Then shouldest thou straightway know of kindness and many a gift from me, so that one who met thee would call thee blessed. Yet in my heart I forebode it thus, even as it shall be. Neither shall Odysseus any more come home, nor shalt thou obtain a convoy hence, since there are not now in the house such masters as Odysseus was among men—as sure as ever such a man there was—to send reverend strangers on their way, and to welcome them. But still, my maidens, wash the stranger's feet and prepare his bed—bedstead and cloaks and bright coverlets—that in warmth and comfort he may come to the golden-throned Dawn.
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶραἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.ἀλλά μοι ὧδʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀΐεται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ·οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται, οὔτε σὺ πομπῆςτεύξῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐ τοῖοι σημάντορές εἰσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳοἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,ξείνους αἰδοίους ἀποπεμπέμεν ἠδὲ δέχεσθαι.ἀλλά μιν, ἀμφίπολοι, ἀπονίψατε, κάτθετε δʼ εὐνήν,δέμνια καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,ὥς κʼ εὖ θαλπιόων χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκηται.
And right early in the morning bathe him and anoint him, that in our house at the side of Telemachus he may bethink him of food as he sits in the hall. And worse shall it be for any man among them who vexes this man's soul with pain; naught thereafter shall he accomplish here, how fierce soever his wrath.
ἠῶθεν δὲ μάλʼ ἦρι λοέσσαι τε χρῖσαί τε,ὥς κʼ ἔνδον παρὰ Τηλεμάχῳ δείπνοιο μέδηταιἥμενος ἐν μεγάρῳ· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον ὅς κεν ἐκείνωντοῦτον ἀνιάζῃ θυμοφθόρος· οὐδέ τι ἔργονἐνθάδʼ ἔτι πρήξει, μάλα περ κεχολωμένος αἰνῶς.
For how shalt thou learn of me, stranger, whether I in any wise excel other women in wit and prudent counsel, if all unkempt and clad in poor raiment thou sittest at meat in my halls? Men are but short-lived. If one be himself hard, and have a hard heart, on him do all mortal men invoke woes for the time to come, while he still lives, and when he is dead all men mock at him. But if one be blameless and have a blameless heart, his fame do strangers bear far and wide among all men, and many call him a true man.”
πῶς γὰρ ἐμεῦ σύ, ξεῖνε, δαήσεαι εἴ τι γυναικῶνἀλλάων περίειμι νόον καὶ ἐπίφρονα μῆτιν,εἴ κεν ἀϋσταλέος, κακὰ εἱμένος ἐν μεγάροισινδαινύῃ; ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.ὃς μὲν ἀπηνὴς αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀπηνέα εἰδῇ,τῷ δὲ καταρῶνται πάντες βροτοὶ ἄλγεʼ ὀπίσσωζωῷ, ἀτὰρ τεθνεῶτί γʼ ἐφεψιόωνται ἅπαντες·ὃς δʼ ἂν ἀμύμων αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀμύμονα εἰδῇ,τοῦ μέν τε κλέος εὐρὺ δὶα ξεῖνοι φορέουσιπάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, πολλοί τέ μιν ἐσθλὸν ἔειπον.
