ODYSSEY 11

But when we had come down to the ship and the sea, we first dragged the ship into the sacred salt waters, and in the black ship we set the mast and the sails, and taking the sheep aboard, we embarked; and we ourselves went aboard grieving, shedding warm tears from our eyes. And for us, astern of our dark-prowed ship, a fair wind blew, filling the sails, a worthy companion, sent by fair-tressed Circe, the dread goddess who speaks with human voice. And once we had made all the tackling fast throughout the ship, we sat; and the wind and the helmsman kept her course. All day long her sails were stretched as she journeyed over the sea. The sun set and all the pathways grew dark; and she came to the farthest shores of the deep-flowing Ocean.

There lies the land and the city of the Cimmerian men, shrouded in mist and cloud; and never does the shining Sun look down upon them with his rays, neither when he climbs toward the starry heaven, nor when he turns back again from heaven to earth, but pernicious night is spread over those unhappy mortals. Arriving there, we beached the ship, and took out the sheep; and we ourselves walked on along the stream of Ocean until we came to the place of which Circe had told us.

There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims, while I, drawing my sharp sword from my thigh, dug a pit of about a cubit's length and breadth, and around it I poured a libation to all the dead, first with honey and milk, then with sweet wine, and third with water; and over it I sprinkled white barley. And I prayed earnestly to the strengthless heads of the dead, vowing that when I returned to Ithaca, I would sacrifice a barren heifer, the best I had, in my halls, and would fill a pyre with treasures, and that to Tiresias alone I would offer a ram apart, one that was all black and the finest among our flocks. And when with vows and prayers I had beseeched the tribes of the dead, I took the sheep and cut their throats over the pit, and the dark blood flowed. And the souls of the dead who have perished gathered from out of Erebus: brides and unwed youths, and old men who had suffered much, and tender maidens with hearts new to sorrow, and many men wounded by bronze-tipped spears, warriors slain in battle, still bearing their blood-stained armor. These souls flocked around the pit from every side with an eerie cry; and pale fear seized me. Then I at once urged my comrades and commanded them to take the sheep that lay there, slaughtered by the pitiless bronze, to flay and burn them, and to pray to the gods, to mighty Hades and dread Persephone. But I myself, drawing the sharp sword from my thigh, sat and would not allow the strengthless heads of the dead to draw near the blood, before I had questioned Tiresias.

And the first soul to come was that of my comrade Elpenor. He had not yet been buried beneath the wide-wayed earth, for we had left his body in Circe's great hall, unwept and unburied, since another task drove us onward. Seeing him, I wept, and my heart was filled with pity, and raising my voice I spoke to him with winged words:

"Elpenor, how did you come to this murky gloom? You came faster on foot than I with my black ship."

So I spoke, and with a groan he answered my words: "Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, an evil doom from a god and a measureless portion of wine were my ruin. Lying down in Circe's hall, I did not think to go back down by the long ladder, but fell straight from the roof; and my neck was broken from the vertebrae, and my soul went down to the house of Hades. And now I implore you by those you left behind, those not present, by your wife and your father who raised you when you were a babe, and by Telemachus, whom you left alone in your halls. For I know that as you go hence from the house of Hades, you will stay your well-wrought ship at the island of Aeaea. There, O my king, I bid you remember me. Do not, upon your departure, leave me behind, unwept and unburied, turning away, lest I become a cause of the gods' wrath against you. But burn me there with all the armor that is mine,

and heap up a mound for me on the shore of the gray sea, in memory of an ill-fated man, that men yet to come may learn of me. Fulfill this for me, and plant upon my tomb the oar, with which I rowed in life, when I was with my comrades."

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "All this, unfortunate man, I will accomplish and perform for you."

Thus we sat, exchanging sorrowful words, I on one side, holding my sword over the blood, while on the other side the shade of my comrade spoke at length.

Then came the soul of my dead mother, Anticleia, daughter of great-hearted Autolycus, whom I had left alive when I went to sacred Ilium. Seeing her, I wept, and my heart was filled with pity, but even so, though grieving deeply, I would not allow her to come forward and near the blood, before I had questioned Tiresias.

Then came the soul of Theban Tiresias, holding a golden scepter, and he knew me and spoke to me:

"Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, why now, unhappy man, have you left the light of the sun to come here and look upon the dead and this joyless place? But step back from the pit, and draw away your sharp sword, so that I may drink of the blood and speak unerring words to you."

So he spoke, and I, drawing back, sheathed my silver-hilted sword in its scabbard. And when he had drunk the dark blood, then at last the blameless seer addressed me with these words:

"You seek a honey-sweet homecoming, glorious Odysseus, but a god will make it arduous for you. For I do not think you will elude the Earth-Shaker, who has laid up wrath in his heart for you, enraged that you blinded his beloved son. Yet even so you may still arrive, though you suffer evils, if you are willing to restrain your own spirit and that of your comrades, when first you bring your well-wrought ship near the island of Thrinacia, having escaped the violet-colored sea, and you find there the grazing cattle and sturdy sheep of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things. If you leave these unharmed and think only of your return, you may yet reach Ithaca, though you suffer evils. But if you harm them, then I foretell destruction for your ship and your comrades. And if you yourself escape, you will return late and in misery, having lost all your companions, upon a foreign ship; and you will find troubles in your house, arrogant men who devour your substance, wooing your godlike wife and offering bridal gifts. Yet in truth you will avenge their violent deeds upon your return. But when in your halls you have slain the suitors, whether by guile or openly with the sharp bronze, you must then go forth, taking with you a well-shaped oar, until you come to men who know nothing of the sea, men who do not eat their food mixed with salt; nor do they know of ships with crimson prows, nor of well-shaped oars, which are as wings to a ship. And I will give you a sign, most manifest, which you cannot miss: when another wayfarer, meeting you, says that you have a winnowing-fan on your gleaming shoulder, then you must plant your well-shaped oar in the earth, and make fine sacrifice to Lord Poseidon, a ram and a bull and a boar that mates with sows, and then return homeward and offer sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven, to all of them in order. And death will come to you from the sea, a death so very gentle, that will slay you when you are worn with sleek old age; and around you your people will be prosperous. These things I tell you are unerring."

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "Tiresias, this destiny the gods themselves have surely spun. But come, tell me this and declare it truly. I see here the soul of my departed mother; she sits in silence near the blood and does not dare to look her own son in the face or speak to him. Tell me, my lord, how might she recognize me for who I am?"

So I spoke, and he at once answered me, saying: "I will tell you a simple word and place it in your mind. Whichever of the departed dead you allow to draw near the blood, that one will tell you what is true; but whichever you begrudge it, that one will go back again."

Having spoken thus, the soul of the lord Tiresias went back into the house of Hades, after he had declared his prophecies; but I remained there steadfast, until my mother came and drank the dark blood; and at once she knew me, and weeping, she spoke to me with winged words:

"My child, how did you come to this murky gloom while yet alive? It is a hard thing for the living to behold these realms. For between are great rivers and dreadful streams, Ocean first of all, which one cannot possibly cross on foot, unless one has a well-wrought ship. Have you just now come here, wandering from Troy with your ship and your comrades after so long a time? Have you not yet reached Ithaca, nor seen your wife in your halls?"

So she spoke, and I answered her, saying: "My mother, necessity brought me down to the house of Hades, to seek an oracle from the soul of Theban Tiresias. For I have not yet come near to Achaea, nor yet set foot upon my own land, but have wandered ever in misery, from the day I first followed godlike Agamemnon to Ilium, famed for its horses, to fight against the Trojans. But come, tell me this and declare it truly: what doom of long-sorrowing death overcame you? Was it a lingering illness, or did Artemis the archer-goddess visit you with her gentle arrows and slay you? And tell me of my father and the son I left behind; does my royal honor still remain with them, or does some other man now possess it, since they say I will no longer return? And tell me of my wedded wife, of her purpose and her mind: does she remain with our son and keep all things safe, or has the best of the Achaeans already wedded her?"

