ODYSSEY 17

When rosy-fingered Dawn, the child of morning, appeared, Telemachus, the dear son of godlike Odysseus, then bound his fine sandals to his feet, and took up the mighty spear that fitted his grasp, eager for the city, and he addressed his swineherd:

“Good father, I for my part am going to the city, so that my mother may see me; for I do not think she will cease from her grievous weeping and tearful lamentation until she lays eyes upon me myself. But to you I give this charge: lead this unfortunate stranger to the city, so that he may there beg for his meal. Whoever is willing will give him a loaf and a cup. As for me, it is in no way possible to bear the burden of all men, though my own heart is heavy with sorrow. And if the stranger becomes greatly angered, it will be all the worse for him; for I am wont to speak the truth.”

And resourceful Odysseus answered him in turn: “My friend, I too have no wish to be held back. For a beggar it is better to beg for his food in the town than in the countryside; he who is willing shall give to me. For I am no longer of an age to remain at the farmstead, obeying in all things the commands of a master. But go on your way. This man here will lead me, as you bid, as soon as I have warmed myself by the fire and the sun’s heat is felt. For these garments I wear are wretched indeed; I fear the morning frost may overcome me; and you say the city is a long way off.”

So he spoke, and Telemachus went forth from the steading, striding with swift feet, sowing doom for the suitors in his heart. And when he reached the well-built palace, he set down his spear, leaning it against a tall pillar,

and went inside himself, crossing the stone threshold.

His nurse, Eurycleia, was the very first to see him, as she was spreading fleeces upon the richly-wrought chairs, and weeping she went straight toward him. And around him the other serving-women of steadfast Odysseus gathered, and kissed him lovingly on his head and shoulders.

Then from her chamber came prudent Penelope, like unto Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and weeping she threw her arms about her dear son, and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes, and through her tears she spoke winged words to him:

“You have come, Telemachus, sweet light of my eyes! I thought I would never see you again, after you went by ship to Pylos in secret, against my will, to seek word of your dear father. But come, tell me now what sight you have seen.”

And the thoughtful Telemachus answered her in turn: “My mother, do not awaken my sorrow, nor stir the heart within my breast, when I have just escaped from steep destruction. Rather, bathe yourself, and putting on clean garments, go up to your upper chamber with your serving-women and vow to all the gods that you will offer up perfect hecatombs, if Zeus ever brings our deeds of vengeance to pass. But I shall go to the place of assembly, that I may summon a guest who accompanied me from there on my journey here. I sent him on ahead with my godlike companions, and I bade Peiraeus lead him to his own house, to treat him with all kindness and honour until I should come.”

So he spoke, and his word was not winged, but rested with her. She bathed herself, and taking clean garments for her body, vowed to all the gods to offer up perfect hecatombs, if Zeus ever brought their deeds of vengeance to pass.

Telemachus then went forth through the great hall, his spear in hand; and two swift-footed hounds followed at his heels. And upon him Athena shed a divine grace, so that all the people marvelled as he came near. The haughty suitors gathered about him, speaking fair words, but plotting evil deep within their hearts. But he soon turned away from their great company, and went to where Mentor, Antiphus, and Halitherses were seated, who from the beginning had been his father’s companions, and there he sat down; and they questioned him on every matter. Then Peiraeus, famed for his spear, came near to them, leading the stranger through the city to the place of assembly. And Telemachus did not for long turn away from his guest, but stood beside him. And Peiraeus was the first to speak to him:

“Telemachus, send women to my house at once, so I may send you the gifts that Menelaus gave you.”

And the thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn: “Peiraeus, we do not know how these things will turn out. If the haughty suitors in the great hall should slay me in secret and divide my father’s property among themselves, I would rather you kept and enjoyed the gifts than any of them. But if I should sow death and destruction among them, then you shall bring the gifts to my house, and we shall both rejoice.”

So speaking, he led the much-enduring stranger to the palace. And when they had reached the well-built halls, they laid aside their cloaks on the chairs and high-backed seats, and went into the polished bathtubs and washed themselves. And when the serving-women had washed them and anointed them with oil, they cast thick cloaks and tunics about them, and they came forth from the baths and sat down upon the chairs. A handmaid brought water for their hands in a pitcher, a beautiful pitcher of gold, and poured it over a silver basin, for them to wash; and beside them she drew up a polished table. And the revered housekeeper brought bread and set it before them, adding many delicacies, giving freely of what she had. His mother sat opposite, by the doorpost of the great hall, leaning back in her chair, spinning fine threads from her distaff. And they put forth their hands to the good cheer that lay ready before them. But when they had put aside their desire for food and drink, prudent Penelope was the first among them to speak:

“Telemachus, I shall indeed go up to my chamber and lie down upon my bed, which has become for me a bed of sorrows, forever steeped in my tears, ever since Odysseus went to Troy with the sons of Atreus. And yet you did not deign, before the haughty suitors came into this house, to tell me plainly of your father’s return, if you have heard anything.”

And the thoughtful Telemachus answered her in turn: “Then I shall tell you the whole truth, my mother. We went to Pylos and to Nestor, the shepherd of the people; and he received me in his high-roofed halls and cared for me kindly, as a father would for his own son who has newly returned from afar after a long time; so kindly did he tend to me, with his own glorious sons. But of steadfast Odysseus he said he had never heard from any man on earth, whether he be alive or dead. But he sent me on to the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for his spear, with horses and a well-joined chariot. There I saw Argive Helen, for whose sake the Argives and Trojans suffered so much by the will of the gods. And Menelaus of the great war cry asked me at once what need had brought me to lovely Lacedaemon; and I, for my part, told him the whole truth. And then he answered me, speaking these words: ‘Ah, shame! Truly they wished to lie in the bed of a mighty-hearted man, they who are themselves without courage. Just as when a doe lays her newborn, suckling fawns to sleep in the thicket of a mighty lion and then goes roaming the mountain slopes and grassy valleys in search of pasture, and the lion returns to his lair and brings a shameful doom upon them both, so will Odysseus bring a shameful doom upon these men. Father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, if only, being such as he was once in well-built Lesbos, when he rose up and wrestled with Philomeleides in a contest and threw him mightily, to the joy of all the Achaeans, if only, being such a man, Odysseus might come among the suitors! Then would they all meet a swift doom and a bitter wedding. But as for these things you ask and beseech me about, I will not speak evasively or deceive you, but of all that the unerring old man of the sea told me, not a word will I hide or keep from you. He said that he had seen him on an island, suffering great sorrows, in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who keeps him there by force; and he cannot reach his own native land, for he has no oared ships and no companions to send him over the broad back of the sea.’ So spoke the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for his spear. Having accomplished my errand, I came away; and the immortal gods gave me a fair wind that brought me swiftly to my own dear country.”

So he spoke, and stirred the spirit in her breast. And among them spoke also godlike Theoclymenus:

“O revered wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes, he, in truth, does not know for certain, but heed my words; for I will prophesy to you plainly and will hide nothing. Let Zeus be my witness, first among the gods, and this hospitable table and the hearth of blameless Odysseus to which I have come, that Odysseus himself is already in his native land, either sitting still or moving about, learning of these evil deeds, and he is here, sowing the seeds of ruin for all the suitors. Such was the bird-sign that I observed upon the well-benched ship, and I declared it to Telemachus.”

And prudent Penelope answered him in turn: “Ah, stranger, if only this word of yours might be fulfilled! Then you would soon know my friendship and many gifts from me, so that any man who met you would call you blessed.”

Thus they spoke such words to one another. Meanwhile the suitors, in front of the palace of Odysseus, were taking their pleasure with the discus and with javelins, on the levelled ground where they had always practiced their insolence. But when the hour of supper came, and the flocks returned from all sides out of the fields, brought in by the usual herdsmen, then Medon spoke to them, for he of all the heralds was most pleasing to them, and was present at their feasts:

“Young men, now that you have all delighted your hearts with sport, come into the house, so that we may prepare the feast; for it is no bad thing to take supper at the proper time.”

