ODYSSEY 16

Back in the hut, Odysseus and the godlike swineherd were preparing their morning meal at dawn, having kindled a fire, and had sent the herdsmen out with the droves of swine. But the baying hounds fawned around Telemachus, and did not bark as he drew near. Godlike Odysseus took note of the fawning dogs, and the sound of footsteps reached him. At once he spoke winged words to Eumaeus:

"Eumaeus, surely some friend of yours is coming here, or some other acquaintance, for the dogs are not barking but fawning about him. And I hear the tread of his feet."

The words were not yet fully spoken when his own dear son stood in the doorway. The swineherd, amazed, sprang to his feet, and from his hands fell the vessels with which he was busied, mixing the gleaming wine. He went straight to his young master, and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes and both his hands; and a warm tear fell from him. And as a loving father embraces his own son who has returned from a distant land in the tenth year, his only and beloved child, for whom he has suffered much sorrow, so then did the godlike swineherd embrace godlike Telemachus, and kissed him all over as one who had escaped from death, and weeping, he spoke to him with winged words:

"You have come, Telemachus, sweet light of my eyes! I thought I would never see you again, after you sailed away to Pylos. But come now, enter, dear child, so that my heart may rejoice in looking upon you, now that you are home from afar. For you do not often visit the countryside or your herdsmen, but remain in the town; for so it has pleased your heart, to watch the destructive throng of the suitors."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "So it shall be, my good man. I have come here for your sake, to see you with my own eyes and to hear from your lips whether my mother still remains in the halls, or if some other man has wedded her already, and Odysseus' bed lies empty of sleepers, gathering foul cobwebs."

To him the swineherd, leader of men, replied: "Indeed, she remains with a steadfast heart in your halls; but ever in sorrow for her the nights and days waste away as she sheds her tears."

So speaking, he took from him the bronze spear, and Telemachus went inside, crossing the stone threshold. As he entered, his father Odysseus moved to give up his seat, but Telemachus from the other side restrained him and said:

"Stay seated, stranger. We shall find another seat for ourselves in our own steading; and here is the man who will set it."

So he spoke, and Odysseus went back and sat down again. For Telemachus the swineherd piled green brushwood, and over it laid a fleece; and there the dear son of Odysseus then sat down. Then the swineherd set before them platters of roasted meats, left over from what they had eaten the day before, and he hastened to heap bread in baskets beside them, and mixed honey-sweet wine in an ivy-wood bowl. He himself then sat down opposite divine Odysseus. They put forth their hands to the good fare that lay ready before them. But when they had put aside their desire for food and drink, then at last Telemachus addressed the godlike swineherd:

"My good man, from where did this stranger come to you? How did sailors bring him to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be? For I do not suppose he came here on foot."

And you answered him, Eumaeus, O swineherd: "Then I will tell you the whole truth of the matter, my child. He claims to be by birth from broad Crete, and says that he has wandered through many cities of men in his travels, for such was the fate a god spun for him. Just now, having escaped from a ship of Thesprotian men, he came to my steading, and I will hand him over to you. Do with him as you will; he professes to be your suppliant."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "Eumaeus, these are truly heart-grieving words you have spoken. For how can I receive this stranger in my house? I myself am young and have not yet the confidence in my hands to defend a man when another first offers violence. And as for my mother, her heart is divided in her breast, pondering whether to remain here with me and keep the house,

out of respect for her husband's bed and the people's voice, or whether to go away with whichever Achaean is best among those who woo her in the halls and offers the most gifts. But as for this stranger, since he has come to your house, I will clothe him in a fine cloak and tunic, and I will give him a two-edged sword and sandals for his feet, and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go. Or if you wish, you may keep him here and look after him in your steading. I will send the clothing here, and all the food for him to eat, so that he is no burden to you and your men. But I would not let him go down there among the suitors, for their insolence is too reckless. They might mock him, and that would bring terrible grief to me. It is a hard thing for one man to achieve anything among many, even a strong man, for they are by far the mightier."

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: "O friend, since it is surely right for me to reply, my very heart is torn to hear you speak of the reckless deeds which you say the suitors devise in your halls, against the will of one such as you. Tell me, do you submit to this willingly, or do the people of the land hate you, swayed by some divine utterance? Or do you have some quarrel with your kinsmen, on whom a man relies to fight his battles, even when a great strife arises? Ah, if only I were as young as you, with this same spirit, or if I were the son of blameless Odysseus, or Odysseus himself returned from his wanderings—for there is still a measure of hope— then let some stranger strike my head from my shoulders if I did not prove a bane to all of them, once I entered the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes. But if they were to overwhelm me, one man against their multitude, I would rather be slain and die in my own halls than to behold these shameful deeds forever: guests being mistreated and serving women being dragged disgracefully through the beautiful palace, and the wine lavished, and the bread devoured idly, for no end, on an impossible task."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "I will tell you the plain truth, stranger. Neither do all the people hate me and show me ill will, nor have I any quarrel with my kinsmen, on whom a man relies to fight his battles, even when a great strife arises. For the son of Cronos has willed our line to be one of single sons: Arceisius begot only one son, Laertes, and my father in turn begot only one son, Odysseus. And Odysseus begot only me and left me in his halls, and had no joy of me. That is why there are now countless enemies in our house. For all the nobles who hold power in the islands— Dulichium, Same, and wooded Zacynthus— and all who are lords throughout rugged Ithaca, all these are wooing my mother and draining my house. She neither refuses the hateful marriage nor can she bring herself to make an end of it; and so they devour and lay waste my house. And soon they will destroy me as well. But truly, these matters lie on the knees of the gods. My good man, go quickly to wise Penelope and tell her that I am safe and have come from Pylos. I shall remain here, but you are to return hither after you have given the message to her alone. Let none of the other Achaeans learn of it, for many are plotting evil against me."