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes, verily cloaks and bright coverlets became hateful in my eyes on the day when first I left behind me the snowy mountains of Crete, as I fared on my long-oared ship. Nay, I will lie, as in time past I was wont to rest through sleepless nights; for many a night have I lain upon a foul bed and waited for the bright-throned Dawn. Aye, and baths for the feet give my heart no pleasure, nor shall any woman touch my foot of all those who are serving-women in thy hall, unless there is some old, true-hearted dame who has suffered in her heart as many woes as I; such an one I would not grudge to touch my feet.” Then wise Penelope answered him again:
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,ἦ τοι ἐμοὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόενταἤχθεθʼ, ὅτε πρῶτον Κρήτης ὄρεα νιφόεντανοσφισάμην ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο,κείω δʼ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ ἀΰπνους νύκτας ἴαυον·πολλὰς γὰρ δὴ νύκτας ἀεικελίῳ ἐνὶ κοίτῃἄεσα καί τʼ ἀνέμεινα ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ δῖαν.οὐδέ τί μοι ποδάνιπτρα ποδῶν ἐπιήρανα θυμῷγίγνεται· οὐδὲ γυνὴ ποδὸς ἅψεται ἡμετέροιοτάων αἵ τοι δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασιν,εἰ μή τις γρηῦς ἔστι παλαιή, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα,ἥ τις δὴ τέτληκε τόσα φρεσὶν ὅσσα τʼ ἐγώ περ·τῇ δʼ οὐκ ἂν φθονέοιμι ποδῶν ἅψασθαι ἐμεῖο.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
“Dear stranger, never yet has a man discreet as thou, of those who are strangers from afar, come to my house as a more welcome guest, so wise and prudent are all thy words. I have an old dame with a heart of understanding in her breast, who lovingly nursed and cherished my hapless husband, and took him in her arms on the day when his mother bore him. She shall wash thy feet, weak with age though she be. Come now, wise Eurycleia, arise and wash the feet of one of like age with thy master. Even such as his are now haply the feet of Odysseus, and such his hands, for quickly do men grow old in evil fortune.” So she spoke, and the old woman hid her face in her hands and let fall hot tears, uttering words of lamentation: “Ah, woe is me, child, because of thee, for that I can do naught. Surely Zeus hated thee above all men, though thou hadst a god-fearing heart.
ξεῖνε φίλʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἀνὴρ πεπνυμένος ὧδεξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,ὡς σὺ μάλʼ εὐφραδέως πεπνυμένα πάντʼ ἀγορεύεις·ἔστι δέ μοι γρηῢς πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχουσαἣ κεῖνον δύστηνον ἐῢ τρέφεν ἠδʼ ἀτίταλλε,δεξαμένη χείρεσσʼ, ὅτε μιν πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ,ἥ σε πόδας νίψει, ὀλιγηπελέουσά περ ἔμπης.ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἀνστᾶσα, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,νίψον σοῖο ἄνακτος ὁμήλικα· καί που Ὀδυσσεὺςἤδη τοιόσδʼ ἐστὶ πόδας τοιόσδε τε χεῖρας·αἶψα γὰρ ἐν κακότητι βροτοὶ καταγηράσκουσιν.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ κατέσχετο χερσὶ πρόσωπα,δάκρυα δʼ ἔκβαλε θερμά, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·ὤ μοι ἐγὼ σέο, τέκνον, ἀμήχανος· ἦ σε περὶ Ζεὺςἀνθρώπων ἤχθηρε θεουδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντα.
For never yet did any mortal burn to Zeus, who hurls the thunderbolt, so many fat thigh-pieces or so many choice hecatombs as thou gavest him, with prayers that thou mightest reach a sleek old age and rear thy glorious son. But lo, now, from thee alone has he wholly cut off the day of thy returning.
οὐ γάρ πώ τις τόσσα βροτῶν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳπίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηʼ οὐδʼ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας,ὅσσα σὺ τῷ ἐδίδους, ἀρώμενος ἧος ἵκοιογῆράς τε λιπαρὸν θρέψαιό τε φαίδιμον υἱόν·νῦν δέ τοι οἴῳ πάμπαν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
Even thus, I ween, did women mock at him too, in a strange and distant land, when he came to some man's glorious house, as these shameless creatures here all mock at thee. It is to shun insult now from them and their many taunts that thou dost not suffer them to wash thy feet, but me, who am nothing loath, has the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, bidden to wash thee. Therefore will I wash thy feet, both for Penelope's own sake and for thine, for the heart within me is stirred with sorrow. But come now, hearken to the word that I shall speak. Many sore-tried strangers have come hither, but I declare that never yet have I seen any man so like another as thou in form, and in voice, and in feet art like Odysseus.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Old dame, so say all men whose eyes have beheld us two, that we are very like each other, even as thou thyself dost note and say.” So he spoke, and the old dame took the shining cauldron with water wherefrom she was about to wash his feet, and poured in cold water in plenty, and then added thereto the warm. But Odysseus sat him down away from the hearth and straightway turned himself toward the darkness, for he at once had a foreboding at heart that, as she touched him, she might note a scar, and the truth be made manifest. So she drew near and began to wash her lord, and straightway knew the scar of the wound which long ago a boar had dealt him with his white tusk, when Odysseus had gone to Parnassus to visit Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus, his mother's noble father, who excelled all men in thievery and in oaths. It was a god himself that had given him this skill, even Hermes, for to him he was wont to burn acceptable sacrifices of the thighs of lambs and kids; so Hermes befriended him with a ready heart. Now Autolycus, on coming once to the rich land of Ithaca, had found his daughter's son a babe new-born, and when he was finishing his supper, Eurycleia laid the child upon his knees and spoke, and addressed him: “Autolycus, find now thyself a name to give to thy child's own child; be sure he has long been prayed for.”
