Slaves, when their masters lose their power, are no longer minded thereafter to do honest service: for Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, takes away half his worth from a man, when the day of slavery comes upon him.” So saying, he entered the stately house and went straight to the hall to join the company of the lordly wooers. But as for Argos, the fate of black death seized him straightway when he had seen Odysseus in the twentieth year. Now as the swineherd came through the hall godlike Telemachus was far the first to see him, and quickly with a nod he called him and to his side. And Eumaeus looked about him and took a stool that lay near, on which the carver was wont to sit when carving for the wooers the many joints of meat, as they feasted in the hall. This he took and placed at the table of Telemachus, over against him, and there sat down himself. And a herald took a portion of meat and set it before him, and bread from out the basket. Night after him Odysseus entered the palace in the likeness of a woeful and aged beggar, leaning on a staff, and miserable was the raiment that he wore about his body. He sat down upon the ashen threshold within the doorway, leaning against a post of cypress wood, which of old a carpenter had skilfully planed, and made straight to the line. Then Telemachus called the swineherd to him, and, taking a whole loaf from out the beautiful basket, and all the meat his hands could hold in their grasp, spoke to him saying:
δμῶες δʼ, εὖτʼ ἂν μηκέτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες,οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἐναίσιμα ἐργάζεσθαι·ἥμισυ γάρ τʼ ἀρετῆς ἀποαίνυται εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςἀνέρος, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κατὰ δούλιον ἦμαρ ἕλῃσιν.ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς μεγάροιο μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς.Ἄργον δʼ αὖ κατὰ μοῖρʼ ἔλαβεν μέλανος θανάτοιο,αὐτίκʼ ἰδόντʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴςἐρχόμενον κατὰ δῶμα συβώτην, ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτανεῦσʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας· ὁ δὲ παπτήνας ἕλε δίφρονκείμενον, ἔνθα τε δαιτρὸς ἐφίζεσκε κρέα πολλὰδαιόμενος μνηστῆρσι δόμον κάτα δαινυμένοισι·τὸν κατέθηκε φέρων πρὸς Τηλεμάχοιο τράπεζανἀντίον, ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸς ἐφέζετο· τῷ δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξμοῖραν ἑλὼν ἐτίθει κανέου τʼ ἐκ σῖτον ἀείρας.ἀγχίμολον δὲ μετʼ αὐτὸν ἐδύσετο δώματʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιος ἠδὲ γέροντι,σκηπτόμενος· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροΐ εἵματα ἕστο.ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ μελίνου οὐδοῦ ἔντοσθε θυράων,κλινάμενος σταθμῷ κυπαρισσίνῳ, ὅν ποτε τέκτωνξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας προσέειπε συβώτην,ἄρτον τʼ οὖλον ἑλὼν περικαλλέος ἐκ κανέοιοκαὶ κρέας, ὥς οἱ χεῖρες ἐχάνδανον ἀμφιβαλόντι·
“Take, and give this mess to yon stranger, and bid him go about himself and beg of the wooers one and all. Shame is no good comrade for a man that is in need.” So he spoke, and the swineherd went, when he had heard this saying, and coming up to Odysseus spoke to him winged words:
δὸς τῷ ξείνῳ ταῦτα φέρων αὐτόν τε κέλευεαἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·αἰδὼς δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κεχρημένῳ ἀνδρὶ παρεῖναι.ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν,ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·
“Stranger, Telemachus gives thee these, and bids thee go about and beg of the wooers one and all. Shame, he says, is no good thing in a beggar man.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him, and said, “King Zeus, grant, I pray thee, that Telemachus may be blest among men, and may have all that his heart desires.” He spoke, and took the mess in both his hands and set it down there before his feet on his miserable wallet. Then he ate so long as the minstrel sang in the halls. But when he had dined and the divine minstrel was ceasing to sing, the wooers broke into uproar throughout the halls; but Athena drew close to the side of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and roused him to go among the wooers and gather bits of bread, and learn which of them were righteous and which lawless. Yet even so she was not minded to save one of them from ruin.
