ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 15

Ἡ δ' εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ᾤχετ', Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν
νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
εὕδοντ' ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ·
Τηλέμαχον δ' οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ
νύκτα δι' ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

«Τηλέμαχ', οὐκέτι καλὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλ' ἀλάλησαι,
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τ' ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν
οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.
ἀλλ' ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον
πεμπέμεν, ὄφρ' ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.
ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται
Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας
μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·
μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.
οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·
κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν, ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,
παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο
οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ' ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα,
δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,
εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.
ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.
μνηστήρων σ' ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλὰ τά γ' οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν εὐεργέα νῆα,
νυκτὶ δ' ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν
ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,
νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,
ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτ' ἀέσαι· τὸν δ' ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσι καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.»

ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρε
λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

«ἔγρεο, Νεστορίδη Πεισίστρατε· μώνυχας ἵππους
ζεῦξον ὑφ' ἅρματ' ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Τηλέμαχ', οὔ πως ἔστιν, ἐπειγομένους περ ὁδοῖο,
νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν· τάχα δ' ἔσσεται ἠώς.
ἀλλὰ μέν', εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

καὶ μύθοισ' ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.
τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνῄσκεται ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.»

ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.
τὸν δ' ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα
δῦνεν καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετ' ὤμοις
ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

«Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἤδη νῦν μ' ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
«Τηλέμαχ', οὔ τί σ' ἐγώ γε πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδ' ἐρύξω
ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κ' ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,
ἔξοχα δ' ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δ' αἴσιμα πάντα.
ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθ', ὅς τ' οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι
ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκῃ.
χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.
ἀλλὰ μέν', εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω
καλά, σὺ δ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀμφότερον, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,
δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπ' ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
εἰ δ' ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀν' Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,
ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,
ἄστεα δ' ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἥμεας
αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τε ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,
ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων
ἠὲ δύ' ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφ' ἡμέτερ'· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν
οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσι·
μὴ πατέρ' ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι,
ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.»

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γ' ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
αὐτίκ' ἄρ' ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ·
τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δ' ἄρ' οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.
αὐτὸς δ' ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γ' Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἵκαν', ὅθι οἱ κειμήλια κεῖτο,
Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,
υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθε' ἄνωγεν
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,
ἔνθ' ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.
τῶν ἕν' ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,
ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,
ἀστὴρ δ' ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.
βὰν δ' ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, εἷος ἵκοντο
Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

«Τηλέμαχ', ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
δώρων δ', ὅσσ' ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δ' ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δ' Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθ' ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δ' ἐθέλω τόδ' ὀπάσσαι.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δ' ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν
θῆκ' αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος
πέπλον ἔχουσ' ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·

«δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο δίδωμι,
μνῆμ' Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,
σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τεῖος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ
κεῖσθαι ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.»

ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δ' ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως
δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·
τοὺς δ' ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
ἑζέσθην δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.
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·
πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·
οἰνοχόει δ' υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
ἵππους τ' ἐζεύγνυντ' ἀνά θ' ἅρματα ποικίλ' ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δ' ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.
τοὺς δὲ μετ' Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην.
στῆ δ' ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

«χαίρετον, ὦ κούρω, καὶ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν
εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,
εἷος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«καὶ λίην κείνῳ γε, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
πάντα τάδ' ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν. αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς
νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
εἴποιμ', ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης
ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.»

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,
αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,
ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δ' ἰύζοντες ἕποντο
ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθ' ἵππων. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·

«φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἢ νῶϊν τόδ' ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ.»

ὣς φάτο, μερμήριξε δ' ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας.
τὸν δ' Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·

«κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.
ὡς ὅδε χῆν' ἥρπαξ' ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλ' ἐπαληθεὶς
οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τείσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη
οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.»

τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης·
τῶ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.»

ἦ, καὶ ἐφ' ἵπποιϊν μάστιν βάλε· τοὶ δὲ μάλ' ὦκα
ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.
δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἐς φηρὰς δ' ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτ' ἄεσαν, ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ἵππους τ' ἐζεύγνυντ' ἀνά θ' ἅρματα ποικίλ' ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δ' ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·
μάστιξεν δ' ἐλάαν, τὼ δ' οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην.
αἶψα δ' ἔπειθ' ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·
καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·

«Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας
μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθ' εἶναι
ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·
ἥδε δ' ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.

μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπ' αὐτοῦ,
μή μ' ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.»

ὣς φάτο, Νεστορίδης δ' ἄρ' ἑῷ συμφράσσατο θυμῷ,
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·
στρέψ' ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
νηῒ δ' ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,
ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·
καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«σπουδῇ νῦν ἀνάβαινε κέλευέ τε πάντας ἑταίρους,
πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.
εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,
ἀλλ' αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρ' εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι
ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἔλασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους
ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δ' ἄρα δώμαθ' ἵκανε.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·

«ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχε', ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
αὐτοί τ' ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδ' ἐπίθοντο,
αἶψα δ' ἄρ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν τὰ πονεῖτο καὶ εὔχετο, θῦε δ' Ἀθήνῃ
νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ
τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,
μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,
ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτ' ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,
ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγ' ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·
δὴ τότε γ' ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων
Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,
ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τεῖος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρ' ἄλγεα πάσχων
εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,
τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.
ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους
ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτείσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς
ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα
ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθ'· ὁ δ' ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν
ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντ' Ἀργείοισιν.
ἔνθα δ' ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,
γείνατο δ' Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.
Ἀντιφάτης μὲν τίκτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,
αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάρηον,
ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τ' αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων
παντοίην φιλότητ'· οὐδ' ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,
ἀλλ' ὄλετ' ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
τοῦ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντ' Ἀλκμάων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.
Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς
κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵν' ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·
αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων
θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχ' ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάρηος·
ὅς ῥ' Ὑπερησίηνδ' ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,
ἔνθ' ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσι.