οὕτω που καὶ κείνῳ ἐφεψιόωντο γυναῖκεςξείνων τηλεδαπῶν, ὅτε τευ κλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοιτο,ὡς σέθεν αἱ κύνες αἵδε καθεψιόωνται ἅπασαι,τάων νῦν λώβην τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ἀλεείνωνοὐκ ἐάᾳς νίζειν· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκουσαν ἄνωγεκούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.τῷ σε πόδας νίψω ἅμα τʼ αὐτῆς Πηνελοπείηςκαὶ σέθεν εἵνεκʼ, ἐπεί μοι ὀρώρεται ἔνδοθι θυμὸςκήδεσιν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·πολλοὶ δὴ ξεῖνοι ταλαπείριοι ἐνθάδʼ ἵκοντο,ἀλλʼ οὔ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαιὡς σὺ δέμας φωνήν τε πόδας τʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἔοικας.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·ὦ γρηῦ, οὕτω φασὶν ὅσοι ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσινἡμέας ἀμφοτέρους, μάλα εἰκέλω ἀλλήλοιϊνἔμμεναι, ὡς σύ περ αὐτὴ ἐπιφρονέουσʼ ἀγορεύεις.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντατοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δʼ ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςἷζεν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετʼ αἶψα·αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ὀΐσατο, μή ἑ λαβοῦσαοὐλὴν ἀμφράσσαιτο καὶ ἀμφαδὰ ἔργα γένοιτο.νίζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθʼ ἑόν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνωοὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντιΠαρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα μετʼ Αὐτόλυκόν τε καὶ υἷας,μητρὸς ἑῆς πάτερʼ ἐσθλόν, ὃς ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστοκλεπτοσύνῃ θʼ ὅρκῳ τε· θεὸς δέ οἱ αὐτὸς ἔδωκενἙρμείας· τῷ γὰρ κεχαρισμένα μηρία καῖενἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ἅμʼ ὀπήδει.Αὐτόλυκος δʼ ἐλθὼν Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμονπαῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα κιχήσατο θυγατέρος ἧς·τόν ῥά οἱ Εὐρύκλεια φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θῆκεπαυομένῳ δόρποιο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·Αὐτόλυκʼ, αὐτὸς νῦν ὄνομʼ εὕρεο ὅττι κε θῆαιπαιδὸς παιδὶ φίλῳ· πολυάρητος δέ τοί ἐστιν.
