Odyssey

"Lady;" answered Odysseus, "who on the face of the whole earth can dare to chide with you? Your fame [ kleos ] reaches the firmament of heaven itself; you are like some blameless king, who upholds righteousness, as the monarch over a great and valiant nation: the earth yields its wheat and barley, the trees are loaded with fruit, the ewes bring forth lambs, and the sea abounds with fish by reason of his virtues, and his people do good deeds under him. Nevertheless, as I sit here in your house, ask me some other question and do not seek to know my race and family, or you will recall memories that will yet more increase my sorrow. I am full of heaviness, but I ought not to sit weeping and wailing in another person's house, nor is it well to be thus grieving continually. I shall have one of the servants or even yourself complaining of me, and saying that my eyes swim with tears because I am heavy with wine."

OdysseyBook 19, Line 106Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 19

HomerProseID odyssey-odyssey-butler-en-prose-19-106