So he spoke, and they rose up and went, persuaded by his words. And when they reached the well-built palace, they laid aside their cloaks on the chairs and high-backed seats, and they sacrificed great sheep and fat goats, and sacrificed fatted hogs and a heifer from the herd, preparing their feast. Meanwhile, from the country toward the city Odysseus and the noble swineherd made ready to go. And the swineherd, a leader of men, was the first to speak:

“Stranger, since you are so eager to go to the city today, as my master commanded—though for my part I would have wished you to remain here as guardian of the steading, but I respect and fear him, lest he rebuke me later, and the reprimands of masters are harsh— come then, let us be on our way. For the day is now far spent, and it will soon be colder toward evening.”

And resourceful Odysseus answered him: “I see, I understand; you are speaking to one who takes your meaning. Let us go, and you lead the way for the whole journey. But give me a staff, if you have one cut anywhere, to lean on, for you said the path was treacherous.”

He spoke, and slung over his shoulders a wretched satchel, full of holes, held by a twisted cord. And Eumaeus gave him a staff to his liking. The two of them set out, while the dogs and the herdsmen remained behind to guard the steading. And he led his master to the city, in the guise of a wretched beggar and an old man, leaning on a staff; and miserable were the clothes he wore on his body.

But as they walked along the rugged path and were near the city, they came to a fountain, a well-built, fair-flowing spring from which the townspeople drew their water, made by Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor. And all around it was a grove of water-fed poplars, circular on all sides, and cold water flowed down from a rock high above; and on top was built an altar to the Nymphs, where all wayfarers made offerings. There Melantheus, son of Dolius, came upon them, driving his goats, the best that were in all the herds, as a meal for the suitors; and two herdsmen followed with him. And seeing them he reviled them and spoke out, calling them by name in a dreadful and shameful way; and it stirred the heart of Odysseus:

“Now this is a fine thing, the vile leading the vile. As ever, a god brings like to like. Where are you leading this glutton, you worthless swineherd, this miserable beggar, this spoiler of feasts? He will stand and rub his shoulders on many a doorpost, begging for scraps, not for swords or cauldrons. If you would give him to me to be a guard at my steading, to sweep the pens and carry fresh shoots to the kids, he might drink whey and build himself a sturdy thigh. But since he has learned only evil trades, he will have no wish to turn his hand to honest work, but would rather cower about the town, begging to feed his insatiable belly. But I will tell you something, and it will surely come to pass: if he comes to the house of godlike Odysseus, many a footstool from the hands of the men will fly about his head and break against his ribs as he is pelted through the house.”

So he spoke, and as he passed by, in his folly, he kicked Odysseus on the hip; but he did not knock him from the path, for he stood firm. And Odysseus debated in his mind whether to leap upon him and take his life with a blow of his staff, or to lift him up and dash his head upon the ground. But he endured it, and checked himself in his heart. And the swineherd looked the man in the face and cursed him, and lifting up his hands, prayed aloud:

“Nymphs of the spring, daughters of Zeus, if ever Odysseus burned for you the thighs of lambs and kids, wrapping them in rich fat, then grant me this wish, that this man, Odysseus, may return, and a god may guide him. Then he would scatter all the finery that you now wear with such insolence, while you wander endlessly about the city, while bad shepherds ruin the flocks.”

And Melanthius, the goatherd, answered him in turn: “Well now! How the dog speaks, a creature of wicked designs. Some day I will take him on a well-benched black ship and sell him far from Ithaca, to fetch me a great price. And I wish that Apollo of the silver bow might strike Telemachus this very day in the halls, or that he be brought down by the suitors, just as for Odysseus the day of his return was lost far away.”

So saying, he left them there as they walked on slowly, and he went on, and very quickly reached the house of his master. He went straight in and sat down among the suitors, opposite Eurymachus, for he favored him most of all. Those who were serving set a portion of meat before him, and the revered housekeeper brought bread and set it down for him to eat. And close behind, Odysseus and the noble swineherd drew near and stood there, and around them came the sound of the hollow lyre, for Phemius was just striking up a song for them. Then Odysseus took the swineherd by the hand and said:

“Eumaeus, this is surely the beautiful house of Odysseus. It is easy to know it, even among many. One building follows another, and the courtyard is adorned with a wall and coping, and the doors are well-secured and double-leafed; no man could force his way in. And I see that many men are holding a feast within, for the smell of roasting meat rises up, and the lyre resounds, which the gods have made the companion of the feast.”

And you answered him, Eumaeus, my swineherd: “You have guessed it easily, for in other things too you are not without sense. But come now, let us consider how these things should be. Either you go first into the well-built palace and join the suitors, and I will remain here; or, if you wish, wait here, and I will go on ahead. But do not linger, lest someone seeing you outside should strike you or drive you away. I bid you consider this.”

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: “I see, I understand; you are speaking to one who takes your meaning. But you go on ahead, and I will remain here. For I am not at all unacquainted with blows or with missiles. My heart is steadfast, for I have suffered much evil on the waves and in war; let this be added to the rest. But a ravenous belly is a thing a man cannot hide, a cursed thing, that brings many evils upon men; for its sake even well-benched ships are fitted out to cross the barren sea, bringing evil to one’s enemies.”

As they were speaking such words to one another, a dog that was lying there lifted his head and pricked up his ears, Argos, the hound of steadfast Odysseus, whom he himself had once reared, but had no joy of him, for before he could, to sacred Ilium he departed. In days past the young men used to take him to hunt wild goats, and deer, and hares. But now he lay neglected, his master gone, on a great pile of dung from the mules and oxen that lay heaped up before the gates, until the servants of Odysseus should carry it off to manure his great estate. There lay the dog Argos, infested with ticks. But then, when he sensed Odysseus standing near, he wagged his tail and dropped both his ears, but he no longer had the strength to draw nearer to his master. And Odysseus, looking aside, wiped away a tear, easily hiding it from Eumaeus, and at once he asked him:

“Eumaeus, it is a great wonder that this dog lies here on the dunghill. He is handsome in build, but I cannot tell for sure if he was swift in the chase to match his beauty, or if he was merely one of those table-dogs that men keep, which their masters cherish for show.”

And you answered him, Eumaeus, my swineherd: “Indeed, this is the hound of a man who died far away. If he were now in build and in action such as Odysseus left him when he went to Troy, you would soon be amazed at the sight of his swiftness and his strength. No creature that he started could escape him in the depths of the thick wood; for he was also skilled in tracking a scent. But now he is worn down by misery, and his master has perished in a foreign land, and the careless women do not look after him. For when masters no longer hold sway, the slaves

no longer wish to do their duties as they should. For far-seeing Zeus takes away half the virtue of a man, when the day of slavery lays hold of him.”

So speaking, he entered the well-built palace, and went straight to the hall to join the proud suitors. But upon Argos the fate of black death descended, the moment he saw his master Odysseus in the twentieth year.

Godlike Telemachus was the very first to see the swineherd coming through the house, and he quickly nodded to call him over. And the other, looking about, took a stool that was lying there, where the carver used to sit while carving many portions of meat for the suitors feasting in the hall. He brought it and set it by Telemachus’s table, opposite him, and there he himself sat down. And a herald took a portion of meat and bread from a basket and set it before him.

Close after him, Odysseus entered the house, in the guise of a wretched beggar and an old man, leaning on a staff; and miserable were the clothes he wore on his body. He sat down on the ash-wood threshold within the doors, leaning against a cypress doorpost, which a craftsman had once skillfully planed and made straight to the line. And Telemachus called the swineherd to him and spoke, taking a whole loaf from the beautiful basket and as much meat as his hands could hold cupped together:

“Take this and give it to the stranger, and bid him himself to go about and beg from all the suitors in turn. Shame is no good companion for a man in need.”

So he spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard his word, and standing near him spoke winged words:

“Stranger, Telemachus gives you these things, and bids you to go about and beg from all the suitors in turn. He says that shame is no good companion for a begging man.”

And resourceful Odysseus answered him in turn: “Lord Zeus, grant that Telemachus be blessed among men, and may all that his heart desires come to pass for him.”