Then Autolycus answered her, and said: “My daughter's husband and my daughter, give him whatsoever name I say. Lo, inasmuch as I am come hither as one that has been angered with many, both men and women, over the fruitful earth, therefore let the name by which the child is named be Odysseus. And for my part, when he is a man grown and comes to the great house of his mother's kin at Parnassus, where are my possessions, I will give him thereof and send him back rejoicing.” It was for this reason that Odysseus had come, that Autolycus might give him the glorious gifts. And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus clasped his hands in welcome and greeted him with gentle words, and Amphithea, his mother's mother, took Odysseus in her arms and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes. But Autolycus called to his glorious sons to make ready the meal, and they hearkened to his call. At once they led in a bull, five years old, which they flayed and dressed, and cut up all the limbs. Then they sliced these cunningly and pierced them with spits, and roasted them skilfully and distributed the portions. So, then, all day long till set of sun they feasted, nor did their hearts lack aught of the equal feast. But when the sun set and darkness came on they lay down to rest and took the gift of sleep. But as soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, they went forth to the hunt, the hounds and the sons of Autolycus too, and with them went goodly Odysseus. Up the steep mountain Parnassus, clothed with forests, they climbed, and presently reached its windy hollows. The sun was now just striking on the fields, as he rose from softly-gliding, deep-flowing Oceanus, when the beaters came to a glade. Before them went the hounds, tracking the scent, and behind them the sons of Autolycus, and among these the goodly Odysseus followed, close upon the hounds, brandishing his long spear. Now thereby a great wild boar was lying in a thick lair, through which the strength of the wet winds could never blow nor the rays of the bright sun beat, nor could the rain pierce through it, so thick it was; and fallen leaves were there in plenty. Then about the boar there came the noise of the feet of men and dogs as they pressed on in the chase, and forth from his lair he came against them with bristling back and eyes flashing fire, and stood there at bay close before them. Then first of all Odysseus rushed on, holding his long spear on high in his stout hand, eager to smite him; but the boar was too quick for him and struck him above the knee, charging upon him sideways, and with his tusk tore a long gash in the flesh, but did not reach the bone of the man. But Odysseus with sure aim smote him on the right shoulder, and clear through went the point of the bright spear, and the boar fell in the dust with a cry, and his life flew from him.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτόλυκος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·γαμβρὸς ἐμὸς θυγάτηρ τε, τίθεσθʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι κεν εἴπω·πολλοῖσιν γὰρ ἐγώ γε ὀδυσσάμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνω,ἀνδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξὶν ἀνὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν·τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὄνομʼ ἔστω ἐπώνυμον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε,ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσας μητρώϊον ἐς μέγα δῶμαἔλθῃ Παρνησόνδʼ, ὅθι πού μοι κτήματʼ ἔασι,τῶν οἱ ἐγὼ δώσω καί μιν χαίροντʼ ἀποπέμψω.τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἵνα οἱ πόροι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιοχερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·μήτηρ δʼ Ἀμφιθέη μητρὸς περιφῦσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊκύσσʼ ἄρα μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά.Αὐτόλυκος δʼ υἱοῖσιν ἐκέκλετο κυδαλίμοισιδεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν,αὐτίκα δʼ εἰσάγαγον βοῦν ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον·τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, δάσσαντό τε μοίρας.ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταδαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θήρην, ἠμὲν κύνες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶυἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςἤϊεν· αἰπὺ δʼ ὄρος προσέβαν καταειμένον ὕλῃΠαρνησοῦ, τάχα δʼ ἵκανον πτύχας ἠνεμοέσσας.Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούραςἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο,οἱ δʼ ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῶνἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθενυἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςἤϊεν ἄγχι κυνῶν, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λόχμῃ πυκινῇ κατέκειτο μέγας σῦς·τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάει μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,οὔτε μιν Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνὴἦεν, ἀτὰρ φύλλων ἐνέην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή.τὸν δʼ ἀνδρῶν τε κυνῶν τε περὶ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν,ὡς ἐπάγοντες ἐπῇσαν· ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ξυλόχοιοφρίξας εὖ λοφιήν, πῦρ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσι δεδορκώς,στῆ ῥʼ αὐτῶν σχεδόθεν· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρώτιστος Ὀδυσσεὺςἔσσυτʼ ἀνασχόμενος δολιχὸν δόρυ χειρὶ παχείῃ,οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς· ὁ δέ μιν φθάμενος ἔλασεν σῦςγουνὸς ὕπερ, πολλὸν δὲ διήφυσε σαρκὸς ὀδόντιλικριφὶς ἀΐξας, οὐδʼ ὀστέον ἵκετο φωτός.τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς οὔτησε τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον,ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή·κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.
Then the dear sons of Autolycus busied themselves with the carcase, and the wound of noble, god-like Odysseus they bound up skilfully, and checked the black blood with a charm, and straightway returned to the house of their dear father. And when Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus had fully healed him, and had given him glorious gifts, they quickly sent him back with joy to his native land, to Ithaca. Then his father and his honored mother rejoiced at his return, and asked him all the story, how he got his wound; and he told them all the truth, how, while he was hunting, a boar had struck him with his white tusk when he had gone to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus. This scar the old dame, when she had taken the limb in the flat of her hands, knew by the touch, and she let fall the foot. Into the basin the leg fell, and the brazen vessel rang. Over it tilted, and the water was spilled upon the ground. Then upon her soul came joy and grief in one moment, and both her eyes were filled with tears and the flow of her voice was checked. But she touched the chin of Odysseus, and said: “Verily thou art Odysseus, dear child, and I knew thee not, till I had handled all the body of my lord.” She spoke, and with her eyes looked toward Penelope, fain to show her that her dear husband was at home. But Penelope could not meet her glance nor understand, for Athena had turned her thoughts aside. But Odysseus, feeling for the woman's throat, seized it with his right hand, and with the other drew her closer to him, and said: “Mother, why wilt thou destroy me? Thou didst thyself nurse me at this thy breast, and now after many grievous toils I am come in the twentieth year to my native land.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτολύκου παῖδες φίλοι ἀμφεπένοντο,ὠτειλὴν δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἀντιθέοιοδῆσαν ἐπισταμένως, ἐπαοιδῇ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸνἔσχεθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιοεὖ ἰησάμενοι ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πορόντεςκαρπαλίμως χαίροντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμπονεἰς Ἰθάκην. τῷ μέν ῥα πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρχαῖρον νοστήσαντι καὶ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα,οὐλὴν ὅττι πάθοι· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σφίσιν εὖ κατέλεξενὥς μιν θηρεύοντʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι,Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.τὴν γρηῢς χείρεσσι καταπρηνέσσι λαβοῦσαγνῶ ῥʼ ἐπιμασσαμένη, πόδα δὲ προέηκε φέρεσθαι·ἐν δὲ λέβητι πέσε κνήμη, κανάχησε δὲ χαλκός,ἂψ δʼ ἑτέρωσʼ ἐκλίθη· τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἐξέχυθʼ ὕδωρ.τὴν δʼ ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσεδακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.ἁψαμένη δὲ γενείου Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπεν·ἦ μάλʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, φίλον τέκος· οὐδέ σʼ ἐγώ γεπρὶν ἔγνων, πρὶν πάντα ἄνακτʼ ἐμὸν ἀμφαφάασθαι.ἦ καὶ Πηνελόπειαν ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι,πεφραδέειν ἐθέλουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀθρῆσαι δύνατʼ ἀντίη οὔτε νοῆσαι·τῇ γὰρ Ἀθηναίη νόον ἔτραπεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςχεῖρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος φάρυγος λάβε δεξιτερῆφι,τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἕθεν ἆσσον ἐρύσσατο φώνησέν τε.μαῖα, τίη μʼ ἐθέλεις ὀλέσαι; σὺ δέ μʼ ἔτρεφες αὐτὴτῷ σῷ ἐπὶ μαζῷ· νῦν δʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσαςἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
But since thou hast found me out, and a god has put this in thy heart, be silent lest any other in the halls learn hereof. For thus will I speak out to thee, and verily it shall be brought to pass: if a god shall subdue the lordly wooers unto me, I will not spare thee, my nurse though thou art, when I slay the other serving-women in my halls.” Then wise Eurycleia answered him: “My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of thy teeth! Thou knowest how firm my spirit is and unyielding: I shall be as close as hard stone or iron.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,σίγα, μή τίς τʼ ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πύθηται.ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,οὐδὲ τροφοῦ οὔσης σεῦ ἀφέξομαι, ὁππότʼ ἂν ἄλλαςδμῳὰς ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖς κτείνωμι γυναῖκας.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.οἶσθα μὲν οἷον ἐμὸν μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδʼ ἐπιεικτόν,ἕξω δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις στερεὴ λίθος ἠὲ σίδηρος.
