were all of a tremble. Antinoos scolded him and said, "You swaggering bully, you ought never to have been born at all if you are afraid of such an old broken-down creature as this tramp is. I say, therefore - and it shall surely be - if he beats you and proves himself the better man, I shall pack you off on board ship to the mainland and send you to king Echetos, who kills every one that comes near him. He will cut off your nose and ears, and draw out your entrails for the dogs to eat."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Ἴρῳ δὲ κακῶς ὠρίνετο θυμός.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς δρηστῆρες ἄγον ζώσαντες ἀνάγκῃ

δειδιότα· σάρκες δὲ περιτρομέοντο μέλεσσιν.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

νῦν μὲν μήτʼ εἴης, βουγάϊε, μήτε γένοιο,

εἰ δὴ τοῦτόν γε τρομέεις καὶ δείδιας αἰνῶς,

ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.

ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

αἴ κέν σʼ οὗτος νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,

πέμψω σʼ ἤπειρόνδε, βαλὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,

εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,

ὅς κʼ ἀπὸ ῥῖνα τάμῃσι καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,

μήδεά τʼ ἐξερύσας δώῃ κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι.

This frightened Iros still more, but they brought him into the middle of the court, and the two men raised their hands to fight. Then Odysseus considered whether he should let drive so hard at Iros as to make his psukhê leave him there and then as he fell, or whether he should give him a lighter blow that should only knock him down; in the end he deemed it best to give the lighter blow for fear the Achaeans should begin to suspect who he was. Then they began to fight, and Iros hit Odysseus on the right shoulder; but Odysseus gave Iros a blow on the neck under the ear that broke in the bones of his skull, and the blood came gushing out of his mouth; he fell groaning in the dust, gnashing his teeth and kicking on the ground, but the suitors threw up their hands and nearly died of laughter, as Odysseus caught hold of him by the foot and dragged him into the outer court as far as the gate-house. There he propped him up against the wall and put his staff in his hands. "Sit here," said he, "and keep the dogs and pigs off; you are a pitiful creature, and if you try to make yourself king of the beggars any more you shall fare still worse."

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα.

ἐς μέσσον δʼ ἄναγον· τὼ δʼ ἄμφω χεῖρας ἀνέσχον.

δὴ τότε μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἢ ἐλάσειʼ ὥς μιν ψυχὴ λίποι αὖθι πεσόντα,

ἦέ μιν ἦκʼ ἐλάσειε τανύσσειέν τʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,

ἦκʼ ἐλάσαι, ἵνα μή μιν ἐπιφρασσαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.

δὴ τότʼ ἀνασχομένω ὁ μὲν ἤλασε δεξιὸν ὦμον

Ἶρος, ὁ δʼ αὐχένʼ ἔλασσεν ὑπʼ οὔατος, ὀστέα δʼ εἴσω

ἔθλασεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἦλθε κατὰ στόμα φοίνιον αἷμα,

κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, σὺν δʼ ἤλασʼ ὀδόντας

λακτίζων ποσὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ

χεῖρας ἀνασχόμενοι γέλῳ ἔκθανον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἕλκε διὲκ προθύροιο λαβὼν ποδός, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,

αἰθούσης τε θύρας· καί μιν ποτὶ ἑρκίον αὐλῆς

εἷσεν ἀνακλίνας· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρί,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν ἧσο σύας τε κύνας τʼ ἀπερύκων,

μηδὲ σύ γε ξείνων καὶ πτωχῶν κοίρανος εἶναι

λυγρὸς ἐών, μή πού τι κακὸν καὶ μεῖζον ἐπαύρῃ.

Then he threw his dirty old wallet, all tattered and torn, over his shoulder with the cord by which it hung, and went back to sit down upon the threshold; but the suitors went within the cloisters, laughing and saluting him, "May Zeus, and all the other gods," said they, ‘grant you whatever you want for having put an end to the importunity of this insatiable tramp. We will take him over to the mainland presently, to king Echetos, who kills every one that comes near him."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,

πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.

ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοὶ δʼ ἴσαν εἴσω

ἡδὺ γελώοντες καὶ δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι·

Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,

ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ,

ὃς τοῦτον τὸν ἄναλτον ἀλητεύειν ἀπέπαυσας

ἐν δήμῳ· τάχα γάρ μιν ἀνάξομεν ἤπειρόνδε

εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων.