Τηλέμαχός τοι, ξεῖνε, διδοῖ τάδε, καί σε κελεύειαἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·αἰδῶ δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθήν φησʼ ἔμμεναι ἀνδρὶ προΐκτῃ.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·Ζεῦ ἄνα, Τηλέμαχόν μοι ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιον εἶναι,καί οἱ πάντα γένοιθʼ ὅσσα φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκεναὖθι ποδῶν προπάροιθεν, ἀεικελίης ἐπὶ πήρης,ἤσθιε δʼ ἧος ἀοιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄειδεν·εὖθʼ ὁ δεδειπνήκειν, ὁ δʼ ἐπαύετο θεῖος ἀοιδός.μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρʼ. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,ἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆαὤτρυνʼ, ὡς ἂν πύρνα κατὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγείροι,γνοίη θʼ οἵ τινές εἰσιν ἐναίσιμοι οἵ τʼ ἀθέμιστοι·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς τινʼ ἔμελλʼ ἀπαλεξήσειν κακότητος.
So he set out to beg of every man, beginning on the right, stretching out his hand on every side, as though he had been long a beggar. And they pitied him and gave, and marvelled at him, asking one another who he was and whence he came. Then among them spoke Melanthius, the goatherd:
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν αἰτήσων ἐνδέξια φῶτα ἕκαστον,πάντοσε χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων, ὡς εἰ πτωχὸς πάλαι εἴη.οἱ δʼ ἐλεαίροντες δίδοσαν, καὶ ἐθάμβεον αὐτόν,ἀλλήλους τʼ εἴροντο τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι.τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
“Hear me, wooers of the glorious queen, regarding this stranger, for verily I have seen him before. Truly it was the swineherd that led him hither, but of the man himself I know not surely from whence he declares his birth to be.” So he spoke, and Antinous rebuked the swineherd, saying:
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,τοῦδε περὶ ξείνου· ἦ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν ὄπωπα.ἦ τοι μέν οἱ δεῦρο συβώτης ἡγεμόνευεν,αὐτὸν δʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα, πόθεν γένος εὔχεται εἶναι.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔπεσιν νείκεσσε συβώτην·
“Notorious swineherd, why, pray, didst thou bring this man to the city? Have we not vagabonds enough without him, nuisances of beggars to mar our feast? Dost thou not think it enough that they gather here and devour the substance of thy master, that thou dost bid this fellow too?”
ὦ ἀρίγνωτε συβῶτα, τίη δὲ σὺ τόνδε πόλινδεἤγαγες; ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ἧμιν ἀλήμονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι,πτωχοὶ ἀνιηροί, δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρες;ἦ ὄνοσαι ὅτι τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν ἄνακτοςἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, σὺ δὲ καὶ προτὶ τόνδʼ ἐκάλεσσας;
To him then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer, and say: “Antinous, no fair words are these thou speakest, noble though thou art. Who pray, of himself ever seeks out and bids a stranger from abroad, unless it be one of those that are masters of some public craft, a prophet, or a healer of ills, or a builder, aye, or a divine minstrel, who gives delight with his song? For these men are bidden all over the boundless earth. Yet a beggar would no man bid to be burden to himself. But thou art ever harsh above all the wooers to the slaves of Odysseus, and most of all to me; yet I care not, so long as my lady, the constant Penelope, lives in the hall, and godlike Telemachus.” Then wise Telemachus answered him: “Be silent: do not, I bid thee, answer yonder man with many words, for Antinous is wont ever in evil wise to provoke to anger with harsh words, aye, and urges on the others too.” With this he spoke winged words to Antinous: “Antinous, truly thou carest well for me, as a father for his son, seeing that thou biddest me drive yonder stranger from the hall with a word of compulsion. May the god never bring such a thing to pass.