And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart. If a god shall subdue the lordly wooers unto thee, then will I name over to thee the women in thy halls, which ones dishonor thee, and which are guiltless.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Mother, why, pray, wilt thou speak of them? Thou needest not at all. Of myself will I mark them well, and come to know each one. Nay, keep the matter to thyself, and leave the issue to the gods.” So he spoke, and the old woman went forth through the hall to bring water for his feet, for all the first was spilled.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·εἴ χʼ ὑπό σοι γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,δὴ τότε τοι καταλέξω ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύςμαῖα, τίη δὲ σὺ τὰς μυθήσεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.εὖ νυ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι καὶ εἴσομʼ ἑκάστην·ἀλλʼ ἔχε σιγῇ μῦθον, ἐπίτρεψον δὲ θεοῖσιν.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκειοἰσομένη ποδάνιπτρα· τὰ γὰρ πρότερʼ ἔκχυτο πάντα.
And when she had washed him, and anointed him richly with oil, Odysseus again drew his chair nearer to the fire to warm himself, and hid the scar with his rags. Then wise Penelope was the first to speak, saying: “Stranger, this little thing further will I ask thee myself, for it will soon be the hour for pleasant rest, for him at least on whom sweet sleep may come despite his care. But to me has a god given sorrow that is beyond all measure, for day by day I find my joy in mourning and lamenting, while looking to my household tasks and those of my women in the house, but when night comes and sleep lays hold of all, I lie upon my bed, and sharp cares, crowding close about my throbbing heart, disquiet me, as I mourn. Even as when the daughter of Pandareus, the nightingale of the greenwood, sings sweetly, when spring is newly come, as she sits perched amid the thick leafage of the trees, and with many trilling notes pours forth her rich voice in wailing for her child, dear Itylus, whom she had one day slain with the sword unwittingly, Itylus, the son of king Zethus; even so my heart sways to and fro in doubt, whether to abide with my son and keep all things safe, my possessions, my slaves, and my great, high-roofed house, respecting the bed of my husband and the voice of the people, or to go now with him whosoever is best of the Achaeans, who woos me in the halls and offers bride-gifts past counting.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νίψεν τε καὶ ἤλειψεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,αὖτις ἄρʼ ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον Ὀδυσσεὺςθερσόμενος, οὐλὴν δὲ κατὰ ῥακέεσσι κάλυψε.τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·καὶ γὰρ δὴ κοίτοιο τάχʼ ἔσσεται ἡδέος ὥρη,ὅν τινά γʼ ὕπνος ἕλοι γλυκερός, καὶ κηδόμενόν περ.αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ πένθος ἀμέτρητον πόρε δαίμων·ἤματα μὲν γὰρ τέρπομʼ ὀδυρομένη, γοόωσα,ἔς τʼ ἐμὰ ἔργʼ ὁρόωσα καὶ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν νὺξ ἔλθῃ, ἕλῃσί τε κοῖτος ἅπαντας,κεῖμαι ἐνὶ λέκτρῳ, πυκιναὶ δέ μοι ἀμφʼ ἀδινὸν κῆρὀξεῖαι μελεδῶνες ὀδυρομένην ἐρέθουσιν.ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηῒς ἀηδών,καλὸν ἀείδῃσιν ἔαρος νέον ἱσταμένοιο,δενδρέων ἐν πετάλοισι καθεζομένη πυκινοῖσιν,ἥ τε θαμὰ τρωπῶσα χέει πολυηχέα φωνήν,παῖδʼ ὀλοφυρομένη Ἴτυλον φίλον, ὅν ποτε χαλκῷκτεῖνε διʼ ἀφραδίας, κοῦρον Ζήθοιο ἄνακτος,ὣς καὶ ἐμοὶ δίχα θυμὸς ὀρώρεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,ἠὲ μένω παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσω,κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπωμαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστοςμνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.