Odysseus hailed this as of good omen, and Antinoos set a great goat's paunch before him filled with blood and fat. Amphinomos took two loaves out of the bread-basket and brought them to him, pledging him as he did so in a golden goblet of wine. "Good luck to you," he said, "father stranger, you are very badly off at present, but I hope you will have better times [ olbos ] by and by."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, χαῖρεν δὲ κλεηδόνι δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἄρα οἱ μεγάλην παρὰ γαστέρα θῆκεν,

ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος· Ἀμφίνομος δὲ

ἄρτους ἐκ κανέοιο δύω παρέθηκεν ἀείρας

καὶ δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ δειδίσκετο, φώνησέν τε·

χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε, γένοιτό τοι ἔς περ ὀπίσσω

ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.

To this Odysseus answered, "Amphinomos, you seem to be a man of good understanding, as indeed you may well be, seeing whose son you are. I have heard your father well spoken of [ kleos ]; he is Nisus of Dulichium, a man both brave and wealthy. They tell me you are his son, and you appear to be a considerable person; listen, therefore, and take heed to what I am saying. Man is the vainest of all creatures that have their being upon earth. As long as the gods grant him aretê and his knees are steady, he thinks that he shall come to no harm hereafter, and even when the blessed gods bring sorrow upon him, he bears it as he needs must, and makes the best of it; for the father of gods and men gives men their daily minds [ noos ] day by day. I know all about it, for I was a rich [ olbios ] man once, and did much wrong in the stubbornness [ biâ ] of my pride, and in the confidence that my father and my brothers would support me; therefore let a man be pious in all things always, and take the good that the gods may see fit to send him without vainglory. Consider the infamy of what these suitors are doing; see how they are wasting the estate, and doing dishonor to the wife, of one who is certain to return some day, and that, too, not long hence. Nay, he will be here soon; may a daimôn send you home quietly first that you may not meet with him in the day of his coming, for once he is here the suitors and he will not part bloodlessly."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Ἀμφίνομʼ, ἦ μάλα μοι δοκέεις πεπνυμένος εἶναι·

τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ἐπεὶ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄκουον,

Νῖσον Δουλιχιῆα ἐΰν τʼ ἔμεν ἀφνειόν τε·

τοῦ σʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπητῇ δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.

τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·

οὐδὲν ἀκιδνότερον γαῖα τρέφει ἀνθρώποιο,

πάντων ὅσσα τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.

οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτέ φησι κακὸν πείσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,

ὄφρʼ ἀρετὴν παρέχωσι θεοὶ καὶ γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ λυγρὰ θεοὶ μάκαρες τελέσωσι,

καὶ τὰ φέρει ἀεκαζόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·

τοῖος γὰρ νόος ἐστὶν ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων

οἷον ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἄγησι πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε.

καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτʼ ἔμελλον ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιος εἶναι,

πολλὰ δʼ ἀτάσθαλʼ ἔρεξα βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων,

πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ πίσυνος καὶ ἐμοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι.

τῷ μή τίς ποτε πάμπαν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστιος εἴη,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε σιγῇ δῶρα θεῶν ἔχοι, ὅττι διδοῖεν.

οἷʼ ὁρόω μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωντας,

κτήματα κείροντας καὶ ἀτιμάζοντας ἄκοιτιν

ἀνδρός, ὃν οὐκέτι φημὶ φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

δηρὸν ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα δὲ σχεδόν. ἀλλά σε δαίμων

οἴκαδʼ ὑπεξαγάγοι, μηδʼ ἀντιάσειας ἐκείνῳ,

ὁππότε νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·

οὐ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω

μνηστῆρας καὶ κεῖνον, ἐπεί κε μέλαθρον ὑπέλθῃ.

With these words he made a drink-offering, and when he had drunk he put the gold cup again into the hands of Amphinomos, who walked away serious and bowing his head, for he foreboded evil. But even so he did not escape destruction, for Athena had doomed him fall by the hand of Telemakhos. So he took his seat again at the place from which he had come.

ὣς φάτο, καὶ σπείσας ἔπιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον,

ἂψ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε δέπας κοσμήτορι λαῶν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,

νευστάζων κεφαλῇ· δὴ γὰρ κακὸν ὄσσετο θυμός.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς φύγε κῆρα· πέδησε δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀθήνη

Τηλεμάχου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ ἶφι δαμῆναι.

ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

Then Athena put it into the mind of Penelope to show herself to the suitors, that she might make them still more enamored of her, and win still further honor from her son and husband. So she feigned a mocking laugh and said, "Eurynome, I have changed my and have a fancy to show myself to the suitors although I detest them. I should like also to give my son a hint that he had better not have anything more to do with them. They speak fairly enough but they mean mischief."

τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ὅπως πετάσειε μάλιστα

θυμὸν μνηστήρων ἰδὲ τιμήεσσα γένοιτο

μᾶλλον πρὸς πόσιός τε καὶ υἱέος ἢ πάρος ἦεν.

ἀχρεῖον δʼ ἐγέλασσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

Εὐρυνόμη, θυμός μοι ἐέλδεται, οὔ τι πάρος γε,

μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ἀπεχθομένοισί περ ἔμπης·

παιδὶ δέ κεν εἴποιμι ἔπος, τό κε κέρδιον εἴη,

μὴ πάντα μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμιλεῖν,

οἵ τʼ εὖ μὲν βάζουσι, κακῶς δʼ ὄπιθεν φρονέουσι.

"My dear child," answered Eurynome, "all that you have said is true, go and tell your son about it, but first wash yourself and anoint your face. Do not go about with your cheeks all covered with tears; it is not right that you should grieve so incessantly; for Telemakhos, whom you always prayed that you might live to see with a beard, is already grown up."

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, τέκος, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,

χρῶτʼ ἀπονιψαμένη καὶ ἐπιχρίσασα παρειάς·

μηδʼ οὕτω δακρύοισι πεφυρμένη ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα

ἔρχευ, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί.

ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι παῖς τηλίκος, ὃν σὺ μάλιστα

ἠρῶ ἀθανάτοισι γενειήσαντα ἰδέσθαι.

"I know, Eurynome," replied Penelope, "that you mean well, but do not try and persuade me to wash and to anoint myself, for heaven robbed me of all my beauty on the day my husband sailed; nevertheless, tell Autonoe and Hippodameia that I want them. They must be with me when I am in the room; I am not going among the men alone; it would not be proper for me to do so."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Εὐρυνόμη, μὴ ταῦτα παραύδα, κηδομένη περ,

χρῶτʼ ἀπονίπτεσθαι καὶ ἐπιχρίεσθαι ἀλοιφῇ·

ἀγλαΐην γὰρ ἐμοί γε θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,

ὤλεσαν, ἐξ οὗ κεῖνος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν.

ἀλλά μοι Αὐτονόην τε καὶ Ἱπποδάμειαν ἄνωχθι

ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα κέ μοι παρστήετον ἐν μεγάροισιν·

οἴη δʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι μετʼ ἀνέρας· αἰδέομαι γάρ.

On this the old woman went out of the room to bid the maids go to their mistress. In the meantime Athena bethought her of another matter, and sent Penelope off into a sweet slumber; so she lay down on her couch and her limbs became heavy with sleep. Then the goddess shed grace and beauty over her that all the Achaeans might admire her. She washed her face with the ambrosial loveliness that Aphrodite wears when she goes dancing [ khoros ] with the Graces; she made her taller and of a more commanding figure, while as for her complexion it was whiter than sawn ivory. When Athena had done all this she went away, whereon the maids came in from the women's room and woke Penelope with the sound of their talking.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει

ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο κατὰ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευεν,

εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ κλιντῆρι· τέως δʼ ἄρα δῖα θεάων

ἄμβροτα δῶρα δίδου, ἵνα μιν θησαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.

κάλλεϊ μέν οἱ πρῶτα προσώπατα καλὰ κάθηρεν

ἀμβροσίῳ, οἵῳ περ ἐϋστέφανος Κυθέρεια

χρίεται, εὖτʼ ἂν ἴῃ Χαρίτων χορὸν ἱμερόεντα·

καί μιν μακροτέρην καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,

λευκοτέρην δʼ ἄρα μιν θῆκε πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος.

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασʼ ἀπεβήσετο δῖα θεάων,

ἦλθον δʼ ἀμφίπολοι λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο

φθόγγῳ ἐπερχόμεναι· τὴν δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε,

"What an exquisitely delicious sleep I have been having," said she, as she passed her hands over her face, "in spite of all my misery. I wish Artemis would let me die so sweetly now at this very moment, that I might no longer waste in despair for the loss of my dear husband, who possessed every kind of good quality [ aretê ] and was the most distinguished man among the Achaeans."

καί ῥʼ ἀπομόρξατο χερσὶ παρειὰς φώνησέν τε·

ἦ με μάλʼ αἰνοπαθῆ μαλακὸν περὶ κῶμʼ ἐκάλυψεν.