τοῦ μὲν ἄρ' υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δ' ὄνομ' ἦεν,
ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δ' ἐκίχανε
σπένδοντ' εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ὦ φίλ', ἐπεί σε θύοντα κιχάνω τῷδ' ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
λίσσομ' ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
σῆς τ' αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδ' ἐπικεύσῃς·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ ποτ' ἔην· νῦν δ' ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.
τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
«οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐγὼν ἐκ πατρίδος, ἄνδρα κατακτὰς
ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε
Ἄργος ἀν' ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν·
τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν
φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατ' ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.
ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,
μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«οὐ μὲν δή σ' ἐθέλοντά γ' ἀπώσω νηὸς ἐΐσης,
ἀλλ' ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κ' ἔχωμεν.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·
καὶ τό γ' ἐπ' ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.
ἐν πρύμνῃ δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ
εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔλυσαν.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δ' ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.
ἱστὸν δ' εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
ἕλκον δ' ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.
τοῖσιν δ' ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα δι' αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.

δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ,
ἠδὲ παρ' Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.
ἔνθεν δ' αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν,
ὁρμαίνων, ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλοίη.
τὼ δ' αὖτ' ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς δ' Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,
ἤ μιν ἔτ' ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·

«κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι·
ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι
πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.
ἀλλά μοι εὖ θ' ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμ' ἡγεμόν' ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον,
ὅς κέ με κεῖσ' ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ
πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.
καί κ' ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματ' Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,
εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρί' ἔχοντες.
αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν, ὅττι θέλοιεν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων
ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,
δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,
πῦρ τ' εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,
δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,
οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες.»

τὸν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«ὤ μοι, ξεῖνε, τίη τοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα
ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθ' ὀλέσθαι,
εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
οὔ τοι τοιοίδ' εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,
ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,
οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδ' οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.
ἀλλὰ μέν'· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,
οὔτ' ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,
πέμψει δ' ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.»

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«αἴθ' οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μ' ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.
πλαγκτοσύνης δ' οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλ' ἕνεκ' οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδε' ἔχουσιν

ἀνέρες, ὅν τιν' ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.
νῦν δ' ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναί τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,
εἴπ' ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
πατρός θ', ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπ' αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δ' εὔχεται αἰεὶ
θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷσ' ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ἐκπάγλως γὰρ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται οἰχομένοιο
κουριδίης τ' ἀλόχοιο δαΐφρονος, ἥ ἑ μάλιστα
ἤκαχ' ἀποφθιμένη καὶ ἐν ὠμῷ γήραϊ θῆκεν.
ἡ δ' ἄχεϊ οὗ παιδὸς ἀπέφθιτο κυδαλίμοιο,
λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ, ὡς μὴ θάνοι ὅς τις ἐμοί γε
ἐνθάδε ναιετάων φίλος εἴη καὶ φίλα ἕρδοι.
ὄφρα μὲν οὖν δὴ κείνη ἔην, ἀχέουσά περ ἔμπης,
τόφρα τί μοι φίλον ἔσκε μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,
οὕνεκά μ' αὐτὴ θρέψεν ἅμα Κτιμένῃ τανυπέπλῳ,
θυγατέρ' ἰφθίμῃ, τὴν ὁπλοτάτην τέκε παίδων·
τῇ ὁμοῦ ἐτρεφόμην, ὀλίγον δέ τί μ' ἧσσον ἐτίμα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἥβην πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθ' ἄμφω,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα Σάμηνδ' ἔδοσαν καὶ μυρί' ἕλοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματ' ἐκείνη
καλὰ μάλ' ἀμφιέσασα ποσίν θ' ὑποδήματα δοῦσα
ἀγρόνδε προΐαλλε· φίλει δέ με κηρόθι μᾶλλον.
νῦν δ' ἤδη τούτων ἐπιδεύομαι· ἀλλά μοι αὐτῷ
ἔργον ἀέξουσιν μάκαρες θεοί, ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω·
τῶν ἔφαγόν τ' ἔπιόν τε καὶ αἰδοίοισιν ἔδωκα.
ἐκ δ' ἄρα δεσποίνης οὐ μείλιχόν ἐστιν ἀκοῦσαι
οὔτ' ἔπος οὔτε τι ἔργον, ἐπεὶ κακὸν ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρες ὑπερφίαλοι· μέγα δὲ δμῶες χατέουσιν
ἀντία δεσποίνης φάσθαι καὶ ἕκαστα πυθέσθαι
καὶ φαγέμεν πιέμεν τε, ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι φέρεσθαι
ἀγρόνδ', οἷά τε θυμὸν ἀεὶ δμώεσσιν ἰαίνει.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὢ πόποι, ὡς ἄρα τυτθὸς ἐών, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα,
πολλὸν ἀπεπλάγχθης σῆς πατρίδος ἠδὲ τοκήων.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἠὲ διεπράθετο πτόλις ἀνδρῶν εὐρυάγυια,
ᾗ ἔνι ναιετάασκε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
ἦ σέ γε μουνωθέντα παρ' οἴεσιν ἢ παρὰ βουσὶν
ἄνδρες δυσμενέες νηυσὶν λάβον ἠδ' ἐπέρασσαν
τοῦδ' ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθ', ὁ δ' ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
«ξεῖν', ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μ' ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,
σιγῇ νῦν ξυνίει καὶ τέρπεο πῖνέ τε οἶνον,
ἥμενος. αἵδε δὲ νύκτες ἀθέσφατοι· ἔστι μὲν εὕδειν,
ἔστι δὲ τερπομένοισιν ἀκουέμεν· οὐδέ τί σε χρή,
πρὶν ὥρη, καταλέχθαι· ἀνίη καὶ πολὺς ὕπνος.
τῶν δ' ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
εὑδέτω ἐξελθών· ἅμα δ' ἠόϊ φαινομένηφι
δειπνήσας ἅμ' ὕεσσιν ἀνακτορίῃσιν ἑπέσθω.
νῶϊ δ' ἐνὶ κλισίῃ πίνοντέ τε δαινυμένω τε
κήδεσιν ἀλλήλων τερπώμεθα λευγαλέοισι
μνωομένω· μετὰ γάρ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι τέρπεται ἀνήρ,
ὅς τις δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ πόλλ' ἐπαληθῇ.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω, ὅ μ' ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.

