ODYSSEY 22

Then wily Odysseus cast off his rags, and leapt upon the great threshold, holding the bow and the quiver filled to the brim with arrows; and he poured out the swift shafts there before his feet, and spoke among the suitors:

“This fatal contest is now at an end; now I shall aim at another mark, one that no man has yet struck, to see if I might hit it, and if Apollo grants me the glory.”

So he spoke, and aimed a bitter arrow at Antinous. He, for his part, was about to raise a beautiful goblet, a golden cup with two handles, and was already holding it in his hands that he might drink of the wine; slaughter was not on his mind. For who, among men at a feast, would imagine that one man alone among so many, however strong he might be, would bring upon him evil death and black doom? But Odysseus took aim and shot him in the throat with an arrow, and the point passed clean through his tender neck. He slumped to one side, and the cup fell from his hand as he was struck; and at once a thick jet of human blood gushed from his nostrils. With a sudden kick he thrust the table away from him, and the food spilled onto the floor, so that the bread and roasted meats were befouled. The suitors, all through the house, raised a clamor when they saw the man fall, and they sprang from their seats in turmoil, rushing through the hall, their eyes darting everywhere to the well-built walls; but nowhere was there a shield or a stout spear to be seized. And they assailed Odysseus with words of fury:

“Stranger, you aim your bow at men to your own ruin! No other contests shall you enter; now your own utter destruction is certain. For you have just now slain the man who was by far the best of all the young lords in Ithaca; for this, vultures shall devour you here.”

So each man spoke, for they truly believed he had not intended to kill the man; the fools did not perceive that the snares of destruction were now drawn tight for them all. Then with a dark glance wily Odysseus addressed them:

“You dogs, you who thought I would never return to my home from the land of the Trojans, so you devoured my household, and forced yourselves upon my serving women, and wooed my wife while I was still among the living, fearing neither the gods who hold the wide heavens, nor that any retribution from men would ever come. Now for all of you the snares of destruction are drawn tight.”

So he spoke, and a pallid fear seized them all. Each man looked about for a way to escape utter destruction. Only Eurymachus found his voice and answered him in turn:

“If you are indeed Odysseus of Ithaca, now returned, then what you have said is just, all the deeds the Achaeans have done, many reckless wrongs in your halls, and many in the fields. But he who was the cause of all this now lies dead, Antinous; for it was he who set these acts in motion, not so much from a need or desire for marriage, but with other designs, which the son of Cronos did not bring to pass for him: that he might himself be king over the people of well-founded Ithaca, after lying in wait to slay your son. But now he has been slain as was his due; so you, spare your own people. And we, for our part, will afterward make amends throughout the land, for all that has been drunk and eaten in your halls, each man bringing a price of twenty oxen in recompense, and we shall repay you in bronze and in gold, until your heart is satisfied. Before then, no one can blame you for your anger.”

But with a dark glance wily Odysseus answered him: “Eurymachus, not even if you were to give me all your ancestral wealth, all that you now possess and whatever more you might add from elsewhere, not even then would I stay my hands from the slaughter, until the suitors have paid for all their transgression. Now the choice lies before you: either to fight me face to face or to flee, if any man may yet escape death and doom. But I think that none of you will escape utter destruction.”

So he spoke, and their knees gave way and their hearts trembled. And Eurymachus spoke to them once more, for a second time:

“My friends, this man will not hold back his invincible hands, but now that he has the polished bow and the quiver, he will shoot from the smooth threshold until he has slain every last one of us. Therefore, let us think of battle! Draw your swords, and hold up the tables as shields against his swift-fated arrows. Let us all charge him as one, to see if we can force him from the threshold and the doors, and make our way through the city, so a cry may be raised at once. Then this man would soon have shot his last.”

Saying this, he drew his sharp sword, of bronze and sharpened on both edges, and leapt at Odysseus with a terrible cry. But at that same moment noble Odysseus loosed an arrow, and struck him in the chest by the nipple, and the swift shaft lodged itself in his liver. From his hand he let the sword drop to the ground, and reeling against a table he fell, convulsed, and spilled the food to the floor along with the two-handled cup. He struck the earth with his forehead in the agony of his spirit, and with both his feet he kicked at his chair and shook it, and a mist fell over his eyes.

Then Amphinomus charged at glorious Odysseus, rushing straight for him and drawing his sharp sword, to see if he might force him from the doorway. But he was too late, for Telemachus struck him from behind with a bronze-tipped spear between the shoulders, and drove it through his chest. He fell with a thud, and struck the ground with his whole forehead. Telemachus sprang back, leaving the long-shadowing spear there in Amphinomus; for he greatly feared that one of the Achaeans, as he pulled out the long-shadowing spear, might either rush him and strike him with a sword or cut him down as he bent over. He ran, and very quickly reached his dear father, and standing close beside him, spoke these winged words:

“Father, now I shall fetch you a shield and two spears and a helmet of solid bronze that fits well upon the temples. And I shall arm myself as I go, and give arms to the swineherd and to the cowherd as well; for it is better to be armed.”

And wily Odysseus said to him in reply: “Run and bring them, while I have arrows to defend myself, lest they drive me from the doorway, now that I am alone.”

So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father, and went to the chamber where the glorious armor was stored. From there he took four shields, and eight spears, and four bronze helmets crested with horsehair; and he went, carrying them, and very quickly reached his dear father. He was the first to sheathe his own body in bronze; and in the same way the two servants armed themselves in the fine gear, and stood on either side of wise and resourceful Odysseus.