αἴθε μοι ὣς μαλακὸν θάνατον πόροι Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ

αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα μηκέτʼ ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν

αἰῶνα φθινύθω, πόσιος ποθέουσα φίλοιο

παντοίην ἀρετήν, ἐπεὶ ἔξοχος ἦεν Ἀχαιῶν.

With these words she came down from her upper room, not alone but attended by two of her maidens, and when she reached the suitors she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the room, holding a veil before her face, and with a staid maid servant on either side of her. As they beheld her the suitors were so overpowered and became so desperately enamored of her, that each one prayed he might win her for his own bed fellow.

ὣς φαμένη κατέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,

οὐκ οἴη· ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.

ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·

ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.

τῶν δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατʼ, ἔρῳ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἔθελχθεν,

πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.

"Telemakhos," said she, addressing her son, "I fear you are no longer so discreet and well conducted as you used to be. When you were younger you had a subtler thoughtfulness [ kerdos ]; now, however, that you are grown up, though a stranger to look at you would take you for the son of a well-to-do [ olbios ] father as far as size and good looks go, your conduct is by no means what it should be. What is all this disturbance that has been going on, and how came you to allow a stranger to be so disgracefully ill-treated? What would have happened if he had suffered serious injury while a suppliant in our house? Surely this would have been very discreditable to you."

ἡ δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν, ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι τοι φρένες ἔμπεδοι οὐδὲ νόημα·

παῖς ἔτʼ ἐὼν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ κέρδεʼ ἐνώμας·

νῦν δʼ, ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐσσὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνεις,

καί κέν τις φαίη γόνον ἔμμεναι ὀλβίου ἀνδρός,

ἐς μέγεθος καὶ κάλλος ὁρώμενος, ἀλλότριος φώς,

οὐκέτι τοι φρένες εἰσὶν ἐναίσιμοι οὐδὲ νόημα.

οἷον δὴ τόδε ἔργον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐτύχθη,

ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔασας ἀεικισθήμεναι οὕτως.

πῶς νῦν, εἴ τι ξεῖνος ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν

ἥμενος ὧδε πάθοι ῥυστακτύος ἐξ ἀλεγεινῆς;

σοί κʼ αἶσχος λώβη τε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλοιτο.

"I am not surprised, my dear mother, at your displeasure," replied Telemakhos, "I understand all about it and know when things are not as they should be, which I could not do when I was younger; I cannot, however, behave with perfect propriety at all times. First one and then another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out of my mind, and I have no one to stand by me. After all, however, this fight between Iros and the stranger did not turn out as the suitors meant it to do, for the stranger got the best of it. I wish Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo would break the neck of every one of these wooers of yours, some inside the house and some out; and I wish they might all be as limp as Iros is over yonder in the gate of the outer court. See how he nods his head like a drunken man; he has had such a thrashing that he cannot stand on his feet nor get back to his home [ nostos ], wherever that may be, for has no strength left in him."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

μῆτερ ἐμή, τὸ μὲν οὔ σε νεμεσσῶμαι κεχολῶσθαι·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θυμῷ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,

ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρεια· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.

ἀλλά τοι οὐ δύναμαι πεπνυμένα πάντα νοῆσαι·

ἐκ γάρ με πλήσσουσι παρήμενοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

οἵδε κακὰ φρονέοντες, ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀρωγοί.

οὐ μέν τοι ξείνου γε καὶ Ἴρου μῶλος ἐτύχθη

μνηστήρων ἰότητι, βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἦεν.

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

οὕτω νῦν μνηστῆρες ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι

νεύοιεν κεφαλὰς δεδμημένοι, οἱ μὲν ἐν αὐλῇ,

οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμοιο, λελῦτο δὲ γυῖα ἑκάστου,

ὡς νῦν Ἶρος κεῖνος ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν

ἧσται νευστάζων κεφαλῇ, μεθύοντι ἐοικώς,

οὐδʼ ὀρθὸς στῆναι δύναται ποσὶν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι

οἴκαδʼ, ὅπη οἱ νόστος, ἐπεὶ φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.

Thus did they converse. Eurymakhos then came up and said, "Queen Penelope, daughter of Ikarios, if all the Achaeans in Iasian Argos could see you at this moment, you would have still more suitors in your house by tomorrow morning, for you are the most admirable woman in the whole world both as regards personal beauty and strength of understanding."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα Πηνελόπειαν·

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,

εἰ πάντες σε ἴδοιεν ἀνʼ Ἴασον Ἄργος Ἀχαιοί,

πλέονές κε μνηστῆρες ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν

ἠῶθεν δαινύατʼ, ἐπεὶ περίεσσι γυναικῶν

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας.