He spoke, and took the food with both hands and set it down there before his feet, on his wretched satchel, and ate while the bard was singing in the great hall. When he had supped, the divine singer ceased his song; and the suitors raised a clamour through the hall. But Athena stood near to Odysseus, son of Laertes, and urged him to gather loaves among the suitors and learn which of them were righteous and which were lawless. Yet even so she did not mean to save a single one from ruin. He went to beg from left to right, from man to man, stretching out his hand on all sides, as if he were a beggar of long practice. And they, out of pity, gave, and marvelled at him, and asked one another who he was and from where he came. And Melanthius, the goatherd, spoke among them:

“Listen to me, suitors of our glorious queen, concerning this stranger; for I have seen him before. In truth, the swineherd was his guide on the way here, but the man himself I do not know for sure, nor what family he claims.”

So he spoke, and Antinous rebuked the swineherd with harsh words: “Oh you notorious swineherd, why did you bring this man to the city? Are there not enough vagrants for us already, miserable beggars, spoilers of feasts? Or do you resent that these men consume your master’s livelihood, gathered here, so you have invited this one as well?”

And you answered him, Eumaeus, my swineherd: “Antinous, you speak nobly, though you are a nobleman. For who indeed goes out of his way to invite a stranger from another land, unless he be one of those who are public craftsmen? A seer, or a healer of ills, or a carpenter, or even a divine singer, who gives delight with his song. For these men are invited all over the boundless earth. But no man would invite a beggar to devour his own substance. But you are always the harshest of all the suitors to the servants of Odysseus, and to me above all. But I for my part do not care, so long as wise Penelope lives in these halls, and godlike Telemachus.”

And the thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn: “Be silent, do not answer him with so many words. Antinous is ever wont to provoke me with malice, with harsh words, and he urges the others on too.”

He spoke, and addressed Antinous with winged words: “Antinous, how kindly you care for me, like a father for his son, you who bid me drive this stranger from the hall with a word of force. May the god never bring this to pass. Take something and give it to him; I do not begrudge it. Indeed, I command it. Fear neither my mother in this, nor any of the other servants in the house of godlike Odysseus. But you have no such thought in your breast; for you would much rather eat yourself than give to another.”

And Antinous answered him in turn: “Telemachus, you braggart, unrestrained in your passion, what a speech! If all the suitors were to give him as much, this house would be rid of him for three months at least.”

So he spoke, and seized the footstool that lay beneath the table, on which he rested his sleek feet while feasting, and held it up. But all the others gave, and they filled the satchel with bread and meat. And Odysseus was on the point of going back to the threshold to taste the charity of the Achaeans, but he stopped by Antinous and spoke to him:

“Give, my friend. You do not seem to me to be the basest of the Achaeans, but the noblest, for you look like a king. Therefore you should give me a better portion of bread than the others, and I would sing your praises over the boundless earth. For I too once lived among men in a house of my own, a man of wealth and substance, and I often gave to the wanderer, whoever he might be and whatever his need. I had countless slaves and many other things by which men live well and are called wealthy. But Zeus, son of Cronos, brought me to ruin—for so it must have been his will— he who sent me with far-roaming pirates to go to Egypt, a long voyage, so that I might be undone. I moored my curved ships in the river Aegyptus. There I truly bade my trusty companions to stay there by the ships and to guard the ships, and I sent out scouts to the places of watch. But they, giving way to violence and following their own impulses, at once plundered the beautiful fields of the Egyptian men, and carried off their wives and infant children and slew the men. And the cry soon reached the city. And the people, hearing the shout, came at the breaking of dawn; the whole plain was filled with foot soldiers and horses and the gleam of bronze. And Zeus who delights in thunder cast a foul panic among my companions, and not one dared to stand and face them; for evil beset us from all sides. There they slew many of us with the sharp bronze, and the others they led away alive, to work for them in bondage. But me they gave to a stranger they met, bound for Cyprus, to Dmetor, son of Iasus, who ruled with might over Cyprus. From there I have now come here, suffering these woes.”

Then Antinous answered him and spoke: “What god has brought this pest here, this vexation to our feast? Stand over there, in the middle, far from my table, or you may soon see a bitter Egypt and a bitter Cyprus. What a bold and shameless beggar you are! You stand before all of them in turn, and they give recklessly, for there is no restraint or pity in giving away what belongs to another, since each has plenty.”

And resourceful Odysseus drew back and said: “Alas, it seems your wisdom does not match your looks. You would not give so much as a pinch of salt from your own house to your own steward, you who now sit at another’s table and could not bring yourself to break off a piece of bread and give it to me, though there is plenty here.”

So he spoke, and Antinous grew all the more angered at heart, and giving him a dark look, spoke winged words:

“Now I do not think you will get away cleanly from the hall, and go back unscathed, since you utter such insults.”

So he spoke, and seizing the footstool he struck Odysseus on the right shoulder, at the base of his back. But he stood firm as a rock, and the blow from Antinous did not make him stagger,

but he shook his head in silence, plotting evil deep in his heart. He went back to the threshold and sat down, and set down his sack, which was well filled, and spoke among the suitors:

“Listen to me, suitors of our glorious queen, so I may speak what the heart in my breast commands me. There is no pain in the heart, nor any grief, when a man is struck while fighting for his own possessions, for his cattle or his white-fleeced sheep. But Antinous struck me for the sake of my wretched belly, that cursed thing, which brings many evils upon men. But if there are gods and Furies for beggars, may the end of death come upon Antinous before his wedding.”

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: “Eat in peace, stranger, sitting there, or go somewhere else, lest the young men drag you through the house for what you say, either by the foot or by the hand, and strip you of all your skin.”

So he spoke, but all the others were exceedingly indignant. And one of the proud young men would say:

“Antinous, you did not do well to strike the wretched wanderer. Cursed man, what if he is some god from heaven? For the gods, in the likeness of strangers from foreign lands, taking on all sorts of forms, wander through the cities, observing the insolence and the good order of men.”

So spoke the suitors, but he paid no heed to their words. And Telemachus nursed a great sorrow in his heart for the man who was struck, but he did not let a tear fall from his eyelids to the ground, but shook his head in silence, plotting evil deep in his heart.

But when prudent Penelope heard of the man being struck in the hall, she said among her serving-women:

“So may the famed archer Apollo strike you yourself!”

And the housekeeper Eurynome answered her in turn: “If only our curses might be brought to fulfillment! Not one of these men would see the fair-throned Dawn.”

And prudent Penelope answered her in turn: “Nurse, they are all enemies, for they devise evil things; but Antinous most of all is like black death itself. Some poor stranger wanders through the house, begging from the men, for his need compels him; and while all the others filled his sack and gave to him, this one struck him with a footstool on his right shoulder.”

Thus she spoke among her serving-women, sitting in her chamber, while godlike Odysseus was at his supper. Then she called to the noble swineherd and addressed him:

“Go, noble Eumaeus, go and bid the stranger to come, so that I may welcome him and question him, if perhaps he has heard news of steadfast Odysseus or seen him with his own eyes; for he seems a much-traveled man.”

And you answered her, Eumaeus, my swineherd: “If only, my queen, the Achaeans would be silent! Such tales he tells, he would charm your very heart. For three nights I had him, and for three days I kept him in my hut—for he came to me first, having fled from a ship— but he has not yet finished the tale of his misfortunes. Just as a man gazes on a bard who, taught by the gods, sings enchanting tales to mortals, and they have an endless desire to listen whenever he sings, so he enchanted me as he sat in my hall. He says he is a friend of Odysseus’s house, dwelling in Crete, where the lineage of Minos is. From there he has now come here, suffering these woes, tossed from one trial to another; and he insists he has heard of Odysseus, close by, in the rich land of the Thesprotians, and that he is alive, and bringing many treasures to his home.”

