Book 16: Father and son
Ulysses Reveals Himself to Telemachus.
Greek
Τὼ δ’ αὖτ’ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸςἐντύνοντ’ ἄριστον ἅμ’ ἠοῖ, κηαμένω πῦρ,ἔκπεμψάν τε νομῆας ἅμ’ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσι·Τηλέμαχον δὲ περίσσαινον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι,οὐδ’ ὕλαον προσιόντα. νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςσαίνοντάς τε κύνας, περί τε κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν.αἷψα δ’ ἄρ’ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·Εὔμαι’, ἣ μάλα τίς τοι ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ’ ἑταῖροςἢ καὶ γνώριμος ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ κύνες οὐχ ὑλάουσιν,ἀλλὰ περισσαίνουσι’ ποδῶν δ’ ὑπὸ δοῦπον ἀκούω.Οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ φίλος υἱὸςἔστη ἐνὶ προθύροισι. ταφὼν δ’ ἀνόρουσε συβώτης,ἐκ δ’ ἄρα οἱ χειρῶν πέσον ἄγγεα, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο,κιρνὰς αἴθοπα οἶνον. ὁ δ’ ἀντίος ἦλθεν ἄνακτος,κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλὰχεῖράς τ’ ἀμφοτέρας· θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ.ὡς δὲ πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φίλα φρονέων ἀγαπάζῃἐλθόντ’ ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,μοῦνον τηλύγετον, τῷ ἔπ’ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσῃ,ὡς τότε Τηλέμαχον θεοειδέα δῖος ὑφορβὸςπάντα κύσεν περιφύς, ὡς ἐκ θανάτοιο φυγόντα·καί ῥ’ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος· οὔ σ’ ἔτ’ ἐγώ γεὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ οἴχεο νηὶ Πύλονδε.ἀλλ’ ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα σε θυμῷτέρψομαι εἰσορόων νέον ἄλλοθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα.οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θάμ’ ἀγρὸν ἐπέρχεαι οὐδὲ νομῆας,ἀλλ’ ἐπιδημεύεις· ὡς γάρ νύ τοι εὔαδε θυμῷ,ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορᾶν ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα’ σέθεν δ’ ἕνεκ’ ἐνθάδ’ ἱκάνω,ὄφρα σέ τ’ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσω,ἤ μοι ἔτ’ ἐν μεγάροις μήτηρ μένει, ἧέ τις ἤδηἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔγημεν, Ὀδυσσῆος δέ που εὐνὴχήτει ἐνευναίων κἀκ’ ἀράχνια κεῖται ἔχουσα.Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷσοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζωραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶφθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.Ἃς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.τῷ δ’ ἕδρης ἐπιόντι πατὴρ ὑπόειξεν Ὀδυσσεύς·Τηλέμαχος δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐρήτυε φώνησέν τε·ἧσο, ξεῖν’. ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοθι δήομεν ἕδρηνσταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ· παρὰ δ’ ἀνὴρ ὃς καταθήσει.Ἃς φάθ’, ὁ δ’ αὖτις ἰὼν κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο τῷ δὲ συβώτηςχεῦεν ὕπο χλωρὰς ῥῶπας καὶ κῶας ὕπερθεν·ἔνθα καθέζετ’ ἔπειτα Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.τοῖσιν δ’ αὖ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκε συβώτηςὀπταλέων, ἅ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ ὑπέλειπον ἔδοντες,σῖτον δ’ ἐσσυμένως παρενήνεεν ἐν κανέοισιν,ἐν δ’ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον·αὐτὸς δ’ ἀντίον ἴζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.οἱ δ’ ἐπ’ ὀνείαθ’ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε δῖον ὑφορβόν·ἄττα, πόθεν τοι ξεῖνος ὅδ’ ἵκετο; πῶς δέ ἑ ναῦταιἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;οὐ μὲν γάρ τί ἑ πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδ’ ἱκέσθαι.Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντ’ ἀγορεύσω.ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχεται εὐρειάων,φησὶ δὲ πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεα δινηθῆναιπλαζόμενος· ὡς γάρ οἱ ἐπέκλωσεν τά γε δαίμων.νῦν αὖ Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν παρὰ νηὸς ἀποδρὰςἤλυθ’ ἐμὸν πρὸς σταθμόν, ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἐγγυαλίξω·ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχεται εἶναι.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Εὔμαι’, ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος θυμαλγὲς ἔειπες·πῶς γὰρ δὴ τὸν ξεῖνον ἐγὼν ὑποδέξομαι οἴκῳ;αὐτὸς μὲν νέος εἰμὶ καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθαἄνδρ’ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ·μητρὶ δ’ ἐμῇ δίχα θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,ἢ αὐτοῦ παρ’ ἐμοί τε μένῃ καὶ δῶμα κομίζῃ,εὐνήν τ’ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,ἡ ἤδη ἅμ’ ἕπηται Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστοςμνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν.ἀλλ’ ἦ τοι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,δώσω δὲ ξίφος ἄμφηκες καὶ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,πέμψω δ’ ὅππῃ μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύειεἰ δ’ ἐθέλεις, σὺ κόμισσον ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσιν ἐρύξας·εἵματα δ’ ἐνθάδ’ ἐγὼ πέμψω καὶ σῖτον ἅπανταἔδμεναι, ὡς ἂν μή σε κατατρύχῃ καὶ ἑταίρους.κεῖσε δ’ ἂν οὔ μιν ἐγώ γε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἐῷμιἔρχεσθαι· λίην γὰρ ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·μή μιν κερτομέωσιν, ἐμοὶ δ’ ἄχος ἔσσεται αἱνόν.πρῆξαι δ’ ἀργαλέον τι μετὰ πλεόνεσσιν ἐόνταἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.Τὸν δ’ αὗτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·ὦ φίλ’, ἐπεί θήν μοι καὶ ἀμείψασθαι θέμις ἐστίν,ἢ μάλα μευ καταδάπτετ’ ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ,οἷά φατε μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθαιἐν μεγάροις, ἀέκητι σέθεν τοιούτου ἐόντος.