As for Odysseus, so long as he had arrows to defend himself, he kept taking aim and striking one of the suitors in his own house, and they fell one upon another in heaps. But when the arrows failed the archer king, he leaned the bow against a doorpost of the well-built hall, setting it against the gleaming panels. He himself slung a four-layered shield across his shoulders, and on his mighty head he placed a well-wrought helmet with a horsehair crest, and terribly the plume nodded from above. Then he grasped two stout spears tipped with bronze.

Now, there was a raised door in the well-built wall, and at the very end of the threshold of the sturdy hall was a way into a passage, closed by well-fitted planks. Odysseus ordered the noble swineherd to take watch of this door, standing near it, for there was only one way to approach. And Agelaus spoke among them, making his words known to all:

“My friends, could not someone climb up to the raised door and tell the people, so a cry may be raised at once? Then this man would soon have shot his last.”

But Melanthius the goatherd spoke to him in turn: “It cannot be done, Agelaus, nurtured by Zeus. For the fine doors of the courtyard are terribly near, and the mouth of the passage is difficult; one man, if he were valiant, could hold it against us all. But come, let me bring you armor to don from the chamber; for I think it is inside, and nowhere else, that Odysseus and his glorious son have stored the arms.”

So saying, Melanthius the goatherd climbed up to the storerooms of Odysseus through the apertures of the hall. From there he brought out twelve shields, as many spears, and as many bronze helmets crested with horsehair. He went his way, and quickly brought them to the suitors and gave them. Then Odysseus’s knees gave way and his heart trembled, when he saw them putting on the armor and brandishing the long spears in their hands; the task ahead seemed immense to him. At once he spoke winged words to Telemachus:

“Telemachus, surely one of the women in the halls is stirring up this evil war against us, or else it is Melanthius.”

And the wise Telemachus answered him in turn: “Father, it is I myself who have erred in this—no one else is to blame—for I left the tightly-fitted door of the chamber ajar; their lookout was better than ours. But go now, noble Eumaeus, close the door of the chamber, and see if it is one of the women who is doing this, or if it is Melanthius, son of Dolius, as I suspect.”

While they were speaking such things to one another, Melanthius the goatherd went again to the chamber to fetch more fine armor; but the noble swineherd saw him, and at once spoke to Odysseus who was standing near:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus, that same destructive man, whom we ourselves suspected, is on his way to the chamber. Tell me truly, should I kill him, if I prove the stronger, or should I bring him here to you, so that he may pay for the many transgressions he has devised in your house?”

And wily Odysseus said to him in reply:

“Truly, Telemachus and I will hold the proud suitors inside the hall, however fiercely they may rage. You two, twist his feet and hands behind him and cast him into the chamber, and bind the doors shut behind him. Then fasten a braided rope to him and hoist him up the tall pillar to the roof beams, so that he may live for a long time yet, and suffer grievous pains.”

So he spoke, and they listened to him readily and obeyed. They went to the chamber, and he did not see them, being inside. He was in a corner of the chamber, searching for armor, while the two stood on either side of the doorposts, waiting. And when Melanthius the goatherd was crossing the threshold, carrying a fine helmet in one hand, and in the other a wide, old shield, spattered with mould, that belonged to the hero Laertes, which he used to carry in his youth; it had been lying there for some time, and the stitches of its straps had come undone; the two men sprang upon him, seized him, and dragged him inside by the hair, and threw him to the floor, his heart in agony. They bound his feet and hands together with a soul-tormenting bond, twisting them tightly behind his back, just as he had commanded, the son of Laertes, much-enduring, noble Odysseus. Then they fastened a braided rope to him, and hoisted him up the tall pillar and brought him near the roof beams. And mocking him, you spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:

“Now indeed, Melanthius, you shall keep watch all through the night, lying on a soft bed, as is fitting for you. And the golden-throned Dawn, rising from the streams of Ocean, will not escape your notice, at the hour when you drive the goats to the house to prepare a feast for the suitors.”

So he was left there, stretched in that deadly bond. The two put on their armor, closed the shining door, and went to join wise and resourceful Odysseus. There they stood, breathing fury, four of them on the threshold, while inside the hall were many fine men. And close to them came Athena, daughter of Zeus, in the likeness of Mentor, both in form and in voice. Odysseus rejoiced to see her and spoke a word:

“Mentor, ward off ruin, and remember your dear companion, who always treated you well; you are of an age with me.”

So he spoke, though he suspected it was Athena, rouser of armies. But on the other side, the suitors shouted in the hall, and the first to rebuke her was Agelaus, son of Damastor:

“Mentor, do not let Odysseus persuade you with his words to fight against the suitors and to defend him. For this is how I believe our purpose will be fulfilled: when we have killed these two, the father and the son, you too will be slain among them for what you mean to do in these halls; you will pay with your own head. And when we have taken your lives with the bronze, all the possessions that are yours, those inside and out, we shall mix with those of Odysseus. And we will not permit your sons to live in your halls, nor your daughters nor your faithful wife to walk about in the city of Ithaca.”