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις·τίς γὰρ δὴ ξεῖνον καλεῖ ἄλλοθεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼνἄλλον γʼ, εἰ μὴ τῶν οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασι,μάντιν ἢ ἰητῆρα κακῶν ἢ τέκτονα δούρων,ἢ καὶ θέσπιν ἀοιδόν, ὅ κεν τέρπῃσιν ἀείδων;οὗτοι γὰρ κλητοί γε βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν·πτωχὸν δʼ οὐκ ἄν τις καλέοι τρύξοντα ἓ αὐτόν.ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπὸς περὶ πάντων εἶς μνηστήρωνδμωσὶν Ὀδυσσῆος, πέρι δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοί· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γεοὐκ ἀλέγω, ἧός μοι ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπειαζώει ἐνὶ μεγάροις καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·σίγα, μή μοι τοῦτον ἀμείβεο πολλὰ ἔπεσσιν·Ἀντίνοος δʼ εἴωθε κακῶς ἐρεθιζέμεν αἰεὶμύθοισιν χαλεποῖσιν, ἐποτρύνει δὲ καὶ ἄλλους.ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἀντίνοον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ μευ καλὰ πατὴρ ὣς κήδεαι υἷος,ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωγας ἀπὸ μεγάροιο διέσθαιμύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειε.
Nay, take and give him somewhat: I begrudge it not, but rather myself bid thee give. In this matter regard not my mother, no, nor any of the slaves that are in the house of divine Odysseus. But verily far other is the thought in thy breast; for thou art far more fain thyself to eat than to give to another.”
δός οἱ ἑλών· οὔ τοι φθονέω· κέλομαι γὰρ ἐγώ γε·μήτʼ οὖν μητέρʼ ἐμὴν ἅζευ τό γε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλονδμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·αὐτὸς γὰρ φαγέμεν πολὺ βούλεαι ἢ δόμεν ἄλλῳ.
Then Antinous answered him, and said: “Telemachus, thou braggart, unrestrained in daring, what a thing hast thou said! If all the wooers would but hand him as much as I, for full three months' space this house would keep him at a distance.” So he spoke, and seized the footstool on which he was wont to rest his shining feet as he feasted, and shewed it from beneath the table, where it lay. But all the rest gave gifts, and filled the wallet with bread and bits of meat. And now Odysseus was like to have gone back again to the threshold, and to have made trial of the Achaeans without cost, but he paused by Antinous, and spoke to him, saying:
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·Τηλέμαχʼ ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, ποῖον ἔειπες.εἴ οἱ τόσσον ἅπαντες ὀρέξειαν μνηστῆρες,καί κέν μιν τρεῖς μῆνας ἀπόπροθεν οἶκος ἐρύκοι.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν ὑπέφηνε τραπέζηςκείμενον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἔπεχεν λιπαροὺς πόδας εἰλαπινάζων·οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες δίδοσαν, πλῆσαν δʼ ἄρα πήρηνσίτου καὶ κρειῶν· τάχα δὴ καὶ ἔμελλεν Ὀδυσσεὺςαὖτις ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν προικὸς γεύσεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν·στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἀντίνοον, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
“Friend, give me some gift; thou seemest not in my eyes to be the basest of the Achaeans, but rather the noblest, for thou art like a king. Therefore it is meet that thou shouldest give even a better portion of bread than the rest; so would I make thy fame known all over the boundless earth. For I too once dwelt in a house of my own among men, a rich man in a wealthy house, and full often I gave gifts to a wanderer, whosoever he was and with whatsoever need he came. Slaves too I had past counting, and all other things in abundance whereby men live well and are reputed wealthy. But Zeus, son of Cronos, brought all to naught—so, I ween, was his good pleasure— who sent me forth with roaming pirates to go to Egypt, a far voyage, that I might meet my ruin; and in the river Aegyptus I moored my curved ships. Then verily I bade my trusty comrades to remain there by the ships and to guard the ships, and I sent out scouts to go to places of outlook. But my comrades, yielding to wantonness and led on by their own might, straightway set about wasting the fair fields of the men of Egypt; and they carried off the women and little children, and slew the men; and the cry came quickly to the city.