So I spoke, and at once my revered mother answered: "Indeed, she remains with a steadfast heart in your halls; and always in sorrow for her the nights and days wane, as she sheds her tears. No one yet holds your fine royal honor, but Telemachus peacefully administers your domains and attends the equal feasts, such as it is fitting for a man who dispenses justice to share, for all men invite him. But your father remains there in the country and does not come down to the city; nor has he for bedding a bedstead with cloaks and shining blankets, but in winter he sleeps where the servants do in the house, in the dust by the fire, and wears poor clothing on his body. But when summer comes and the ripe harvest time, all about the slope of his vineyard plot humble beds of fallen leaves are strewn for him. There he lies grieving, and nurses a great sorrow in his heart, yearning for your return; and a hard old age has come upon him. For it was in this way that I too perished and met my fate. Neither did the keen-sighted archer-goddess in my own halls visit me with her gentle arrows and slay me, nor did any illness come upon me, such as most often with a hateful wasting sickness takes the life from the limbs, but it was my longing for you, my glorious Odysseus, for your counsels and your gentle kindness, that robbed me of my honey-sweet life."

So she spoke, and I, pondering in my heart, yearned to embrace the soul of my departed mother. Three times I started forward, and my heart urged me to clasp her, and three times she flew from my hands, like a shadow or a dream. And a sharp grief arose in my heart ever more keenly, and raising my voice I spoke to her with winged words:

"My mother, why do you not stay for me when I am so eager to hold you, so that even in the house of Hades we might cast our loving arms about each other and both take our fill of chill lamentation? Is this but a phantom that noble Persephone has sent me, so that I might grieve and groan all the more?"

So I spoke, and at once my revered mother answered: "Ah me, my child, most ill-fated of all men, Persephone, the daughter of Zeus, does not deceive you in any way, but this is the way of mortals, when one of them dies. For the sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones together, but the mighty power of the blazing fire consumes them,

as soon as the spirit leaves the white bones, and the soul, like a dream, flits away and is gone. But now strive to reach the light with all speed; and know all these things, so that you may later tell them to your wife."

Thus we spoke and exchanged words; and the women came, for noble Persephone sent them, all who had been the wives and daughters of chieftains. And they gathered in a throng around the dark blood, and I considered how I might question each one. And this seemed to my mind to be the best counsel: drawing my long sword from beside my sturdy thigh, I would not allow them all to drink the dark blood at once. And they came forward in order, and each one declared her lineage, and I questioned them all.

There I saw first Tyro, of a noble father, who said she was the daughter of blameless Salmoneus, and declared she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus. She fell in love with the river god Enipeus, who is by far the most beautiful of rivers that flow upon the earth, and she would frequent the fair streams of Enipeus. But the earth-holder, the Earth-Shaker, took his likeness, and lay with her at the mouth of the eddying river. And a dark wave, mountain-high, stood arched around them, and curving, hid the god and the mortal woman. And he loosed her maiden girdle, and shed sleep upon her. And when the god had accomplished the works of love, he took her by the hand and spoke a word and called her by name:

"Rejoice, woman, in our love; and as the year turns, you shall bear glorious children, for the beds of the immortals are not fruitless. You must care for them and rear them. Now go to your house and hold your tongue and do not name me; but know that I am Poseidon, the shaker of the earth."

So saying, he plunged beneath the surging sea. And she, becoming with child, bore Pelias and Neleus, who both became mighty servants of great Zeus. Pelias dwelt in wide-pastured Iolcus, rich in flocks, and the other in sandy Pylos. And the queen of women bore other children to Cretheus: Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon, who fought from a chariot.

And after her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus, who boasted that she had slept in the arms of Zeus, and she bore two sons, Amphion and Zethus, who were the first to found the seat of seven-gated Thebes and to fortify it, for without towers they could not dwell in spacious Thebes, however strong they might be.

And after her I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon, who bore Heracles, the bold-hearted, the lion-spirited, after mingling in the embrace of great Zeus. And I saw Megara, daughter of proud-hearted Creon, whom the son of Amphitryon, ever tireless in his might, had taken to wife.

And I saw the mother of Oedipus, fair Epicaste, who committed a great wrong in the ignorance of her heart, marrying her own son; and he, having slain his own father, wedded her. But the gods soon made these things known among men. He, though suffering pains in lovely Thebes, ruled over the Cadmeans through the deadly counsels of the gods; but she went down to the house of Hades, the mighty gate-keeper, fastening a deadly noose from the high ceiling of the hall, overcome by her own anguish. And she left behind for him sorrows, many and great, all that a mother's Furies can bring to pass.

And I saw Chloris, most beautiful, whom Neleus once wedded for her beauty, after he gave countless bridal gifts, the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus, who once ruled with might in Minyan Orchomenus. And she was queen of Pylos, and bore him glorious children, Nestor and Chromius and proud Periclymenus. And besides these she bore mighty Pero, a wonder to mortals, whom all the neighboring princes wooed. But Neleus would not give her to any man who could not drive the crook-horned, broad-browed cattle of mighty Iphicles from Phylace, a difficult task. Only the blameless seer promised to drive them, but the harsh fate of a god ensnared him, with grievous bonds and rustic herdsmen. But when at last the months and days were fulfilled, as the year turned and the seasons came on, then indeed mighty Iphicles released him, after he had told all the oracles; and the will of Zeus was fulfilled.

And I saw Leda, the wife of Tyndareus, who to Tyndareus bore two stout-hearted sons, Castor the tamer of horses, and Polydeuces the skilled boxer, both of whom the life-giving earth holds, though they are alive. Even beneath the earth, they have honor from Zeus, and one day they are alive, and the next day in turn they are dead; and they have been granted honor equal to the gods.

And after her I saw Iphimedeia, wife of Aloeus, who said that she had lain with Poseidon. And she bore two sons, but they were short-lived: godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes, the tallest men that the grain-giving earth ever nurtured, and by far the most handsome, after glorious Orion. For at nine years of age they were nine cubits in breadth, and in height they were nine fathoms. These two threatened even the immortals on Olympus, that they would raise the clamor of furious war. They were minded to set Ossa upon Olympus, and upon Ossa, leafy Pelion, that heaven might be scaled. And they would have accomplished it, had they reached the measure of their youth. But the son of Zeus, whom fair-haired Leto bore, destroyed them, both of them, before the first down bloomed beneath their temples and covered their chins with a flourishing beard.

Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne, the daughter of Minos of baleful mind, whom Theseus once led from Crete toward the hill of sacred Athens, but he had no joy of her, for Artemis slew her before he could, on the island of sea-girt Dia, on the testimony of Dionysus.

Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle, who took precious gold for the life of her own husband. But I cannot tell the tale of all of them, or name them, all the wives and daughters of heroes that I saw, for immortal night would wane before I finished. But it is time to sleep, either going to my swift ship to my companions, or here. My conveyance will be a care to the gods, and to you."

So he spoke, and they were all hushed into silence, held in a spell of enchantment throughout the shadowy halls. Then among them Arete of the white arms began to speak:

"Phaeacians, how does this man appear to you, in his form and stature, and in the balanced mind within him? He is my guest, moreover, and each of you shares in this honor. Therefore do not be hasty to send him away, nor stint the gifts to one so in need; for you have many treasures lying in your halls by the grace of the gods."

And to them also spoke the old hero Echeneus, who was the eldest of the Phaeacian men:

"My friends, not wide of the mark nor of our own judgment does our wise queen speak; so you must hearken to her. But on Alcinous here depend both deed and word."

And in turn Alcinous answered him and said: "This word shall indeed hold true, if I am still alive and ruling over the oar-loving Phaeacians. Let our guest be patient, however much he yearns for home, and nevertheless remain until tomorrow, until I can complete the whole of his parting gift. His conveyance will be the care of all the men, but most of all mine, for the power in the land is mine."

And resourceful Odysseus answered him, saying: "Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all people, if you should bid me remain here even for a year, while you arranged my conveyance and gave me glorious gifts, that is what I would wish, and it would be far better to arrive in my dear native land with a fuller hand, and I would be more respected and more beloved by all men who saw me return to Ithaca."