νῆσός τις Συρίη κικλήσκεται, εἴ που ἀκούεις,
Ὀρτυγίης καθύπερθεν, ὅθι τροπαὶ ἠελίοιο,
οὔ τι περιπληθὴς λίην τόσον, ἀλλ' ἀγαθὴ μέν,
εὔβοος εὔμηλος, οἰνοπληθὴς πολύπυρος.
πείνη δ' οὔ ποτε δῆμον ἐσέρχεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
νοῦσος ἐπὶ στυγερὴ πέλεται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλ' ὅτε γηράσκωσι πόλιν κάτα φῦλ' ἀνθρώπων,
ἐλθὼν ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξύν,
οἷσ' ἀγανοῖσι βέλεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.
ἔνθα δύω πόλιες, δίχα δέ σφισι πάντα δέδασται·
τῇσιν δ' ἀμφοτέρῃσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευε,
Κτήσιος Ὀρμενίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν.

ἔνθα δὲ Φοίνικες ναυσικλυτοὶ ἤλυθον ἄνδρες,
τρῶκται, μυρί' ἄγοντες ἀθύρματα νηῒ μελαίνῃ.
ἔσκε δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο γυνὴ Φοίνισσ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυῖα·
τὴν δ' ἄρα Φοίνικες πολυπαίπαλοι ἠπερόπευον.
πλυνούσῃ τις πρῶτα μίγη κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι, τά τε φρένας ἠπεροπεύει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κ' εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
εἰρώτα δὴ ἔπειτα, τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι·
ἡ δὲ μάλ' αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ·

«ἐκ μὲν Σιδῶνος πολυχάλκου εὔχομαι εἶναι,
κούρη δ' εἴμ' Ἀρύβαντος ἐγὼ ῥυδὸν ἀφνειοῖο·
ἀλλά μ' ἀνήρπαξαν Τάφιοι ληΐστορες ἄνδρες
ἀγρόθεν ἐρχομένην, πέρασαν δέ με δεῦρ' ἀγαγόντες
τοῦδ' ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθ'· ὁ δ' ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.»

τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀνήρ, ὃς μίσγετο λάθρῃ·
«ἦ ῥά κε νῦν πάλιν αὖτις ἅμ' ἡμῖν οἴκαδ' ἕποιο,
ὄφρα ἴδῃ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ὑψερεφὲς δῶ
αὐτούς τ'; ἦ γὰρ ἔτ' εἰσὶ καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
«εἴη κεν καὶ τοῦτ', εἴ μοι ἐθέλοιτέ γε, ναῦται,
ὅρκῳ πιστωθῆναι ἀπήμονά μ' οἴκαδ' ἀπάξειν.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἐπώμνυον, ὡς ἐκέλευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
τοῖς δ' αὖτις μετέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

«σιγῇ νῦν· μή τίς με προσαυδάτω ἐπέεσσιν
ὑμετέρων ἑτάρων ξυμβλήμενος ἢ ἐν ἀγυιῇ
ἤ που ἐπὶ κρήνῃ· μή τις ποτὶ δῶμα γέροντι
ἐλθὼν ἐξείπῃ, ὁ δ' ὀϊσάμενος καταδήσῃ
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὑμῖν δ' ἐπιφράσσετ' ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλ' ἔχετ' ἐν φρεσὶ μῦθον, ἐπείγετε δ' ὦνον ὁδαίων.
ἀλλ' ὅτε κεν δὴ νηῦς πλείη βιότοιο γένηται,
ἀγγελίη μοι ἔπειτα θοῶς πρὸς δώμαθ' ἱκέσθω·
οἴσω γὰρ καὶ χρυσόν, ὅτις χ' ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ.
καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλ' ἐπίβαθρον ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσά γε δοίην·
παῖδα γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἐῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροισ' ἀτιτάλλω,
κερδαλέον δὴ τοῖον, ἅμα τροχόωντα θύραζε·
τόν κεν ἄγοιμ' ἐπὶ νηός, ὁ δ' ὕμιν μυρίον ὦνον
ἄλφοι, ὅπῃ περάσητε κατ' ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους.»

ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα καλά·
οἱ δ' ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα παρ' ἡμῖν αὖθι μένοντες
ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ βίοτον πολὺν ἐμπολόωντο.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ κοίλη νηῦς ἤχθετο τοῖσι νέεσθαι,
καὶ τότ' ἄρ' ἄγγελον ἧκαν, ὃς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί.
ἤλυθ' ἀνὴρ πολύϊδρις ἐμοῦ πρὸς δώματα πατρὸς
χρύσεον ὅρμον ἔχων, μετὰ δ' ἠλέκτροισιν ἔερτο.
τὸν μὲν ἄρ' ἐν μεγάρῳ δμῳαὶ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
χερσίν τ' ἀμφαφόωντο καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶντο,
ὦνον ὑπισχόμεναι· ὁ δὲ τῇ κατένευσε σιωπῇ.
ἦ τοι ὁ καννεύσας κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα βεβήκει,
ἡ δ' ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα δόμων ἐξῆγε θύραζε.
εὗρε δ' ἐνὶ προδόμῳ ἠμὲν δέπα ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ἀνδρῶν δαιτυμόνων, οἵ μευ πατέρ' ἀμφεπένοντο.
οἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἐς θῶκον πρόμολον δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἡ δ' αἶψα τρί' ἄλεισα κατακρύψασ' ὑπὸ κόλπῳ
ἔκφερεν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀεσιφροσύνῃσι.

δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡμεῖς δ' ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν ὦκα κιόντες,
ἔνθ' ἄρα Φοινίκων ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὠκύαλος νηῦς.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
νὼ ἀναβησάμενοι· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς οὖρον ἴαλλεν.

ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα γυναῖκα βάλ' Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,
ἄντλῳ δ' ἐνδούπησε πεσοῦσ' ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ.
καὶ τὴν μὲν φώκῃσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι
ἔκβαλον· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
τοὺς δ' Ἰθάκῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ,
ἔνθα με Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
οὕτω τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι.»

τὸν δ' αὖ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
«Εὔμαι', ἦ μάλα δή μοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸν ὄρινας
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι σοὶ μὲν παρὰ καὶ κακῷ ἐσθλὸν ἔθηκε

Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ ἀνδρὸς δώματ' ἀφίκεο πολλὰ μογήσας
ἠπίου, ὃς δή τοι παρέχει βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε
ἐνδυκέως, ζώεις δ' ἀγαθὸν βίον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστε' ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνω.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
καδδραθέτην δ' οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·
αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δ' ἐπὶ χέρσου
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δ' ἕλον ἱστὸν
καρπαλίμως, τὴν δ' εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς.
ἐκ δ' εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔδησαν·
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης
δεῖπνόν τ' ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·

«ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδ' ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·
ἑσπέριος δ' εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.
ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,
δαῖτ' ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
«πῇ γὰρ ἐγώ, φίλε τέκνον, ἴω; τεῦ δώμαθ' ἵκωμαι
ἀνδρῶν, οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;
ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἄλλως μέν σ' ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην
ἔρχεσθ'· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ
ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
φαίνεται, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.
ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι, ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,
Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·
καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα
μητέρ' ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.
ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,
εἴ κέ σφιν πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.»

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,
κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι
τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε
μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.
τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας
ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·

«Τηλέμαχ', οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἤλυθε δεξιὸς ὄρνις·
ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.
ὑμετέρου δ' οὐκ ἔστι γένευς βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλ' ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·
τῶ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.»

ἦ, καὶ Πείραιον προσεφώνεε, πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·
«Πείραιε Κλυτίδη, σὺ δέ μοι τά περ ἄλλα μάλιστα
πείθῃ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἵ μοι Πύλον εἰς ἅμ' ἕποντο·
καὶ νῦν μοι τὸν ξεῖνον ἄγων ἐν δώμασι σοῖσιν
ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Τηλέμαχ', εἰ γάρ κεν σὺ πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδε μίμνοις,
τόνδε τ' ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβη, ἐκέλευσε δ' ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τ' ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δ' αἶψ' εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.

Τηλέμαχος δ' ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
εἵλετο δ' ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
νηὸς ἀπ' ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔλυσαν.
οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
τὸν δ' ὦκα προβιβῶντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρ' ἵκετ' αὐλήν,
ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης
ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς.

ODYSSEY 15

But Pallas Athene journeyed to Lacedaemon with its wide dancing-grounds, to find the glorious son of great-hearted Odysseus, to remind him of his return and to urge him to set forth. She found Telemachus and the splendid son of Nestor sleeping in the portico of renowned Menelaus. Indeed, the son of Nestor was fast held by gentle sleep, but sweet sleep did not possess Telemachus; instead, in his heart, throughout the ambrosial night, cares for his father kept him awake. Standing close beside him, grey-eyed Athene spoke:

“Telemachus, it is no longer seemly for you to wander so far from home, leaving behind your wealth and the men in your halls, who are so arrogant; lest they devour all your possessions, dividing them among themselves, and you find your journey has been for naught. But press Menelaus, master of the war-cry, to send you on your way at once, so that you may still find your blameless mother in your home. For her father and her brothers are already urging her to marry Eurymachus; for he outdoes all the other suitors with his gifts and ever increases his bridal offerings. See that she does not carry some treasure from the house against your will. For you know the sort of spirit that is in a woman’s breast: she wishes to enrich the house of the man who weds her, and of her former children and of her own dear husband, once he is dead, she no longer thinks, nor does she ask of them. So go, and entrust all your possessions yourself to whichever of the serving-women seems to you the best, until the gods reveal to you a glorious bride. And I will tell you another thing; take it to heart. The noblest of the suitors are lying in ambush for you with intent in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos, eager to kill you before you can reach your native soil. But I do not think this will come to pass; sooner, I say, will the earth close over some of the suitors who devour your livelihood. But keep your well-built ship far from the islands, and sail on by night as well; a fair wind will be sent from behind you by whichever of the immortals guards and protects you. Then, as soon as you touch the first shore of Ithaca, send your ship and all your comrades on to the city, but you yourself must go first to the swineherd, who watches over your pigs, and who is as loyal to you as ever. There you shall rest for the night; and send him into the city to deliver a message to prudent Penelope, that you are safe and have returned from Pylos.”

So she spoke, and departed for lofty Olympus. But Telemachus roused Nestor’s son from his sweet sleep, stirring him with a kick of his foot, and spoke this word to him:

“Awake, Peisistratus, son of Nestor; bring the single-hoofed horses and yoke them to the chariot, so that we may be on our way.”

But Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him in turn: “Telemachus, there is no way, however eager we are for the road, that we can drive through the murky night; and soon it will be dawn. So wait, until the hero, son of Atreus, spear-famed Menelaus, can bring gifts and place them upon the chariot,

and with kind words can speak his farewell and send us on our way. For a guest remembers for all his days the host who has shown him kindness.”

So he spoke, and at once came golden-throned Dawn. And Menelaus, master of the war-cry, came to them, rising from his bed beside Helen of the lovely hair. When the dear son of Odysseus saw him, he quickly donned his gleaming tunic about his skin and threw his great cloak over his mighty shoulders, a hero, and went to the door. Standing beside Menelaus, he spoke, Telemachus, dear son of godlike Odysseus:

“Menelaus, son of Atreus, Zeus-nurtured, leader of men, send me now upon my way to my own dear native land; for now my heart yearns to return home.”

Then Menelaus, master of the war-cry, answered him: “Telemachus, I will not keep you here for long, eager as you are to return. I would reproach any other host who loves too much or hates too much; in all things, measure is best. It is an equal evil to urge a guest to depart who is unwilling, and to detain one who is eager to leave. One must cherish the guest who is present, and speed the one who wishes to go. But wait, until I can bring fine gifts and place them on the chariot for you to see with your own eyes, and until I tell the women to prepare a meal in the hall from the stores within. There is both honor and glory, and good sustenance besides, in dining before you journey over the wide and boundless earth. And if you wish to travel through Hellas and midmost Argos, I myself will accompany you, and I will yoke horses for you, and I will guide you to the cities of men. And no one will send us away empty-handed, but will give us at least one thing to carry with us, either a tripod of fine bronze or a cauldron, or two mules, or a golden cup.”

And in his turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “Menelaus, son of Atreus, Zeus-nurtured, leader of men, I wish to return now to my own home, for I did not leave any guardian behind to watch over my possessions when I left. I fear that while I seek my godlike father, I myself might be lost, or that some goodly treasure might be lost from my halls.”

When Menelaus, master of the war-cry, heard this, he at once commanded his wife and her handmaidens to prepare a meal in the hall from the stores within. And Eteoneus, son of Boethous, who had just risen from his bed, came near, for he did not live far from him. Menelaus, master of the war-cry, told him to light a fire and to roast the meats, and he, hearing, did not disobey. But the king himself went down to his fragrant treasure-chamber, not alone, for with him went Helen and Megapenthes. And when they came to the place where his treasures lay, the son of Atreus took up a two-handled cup, and he bade his son Megapenthes to bring a mixing bowl of silver. And Helen stood by the chests where her richly embroidered robes were kept, which she had made herself. Lifting one of these, Helen, brightest of women, brought it forth; it was the most beautiful in its embroidery and the largest, and it shone like a star. It lay beneath all the others. Then they went on through the house until they came to Telemachus, and fair-haired Menelaus spoke to him:

“Telemachus, may your return be just as you desire it in your heart; may Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, so accomplish it. And of the gifts, the treasures that lie in my house, I will give you the one that is most beautiful and most prized. I will give you a skillfully wrought mixing bowl; it is of silver all through, but its rims are finished with gold, the work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it to me, when his house sheltered me on my journey home. And I wish to bestow it upon you.”

Saying this, the hero, son of Atreus, placed the two-handled cup in his hands. And the strong Megapenthes brought the gleaming mixing bowl of silver and set it before him, while Helen of the fair cheeks stood near with the robe in her hands, and she spoke a word and called him by name:

“I too give you this gift, dear child, a keepsake of Helen’s hands, for the time of your own longed-for marriage, for your bride to wear. Until then, let it lie with your dear mother in your halls. And may you return rejoicing to your well-built home and your native soil.”

So saying, she placed it in his hands, and he received it with joy. And the hero Peisistratus took the gifts and placed them in a basket, and marvelled at them all in his heart. Then fair-haired Menelaus led them to the house. Then they sat down upon chairs and high-backed thrones. A handmaid brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher and poured it over a silver basin for them to wash, and beside them she drew up a polished table. A revered stewardess brought bread and set it before them, adding many delicacies, giving freely of what she had. And the son of Boethous carved the meat and distributed the portions, while the son of renowned Menelaus poured the wine. And they put forth their hands to the good things that lay ready before them. But when they had put away their desire for food and drink, then indeed Telemachus and the splendid son of Nestor yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot, and drove out from the gateway and the echoing portico. And after them went the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus, holding honey-sweet wine in his right hand in a golden cup, so that they might pour a libation before they departed. He stood before the horses, and pledging them, he spoke:

“Farewell, you two young men, and give my greetings to Nestor, shepherd of the people; for he was as gentle as a father to me, while we sons of the Achaeans waged war in the land of Troy.”

And in his turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “Indeed, Zeus-nurtured king, we shall tell him all these things just as you say, when we arrive. Would that I might so, on my return to Ithaca, find Odysseus in his house, and tell him how I come from you, having met with every kindness, and bringing with me many fine treasures.”

As he spoke, a bird flew by on his right, an eagle, carrying in its talons a huge white goose, a tame one from the yard; and men and women followed, shouting. But the eagle, drawing near them, darted to the right before the horses. And when they saw it, they rejoiced, and the hearts in all their breasts were gladdened. And among them, Peisistratus, son of Nestor, was the first to speak:

“Consider now, Menelaus, Zeus-nurtured, leader of men, whether the god has shown this portent for us, or for you yourself.”

So he spoke, and Menelaus, beloved of Ares, pondered, how he might thoughtfully interpret it as was fitting. But long-robed Helen anticipated him and spoke these words:

“Hear me, for I shall prophesy, as the immortals cast it into my heart, and as I believe it will come to pass. Just as this eagle snatched the goose fattened in the house, coming from the mountain where it was born and bred, so Odysseus, after suffering many woes and wandering far, will return home and take his revenge. Or perhaps he is already at home, and is planting the seeds of doom for all the suitors.”