δός, φίλος· οὐ μέν μοι δοκέεις ὁ κάκιστος Ἀχαιῶνἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὤριστος, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆϊ ἔοικας.τῷ σε χρὴ δόμεναι καὶ λώϊον ἠέ περ ἄλλοισίτου· ἐγὼ δέ κέ σε κλείω κατʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιονὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι ἄλλα τε πολλὰοἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων—ἤθελε γάρ που—ὅς μʼ ἅμα ληϊστῆρσι πολυπλάγκτοισιν ἀνῆκενΑἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδόν, ὄφρʼ ἀπολοίμην.στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρουςαὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι.οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺςπόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.
Then, hearing the shouting, the people came forth at break of day, and the whole plain was filled with footmen and chariots and the flashing of bronze. And Zeus, who hurls the thunderbolt, cast an evil panic upon my comrades, and none had courage to take his stand and face the foe; for evil surrounded us on every side.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππωνχαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνοςφύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτληστῆναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
So then they slew many of us with the sharp bronze, and others they led up to their city alive, to work for them perforce. But they gave me to a friend who met them to take to Cyprus, even to Dmetor, son of Iasus, who ruled mightily over Cyprus; and from thence am I now come hither, sore distressed.”
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐς Κύπρον ξείνῳ δόσαν ἀντιάσαντι,Δμήτορι Ἰασίδῃ, ὃς Κύπρου ἶφι ἄνασσεν·ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκω πήματα πάσχων.
Then Antinous answered him, and said: “What god has brought this bane hither to trouble our feast? Stand off yonder in the midst, away from my table, lest thou come presently to a bitter Egypt and a bitter Cyprus, seeing that thou art a bold and shameless beggar.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·τίς δαίμων τόδε πῆμα προσήγαγε, δαιτὸς ἀνίην;στῆθʼ οὕτως ἐς μέσσον, ἐμῆς ἀπάνευθε τραπέζης,μὴ τάχα πικρὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ Κύπρον ἵκηαι·ὥς τις θαρσαλέος καὶ ἀναιδής ἐσσι προΐκτης.
Thou comest up to every man in turn, and they give recklessly; for there is no restraint or scruple in giving freely of another's goods, since each man has plenty beside him.” Then Odysseus of many wiles drew back, and said to him: “Lo, now, it seems that thou at least hast not wits to match thy beauty.
ἑξείης πάντεσσι παρίστασαι· οἱ δὲ διδοῦσιμαψιδίως, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις ἐπίσχεσις οὐδʼ ἐλεητὺςἀλλοτρίων χαρίσασθαι, ἐπεὶ πάρα πολλὰ ἑκάστῳ.τὸν δʼ ἀναχωρήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γʼ ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ καὶ φρένες ἦσαν·
Thou wouldest not out of thine own substance give even a grain of salt to thy suppliant, thou who now, when sitting at another's table, hadst not the heart to take of the bread and give me aught. Yet here lies plenty at thy hand.” So he spoke, and Antinous waxed the more wroth at heart, and with an angry glance from beneath his brows spoke to him winged words:
οὐ σύ γʼ ἂν ἐξ οἴκου σῷ ἐπιστάτῃ οὐδʼ ἅλα δοίης,ὃς νῦν ἀλλοτρίοισι παρήμενος οὔ τί μοι ἔτληςσίτου ἀποπροελὼν δόμεναι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πάρεστιν.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐχολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
“Now verily, methinks, thou shalt no more go forth from the hall in seemly fashion, since thou dost even utter words of reviling.” So saying, he seized the footstool and flung it, and struck Odysseus on the base of the right shoulder, where it joins the back. But he stood firm as a rock, nor did the missile of Antinous make him reel; but he shook his head in silence, pondering evil in the deep of his heart. Then back to the threshold he went and sat down, and down he laid his well-filled wallet; and he spoke among the wooers: “Hear me, wooers of the glorious queen, that I may say what the heart in my breast bids me.