εἰπέ μοι ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶἐχθαίρουσ’ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ,ἦ τι κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφεαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρμαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.αἱ γὰρ ἐγὼν οὕτω νέος εἴην τῷδ’ ἐπὶ θυμῷ,ἢ πάϊς ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἠὲ καὶ αὐτὸςἔλθοι ἀλητεύων· ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα·αὐτίκ’ ἔπειτ’ ἀπ’ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς,εἶ μὴ ἐγὼ κείνοισι κακὸν πάντεσσι γενοίμηνἐλθὼν ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.εἰ δ’ αὖ με πληθυῖ δαμασαίατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,βουλοίμην κ’ ἐν ἐμοῖσι κατακτάμενος μεγάροισιτεθνάμεν ἣ τάδε γ’ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργ’ ὁράασθαι,ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκαςῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά,καὶ οἶνον διαφυσσόμενον, καὶ σῖτον ἔδονταςμὰψ αὔτως, ἀτέλεστον, ἀνηνύστῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ’ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.οὔτε τί μοι πᾶς δῆμος ἀπεχθόμενος χαλεπαίνει,οὔτε κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφομαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρμαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.ὧδε γὰρ ἡμετέρην γενεὴν μούνωσε Κρονίων·μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε,μοῦνον δ’ αὖτ’ Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςμοῦνον ἔμ’ ἐν μεγάροισι τεκὼν λίπεν οὐδ’ ἀπόνητο.τῷ νῦν δυσμενέες μάλα μυρίοι εἴδ’ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,ἠδ’ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσι,τόσσοι μητέρ’ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.ἡ δ’ οὔτ’ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴνποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντεςοἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.ἀλλ’ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·ἄττα, σὺ δ’ ἔρχεο θᾶσσον, ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃεἴφ’ ὅτι οἱ σῶς εἰμι καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθα.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μενέω, σὺ δὲ δεῦρο νέεσθαι,οἴη ἀπαγγείλας· τῶν δ’ ἄλλων μή τις Ἀχαιῶνπευθέσθω· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.ἀλλ’ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,ἦ καὶ Λαέρτῃ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἄγγελος ἔλθωδυσμόρῳ, ὃς τῆος μὲν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγ’ ἀχεύωνἔργα τ’ ἐποπτεύεσκε μετὰ δμώων τ’ ἐνὶ οἴκῳπῖνε καὶ ἦσθ’, ὅτε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγοι·αὐτὰρ νῦν, ἐξ οὗ σύ γε οἴχεο νηὶ Πύλονδε,οὔ πώ μίν φασιν φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν αὔτως,οὐδ’ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἰδεῖν, ἀλλὰ στοναχῇ τε γόῳ τεἧσται ὀδυρόμενος, φθινύθει δ’ ἀμφ’ ὀστεόφι χρώς.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·ἄλγιον, ἀλλ’ ἔμπης μιν ἐάσομεν, ἀχνύμενοί περ’εἰ γάρ πως εἴη αὐτάγρετα πάντα βροτοῖσι,πρῶτόν κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑλοίμεθα νόστιμον ἦμαρ.ἀλλὰ σύ γ’ ἀγγείλας ὀπίσω κίε, μηδὲ κατ’ ἀγροὺςπλάζεσθαι μετ’ ἐκεῖνον· ἀτὰρ πρὸς μητέρα εἰπεῖνἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὀτρυνέμεν ὅττι τάχιστακρύβδην· κείνη γάρ κεν ἀπαγγείλειε γέροντι.Ἦ ῥα καὶ ὦρσε συφορβόν’ ὁ δ’ εἵλετο χερσὶ πέδιλα,δησάμενος δ’ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πόλινδ’ ἴεν. οὐδ’ ἄρ’ Ἀθήνηνλῆθεν ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο κιὼν Εὔμαιος ὑφορβός,ἀλλ’ ἥ γε σχεδὸν ἦλθε· δέμας δ’ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶκαλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ.στῆ δὲ κατ’ ἀντίθυρον κλισίης Ὀδυσῆϊ φανεῖσα·οὐδ’ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἴδεν ἀντίον οὐδ’ ἐνόησεν,οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς,ἀλλ’ Ὀδυσεύς τε κύνες τε ἴδον, καί ῥ’ οὐχ ὑλάοντο,κνυζηθμῷ δ’ ἑτέρωσε διὰ σταθμοῖο φόβηθεν.ἡ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε’ νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,ἐκ δ’ ἦλθεν μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,στῆ δὲ πάροιθ’ αὐτῆς· τὸν δὲ προσέειπεν Ἀθήνη·διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν’ Ὀδυσσεῦ,ἤδη νῦν σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδ’ ἐπίκευθε,ὡς ἂν μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρ’ ἀραρόντεἔρχησθον προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν· οὐδ’ ἐγὼ αὐτὴδηρὸν ἀπὸ σφῶϊν ἔσομαι μεμαυῖα μάχεσθαι.Ἦ καὶ χρυσείῃ ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατ’ Ἀθήνη.φᾶρος μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἐϊὐπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶναθῆκ’ ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι, δέμας δ’ ὥφελλε καὶ ἥβην.ἂψ δὲ μελαγχροιὴς γένετο, γναθμοὶ δὲ τάνυσθεν,κυάνεαι δ’ ἐγένοντο γενειάδες ἀμφὶ γένειον.ἡ μὲν ἄρ’ ὡς ἔρξασα πάλιν κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· θάμβησε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,ταρβήσας δ’ ἑτέρωσε βάλ’ ὄμματα μὴ θεὸς εἴη,καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηΐδα·ἀλλοῖός μοι, ξεῖνε, φάνης νέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν,ἄλλα δὲ εἵματ’ ἔχεις, καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθ’ ὁμοῖος.ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν·ἀλλ’ ἵληθ’, ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρα, τετυγμένα· φείδεο δ’ ἡμέων.Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·οὔ τίς τοι θεός εἰμι· τί μ’ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐΐσκεις;ἀλλὰ πατὴρ τεός εἰμι, τοῦ εἵνεκα σὺ στεναχίζωνπάσχεις ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας υἱὸν κύσε, κὰδ δὲ παρειῶνδάκρυον ἧκε χαμᾶζε· πάρος δ’ ἔχε νωλεμὲς αἰεί.Τηλέμαχος δ’, οὐ γάρ πω ἐπείθετο ὃν πατέρ’ εἶναι,ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·οὐ σύ γ’ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἀλλά με δαίμωνθέλγει, ὄφρ’ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω.οὐ γάρ πως ἂν θνητὸς ἀνὴρ τάδε μηχανόῳτοᾧ αὐτοῦ γε νόῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼνῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη νέον ἠὲ γέροντα.ἡ γάρ τοι νέον ἦσθα γέρων καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσο·νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικας, οἱ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·Τηλέμαχ’, οὔ σε ἔοικε φίλον πατέρ’ ἔνδον ἐόνταοὔτε τι θαυμάζειν περιώσιον οὔτ’ ἀγάασθαι·οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτ’ ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ’ Ὀδυσσεύς,ἀλλ’ ὅδ’ ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δ’ ἀληθείς,ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης,ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γάρ,ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δ’ αὗτεἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροὶ εἵματ’ ἔχοντι.ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι.Ὃς ἄρα φωνήσας κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο, Τηλέμαχος δὲἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρ’ ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο, δάκρυα λείβων.ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφ’ ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἁδινώτερον ἤ τ’ οἰωνοί,φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκναἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι·ὡς ἄρα τοί γ’ ἐλεεινὸν ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβον.καί νύ κ’ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρ’ αἷψα·ποίῃ γὰρ νῦν δεῦρο, πάτερ φίλε, νηΐ σε ναῦταιἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδ’ ἱκέσθαι.Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.Φαίηκές μ’ ἄγαγον ναυσίκλυτοι, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλουςἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται·καί μ’ εὔδοντ’ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντεςκάτθεσαν εἰς Ἰθάκην, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θ’ ὑφαντήν.καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται·νῦν αὖ δεῦρ’ ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.ἀλλ’ ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον,ὄφρα ἰδέω ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί·καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξαςφράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθ’ ἀντιφέρεσθαιμούνω ἄνευθ’ ἄλλων, ἡ καὶ διζησόμεθ’ ἄλλους.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·ὦ πάτερ, ἢ τοι σεῖο μέγα κλέος αἰὲν ἄκουον,χεῖράς τ’ αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν·ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μ’ ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴηἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.μνηστήρων δ’ οὔτ’ ἃρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύ’ οἷαι,ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δ’ εἴσεαι ἐνθάδ’ ἀριθμόν.ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντακοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἐξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται·ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρες καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν,ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,ἐκ δ’ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι,καί σφιν ἅμ’ ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸςκαὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.τῶν εἴ κεν πάντων ἀντήσομεν ἔνδον ἐόντων,μὴ σολύπικρα καὶ αἰνὰ βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών.ἀλλὰ σύ γ’, εἰ δύνασαί τιν’ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ.Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·καὶ φράσαι ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶἀρκέσει, ἦέ τιν’ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.Τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·ἐσθλώ τοι τούτω γ’ ἐπαμύντορε, τοὺς ἀγορεύεις,ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὦ τε καὶ ἄλλοιςἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθονφυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖνἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται ΓΑρηος.ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμ’ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινοἴκαδε, καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει,πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.εἰ δέ μ’ ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα, σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρτετλάτω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο,ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δῶμα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζεἢ βέλεσιν βάλχωσί σὺ δ’ εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.ἀλλ’ ἢ τοι παύεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν· οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τιπείσονται· δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ’ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ, σὺ δ’ ἔπειτα νοήσαςὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀρήϊα τεύχεα κεῖταιἐς μυχὸν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείραςπάντα μάλ’· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσιπαρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκ’, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκειοἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,ἀλλὰ κατήκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετ’ ἀὐτμή.πρὸς δ’ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτακαὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.νῶϊν δ’ οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρεκαλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα’ τοὺς δέ κ’ ἔπειταΠαλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ’ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·εἰ ἐτεόν γ’ ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέροιο,μή τις ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος,μήτ’ οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτηςμήτε τις οἰκήων μήτ’ αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια,ἀλλ’ οἷοι σύ τ’ ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώομεν ἰθύν·καί κέ τεο δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθεῖμεν,ἡμὲν ὅπου τις νῶϊ τίει καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,ἠδ’ ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σὲ δ’ ἀτιμᾷ τοῖον ἐόντα.Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτά γ’, ὀΐω,γνώσεαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μ’ ἔχουσιν·ἀλλ’ οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος ἐγὼν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐωἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.δηθὰ γὰρ αὔτως εἴσῃ ἑκάστου πειρητίζων,ἔργα μετερχόμενος· τοὶ δ’ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἕκηλοιχρήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδ’ ἔπι φειδώ.ἀλλ’ ἢ τοί σε γυναῖκας ἐγὼ δεδάασθαι ἄνωγα,αἵ τέ σ’ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἱ νηλίτιδές εἰσιν·ἀνδρῶν δ’ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατὰ σταθμοὺς ἐθέλοιμιἡμέας πειράζειν, ἀλλ’ ὕστερα ταῦτα πένεσθαι,εἰ ἐτεόν γέ τι οἶσθα Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.Ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,ἡ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτ’ Ἰθάκηνδε κατήγετο νηῦς εὐεργής,ἣ φέρε Τηλέμαχον Πυλόθεν καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους.οἱ δ’ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπ’ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,τεύχεα δέ σφ’ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες,αὐτίκα δ’ ἐς Κλυτίοιο φέρον περικαλλέα δῶρα.αὐτὰρ κήρυκα πρόεσαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,οὕνεκα Τηλέμαχος μὲν ἐπ’ ἀγροῦ, νῆα δ’ ἀνώγειἄστυδ’ ἀποπλείειν, ἵνα μὴ δείσασ’ ἐνὶ θυμῷἰφθίμη βασίλεια τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβοι.τὼ δὲ συναντήτην κῆρυξ καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸςτῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκ’ ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί.ἀλλ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἵκοντο δόμον θείου βασιλῆος,κῆρυξ μέν ῥα μέσῃσι μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·ἤδη τοι, βασίλεια, φίλος πάϊς εἰλήλουθε.Πηνελοπείῃ δ’ εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰςπάνθ’ ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,βῆ ῥ’ ἴμεναι μεθ’ ὕας, λίπε δ’ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.Μνηστῆρες δ’ ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τ’ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,ἐκ δ’ ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.τοῖσιν δ’ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἄρχ’ ἀγορεύειν·ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως τετέλεσταιΤηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε. φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.ἀλλ’ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,ἐς δ’ ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστακείνοις ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἵκόνδε νέεσθαι.Οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθ’, ὅτ’ ἄρ’ Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.ἡδὺ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷς ἑτάροισι·μή τιν’ ἔτ’ ἀγγελίην ὀτρύνομεν· οἵδε γὰρ ἔνδον.ἤ τίς σφιν τόδ’ ἔειπε θεῶν, ἢ ἔσιδον αὐτοὶνῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δ’ οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπ’ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,τεύχεα δέ σφ’ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.αὐτοὶ δ’ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, οὐδέ τιν’ ἄλλονεἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.τοῖσιν δ’ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·ὦ πόποι, ὡς τόνδ’ ἄνδρα θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν.ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἴζον ἐπ’ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσαςαἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι’ ἅμα δ’ ἠελίῳ καταδύντιοὔ ποτ’ ἐπ’ ἠπείρου νύκτ’ ἄσαμεν, ἀλλ’ ἐνὶ πόντῳνηὶ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθίσωμεν ἑλόντεςαὐτόν· τὸν δ’ ἄρα τῆος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων.ἡμεῖς δ’ ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρονΤηλεμάχῳ, μηδ’ ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐωτούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,λαοὶ δ’ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφ’ ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.ἀλλ’ ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺςεἰς ἀγορήν—οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,ἀλλ’ ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δ’ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστὰςοὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδ’ ἐκίχημεν·οἱ δ’ οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἡμέας ἐξελάσωσιγαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δ’ ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον·ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπ’ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληοςἢ ἐν ὁδῷ· βίοτον δ’ αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματ’ ἔχωμεν,δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφ’ ἡμέας, οἰκία δ’ αὗτεκείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδ’ ὅς τις ὀπυίοι.εἰ δ’ ὑμῖν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθεαὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,μή οἱ χρήματ’ ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέ ἔδωμενἐνθάδ’ ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλ’ ἐκ μεγάροιο ἕκαστοςμνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κ’ ἔπειταγήμαιθ’ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.τοῖσιν δ’ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε,Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος,ὅς ῥ’ ἐκ Δουλιχίου πολυπύρου ποιήεντοςἡγεῖτο μνηστῆρσι, μάλιστα δὲ Πηνελοπείῃἥνδανε μύθοισι· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητ’ ἀγαθῇσιν·ὅ σφιν ἐὐφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατακτείνειν ἐθέλοιμιΤηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστικτείνειν· ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.εἰ μέν κ’ αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τ’ ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·εἰ δέ κ’ ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί, παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.Ὣς ἔφατ’ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δ’ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.αὐτίκ’ ἔπειτ’ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.Ἡ δ’ αὖτ’ ἄλλ’ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.βῆ δ’ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,Ἀντίνοον δ’ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζεν·Ἀντίνο’, ὕβριν ἔχων, κακομήχανε, καὶ δέ σέ φασινἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθ’ ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστονβουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· σὺ δ’ οὐκ ἄρα τοῖος ἔησθα.μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τεῥάπτεις, οὐδ’ ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺςμάρτυρος; οὐδ’ ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.ἦ οὐκ οἶσθ’ ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,δῆμον ὑποδείσας; δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην,οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισινἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς· οἱ δ’ ἡμῖν ἄρθμιοι ἧσαν.τόν ῥ’ ἔθελον φθῖσαι καὶ ἀπορραῖσαι φίλον ἧτορἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέα πολλήν·ἀλλ’ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳ δὲ γυναῖκαπαῖδά τ’ ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲ μεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·ἀλλά σε παύσασθαι κέλομαι καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.Τὴν δ’ αὖτ’ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.οὐκ ἔσθ’ οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδ’ ἔσσεται οὐδὲ γένηται,ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ σῷ υἱέϊ χεῖρας ἐποίσειζώοντός γ’ ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο.ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺςπολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸνἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ἐπέσχε τε οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.τῷ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστινἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατον τρομέεσθαι ἄνωγαἔκ γε μνηστήρων· θεόθεν δ’ οὐκ ἔστ’ ἀλέασθαι.Ὣς φάτο θαρσύνων, τῷ δ’ ἤρτυεν αὐτὸς ὄλεθρον.ἡ μὲν ἄρ’ εἰσαναβᾶσ’ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντακλαῖεν ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνονἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.τ Ἑσπέριος δ’ Ὀδυσῆϊ καὶ υἱέϊ δῖος ὑφορβὸςἤλυθεν· οἱ δ’ ἄρα δόρπον ἐπισταδὸν ὁπλίζοντο,σῦν ἱερεύσαντες ἐνιαύσιον. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνηἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆαῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα πάλιν ποίησε γέροντα,λυγρὰ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε περὶ χροΐ, μή ἑ συβώτηςγνοίη ἐσάντα ἰδὼν καὶ ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃἔλθοι ἀπαγγέλλων μηδὲ φρεσὶν εἰρύσσαιτο.Τὸν καὶ Τηλέμαχος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ἦλθες, δ Εὔμαιε. τί δὴ κλέος ἔστ’ ἀνὰ ἄστυ;ἦ ῥ’ ἤδη μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἔνδον ἔασινἐκ λόχου, ἢ ἔτι μ’ αὖτ’ εἰρύαται οἴκαδ’ ἰόντα; ἪΤὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·οὐκ ἔμελέν μοι ταῦτα μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαιἄστυ καταβλώσκοντα’ τάχιστά με θυμὸς ἀνώγειἀγγελίην εἰπόντα πάλιν δεῦρ’ ἀπονέεσθαι.ὡμήρησε δέ μοι παρ’ ἑταίρων ἄγγελος ὠκύς,κῆρυξ, ὃς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν.ἄλλο δέ τοι τό γε οἶδα· τὸ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.ἤδη ὑπὲρ πόλιος, ὅθι Ἕρμαιος λόφος ἐστίν,ἦα κιών, ὅτε νῆα θοὴν ἰδόμην κατιοῦσανἐς λιμέν’ ἡμέτερον· πολλοὶ δ’ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ,βεβρίθει δὲ σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι·καὶ σφέας ὠΐσθην τοὺς ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ τι οἶδα.Ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δ’ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιοἐς πατέρ’ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών, ἀλέεινε δ’ ὑφορβόν.Οἱ δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,δαίνυντ’, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,κοίτου τε μνήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.
English
Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and were were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up, the dogs did not bark but fawned upon him, so Ulysses, hearing the sound of feet and noticing that the dogs did not bark, said to Eumaeus:
“Eumaeus, I hear footsteps; I suppose one of your men or some one of your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning upon him and not barking.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at the door. Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bowls in which he was mixing wine fell from his hands, as he made towards his master. He kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes, and wept for joy. A father could not be more delighted at the return of an only son, the child of his old age, after ten years’ absence in a foreign country and after having gone through much hardship. He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him saying:
“So you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going to see you any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, that I may have a good look at you now you are home again; it is not very often you come into the country to see us herdsmen; you stick pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think it better to keep an eye on what the suitors are doing.”
“So be it, old friend,” answered Telemachus, “but I am come now because I want to see you, and to learn whether my mother is still at her old home or whether some one else has married her, so that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with cobwebs.”
“She is still at the house,” replied Eumaeus, “grieving and breaking her heart, and doing nothing but weep, both night and day continually.”
As he spoke he took Telemachus’ spear, whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him; “Sit down, stranger,” said he, “I can easily find another seat, and there is one here who will lay it for me.”
Ulysses went back to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swineherd brought them platters of cold meat, the remains from what they had eaten the day before, and he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could. He mixed wine also in bowls of ivy-wood, and took his seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemachus said to Eumaeus, “Old friend, where does this stranger come from? How did his crew bring him to Ithaca, and who were they?—for assuredly he did not come here by land.”
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, “My son, I will tell you the real truth. He says he is a Cretan, and that he has been a great traveller. At this moment he is running away from a Thesprotian ship, and has taken refuge at my station, so I will put him into your hands. Do whatever you like with him, only remember that he is your suppliant.”
“I am very much distressed,” said Telemachus, “by what you have just told me. How can I take this stranger into my house? I am as yet young, and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me. My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and look after the house out of respect for public opinion and the memory of her husband, or whether the time is now come for her to take the best man of those who are wooing her, and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer; still, as the stranger has come to your station I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he wants to go. Or if you like you can keep him here at the station, and I will send him clothes and food that he may be no burden on you and on your men; but I will not have him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent, and are sure to ill treat him in a way that would greatly grieve me; no matter how valiant a man may be he can do nothing against numbers, for they will be too strong for him.”
Then Ulysses said, “Sir, it is right that I should say something myself. I am much shocked about what you have said about the insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite of such a man as you are. Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely, or has some god set your people against you? May you not complain of your brothers—for it is to these that a man may look for support, however great his quarrel may be? I wish I were as young as you are and in my present mind; if I were son to Ulysses, or, indeed, Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came and cut my head off, but I would go to the house and be the bane of every one of these men. If they were too many for me—I being single-handed—I would rather die fighting in my own house than see such disgraceful sights day after day, strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread wasted all to no purpose for an end that shall never be accomplished.”
And Telemachus answered, “I will tell you truly everything. There is no enmity between me and my people, nor can I complain of brothers, to whom a man may look for support however great his quarrel may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons. Laertes was the only son of Arceisius, and Ulysses only son of Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses who left me behind him when he went away, so that I have never been of any use to him. Hence it comes that my house is in the hands of numberless marauders; for the chiefs from all the neighbouring islands, Dulichium, Same, Zacynthus, as also all the principal men of Ithaca itself, are eating up my house under the pretext of paying court to my mother, who will neither say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, so they are making havoc of my estate, and before long will do so with myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests with heaven. But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos. Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here without letting any one else know, for there are many who are plotting mischief against me.”
“I understand and heed you,” replied Eumaeus; “you need instruct me no further, only as I am going that way say whether I had not better let poor Laertes know that you are returned. He used to superintend the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink at will along with his servants; but they tell me that from the day on which you set out for Pylos he has neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do, nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones.”
“More’s the pity,” answered Telemachus, “I am sorry for him, but we must leave him to himself just now. If people could have everything their own way, the first thing I should choose would be the return of my father; but go, and give your message; then make haste back again, and do not turn out of your way to tell Laertes. Tell my mother to send one of her women secretly with the news at once, and let him hear it from her.”
Thus did he urge the swineherd; Eumaeus, therefore, took his sandals, bound them to his feet, and started for the town. Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came up to it in the form of a woman—fair, stately, and wise. She stood against the side of the entry, and revealed herself to Ulysses, but Telemachus could not see her, and knew not that she was there, for the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody. Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they did not bark, but went scared and whining off to the other side of the yards. She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows; whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main wall of the yards. Then she said to him:
“Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you to tell your son: do not keep him in the dark any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of the suitors, and then make for the town. I will not be long in joining you, for I too am eager for the fray.”
As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand. First she threw a fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders; then she made him younger and of more imposing presence; she gave him back his colour, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard become dark again. Then she went away and Ulysses came back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon a god.
“Stranger,” said he, “how suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment or two ago. You are dressed differently and your colour is not the same. Are you some one or other of the gods that live in heaven? If so, be propitious to me till I can make you due sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me.”
And Ulysses said, “I am no god, why should you take me for one? I am your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of lawless men.”
As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now. But Telemachus could not yet believe that it was his father, and said:
“You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter; no mortal man could of himself contrive to do as you have been doing, and make yourself old and young at a moment’s notice, unless a god were with him. A second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you are like some god come down from heaven.”
Ulysses answered, “Telemachus, you ought not to be so immeasurably astonished at my being really here. There is no other Ulysses who will come hereafter. Such as I am, it is I, who after long wandering and much hardship have got home in the twentieth year to my own country. What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for she can do what she pleases. At one moment she makes me like a beggar, and the next I am a young man with good clothes on my back; it is an easy matter for the gods who live in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor.”
As he spoke he sat down, and Telemachus threw his arms about his father and wept. They were both so much moved that they cried aloud like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that have been robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they weep, and the sun would have gone down upon their mourning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, “In what ship, my dear father, did your crew bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves to be—for you cannot have come by land?”
“I will tell you the truth, my son,” replied Ulysses. “It was the Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great sailors, and are in the habit of giving escorts to any one who reaches their coasts. They took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze, gold, and raiment. These things by heaven’s mercy are lying concealed in a cave, and I am now come here on the suggestion of Minerva that we may consult about killing our enemies. First, therefore, give me a list of the suitors, with their number, that I may learn who, and how many, they are. I can then turn the matter over in my mind, and see whether we two can fight the whole body of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to help us.”
To this Telemachus answered, “Father, I have always heard of your renown both in the field and in council, but the task you talk of is a very great one: I am awed at the mere thought of it; two men cannot stand against many and brave ones. There are not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over; you shall learn their number at once. There are fifty-two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants; from Same there are twenty-four; twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well born. They have with them a servant Medon, a bard, and two men who can carve at table. If we face such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to rue your coming, and your revenge. See whether you cannot think of some one who would be willing to come and help us.”
“Listen to me,” replied Ulysses, “and think whether Minerva and her father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to try and find some one else as well.”
“Those whom you have named,” answered Telemachus, “are a couple of good allies, for though they dwell high up among the clouds they have power over both gods and men.”
“These two,” continued Ulysses, “will not keep long out of the fray, when the suitors and we join fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home early to-morrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before. Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them ill treating me, steel your heart against my sufferings; even though they drag me feet foremost out of the house, or throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably; but they will not listen to you, for the day of their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart; when Minerva shall put it in my mind, I will nod my head to you, and on seeing me do this you must collect all the armour that is in the house and hide it in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you are removing it; say that you have taken it to be out of the way of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled and begrimed with soot. Add to this more particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each other some harm which may disgrace both banquet and wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them. But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself and me, and a couple of oxhide shields so that we can snatch them up at any moment; Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is also another matter; if you are indeed my son and my blood runs in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within the house—neither Laertes, nor yet the swineherd, nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let you and me exploit the women alone, and let us also make trial of some other of the men servants, to see who is on our side and whose hand is against us.”