And you answered him, Eumaeus, O swineherd: "I know, I understand; you command one who is already aware. But come, tell me this and speak truly, shall I go as a messenger on the same errand to Laertes, that ill-fated man? For a time, though grieving deeply for Odysseus, he would oversee the work on his farm and would eat and drink with the servants in his house whenever the spirit in his breast moved him. But now, from the day you sailed away to Pylos, they say he has neither eaten nor drunk as before, nor looked to his farm-work, but sits moaning and groaning in his sorrow, and the flesh wastes away on his bones."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "It is sadder still, but we will let him be, though it grieves us. For if mortals could have all things for the taking, we would first choose the day of my father's return. But you, after giving your message, come straight back, and do not wander through the fields to find him. Instead, tell my mother to send her housekeeper with all speed, and in secret, for she can give the message to the old man."

So he spoke, and stirred the swineherd to go. He took up his sandals in his hands, bound them to his feet, and went toward the city. Nor did Athena fail to see the swineherd Eumaeus departing from the steading, but she drew near, having taken the form of a woman, fair and tall and skilled in glorious handiwork. She stood at the doorway of the hut, revealing herself to Odysseus. Telemachus did not see her before him nor perceive her presence— for the gods do not appear in plain sight to all men— but Odysseus saw her, and the dogs saw her, and they did not bark, but with a whimper fled in fear to the other side of the farmstead. She nodded with her brow, and godlike Odysseus understood. He went out of the hut, past the great wall of the courtyard, and stood before her. And Athena spoke to him:

"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles, now is the time to speak to your son and hide nothing, so that you both, having planned death and doom for the suitors, may go to the famous city. Nor will I myself be far from you for long, for I am eager for the fight."

She spoke, and touched him with her golden wand. First, a freshly laundered cloak and tunic she placed about his chest, and gave him stature and youth. Again his skin grew dark, his jawline firmed, and the beard that grew about his chin became dark blue. Having done this, she went away again. But Odysseus went back into the hut. His dear son was struck with wonder, and in fear he cast his eyes aside, thinking he might be a god, and addressing him, he spoke with winged words:

"Stranger, you appear to me different now than you did before, and you wear other clothes, and your complexion is no longer the same. Surely you are one of the gods who hold wide heaven. Be gracious, then, that we may give you pleasing offerings and finely wrought gifts of gold. And spare us."

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: "I am no god. Why do you liken me to the immortals? No, I am your father, for whose sake you groan and suffer many pains, enduring the violence of men."

So speaking, he kissed his son, and down from his cheeks he let a tear fall to the ground, which before he had always held back. But Telemachus—for he was not yet convinced that this was his father— answered him again with these words:

"You are not Odysseus my father, but some spirit is bewitching me, that I may lament and grieve all the more. For no mortal man could devise such things by his own wits, unless a god himself came down and with ease made him young or old at will. For just now you were an old man in wretched clothes; but now you resemble the gods who hold wide heaven."

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him: "Telemachus, it is not seemly, when your own father is here, to be so utterly amazed or struck with wonder. For be sure that no other Odysseus will ever come here, but I am he, such as I am, having suffered much and wandered far, and have come in the twentieth year to my native land. But this is the work of Athena the spoiler, who makes me such as she wishes, for she has the power— at one moment like a beggar, and at another like a young man wearing fine clothes upon his skin. It is an easy thing for the gods who hold wide heaven to glorify a mortal man or to abase him."

So speaking he sat down. And Telemachus, throwing his arms around his noble father, lamented, shedding tears. And in them both a longing for weeping arose; they cried shrilly, more piercingly than birds of prey, lammergeiers or vultures with crooked talons, whose young countrymen have stolen from the nest before they could fly. So did they let pitiful tears fall from beneath their brows.

And the light of the sun would have set upon their grieving, had not Telemachus spoken suddenly to his father:

"But on what ship, dear father, did sailors bring you here to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be? For I do not suppose you came here on foot."

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: "Then I will tell you the truth of the matter, my child. The Phaeacians, renowned for their ships, brought me, as they convey other men who come to their shores. They bore me across the sea on a swift ship while I slept, and set me down in Ithaca, giving me splendid gifts, bronze and gold and woven raiment in abundance. These things, by the will of the gods, lie in a cave. And I have come here now at the suggestion of Athena, so that we might take counsel together about the slaughter of our foes. But come, count the suitors for me and tell me their number, so that I may know how many and what manner of men they are. And then, pondering in my own blameless heart, I may consider whether we two will be able to stand against them alone, without others, or whether we must seek out help."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "O father, I have always heard of your great renown, how your hands are mighty in battle and your counsel is wise. But you speak of something too great; awe seizes me. It cannot be that two men should fight against so many and so strong. For the suitors are not a mere ten, nor twice ten, but many more; you shall soon learn their number here. From Dulichium there are fifty-two chosen young men, and six retainers follow them. From Same there are twenty-four men, and from Zacynthus there are twenty Achaean youths, and from Ithaca itself, twelve, all of the best families. With them are the herald Medon and the divine bard, and two servants skilled in carving meat. If we should confront all these men while they are within, I fear you may pay a most bitter and terrible price for their violence upon your return. But you, if you can think of any helper, consider who might aid us with a willing heart."