Furthermore my son, so long as he was a child and slack of wit, would not suffer me to marry and leave the house of my husband; but now that he is grown and has reached the bounds of manhood, lo, he even prays me to go back again from these halls, being vexed for his substance that the Achaeans devour to his cost.
παῖς δʼ ἐμὸς ἧος ἔην ἔτι νήπιος ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,γήμασθʼ οὔ μʼ εἴα πόσιος κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσαν·νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνει,καὶ δή μʼ ἀρᾶται πάλιν ἐλθέμεν ἐκ μεγάροιο,κτήσιος ἀσχαλόων, τήν οἱ κατέδουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
But come now, hear this dream of mine, and interpret it for me. Twenty geese I have in the house that come forth from the water and eat wheat, and my heart warms with joy as I watch them. But forth from the mountain there came a great eagle with crooked beak and broke all their necks and killed them; and they lay strewn in a heap in the halls, while he was borne aloft to the bright sky. Now for my part I wept and wailed, in a dream though it was, and round me thronged the fair-tressed Achaean women, as I grieved piteously because the eagle had slain my geese. Then back he came and perched upon a projecting roof-beam, and with the voice of a mortal man checked my weeping, and said: “‘Be of good cheer, daughter of far-famed Icarius; this is no dream, but a true vision of good which shall verily find fulfillment. The geese are the wooers, and I, that before was the eagle, am now again come back as thy husband, who will let loose a cruel doom upon all the wooers.’ “So he spoke, and sweet sleep released me, and looking about I saw the geese in the halls, feeding on wheat beside the trough, where they had before been wont to feed.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her and said:
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ὄνειρον ὑπόκριναι καὶ ἄκουσον.χῆνές μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἐείκοσι πυρὸν ἔδουσινἐξ ὕδατος, καί τέ σφιν ἰαίνομαι εἰσορόωσα·ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος μέγας αἰετὸς ἀγκυλοχείληςπᾶσι κατʼ αὐχένας ἦξε καὶ ἔκτανεν· οἱ δʼ ἐκέχυντοἀθρόοι ἐν μεγάροις, ὁ δʼ ἐς αἰθέρα δῖαν ἀέρθη.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλαῖον καὶ ἐκώκυον ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔμʼ ἠγερέθοντο ἐϋπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένην ὅ μοι αἰετὸς ἔκτανε χῆνας.ἂψ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ προὔχοντι μελάθρῳ,φωνῇ δὲ βροτέῃ κατερήτυε φώνησέν τε·θάρσει, Ἰκαρίου κούρη τηλεκλειτοῖο·οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι τετελεσμένον ἔσται.χῆνες μὲν μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δέ τοι αἰετὸς ὄρνιςἦα πάρος, νῦν αὖτε τεὸς πόσις εἰλήλουθα,ὃς πᾶσι μνηστῆρσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσω.ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ μελιηδὴς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε·παπτήνασα δὲ χῆνας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι νόησαπυρὸν ἐρεπτομένους παρὰ πύελον, ἧχι πάρος περ.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
“Lady, in no wise is it possible to wrest this dream aside and give it another meaning, since verily Odysseus himself has shewn thee how he will bring it to pass. For the wooers' destruction is plain to see, for one and all; not one of them shall escape death and the fates.” Then wise Penelope answered him again:
ὦ γύναι, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑποκρίνασθαι ὄνειρονἄλλῃ ἀποκλίναντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ ῥά τοι αὐτὸς Ὀδυσσεὺςπέφραδʼ ὅπως τελέει· μνηστῆρσι δὲ φαίνετʼ ὄλεθροςπᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
“Stranger, dreams verily are baffling and unclear of meaning, and in no wise do they find fulfillment in all things for men. For two are the gates of shadowy dreams, and one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those dreams that pass through the gate of sawn ivory deceive men, bringing words that find no fulfillment. But those that come forth through the gate of polished horn bring true issues to pass, when any mortal sees them. But in my case it was not from thence, methinks, that my strange dream came. Ah, truly it would then have been welcome to me and to my son.