So he spoke, and Athena grew all the more angered in her heart, and she rebuked Odysseus with furious words:

“No longer, Odysseus, is your strength steadfast, nor your valor as it was when for the sake of white-armed Helen, of noble birth, for nine years you fought the Trojans, ever unceasingly. Many men you killed in the terrible fray of battle, and by your counsel Priam’s wide-wayed city was taken. How is it now, when you have come to your own house and possessions, you lament that you are not valiant against the suitors? But come now, my friend, stand beside me and behold my work, so you may know what kind of man Mentor, son of Alcimus, is, to repay your kindnesses in the midst of your foes.”

She spoke, but did not yet grant him decisive victory, for she still wished to test the strength and valor of both Odysseus and his glorious son. She herself, darting up to the smoke-blackened roof beam of the hall, settled there, in the likeness of a swallow.

The suitors were urged on by Agelaus, son of Damastor, and by Eurynomus, Amphimedon, Demoptolemus, Peisander son of Polyctor, and wise Polybus, for these were by far the best in valor among the suitors, as many as were still alive and fighting for their lives. The bow and the shower of arrows had already vanquished the others. And Agelaus spoke among them, making his words known to all:

“Friends, now this man will hold back his invincible hands. For Mentor has gone, after speaking empty boasts, and they are left alone at the very entrance. So now, do not all cast your long spears at once, but come, let the six of you throw first, to see if Zeus might somehow grant that Odysseus be struck and we win the glory. As for the others, there is no concern, once this man has fallen.”

So he spoke, and they all cast their spears as he ordered, with all their might; but Athena made them all go wide of the mark. One man’s spear struck a post of the well-built hall, another’s struck the tightly-fitted door; and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell into the wall. But when they had evaded the spears of the suitors, much-enduring noble Odysseus was the first to speak to his men:

“My friends, now I would say it is our turn to cast our spears into the throng of suitors, who are eager to strip our armor, adding to their former evils.”

So he spoke, and they all took aim and cast their sharp spears. Odysseus struck Demoptolemus, Telemachus struck Euryades, and the swineherd, Elatus, and the man who was keeper of the cattle killed Peisander. And so they all at once bit the vast ground with their teeth, and the suitors retreated to the far corner of the hall. But Odysseus and his men rushed forward, and pulled their spears from the corpses.

Again the suitors cast their sharp spears with all their might; but Athena made many of them go wide of the mark. One man’s spear struck a post of the well-built hall, another’s struck the tightly-fitted door; and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell into the wall. But Amphimedon struck Telemachus on the hand at the wrist, a glancing blow, and the bronze scraped the skin. And Ctesippus, with his long spear over the shield of Eumaeus, grazed his shoulder; but the spear flew over and fell to the ground. Then again the men around wise and resourceful Odysseus cast their sharp spears into the throng of suitors. This time Odysseus, sacker of cities, struck Eurydamas, Telemachus struck Amphimedon, and the swineherd, Polybus. And then the man who was keeper of the cattle struck Ctesippus in the chest, and spoke, exulting over him:

“Son of Polytherses, you lover of mockery, never again give way to folly and speak so grandly, but leave the word to the gods, since they are far mightier. This is your guest-gift in return for the hoof you once gave to godlike Odysseus as he wandered through his own house.”

So spoke the keeper of the sleek-horned cattle. And Odysseus wounded Damastorides at close range with his long spear. Telemachus wounded Leiocritus, son of Evenor, with his spear in the middle of the groin, and the bronze drove clean through; he fell forward, and struck the ground with his whole forehead. Then Athena held up her man-destroying aegis from high on the roof, and the minds of the suitors were thrown into panic. They fled through the great hall like a herd of cattle that a shimmering gadfly attacks and scatters in the season of spring, when the days are long. But the others, like vultures with curving talons and hooked beaks that come down from the mountains and swoop upon smaller birds, which fly low on the plain, cowering from the clouds, the vultures pounce and kill them, and there is no defense and no escape, and the men who watch the hunt rejoice. So Odysseus and his men, rushing upon the suitors through the house, struck them down on all sides; and a hideous groaning arose as their heads were struck, and the whole floor streamed with blood.

Leodes rushed forward and clasped the knees of Odysseus, and pleading with him, spoke these winged words:

“I clasp your knees, Odysseus; show me respect and have mercy on me. For I declare that I never said or did anything wicked to any of the women in your halls; on the contrary, I tried to stop the other suitors, whenever one would do such things.

But they would not be persuaded to keep their hands from evil; and so for their recklessness they have met a hideous fate. But I, their diviner, having done nothing, will lie with them, since there is no gratitude for good deeds hereafter.”

Then with a dark glance wily Odysseus answered him: “If you truly claim to be their diviner, you must have often prayed in these halls that the day of my sweet homecoming would be far off, and that my dear wife would go with you and bear you children. Therefore you shall not escape a miserable death.”

So saying, he seized in his great hand a sword that lay on the ground, which Agelaus had dropped as he was slain; with it he struck him full in the middle of the neck. And while he was still speaking, his head mingled with the dust.

But Phemius the bard, son of Terpias, still sought to escape black doom, he who sang among the suitors out of compulsion. He stood with the clear-toned lyre in his hands near the raised door, and his mind was divided in two: whether to slip out of the hall to the great altar of Zeus, god of the courtyard, where Laertes and Odysseus had often burned the thigh-bones of oxen, or to rush forward and beseech Odysseus by his knees. And as he pondered, this seemed the better course: to clasp the knees of Odysseus, son of Laertes. So he set his hollow lyre down upon the ground midway between the mixing bowl and the silver-studded chair, and he himself rushed forward and clasped the knees of Odysseus and pleading with him, spoke these winged words:

“I clasp your knees, Odysseus; show me respect and have mercy on me. It will be a sorrow to you hereafter if you slay a bard, one who sings for gods and for men. I am self-taught, and a god has planted in my mind all manner of song. I am fit to sing for you as for a god; therefore do not be eager to cut my throat. And Telemachus, your own dear son, could tell you this, that I did not come to your house willingly, nor for want, to sing for the suitors after their feasts, but they, being far more numerous and stronger, brought me by force.”