To this Penelope replied, "Eurymakhos, heaven robbed me of all my beauty [ aretê ] whether of face or figure when the Argives set sail for Troy and my dear husband with them. If he were to return and look after my affairs, I should both be more respected [ kleos ] and show a better presence to the world. As it is, I am oppressed with care, and with the afflictions which a daimôn has seen fit to heap upon me. My husband foresaw it all, and when he was leaving home he took my right wrist in his hand - ‘Wife, ‘he said, ‘we shall not all of us come safe home from Troy , for the Trojans fight well both with bow and spear. They are excellent also at fighting from chariots, and nothing decides [ krînô ] the issue of a fight sooner than this. I know not, therefore, whether heaven will send me back to you, or whether I may not fall over there at Troy . In the meantime do you look after things here. Take care of my father and mother as at present, and even more so during my absence, but when you see our son growing a beard, then marry whom you will, and leave this your present home. This is what he said and now it is all coming true. A night will come when I shall have to yield myself to a marriage which I detest, for Zeus has taken from me all hope of happiness [ olbos ]. This further grief [ akhos ], moreover, cuts me to the very heart. You suitors are not wooing me after the custom [ dikê ] of my country. When men are courting a woman who they think will be a good wife to them and who is of noble birth, and when they are each trying to win her for himself, they usually bring oxen and sheep to feast the friends of the lady, and they make her magnificent presents, instead of eating up other people's property without paying for it."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ἐμὴν ἀρετὴν εἶδός τε δέμας τε

ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον

Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς.

εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,

μεῖζόν κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.

νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.

ἦ μὲν δὴ ὅτε τʼ ᾖε λιπὼν κάτα πατρίδα γαῖαν,

δεξιτερὴν ἐπὶ καρπῷ ἑλὼν ἐμὲ χεῖρα προσηύδα·

ὦ γύναι, οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

ἐκ Τροίης εὖ πάντας ἀπήμονας ἀπονέεσθαι·

καὶ γὰρ Τρῶάς φασι μαχητὰς ἔμμεναι ἄνδρας,

ἠμὲν ἀκοντιστὰς ἠδὲ ῥυτῆρας ὀϊστῶν

ἵππων τʼ ὠκυπόδων ἐπιβήτορας, οἵ κε τάχιστα

ἔκριναν μέγα νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.

τῷ οὐκ οἶδʼ ἤ κέν μʼ ἀνέσει θεός, ἦ κεν ἁλώω

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.

μεμνῆσθαι πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ἐν μεγάροισιν

ὡς νῦν, ἢ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐμεῦ ἀπονόσφιν ἐόντος·

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ παῖδα γενειήσαντα ἴδηαι,

γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, τεὸν κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσα.

κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.

νὺξ δʼ ἔσται ὅτε δὴ στυγερὸς γάμος ἀντιβολήσει

οὐλομένης ἐμέθεν, τῆς τε Ζεὺς ὄλβον ἀπηύρα.

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει·

μνηστήρων οὐχ ἥδε δίκη τὸ πάροιθε τέτυκτο·

οἵ τʼ ἀγαθήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ ἀφνειοῖο θύγατρα

μνηστεύειν ἐθέλωσι καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἐρίσωσιν,

αὐτοὶ τοί γʼ ἀπάγουσι βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,

κούρης δαῖτα φίλοισι, καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῦσιν·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.

This was what she said, and Odysseus was glad when he heard her trying to get presents out of the suitors, and flattering them with fair words which he knew she did not mean in her noos .

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

οὕνεκα τῶν μὲν δῶρα παρέλκετο, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸν

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοίνα.

Then Antinoos said, "Queen Penelope, daughter of Ikarios, take as many presents as you please from any one who will give them to you; it is not well to refuse a present; but we will not go about our business nor stir from where we are, till you have married the best man among us whoever he may be."

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός,

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,

δῶρα μὲν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν ἐνθάδʼ ἐνεῖκαι,

δέξασθʼ. οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν ἐστίν·

ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔτʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γʼ ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,

πρίν γέ σε τῷ γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.

The others applauded what Antinoos had said, and each one sent his servant to bring his present. Antinoos’ man returned with a large and lovely dress most exquisitely embroidered. It had twelve beautifully made brooch pins of pure gold with which to fasten it. Eurymakhos immediately brought her a magnificent chain of gold and amber beads that gleamed like sunlight. Eurydamas’ two men returned with some earrings fashioned into three brilliant pendants which glistened most beautifully [ kharis ]; while king Peisandros son of Polyktor gave her a necklace of the rarest workmanship, and every one else brought her a beautiful present of some kind.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος·

δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.