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ὄνειροι ἀμήχανοι ἀκριτόμυθοιγίγνοντʼ, οὐδέ τι πάντα τελείεται ἀνθρώποισι.δοιαὶ γάρ τε πύλαι ἀμενηνῶν εἰσὶν ὀνείρων·αἱ μὲν γὰρ κεράεσσι τετεύχαται, αἱ δʼ ἐλέφαντι·τῶν οἳ μέν κʼ ἔλθωσι διὰ πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος,οἵ ῥʼ ἐλεφαίρονται, ἔπεʼ ἀκράαντα φέροντες·οἱ δὲ διὰ ξεστῶν κεράων ἔλθωσι θύραζε,οἵ ῥʼ ἔτυμα κραίνουσι, βροτῶν ὅτε κέν τις ἴδηται.ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ὀΐομαι αἰνὸν ὄνειρονἐλθέμεν· ἦ κʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ παιδὶ γένοιτο.
But another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart. Even now is coming on this morn of evil name which is to cut me off from the house of Odysseus; for now I shall appoint for a contest those axes which he was wont to set up in line in his halls, like props of a ship that is building, twelve in all, and he would stand afar off and shoot an arrow through them. Now then I shall set this contest before the wooers: whosoever shall most easily string the bow in his hands, and shoot an arrow through all twelve axes, with him will I go and forsake this house of my wedded life, a house most fair and filled with livelihood, which, methinks, I shall ever remember even in my dreams.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes, no longer now do thou put off this contest in thy halls;
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·ἥδε δὴ ἠὼς εἶσι δυσώνυμος, ἥ μʼ Ὀδυσῆοςοἴκου ἀποσχήσει· νῦν γὰρ καταθήσω ἄεθλον,τοὺς πελέκεας, τοὺς κεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσινἵστασχʼ ἑξείης, δρυόχους ὥς, δώδεκα πάντας·στὰς δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἄνευθε διαρρίπτασκεν ὀϊστόν.νῦν δὲ μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον τοῦτον ἐφήσω·ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσικαὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμακουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο·τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύςὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,μηκέτι νῦν ἀνάβαλλε δόμοις ἔνι τοῦτον ἄεθλον·
for, I tell thee, Odysseus of many wiles will be here, ere these men, handling this polished bow, shall have strung it, and shot an arrow through the iron.” Then wise Penelope answered him: “If thou couldest but wish, stranger, to sit here in my halls and give me joy, sleep should never be shed over my eyelids. But it is in no wise possible that men should forever be sleepless, for the immortals have appointed a proper time for each thing upon the earth, the giver of grain. But I verily will go to my upper chamber and lay me on my bed, which has become for me a bed of wailings, ever bedewed with my tears, since the day when Odysseus went to see evil Ilios, that should never be named. There will I lay me down, but do thou lie down here in the hall, when thou hast strewn bedding on the floor; or let the maids set a bedstead for thee.”
πρὶν γάρ τοι πολύμητις ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,πρὶν τούτους τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἀμφαφόωνταςνευρήν τʼ ἐντανύσαι διοϊστεῦσαί τε σιδήρου.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·εἴ κʼ ἐθέλοις μοι, ξεῖνε, παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισιτέρπειν, οὔ κέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι χυθείη.ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ πως ἔστιν ἀΰπνους ἔμμεναι αἰεὶἀνθρώπους· ἐπὶ γάρ τοι ἑκάστῳ μοῖραν ἔθηκανἀθάνατοι θνητοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσαλέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺςᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην· σὺ δὲ λέξεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,ἢ χαμάδις στορέσας ἤ τοι κατὰ δέμνια θέντων.
So saying, she went up to her bright upper chamber, not alone, for with her went her handmaids as well. And when she had gone up to her upper chamber with her handmaids, she then bewailed Odysseus, her dear husband, until flashing-eyed Athena cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶκλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνονἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.