And in turn Alcinous answered him and said: "O Odysseus, in looking upon you, we do not in any way suppose you to be a cheat or a thief, of the sort that the black earth nourishes in great numbers, men scattered far and wide, who fashion falsehoods from what no one could even see. But upon you there is a grace of words, and within you a noble mind, and you have told your tale with the skill of a bard,

the grievous sorrows of all the Argives and of yourself. But come, tell me this and declare it truly, if you saw any of your godlike companions, who together with you followed you to Ilium and there met their fate. This night is very long, immeasurably so, and it is not yet time for sleep in the hall; so tell me of your wondrous deeds. I could hold out until the divine dawn, if you would dare to recount your sorrows here in the hall."

And resourceful Odysseus answered him, saying: "Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all people, there is a time for many words, and a time also for sleep. But if you are still eager to listen, I for my part would not begrudge you the telling of other things still more pitiful than these, the sorrows of my comrades who perished afterward, who escaped the dreadful cry of the Trojans, but perished on their homeward journey, by the will of an evil woman.

Now after hallowed Persephone had scattered the souls of the women this way and that, there came the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, grieving; and around him were gathered the others, all who with him had died and met their fate in the house of Aegisthus. He knew me at once, when he saw me with his eyes, and he wept aloud, letting fall warm tears, stretching out his hands toward me, yearning to reach me. But he no longer had any firm strength or force at all, such as he had before in his supple limbs. Seeing him, I wept, and my heart was filled with pity, and raising my voice, I spoke to him with winged words:

"Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, what doom of long-sorrowing death overcame you? Did Poseidon overcome you on your ships, raising an unholy blast of dreadful winds? Or did hostile men do you harm on dry land, as you were cutting out cattle or fine flocks of sheep, or as you fought for their city and their women?"

So I spoke, and he at once answered me, saying: "Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, neither did Poseidon overcome me on my ships, raising an unholy blast of dreadful winds, nor did hostile men do me harm on dry land, but Aegisthus, plotting death and doom for me, killed me with the help of my accursed wife, having called me to his house, feasting me, as one kills an ox at the manger. Thus I died a most pitiful death; and around me my other comrades were slain without cease, like white-tusked swine slaughtered in the house of a rich and powerful man for a wedding or a banquet or a festive carousal. You have before now witnessed the slaughter of many men, killed one by one and in the crush of mighty combat; but you would have lamented most of all in your heart to see that sight, how around the mixing bowl and the full tables we lay in the hall, and the entire floor steamed with blood. And I heard the most pitiful cry of Priam's daughter, Cassandra, whom treacherous Clytemnestra killed over me; and I, on the ground, lifted up my hands, and beat them as I died upon the sword. But the bitch-faced one turned away and did not deign, as I was going to the house of Hades, to close my eyes with her hands, or shut my mouth. Thus there is nothing more dreadful or more shameless than a woman who would take such deeds into her heart. What a foul deed she also contrived, plotting the murder of her wedded husband! In truth, I had thought that I would be welcomed by my children and my servants on my return home; but she, knowing such monstrous things, has poured shame upon herself and upon all women to come hereafter, even upon one who is virtuous."

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "Alas, how terribly has wide-seeing Zeus persecuted the line of Atreus, through the counsels of women, from the very beginning. For Helen's sake many of us perished, and for you Clytemnestra contrived a plot while you were far away."

So I spoke, and he at once answered me, saying: "Therefore, you too, never be too gentle with your own wife, nor reveal to her every word that you know well, but say one thing, and let another be hidden. But for you, Odysseus, death will not come from your wife; for she is far too prudent and has wise counsels in her heart, the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope. Indeed, when we left her, she was a young bride, as we went to the war; and a child was at her breast, a babe, who now, I suppose, sits in the ranks of men, a blessed man. For his dear father will see him upon his return, and he will embrace his father, as is right and proper. But my wife did not even allow me to take my fill of the sight of my own son; she killed me, his father, before that. And another thing I will tell you, and you cast it in your own heart: in secret, not openly, bring your ship to your dear native land, for there is no longer any faith in women. But come, tell me this and declare it truly, if you have heard of my son still being alive, perhaps in Orchomenus or in sandy Pylos, or perhaps with Menelaus in wide Sparta; for godlike Orestes is not yet dead upon the earth."

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "Son of Atreus, why do you ask me these things? I do not know at all, whether he is alive or dead; and it is an evil thing to speak words of wind."

Thus we two, exchanging sorrowful words, stood grieving, letting the warm tears fall. And there came the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, and of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus and of Ajax, who was the best in form and stature of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus. And the soul of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus knew me, and weeping, he spoke to me with winged words:

"Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, reckless man, what still greater deed will you devise in your heart? How did you dare to come down to the house of Hades, where the dead dwell witless, the phantoms of mortals who have toiled?"

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the mightiest of the Achaeans, I came on account of Tiresias, to see if he might give me some counsel on how I might reach rocky Ithaca. For I have not yet come near to Achaea, nor yet set foot upon my own land, but I have troubles always. But as for you, Achilles, no man before you was more blessed, nor will be hereafter. For before, when you were alive, we Argives honored you as we do the gods, and now again you rule with great power among the dead, being here. So do not grieve at all that you have died, Achilles."

So I spoke, and he at once answered me, saying: "Do not speak soothingly to me of death, glorious Odysseus. I would rather be on earth and a serf to another, to a man with no land, who has but a scant living, than be king over all the perished dead. But come, tell me the news of my noble son, whether he followed to the war to be a champion, or not. And tell me of blameless Peleus, if you have heard anything, whether he still holds his honor among the many Myrmidons, or if they dishonor him throughout Hellas and Phthia, because old age holds him fast by his hands and feet. For I am no longer his champion under the rays of the sun, not the man I once was in broad Troy, when I slew their finest warriors, defending the Argives.— If I could but come, such as I was, for a short while to my father's house, I would make my might and my invincible hands a terror to any man who does him violence and keeps him from his honor."

So he spoke, and I answered him, saying: "In truth, of blameless Peleus I have heard nothing, but as for your dear son Neoptolemus, I will tell you the whole truth, as you bid me. For I myself brought him on my own hollow, shapely ship from Scyros to join the well-greaved Achaeans. And indeed, whenever we took counsel around the city of Troy, he was always the first to speak and his words did not miss the mark; only godlike Nestor and I surpassed him. But when we Achaeans fought on the plain of Troy, he never remained in the throng or ranks of men,

but would charge far ahead, yielding to no one in his might; and he killed many men in the dread din of battle. I could not tell the tale of all of them, or name them, all the host he slew defending the Argives, but what a man was that son of Telephus whom he slew with the bronze, the hero Eurypylus; and many of his comrades, the Ceteians, were slain around him, on account of a woman's gifts. He was the most handsome man I ever saw, after godlike Memnon. And when we went down into the horse that Epeius had made, we the best of the Argives, and all was entrusted to me, both to open and to close the dense ambush, then the other leaders and counsellors of the Danaans wiped away their tears, and the limbs of each man trembled beneath him; but him I never saw with my own eyes at all, either his fair skin turn pale or from his cheeks did he wipe a tear; but he begged me again and again to let him out of the horse, and he grasped his sword-hilt and his heavy bronze spear, and was bent on evil for the Trojans. But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam, he went aboard his ship with his share and a fine prize, unharmed, neither struck by the sharp bronze nor wounded in close combat, as so often happens in war; for Ares rages indiscriminately."

So I spoke, and the soul of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus went away with long strides over the asphodel meadow, rejoicing that I had said his son was renowned.

And the other souls of the dead who have perished stood grieving, and each one asked of her sorrows. Only the soul of Ajax, son of Telamon, stood apart, still wroth on account of the victory that I had won over him in the contest by the ships for the arms of Achilles; his revered mother had set them as a prize, and the sons of the Trojans and Pallas Athene gave the verdict. How I wish I had never won in such a contest; for because of those arms the earth closed over so noble a head, Ajax, who in form and in deeds was foremost of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus. To him I spoke with words of gentleness:

"Ajax, son of blameless Telamon, were you then not to forget, even in death, your anger against me on account of the accursed arms? The gods set them as a plague for the Argives, so great a tower were you that was lost to them. For you the Achaeans grieve as unceasingly as for the life of Achilles, son of Peleus. And no one else is to blame, but Zeus bore a terrible hatred for the host of Danaan spearmen, and laid this doom upon you. But come here, my lord, that you may hear my word and my speech; tame your anger and your proud spirit."