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: "Then I shall speak; take heed and listen to me, and consider whether Athena and father Zeus will be enough for us, or if I must ponder some other helper."

Then wise Telemachus said to him in reply: "Noble helpers are these two you speak of, though they sit high among the clouds; for they rule over all other men and over the immortal gods."

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus answered him: "Those two, I tell you, will not be far from the fury of the mighty battle, when between the suitors and us the strength of Ares is put to the test in my halls. But for now, you must go at the break of dawn back to the house and mix with the arrogant suitors. Later, the swineherd will lead me toward the city, looking like a miserable beggar and an old man. And if they dishonor me in the house, let your own dear heart endure it in your breast as I suffer abuse, even if they drag me by the feet out the door or strike me with missiles; you must look on and hold back. You should indeed bid them cease their follies, speaking to them with gentle words, but they will not listen to you, for their fated day is at hand. And I will tell you another thing; take it to your heart. When Athena of many counsels puts the thought in my mind, I will nod to you with my head. When you understand, take all the weapons of war that lie in the hall, carry them away and store them in the far corner of the high storeroom, all of them. And when the suitors miss them and question you, you must deceive them with gentle words: 'I have put them away from the smoke, since they no longer look like the ones Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy, but are tarnished, wherever the breath of the fire has reached. And besides, the son of Cronos put a greater fear in my mind: that you, flushed with wine, might start a quarrel among yourselves and wound each other, bringing shame upon the feast and the courtship. For iron itself draws a man to it.' But for us two alone, leave behind two swords and two spears, and two ox-hide shields to take up in our hands, so that we can rush upon and seize them. Then Pallas Athena and Zeus the counselor will bewilder the others. And I will tell you another thing; take it to your heart. If you are truly my son and of my blood, let no one then hear that Odysseus is in the house; let neither Laertes know of it, nor the swineherd, nor any of the household, nor Penelope herself, but you and I alone shall learn the temper of the women. And we might also test some of the menservants, to see who among them honors us and fears us in his heart, and who pays no heed, and dishonors you, such as you are."

His radiant son answered him in turn: "O father, you will come to know my spirit soon enough, I think; for no fecklessness possesses me. But I do not think this plan will be to the profit of either of us; I urge you to reconsider. For you will go about for a long time testing each man, visiting the farms, while they in the halls, at their ease, devour our possessions with insolence, and there is no sparing. But I do urge you to find out about the women, which ones dishonor you and which are guiltless. As for the men, I would not have us test them from steading to steading, but attend to that later, if indeed you truly know some sign from aegis-bearing Zeus."

So they spoke these things to one another. And now the well-built ship, which had carried Telemachus and all his comrades from Pylos, was putting in at Ithaca. When they came inside the deep-watered harbor, they drew the black ship up onto the shore, and their proud attendants carried off the gear. The beautiful gifts they took at once to the house of Clytius. Then they sent a herald to the house of Odysseus, to give the message to wise Penelope, that Telemachus was in the country, but had ordered the ship to sail on to the city, so that the noble queen, in her anxious heart, might not shed a tender tear.

So the herald and the godlike swineherd met, bound on the same errand to speak to the lady. But when they reached the house of the divine king, the herald spoke out in the midst of the serving women:

"O queen, your dear son has now returned."

But the swineherd, drawing close to Penelope, told her all that her dear son had bidden him say. And when he had delivered the entire message, he set off back to his pigs, leaving the courtyard and the hall.

The suitors were vexed and downcast in spirit, and they went out of the hall past the great wall of the courtyard, and there before the gates they sat down. Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them:

"My friends, a great deed has been insolently accomplished by Telemachus, this journey of his. We said it would come to nothing. But come, let us launch the best black ship we have, and assemble a crew of seamen, who can quickly tell those others to hasten home."

The words were not yet fully spoken when Amphinomus saw their ship, turning from where he sat, inside the deep-watered harbor, and the men furling the sails and with oars in their hands. He laughed sweetly and spoke to his companions:

"Let us send no message now, for here they are. Either some god told them, or they themselves saw his ship passing by and were unable to catch it."

So he spoke, and they arose and went to the seashore. At once they dragged the black ship up onto the land, and their proud attendants carried off the gear. They themselves went in a group to the place of assembly, and allowed no one else, neither young nor old, to sit among them. Among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:

"Indeed! See how the gods have delivered this man from ruin. By day our lookouts sat upon the windy headlands,

always in succession; and when the sun went down we never spent a night on shore, but on the open sea, sailing on our swift ship, we awaited the divine Dawn, lying in wait for Telemachus, to seize and destroy him. But in the meantime some god has brought him home. So let us here devise a wretched death for him, for Telemachus, lest he escape us. For I do not think that as long as he lives this business of ours can be accomplished. He himself is skilled in counsel and understanding, and the people no longer bear us any favor at all. Come, then, before he gathers the Achaeans together in assembly—for I do not think he will hold back— but will be filled with wrath, and rising up will tell everyone that we plotted sheer murder against him, and did not catch him. They will not approve when they hear of these evil deeds. Let us beware lest they do us harm and drive us out from our own land, to find ourselves in the land of others. No, let us act first and seize him in the country, far from the city, or on the road. And let us keep his livelihood and his possessions, dividing them fairly amongst ourselves, and give the house to his mother and to whichever man weds her. But if this plan displeases you, and you prefer that he live and keep all that is his father's, then let us no longer devour his welcome stores by gathering here, but let each man from his own house woo her, seeking her hand with bridal gifts. And then she might marry whoever offers the most and comes as her fated husband."