Ἀντινόῳ μὲν ἔνεικε μέγαν περικαλλέα πέπλον,

ποικίλον· ἐν δʼ ἀρʼ ἔσαν περόναι δυοκαίδεκα πᾶσαι

χρύσειαι, κληῗσιν ἐϋγνάμπτοις ἀραρυῖαι.

ὅρμον δʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ πολυδαίδαλον αὐτίκʼ ἔνεικε.

χρύσεον, ἠλέκτροισιν ἐερμένον ἠέλιον ὥς.

ἕρματα δʼ Εὐρυδάμαντι δύω θεράποντες ἔνεικαν,

τρίγληνα μορόεντα· χάρις δʼ ἀπελάμπετο πολλή.

ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Πεισάνδροιο Πολυκτορίδαο ἄνακτος

ἴσθμιον ἤνεικεν θεράπων, περικαλλὲς ἄγαλμα.

ἄλλο δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλος δῶρον Ἀχαιῶν καλὸν ἔνεικεν.

Then the queen went back to her room upstairs, and her maids brought the presents after her. Meanwhile the suitors took to singing and dancing, and stayed till evening came. They danced and sang till it grew dark; they then brought in three braziers to give light, and piled them up with chopped firewood very and dry, and they lit torches from them, which the maids held up turn and turn about. Then Odysseus said:

ἡ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα δῖα γυναικῶν,

τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι ἔφερον περικαλλέα δῶρα

οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν

τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.

τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθεν.

αὐτίκα λαμπτῆρας τρεῖς ἵστασαν ἐν μεγάροισιν,

ὄφρα φαείνοιεν· περὶ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα θῆκαν,

αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, νέον κεκεασμένα χαλκῷ,

καὶ δαΐδας μετέμισγον· ἀμοιβηδὶς δʼ ἀνέφαινον

δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος. αὐτὰρ ὁ τῇσιν

αὐτὸς διογενῆς μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

"Maids, servants of Odysseus who has so long been absent, go to the queen inside the house; sit with her and amuse her, or spin, and pick wool. I will hold the light for all these people. They may stay till morning, but shall not beat me, for I can stand a great deal."

δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος, δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,

ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ αἰδοίη βασίλεια·

τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἠλάκατα στροφαλίζετε, τέρπετε δʼ αὐτὴν

ἥμεναι ἐν μεγάρῳ, ἢ εἴρια πείκετε χερσίν·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φάος πάντεσσι παρέξω.

ἤν περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλωσιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνειν,

οὔ τί με νικήσουσι· πολυτλήμων δὲ μάλʼ εἰμί.

The maids looked at one another and laughed, while pretty Melantho began to gibe at him contemptuously. She was daughter to Dolios, but had been brought up by Penelope, who used to give her toys to play with, and looked after her when she was a child; but in spite of all this she showed no consideration for the sorrows [ penthos ] of her mistress, and used to misconduct herself with Eurymakhos, with whom she was in love.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἐγέλασσαν, ἐς ἀλλήλας δὲ ἴδοντο.

τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ καλλιπάρῃος,

τὴν Δολίος μὲν ἔτικτε, κόμισσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,

παῖδα δὲ ὣς ἀτίταλλε, δίδου δʼ ἄρʼ ἀθύρματα θυμῷ·

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἔχε πένθος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ Πηνελοπείης,

ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ μισγέσκετο καὶ φιλέεσκεν.

ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπεν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν·

"Poor wretch," said she, "are you gone clean out of your mind? Go and sleep in some smithy, or place of public gossips, instead of chattering here. Are you not ashamed of opening your mouth before your betters - so many of them too? Has the wine been getting into your head, or do you always babble in this way? You seem to have lost your wits because you beat the tramp Iros; take care that a better man than he does not come and cudgel you about the head till he pack you bleeding out of the house."

ξεῖνε τάλαν, σύ γέ τις φρένας ἐκπεπαταγμένος ἐσσί,

οὐδʼ ἐθέλεις εὕδειν χαλκήϊον ἐς δόμον ἐλθών,

ἠέ που ἐς λέσχην, ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πόλλʼ ἀγορεύεις,

θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ

τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.

ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;

μή τίς τοι τάχα Ἴρου ἀμείνων ἄλλος ἀναστῇ,

ὅς τίς σʼ ἀμφὶ κάρη κεκοπὼς χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι

δώματος ἐκπέμψῃσι, φορύξας αἵματι πολλῷ.