And in turn, the prudent Telemachus answered her: “May Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, so ordain it now. Then even there, in my own land, I would pray to you as to a goddess.”

He spoke, and laid the whip upon the horses, and they swiftly dashed toward the plain, eager to be through the city. And all day long they shook the yoke that they wore about their necks. The sun went down and all the ways grew dark, and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles, son of Ortilochus, whom the river Alpheus fathered. There they rested for the night, and he gave them guest-gifts.

And when the early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot, and drove out from the gateway and the echoing portico. He whipped them to a run, and the two flew on, not unwillingly. And soon thereafter they reached the steep citadel of Pylos; and then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor:

“Son of Nestor, how might you promise and fulfill my request? We declare ourselves to be guest-friends through and through from the friendship of our fathers, and we are of an age as well; and this journey will make our hearts even more as one.

Do not drive me past my ship, Zeus-nurtured friend, but leave me there, lest the old man detain me against my will in his house, out of a desire to show me kindness; but I must reach home more quickly.”

So he spoke, and the son of Nestor considered in his heart how he might properly promise and fulfill the request. And as he pondered, this seemed the better course: he turned his horses toward the swift ship and the shore of the sea, and he took out the fine gifts and stowed them in the ship’s stern, the clothing and the gold that Menelaus had given him. And urging Telemachus on, he spoke these winged words:

“Hurry now, board your ship and bid all your comrades do the same, before I reach home and bring word to the old man. For this I know well in my mind and in my heart: such is his imperious spirit, he will not let you go, but will come here himself to summon you, and I do not think he will return empty-handed; for he will be mightily angered in any case.”

So speaking, he drove the horses with their beautiful manes back to the city of the Pylians, and swiftly reached the palace. But Telemachus called out and urged on his comrades:

“Stow the gear in order, comrades, in the black ship, and let us go aboard ourselves, so that we may get on with our journey.”

So he spoke, and they listened to him readily and obeyed. At once they went aboard and sat down upon the rowing benches.

While Telemachus was thus busied and praying and sacrificing to Athene beside the ship’s stern, a man from a distant land drew near, a fugitive from Argos for having killed a man. He was a seer, and a descendant of the line of Melampus, who in former times used to live in Pylos, mother of flocks, a wealthy man dwelling in a house far grander than those of other Pylians. But then he went to the land of another people, fleeing his country and great-hearted Neleus, the most magnificent of living men, who for a full year held by force his great wealth. Meanwhile Melampus lay in the halls of Phylacus, bound in grievous chains, suffering sharp pains on account of the daughter of Neleus and the heavy madness that the goddess, the dreaded Erinys, had laid upon his mind. But he escaped his doom and drove the loud-bellowing cattle from Phylace to Pylos and avenged the shameful deed of godlike Neleus, and brought the maiden to his brother to be his wife. But he himself went to the land of another people, to Argos, pastureland of horses, for there it was fated for him to dwell, ruling over many Argives. There he married a wife and built a high-roofed house, and fathered Antiphates and Mantius, two mighty sons. Antiphates, in turn, fathered great-hearted Oicles, and Oicles fathered Amphiaraus, rouser of the host, whom both aegis-bearing Zeus and Apollo loved with all their hearts, with every kind of affection; yet he did not reach the threshold of old age, but perished in Thebes on account of a woman’s gifts. His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus. Mantius, for his part, fathered Polypheides and Cleitus. But Cleitus, golden-throned Dawn snatched away for his beauty’s sake, that he might dwell among the immortals. But Apollo made the proud Polypheides a seer, by far the best of mortals, after Amphiaraus was dead. Angered with his father, he removed to Hyperesia, and dwelling there he prophesied for all mortals.

It was his son who now approached, Theoclymenus by name, and he stood then near Telemachus. He found him pouring libations and praying beside the swift black ship, and raising his voice, he spoke to him these winged words:

“Friend, since I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices and by the divinity, and then by your own life and the lives of the comrades who follow you, tell me truthfully what I ask, and do not conceal it: Who are you and from where? Where is your city and your parents?”

And in turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “Then I will tell you, stranger, most truly. I am from Ithaca by birth, and my father is Odysseus, if ever he was; but now he has perished by a grievous doom. For that reason I have now taken companions and a black ship and have come to seek news of my father, so long departed.”

And in turn, godlike Theoclymenus addressed him: “So it is for me as well: I am an exile from my country, for having killed a man of my own tribe. Many are his brothers and kinsmen in horse-pasturing Argos, and they hold great power over the Achaeans. It is from them that I flee, to escape death and a black fate, since it is now my lot to wander among men. But grant me passage on your ship, since I have come to you as a fugitive and a suppliant, lest they kill me; for I think they are in pursuit.”

And in his turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “Indeed I will not, of my own will, push you from my well-benched ship. But come with us; and there you shall be entertained with what we have.”

So speaking, he took from him his bronze-tipped spear and laid it full length upon the deck of the curved ship, and he himself went aboard the sea-faring vessel. He then sat down in the stern, and beside him he seated Theoclymenus; and the others cast off the stern-cables. And Telemachus called out and urged on his comrades to lay hold of the tackling, and they eagerly obeyed. They raised the pine-wood mast and set it in the hollow socket of the mast-box, and made it fast with the forestays, and they hauled up the white sails with well-twisted ropes of ox-hide. And for them a fair wind was sent by grey-eyed Athene, rushing furiously through the upper air, so that the ship might most swiftly accomplish its course over the salt water of the sea. They passed by Crouni and Chalcis of the fair-flowing streams.