So he spoke, and the sacred might of Telemachus heard him, and at once he spoke to his father who was standing near:

“Stay your hand, and do not wound this blameless man with the bronze. And let us also save Medon the herald, who always cared for me in our house when I was a child, unless Philoetius or the swineherd has already killed him, or he chanced upon you as you raged through the house.”

So he spoke, and Medon, a man of understanding, heard him, for he was lying huddled under a chair, and had wrapped himself in the hide of a freshly flayed ox, trying to escape black doom. At once he rose from under the chair and cast off the ox-hide, and then rushed to Telemachus and clasped him by the knees, and pleading with him, spoke these winged words:

“Friend, here I am; hold back, and tell your father lest in his great strength he harm me with the sharp bronze, enraged as he is at the suitors, who devoured his possessions in his halls and, like fools, paid you no honor.”

And wily Odysseus smiled at him and said: “Take heart, for this man has rescued and saved you, so that you may know in your heart, and tell another as well, how much better good-doing is than evil-doing. But go out of the hall and sit down outside, away from the slaughter in the courtyard, you and the famous bard, while I attend to what must be done in the house.”

So he spoke, and the two went out from the hall; and they both sat down at the great altar of Zeus, gazing about in all directions, ever expecting death.

And Odysseus gazed all about his own house, to see if any man was still alive, hiding and trying to escape black doom. But he saw them all, lying in the blood and the dust, a great multitude, like fish that fishermen have drawn out of the grey sea onto a hollow of the shore in a net of many meshes; and they all, longing for the waves of the sea, are heaped upon the sand, and the shining sun takes the life from them. So then the suitors were heaped one upon another. Then at last wily Odysseus spoke to Telemachus:

“Telemachus, come now and call for me the nurse Eurycleia, so that I may speak the word that is in my heart.”

So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father, and shaking the door he spoke to the nurse Eurycleia:

“Arise and come here, old woman of ancient birth, you who watch over the serving women in our halls. Come; my father calls you, so he may tell you something.”

So he spoke, and his word to her was not winged, but fell, and she opened the doors of the well-appointed hall and went on her way, while Telemachus led from the front. She found Odysseus among the slaughtered corpses, spattered with blood and gore, like a lion that comes from having devoured an ox from the fields; and all his chest and his cheeks on either side are bloody, a terrible sight to behold. So was Odysseus spattered, on his feet and his hands above. And when she saw the corpses and the untold gore, she was moved to raise a cry of triumph, seeing so great a deed. But Odysseus held her back and checked her eagerness, and speaking to her, he uttered these winged words:

“Rejoice in your heart, old woman, but hold back, and do not cry aloud; it is an unholy thing to exult over slain men. These men the fate of the gods has vanquished, and their own reckless deeds, for they honored no one among the men on this earth, neither the bad man nor the good, whoever might come to them. And so for their recklessness they have met a hideous fate. But come now, name for me the women in the halls, those who dishonor me and those who are blameless.”

And his dear nurse Eurycleia answered him in turn: “Then I will indeed, my child, tell you the truth. There are fifty women in your halls, serving women, whom we have taught to do their work, to card wool and to endure their servitude. Of these, twelve in all have taken the path of shamelessness, honoring neither me nor Penelope herself. Telemachus has only lately come into his strength, and his mother did not allow him to give orders to the serving women. But come, let me go up to the shining upper chambers and tell your wife, upon whom some god has sent down sleep.”

And wily Odysseus said to her in reply: “Do not wake her yet; but tell the women to come here, all those who before now have devised wicked deeds.”

So he spoke, and the old woman went through the hall to deliver the message to the women and bid them to come. Then he called to his side Telemachus, and the cowherd and the swineherd, and gathering them, spoke these winged words:

“Begin now to carry out the bodies and command the women to help; and after that, the beautiful chairs and the tables, cleanse them with water and porous sponges. And when you have set the whole house in order, lead the serving women out of the well-built hall, to a place between the round-house and the fine wall of the courtyard, and strike them with long-bladed swords, until you have taken the life from all of them and they have forgotten Aphrodite, whose pleasure they took under the suitors, consorting with them in secret.”

So he spoke, and the women all came in a group, wailing terribly and shedding torrents of tears. First they carried out the bodies of the dead, and set them down under the portico of the well-fenced courtyard, propping them one against the other; and Odysseus gave the orders, urging them on himself, and they carried them out under compulsion. And after that, the beautiful chairs and the tables, they cleansed with water and porous sponges. Then Telemachus and the cowherd and the swineherd with scrapers took to the floor of the well-made house and scraped it, and the serving women carried the filth away and set it outside. But when they had set the great hall entirely in order, they led the serving women out of the well-built hall to a place between the round-house and the fine wall of the courtyard, and herded them into a narrow space, from which there was no escape. And the wise Telemachus was the first to speak among them:

“I would not take the lives of these women by a clean death,

these who have heaped reproaches upon my head and upon my mother, and who have slept beside the suitors.”