νῦν δή σʼ οὐκέτι καλὰ διὲκ μεγάροιό γʼ ὀΐωἂψ ἀναχωρήσειν, ὅτε δὴ καὶ ὀνείδεα βάζεις.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον,πρυμνότατον κατὰ νῶτον· ὁ δʼ ἐστάθη ἠΰτε πέτρηἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν σφῆλεν βέλος Ἀντινόοιο,ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, κὰδ δʼ ἄρα πήρηνθῆκεν ἐϋπλείην, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπε·κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
Verily there is no pain of heart nor any grief when a man is smitten while fighting for his own possessions, whether for his cattle or for his white sheep; but Antinous has smitten me for my wretched belly's sake, an accursed plague that brings many evils upon men.
οὐ μὰν οὔτʼ ἄχος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσὶν οὔτε τι πένθος,ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ περὶ οἷσι μαχειόμενος κτεάτεσσιβλήεται, ἢ περὶ βουσὶν ἢ ἀργεννῇς ὀΐεσσιν·αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀντίνοος βάλε γαστέρος εἵνεκα λυγρῆς,οὐλομένης, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσιν.
Ah, if for beggars there are gods and avengers, may the doom of death come upon Antinous before his marriage.” Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: “Sit still, and eat, stranger, or go elsewhere; lest the young men drag thee by hand or foot through the house for words like these, and strip off all thy skin.” So he spoke, but they all were filled with exceeding indignation, and thus would one of the proud youths speak: “Antinous, thou didst not well to strike the wretched wanderer. Doomed man that thou art, what if haply he be some god come down from heaven!
ἀλλʼ εἴ που πτωχῶν γε θεοὶ καὶ Ἐρινύες εἰσίν,Ἀντίνοον πρὸ γάμοιο τέλος θανάτοιο κιχείη.τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·ἔσθιʼ ἕκηλος, ξεῖνε, καθήμενος, ἢ ἄπιθʼ ἄλλῃ,μή σε νέοι διὰ δώματʼ ἐρύσσωσʼ, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,ἢ ποδὸς ἢ καὶ χειρός, ἀποδρύψωσι δὲ πάντα.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν·ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν κάλʼ ἔβαλες δύστηνον ἀλήτην,οὐλόμενʼ, εἰ δή πού τις ἐπουράνιος θεός ἐστιν.
Aye, and the gods in the guise of strangers from afar put on all manner of shapes, and visit the cities, beholding the violence and the righteousness of men.” So spoke the wooers, but Antinous paid no heed to their words. And Telemachus nursed in his heart great grief for the smiting, though he let no tear fall from his eyelids to the ground; but he shook his head in silence, pondering evil in the deep of his heart. Howbeit when wise Penelope heard of the man's being smitten in the hall, she spoke among her handmaids, and said: “Even so may thine own self be smitten by the famed archer Apollo.”
καί τε θεοὶ ξείνοισιν ἐοικότες ἀλλοδαποῖσι,παντοῖοι τελέθοντες, ἐπιστρωφῶσι πόληας,ἀνθρώπων ὕβριν τε καὶ εὐνομίην ἐφορῶντες.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν μνηστῆρες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐν μὲν κραδίῃ μέγα πένθος ἄεξεβλημένου, οὐδʼ ἄρα δάκρυ χαμαὶ βάλεν ἐκ βλεφάροιϊν,ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.τοῦ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπειαβλημένου ἐν μεγάρῳ, μετʼ ἄρα δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·αἴθʼ οὕτως αὐτόν σε βάλοι κλυτότοξος Ἀπόλλων.