The sun went down and all the ways grew dark, and the ship drew near to Pheae, driven by the wind of Zeus, and passed by godlike Elis, where the Epeians hold sway. From there he steered her on toward the sharp-peaked islands, wondering whether he would escape death or be taken. But in the hut, Odysseus and the godlike swineherd were taking their supper, and with them supped the other men. But when they had put away their desire for food and drink, Odysseus spoke among them, to test the swineherd, to see whether he would still kindly entreat him to remain, and bid him stay there in the steading, or would urge him toward the city:

“Listen now, Eumaeus, and all you other comrades. In the morning I am eager to go to the city to beg, so that I do not wear you and your comrades out. But give me good counsel and also a worthy guide to go with me, to lead me there. And in the city, of necessity, I myself shall wander, to see if some man will offer me a cup and a crust of bread. And I might go to the house of godlike Odysseus to bring a message to prudent Penelope, and I might mix with the arrogant suitors, to see if they would give me a meal, having countless good things themselves. Quickly I could serve them well in whatever they might wish. For I will tell you this, and you mark well and listen to me: by the grace of Hermes the messenger, who gives grace and glory to the deeds of all men, in service no other mortal could vie with me: in laying a fire well and in splitting dry wood, in carving and in roasting, and in pouring wine, in all such things as lesser men do to serve the noble.”

And greatly distressed, you spoke to him, Eumaeus the swineherd: “Ah me, stranger, why has such a thought entered your mind? Are you truly so eager to perish there, if you truly wish to enter the throng of the suitors, whose insolence and violence reach the iron heavens? Their attendants are not men such as you, but young men, well clad in cloaks and tunics, their heads and handsome faces always gleaming with oil, these are the ones who serve them. And the well-polished tables are laden with bread and meat and wine. But stay here. For no one is vexed by your presence, neither I nor any other of the comrades who are with me. But when the dear son of Odysseus arrives, he will give you a cloak and a tunic for clothing, and will send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you go.”

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: “Eumaeus, may you be as dear to father Zeus as you are to me, for you have put a stop to my wandering and my dire suffering. For mortals there is nothing worse than to wander; but for the sake of the cursed belly men suffer evil woes,

whomever wandering, and pain, and sorrow should befall. But now, since you detain me and bid me to await him, come, tell me about the mother of godlike Odysseus, and his father, whom he left behind on the threshold of old age when he departed. Are they perhaps still alive beneath the rays of the sun, or are they already dead and in the house of Hades?”

And the swineherd, a leader of men, answered him in turn: “Then I will tell you, stranger, most truly. Laertes is still alive, but he prays always to Zeus that the life might leave his limbs in his own halls. For he grieves terribly for his departed son and for his wise wife of his youth, whose death pained him most of all and brought him to a raw old age. She died of grief for her glorious son, a miserable death—may no one who is a friend to me and does friendly deeds, dwelling here, ever die so. As long as she was alive, though she was grieving, it was still a pleasure for me to ask after and question her, because she herself raised me, along with long-robed Ctimene, her noble daughter, the youngest child she bore. I was raised with her, and she honored me little less than her own. But when we both reached the lovely season of youth, they gave her in marriage to a man of Same, and received countless gifts. But as for me, she herself gave me a cloak and tunic, very fine garments to wear, and sandals for my feet, and sent me to the fields; and in her heart she loved me all the more. Now I miss these things; but for my part, the blessed gods make the work prosper at which I remain. From this work I have eaten and drunk and given to those I respect. But from my mistress there is no kind word to be heard, neither word nor deed, since this evil has befallen the house, these insolent men. And servants greatly long to speak before their mistress and to learn every detail, and to eat and to drink, and then to take something back to the country, such things as always warm the hearts of servants.”

And resourceful Odysseus answered him, saying: “Good heavens, Eumaeus the swineherd, how you must have wandered so far, when you were just a boy, from your country and your parents. But come, tell me this, and speak it truly, was the wide-wayed city of men sacked, in which your father and your lady mother dwelt, or were you left alone with the sheep or the cattle, when hostile men seized you in their ships and carried you off to this man’s house, and he paid a worthy price for you?”

And the swineherd, a leader of men, answered him in turn: “Stranger, since you ask and question me about these things, listen now in silence, and take your pleasure, and drink your wine while seated. These nights are of wondrous length. There is time for sleeping, and there is time for taking delight in stories. Nor is there any need for you to lie down before the hour; too much sleep is also a weariness. As for the others, whoever’s heart and spirit bid him, let him go out and sleep; and as soon as dawn appears, after breaking his fast, let him follow the master’s swine. But we two in the hut, drinking and feasting, let us take pleasure in each other’s grievous sorrows, remembering them; for a man finds pleasure even in his pains, one who has suffered much and wandered much. And this I will tell you, since you ask and question me.

There is an island called Syria, if you have perhaps heard of it, above Ortygia, where the sun makes its turnings. It is not overly populous, but it is a good land, rich in cattle and rich in sheep, full of wine and wheat. Famine never enters that land, nor does any other hateful sickness fall upon wretched mortals. But when the tribes of men grow old in the city, Apollo of the silver bow comes, along with Artemis, and with his gentle arrows he attacks and slays them. There are two cities, and all things are divided between them, and my father was king over both, Ctesius, son of Ormenus, a man like the immortals.

Then came the Phoenicians, men famous for their ships, wily traders, bringing countless trinkets in their black ship. And there was in my father’s house a Phoenician woman, beautiful and tall, and skilled in glorious handiwork. The much-conniving Phoenicians seduced her. First, one of them lay with her by the hollow ship as she was washing clothes, in love and intimacy, which can beguile the minds of womankind, even one who is of good character. Then he asked her who she was and from where she came, and she at once pointed out her father’s high-roofed house:

‘I claim to be from Sidon, rich in bronze,
- and I am the daughter of Arybas, who flows with wealth. But Taphian pirates seized me as I was coming from the fields, and carried me here, to this man’s house, and he paid a worthy price for me.’