So he spoke, and taking the cable of a dark-prowed ship, he fastened it to a great pillar and coiled it around the round-house, stretching it high, so that none might touch the ground with her feet. And just as when long-winged thrushes or doves fly into a snare that has been set in a thicket, as they seek their roost, and a hateful bed receives them, so the women held their heads in a row, and around all their necks were nooses, so that they might die most piteously. They twitched with their feet for a little, but not for very long.

Then they led Melanthius out through the porch and the courtyard; with the pitiless bronze they sliced off his nose and his ears, and they tore out his genitals, to be given raw to the dogs, and they chopped off his hands and feet in their furious anger.

Then, after washing their hands and their feet, they went into the house to Odysseus, and the work was finished. And he himself spoke to his dear nurse Eurycleia:

“Bring sulfur, old woman, a remedy for evils, and bring me fire, so that I may purify the hall. And you, bid Penelope to come here with her attendant women; and bid all the serving women to come through the house.”

And his dear nurse Eurycleia answered him in turn: “Yes indeed, my child, you have spoken these things as is right. But come, let me bring you a cloak and a tunic for clothing, and do not stand so in the hall, with your broad shoulders covered only in rags; that would bring you shame.”

But wily Odysseus said to her in reply: “Let fire first be made for me in the hall.”

So he spoke, and his dear nurse Eurycleia did not disobey, but brought fire and sulfur. And Odysseus thoroughly purified the hall and the house and the courtyard.

Then the old woman went back through the fine halls of Odysseus to deliver the message to the women and bid them to come; and they came from the hall, holding torches in their hands. They gathered around and embraced Odysseus and kissed him in welcome, on his head and his shoulders, and took his hands in theirs. And a sweet longing seized him for weeping and for groaning, for he knew them all in his heart.

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 22

Αὐτὰρ ὁ γυμνώθη ῥακέων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἆλτο δ' ἐπὶ μέγαν οὐδὸν ἔχων βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰῶν ἐμπλείην, ταχέας δ' ἐκχεύατ' ὀϊστοὺς
αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·

«οὗτος μὲν δὴ ἄεθλος ἀάατος ἐκτετέλεσται·
νῦν αὖτε σκοπὸν ἄλλον, ὃν οὔ πώ τις βάλεν ἀνήρ,
εἴσομαι, αἴ κε τύχωμι, πόρῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.»

ἦ, καὶ ἐπ' Ἀντινόῳ ἰθύνετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν.
ἦ τοι ὁ καλὸν ἄλεισον ἀναιρήσεσθαι ἔμελλε,
χρύσεον ἄμφωτον, καὶ δὴ μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
ὄφρα πίοι οἴνοιο· φόνος δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
μέμβλετο. τίς κ' οἴοιτο μετ' ἀνδράσι δαιτυμόνεσσι
μοῦνον ἐνὶ πλεόνεσσι, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη,
οἷ τεύξειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν;
τὸν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ λαιμὸν ἐπισχόμενος βάλεν ἰῷ,
ἀντικρὺ δ' ἁπαλοῖο δι' αὐχένος ἤλυθ' ἀκωκή.
ἐκλίνθη δ' ἑτέρωσε, δέπας δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρὸς
βλημένου, αὐτίκα δ' αὐλὸς ἀνὰ ῥῖνας παχὺς ἦλθεν
αἵματος ἀνδρομέοιο· θοῶς δ' ἀπὸ εἷο τράπεζαν
ὦσε ποδὶ πλήξας, ἀπὸ δ' εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε·
σῖτός τε κρέα τ' ὀπτὰ φορύνετο. τοὶ δ' ὁμάδησαν
μνηστῆρες κατὰ δώμαθ', ὅπως ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόντα,
ἐκ δὲ θρόνων ἀνόρουσαν ὀρινθέντες κατὰ δῶμα,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντες ἐϋδμήτους ποτὶ τοίχους·
οὐδέ που ἀσπὶς ἔην οὐδ' ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἑλέσθαι.
νείκειον δ' Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσι·

«ξεῖνε, κακῶς ἀνδρῶν τοξάζεαι· οὐκέτ' ἀέθλων
ἄλλων ἀντιάσεις· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
καὶ γὰρ δὴ νῦν φῶτα κατέκτανες, ὃς μέγ' ἄριστος
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τῶ σ' ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.»

ἴσκεν ἕκαστος ἀνήρ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φάσαν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ἄνδρα κατακτεῖναι· τὸ δὲ νήπιοι οὐκ ἐνόησαν,
ὡς δή σφιν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατ' ἐφῆπτο.
τοὺς δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

«ὦ κύνες, οὔ μ' ἔτ' ἐφάσκεθ' ὑπότροπον οἴκαδε νεῖσθαι
δήμου ἄπο Τρώων, ὅτι μοι κατεκείρετε οἶκον
δμῳῇσίν τε γυναιξὶ παρευνάζεσθε βιαίως
αὐτοῦ τε ζώοντος ὑπεμνάασθε γυναῖκα,
οὔτε θεοὺς δείσαντες, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οὔτε τιν' ἀνθρώπων νέμεσιν κατόπισθεν ἔσεσθαι.
νῦν ὕμιν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατ' ἐφῆπται.»

ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δ' ἅρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλε·
πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος, ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
Εὐρύμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

«εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος εἰλήλουθας,
ταῦτα μὲν αἴσιμα εἶπες, ὅσα ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί,
πολλὰ μὲν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀτάσθαλα, πολλὰ δ' ἐπ' ἀγροῦ.
ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἤδη κεῖται, ὃς αἴτιος ἔπλετο πάντων,
Ἀντίνοος· οὗτος γὰρ ἐπίηλεν τάδε ἔργα,
οὔ τι γάμου τόσσον κεχρημένος οὐδὲ χατίζων,
ἀλλ' ἄλλα φρονέων, τά οἱ οὐκ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων,
ὄφρ' Ἰθάκης κατὰ δῆμον ἐϋκτιμένης βασιλεύοι
αὐτός, ἀτὰρ σὸν παῖδα κατακτείνειε λοχήσας.
νῦν δ' ὁ μὲν ἐν μοίρῃ πέφαται, σὺ δὲ φείδεο λαῶν
σῶν· ἀτὰρ ἄμμες ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσάμενοι κατὰ δῆμον,
ὅσσα τοι ἐκπέποται καὶ ἐδήδοται ἐν μεγάροισι,
τιμὴν ἀμφὶς ἄγοντες ἐεικοσάβοιον ἕκαστος,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τ' ἀποδώσομεν, εἰς ὅ κε σὸν κῆρ
ἰανθῇ· πρὶν δ' οὔ τι νεμεσσητὸν κεχολῶσθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Εὐρύμαχ', οὐδ' εἴ μοι πατρώϊα πάντ' ἀποδοῖτε,
ὅσσα τε νῦν ὔμμ' ἐστὶ καὶ εἴ ποθεν ἄλλ' ἐπιθεῖτε,
οὐδέ κεν ὧς ἔτι χεῖρας ἐμὰς λήξαιμι φόνοιο,
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτεῖσαι.
νῦν ὕμιν παράκειται ἐναντίον ἠὲ μάχεσθαι
ἢ φεύγειν, ὅς κεν θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξῃ·
ἀλλά τιν' οὐ φεύξεσθαι ὀΐομαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.»

ὣς φάτο, τῶν δ' αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ.
τοῖσιν δ' Εὐρύμαχος μετεφώνεε δεύτερον αὖτις·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους,
ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἔλλαβε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην,
οὐδοῦ ἄπο ξεστοῦ τοξάσσεται, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας
ἄμμε κατακτείνῃ. ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης·
φάσγανά τε σπάσσασθε καὶ ἀντίσχεσθε τραπέζας
ἰῶν ὠκυμόρων· ἐπὶ δ' αὐτῷ πάντες ἔχωμεν
ἁθρόοι, εἴ κέ μιν οὐδοῦ ἀπώσομεν ἠδὲ θυράων,
ἔλθωμεν δ' ἀνὰ ἄστυ, βοὴ δ' ὤκιστα γένηται·
τῶ κε τάχ' οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας εἰρύσσατο φάσγανον ὀξύ,
χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον, ἆλτο δ' ἐπ' αὐτῷ
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὁ δ' ἁμαρτὴ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἰὸν ἀποπροΐει, βάλε δὲ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἥπατι πῆξε θοὸν βέλος. ἐκ δ' ἄρα χειρὸς
φάσγανον ἧκε χαμᾶζε, περιῤῥηδὴς δὲ τραπέζῃ
κάππεσεν ἰδνωθείς, ἀπὸ δ' εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε
καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον· ὁ δὲ χθόνα τύπτε μετώπῳ
θυμῷ ἀνιάζων, ποσὶ δὲ θρόνον ἀμφοτέροισι
λακτίζων ἐτίνασσε· κατ' ὀφθαλμῶν δ' ἔχυτ' ἀχλύς.

Ἀμφίνομος δ' Ὀδυσῆος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο
ἀντίος ἀΐξας, εἴρυτο δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειε θυράων. ἀλλ' ἄρα μιν φθῆ
Τηλέμαχος κατόπισθε βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ
ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, χθόνα δ' ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἀπόρουσε, λιπὼν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἀμφινόμῳ· περὶ γὰρ δίε, μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
ἔγχος ἀνελκόμενον δολιχόσκιον ἢ ἐλάσειε
φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας ἠὲ προπρηνέα τύψας.
βῆ δὲ θέειν, μάλα δ' ὦκα φίλον πατέρ' εἰσαφίκανεν,
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ὦ πάτερ, ἤδη τοι σάκος οἴσω καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καὶ κυνέην πάγχαλκον, ἐπὶ κροτάφοισ' ἀραρυῖαν,
αὐτός τ' ἀμφιβαλεῦμαι ἰών, δώσω δὲ συβώτῃ
καὶ τῷ βουκόλῳ ἄλλα· τετευχῆσθαι γὰρ ἄμεινον.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«οἶσε θέων, εἷός μοι ἀμύνεσθαι πάρ' ὀϊστοί,
μή μ' ἀποκινήσωσι θυράων μοῦνον ἐόντα.»