"Vixen," replied Odysseus, scowling at her, "I will go and tell Telemakhos what you have been saying, and he will have you torn limb from limb."

τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἦ τάχα Τηλεμάχῳ ἐρέω, κύον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,

κεῖσʼ ἐλθών, ἵνα σʼ αὖθι διὰ μελεϊστὶ τάμῃσιν.

With these words he scared the women, and they went off into the body of the house. They trembled all aver, for they thought he would do what he said was true [ alêthês ]. But Odysseus took his stand near the burning braziers, holding up torches and looking at the people - brooding the while on things that should surely come to pass.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπέεσσι διεπτοίησε γυναῖκας.

βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι διὰ δῶμα, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης

ταρβοσύνῃ· φὰν γάρ μιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.

αὐτὰρ ὁ πὰρ λαμπτῆρσι φαείνων αἰθομένοισιν

ἑστήκειν ἐς πάντας ὁρώμενος· ἄλλα δέ οἱ κῆρ

ὥρμαινε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν, ἅ ῥʼ οὐκ ἀτέλεστα γένοντο.

But Athena would not let the suitors for one moment cease their insolence, for she wanted Odysseus to become even more bitter against them in his grief [ akhos ]; she therefore set Eurymakhos son of Polybos on to gibe at him, which made the others laugh. "Listen to me," said he, "you suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. It is not for nothing that this man has come to the house of Odysseus; I believe the light has not been coming from the torches, but from his own head - for his hair is all gone, every bit of it."

μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη

λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον

δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,

κερτομέων Ὀδυσῆα· γέλω δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἔτευχε.

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

οὐκ ἀθεεὶ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ Ὀδυσήϊον ἐς δόμον ἵκει·

ἔμπης μοι δοκέει δαίδων σέλας ἔμμεναι αὐτοῦ

κὰκ κεφαλῆς, ἐπεὶ οὔ οἱ ἔνι τρίχες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί.

Then turning to Odysseus he said, "Stranger, will you work as a servant, if I send you to the outer limits of the field and see that you are well paid? Can you build a stone fence, or plant trees? I will have you fed all the year round, and will find you in shoes and clothing. Will you go, then? Not you; for you have got into bad ways, and do not want to work; you had rather fill your belly by going round the dêmos begging."

ἦ ῥʼ, ἅμα τε προσέειπεν Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ κʼ ἐθέλοις θητευέμεν, εἴ σʼ ἀνελοίμην,

ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς—μισθὸς δέ τοι ἄρκιος ἔσται—

αἱμασιάς τε λέγων καὶ δένδρεα μακρὰ φυτεύων;

ἔνθα κʼ ἐγὼ σῖτον μὲν ἐπηετανὸν παρέχοιμι,

εἵματα δʼ ἀμφιέσαιμι ποσίν θʼ ὑποδήματα δοίην.

ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθες, οὐκ ἐθελήσεις

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσειν κατὰ δῆμον

βούλεαι, ὄφρʼ ἄν ἔχῃς βόσκειν σὴν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

"Eurymakhos," answered Odysseus, "if you and I were to work one against the other in early summer [ hôra ] when the days are at their longest - give me a good scythe, and take another yourself, and let us see which will fast the longer or mow the stronger, from dawn till dark when the mowing grass is about. Or if you will plough against me, let us each take a yoke of tawny oxen, well-mated and of great strength and endurance: turn me into a four acre field, and see whether you or I can drive the straighter furrow. If, again, war were to break out this day, give me a shield, a couple of spears and a helmet fitting well upon my temples - you would find me foremost in the fray, and would cease your gibes about my belly. You are insolent and your noos is cruel, and you think yourself a great man because you live in a little world, and that a bad one. If Odysseus comes to his own again, the doors of his house are wide, but you will find them narrow when you try to flee through them."

Εὐρύμαχʼ, εἰ γὰρ νῶϊν ἔρις ἔργοιο γένοιτο

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται,

ἐν ποίῃ, δρέπανον μὲν ἐγὼν εὐκαμπὲς ἔχοιμι,

καὶ δὲ σὺ τοῖον ἔχοις, ἵνα πειρησαίμεθα ἔργου

νήστιες ἄχρι μάλα κνέφαος, ποίη δὲ παρείη.

εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ βόες εἶεν ἐλαυνέμεν, οἵ περ ἄριστοι,

αἴθωνες, μεγάλοι, ἄμφω κεκορηότε ποίης,

ἥλικες, ἰσοφόροι, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,

τετράγυον δʼ εἴη, εἴκοι δʼ ὑπὸ βῶλος ἀρότρῳ·

τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις, εἰ ὦλκα διηνεκέα προταμοίμην.

εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ πόλεμόν ποθεν ὁρμήσειε Κρονίων

σήμερον, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ σάκος εἴη καὶ δύο δοῦρε

καὶ κυνέη πάγχαλκος, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖα,

τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις πρώτοισιν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι μιγέντα,

οὐδʼ ἄν μοι τὴν γαστέρʼ ὀνειδίζων ἀγορεύοις.

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὑβρίξεις, καί τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής·

καί πού τις δοκέεις μέγας ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ κραταιός,

οὕνεκα πὰρ παύροισι καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθοῖσιν ὁμιλεῖς.

εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

αἶψά κέ τοι τὰ θύρετρα, καὶ εὐρέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,

φεύγοντι στείνοιτο διὲκ προθύροιο θύραζε.

Eurymakhos was furious at all this. He scowled at him and cried, "You wretch, I will soon pay you out for daring to say such things to me, and in public too. Has the wine been getting into your head or do you always babble in this way? You seem to have lost your wits because you beat the tramp Iros. With this he caught hold of a footstool, but Odysseus sought protection at the knees of Amphinomos of Dulichium, for he was afraid. The stool hit the cupbearer on his right hand and knocked him down: the man fell with a cry flat on his back, and his wine-jug fell ringing to the ground. The suitors in the covered room were now in an uproar, and one would turn towards his neighbor, saying, "I wish the stranger had gone somewhere else, bad luck to hide, for all the trouble he gives us. We cannot permit such disturbance about a beggar; if such ill counsels are to prevail we shall have no more pleasure at our banquet."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐχολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τάχα τοι τελέω κακόν, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις

θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ

τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.

ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας σφέλας ἔλλαβεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Ἀμφινόμου πρὸς γοῦνα καθέζετο Δουλιχιῆος,

Εὐρύμαχον δείσας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οἰνοχόον βάλε χεῖρα

δεξιτερήν· πρόχοος δὲ χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα,

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ οἰμώξας πέσεν ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

αἴθʼ ὤφελλʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλλοθʼ ὀλέσθαι

πρὶν ἐλθεῖν· τῷ οὔ τι τόσον κέλαδον μετέθηκε.

νῦν δὲ περὶ πτωχῶν ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς

ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.

On this Telemakhos came forward and said, "Sirs, are you mad? Can you not carry your meat and your liquor decently? Some evil spirit has possessed you. I do not wish to drive any of you away, but you have had your suppers, and the sooner you all go home to bed the better."

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο

δαιμόνιοι, μαίνεσθε καὶ οὐκέτι κεύθετε θυμῷ

βρωτὺν οὐδὲ ποτῆτα· θεῶν νύ τις ὔμμʼ ὀροθύνει.

ἀλλʼ εὖ δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες,

ὁππότε θυμὸς ἄνωγε· διώκω δʼ οὔ τινʼ ἐγώ γε.

The suitors bit their lips and marveled at the boldness of his speech; but Amphinomos the son of Nisus, who was son to Aretias, said, "Do not let us take offense; it is reasonable [ dikaios ], so let us make no answer. Neither let us do violence to the stranger nor to any of Odysseus’ servants. Let the cupbearer go round with the drink-offerings, that we may make them and go home to our rest. As for the stranger, let us leave Telemakhos to deal with him, for it is to his house that he has come."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες

Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε

Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος·

ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ

ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·

μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον

δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,

ὄφρα σπείσαντες κατακείομεν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·

τὸν ξεῖνον δὲ ἐῶμεν ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος

Τηλεμάχῳ μελέμεν· τοῦ γὰρ φίλον ἵκετο δῶμα.

Thus did he speak, and his saying pleased them well, so Moulios of Dulichium, servant to Amphinomos, mixed them a bowl of wine and water and handed it round to each of them man by man, whereon they made their drink-offerings to the blessed gods: Then, when they had made their drink-offerings and had drunk each one as he was minded, they took their several ways each of them to his own abode.

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ἑαδότα μῦθον ἔειπε.

τοῖσιν δὲ κρητῆρα κεράσσατο Μούλιος ἥρως,

κῆρυξ Δουλιχιεύς· θεράπων δʼ ἦν Ἀμφινόμοιο·

νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσι

σπείσαντες μακάρεσσι πίον μελιηδέα οἶνον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

βάν ῥʼ ἴμεναι κείοντες ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος.