As soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus, bound beneath his feet his fair sandals and took his mighty spear, that fitted his grasp, hasting to the city; and he spoke to his swineherd, saying: “Father, I verily am going to the city, that my mother may see me, for, methinks, she will not cease from woeful wailing and tearful lamentation until she sees my very self. But to thee I give this charge.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλαΤηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει,ἄστυδε ἱέμενος, καὶ ἑὸν προσέειπε συβώτην·ἄττʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν εἶμʼ ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρα με μήτηρὄψεται· οὐ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν παύσεσθαι ὀΐωκλαυθμοῦ τε στυγεροῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος,πρίν γʼ αὐτόν με ἴδηται· ἀτὰρ σοί γʼ ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλω.
Lead this wretched stranger to the city, that there he may beg his food, and whoso will shall give him a loaf and a cup of water. For my part, I can in no wise burden myself with all men, seeing that I have grief at heart. But if the stranger is sore angered at this, it will be the worse for him. I verily love to speak the truth.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him, and said: “Friend, be sure I am not myself fain to be left here. For a beggar it is better to beg his food in the town than in the fields, and whoso will shall give it me.
τὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον ἄγʼ ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐκεῖθιδαῖτα πτωχεύῃ· δώσει δέ οἱ ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιπύρνον καὶ κοτύλην· ἐμὲ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἅπανταςἀνθρώπους ἀνέχεσθαι, ἔχοντά περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ·ὁ ξεῖνος δʼ εἴ περ μάλα μηνίει, ἄλγιον αὐτῷἔσσεται· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοὶ φίλʼ ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·ὦ φίλος, οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐρύκεσθαι μενεαίνω·πτωχῷ βέλτερόν ἐστι κατὰ πτόλιν ἠὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺςδαῖτα πτωχεύειν· δώσει δέ μοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.
For I am no more of an age to remain at the farmstead, so as to obey in all things the command of an overseer. Nay, go thy way; this man that thou biddest will lead me as soon as I have warmed myself at the fire, and the sun has grown hot. For miserably poor are these garments which I wear, and I fear lest the morning frost may overcome me; and ye say it is far to the city.” So he spoke, and Telemachus passed out through the farmstead with rapid strides, and was sowing the seeds of evil for the wooers. But when he came to the stately house he set his spear in place, leaning it against a tall pillar, and himself went in and crossed the threshold of stone. Him the nurse Eurycleia was far the first to see, as she was spreading fleeces on the richly-wrought chairs. With a burst of tears she came straight toward him, and round about them gathered the other maids of Odysseus of the steadfast heart, and they kissed his head and shoulders in loving welcome. Then forth from her chamber came wise Penelope, like unto Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and bursting into tears she flung her arms about her dear son, and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes; and with wailing she spoke to him winged words: “Thou art come, Telemachus, sweet light of my eyes; I thought I should never see thee more after thou hadst gone in thy ship to Pylos—secretly, and in my despite, to seek tidings of thy dear father. Come, then, tell me what sight thou hadst of him.”
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ σταθμοῖσι μένειν ἔτι τηλίκος εἰμί,ὥστʼ ἐπιτειλαμένῳ σημάντορι πάντα πιθέσθαι.ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ· ἐμὲ δʼ ἄξει ἀνὴρ ὅδε, τὸν σὺ κελεύεις,αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί κε πυρὸς θερέω ἀλέη τε γένηται.αἰνῶς γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἔχω κακά· μή με δαμάσσῃστίβη ὑπηοίη· ἕκαθεν δέ τε ἄστυ φάτʼ εἶναι.ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὰ σταθμοῖο βεβήκει,κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρήν,αὐτὸς δʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρώτη εἶδε τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,κώεα καστορνῦσα θρόνοις ἔνι δαιδαλέοισι,δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰθὺς κίεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλαιδμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠγερέθοντο,καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους.ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ,ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε δακρύσασα,κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά,καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος. οὔ σʼ ἔτʼ ἐγώ γεὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδελάθρη, ἐμεῦ ἀέκητι, φίλου μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
Then wise Telemachus answered her: “My mother, stir not lamentation, I pray thee, nor rouse the heart in my breast, seeing that I am escaped from utter destruction. Nay, bathe thyself, and take clean raiment for thy body, and then, going to thy upper chamber with thy handmaids, vow to all the gods that thou wilt offer hecatombs that bring fulfillment, in the hope that Zeus may some day bring deeds of requital to pass. But I will go to the place of assembly that I may bid to our house a stranger who followed me from Pylos on my way hither. Him I sent forward with my godlike comrades, and I bade Peiraeus take him home and give him kindly welcome, and show him honor until I should come.” So he spoke, but her word remained unwinged. Then she bathed and took clean raiment for her body, and vowed to all the gods that she would offer hecatombs that bring fulfillment, in the hope that Zeus would some day bring deeds of requital to pass. But Telemachus thereafter went forth through the hall with his spear in his hand, and with him went two swift hounds. And wondrous was the grace that Athena shed upon him, and all the people marvelled at him as he came.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·μῆτερ ἐμή, μή μοι γόον ὄρνυθι μηδέ μοι ἦτορἐν στήθεσσιν ὄρινε φυγόντι περ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶνεὔχεο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβαςῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα καλέσσωξεῖνον, ὅτις μοι κεῖθεν ἅμʼ ἕσπετο δεῦρο κιόντι.τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προὔπεμψα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι,Πείραιον δέ μιν ἠνώγεα προτὶ οἶκον ἄγονταἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,εὔχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβαςῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκειἔγχος ἔχων· ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη·τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο.
Round about him the proud wooers thronged, speaking him fair, but pondering evil in the deep of their hearts. Howbeit he avoided the great throng of these men, but where Mentor sat, and Antiphus, and Halitherses, who were friends of his father's house of old, there he went and sat down, and they questioned him of each thing. Then Peiraeus, the famous spearman, drew near, leading the stranger through the city to the place of assembly; and Telemachus did not long turn away from his guest, but went up to him. Then Peiraeus was the first to speak, saying:
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἠγερέθοντοἔσθλʼ ἀγορεύοντες, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον.αὐτὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν ἔπειτα ἀλεύατο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,ἀλλʼ ἵνα Μέντωρ ἧστο καὶ Ἄντιφος ἠδʼ Ἁλιθέρσης,οἵ τε οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώϊοι ἦσαν ἑταῖροι,ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἰών· τοὶ δʼ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα.τοῖσι δὲ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἦλθενξεῖνον ἄγων ἀγορήνδε διὰ πτόλιν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴνΤηλέμαχος ξείνοιο ἑκὰς τράπετʼ, ἀλλὰ παρέστη.τὸν καὶ Πείραιος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
“Telemachus, quickly send women to my house, that I may send to thee the gifts which Menelaus gave thee.” Then wise Telemachus answered him: “Peiraeus, we know not how these things will be. If the proud wooers shall secretly slay me in my hall, and divide among them all the goods of my fathers, I would that thou shouldest keep and enjoy these things thyself rather than one of these. But if I shall sow for them the seeds of death and fate, then do thou bring all to my house gladly, as I shall be glad.” So saying, he led the sore-tired stranger to the house.
Τηλέμαχʼ, αἶψʼ ὄτρυνον ἐμὸν ποτὶ δῶμα γυναῖκας,ὥς τοι δῶρʼ ἀποπέμψω, ἅ τοι Μενέλαος ἔδωκε.τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Πείραιʼ, οὐ γάρ τʼ ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.εἴ κεν ἐμὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἐν μεγάροισιλάθρη κτείναντες πατρώϊα πάντα δάσωνται,αὐτὸν ἔχοντά σε βούλομʼ ἐπαυρέμεν, ἤ τινα τῶνδε·εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύσω,δὴ τότε μοι χαίροντι φέρειν πρὸς δώματα χαίρων.ὣς εἰπὼν ξεῖνον ταλαπείριον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον.
Now when they had come to the stately house they laid their cloaks on the chairs and high seats, and went into the polished baths and bathed. And when the maids had bathed them and anointed them with oil, and had cast about them fleecy cloaks and tunics, they came forth from the baths and sat down upon the chairs. Then a handmaid brought water for the hands in a fair pitcher of gold, and poured it over a silver basin for them to wash, and beside them drew up a polished table. And the grave housewife brought and set before them bread, and therewith meats in abundance, granting freely of her store. And his mother sat over against Telemachus by the door-post of the hall, leaning against a chair and spinning fine threads of yarn. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, the wise Penelope spoke first among them: “Telemachus, I truly will go to my upper chamber and lay me on my bed, which has become for me a bed of wailing, ever wet with my tears, since the day when Odysseus set forth with the sons of Atreus for Ilios. But thou tookest no care, before the proud wooers come into this house, to tell me plainly of the return of thy father, if haply thou heardest aught.” And wise Telemachus answered her: “Then verily, mother, I will tell thee all the truth. We went to Pylos and to Nestor, the shepherd of the people, and he received me in his lofty house and gave me kindly welcome, as a father might his own son who after a long time had newly come from a far: even so kindly he tended me with his glorious sons. Yet of Odysseus of the steadfast heart, whether living or dead, he said he had heard naught from any man on earth. But he sent me on my way with horses and jointed car to Menelaus, son of Atreus, the famous spearman. There I saw Argive Helen, for whose sake Argives and Trojans toiled much by the will of the gods.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,ἐς δʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθων βάντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι καθῖζον.χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσακαλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.μήτηρ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζε παρὰ σταθμὸν μεγάροιοκλισμῷ κεκλιμένη, λέπτʼ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσα.οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον,αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσαλέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺςᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ μοι ἔτλης,πρὶν ἐλθεῖν μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐς τόδε δῶμα,νόστον σοῦ πατρὸς σάφα εἰπέμεν, εἴ που ἄκουσας.τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.ᾠχόμεθʼ ἔς τε Πύλον καὶ Νέστορα, ποιμένα λαῶν·δεξάμενος δέ με κεῖνος ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισινἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει, ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ἑὸν υἱὸνἐλθόντα χρόνιον νέον ἄλλοθεν· ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνοςἐνδυκέως ἐκόμιζε σὺν υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος οὔ ποτʼ ἔφασκεν,ζωοῦ οὐδὲ θανόντος, ἐπιχθονίων τευ ἀκοῦσαι·ἀλλά μʼ ἐς Ἀτρεΐδην, δουρικλειτὸν Μενέλαον,ἵπποισι προὔπεμψε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.ἔνθʼ ἴδον Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλὰἈργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν.
And straightway Menelaus, good at the war-cry, asked me in quest of what I had come to goodly Lacedaemon; and I told him all the truth. Then he made answer to me, and said: “‘Out upon them! for verily in the bed of a man of valiant heart were they fain to lie, who are themselves cravens. Even as when in the thicket-lair of a mighty lion a hind has laid to sleep her new-born suckling fawns, and roams over the mountain slopes and grassy vales seeking pasture, and then the lion comes to his lair and upon the two lets loose a cruel doom, so will Odysseus let loose a cruel doom upon these men. I would, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, that in such strength, as when once in fair-stablished Lesbos he rose up and wrestled a match with Philomeleides and threw him mightily, and all the Achaeans rejoiced, even in such strength Odysseus might come among the wooers; then should they all find swift destruction and bitterness in their wooing. But in this matter of which thou dost ask and entreat me, verily I will not swerve aside to speak of other things, nor will I deceive thee; but of all that the unerring old man of the sea told me, not one thing will I hide from thee or conceal. He said that he had seen Odysseus in an island in grievous distress, in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who keeps him there perforce. And he cannot come to his own native land, for he has at hand no ships with oars, and no comrades, to send him on his way over the broad back of the sea.’ “So spoke Menelaus, son of Atreus, the famous spearman. Now when I had made an end of all this I set out for home, and the immortals gave me a fair wind and brought me quickly to my dear native land.”
εἴρετο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαοςὅττευ χρηΐζων ἱκόμην Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν·αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῷ πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατέλεξα·καὶ τότε δή με ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι, ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντοςνεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺςκνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήενταβοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ποτʼ ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γεἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδὸν οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσηςὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος.ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρονἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
So he spoke, and stirred the heart in her breast. Then among them spoke also the godlike Theoclymenus, saying: “Honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes, he truly has no clear understanding; but do thou hearken to my words, for with certain knowledge will I prophesy to thee, and will hide naught.
ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε.τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,ἦ τοι ὅ γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδεν, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·ἀτρεκέως γάρ σοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω·
Be my witness Zeus above all gods, and this hospitable board and the hearth of noble Odysseus to which I am come, that verily Odysseus is even now in his native land, resting or moving, learning of these evil deeds, and he is sowing the seeds of evil for all the wooers.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζαἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,ὡς ἦ τοι Ὀδυσεὺς ἤδη ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ,ἥμενος ἢ ἕρπων, τάδε πευθόμενος κακὰ ἔργα,ἔστιν, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει·
So plain a bird of omen did I mark as I sat on the benched ship, and I declared it to Telemachus.” Then wise Penelope answered him: “Ah, stranger, I would that this word of thine might be fulfilled. Then shouldest thou straightway know of kindness and many a gift from me, so that one who met thee would call the blessed.” Thus they spoke to one another. And the wooers meanwhile in front of the palace of Odysseus were making merry, throwing the discus and the javelin in a levelled place, as their wont was, in insolence of heart.
τοῖον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸςἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶραἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιοδίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες,ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
But when it was the hour for dinner, and the flocks came in from all sides from the fields, and the men led them who were wont to lead, then Medon, who of all the heralds was most to their liking and was ever present at their feasts, spoke to them, saying: “Youths, now that you have all made glad your hearts with sport, come to the house that we may make ready a feast; for it is no bad thing to take one's dinner in season.” So he spoke, and they rose up and went, and hearkened to his word. And when they had come to the stately house they laid their cloaks on the chairs and high seats, and men fell to slaying great sheep and fat goats, aye, and fatted and swine, and a heifer of the herd, and so made ready the meal. But Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were making haste to go from the field to the city; and the swineherd, a leader of men, spoke first, and said:
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλαπάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δʼ ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ,καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλισταἥνδανε κηρύκων, καί σφιν παρεγίγνετο δαιτί·κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα·οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην,δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι. τοὶ δʼ ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδεὠτρύνοντʼ Ὀδυσεύς τʼ ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
“Stranger, since thou art eager to go the city today, as my master bade—though for myself I would rather have thee left here to keep the farmstead; but I reverence and fear him, lest hereafter he chide me, and hard are the rebukes of masters— come now, let us go. The day is far spent, and soon thou wilt find it colder toward evening.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him, and said: “I see, I give heed; this thou biddest one with understanding. Come, let us go, and be thou my guide all the way.
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδʼ ἰέναι μενεαίνειςσήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός—ἦ σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γεαὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι·ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσωνεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τʼ ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί—ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλισταἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.
But give me a staff to lean upon, if thou hast one cut anywhere, for verily ye said that the way was treacherous.” He spoke, and flung about his shoulders his miserable wallet, full of holes, slung by a twisted cord, and Eumaeus gave him a staff to his liking.
δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστίν,σκηρίπτεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φατʼ ἀρισφαλέʼ ἔμμεναι οὐδόν.ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ·Εὔμαιος δʼ ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.
So they two set forth, and the dogs and the herdsmen stayed behind to guard the farmstead; but the swineherd led his master to the city in the likeness of a woeful and aged beggar, leaning on a staff; and miserable was the raiment that he wore about his body. But when, as they went along the rugged path, they were near the city, and had come to a well-wrought, fair-flowing fountain, wherefrom the townsfolk drew water—this Ithacus had made, and Neritus, and Polyctor, and around was a grove of poplars, that grow by the waters, circling it on all sides, and down the cold water flowed from the rock above, and on the top was built an altar to the nymphs where all passers-by made offerings—there Melantheus, son of Dolius, met them as he was driving his she-goats, the best that were in all the herds, to make a feast for the wooers; and two herdsmen followed with him.
τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρεςῥύατʼ ὄπισθε μένοντες· ὁ δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακταπτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσανἄστεος ἐγγὺς ἔσαν καὶ ἐπὶ κρήνην ἀφίκοντοτυκτὴν καλλίροον, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται,τὴν ποίησʼ Ἴθακος καὶ Νήριτος ἠδὲ Πολύκτωρ·ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αἰγείρων ὑδατοτρεφέων ἦν ἄλσος,πάντοσε κυκλοτερές, κατὰ δὲ ψυχρὸν ῥέεν ὕδωρὑψόθεν ἐκ πέτρης· βωμὸς δʼ ἐφύπερθε τέτυκτονυμφάων, ὅθι πάντες ἐπιρρέζεσκον ὁδῖται·ἔνθα σφέας ἐκίχανʼ υἱὸς Δολίοιο Μελανθεὺςαἶγας ἄγων, αἳ πᾶσι μετέπρεπον αἰπολίοισι,δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι· δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.
As he saw them, he spoke and addressed them, and reviled them in terrible and unseemly words, and stirred the heart of Odysseus: “Lo, now, in very truth the vile leads the vile. As ever, the god is bringing like and like together. Whither, pray, art thou leading this filthy wretch, thou miserable swineherd, this nuisance of a beggar to mar our feasts? He is a man to stand and rub his shoulders on many doorposts, begging for scraps, not for swords or cauldrons. If thou wouldest give me this fellow to keep my farmstead, to sweep out the pens and to carry young shoots to the kids, then by drinking whey he might get himself a sturdy thigh. But since he has learned only deeds of evil, he will not care to busy himself with work, but is minded rather to go skulking through the land, that by begging he may feed his insatiate belly. But I will speak out to thee, and this word shall verily be brought to pass.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν,ἔκπαγλον καὶ ἀεικές· ὄρινε δὲ κῆρ Ὀδυσῆος·νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ κακὸς κακὸν ἡγηλάζει,ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον.πῇ δὴ τόνδε μολοβρὸν ἄγεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,πτωχὸν ἀνιηρόν δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρα;ὃς πολλῇς φλιῇσι παραστὰς θλίψεται ὤμους,αἰτίζων ἀκόλους, οὐκ ἄορας οὐδὲ λέβητας·τόν κʼ εἴ μοι δοίης σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα γενέσθαισηκοκόρον τʼ ἔμεναι θαλλόν τʼ ἐρίφοισι φορῆναι,καί κεν ὀρὸν πίνων μεγάλην ἐπιγουνίδα θεῖτο.ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθεν, οὐκ ἐθελήσειἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσων κατὰ δῆμονβούλεται αἰτίζων βόσκειν ἣν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
If he comes to the palace of divine Odysseus, many a footstool, hurled about his head by the hands of those that are men, shall be broken on his ribs as he is pelted through the house.” So he spoke, and as he passed he kicked Odysseus on the hip in his folly, yet he did not drive him from the path, but he stood steadfast. And Odysseus pondered whether he should leap upon him and take his life with his staff, or seize him round about, and lift him up, and dash his head upon the ground. Yet he endured, and stayed him from his purpose. And the swineherd looked the man in the face, and rebuked him, and lifted up his hands, and prayed aloud:
αἴ κʼ ἔλθῃ πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,πολλά οἱ ἀμφὶ κάρη σφέλα ἀνδρῶν ἐκ παλαμάωνπλευραὶ ἀποτρίψουσι δόμον κάτα βαλλομένοιο.ὣς φάτο, καὶ παριὼν λὰξ ἔνθορεν ἀφραδίῃσινἰσχίῳ· οὐδέ μιν ἐκτὸς ἀταρπιτοῦ ἐστυφέλιξεν,ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀσφαλέως· ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεὺςἠὲ μεταΐξας ῥοπάλῳ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο,ἦ πρὸς γῆν ἐλάσειε κάρη ἀμφουδὶς ἀείρας.ἀλλʼ ἐπετόλμησε, φρεσὶ δʼ ἔσχετο· τὸν δὲ συβώτηςνείκεσʼ ἐσάντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
“Nymphs of the fountain, daughters of Zeus, if ever Odysseus burned upon your altars pieces of the thighs of lambs or kids, wrapped in rich fat, fulfil for me this prayer; grant that he, my master, may come back, and that some god may guide him. Then would he scatter all the proud airs which now thou puttest on in thy insolence, ever roaming about the city, while evil herdsmen destroy the flock.” Then Melanthius, the goatherd, answered him: “Lo now, how the cur talks, his mind full of mischief. Him will I some day take on a black, benched ship far from Ithaca, that he may bring me in much wealth. Would that Apollo, of the silver bow, might smite Telemachus to-day in the halls, or that he might be slain by the wooers, as surely as for Odysseus in a far land the day of return has been lost.” So saying, he left them there, as they walked slowly on, but himself strode forward and right swiftly came to the palace of the king. Straightway he entered in and sat down among the wooers over against Eurymachus, for he loved him best of all. Then by him those that served set a portion of meat, and the grave housewife brought and set before him bread, for him to eat. And Odysseus and the goodly swineherd halted as they drew nigh, and about them rang the sound of the hollow lyre, for Phemius was striking the chords to sing before the wooers. Then Odysseus clasped the swineherd by the hand, and said: “Eumaeus, surely this is the beautiful house of Odysseus. Easily might it be known, though seen among many. There is building upon building, and the court is built with wall and coping, and the double gates are well-fenced; no man may scorn it. And I mark that in the house itself many men are feasting: for the savour of meat arises from it, and therewith resounds the voice of the lyre, which the gods have made the companion of the feast.” To him then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer, and say: “Easily hast thou marked it, for in all things thou art ready of wit. But come, let us take thought how these things shall be.
νύμφαι κρηναῖαι, κοῦραι Διός, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςὔμμʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηε, καλύψας πίονι δημῷ,ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων, τόδε μοι κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·τῷ κέ τοι ἀγλαΐας γε διασκεδάσειεν ἁπάσας,τὰς νῦν ὑβρίζων φορέεις, ἀλαλήμενος αἰεὶἄστυ κάτʼ· αὐτὰρ μῆλα κακοὶ φθείρουσι νομῆες.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·ὢ πόποι, οἷον ἔειπε κύων ὀλοφώϊα εἰδώς,τόν ποτʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνηςἄξω τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης, ἵνα μοι βίοτον πολὺν ἄλφοι.αἲ γὰρ Τηλέμαχον βάλοι ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλωνσήμερον ἐν μεγάροις, ἢ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσι δαμείη,ὡς Ὀδυσῆΐ γε τηλοῦ ἀπώλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ ἦκα κιόντας,αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα δόμους ἵκανεν ἄνακτος.αὐτίκα δʼ εἴσω ἴεν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι καθῖζεν,ἀντίον Εὐρυμάχου· τὸν γὰρ φιλέεσκε μάλιστα.τῷ πάρα μὲν κρειῶν μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο,σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσαἔδμεναι. ἀγχίμολον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸςστήτην ἐρχομένω, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθʼ ἰωὴφόρμιγγος γλαφυρῆς· ἀνὰ γάρ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἀείδεινΦήμιος· αὐτὰρ ὁ χειρὸς ἑλὼν προσέειπε συβώτην·Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα δὴ τάδε δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος,ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.ἐξ ἑτέρων ἕτερʼ ἐστίν, ἐπήσκηται δέ οἱ αὐλὴτοίχῳ καὶ θριγκοῖσι, θύραι δʼ εὐερκέες εἰσὶδικλίδες· οὐκ ἄν τίς μιν ἀνὴρ ὑπεροπλίσσαιτο.γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐν αὐτῷ δαῖτα τίθενταιἄνδρες, ἐπεὶ κνίση μὲν ἀνήνοθεν, ἐν δέ τε φόρμιγξἠπύει, ἣν ἄρα δαιτὶ θεοὶ ποίησαν ἑταίρην.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·ῥεῖʼ ἔγνως, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τά τʼ ἄλλα πέρ ἐσσʼ ἀνοήμων.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
Either do thou go first into the stately palace, and enter the company of the wooers, and I will remain behind here, or, if thou wilt, remain thou here and I will go before thee. But do not thou linger long, lest some man see thee without and pelt thee or smite thee. Of this I bid thee take thought.”
ἠὲ σὺ πρῶτος ἔσελθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,δύσεο δὲ μνηστῆρας, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ·εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον, ἐγὼ δʼ εἶμι προπάροιθε·μηδὲ σὺ δηθύνειν, μή τίς σʼ ἔκτοσθε νοήσαςἢ βάλῃ ἢ ἐλάσῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
Then the much-enduring, goodly Odysseus answered him: “I see, I give heed: this thou biddest one with understanding. But go thou before, and I will remain behind here; for no whit unused am I to blows and peltings. Staunch is my heart, for much evil have I suffered amid the waves and in war; let this too be added to what has gone before. But a ravening belly may no man hide, an accursed plague that brings many evils upon men. Because of it are the benched ships also made ready, that bear evil to foemen over the unresting sea.”
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ προπάροιθεν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ.οὐ γάρ τι πληγέων ἀδαήμων οὐδὲ βολάων·τολμήεις μοι θυμός, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπονθακύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω·γαστέρα δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἀποκρύψαι μεμαυῖαν,οὐλομένην, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσι,τῆς ἕνεκεν καὶ νῆες ἐΰζυγοι ὁπλίζονταιπόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φέρουσαι.
Thus they spoke to one another. And a hound that lay there raised his head and pricked up his ears, Argos, the hound of Odysseus, of the steadfast heart, whom of old he had himself bred, but had no joy of him, for ere that he went to sacred Ilios. In days past the young men were wont to take the hound to hunt the wild goats, and deer, and hares; but now he lay neglected, his master gone, in the deep dung of mules and cattle, which lay in heaps before the doors, till the slaves of Odysseus should take it away to dung his wide lands.
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·ἂν δὲ κύων κεφαλήν τε καὶ οὔατα κείμενος ἔσχεν,Ἄργος, Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸςθρέψε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο, πάρος δʼ εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴνᾤχετο. τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρεςαἶγας ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρας ἠδὲ πρόκας ἠδὲ λαγωούς·δὴ τότε κεῖτʼ ἀπόθεστος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,ἐν πολλῇ κόπρῳ, ἥ οἱ προπάροιθε θυράωνἡμιόνων τε βοῶν τε ἅλις κέχυτʼ, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἄγοιενδμῶες Ὀδυσσῆος τέμενος μέγα κοπρήσοντες·
There lay the hound Argos, full of vermin; yet even now, when he marked Odysseus standing near, he wagged his tail and dropped both his ears, but nearer to his master he had no longer strength to move. Then Odysseus looked aside and wiped away a tear, easily hiding from Eumaeus what he did; and straightway he questioned him, and said: “Eumaeus, verily it is strange that this hound lies here in the dung. He is fine of form, but I do not clearly know whether he has speed of foot to match this beauty or whether he is merely as table-dogs are, which their masters keep for show.” To him then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer and say: “Aye, verily this is the hound of a man that has died in a far land. If he were but in form and in action such as he was when Odysseus left him and went to Troy, thou wouldest soon be amazed at seeing his speed and his strength. No creature that he started in the depths of the thick wood could escape him, and in tracking too he was keen of scent. But now he is in evil plight, and his master has perished far from his native land, and the heedless women give him no care.
ἔνθα κύων κεῖτʼ Ἄργος, ἐνίπλειος κυνοραιστέων.δὴ τότε γʼ, ὡς ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσέα ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,οὐρῇ μέν ῥʼ ὅ γʼ ἔσηνε καὶ οὔατα κάββαλεν ἄμφω,ἆσσον δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα δυνήσατο οἷο ἄνακτοςἐλθέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὁ νόσφιν ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ,ῥεῖα λαθὼν Εὔμαιον, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐρεείνετο μύθῳ·Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα θαῦμα, κύων ὅδε κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ κόπρῳ.καλὸς μὲν δέμας ἐστίν, ἀτὰρ τόδε γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα,εἰ δὴ καὶ ταχὺς ἔσκε θέειν ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ τῷδε,ἦ αὔτως οἷοί τε τραπεζῆες κύνες ἀνδρῶνγίγνοντʼ· ἀγλαΐης δʼ ἕνεκεν κομέουσιν ἄνακτες.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·καὶ λίην ἀνδρός γε κύων ὅδε τῆλε θανόντος.εἰ τοιόσδʼ εἴη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργα,οἷόν μιν Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,αἶψά κε θηήσαιο ἰδὼν ταχυτῆτα καὶ ἀλκήν.οὐ μὲν γάρ τι φύγεσκε βαθείης βένθεσιν ὕληςκνώδαλον, ὅττι δίοιτο· καὶ ἴχνεσι γὰρ περιῄδη·νῦν δʼ ἔχεται κακότητι, ἄναξ δέ οἱ ἄλλοθι πάτρηςὤλετο, τὸν δὲ γυναῖκες ἀκηδέες οὐ κομέουσι.