And prudent Penelope answered him in turn: “Go, call him here, so he may tell me this himself, to my face. Let these men amuse themselves sitting at the gates or here in the house, since their hearts are merry. For their own possessions lie untouched in their houses, their bread and sweet wine, which only their servants eat, while they themselves flock to our house every day, slaughtering our oxen and sheep and fat goats, and feasting and drinking our gleaming wine recklessly. And much is being wasted, for there is no man here, such as Odysseus was, to ward off ruin from the house. But if Odysseus should come and return to his native land, he would soon, with his son, avenge the violence of these men.”

So she spoke, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and the house resounded terribly. And Penelope laughed, and at once spoke winged words to Eumaeus:

“Go, call the stranger here before me. Do you not see that my son has sneezed at all my words? Therefore shall death for the suitors not be unfulfilled, but come upon them all, and not one shall escape death and doom. And I will tell you another thing, and you take it to heart: if I find that he speaks the whole truth, I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments.”

So she spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard her word, and standing near the stranger, spoke winged words:

“Stranger and father, prudent Penelope calls for you, the mother of Telemachus. Her heart bids her ask you something concerning her husband, though she has suffered many sorrows. And if she finds that you speak the whole truth, she will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic, of which you have the greatest need. And begging for food through the town, you shall feed your belly; whoever wishes will give to you.”

And much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: “Eumaeus, I would gladly tell the whole truth at once to the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope. For I know well of him, and we have shared the same fate. But I fear the company of the harsh suitors, whose insolence and violence reach the iron heavens. For just now, as I was going through the house, this man, though I had done no wrong, struck me and gave me pain, and neither Telemachus nor anyone else did anything to stop it. Therefore, bid Penelope now to wait in her chambers, eager though she is, until the sun goes down. And then let her ask me about the day of her husband’s return, seating me closer to the fire; for my clothes are wretched, as you yourself know, since I first came to you as a suppliant.”

So he spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard his word. And as he crossed the threshold, Penelope addressed him:

“You are not bringing him, Eumaeus? What has this wanderer in mind? Is he afraid of someone, for some extraordinary reason, or is he simply ashamed to be in the house? A bashful beggar is a bad beggar.”

And you answered her, Eumaeus, my swineherd: “He speaks reasonably, as anyone else would think, trying to avoid the insolence of arrogant men. He bids you wait until the sun goes down. And it would be far better for you yourself, my queen, to speak with the stranger alone and to hear his story.”

And prudent Penelope answered him in turn: “The stranger is not without sense, it may well be. For there have never been any mortal men who devise such wicked follies with such insolence.”

So she spoke, and the noble swineherd departed into the throng of the suitors, once he had explained everything. And at once he spoke winged words to Telemachus, holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:

“My friend, I am going now to look after the swine and those other things, your livelihood and mine. It is for you to take care of all that is here. First, save yourself, and take thought in your heart lest you come to harm. For many of the Achaeans have evil thoughts, whom may Zeus destroy before they bring disaster upon us.”

And the thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn: “So it shall be, good father. But you go, after you have eaten. And in the morning, come and bring fine beasts for the sacrifice. As for all these matters, they shall be my care and that of the immortal gods.”

So he spoke, and the other sat down again on his well-polished stool. And when he had satisfied his heart with food and drink, he went his way to the swine, leaving the courtyard and the hall full of feasting men; and they were delighting themselves with dancing and with song, for evening had already come.

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 17

Ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότ' ἔπειθ' ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
εἵλετο δ' ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει,
ἄστυδε ἱέμενος, καὶ ἑὸν προσέειπε συβώτην·

«ἄττ', ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν εἶμ' ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρα με μήτηρ
ὄψεται· οὐ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν παύσεσθαι ὀΐω
κλαυθμοῦ τε στυγεροῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος,
πρίν γ' αὐτόν με ἴδηται· ἀτὰρ σοί γ' ὧδ' ἐπιτέλλω·
τὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον ἄγ' ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρ' ἂν ἐκεῖθι
δαῖτα πτωχεύῃ· δώσει δέ οἱ ὅς κ' ἐθέλῃσι,
πύρνον καὶ κοτύλην· ἐμὲ δ' οὔ πως ἔστιν ἅπαντας
ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχεσθαι, ἔχοντά περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
ὁ ξεῖνος δ' εἴ περ μάλα μηνίει, ἄλγιον αὐτῷ
ἔσσεται· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοὶ φίλ' ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὦ φίλος, οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐρύκεσθαι μενεαίνω.
πτωχῷ βέλτερόν ἐστι κατὰ πτόλιν ἠὲ κατ' ἀγροὺς
δαῖτα πτωχεύειν· δώσει δέ μοι ὅς κ' ἐθέλῃσιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ σταθμοῖσι μένειν ἔτι τηλίκος εἰμί,
ὥς τ' ἐπιτειλαμένῳ σημάντορι πάντα πιθέσθαι.
ἀλλ' ἔρχευ· ἐμὲ δ' ἄξει ἀνὴρ ὅδε, τὸν σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτίκ' ἐπεί κε πυρὸς θερέω ἀλέη τε γένηται.
αἰνῶς γὰρ τάδε εἵματ' ἔχω κακά· μή με δαμάσσῃ
στίβη ὑπηοίη· ἕκαθεν δέ τε ἄστυ φάτ' εἶναι.»

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ σταθμοῖο βεβήκει,
κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκανε δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
ἔγχος μέν ῥ' ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρήν,

αὐτὸς δ' εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.

τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρώτη εἶδε τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
κώεα καστορνῦσα θρόνοισ' ἔνι δαιδαλέοισι,
δακρύσασα δ' ἔπειτ' ἰθὺς κίεν· ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' ἄλλαι
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠγερέθοντο
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους.

ἡ δ' ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσῇ Ἀφροδίτῃ,
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε δακρύσασα,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά,
καί ῥ' ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος· οὔ σ' ἔτ' ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε
λάθρῃ, ἐμεῦ ἀέκητι, φίλου μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι κατάλεξον, ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.»

τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«μῆτερ ἐμή, μή μοι γόον ὄρνυθι μηδέ μοι ἦτορ
ἐν στήθεσσιν ὄρινε φυγόντι περ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·
ἀλλ' ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθ' ἑλοῦσα,
εἰς ὑπερῷ' ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
εὔχεο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγορήνδε ἐλεύσομαι, ὄφρα καλέσσω
ξεῖνον, ὅτίς μοι κεῖθεν ἅμ' ἕσπετο δεῦρο κιόντι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προὔπεμψα σὺν ἀντιθέοισ' ἑτάροισι,
Πείραιον δέ μιν ἠνώγεα προτὶ οἶκον ἄγοντα
ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δ' ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.
ἡ δ' ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθ' ἑλοῦσα,
εὔχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.

Τηλέμαχος δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἔγχος ἔχων· ἅμα τῷ γε κύνες πόδας ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δ' ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη·
τὸν δ' ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἠγερέθοντο
ἔσθλ' ἀγορεύοντες, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν ἔπειτα ἀλεύατο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,
ἀλλ' ἵνα Μέντωρ ἧστο καὶ Ἄντιφος ἠδ' Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τέ οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώϊοι ἦσαν ἑταῖροι,
ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἰών· τοὶ δ' ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα.
τοῖσι δὲ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε
ξεῖνον ἄγων ἀγορήνδε διὰ πτόλιν· οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν
Τηλέμαχος ξείνοιο ἑκὰς τράπετ', ἀλλὰ παρέστη.
τὸν καὶ Πείραιος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

«Τηλέμαχ', αἶψ' ὄτρυνον ἐμὸν ποτὶ δῶμα γυναῖκας,
ὥς τοι δῶρ' ἀποπέμψω, ἅ τοι Μενέλαος ἔδωκε.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Πείραι', οὐ γάρ τ' ἴδμεν, ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
εἴ κεν ἐμὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἐν μεγάροισι
λάθρῃ κτείναντες πατρώϊα πάντα δάσωνται,
αὐτὸν ἔχοντα σὲ βούλομ' ἐπαυρέμεν ἤ τινα τῶνδε·
εἰ δέ κ' ἐγὼ τούτοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύσω,
δὴ τότε μοι χαίροντι φέρειν πρὸς δώματα χαίρων.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ξεῖνον ταλαπείριον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκοντο δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐς δ' ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔκ ῥ' ἀσαμίνθων βάντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι καθῖζον.
χέρνιβα δ' ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δ' αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλ' ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
μήτηρ δ' ἀντίον ἷζε παρὰ σταθμὸν μεγάροιο
κλισμῷ κεκλιμένη, λέπτ' ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσα.
οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

«Τηλέμαχ', ἦ τοι ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσ' ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχεθ' ἅμ' Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ μοι ἔτλης,
πρὶν ἐλθεῖν μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐς τόδε δῶμα,
νόστον σοῦ πατρὸς σάφα εἰπέμεν, εἴ που ἄκουσας.»

τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
ᾠχόμεθ' ἔς τε Πύλον καὶ Νέστορα, ποιμένα λαῶν·
δεξάμενος δέ με κεῖνος ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισιν
ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει, ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ἑὸν υἷα
ἐλθόντα χρόνιον νέον ἄλλοθεν· ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος
ἐνδυκέως ἐκόμιζε σὺν υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος οὔ ποτ' ἔφασκε
ζωοῦ οὐδὲ θανόντος ἐπιχθονίων τευ ἀκοῦσαι,
ἀλλά μ' ἐς Ἀτρεΐδην, δουρικλειτὸν Μενέλαον,
ἵπποισι προὔπεμψε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.
ἔνθ' ἴδον Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλὰ
Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν.
εἴρετο δ' αὐτίκ' ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
ὅττευ χρηΐζων ἱκόμην Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῷ πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.
καὶ τότε δή μ' ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι, ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.
ὡς δ' ὁπότ' ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα
βοσκομένη, ὁ δ' 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 ποτ' ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,
κὰδ δ' ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κ' ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ταῦτα δ' ἅ μ' εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδὸν οὐδ' ἀπατήσω·
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,
τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω.
φῆ μιν ὅ γ' ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν κρατέρ' ἄλγε' ἔχοντα,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δ' οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπ' εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.»
ὣς ἔφατ' Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος.
ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μ' ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδ' ἔπεμψαν.»

ὣς φάτο, τῇ δ' ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

«ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
ἦ τοι ὅ γ' οὐ σάφα οἶδεν, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·
ἀτρεκέως γάρ τοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ξενίη τε τράπεζα
ἱστίη τ' 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,
οἷον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸς
ἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·
τῶ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὥς κέν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλα
πάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δ' ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ,
καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλιστα
ἥνδανε κηρύκων καί σφιν παρεγίνετο δαιτί·

«κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρέν' ἀέθλοις,
ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθ', ἵν' ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἀνστάντες ἔβαν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκοντο δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
οἱ δ' ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην,
δαῖτ' ἐντυνόμενοι. τοὶ δ' ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδε
ὠτρύνοντ' Ὀδυσεύς τ' ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·

«ξεῖν', ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδ' ἴμεναι μενεαίνεις
σήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός· - ἦ σ' ἂν ἐγώ γε
αὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι·
ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσω
νεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τ' ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί· -
ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλιστα
ἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«γινώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλ' ἴομεν, σὺ δ' ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.
δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστί,
σκηρίπτεσθ', ἐπεὶ ἦ φατ' ἀρισφαλέ' ἔμμεναι οὐδόν.»

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμφ' ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην, ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ·
Εὔμαιος δ' ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.
τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρες
ῥύατ' ὄπισθε μένοντες. ὁ δ' ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακτα
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσαν
ἄστεος ἐγγὺς ἔσαν καὶ ἐπὶ κρήνην ἀφίκοντο
τυκτὴν καλλίροον, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται,
τὴν ποίησ' Ἴθακος καὶ Νήριτος ἠδὲ Πολύκτωρ·
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' αἰγείρων ὑδατοτρεφέων ἦν ἄλσος,
πάντοσε κυκλοτερές, κατὰ δὲ ψυχρὸν ῥέεν ὕδωρ
ὑψόθεν ἐκ πέτρης· βωμὸς δ' ἐφύπερθε τέτυκτο
Νυμφάων, ὅθι πάντες ἐπιῤῥέζεσκον ὁδῖται·
ἔνθα σφέας ἐκίχανεν υἱὸς Δολίοιο Μελανθεὺς
αἶγας ἄγων, αἳ πᾶσι μετέπρεπον αἰπολίοισι,
δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι· δύω δ' ἅμ' ἕποντο νομῆες.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' 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 φλίψεται ὤμους,
αἰτίζων ἀκόλους, οὐκ ἄορα οὐδὲ λέβητας.
τόν γ' εἴ μοι δοίης σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα γενέσθαι
σηκοκόρον τ' ἔμεναι θαλλόν τ' ἐρίφοισι φορῆναι,
καί κεν ὀρὸν πίνων μεγάλην ἐπιγουνίδα θεῖτο.
ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκ' ἔμμαθεν, οὐκ ἐθελήσει
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσων κατὰ δῆμον
βούλεται αἰτίζων βόσκειν ἣν γαστέρ' ἄναλτον.
ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κ' ἔλθῃ πρὸς δώματ' Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
πολλά οἱ ἀμφὶ κάρη σφέλα ἀνδρῶν ἐκ παλαμάων
πλευραὶ ἀποτρίψουσι δόμον κάτα βαλλομένοιο.»

ὣς φάτο, καὶ παριὼν λὰξ ἔνθορεν ἀφραδίῃσιν
ἰσχίῳ· οὐδέ μιν ἐκτὸς ἀταρπιτοῦ ἐστυφέλιξεν,
ἀλλ' ἔμεν' ἀσφαλέως. ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἠὲ μεταΐξας ῥοπάλῳ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο
ἦ πρὸς γῆν ἐλάσειε κάρη ἀμφουδὶς ἀείρας·
ἀλλ' ἐπετόλμησε, φρεσὶ δ' ἔσχετο. τὸν δὲ συβώτης
νείκεσ' ἐσάντα ἰδών, μέγα δ' εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·

«Νύμφαι κρηναῖαι, κοῦραι Διός, εἴ ποτ' Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὔμμ' ἐπὶ μηρί' ἔκηε, καλύψας πίονι δημῷ,
ἀρνῶν ἠδ' ἐρίφων, τόδε μοι κρηήνατ' ἐέλδωρ,
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων.
τῶ κέ τοι ἀγλαΐας γε διασκεδάσειεν ἁπάσας,
τὰς νῦν ὑβρίζων φορέεις, ἀλαλήμενος αἰεὶ
ἄστυ κάτ'· αὐτὰρ μῆλα κακοὶ φθείρουσι νομῆες.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
«ὢ πόποι, οἷον ἔειπε κύων ὀλοφώϊα εἰδώς,
τόν ποτ' ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης
ἄξω τῆλ' Ἰθάκης, ἵνα μοι βίοτον πολὺν ἄλφοι.
αἲ γὰρ Τηλέμαχον βάλοι ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
σήμερον ἐν μεγάροισ', ἢ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσι δαμείη,
ὡς Ὀδυσῆΐ γε τηλοῦ ἀπώλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.»

ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτόθι ἦκα κιόντας,
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ, μάλα δ' ὦκα δόμους ἵκανεν ἄνακτος.
αὐτίκα δ' εἴσω ἴεν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι καθῖζεν,
ἀντίον Εὐρυμάχου· τὸν γὰρ φιλέεσκε μάλιστα.
τῷ πάρα μὲν κρειῶν μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο,
σῖτον δ' αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα
ἔδμεναι. ἀγχίμολον δ' Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
στήτην ἐρχομένω, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθ' ἰωὴ
φόρμιγγος γλαφυρῆς· ἀνὰ γάρ σφισι βάλλετ' ἀείδειν
Φήμιος. αὐτὰρ ὁ χειρὸς ἑλὼν προσέειπε συβώτην·

«Εὔμαι', ἦ μάλα δὴ τάδε δώματα κάλ' Ὀδυσῆος·
ῥεῖα δ' ἀρίγνωτ' ἐστὶ καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐξ ἑτέρων ἕτερ' ἐστίν, ἐπήσκηται δέ οἱ αὐλὴ
τοίχῳ καὶ θριγκοῖσι, θύραι δ' εὐερκέες εἰσὶ
δικλίδες· οὔ κέν τίς μιν ἀνὴρ ὑπεροπλίσσαιτο.
γινώσκω δ', ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐν αὐτῷ δαῖτα τίθενται
ἄνδρες, ἐπεὶ κνίση μὲν ἐνήνοθεν, ἐν δέ τε φόρμιγξ
ἠπύει, ἣν ἄρα δαιτὶ θεοὶ ποίησαν ἑταίρην.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«ῥεῖ' ἔγνως, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τά τ' ἄλλα πέρ ἐσσ' ἀνοήμων.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δὴ φραζώμεθ', ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
ἠὲ σὺ πρῶτος ἔσελθε δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
δύσεο δὲ μνηστῆρας, ἐγὼ δ' ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ·
εἰ δ' ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον, ἐγὼ δ' εἶμι προπάροιθεν.
μηδὲ σὺ δηθύνειν, μή τίς σ' ἔκτοσθε νοήσας
ἢ βάλῃ ἢ ἐλάσῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.»

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«γινώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλ' ἔρχευ προπάροιθεν, ἐγὼ δ' ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ.
οὐ γάρ τι πληγέων ἀδαήμων οὐδὲ βολάων·
τολμήεις μοι θυμός, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπονθα
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω.
γαστέρα δ' οὔ πως ἔστιν ἀποκρύψαι μεμαυῖαν,
οὐλομένην, ἣ πολλὰ κάκ' ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσι·
τῆς ἕνεκεν καὶ νῆες ἐΰζυγοι ὁπλίζονται
πόντον ἐπ' ἀτρύγετον κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φέρουσαι.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
ἂν δὲ κύων κεφαλήν τε καὶ οὔατα κείμενος ἔσχεν,
Ἄργος, Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτ' αὐτὸς
θρέψε μέν, οὐδ' ἀπόνητο, πάρος δ' εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ᾤχετο. τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρες
αἶγας ἐπ' ἀγροτέρας ἠδὲ πρόκας ἠδὲ λαγωούς·
δὴ τότε κεῖτ' ἀπόθεστος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος
ἐν πολλῇ κόπρῳ, ἥ οἱ προπάροιθε θυράων
ἡμιόνων τε βοῶν τε ἅλις κέχυτ', ὄφρ' ἂν ἄγοιεν
δμῶες Ὀδυσσῆος τέμενος μέγα κοπρίσσοντες·
ἔνθα κύων κεῖτ' Ἄργος ἐνίπλειος κυνοραιστέων.
δὴ τότε γ', ὡς ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσέα ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
οὐρῇ μέν ῥ' ὅ γ' ἔσηνε καὶ οὔατα κάββαλεν ἄμφω,
ἄσσον δ' οὐκέτ' ἔπειτα δυνήσατο οἷο ἄνακτος
ἐλθέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὁ νόσφιν ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ,
ῥεῖα λαθὼν Εὔμαιον, ἄφαρ δ' ἐρεείνετο μύθῳ·

«Εὔμαι', ἦ μάλα θαῦμα κύων ὅδε κεῖτ' ἐνὶ κόπρῳ.
καλὸς μὲν δέμας ἐστίν, ἀτὰρ τόδε γ' οὐ σάφα οἶδα,
ἢ δὴ καὶ ταχὺς ἔσκε θέειν ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ τῷδε,
ἦ αὔτως οἷοί τε τραπεζῆες κύνες ἀνδρῶν
γίνοντ', ἀγλαΐης δ' ἕνεκεν κομέουσιν ἄνακτες.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«καὶ λίην ἀνδρός γε κύων ὅδε τῆλε θανόντος
εἰ τοιόσδ' 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 ὕλης
κνώδαλον, ὅττι δίοιτο· καὶ ἴχνεσι γὰρ περιῄδη.
νῦν δ' ἔχεται κακότητι, ἄναξ δέ οἱ ἄλλοθι πάτρης
ὤλετο, τὸν δὲ γυναῖκες ἀκηδέες οὐ κομέουσι.
δμῶες δ', εὖτ' ἂν μηκέτ' ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες,

οὐκέτ' ἔπειτ' ἐθέλουσιν ἐναίσιμα ἐργάζεσθαι·
ἥμισυ γάρ τ' ἀρετῆς ἀποαίνυται εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἀνέρος, εὖτ' ἄν μιν κατὰ δούλιον ἦμαρ ἕλῃσιν.»

ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
βῆ δ' ἰθὺς μεγάροιο μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς.
Ἄργον δ' αὖ κατὰ μοῖρ' ἔλαβεν μέλανος θανάτοιο,
αὐτίκ' ἰδόντ' Ὀδυσῆα ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.

τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴς
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ δῶμα συβώτην, ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα
νεῦσ' ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας· ὁ δὲ παπτήνας ἕλε δίφρον
κείμενον, ἔνθα τε δαιτρὸς ἐφίζεσκε κρέα πολλὰ
δαιόμενος μνηστῆρσι δόμον κάτα δαινυμένοισι·
τὸν κατέθηκε φέρων πρὸς Τηλεμάχοιο τράπεζαν
ἀντίον, ἔνθα δ' ἄρ' αὐτὸς ἐφέζετο· τῷ δ' ἄρα κῆρυξ
μοῖραν ἑλὼν ἐτίθει κανέου τ' ἐκ σῖτον ἀείρας.

ἀγχίμολον δὲ μετ' αὐτὸν ἐδύσετο δώματ' Ὀδυσσεύς,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιος ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενος· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.
ἷζε δ' ἐπὶ μελίνου οὐδοῦ ἔντοσθε θυράων
κλινάμενος σταθμῷ κυπαρισσίνῳ, ὅν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνε.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας προσέειπε συβώτην,
ἄρτον τ' οὖλον ἑλὼν περικαλλέος ἐκ κανέοιο
καὶ κρέας, ὥς οἱ χεῖρες ἐχάνδανον ἀμφιβαλόντι·

«δὸς τῷ ξείνῳ ταῦτα φέρων αὐτόν τε κέλευε
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδὼς δ' οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κεχρημένῳ ἀνδρὶ παρεῖναι.»

ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν,
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντ' ἀγόρευε·

«Τηλέμαχός τοι, ξεῖνε, διδοῖ τάδε καί σε κελεύει
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδῶ δ' οὐκ ἀγαθήν φησ' ἔμμεναι ἀνδρὶ προΐκτῃ.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Ζεῦ ἄνα, Τηλέμαχόν μοι ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιον εἶναι,
καί οἱ πάντα γένοιτο, ὅσα φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.»

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκεν
αὖθι ποδῶν προπάροιθεν, ἀεικελίης ἐπὶ πήρης,
ἤσθιε δ' εἷος ἀοιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄειδεν.
εὖθ' ὁ δεδειπνήκειν, ὁ δ' ἐπαύετο θεῖος ἀοιδός·
μνηστῆρες δ' ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρ'. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ὤτρυν', ὡς ἂν πύρνα κατὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγείροι
γνοίη θ' οἵ τινές εἰσιν ἐναίσιμοι οἵ τ' ἀθέμιστοι·
ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὧς τιν' ἔμελλ' ἀπαλεξήσειν κακότητος.
βῆ δ' ἴμεν αἰτήσων ἐνδέξια φῶτα ἕκαστον,
πάντοσε χεῖρ' ὀρέγων, ὡς εἰ πτωχὸς πάλαι εἴη.
οἱ δ' ἐλεαίροντες δίδοσαν καὶ ἐθάμβεον αὐτὸν
ἀλλήλους τ' εἴροντο, τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·

«κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
τοῦδε περὶ ξείνου· ἦ γὰρ πρόσθεν μιν ὄπωπα.
ἦ τοι μέν οἱ δεῦρο συβώτης ἡγεμόνευεν,
αὐτὸν δ' οὐ σάφα οἶδα, πόθεν γένος εὔχεται εἶναι.»