So he spoke, and they all became hushed in silence. Then Amphinomus addressed them and spoke among them, the glorious son of Nisus, son of lord Aretes, who from wheat-rich, grassy Dulichium led the suitors, and was most pleasing to Penelope for his words, for he was a man of good heart. With good will toward them he spoke and said:

"My friends, I for one would not wish to kill Telemachus. It is a terrible thing to slay one of royal blood. Let us first ask the counsel of the gods. If the decrees of great Zeus approve, I myself will strike the blow and urge all the others on. But if the gods turn us away from it, I bid you to stop."

So spoke Amphinomus, and his words were pleasing to them. At once they rose and went to the house of Odysseus, and entering, they sat down on the polished chairs.

Then wise Penelope had another thought, to show herself to the suitors in all their overbearing insolence. For she had learned of the plot to kill her son in the halls; the herald Medon, who had overheard their counsel, had told her. She went toward the great hall with her serving women. But when she, that bright among women, came to the suitors, she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built roof, holding her shining veil before her cheeks, and she rebuked Antinous, and spoke his name, and said:

"Antinous, insolent man, plotter of evil! And they say that among your peers in the land of Ithaca you are the best in counsel and in speech. But you were never such a man. Madman! Why do you plot death and doom for Telemachus, and show no regard for suppliants, over whom Zeus himself is witness? It is not righteous to plot evil against one another. Do you not know of the time your own father came here as a fugitive, in fear of the people? For they were greatly enraged because he had joined with Taphian pirates and harried the Thesprotians, who were our allies. They wished to destroy him and tear out his dear heart and devour his great and desirable substance. But Odysseus held them back and restrained them, eager though they were. And it is his house you now devour without payment, and woo his wife, and you would kill his son, and you cause me great sorrow. But I bid you to stop, and I command the others to do so."

To her Eurymachus, son of Polybus, then replied: "Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, take heart. Let not these things trouble your mind. There is not, nor will be, nor ever shall be born a man who will lay hands on Telemachus, your son, so long as I live and see the light of day on this earth. For thus I will declare, and it shall surely come to pass: swiftly his black blood would gush around my spear, if any man should try. For Odysseus, sacker of cities, often sat me on his own knees and placed roasted meat in my hands and held the red wine to my lips. Therefore Telemachus is by far the dearest to me of all men, and I bid him not to tremble at death from the suitors, at least. Death from the gods cannot be escaped."

So he spoke, to reassure her, but he himself was plotting destruction for her son. And she, going up to her gleaming upper chamber, wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until bright-eyed Athena cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.

In the evening, the godlike swineherd returned to Odysseus and his son. They were busy preparing their supper, having sacrificed a yearling pig. But Athena, standing near to Laertes' son, Odysseus, struck him with her wand and made him an old man again, and dressed him in wretched rags, lest the swineherd recognize him at sight and go to tell wise Penelope, unable to keep the secret in his heart.

Telemachus was the first to speak to him: "You have come, godlike Eumaeus. What is the news in the town? Are the proud suitors back inside from their ambush, or are they still watching for me on my way home?"

And you answered him, Eumaeus, O swineherd: "It was no concern of mine to ask about these things as I went through the town. My spirit urged me to give my message and hasten back here again. A swift messenger from your comrades met me on the way, a herald, who was the first to give the news to your mother. But this much else I know, for I saw it with my own eyes. As I was coming back, above the city where the hill of Hermes stands, I saw a swift ship sailing down into our harbor. There were many men aboard, and it was laden with shields and double-pointed spears. And I supposed it was them, but I do not know for certain."

So he spoke, and the hallowed strength of Telemachus smiled as he glanced at his father, unseen by the swineherd.

When they had finished their work and prepared the meal, they feasted, and no man's heart lacked its equal share of the feast. But when they had put aside their desire for food and drink, they thought of rest and took the gift of sleep.

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 16

Τὼ δ' αὖτ' ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
ἐντύνοντ' ἄριστον ἅμ' ἠόϊ, κηαμένω πῦρ,
ἔκπεμψάν τε νομῆας ἅμ' ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσι.
Τηλέμαχον δὲ περίσσαινον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι,
οὐδ' ὕλαον προσιόντα· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
σαίνοντάς τε κύνας, περί τε κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν.
αἶψα δ' ἄρ' Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«Εὔμαι', ἦ μάλα τίς τοι ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ' ἑταῖρος
ἢ καὶ γνώριμος ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ κύνες οὐχ ὑλάουσιν,
ἀλλὰ περισσαίνουσι· ποδῶν δ' ὑπὸ δοῦπον ἀκούω.»

οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ φίλος υἱὸς
ἔστη ἐνὶ προθύροισι. ταφὼν δ' ἀνόρουσε συβώτης,
ἐκ δ' ἄρα οἱ χειρῶν πέσον ἄγγεα, τοῖσ' ἐπονεῖτο
κιρνὰς αἴθοπα οἶνον. ὁ δ' ἀντίος ἦλθεν ἄνακτος,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλὰ
χεῖράς τ' ἀμφοτέρας· θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ.
ὡς δὲ πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φίλα φρονέων ἀγαπάζῃ
ἐλθόντ' ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,
μοῦνον τηλύγετον, τῷ ἐπ' ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσῃ,
ὣς τότε Τηλέμαχον θεοειδέα δῖος ὑφορβὸς
πάντα κύσεν περιφύς, ὡς ἐκ θανάτοιο φυγόντα·
καί ῥ' ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος· οὔ σ' ἔτ' ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε.
ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα σε θυμῷ
τέρψομαι εἰσορόων νέον ἄλλοθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θάμ' ἀγρὸν ἐπέρχεαι οὐδὲ νομῆας,
ἀλλ' ἐπιδημεύεις· ὣς γάρ νύ τοι εὔαδε θυμῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορᾶν ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σέθεν δ' ἕνεκ' ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνω,
ὄφρα σέ τ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσω,
ἤ μοι ἔτ' ἐν μεγάροις μήτηρ μένει, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔγημεν, Ὀδυσσῆος δέ που εὐνὴ
χήτει ἐνευναίων κάκ' ἀράχνια κεῖται ἔχουσα.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
«καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.
τῷ δ' ἕδρης ἐπιόντι πατὴρ ὑπόειξεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐρήτυε φώνησέν τε·

«ἧσο, ξεῖν'· ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοθι δήομεν ἕδρην
σταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ· παρὰ δ' ἀνήρ, ὃς καταθήσει.»

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δ' αὖτις ἰὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο· τῷ δὲ συβώτης
χεῦεν ὕπο χλωρὰς ῥῶπας καὶ κῶας ὕπερθεν·
ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἔπειτα Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
τοῖσιν δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκε συβώτης
ὀπταλέων, ἅ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ ὑπέλειπον ἔδοντες,
σῖτον δ' ἐσσυμένως παρενήεεν ἐν κανέοισιν,
ἐν δ' ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον·
αὐτὸς δ' ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε δῖον ὑφορβόν·

«ἄττα, πόθεν τοι ξεῖνος ὅδ' ἵκετο; πῶς δέ ἑ ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί ἑ πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδ' ἱκέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντ' ἀγορεύσω.
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχεται εὐρειάων,
φησὶ δὲ πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεα δινηθῆναι
πλαζόμενος· ὣς γάρ οἱ ἐπέκλωσεν τά γε δαίμων.
νῦν αὖ Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν παρὰ νηὸς ἀποδρὰς
ἤλυθ' ἐμὸν πρὸς σταθμόν, ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἐγγυαλίξω.
ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχεται εἶναι.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Εὔμαι', ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος θυμαλγὲς ἔειπες.
πῶς γὰρ δὴ τὸν ξεῖνον ἐγὼν ὑποδέξομαι οἴκῳ;
αὐτὸς μὲν νέος εἰμὶ καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρ' ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ·
μητρὶ δ' ἐμῇ δίχα θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,
ἢ αὐτοῦ παρ' ἐμοί τε μένῃ καὶ δῶμα κομίζῃ,

εὐνήν τ' αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμ' ἕπηται, Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δὲ ξίφος ἄμφηκες καὶ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δ', ὅππῃ μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
εἰ δ' ἐθέλεις, σὺ κόμισσον ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσιν ἐρύξας·
εἵματα δ' ἐνθάδ' ἐγὼ πέμψω καὶ σῖτον ἅπαντα
ἔδμεναι, ὡς ἂν μή σε κατατρύχῃ καὶ ἑταίρους.
κεῖσε δ' ἂν οὔ μιν ἐγώ γε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἐῷμι
ἔρχεσθαι, λίην γὰρ ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·
μή μιν κερτομέωσιν· ἐμοὶ δ' ἄχος ἔσσεται αἰνόν.
πρῆξαι δ' ἀργαλέον τι μετὰ πλεόνεσσιν ἐόντα
ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὦ φίλ', ἐπεί θήν μοι καὶ ἀμείψασθαι θέμις ἐστίν,
ἦ μάλα μευ καταδάπτετ' ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ,
οἷά φατε μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθαι
ἐν μεγάροισ', ἀέκητι σέθεν τοιούτου ἐόντος.
εἰπέ μοι, ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ
ἐχθαίρουσ' ἀνὰ δῆμον ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ·
ἦ τι κασιγνήτοισ' ἐπιμέμφεαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται;
αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν οὕτω νέος εἴην τῷδ' ἐπὶ θυμῷ,
ἢ παῖς ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἠὲ καὶ αὐτὸς
ἔλθοι ἀλητεύων· ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα·
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἀπ' ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φῶς,
εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κείνοισι κακὸν πάντεσσι γενοίμην
ἐλθὼν ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
εἰ δ' αὖ με πληθυῖ δαμασαίατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,
βουλοίμην κ' ἐν ἐμοῖσι κατακτάμενος μεγάροισι
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γ' αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργ' ὁράασθαι,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά,
καὶ οἶνον διαφυσσόμενον, καὶ σῖτον ἔδοντας
μὰψ αὔτως ἀτέλεστον, ἀνηνύστῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
οὔτε τί μοι πᾶς δῆμος ἀπεχθόμενος χαλεπαίνει,
οὔτε κασιγνήτοισ' ἐπιμέμφομαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμετέρην γενεὴν μούνωσε Κρονίων·
μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε,
μοῦνον δ' αὖτ' Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μοῦνον ἔμ' ἐν μεγάροισι τεκὼν λίπεν, οὐδ' ἀπόνητο.
τῶ νῦν δυσμενέες μάλα μυρίοι εἴσ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
ἠδ' ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσι,
τόσσοι μητέρ' ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
ἡ δ' οὔτ' ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν
ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες
οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαῤῥαίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·
ἄττα, σὺ δ' ἔρχεο θᾶσσον, ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
εἴφ', ὅτι οἱ σῶς εἰμι καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μενέω, σὺ δὲ δεῦρο νέεσθαι
οἴη ἀπαγγείλας· τῶν δ' ἄλλων μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
πευθέσθω· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«γινώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἰ καὶ Λαέρτῃ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἄγγελος ἔλθω
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς τεῖος μὲν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγ' ἀχεύων
ἔργα τ' ἐποπτεύεσκε μετὰ δμώων τ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
πῖνε καὶ ἦσθ', ὅτε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγοι·
αὐτὰρ νῦν, ἐξ οὗ σύ γε ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε,
οὔ πώ μίν φασιν φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν αὔτως,
οὐδ' ἐπὶ ἔργα ἰδεῖν, ἀλλὰ στοναχῇ τε γόῳ τε
ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος, φθινύθει δ' ἀμφ' ὀστεόφι χρώς.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἄλγιον, ἀλλ' ἔμπης μιν ἐάσομεν, ἀχνύμενοί περ.
εἰ γάρ πως εἴη αὐτάγρετα πάντα βροτοῖσι,
πρῶτόν κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑλοίμεθα νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ' ἀγγείλας ὀπίσω κίε, μηδὲ κατ' ἀγροὺς
πλάζεσθαι μετ' ἐκεῖνον· ἀτὰρ πρὸς μητέρα εἰπεῖν
ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὀτρυνέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα
κρύβδην· κείνη γάρ κεν ἀπαγγείλειε γέροντι.»