So I spoke, but he answered me not a word, and went after the other souls into Erebus among the dead who have perished. There, though still angered, he might have spoken to me, or I to him, but the heart in my own breast desired to see the souls of the other dead.

There then I saw Minos, the glorious son of Zeus, holding a golden scepter and dispensing justice to the dead, seated, while they asked the lord for his judgments all around him, some seated and some standing, throughout the wide-gated house of Hades.

And after him I caught sight of huge Orion, driving the wild beasts together over the asphodel meadow, the very ones he had himself killed on the lonely mountains, holding in his hands a club all of bronze, ever unbreakable.

And I saw Tityus, son of glorious Gaia, lying on the ground. And he covered nine acres as he lay, and two vultures, sitting one on each side of him, tore at his liver, plunging their beaks into his entrails; and he could not beat them off with his hands. For he had assaulted Leto, the glorious consort of Zeus, as she was going to Pytho through Panopeus with its fair dancing-grounds.

And I saw Tantalus, too, in his grievous anguish, standing in a pool; and the water lapped at his chin. He strained, thirsty, but could not take and drink; for as often as the old man stooped, eager to drink, so often the water would be swallowed up and vanish, and at his feet the black earth would appear, for a god would parch it. And lofty trees let fall their fruit from overhead, pears and pomegranates and apple trees with shining fruit, and sweet figs and flourishing olives. But whenever the old man reached out to grasp them with his hands, the wind would toss them toward the shadowy clouds.

And I saw Sisyphus, too, in his mighty anguish, hefting a monstrous stone with both his hands. Indeed, bracing himself with hands and feet, he would thrust the stone upward toward a crest; but just as he was about to heave it over the top, a mighty force would turn it back, and then down to the plain the shameless stone would tumble again. But he would strain and thrust it back again, and the sweat poured from his limbs, and the dust rose up from his head.

And after him I caught sight of the mighty Heracles, his phantom; for he himself is among the immortal gods, delighting in their feasts, and has for his wife Hebe of the fair ankles, daughter of great Zeus and of Hera of the golden sandals. And around him was a clamor of the dead, like that of birds, scattering in terror in all directions. And he, like the dark night, held his bow unsheathed with an arrow on the string, glaring terribly, as if forever about to shoot. And awesome about his breast was the baldric, a golden strap, on which wondrous things were wrought: bears and wild boars and bright-eyed lions, conflicts and battles and murders and slaughters of men. May he who devised that strap with his art never have devised, nor ever devise, another. He knew me at once when he saw me with his eyes, and weeping, he spoke to me with winged words:

"Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, ah, wretched man, do you too lead some evil fate, such as I endured under the rays of the sun? I was the son of Zeus, the son of Cronos, but I had immeasurable sorrow; for I was enslaved to a man far inferior to me, and he set grievous labors upon me. And once he sent me here to bring back the hound of Hades; for he thought there could be for me no labor more difficult than this. But I brought the hound up and led him out of the house of Hades, and Hermes and gray-eyed Athene were my guides."

So saying, he went back again into the house of Hades, but I remained there steadfast, in case any other might still come of the hero-men who had perished long before. And I might have seen still more of the men of old, whom I wished to see, Theseus and Peirithous, glorious children of the gods; but before that the countless tribes of the dead gathered with a terrifying cry; and pale fear seized me, lest for me the Gorgon's head of the dreadful monster noble Persephone should send from the house of Hades. At once then, going to the ship, I commanded my companions to embark themselves and to loose the stern-cables. And they quickly went aboard and sat down at the oar-benches. And the current of the river Ocean carried her on its stream, first by rowing, and then with a fair wind.

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 11

Αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐν δ' ἱστὸν τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
ἐν δὲ τὰ μῆλα λαβόντες ἐβήσαμεν, ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
βαίνομεν ἀχνύμενοι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
ἡμῖν δ' αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
Κίρκη ἐϋπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.
ἡμεῖς δ' ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα
ἥμεθα· τὴν δ' ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τ' ἴθυνε.
τῆς δὲ πανημερίης τέταθ' ἱστία ποντοπορούσης.
δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡ δ' ἐς πείραθ' ἵκανε βαθυῤῥόου Ὠκεανοῖο.

ἔνθα δὲ Κιμμερίων ἀνδρῶν δῆμός τε πόλις τε,
ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμένοι· οὐδέ ποτ' αὐτοὺς
Ἠέλιος φαέθων καταδέρκεται ἀκτίνεσσιν,
οὔθ' ὁπότ' ἂν στείχῃσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,
οὔθ' ὅτ' ἂν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπ' οὐρανόθεν προτράπηται,
ἀλλ' ἐπὶ νὺξ ὀλοὴ τέταται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι.
νῆα μὲν ἔνθ' ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν, ἐκ δὲ τὰ μῆλα
εἱλόμεθ'· αὐτοὶ δ' αὖτε παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο
ᾔομεν, ὄφρ' ἐς χῶρον ἀφικόμεθ', ὃν φράσε Κίρκη.

ἔνθ' ἱερήϊα μὲν Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε
ἔσχον· ἐγὼ δ' ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
βόθρον ὄρυξ' ὅσσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφ' αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεόμην πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθ' ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δ' ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνον.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνούμην νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τ' ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δ' ἀπάνευθεν ὄϊν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλαν', ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ἡμετέροισι.
τοὺς δ' ἐπεὶ εὐχωλῇσι λιτῇσί τε, ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἐλλισάμην, τὰ δὲ μῆλα λαβὼν ἀπεδειροτόμησα
ἐς βόθρον, ῥέε δ' αἷμα κελαινεφές· αἱ δ' ἀγέροντο
ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ Ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων·
νύμφαι τ' ἠΐθεοί τε πολύτλητοί τε γέροντες
παρθενικαί τ' ἀταλαὶ νεοπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαι,
πολλοὶ δ' οὐτάμενοι χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν,
ἄνδρες ἀρηΐφατοι, βεβροτωμένα τεύχε' ἔχοντες·
οἳ πολλοὶ περὶ βόθρον ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
θεσπεσίῃ ἰαχῇ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
δὴ τότ' ἔπειθ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατέκειτ' ἐσφαγμένα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τ' Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἥμην οὐδ' εἴων νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἄσσον ἴμεν πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.

πρώτη δὲ ψυχὴ Ἐλπήνορος ἦλθεν ἑταίρου·
οὐ γάρ πω ἐτέθαπτο ὑπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης·
σῶμα γὰρ ἐν Κίρκης μεγάρῳ κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἄκλαυτον καὶ ἄθαπτον, ἐπεὶ πόνος ἄλλος ἔπειγε.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

«Ἐλπῆνορ, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα;
ἔφθης πεζὸς ἰὼν ἢ ἐγὼ σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἆσέ με δαίμονος αἶσα κακὴ καὶ ἀθέσφατος οἶνος·
Κίρκης δ' ἐν μεγάρῳ καταλέγμενος οὐκ ἐνόησα
ἄψοῤῥον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσον· ἐκ δέ μοι αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δ' Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθε.
νῦν δέ σε τῶν ὄπιθεν γουνάζομαι, οὐ παρεόντων,
πρός τ' ἀλόχου καὶ πατρός, ὅ σ' ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,
Τηλεμάχου θ', ὃν μοῦνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες·
οἶδα γὰρ ὡς ἐνθένδε κιὼν δόμου ἐξ Ἀΐδαο
νῆσον ἐς Αἰαίην σχήσεις εὐεργέα νῆα·
ἔνθα σ' ἔπειτα, ἄναξ, κέλομαι μνήσασθαι ἐμεῖο.
μή μ' ἄκλαυτον ἄθαπτον ἰὼν ὄπιθεν καταλείπειν
νοσφισθείς, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι,
ἀλλά με κακκῆαι σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἅσσα μοί ἐστι,

σῆμά τέ μοι χεῦαι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,
ἀνδρὸς δυστήνοιο, καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι·
ταῦτά τέ μοι τελέσαι πῆξαί τ' ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἐρετμόν,
τῷ καὶ ζωὸς ἔρεσσον ἐὼν μετ' ἐμοῖσ' ἑτάροισιν.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ταῦτά τοι, ὦ δύστηνε, τελευτήσω τε καὶ ἕρξω.»