Then the man who had lain with her in secret answered her: ‘Would you then return home again with us, to see the high-roofed house of your father and mother and see them, too? For they are still alive and are called wealthy.’

The woman then answered him and spoke this word: ‘That too might be, if you sailors are willing to swear an oath to me that you will take me home unharmed.’

So she spoke, and they all swore the oath as she commanded. But when they had sworn and completed the oath, the woman again spoke among them and answered with this word:

‘Be silent now; let no one speak to me with words, none of your companions, meeting me either on the road or perhaps at the spring, lest someone go to the old man’s house and tell him, and he, growing suspicious, should bind me in grievous chains and plot your destruction. But keep my words in your hearts, and press on with the sale of your wares. But when your ship is full of goods, let a message come quickly to me at the house. For I will also bring whatever gold comes to my hand. And I would gladly give another thing for my passage money. For I am nursing the son of a good man in the halls, a clever boy like that, who runs along with me out of doors. I could bring him aboard the ship, and he would fetch you a countless price, wherever you might sell him among foreign-speaking men.’

So she spoke, and went away to the fine house. But they remained there with us for a whole year, and in their hollow ship they gathered a great store of goods. But when their hollow ship was loaded for their return, they then sent a messenger to tell the woman. A man of great cunning came to my father’s house with a golden necklace, strung here and there with amber beads. In the hall, the serving maids and my lady mother were handling it with their hands and gazing at it with their eyes, offering a price for it. But he nodded to her in silence. And having given his signal, he went away to the hollow ship. Then she took me by the hand and led me out of the house. In the forecourt she found the cups and tables of the feasting men who attended my father. They had gone forth to the council place and to the people’s assembly, and she quickly hid three cups under her bosom and carried them off. And I followed her in my innocence.

The sun went down and all the ways grew dark. We came to the famous harbor, making our way swiftly, where the swift-sailing ship of the Phoenician men was. Then they went aboard and sailed over the watery ways, taking us both aboard. And Zeus sent a fair wind.

For six days we sailed, by night and by day alike. But when Zeus, son of Cronos, brought on the seventh day, then Artemis, the archer-goddess, struck the woman, and she fell with a thud into the bilge, like a sea-mew. And they cast her out to become prey for the seals and the fish. But I was left behind, my heart aching. The wind and the water carried them and brought them to Ithaca, where Laertes bought me with his own possessions. This is how I came to see this land with my own eyes.”

And him in turn Zeus-born Odysseus answered with a word: “Eumaeus, you have indeed stirred the spirit in my breast, telling me each of these things, all the sorrows you have suffered in your heart. But truly, alongside the bad, Zeus has set a good thing for you,

since after much toil you have come to the house of a kind man, who kindly gives you food and drink, and you live a good life. But as for me, I have come here wandering through the many cities of mortals.”

Thus they spoke these things to one another, and they lay down to sleep, but not for a long time, only a short while, for soon came fair-throned Dawn. On the shore, the comrades of Telemachus were loosing the sails, and they took down the mast quickly, and rowed the ship forward into its mooring. They cast out the anchor stones and made fast the stern-cables. And they themselves went ashore onto the sea-beach, and they prepared their meal and mixed the gleaming wine. But when they had put away their desire for food and drink, prudent Telemachus was the first to speak among them:

“You now row the black ship to the city, while I shall visit the fields and the herdsmen. In the evening, having seen my lands, I will come down to the city. In the morning I shall set before you a traveller’s meal, a good feast of meat and sweet-tasting wine.”

And in turn, godlike Theoclymenus addressed him: “But where am I to go, dear child? To whose house shall I come of the men who hold sway over rocky Ithaca? Or shall I go straight to your mother and your own house?”

And in his turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “In other circumstances, I would bid you come to our own house, for there is no lack of hospitality; but for you yourself it would be worse, since I will be away, and my mother will not see you. For she does not often appear to the suitors in the house, but works her loom in an upper chamber, away from them. But I will point out another man to you, to whom you might go, Eurymachus, the glorious son of wise Polybus, whom the Ithacans now look upon as a god. For he is by far the noblest man and is most eager to marry my mother and have the high honor of Odysseus. But Olympian Zeus, who dwells in the heavens, knows these things, whether he will bring upon them an evil day before the wedding.”

As he spoke, a bird flew by on his right, a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo. In its claws it held a dove and was plucking it, and shed the feathers to the ground midway between the ship and Telemachus himself. And Theoclymenus, calling him apart from his comrades, took his hand in his and spoke a word and called him by name:

“Telemachus, not without a god’s will has this bird come on your right hand; for I knew as soon as I saw it that it was a bird of omen. There is no other line more kingly than yours in the land of Ithaca, but you shall be strong forever.”

And in his turn, the prudent Telemachus answered him: “Ah, stranger, would that this word might be fulfilled. Then you would soon come to know my friendship and many gifts from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed.”

He spoke, and addressed Peiraeus, his faithful comrade: “Peiraeus, son of Clytius, you who obey me most of all in other matters among my comrades who followed me to Pylos, now take this stranger to your house and treat him with kindness and honor, until I come.”

And Peiraeus, famed with the spear, answered him in turn: “Telemachus, even if you were to remain here for a long time, I would care for this man, and he would have no lack of hospitality.”

So saying, he went on board the ship, and bade his comrades to go on board themselves and to cast off the stern-cables. And they quickly went aboard and sat down upon the rowing benches.

But Telemachus bound fine sandals beneath his feet, and took up a valiant spear, tipped with sharp bronze, from the ship’s deck, while the men cast off the stern-cables. They pushed off and sailed to the city, as he had commanded, Telemachus, dear son of godlike Odysseus. But his feet, striding swiftly, carried him onward, until he reached the courtyard where his countless swine were kept, and where the swineherd, an excellent man, slept among them, with a loyal heart for his masters.

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