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὦρσε συφορβόν· ὁ δ' εἵλετο χερσὶ πέδιλα,
δησάμενος δ' ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πόλινδ' ἴεν. οὐδ' ἄρ' Ἀθήνην
λῆθεν ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο κιὼν Εὔμαιος ὑφορβός,
ἀλλ' ἥ γε σχεδὸν ἦλθε· δέμας δ' ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ.
στῆ δὲ κατ' ἀντίθυρον κλισίης Ὀδυσῆϊ φανεῖσα·
οὐδ' ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἴδεν ἀντίον οὐδ' ἐνόησεν, -
οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς, -
ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεύς τε κύνες τε ἴδον, καί ῥ' οὐχ ὑλάοντο,
κνυζηθμῷ δ' ἑτέρωσε διὰ σταθμοῖο φόβηθεν.
ἡ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐκ δ' ἦλθεν μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
στῆ δὲ πάροιθ' αὐτῆς. τὸν δὲ προσέειπεν Ἀθήνη·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἤδη νῦν σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδ' ἐπίκευθε,
ὡς ἂν μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρ' ἀραρόντε
ἔρχησθον προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν· οὐδ' ἐγὼ αὐτὴ
δηρὸν ἀπὸ σφῶϊν ἔσομαι μεμαυῖα μάχεσθαι.»

ἦ, καὶ χρυσείῃ ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατ' Ἀθήνη.
φᾶρος μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα
θῆκ' ἀμφὶ στήθεσφι, δέμας δ' ὤφελλε καὶ ἥβην.
ἂψ δὲ μελαγχροιὴς γένετο, γναθμοὶ δ' ἐτάνυσθεν,
κυάνεαι δ' ἐγένοντο ἐθειράδες ἀμφὶ γένειον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς ἕρξασα πάλιν κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην. θάμβησε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ταρβήσας δ' ἑτέρωσε βάλ' ὄμματα, μὴ θεὸς εἴη,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἀλλοῖός μοι, ξεῖνε, φάνης νέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν,
ἄλλα δὲ εἵματ' ἔχεις καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθ' ὁμοῖος.
ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλ' ἵληθ', ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰ
ἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρα, τετυγμένα· φείδεο δ' ἡμέων.»

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«οὔ τίς τοι θεός εἰμι· τί μ' ἀθανάτοισιν ἐΐσκεις;
ἀλλὰ πατὴρ τεός εἰμι, τοῦ εἵνεκα σὺ στεναχίζων
πάσχεις ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας υἱὸν κύσε, κὰδ δὲ παρειῶν
δάκρυον ἧκε χαμᾶζε· πάρος δ' ἔχε νωλεμὲς αἰεί.
Τηλέμαχος δ', - οὐ γάρ πω ἐπείθετο ὃν πατέρ' εἶναι, -
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

«οὐ σύ γ' Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἀλλά με δαίμων
θέλγει, ὄφρ' ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω.
οὐ γάρ πως ἂν θνητὸς ἀνὴρ τάδε μηχανόῳτο
ᾧ αὐτοῦ γε νόῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη νέον ἠδὲ γέροντα.
ἦ γάρ τοι νέον ἦσθα γέρων καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσο·
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικας, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Τηλέμαχ', οὔ σε ἔοικε φίλον πατέρ' ἔνδον ἐόντα
οὔτε τι θαυμάζειν περιώσιον οὔτ' ἀγάασθαι·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτ' ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ' Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλ' ὅδ' ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δ' ἀληθείς,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης,
ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γάρ,
ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δ' αὖτε
ἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματ' ἔχοντι.
ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ
ἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρ' ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο δάκρυα λείβων.
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφ' ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἁδινώτερον ἤ τ' οἰωνοί,
φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκνα
ἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι·
ὣς ἄρα τοί γ' ἐλεεινὸν ὑπ' ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβον.