νῶϊ μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἥμεθ', ἐγὼ μὲν ἄνευθεν ἐφ' αἵματι φάσγανον ἴσχων,
εἴδωλον δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἑταίρου πόλλ' ἀγόρευεν.

ἦλθε δ' ἐπὶ ψυχὴ μητρὸς κατατεθνηυίης,
Αὐτολύκου θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀντίκλεια,
τὴν ζωὴν κατέλειπον ἰὼν εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ·
ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὧς εἴων προτέρην, πυκινόν περ ἀχεύων,
αἵματος ἄσσον ἴμεν πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.

ἦλθε δ' ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ἐμὲ δ' ἔγνω καὶ προσέειπε·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
τίπτ' αὖτ', ὦ δύστηνε, λιπὼν φάος ἠελίοιο
ἤλυθες, ὄφρα ἴδῃ νέκυας καὶ ἀτερπέα χῶρον;
ἀλλ' ἀποχάζεο βόθρου, ἄπισχε δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
αἵματος ὄφρα πίω καί τοι νημερτέα εἴπω.»

ὣς φάτ', ἐγὼ δ' ἀναχασσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
κουλεῷ ἐγκατέπηξ'. ὁ δ' ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν,
καὶ τότε δή μ' ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μάντις ἀμύμων·

«νόστον δίζηαι μελιηδέα, φαίδιμ' Ὀδυσσεῦ·
τὸν δέ τοι ἀργαλέον θήσει θεός. οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
λήσειν ἐννοσίγαιον, ὅ τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ,
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.
ἀλλ' ἔτι μέν κε καὶ ὧς, κακά περ πάσχοντες, ἵκοισθε,
αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃς σὸν θυμὸν ἐρυκακέειν καὶ ἑταίρων,
ὁππότε κεν πρῶτον πελάσῃς εὐεργέα νῆα
Θρινακίῃ νήσῳ, προφυγὼν ἰοειδέα πόντον,
βοσκομένας δ' εὕρητε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντ' ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντ' ἐπακούει.
τὰς εἰ μέν κ' ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,
καί κεν ἔτ' εἰς Ἰθάκην, κακά περ πάσχοντες, ἵκοισθε·
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομ' ὄλεθρον
νηΐ τε καὶ ἑτάροισ'. αὐτὸς δ' εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
νηὸς ἐπ' ἀλλοτρίης· δήεις δ' ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρας ὑπερφιάλους, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσι
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι κείνων γε βίας ἀποτείσεαι ἐλθών·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι
κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἔρχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα, λαβὼν εὐῆρες ἐρετμόν,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκηαι, οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν
ἀνέρες οὐδέ θ' ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·
οὐδ' ἄρα τοὶ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους,
οὐδ' εὐήρε' ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλ' ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει·
ὁππότε κεν δή τοι ξυμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτης
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,
καὶ τότε δὴ γαίῃ πήξας εὐῆρες ἐρετμόν,
ἕρξας ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τ' ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,
οἴκαδ' ἀποστείχειν ἕρδειν θ' ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,
πᾶσι μάλ' ἑξείης. θάνατος δέ τοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ
ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ σε πέφνῃ
γήρᾳ ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται. τὰ δέ τοι νημερτέα εἴρω.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«Τειρεσίη, τὰ μὲν ἄρ που ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ αὐτοί.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
μητρὸς τήνδ' ὁρόω ψυχὴν κατατεθνηυίης·
ἡ δ' ἀκέουσ' ἧσται σχεδὸν αἵματος οὐδ' ἑὸν υἱὸν
ἔτλη ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι·
εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς κέν με ἀναγνοίη τὸν ἐόντα;»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«ῥηΐδιόν τοι ἔπος ἐρέω καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θήσω·
ὅν τινα μέν κεν ἐᾷς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
αἵματος ἄσσον ἴμεν, ὁ δέ τοι νημερτὲς ἐνίψει·
ᾧ δέ κ' ἐπιφθονέῃς, ὁ δέ τοι πάλιν εἶσιν ὀπίσσω.»

ὣς φαμένη ψυχὴ μὲν ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω
Τειρεσίαο ἄνακτος, ἐπεὶ κατὰ θέσφατ' ἔλεξεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, ὄφρ' ἐπὶ μήτηρ
ἤλυθε καὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινεφές· αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω
καί μ' ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«τέκνον ἐμόν, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα
ζωὸς ἐών; χαλεπὸν δὲ τάδε ζωοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.
μέσσῳ γὰρ μεγάλοι ποταμοὶ καὶ δεινὰ ῥέεθρα,
Ὠκεανὸς μὲν πρῶτα, τὸν οὔ πως ἔστι περῆσαι
πεζὸν ἐόντ', ἢν μή τις ἔχῃ εὐεργέα νῆα.
ἦ νῦν δὴ Τροίηθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνεις
νηΐ τε καὶ ἑτάροισι πολὺν χρόνον; οὐδέ πω ἦλθες
εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐδ' εἶδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκα;»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«μῆτερ ἐμή, χρειώ με κατήγαγεν εἰς Ἀΐδαο
ψυχῇ χρησόμενον Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλ' αἰὲν ἔχων ἀλάλημαι ὀϊζύν,
ἐξ οὗ τὰ πρώτισθ' ἑπόμην Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μαχοίμην.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἢ δολιχὴ νοῦσος, ἦ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
οἷσ' ἀγανοῖσι βέλεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν;
εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός τε καὶ υἱέος, ὃν κατέλειπον,
ἢ ἔτι πὰρ κείνοισιν ἐμὸν γέρας, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχει, ἐμὲ δ' οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι μνηστῆς ἀλόχου βουλήν τε νόον τε,
ἠὲ μένει παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσει,
ἦ ἤδη μιν ἔγημεν Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
«καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
σὸν δ' οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐΐσας
δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρ' ἀλεγύνειν·
πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνει
ἀγρῷ οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται· οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶ
δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,
ἀλλ' ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τ' ὀπώρη,
πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλῳῆς οἰνοπέδοιο
φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.
ἔνθ' ὅ γε κεῖτ' ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξει
σὸν νόστον ποθέων· χαλεπὸν δ' ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.
οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·
οὔτ' ἐμέ γ' ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐΰσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα
οἷσ' ἀγανοῖσι βέλεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,
οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλιστα
τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμ' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
σή τ' ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γ' ἔθελον φρεσὶ μερμηρίξας
μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.
τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳ
ἔπτατ'· ἐμοὶ δ' ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

«μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μ' οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν μεμαῶτα,
ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντε
ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;
ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδ' ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια
ὤτρυν', ὄφρ' ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ' αὐτίκ' ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
«ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, περὶ πάντων κάμμορε φωτῶν,
οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,
ἀλλ' αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο

δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκ' ὀστέα θυμός,
ψυχὴ δ' ἠΰτ' ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.
ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο· ταῦτα δὲ πάντα
ἴσθ', ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.»

νῶϊ μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμεθ', αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἤλυθον, ὤτρυνεν γὰρ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια,
ὅσσαι ἀριστήων ἄλοχοι ἔσαν ἠδὲ θύγατρες.
αἱ δ' ἀμφ' αἷμα κελαινὸν ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον, ὅπως ἐρέοιμι ἑκάστην.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ
οὐκ εἴων πίνειν ἅμα πάσας αἷμα κελαινόν.
αἱ δὲ προμνηστῖναι ἐπήϊσαν, ἠδὲ ἑκάστη
ὃν γόνον ἐξαγόρευεν· ἐγὼ δ' ἐρέεινον ἁπάσας.