And again the housewife Eurynome said to her: “Would that fulfillment might be granted to our prayers. So should not one of these men come to the fair-throned Dawn.” And wise Penelope answered her: “Nurse, enemies are they all, for they devise evil.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·εἰ γὰρ ἐπʼ ἀρῇσιν τέλος ἡμετέρῃσι γένοιτο·οὐκ ἄν τις τούτων γε ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκοιτο.τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·μαῖʼ, ἐχθροὶ μὲν πάντες, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται·
But Antinous more than all is like black fate. Some wretched stranger roams through the house, begging alms of the men, for want compels him, and all the others filled his wallet and gave him gifts, but Antinous flung a footstool and smote him at the base of the right shoulder.”
Ἀντίνοος δὲ μάλιστα μελαίνῃ κηρὶ ἔοικε.ξεῖνός τις δύστηνος ἀλητεύει κατὰ δῶμαἀνέρας αἰτίζων· ἀχρημοσύνη γὰρ ἀνώγει·ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐνέπλησάν τʼ ἔδοσάν τε,οὗτος δὲ θρήνυι πρυμνὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον.
So she spoke among her handmaids, sitting in her chamber, while goodly Odysseus was at meat. Then she called to her the goodly swineherd, and said: “Go, goodly Eumaeus, and bid the stranger come hither, that I may give him greeting, and ask him if haply he has heard of Odysseus of the steadfast heart, or has seen him with his eyes. He seems like one that has wandered far.” To her, then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer, and say: “I would, O queen, that the Achaeans would keep silence, for he speaks such words as would charm thy very soul.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευε μετὰ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν,ἡμένη ἐν θαλάμῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδείπνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·ἡ δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσασα προσηύδα δῖον ὑφορβόν·ἔρχεο, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, κιὼν τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωχθιἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἠδʼ ἐρέωμαιεἴ που Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠὲ πέπυσταιἢ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι· πολυπλάγκτῳ γὰρ ἔοικε.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶταεἰ γάρ τοι, βασίλεια, σιωπήσειαν Ἀχαιοί·οἷʼ ὅ γε μυθεῖται, θέλγοιτό κέ τοι φίλον ἦτορ.
Three nights I had him by me, and three days I kept him in my hut, for to me first he came when he fled by stealth from a ship, but he had not yet ended the tale of his sufferings. Even as when a man gazes upon a minstrel who sings to mortals songs of longing that the gods have taught him, and their desire to hear him has no end, whensoever he sings, even so he charmed me as he sat in my hall. He says that he is an ancestral friend of Odysseus, and that he dwells in Crete, where is the race of Minos. From thence has he now come on this journey hither, ever suffering woes as he wanders on and on. And he insists that he has heard tidings of Odysseus, near at hand in the rich land of the Thesprotians and yet alive; and he is bringing many treasures to his home.” Then wise Penelope answered him: “Go, call him hither, that he may himself tell me to my face.
τρεῖς γὰρ δή μιν νύκτας ἔχον, τρία δʼ ἤματʼ ἔρυξαἐν κλισίῃ· πρῶτον γὰρ ἔμʼ ἵκετο νηὸς ἀποδράς·ἀλλʼ οὔ πω κακότητα διήνυσεν ἣν ἀγορεύων.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνὴρ ποτιδέρκεται, ὅς τε θεῶν ἒξἀείδει δεδαὼς ἔπεʼ ἱμερόεντα βροτοῖσι,τοῦ δʼ ἄμοτον μεμάασιν ἀκουέμεν, ὁππότʼ ἀείδῃ·ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἔθελγε παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι.φησὶ δʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ξεῖνος πατρώϊος εἶναι,Κρήτῃ ναιετάων, ὅθι Μίνωος γένος ἐστίν.ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκετο πήματα πάσχων,προπροκυλινδόμενος· στεῦται δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκοῦσαι,ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,ζωοῦ· πολλὰ δʼ ἄγει κειμήλια ὅνδε δόμονδε.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·ἔρχεο, δεῦρο κάλεσσον, ἵνʼ ἀντίον αὐτὸς ἐνίσπῃ.