καί νύ κ' ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρ' αἶψα·

«ποίῃ γὰρ νῦν δεῦρο, πάτερ φίλε, νηΐ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδ' ἱκέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
Φαίηκές μ' ἄγαγον ναυσικλυτοί, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτίς σφεας εἰσαφίκηται·
καί μ' εὕδοντ' ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες
κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θ' ὑφαντήν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται·
νῦν αὖ δεῦρ' ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,
ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον,
ὄφρ' εἰδέω, ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί·
καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξας
φράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθ' ἀντιφέρεσθαι
μούνω ἄνευθ' ἄλλων, ἦ καὶ διζησόμεθ' ἄλλους.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι σεῖο μέγα κλέος αἰὲν ἄκουον,
χεῖράς τ' αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν·
ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μ' ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴη
ἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.
μνηστήρων δ' οὔτ' ἂρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύ' οἶαι,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δ' εἴσεαι ἐνθάδ' ἀριθμόν.
ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
κοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἓξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται·
ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρες τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν,
ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
ἐκ δ' αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι,
καί σφιν ἅμ' ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
καὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.
τῶν εἴ κεν πάντων ἀντήσομεν ἔνδον ἐόντων,
μὴ πολύπικρα καὶ αἰνὰ βίας ἀποτείσεαι ἐλθών.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ', εἰ δύνασαί τιν' ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,
φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον,
καὶ φράσαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ
ἀρκέσει, ἦέ τιν' ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἐσθλώ τοι τούτω γ' ἐπαμύντορε, τοὺς ἀγορεύεις,
ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις
ἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
«οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθον
φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμ' ἠόϊ φαινομένηφι
οἴκαδε καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.
εἰ δέ μ' ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα, σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρ
τετλάτω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο,
ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δῶμα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζε
ἢ βέλεσιν βάλλωσι· σὺ δ' εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι παύεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
μειλιχίοισ' ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν· οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τι
πείσονται· δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,
νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ, σὺ δ' ἔπειτα νοήσας,
ὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀρήϊα τεύχεα κεῖται,
ἐς μυχὸν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείρας
πάντα μάλ'· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖσ' ἐπέεσσι
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·
«ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκ', ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει,
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετ' ἀϋτμή.
πρὸς δ' ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.»
νῶϊν δ' οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,
ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα· τοὺς δέ κ' ἔπειτα
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
εἰ ἐτεόν γ' ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέροιο,
μή τις ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος·
μήτ' οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτης
μήτε τις οἰκήων μήτ' αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια,
ἀλλ' οἶοι σύ τ' ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώομεν ἰθύν.
καί κέ τεο δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθεῖμεν,
ἠμὲν ὅ πού τις νῶϊ τίει καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,
ἠδ' ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σὲ δ' ἀτιμᾷ τοῖον ἐόντα.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·
«ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτά γ', ὀΐω,
γνώσεαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μ' ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλ' οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος ἐγὼν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐω
ἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
δηθὰ γὰρ αὔτως εἴσῃ ἑκάστου πειρητίζων,
ἔργα μετερχόμενος· τοὶ δ' ἐν μεγάροισιν ἕκηλοι
κτήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδ' ἔπι φειδώ.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοί σε γυναῖκας ἐγὼ δεδάασθαι ἄνωγα,
αἵ τέ σ' ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν·
ἀνδρῶν δ' οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατὰ σταθμοὺς ἐθέλοιμι
ἡμέας πειράζειν, ἀλλ' ὕστερα ταῦτα πένεσθαι,
εἰ ἐτεόν γέ τι οἶσθα Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἡ δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτ' Ἰθάκηνδε κατήγετο νηῦς ἐϋεργής,
ἣ φέρε Τηλέμαχον Πυλόθεν καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους.
οἱ δ' ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφ' ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες,
αὐτίκα δ' ἐς Κλυτίοιο φέρον περικαλλέα δῶρα.
αὐτὰρ κήρυκα πρόεσαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκα Τηλέμαχος μὲν ἐπ' ἀγροῦ, νῆα δ' ἀνώγει
ἄστυδ' ἀποπλείειν, ἵνα μὴ δείσασ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἰφθίμη βασίλεια τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβοι.

τὼ δὲ συναντήτην κῆρυξ καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
τῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκ' ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἵκοντο δόμον θείου βασιλῆος,
κῆρυξ μέν ῥα μέσῃσι μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·

«ἤδη τοι, βασίλεια, φίλος πάϊς εἰλήλουθε.»

Πηνελοπείῃ δ' εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰς
πάνθ' ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,
βῆ ῥ' ἴμεναι μεθ' ὕας, λίπε δ' ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.

μνηστῆρες δ' ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐκ δ' ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.
τοῖσιν δ' Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν·

«ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως ἐτελέσθη
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.
ἀλλ' ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ἐς δ' ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστα
κείνοισ' ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι.»

οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθ', ὅτ' ἄρ' Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,
στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.
ἡδὺ δ' ἄρ' ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷσ' ἑτάροισι·

«μή τιν' ἔτ' ἀγγελίην ὀτρύνομεν· οἵδε γὰρ ἔνδον.
ἤ τίς σφιν τόδ' ἔειπε θεῶν ἢ εἴσιδον αὐτοὶ
νῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δ' οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἀνστάντες ἔβαν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφ' ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.
αὐτοὶ δ' εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἁθρόοι, οὐδέ τιν' ἄλλον
εἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.
τοῖσιν δ' Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

«ὢ πόποι, ὡς τόνδ' ἄνδρα θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν.
ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἷζον ἐπ' ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας

αἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι· ἅμα δ' ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
οὔ ποτ' ἐπ' ἠπείρου νύκτ' ἄσαμεν, ἀλλ' ἐνὶ πόντῳ
νηῒ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,
Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθείσωμεν ἑλόντες
αὐτόν· τὸν δ' ἄρα τεῖος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων.
ἡμεῖς δ' ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Τηλεμάχῳ, μηδ' ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
τούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.
αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
λαοὶ δ' οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφ' ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.
ἀλλ' ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺς
εἰς ἀγορήν· - οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,
ἀλλ' ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δ' ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστάς,
οὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδ' ἐκίχημεν·
οἱ δ' οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·
μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἥμεας ἐξελάσωσι
γαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δ' ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον.
ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπ' ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος
ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ· βίοτον δ' αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματ' ἔχωμεν,
δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφ' ἡμέας, οἰκία δ' αὖτε
κείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδ' ὅς τις ὀπυίοι.
εἰ δ' ὕμιν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθε
αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,
μή οἱ χρήματ' ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέ' ἔδωμεν
ἐνθάδ' ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλ' ἐκ μεγάροιο ἕκαστος
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κ' ἔπειτα
γήμαιθ' ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
τοῖσιν δ' Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε,
Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος,
ὅς ῥ' ἐκ Δουλιχίου πολυπύρου ποιήεντος
ἡγεῖτο μνηστῆρσι, μάλιστα δὲ Πηνελοπείῃ
ἥνδανε μύθοισι· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητ' ἀγαθῇσιν·
ὅ σφιν ἐῢ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατακτείνειν ἐθέλοιμι
Τηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστι
κτείνειν· ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.
εἰ μέν κ' αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,
αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τ' ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·
εἰ δέ κ' ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί, παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.»

ὣς ἔφατ' Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δ' ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.

ἡ δ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.
πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·
κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.
βῆ δ' ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,
Ἀντίνοον δ' ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν·

«Ἀντίνο', ὕβριν ἔχων, κακομήχανε, καὶ δέ σέ φασιν
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθ' ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστον
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· σὺ δ' οὐκ ἄρα τοῖος ἔησθα.
μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ῥάπτεις, οὐδ' ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς
μάρτυρος; οὐδ' ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.
ἦ οὐκ οἶσθ' ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,
δῆμον ὑποδδείσας; δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην,
οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισιν
ἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς· οἱ δ' ἥμιν ἄρθμιοι ἦσαν.
τόν ῥ' ἔθελον φθεῖσαι καὶ ἀποῤῥαῖσαι φίλον ἦτορ
ἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέα πολλήν·
ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.
τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳ δὲ γυναῖκα
παῖδά τ' ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲ μεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·
ἀλλά σε παύεσθαι κέλομαι καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.»

τὴν δ' αὖτ' Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
οὐκ ἔσθ' οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδ' ἔσσεται οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ, σῷ υἱέϊ, χεῖρας ἐποίσει
ζώοντός γ' ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶ
ἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸν
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν ἐπέσχε τε οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
τῶ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν
ἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατον τρομέεσθαι ἄνωγα
ἔκ γε μνηστήρων· θεόθεν δ' οὐκ ἔστ' ἀλέασθαι.»

ὣς φάτο θαρσύνων, τῷ δ' ἤρτυεν αὐτὸς ὄλεθρον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρ' εἰσαναβᾶσ' ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
κλαῖεν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆα φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

ἑσπέριος δ' Ὀδυσῆϊ καὶ υἱέϊ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
ἤλυθεν· οἱ δ' ἄρα δόρπον ἐπισταδὸν ὁπλίζοντο,
σῦν ἱερεύσαντες ἐνιαύσιον. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα πάλιν ποίησε γέροντα,
λυγρὰ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε περὶ χροΐ, μή ἑ συβώτης
γνοίη ἐσάντα ἰδὼν καὶ ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
ἔλθοι ἀπαγγέλλων μηδὲ φρεσὶν εἰρύσσαιτο.

τὸν καὶ Τηλέμαχος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«ἦλθες, δῖ' Εὔμαιε· τί δὴ κλέος ἔστ' ἀνὰ ἄστυ;
ἤ ῥ' ἤδη μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἔνδον ἔασιν
ἐκ λόχου, ἦ ἔτι μ' αὖθ' εἰρύαται οἴκαδ' ἰόντα;»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
«οὐκ ἔμελέν μοι ταῦτα μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
ἄστυ καταβλώσκοντα· τάχιστά με θυμὸς ἀνώγει
ἀγγελίην εἰπόντα πάλιν δεῦρ' ἀπονέεσθαι.
ὡμήρησε δέ μοι παρ' ἑταίρων ἄγγελος ὠκύς,
κῆρυξ, ὃς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι τόδε οἶδα· τὸ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν·
ἤδη ὑπὲρ πόλιος, ὅθι Ἕρμαιος λόφος ἐστίν,
ἦα κιών, ὅτε νῆα θοὴν ἰδόμην κατιοῦσαν
ἐς λιμέν' ἡμέτερον· πολλοὶ δ' ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ,
βεβρίθει δὲ σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι·
καί σφεας ὠΐσθην τοὺς ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ τι οἶδα.»

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δ' ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο
ἐς πατέρ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών, ἀλέεινε δ' ὑφορβόν.

οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
κοίτου τε μνήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.


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