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀντίνοος δ' ἔπεσιν νείκεσσε συβώτην·
«ὦ ἀρίγνωτε συβῶτα, τίη δὲ σὺ τόνδε πόλινδε
ἤγαγες; ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ἧμιν ἀλήμονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι,
πτωχοὶ ἀνιηροί, δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρες;
ἦ ὄνοσαι, ὅτι τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν ἄνακτος
ἐνθάδ' ἀγειρόμενοι, σὺ δὲ καί ποθι τόνδ' ἐκάλεσσας;»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«Ἀντίνο', οὐ μὲν καλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις·
τίς γὰρ δὴ ξεῖνον καλεῖ ἄλλοθεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ἄλλον γ', 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 ἐπ' ἀπείρονα γαῖαν·
πτωχὸν δ' οὐκ ἄν τις καλέοι τρύξοντα ἓ αὐτόν.
ἀλλ' αἰεὶ χαλεπὸς περὶ πάντων εἰς μνηστήρων
δμωσὶν Ὀδυσσῆος, περὶ δ' αὖτ' ἐμοί· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
οὐκ ἀλέγω, εἷός μοι ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια
ζώει ἐνὶ μεγάροις καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«σίγα, μή μοι τοῦτον ἀμείβεο πόλλ' ἐπέεσσιν·
Ἀντίνοος δ' εἴωθε κακῶς ἐρεθιζέμεν αἰεὶ
μύθοισιν χαλεποῖσιν, ἐποτρύνει δὲ καὶ ἄλλους.»

ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντίνοον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Ἀντίνο', ἦ μευ καλὰ πατὴρ ὣς κήδεαι υἷος,
ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωγας ἀπὸ μεγάροιο δίεσθαι
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειε.
δός οἱ ἑλών· οὔ τοι φθονέω· κέλομαι γὰρ ἐγώ γε.
μήτ' οὖν μητέρ' ἐμὴν ἅζευ τό γε μήτε τιν' ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματ' Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
ἀλλ' οὔ τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·
αὐτὸς γὰρ φαγέμεν πολὺ βούλεαι ἢ δόμεν ἄλλῳ.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«Τηλέμαχ' ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, ποῖον ἔειπες.
εἴ οἱ τόσσον πάντες ὀρέξειαν μνηστῆρες,
καί κέν μιν τρεῖς μῆνας ἀπόπροθεν οἶκος ἐρύκοι.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν ὑπέφηνε τραπέζης
κείμενον, ᾧ ῥ' ἔπεχεν λιπαροὺς πόδας εἰλαπινάζων.
οἱ δ' ἄλλοι πάντες δίδοσαν, πλῆσαν δ' ἄρα πήρην
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν. τάχα δὴ καὶ μέλλεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὖτις ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰὼν προικὸς γεύσασθαι Ἀχαιῶν·
στῆ δὲ παρ' Ἀντίνοον καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

«δός, φίλος· οὐ μέν μοι δοκέεις ὁ κάκιστος Ἀχαιῶν
ἔμμεναι, ἀλλ' ὤριστος, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆϊ ἔοικας.
τῶ σε χρὴ δόμεναι καὶ λώϊον ἠέ περ ἄλλοι
σίτου· ἐγὼ δέ κέ σε κλείω κατ' ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ
τοίῳ, ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι ἄλλα τε πολλά,
οἷσίν τ' εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων· - ἤθελε γάρ που· -
ὅς μ' ἅμα ληϊστῆρσι πολυπλάγκτοισιν ἀνῆκεν
Αἴγυπτόνδ' ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδόν, ὄφρ' ἀπολοίμην.
στῆσα δ' ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
ἔνθ' ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι.
οἱ δ' ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,
αἶψα μάλ' Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα
αὐτούς τ' ἔκτεινον· τάχα δ' ἐς πόλιν ἵκετ' ἀϋτή.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμ' ἠόϊ φαινομένηφι
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς. ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
φύζαν ἐμοῖσ' ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
στῆναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
ἔνθ' ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τοὺς δ' ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔμ' ἐς Κύπρον ξείνῳ δόσαν ἀντιάσαντι,
Δμήτορι Ἰασίδῃ, ὃς Κύπρου ἶφι ἄνασσεν.
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδ' ἵκω πήματα πάσχων.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
«τίς δαίμων τόδε πῆμα προσήγαγε, δαιτὸς ἀνίην;
στῆθ' οὕτως ἐς μέσσον, ἐμῆς ἀπάνευθε τραπέζης,
μὴ τάχα πικρὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ Κύπρον ἴδηαι·
ὥς τις θαρσαλέος καὶ ἀναιδής ἐσσι προΐκτης.
ἑξείης πάντεσσι παρίστασαι· οἱ δὲ διδοῦσι
μαψιδίως, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις ἐπίσχεσις οὐδ' ἐλεητὺς
ἀλλοτρίων χαρίσασθαι, ἐπεὶ πάρα πολλὰ ἑκάστῳ.»

τὸν δ' ἀναχωρήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γ' ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ καὶ φρένες ἦσαν.
οὐ σύ γ' ἂν ἐξ οἴκου σῷ ἐπιστάτῃ οὐδ' ἅλα δοίης,
ὃς νῦν ἀλλοτρίοισι παρήμενος οὔ τί μοι ἔτλης
σίτου ἀποπροελὼν δόμεναι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πάρεστιν.»

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀντίνοος δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«νῦν δή σ' οὐκέτι καλὰ διὲκ μεγάροιο ὀΐω
ἂψ ἀναχωρήσειν, ὅτε δὴ καὶ ὀνείδεα βάζεις.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον
πρυμνότατον κατὰ νῶτον. ὁ δ' ἐστάθη ἠΰτε πέτρη
ἔμπεδον, οὐδ' ἄρα μιν σφῆλεν βέλος Ἀντινόοιο,

ἀλλ' ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
ἂψ δ' ὅ γ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, κὰδ δ' ἄρα πήρην
θῆκεν ἐϋπλείην, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπε·

«κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
ὄφρ' εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
οὐ μὰν οὔτ' ἄχος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσὶν οὔτε τι πένθος,
ὁππότ' ἀνὴρ περὶ οἷσι μαχειόμενος κτεάτεσσι
βλήεται ἢ περὶ βουσὶν ἢ ἀργεννῇσ' ὀΐεσσιν·
αὐτὰρ ἔμ' Ἀντίνοος βάλε γαστέρος εἵνεκα λυγρῆς,
οὐλομένης, ἣ πολλὰ κάκ' ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσιν.
ἀλλ' εἴ που πτωχῶν γε θεοὶ καὶ ἐρινύες εἰσίν,
Ἀντίνοον πρὸ γάμοιο τέλος θανάτοιο κιχείη.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
«ἔσθι' ἕκηλος, ξεῖνε, καθήμενος, ἢ ἄπιθ' ἄλλῃ,
μή σε νέοι διὰ δώματ' ἐρύσσωσ', οἷ' ἀγορεύεις,
ἢ ποδὸς ἢ καὶ χειρός, ἀποδρύψωσι δὲ πάντα.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

«Ἀντίνο', οὐ μὲν κάλ' ἔβαλες δύστηνον ἀλήτην.
οὐλόμεν', εἰ δή πού τις ἐπουράνιος θεός ἐστι·
καί τε θεοὶ ξείνοισιν ἐοικότες ἀλλοδαποῖσι,
παντοῖοι τελέθοντες, ἐπιστρωφῶσι πόληας,
ἀνθρώπων ὕβριν τε καὶ εὐνομίην ἐφορῶντες.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφαν μνηστῆρες, ὁ δ' οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἐν μὲν κραδίῃ μέγα πένθος ἄεξε
βλημένου, οὐδ' ἄρα δάκρυ χαμαὶ βάλεν ἐκ βλεφάροιϊν,
ἀλλ' ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.