ἔνθ' ἦ τοι πρώτην Τυρὼ ἴδον εὐπατέρειαν,
ἣ φάτο Σαλμωνῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονος εἶναι,
φῆ δὲ Κρηθῆος γυνὴ ἔμμεναι Αἰολίδαο·
ἣ ποταμοῦ ἠράσσατ' Ἐνιπῆος θείοιο,
ὃς πολὺ κάλλιστος ποταμῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησι,
καί ῥ' ἐπ' Ἐνιπῆος πωλέσκετο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.
τῷ δ' ἄρα εἰσάμενος γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
ἐν προχοῇς ποταμοῦ παρελέξατο δινήεντος·
πορφύρεον δ' ἄρα κῦμα περιστάθη οὔρεϊ ἶσον,
κυρτωθέν, κρύψεν δὲ θεὸν θνητήν τε γυναῖκα.
λῦσε δὲ παρθενίην ζώνην, κατὰ δ' ὕπνον ἔχευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐτέλεσσε θεὸς φιλοτήσια ἔργα,
ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·

«χαῖρε, γύναι, φιλότητι· περιπλομένου δ' ἐνιαυτοῦ
τέξεαι ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιοι εὐναὶ
ἀθανάτων· σὺ δὲ τοὺς κομέειν ἀτιταλλέμεναί τε.
νῦν δ' ἔρχευ πρὸς δῶμα καὶ ἴσχεο μηδ' ὀνομήνῃς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοί εἰμι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.
ἡ δ' ὑποκυσαμένη Πελίην τέκε καὶ Νηλῆα,
τὼ κρατερὼ θεράποντε Διὸς μεγάλοιο γενέσθην
ἀμφοτέρω· Πελίης μὲν ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ἰαολκῷ
ναῖε πολύῤῥηνος, ὁ δ' ἄρ' ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι.
τοὺς δ' ἑτέρους Κρηθῆϊ τέκεν βασίλεια γυναικῶν,
Αἴσονά τ' ἠδὲ Φέρητ' Ἀμυθάονά θ' ἱππιοχάρμην.

τὴν δὲ μέτ' Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα,
ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετ' ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι,
καί ῥ' ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδ', Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε,
οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο
πύργωσάν τ', ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γ' ἐδύναντο
ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε.

τὴν δὲ μετ' Ἀλκμήνην ἴδον, Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἄκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥ' Ἡρακλῆα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα
γείνατ' ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο μιγεῖσα·
καὶ Μεγάρην, Κρείοντος ὑπερθύμοιο θύγατρα,
τὴν ἔχεν Ἀμφιτρύωνος υἱὸς μένος αἰὲν ἀτειρής.

μητέρα τ' Οἰδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Ἐπικάστην,
ἣ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξεν ἀϊδρείῃσι νόοιο
γημαμένη ᾧ υἷϊ· ὁ δ' ὃν πατέρ' ἐξεναρίξας
γῆμεν· ἄφαρ δ' ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.
ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράτῳ ἄλγεα πάσχων
Καδμείων ἤνασσε θεῶν ὀλοὰς διὰ βουλάς·
ἡ δ' ἔβη εἰς Ἀΐδαο πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο,
ἁψαμένη βρόχον αἰπὺν ἀφ' ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου
ᾧ ἄχεϊ σχομένη· τῷ δ' ἄλγεα κάλλιπ' ὀπίσσω
πολλὰ μάλ', ὅσσα τε μητρὸς ἐρινύες ἐκτελέουσι.

καὶ Χλῶριν εἶδον περικαλλέα, τήν ποτε Νηλεὺς
γῆμεν ἑὸν διὰ κάλλος, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,
ὁπλοτάτην κούρην Ἀμφίονος Ἰασίδαο,
ὅς ποτ' ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ Μινυηΐῳ ἶφι ἄνασσεν·
ἡ δὲ Πύλου βασίλευε, τέκεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
Νέστορά τε Χρομίον τε Περικλύμενόν τ' ἀγέρωχον.
τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,
τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδέ τι Νηλεὺς
τῷ ἐδίδου, ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπους
ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε βίης Ἰφικληείης
ἀργαλέας. τὰς δ' οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμων
ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε
δεσμοί τ' ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο
ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη
θέσφατα πάντ' εἰπόντα· Διὸς δ' ἐτελείετο βουλή.

καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥ' ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,
Κάστορά θ' ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,
τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·
οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντες
ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσ' ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δ' αὖτε
τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.

τὴν δὲ μέτ' Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτιν,
εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,
καί ῥ' ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δὲ γενέσθην,
Ὦτόν τ' ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τ' Ἐφιάλτην,
οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·
ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσαν
εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ
φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο.
Ὄσσαν ἐπ' Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπ' Ὄσσῃ
Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵν' οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.
καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο·
ἀλλ' ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,
ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωϊν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλους
ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς εὐανθέϊ λάχνῃ.

Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τ' Ἀριάδνην,
κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς
ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράων
ἦγε μέν, οὐδ' ἀπόνητο· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα
Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσι.

Μαῖράν τε κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τ' Ἐριφύλην,
ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.
πάσας δ' οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδ' ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·
πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτ' ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρη
εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντ' ἐς ἑταίρους
ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖσ' ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,
κηληθμῷ δ' ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τοῖσιν δ' Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·

«Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας;
ξεῖνος δ' αὖτ' ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δ' ἔμμορε τιμῆς.
τῶ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε μηδὲ τὰ δῶρα
οὕτω χρηΐζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖν
κτήματ' ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.»

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδ' ἀπὸ δόξης
μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.
Ἀλκινόου δ' ἐκ τοῦδ' ἔχεται ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
«τοῦτο μὲν οὕτω δὴ ἔσται ἔπος, αἴ κεν ἐγώ γε
ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·
ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω, μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζων,
ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσαν
δωτίνην τελέσω. πομπὴ δ' ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δ' ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστ' ἐνὶ δήμῳ.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτ' αὐτόθι μίμνειν
πομπήν τ' ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,
καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη
πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χειρὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδ' ἱκέσθαι,
καί κ' αἰδοιότερος καὶ φίλτερος ἀνδράσιν εἴην
πᾶσιν, ὅσοι μ' Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
«ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, τὸ μὲν οὔ τί σ' ἐΐσκομεν εἰσορόωντες
ἠπεροπῆά τ' ἔμεν καὶ ἐπίκλοπον, οἷά τε πολλοὺς
βόσκει γαῖα μέλαινα πολυσπερέας ἀνθρώπους
ψεύδεά τ' ἀρτύνοντας, ὅθεν κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο·
σοὶ δ' ἔπι μὲν μορφὴ ἐπέων, ἔνι δὲ φρένες ἐσθλαί,
μῦθον δ' ὡς ὅτ' ἀοιδὸς ἐπισταμένως κατέλεξας,

πάντων Ἀργείων σέο τ' αὐτοῦ κήδεα λυγρά.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ τινας ἀντιθέων ἑτάρων ἴδες, οἵ τοι ἅμ' αὐτῷ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμ' ἕποντο καὶ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
νὺξ δ' ἥδε μάλα μακρή, ἀθέσφατος, οὐδέ πω ὥρη
εὕδειν ἐν μεγάρῳ· σὺ δέ μοι λέγε θέσκελα ἔργα.
καί κεν ἐς ἠῶ δῖαν ἀνασχοίμην, ὅτε μοι σὺ
τλαίης ἐν μεγάρῳ τὰ σὰ κήδεα μυθήσασθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
ὥρη μὲν πολέων μύθων, ὥρη δὲ καὶ ὕπνου·
εἰ δ' ἔτ' ἀκουέμεναί γε λιλαίεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτα
τούτων σοι φθονέοιμι καὶ οἰκτρότερ' ἄλλ' ἀγορεύειν,
κήδε' ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἳ δὴ μετόπισθεν ὄλοντο,
οἳ Τρώων μὲν ὑπεξέφυγον στονόεσσαν ἀϋτήν,
ἐν νόστῳ δ' ἀπόλοντο κακῆς ἰότητι γυναικός.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψυχὰς μὲν ἀπεσκέδασ' ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ
ἁγνὴ Περσεφόνεια γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,
ἦλθε δ' ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δ' ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθ', ὅσσοι ἅμ' αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἔγνω δ' αἶψ' ἐμὲ κεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι·
κλαῖε δ' ὅ γε λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων,
πιτνὰς εἰς ἐμὲ χεῖρας ὀρέξασθαι μενεαίνων·
ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ οἱ ἔτ' ἦν ἲς ἔμπεδος οὐδ' ἔτι κῖκυς,
οἵη περ πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

«Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἠέ σέ γ' ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀϋτμήν;
ἦέ σ' ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντ' ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνόμενον ἠδ' οἰῶν πώεα καλὰ
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενον ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὔτ' ἐμέ γ' ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀϋτμήν,
οὔτε μ' ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντ' ἐπὶ χέρσου,
ἀλλά μοι Αἴγισθος τεύξας θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ἔκτα σὺν οὐλομένῃ ἀλόχῳ οἶκόνδε καλέσσας,
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.
ὣς θάνον οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ· περὶ δ' ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι
νωλεμέως κτείνοντο σύες ὣς ἀργιόδοντες,
οἵ ῥά τ' ἐν ἀφνειοῦ ἀνδρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο
ἢ γάμῳ ἢ ἐράνῳ ἢ εἰλαπίνῃ τεθαλυίῃ.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων φόνῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας,
μουνὰξ κτεινομένων καὶ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν ὀλοφύραο θυμῷ,
ὡς ἀμφὶ κρητῆρα τραπέζας τε πληθούσας
κείμεθ' ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ, δάπεδον δ' ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
οἰκτροτάτην δ' ἤκουσα ὄπα Πριάμοιο θυγατρὸς
Κασσάνδρης, τὴν κτεῖνε Κλυταιμνήστρη δολόμητις
ἀμφ' ἐμοί· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ γαίῃ χεῖρας ἀείρων
βάλλον ἀποθνῄσκων περὶ φασγάνῳ· ἡ δὲ κυνῶπις
νοσφίσατ' οὐδέ μοι ἔτλη, ἰόντι περ εἰς Ἀΐδαο,
χερσὶ κατ' ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑλέειν σύν τε στόμ' ἐρεῖσαι.
ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός,
ἥ τις δὴ τοιαῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἔργα βάληται·
οἷον δὴ καὶ κείνη ἐμήσατο ἔργον ἀεικές,
κουριδίῳ τεύξασα πόσει φόνον. ἦ τοι ἔφην γε
ἀσπάσιος παίδεσσιν ἰδὲ δμώεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
οἴκαδ' ἐλεύσεσθαι· ἡ δ' ἔξοχα λυγρὰ ἰδυῖα
οἷ τε κατ' αἶσχος ἔχευε καὶ ἐσσομένῃσιν ὀπίσσω
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κ' εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ γόνον Ἀτρέος εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε γυναικείας διὰ βουλὰς
ἐξ ἀρχῆς· Ἑλένης μὲν ἀπωλόμεθ' εἵνεκα πολλοί,
σοὶ δὲ Κλυταιμνήστρη δόλον ἤρτυε τηλόθ' ἐόντι.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«τῶ νῦν μή ποτε καὶ σὺ γυναικί περ ἤπιος εἶναι
μηδ' οἱ μῦθον ἅπαντα πιφαυσκέμεν, ὅν κ' ἐῢ εἰδῇς,
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν φάσθαι, τὸ δὲ καὶ κεκρυμμένον εἶναι.
ἀλλ' οὐ σοί γ', Ὀδυσεῦ, φόνος ἔσσεται ἔκ γε γυναικός·
λίην γὰρ πινυτή τε καὶ εὖ φρεσὶ μήδεα οἶδε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
ἦ μέν μιν νύμφην γε νέην κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἐρχόμενοι πόλεμόνδε· πάϊς δέ οἱ ἦν ἐπὶ μαζῷ
νήπιος, ὅς που νῦν γε μετ' ἀνδρῶν ἵζει ἀριθμῷ,
ὄλβιος· ἦ γὰρ τόν γε πατὴρ φίλος ὄψεται ἐλθών,
καὶ κεῖνος πατέρα προσπτύξεται, ἣ θέμις ἐστίν.
ἡ δ' ἐμὴ οὐδέ περ υἷος ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἄκοιτις
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἔασε· πάρος δέ με πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·
κρύβδην, μηδ' ἀναφανδά, φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
νῆα κατισχέμεναι, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώοντος ἀκούετε παιδὸς ἐμοῖο
ἤ που ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ ἢ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι
ἤ που πὰρ Μενελάῳ ἐνὶ Σπάρτῃ εὐρείῃ·
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀρέστης.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τι οἶδα,
ζώει ὅ γ' ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δ' ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.»

νῶϊ μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἕσταμεν ἀχνύμενοι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἦλθε δ' ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θ', ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχή με ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
καί ῥ' ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
σχέτλιε, τίπτ' ἔτι μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήσεαι ἔργον;
πῶς ἔτλης Ἄϊδόσδε κατελθέμεν, ἔνθα τε νεκροὶ
ἀφραδέες ναίουσι, βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων;»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατ' Ἀχαιῶν,
ἦλθον Τειρεσίαο κατὰ χρέος, εἴ τινα βουλὴν
εἴποι, ὅπως Ἰθάκην ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἱκοίμην·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλ' αἰὲν ἔχω κακά. σεῖο δ', Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οὔ τις ἀνὴρ προπάροιθε μακάρτερος οὔτ' ἄρ' ὀπίσσω·
πρὶν μὲν γάρ σε ζωὸν ἐτίομεν ἶσα θεοῖσιν
Ἀργεῖοι, νῦν αὖτε μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν
ἐνθάδ' ἐών· τῶ μή τι θανὼν ἀκαχίζευ, Ἀχιλλεῦ.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' αὐτίκ' ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«μὴ δή μοι θάνατόν γε παραύδα, φαίδιμ' Ὀδυσσεῦ.
βουλοίμην κ' ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,
ἀνδρὶ παρ' ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,
ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγαυοῦ μῦθον ἐνίσπες,
ἢ ἕπετ' ἐς πόλεμον πρόμος ἔμμεναι ἦε καὶ οὐκί.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος εἴ τι πέπυσσαι,
ἢ ἔτ' ἔχει τιμὴν πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,
ἦ μιν ἀτιμάζουσιν ἀν' Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τε,
οὕνεκά μιν κατὰ γῆρας ἔχει χεῖράς τε πόδας τε.
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπαρωγὸς ὑπ' αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ποτ' ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ
πέφνον λαὸν ἄριστον, ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν, -
εἰ τοιόσδ' ἔλθοιμι μίνυνθά περ ἐς πατέρος δῶ,
τῶ κέ τεῳ στύξαιμι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους,
οἳ κεῖνον βιόωνται ἐέργουσίν τ' ἀπὸ τιμῆς.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
«ἦ τοι μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος οὔ τι πέπυσμαι,
αὐτάρ τοι παιδός γε Νεοπτολέμοιο φίλοιο
πᾶσαν ἀληθείην μυθήσομαι, ὥς με κελεύεις·
αὐτὸς γάρ μιν ἐγὼ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐΐσης
ἤγαγον ἐκ Σκύρου μετ' ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
ἦ τοι ὅτ' ἀμφὶ πόλιν Τροίην φραζοίμεθα βουλάς,
αἰεὶ πρῶτος ἔβαζε καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτανε μύθων·
Νέστωρ δ' ἀντίθεος καὶ ἐγὼ νικάσκομεν οἴω.
αὐτὰρ ὅτ' ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μαρναίμεθ' Ἀχαιοί,
οὔ ποτ' ἐνὶ πληθυῖ μένεν ἀνδρῶν οὐδ' ἐν ὁμίλῳ,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ προθέεσκε, τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων·
πολλοὺς δ' ἄνδρας ἔπεφνεν ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.
πάντας δ' οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδ' ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσον λαὸν ἔπεφνεν ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν,
ἀλλ' οἷον τὸν Τηλεφίδην κατενήρατο χαλκῷ,
ἥρω' Εὐρύπυλον· πολλοὶ δ' ἀμφ' αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
Κήτειοι κτείνοντο γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
κεῖνον δὴ κάλλιστον ἴδον μετὰ Μέμνονα δῖον.
αὐτὰρ ὅτ' εἰς ἵππον κατεβαίνομεν, ὃν κάμ' Ἐπειός,
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐμοὶ δ' ἐπὶ πάντ' ἐτέταλτο,
ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν λόχον ἠδ' ἐπιθεῖναι,
ἔνθ' ἄλλοι Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
δάκρυά τ' ὠμόργνυντο, τρέμον θ' ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστου·
κεῖνον δ' οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
οὔτ' ὠχρήσαντα χρόα κάλλιμον οὔτε παρειῶν
δάκρυ' ὀμορξάμενον· ὁ δέ με μάλα πόλλ' ἱκέτευεν
ἱππόθεν ἐξέμεναι, ξίφεος δ' ἐπεμαίετο κώπην
καὶ δόρυ χαλκοβαρές, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μενοίνα.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
μοῖραν καὶ γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινεν
ἀσκηθής, οὔτ' ἂρ βεβλημένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
οὔτ' αὐτοσχεδίην οὐτασμένος, οἷά τε πολλὰ
γίνεται ἐν πολέμῳ· ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ψυχὴ δὲ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
φοίτα μακρὰ βιβᾶσα κατ' ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
γηθοσύνη, ὅ οἱ υἱὸν ἔφην ἀριδείκετον εἶναι.