But as for these men, let them make sport as they sit in the doorway or here in the house, since their hearts are merry. For their own possessions lie untouched in their homes, bread and sweet wine, and on these do their servants feed. But themselves throng our house day after day, slaying our oxen, and sheep, and fat goats, and keep revel and drink the flaming wine recklessly, and havoc is made of all this wealth, for there is no man here such as Odysseus was to keep ruin from the house. But if Odysseus should come and return to his native land, straightway would he with his son take vengeance on these men for their violent deeds.” So she spoke, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and all the room round about echoed wondrously. And Penelope laughed, and straightway spoke to Eumaeus winged words: “Go, pray, call the stranger here before me.
οὗτοι δʼ ἠὲ θύρῃσι καθήμενοι ἑψιαάσθων.ἢ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεί σφισι θυμὸς ἐΰφρων.αὐτῶν μὲν γὰρ κτήματʼ ἀκήρατα κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,σῖτος καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· τὰ μὲν οἰκῆες ἔδουσιν,οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄϊς καὶ πίονας αἶγας,εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον,μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,αἶψά κε σὺν ᾧ παιδὶ βίας ἀποτίσεται ἀνδρῶν.ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ μέγʼ ἔπταρεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμασμερδαλέον κονάβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἔρχεό μοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐναντίον ὧδε κάλεσσον.
Dost thou not note that my son has sneezed at all my words. Therefore shall utter death fall upon the wooers one and all, nor shall one of them escape death and the fates. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart. If I find that he speaks all things truly, I will clothe him in a cloak and tunic, fair raiment.” So she spoke, and the swineherd went when he had heard this saying; and coming up to Odysseus he spoke to him winged words: “Sir stranger, wise Penelope calls for thee, the mother of Telemachus, and her heart bids her make enquiry about her husband, though she has suffered many woes. And if she finds that thou speakest all things truly, she will clothe thee in a cloak and tunic, which thou needest most of all. As for thy food, thou shalt beg it through the land, and feed thy belly, and whoso will shall give it thee.”
οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅ μοι υἱὸς ἐπέπταρε πᾶσιν ἔπεσσι;τῷ κε καὶ οὐκ ἀτελὴς θάνατος μνηστῆρσι γένοιτοπᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·αἴ κʼ αὐτὸν γνώω νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά.ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν·ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ξεῖνε πάτερ, καλέει σε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,μήτηρ Τηλεμάχοιο· μεταλλῆσαί τί ἑ θυμὸςἀμφὶ πόσει κέλεται, καὶ κήδεά περ πεπαθυίῃ.εἰ δέ κέ σε γνώῃ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,ἕσσει σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, τῶν σὺ μάλισταχρηΐζεις· σῖτον δὲ καὶ αἰτίζων κατὰ δῆμονγαστέρα βοσκήσεις· δώσει δέ τοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
Then the much-enduring goodly Odysseus answered him: “Eumaeus, soon will I tell all the truth to the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope. For well do I know of Odysseus, and in common have we borne affliction. But I have fear of this throng of harsh wooers, whose wantonness and violence reach the iron heaven. For even now, when, as I was going through the hall doing no evil, this man struck me and hurt me, neither Telemachus nor any other did aught to ward off the blow. Wherefore now bid Penelope to wait in the halls, eager though she be, till set of sun; and then let her ask me of her husband regarding the day of his return, giving me a seat nearer the fire, for lo, the raiment that I wear is mean, and this thou knowest of thyself, for to thee first did I make my prayer.” So he spoke, and the swineherd went when he had heard this saying.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·Εὔμαιʼ, αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποιμικούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ·οἶδα γὰρ εὖ περὶ κείνου, ὁμὴν δʼ ἀνεδέγμεθʼ ὀϊζύν.ἀλλὰ μνηστήρων χαλεπῶν ὑποδείδιʼ ὅμιλον,τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.καὶ γὰρ νῦν, ὅτε μʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ κατὰ δῶμα κιόνταοὔ τι κακὸν ῥέξαντα βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν,οὔτε τι Τηλέμαχος τό γʼ ἐπήρκεσεν οὔτε τις ἄλλος.τῷ νῦν Πηνελόπειαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄνωχθιμεῖναι, ἐπειγομένην περ, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα·καὶ τότε μʼ εἰρέσθω πόσιος πέρι νόστιμον ἦμαρ,ἀσσοτέρω καθίσασα παραὶ πυρί· εἵματα γάρ τοιλύγρʼ ἔχω· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτός, ἐπεί σε πρῶθʼ ἱκέτευσα.ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε.