τοῦ δ' ὡς οὖν ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
βλημένου ἐν μεγάρῳ, μετ' ἄρα δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·

«αἴθ' οὕτως αὐτόν σε βάλοι κλυτότοξος Ἀπόλλων.»

τὴν δ' αὖτ' Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«εἰ γὰρ ἐπ' ἀρῇσιν τέλος ἡμετέρῃσι γένοιτο·
οὐκ ἄν τις τούτων γε ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκοιτο.»

τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«μαῖ', ἐχθροὶ μὲν πάντες, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται·
Ἀντίνοος δὲ μάλιστα μελαίνῃ κηρὶ ἔοικε.
ξεῖνός τις δύστηνος ἀλητεύει κατὰ δῶμα
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων· ἀχρημοσύνη γὰρ ἀνώγει·
ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐνέπλησάν τ' ἔδοσάν τε,
οὗτος δὲ θρήνυι πρυμνὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον.»

ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς ἀγόρευε μετὰ δμῳῇσι γυναιξὶν
ἡμένη ἐν θαλάμῳ· ὁ δ' ἐδείπνει δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἡ δ' ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσασα προσηύδα δῖον ὑφορβόν·

«ἔρχεο, δῖ' Εὔμαιε, κιὼν τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωχθι
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἠδ' ἐρέωμαι,
εἴ που Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠὲ πέπυσται
ἢ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι· πολυπλάγκτῳ γὰρ ἔοικε.»

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«εἰ γάρ τοι, βασίλεια, σιωπήσειαν Ἀχαιοί·
οἷ' ὅ γε μυθεῖται, θέλγοιτό κέ τοι φίλον ἦτορ.
τρεῖς γὰρ δή μιν νύκτας ἔχον, τρία δ' ἤματ' ἔρυξα
ἐν κλισίῃ· πρῶτον γὰρ ἔμ' ἵκετο νηὸς ἀποδράς·
ἀλλ' οὔ πω κακότητα διήνυσεν ἣν ἀγορεύων.
ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀοιδὸν ἀνὴρ ποτιδέρκεται, ὅς τε θεῶν ἒξ
ἀείδῃ δεδαὼς ἔπε' ἱμερόεντα βροτοῖσι,
τοῦ δ' ἄμοτον μεμάασιν ἀκουέμεν, ὁππότ' ἀείδῃ·
ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἔθελγε παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι.
φησὶ δ' Ὀδυσσῆος ξεῖνος πατρώϊος εἶναι,
Κρήτῃ ναιετάων, ὅθι Μίνωος γένος ἐστίν.
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδ' ἵκετο πήματα πάσχων
προπροκυλινδόμενος· στεῦται δ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀκοῦσαι
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ζωοῦ· πολλὰ δ' ἄγει κειμήλια ὅνδε δόμονδε.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«ἔρχεο, δεῦρο κάλεσσον, ἵν' ἀντίον αὐτὸς ἐνίσπῃ.
οὗτοι δ' ἠὲ θύρῃσι καθήμενοι ἑψιαάσθων
ἢ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματ', ἐπεί σφισι θυμὸς ἐΰφρων.
αὐτῶν μὲν γὰρ κτήματ' ἀκήρατα κεῖτ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σῖτος καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· τὰ μέν τ' οἰκῆες ἔδουσιν,
οἱ δ' εἰς ἡμετέρου πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄϊς καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον
μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται· οὐ γὰρ ἔπ' ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
εἰ δ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτ' ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κε σὺν ᾧ παιδὶ βίας ἀποτείσεται ἀνδρῶν.»

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ μέγ' ἔπταρεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,
αἶψα δ' ἄρ' Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἔρχεό μοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐναντίον ὧδε κάλεσσον.
οὐχ ὁράᾳς, ὅ μοι υἱὸς ἐπέπταρε πᾶσιν ἔπεσσι;
τῶ κε καὶ οὐκ ἀτελὴς θάνατος μνηστῆρσι γένοιτο
πᾶσι μάλ', οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
αἴ κ' αὐτὸν γνώω νημερτέα πάντ' ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά.»

ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν,
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ξεῖνε πάτερ, καλέει σε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μήτηρ Τηλεμάχοιο· μεταλλῆσαί τί ἑ θυμὸς
ἀμφὶ πόσει κέλεται, καὶ κήδεά περ πεπαθυίῃ.
εἰ δέ κέ σε γνώῃ νημερτέα πάντ' ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσει σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, τῶν σὺ μάλιστα
χρηΐζεις· σῖτον δὲ καὶ αἰτίζων κατὰ δῆμον
γαστέρα βοσκήσεις· δώσει δέ τοι ὅς κ' ἐθέλῃσι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Εὔμαι', αἶψά κ' ἐγὼ νημερτέα πάντ' ἐνέποιμι
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ·
οἶδα γὰρ εὖ περὶ κείνου, ὁμὴν δ' ἀνεδέγμεθ' ὀϊζύν.
ἀλλὰ μνηστήρων χαλεπῶν ὑποδείδι' ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν, ὅτε μ' οὗτος ἀνὴρ κατὰ δῶμα κιόντα
οὔ τι κακὸν ῥέξαντα βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν,
οὔτε τι Τηλέμαχος τό γ' ἐπήρκεσεν οὔτε τις ἄλλος.
τῶ νῦν Πηνελόπειαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄνωχθι
μεῖναι, ἐπειγομένην περ, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα·
καὶ τότε μ' εἰρέσθω πόσιος πέρι νόστιμον ἦμαρ
ἀσσοτέρω καθίσασα παραὶ πυρί· εἵματα γάρ τοι
λύγρ' ἔχω· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτός, ἐπεί σε πρῶθ' ἱκέτευσα.»

ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε.
τὸν δ' ὑπὲρ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·

«οὐ σύ γ' ἄγεις, Εὔμαιε; τί τοῦτ' ἐνόησεν ἀλήτης;
ἤ τινά που δείσας ἐξαίσιον ἦε καὶ ἄλλως
αἰδεῖται κατὰ δῶμα; κακὸς δ' αἰδοῖος ἀλήτης.»

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«μυθεῖται κατὰ μοῖραν, ἅ πέρ κ' οἴοιτο καὶ ἄλλος,
ὕβριν ἀλυσκάζων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων·
ἀλλά σε μεῖναι ἄνωγεν ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδ' αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον, ὦ βασίλεια,
οἴην πρὸς ξεῖνον φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδ' ἐπακοῦσαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«οὐκ ἄφρων ὁ ξεῖνος ὀΐεται, ὥς περ ἂν εἴη·
οὐ γάρ πώ τινες ὧδε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
ἀνέρες ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.»

ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς ἀγόρευεν, ὁ δ' ᾤχετο δῖος ὑφορβὸς
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθ' οἱ ἄλλοι·

«ὦ φίλ', ἐγὼ μὲν ἄπειμι σύας καὶ κεῖνα φυλάξων,
σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν βίοτον· σοὶ δ' ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
αὐτὸν μὲν σὲ πρῶτα σάω, καὶ φράζεο θυμῷ,
μή τι πάθῃς· πολλοὶ δὲ κακὰ φρονέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν,
τοὺς Ζεὺς ἐξολέσειε πρὶν ἥμιν πῆμα γενέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σὺ δ' ἔρχεο δειελιήσας·
ἠῶθεν δ' ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἱερήϊα καλά.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μελήσει.»

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δ' αὖτις ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου.
πλησάμενος δ' ἄρα θυμὸν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος
βῆ ῥ' ἴμεναι μεθ' ὕας, λίπε δ' ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε
πλεῖον δαιτυμόνων· οἱ δ' ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ
τέρποντ'· ἤδη γὰρ καὶ ἐπήλυθε δείελον ἦμαρ.


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