“Father,” replied Telemachus, “you will come to know me by and by, and when you do you will find that I can keep your counsel. I do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn out well for either of us. Think it over. It will take us a long time to go the round of the farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. Prove the women by all means, to see who are disloyal and who guiltless, but I am not in favour of going round and trying the men. We can attend to that later on, if you really have some sign from Jove that he will support you.”
Thus did they converse, and meanwhile the ship which had brought Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When they had come inside the harbour they drew the ship on to the land; their servants came and took their armour from them, and they left all the presents at the house of Clytius. Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the town to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both on the same errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the House, the servant stood up and said to the queen in the presence of the waiting women, “Your son, Madam, is now returned from Pylos”; but Eumaeus went close up to Penelope, and said privately all that her son had bidden him tell her. When he had given his message he left the house with its outbuildings and went back to his pigs again.
The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so they went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court, and held a council near the main entrance. Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak.
“My friends,” said he, “this voyage of Telemachus’s is a very serious matter; we had made sure that it would come to nothing. Now, however, let us draw a ship into the water, and get a crew together to send after the others and tell them to come back as fast as they can.”
He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place and saw the ship inside the harbour, with the crew lowering her sails, and putting by their oars; so he laughed, and said to the others, “We need not send them any message, for they are here. Some god must have told them, or else they saw the ship go by, and could not overtake her.”
On this they rose and went to the water side. The crew then drew the ship on shore; their servants took their armour from them, and they went up in a body to the place of assembly, but they would not let any one old or young sit along with them, and Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke first.
“Good heavens,” said he, “see how the gods have saved this man from destruction. We kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long, and when the sun was down we never went on shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night till morning in the hope of capturing and killing him; but some god has conveyed him home in spite of us. Let us consider how we can make an end of him. He must not escape us; our affair is never likely to come off while he is alive, for he is very shrewd, and public feeling is by no means all on our side. We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in assembly; he will lose no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us, and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him, but failed to take him. The people will not like this when they come to know of it; we must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from our own country into exile. Let us try and lay hold of him either on his farm away from the town, or on the road hither. Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and let his mother and the man who marries her have the house. If this does not please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on and hold his father’s property, then we must not gather here and eat up his goods in this way, but must make our offers to Penelope each from his own house, and she can marry the man who will give the most for her, and whose lot it is to win her.”
They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak. He was the son of Nisus, who was son to king Aretias, and he was foremost among all the suitors from the wheat-growing and well grassed island of Dulichium; his conversation, moreover, was more agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors, for he was a man of good natural disposition. “My friends,” said he, speaking to them plainly and in all honestly, “I am not in favour of killing Telemachus. It is a heinous thing to kill one who is of noble blood. Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help to kill him myself, and will urge everyone else to do so; but if they dissuade us, I would have you hold your hands.”
Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well, so they rose forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, where they took their accustomed seats.
Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors. She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Medon had overheard their counsels and had told her; she went down therefore to the court attended by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the cloister holding a veil before her face, and rebuked Antinous saying:
“Antinous, insolent and wicked schemer, they say you are the best speaker and counsellor of any man your own age in Ithaca, but you are nothing of the kind. Madman, why should you try to compass the death of Telemachus, and take no heed of suppliants, whose witness is Jove himself? It is not right for you to plot thus against one another. Do you not remember how your father fled to this house in fear of the people, who were enraged against him for having gone with some Taphian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were at peace with us? They wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were infuriated, and now you devour his property without paying for it, and break my heart by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son. Leave off doing so, and stop the others also.”
To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered, “Take heart, Queen Penelope daughter of Icarius, and do not trouble yourself about these matters. The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall lay hands upon your son Telemachus, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth. I say—and it shall surely be—that my spear shall be reddened with his blood; for many a time has Ulysses taken me on his knees, held wine up to my lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have, and has nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course, if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot escape it.” He said this to quiet her, but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus.
Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till Minerva shed sleep over her eyes. In the evening Eumaeus got back to Ulysses and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old and were helping one another to get supper ready; Minerva therefore came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old man with a stroke of her wand, and clad him in his old clothes again, for fear that the swineherd might recognise him and not keep the secret, but go and tell Penelope.
Telemachus was the first to speak. “So you have got back, Eumaeus,” said he. “What is the news of the town? Have the suitors returned, or are they still waiting over yonder, to take me on my way home?”
“I did not think of asking about that,” replied Eumaeus, “when I was in the town. I thought I would give my message and come back as soon as I could. I met a man sent by those who had gone with you to Pylos, and he was the first to tell the news to your mother, but I can say what I saw with my own eyes; I had just got on to the crest of the hill of Mercury above the town when I saw a ship coming into harbour with a number of men in her. They had many shields and spears, and I thought it was the suitors, but I cannot be sure.”
On hearing this Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that Eumaeus could not see him.
Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.