αἱ δ' ἄλλαι ψυχαὶ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
ἕστασαν ἀχνύμεναι, εἴροντο δὲ κήδε' ἑκάστη.
οἴη δ' Αἴαντος ψυχὴ Τελαμωνιάδαο
νόσφιν ἀφεστήκει, κεχολωμένη εἵνεκα νίκης,
τήν μιν ἐγὼ νίκησα δικαζόμενος παρὰ νηυσὶ
τεύχεσιν ἀμφ' Ἀχιλῆος· ἔθηκε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ,
παῖδες δὲ Τρώων δίκασαν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδ' ἐπ' ἀέθλῳ·
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκ' αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν,
Αἴανθ', ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δ' ἔργα τέτυκτο
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπέεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισιν·

«Αἶαν, παῖ Τελαμῶνος ἀμύμονος, οὐκ ἄρ' ἔμελλες
οὐδὲ θανὼν λήσεσθαι ἐμοὶ χόλου εἵνεκα τευχέων
οὐλομένων; τὰ δὲ πῆμα θεοὶ θέσαν Ἀργείοισι·
τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο· σεῖο δ' Ἀχαιοὶ
ἶσον Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῇ Πηληϊάδαο
ἀχνύμεθα φθιμένοιο διαμπερές· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
αἴτιος, ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς Δαναῶν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε, τεῒν δ' ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἔθηκεν.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵν' ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃς
ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀγήνορα θυμόν.»

ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μ' οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο, βῆ δὲ μετ' ἄλλας
ψυχὰς εἰς Ἔρεβος νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
ἔνθα χ' ὅμως προσέφη κεχολωμένος, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τόν·
ἀλλά μοι ἤθελε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι
τῶν ἄλλων ψυχὰς ἰδέειν κατατεθνηώτων.

ἔνθ' ἦ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διὸς ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν,
ἥμενον· οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφὶ δίκας εἴροντο ἄνακτα,
ἥμενοι ἑσταότες τε, κατ' εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.

τὸν δὲ μέτ' Ὠρίωνα πελώριον εἰσενόησα
θῆρας ὁμοῦ εἰλεῦντα κατ' ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
τοὺς αὐτὸς κατέπεφνεν ἐν οἰοπόλοισιν ὄρεσσι,
χερσὶν ἔχων ῥόπαλον παγχάλκεον, αἰὲν ἀαγές.

καὶ Τιτυὸν εἶδον, Γαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱόν,
κείμενον ἐν δαπέδῳ. ὁ δ' ἐπ' ἐννέα κεῖτο πέλεθρα,
γῦπε δέ μιν ἑκάτερθε παρημένω ἧπαρ ἔκειρον,
δέρτρον ἔσω δύνοντες· ὁ δ' οὐκ ἀπαμύνετο χερσί.
Λητὼ γὰρ ἕλκησε, Διὸς κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν,
Πυθώδ' ἐρχομένην διὰ καλλιχόρου Πανοπῆος.

καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον χαλέπ' ἄλγε' ἔχοντα,
ἑσταότ' ἐν λίμνῃ· ἡ δὲ προσέπλαζε γενείῳ.
στεῦτο δὲ διψάων, πιέειν δ' οὐκ εἶχεν ἑλέσθαι·
ὁσσάκι γὰρ κύψει' ὁ γέρων πιέειν μενεαίνων,
τοσσάχ' ὕδωρ ἀπολέσκετ' ἀναβροχέν, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ
γαῖα μέλαινα φάνεσκε, καταζήνασκε δὲ δαίμων.
δένδρεα δ' ὑψιπέτηλα κατὰ κρῆθεν χέε καρπόν,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι
συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι·
τῶν ὁπότ' ἰθύσει' ὁ γέρων ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι,
τὰς δ' ἄνεμος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα.

καὶ μὴν Σίσυφον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρ' ἄλγε' ἔχοντα,
λᾶαν βαστάζοντα πελώριον ἀμφοτέρῃσιν.
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν σκηριπτόμενος χερσίν τε ποσίν τε
λᾶαν ἄνω ὤθεσκε ποτὶ λόφον· ἀλλ' ὅτε μέλλοι
ἄκρον ὑπερβαλέειν, τότ' ἀποστρέψασκε Κραταιΐς·
αὖτις ἔπειτα πέδονδε κυλίνδετο λᾶας ἀναιδής.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἂψ ὤσασκε τιταινόμενος, κατὰ δ' ἱδρὼς
ἔῤῥεεν ἐκ μελέων, κονίη δ' ἐκ κρατὸς ὀρώρει.

τὸν δὲ μέτ' εἰσενόησα βίην Ἡρακληείην,
εἴδωλον· αὐτὸς δὲ μετ' ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
τέρπεται ἐν θαλίῃς καὶ ἔχει καλλίσφυρον Ἥβην,
παῖδα Διὸς μεγάλοιο καὶ Ἥρης χρυσοπεδίλου.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κλαγγὴ νεκύων ἦν οἰωνῶν ὥς,
πάντοσ' ἀτυζομένων· ὁ δ' ἐρεμνῇ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,
γυμνὸν τόξον ἔχων καὶ ἐπὶ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστόν,
δεινὸν παπταίνων, αἰεὶ βαλέοντι ἐοικώς.
σμερδαλέος δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρ
χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα τέτυκτο,
ἄρκτοι τ' ἀγρότεροί τε σύες χαροποί τε λέοντες,
ὑσμῖναί τε μάχαι τε φόνοι τ' ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.
μὴ τεχνησάμενος μηδ' ἄλλο τι τεχνήσαιτο,
ὃς κεῖνον τελαμῶνα ἑῇ ἐγκάτθετο τέχνῃ.
ἔγνω δ' αἶψ' ἐμὲ κεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
καί μ' ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἆ δείλ', ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,
ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπ' αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.
Ζηνὸς μὲν πάϊς ἦα Κρονίονος, αὐτὰρ ὀϊζὺν
εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην· μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶ
δεδμήμην, ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετ' ἀέθλους.
καί ποτέ μ' ἐνθάδ' ἔπεμψε κύν' ἄξοντ'· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἄλλον
φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀΐδαο·
Ἑρμείας δέ μ' ἔπεμπεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, εἴ τις ἔτ' ἔλθοι
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οἳ δὴ τὸ πρόσθεν ὄλοντο.
καί νύ κ' ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας, οὓς ἔθελόν περ,
Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα·
ἀλλὰ πρὶν ἐπὶ ἔθνε' ἀγείρετο μυρία νεκρῶν
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει,
μή μοι Γοργείην κεφαλὴν δεινοῖο πελώρου
ἐξ Ἄϊδος πέμψειεν ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια.
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τ' ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·
οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
τὴν δὲ κατ' Ὠκεανὸν ποταμὸν φέρε κῦμα ῥόοιο,
πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίῃ, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος.


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