And as he passed over the threshold Penelope said to him: “Thou dost not bring him, Eumaeus. What does the wanderer mean by this? Does he fear some one beyond measure, or does he idly feel ashamed in the house? 'Tis ill for a beggar to feel shame.” To her, then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer and say:
τὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·οὐ σύ γʼ ἄγεις, Εὔμαιε· τί τοῦτʼ ἐνόησεν ἀλήτης;ἦ τινά που δείσας ἐξαίσιον ἦε καὶ ἄλλωςαἰδεῖται κατὰ δῶμα; κακὸς δʼ αἰδοῖος ἀλήτης.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
“He speaks rightly, even as any other man would deem, in seeking to shun the insolence of overweening men. But he bids thee to wait till set of sun. And for thyself, too, it is far more seemly, O queen, to speak to the stranger alone, and to hear his words.”
μυθεῖται κατὰ μοῖραν, ἅ πέρ κʼ οἴοιτο καὶ ἄλλος,ὕβριν ἀλυσκάζων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων.ἀλλά σε μεῖναι ἄνωγεν ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα.καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον, ὦ βασίλεια,οἴην πρὸς ξεῖνον φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι.
Then wise Penelope answered him: “Not without wisdom is the stranger; he divines how it may be. There are no mortal men, methinks, who in wantonness devise such wicked folly as these.” So she spoke, and the goodly swineherd departed into the throng of the wooers when he had told her all. And straightway he spoke winged words to Telemachus, holding his head close to him that the others might not hear: “Friend, I am going forth to guard the swine and all things there, thy livelihood and mine; but have thou charge of all things here.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·οὐκ ἄφρων ὁ ξεῖνος· ὀΐεται, ὥς περ ἂν εἴη·οὐ γάρ πού τινες ὧδε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπωνἀνέρες ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευεν, ὁ δʼ ᾤχετο δῖος ὑφορβὸςμνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·ὦ φίλʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄπειμι, σύας καὶ κεῖνα φυλάξων,σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν βίοτον· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
Thine own self do thou keep safe first of all, and let thy mind beware lest some ill befall thee, for many of the Achaeans are devising evil, whom may Zeus utterly destroy before harm fall on us.” Then wise Telemachus answered him: “So shall it be, father; go thy way when thou hast supped.
αὐτὸν μέν σε πρῶτα σάω, καὶ φράζεο θυμῷμή τι πάθῃς· πολλοὶ δὲ κακὰ φρονέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν,τοὺς Ζεὺς ἐξολέσειε πρὶν ἡμῖν πῆμα γενέσθαι.τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σὺ δʼ ἔρχεο δειελιήσας·
And in the morning do thou come and bring goodly victims. But all matters here shall be a care to me and to the immortals.” So he spoke, and the swineherd sat down again on the polished chair. But when he had satisfied his heart with meat and drink, he went his way to the swine, and left the courts and the hall full of banqueters. And they were making merry with dance and song, for evening had now come on.
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἱερήϊα καλά·αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μελήσει.ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου,πλησάμενος δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτοςβῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε,πλεῖον δαιτυμόνων· οἱ δʼ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇτέρποντʼ· ἤδη γὰρ καὶ ἐπήλυθε δείελον ἦμαρ.