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,
βῆ δ' ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδ', ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ τεύχεα κεῖτο.
ἔνθεν τέσσαρα μὲν σάκε' εἵλετο, δούρατα δ' ὀκτὼ
καὶ πίσυρας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δὲ φέρων, μάλα δ' ὦκα φίλον πατέρ' εἰσαφίκανεν.
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα περὶ χροῒ δύσετο χαλκόν·
ὣς δ' αὔτως τὼ δμῶε δυέσθην τεύχεα καλά,
ἔσταν δ' ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ', ὄφρα μὲν αὐτῷ ἀμύνεσθαι ἔσαν ἰοί,
τόφρα μνηστήρων ἕνα γ' αἰεὶ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
βάλλε τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λίπον ἰοὶ ὀϊστεύοντα ἄνακτα,
τόξον μὲν πρὸς σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἔκλιν' ἑστάμεναι, πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
αὐτὸς δ' ἀμφ' ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,
κρατὶ δ' ἐπ' ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,
ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·
εἵλετο δ' ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ.

ὀρσοθύρη δέ τις ἔσκεν ἐϋδμήτῳ ἐνὶ τοίχῳ,
ἀκρότατον δὲ παρ' οὐδὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἦν ὁδὸς ἐς λαύρην, σανίδες δ' ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι·
τὴν Ὀδυσεὺς φράζεσθαι ἀνώγει δῖον ὑφορβὸν
ἑσταότ' ἄγχ' αὐτῆς· μία δ' οἴη γίνετ' ἐφορμή.
τοῖς δ' Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀν' ὀρσοθύρην ἀναβαίη
καὶ εἴποι λαοῖσι, βοὴ δ' ὤκιστα γένοιτο;
τῶ κε τάχ' οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
«οὔ πως ἔστ', Ἀγέλαε διοτρεφές· ἄγχι γὰρ αἰνῶς
αὐλῆς καλὰ θύρετρα, καὶ ἀργαλέον στόμα λαύρης·
καί χ' εἷς πάντας ἐρύκοι ἀνήρ, ὅς τ' ἄλκιμος εἴη.
ἀλλ' ἄγεθ', ὑμῖν τεύχε' ἐνείκω θωρηχθῆναι
ἐκ θαλάμου· ἔνδον γάρ, ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ πῃ ἄλλῃ
τεύχεα κατθέσθην Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνέβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
ἐς θαλάμους Ὀδυσῆος ἀνὰ ῥῶγας μεγάροιο.
ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν σάκε' ἔξελε, τόσσα δὲ δοῦρα
καὶ τόσσας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δ' ἴμεναι, μάλα δ' ὦκα φέρων μνηστῆρσιν ἔδωκε.
καὶ τότ' Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὡς περιβαλλομένους ἴδε τεύχεα χερσί τε δοῦρα
μακρὰ τινάσσοντας· μέγα δ' αὐτῷ φαίνετο ἔργον.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«Τηλέμαχ', ἦ μάλα δή τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν
νῶϊν ἐποτρύνει πόλεμον κακὸν ἠὲ Μελανθεύς.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ὦ πάτερ, αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τόδε γ' ἤμβροτον, - οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
αἴτιος, - ὃς θαλάμοιο θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν
κάλλιπον ἀγκλίνας· τῶν δὲ σκοπὸς ἦεν ἀμείνων.
ἀλλ' ἴθι, δῖ' Εὔμαιε, θύρην ἐπίθες θαλάμοιο,
καὶ φράσαι, ἤ τις ἄρ' ἐστὶ γυναικῶν, ἣ τάδε ῥέζει,
ἦ υἱὸς Δολίοιο Μελανθεύς, τόν περ ὀΐω.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.
βῆ δ' αὖτις θάλαμόνδε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
οἴσων τεύχεα καλά· νόησε δὲ δῖος ὑφορβός,
αἶψα δ' Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
κεῖνος δὴ αὖτ' ἀΐδηλος ἀνήρ, ὃν ὀϊόμεθ' αὐτοί,
ἔρχεται ἐς θάλαμον· σὺ δέ μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,
ἤ μιν ἀποκτείνω, αἴ κε κρείσσων γε γένωμαι,
ἦέ σοι ἐνθάδ' ἄγω, ἵν' ὑπερβασίας ἀποτείσῃ
πολλάς, ὅσσας οὗτος ἐμήσατο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

«ἦ τοι ἐγὼ καὶ Τηλέμαχος μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
σχήσομεν ἔντοσθεν μεγάρων μάλα περ μεμαῶτας·
σφῶϊ δ' ἀποστρέψαντε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
ἐς θάλαμον βαλέειν, σανίδας δ' ἐκδῆσαι ὄπισθε,
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίον' ἀν' ὑψηλὴν ἐρύσαι πελάσαι τε δοκοῖσιν,
ὥς κεν δηθὰ ζωὸς ἐὼν χαλέπ' ἄλγεα πάσχῃ.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδ' ἐπίθοντο,
βὰν δ' ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, λαθέτην δέ μιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν θαλάμοιο μυχὸν κάτα τεύχε' ἐρεύνα,
τὼ δ' ἔσταν ἑκάτερθε παρὰ σταθμοῖσι μένοντε.
εὖθ' ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἔβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν χειρὶ φέρων καλὴν τρυφάλειαν,
τῇ δ' ἑτέρῃ σάκος εὐρὺ γέρον, πεπαλαγμένον ἄζῃ,
Λαέρτεω ἥρωος, ὃ κουρίζων φορέεσκε·
δὴ τότε γ' ἤδη κεῖτο, ῥαφαὶ δ' ἐλέλυντο ἱμάντων·
τὼ δ' ἄρ' ἐπαΐξανθ' ἑλέτην ἔρυσάν τέ μιν εἴσω
κουρίξ, ἐν δαπέδῳ δὲ χαμαὶ βάλον ἀχνύμενον κῆρ,
σὺν δὲ πόδας χεῖράς τε δέον θυμαλγέϊ δεσμῷ
εὖ μάλ' ἀποστρέψαντε διαμπερές, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
υἱὸς Λαέρταο, πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίον' ἀν' ὑψηλὴν ἔρυσαν πέλασάν τε δοκοῖσι.
τὸν δ' ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·

«νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ, Μελάνθιε, νύκτα φυλάξεις,
εὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ καταλέγμενος, ὥς σε ἔοικεν·
οὐδὲ σέ γ' ἠριγένεια παρ' Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων
λήσει ἀνερχομένη χρυσόθρονος, ἡνίκ' ἀγινεῖς
αἶγας μνηστήρεσσι δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένεσθαι.»

ὣς ὁ μὲν αὖθι λέλειπτο, ταθεὶς ὀλοῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ·
τὼ δ' ἐς τεύχεα δύντε, θύρην ἐπιθέντε φαεινήν,
βήτην εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην.
ἔνθα μένος πνείοντες ἐφέστασαν, οἱ μὲν ἐπ' οὐδοῦ
τέσσαρες, οἱ δ' ἔντοσθε δόμων πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·

«Μέντορ, ἄμυνον ἀρήν, μνῆσαι δ' ἐτάροιο φίλοιο,
ὅς σ' ἀγαθὰ ῥέζεσκον· ὁμηλικίη δέ μοί ἐσσι.»

ὣς φάτ', ὀϊόμενος λαοσσόον ἔμμεν' Ἀθήνην.
μνηστῆρες δ' ἑτέρωθεν ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισι·
πρῶτος τήν γ' ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·

«Μέντορ, μή σ' ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·
ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρ' ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν,
ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς
ἕρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δ' αὐτοῦ κράατι τείσεις.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ,
κτήμαθ' ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τ' ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι,
τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμείξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας
ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδὲ θύγατρας
οὐδ' ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν.»

ὣς φάτ', Ἀθηναίη δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
νείκεσσεν δ' Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·

«οὐκέτι σοί γ', Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή,
οἵη ὅτ' ἀμφ' Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ
εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί,
πολλοὺς δ' ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
σῇ δ' ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.
πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν γε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθ' ἱκάνεις,
ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;
ἀλλ' ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρ' ἔμ' ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,
ὄφρ' εἰδῇς, οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι
Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν.»

ἦ ῥα, καὶ οὔ πω πάγχυ δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην,
ἀλλ' ἔτ' ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν
ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδ' υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.
αὐτὴ δ' αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον
ἕζετ' ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.

μνηστῆρας δ' ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος
Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε
Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων·
οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχ' ἄριστοι,
ὅσσοι ἔτ' ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο·
τοὺς δ' ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.
τοῖς δ' Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·

«ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους·
καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών,
οἱ δ' οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.
τῶ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά,
ἀλλ' ἄγεθ' οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατ', αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν, ὡς ἐκέλευεν,
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δ' ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατ' ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων,
τοῖσ' ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

«ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν
ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς,
Εὐρυάδην δ' ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης,
Πείσανδρον δ' ἄρ' ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειθ' ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας,
μνηστῆρες δ' ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε·
τοὶ δ' ἄρ' ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δ' ἐξ ἔγχε' ἕλοντο.

αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δ' ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
Ἀμφιμέδων δ' ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ
λίγδην, ἄκρην δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.
Κτήσιππος δ' Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δ' ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δ' ἔραζε.
τοὶ δ' αὖτ' ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.
ἔνθ' αὖτ' Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·
Κτήσιππον δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνὴρ
βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος, ἐπευχόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

«ὦ Πολυθερσεΐδη φιλοκέρτομε, μή ποτε πάμπαν
εἴκων ἀφραδίῃς μέγα εἰπεῖν, ἀλλὰ θεοῖσι
μῦθον ἐπιτρέψαι, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.
τοῦτό τοι ἀντὶ ποδὸς ξεινήϊον, ὅν ποτ' ἔδωκας
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ δόμον κάτ' ἀλητεύοντι.»

ἦ ῥα βοῶν ἑλίκων ἐπιβουκόλος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
οὖτα Δαμαστορίδην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ·
Τηλέμαχος δ' Εὐηνορίδην Λειώκριτον οὖτα
δουρὶ μέσον κενεῶνα, διαπρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν·
ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, χθόνα δ' ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
δὴ τότ' Ἀθηναίη φθισίμβροτον αἰγίδ' ἀνέσχεν
ὑψόθεν ἐξ ὀροφῆς· τῶν δὲ φρένες ἐπτοίηθεν.
οἱ δ' ἐφέβοντο κατὰ μέγαρον βόες ὣς ἀγελαῖαι·
τὰς μέν τ' αἰόλος οἶστρος ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐδόνησεν
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τ' ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται·
οἱ δ' ὥς τ' αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχῆλαι
ἐξ ὀρέων ἐλθόντες ἐπ' ὀρνίθεσσι θόρωσι.
ταὶ μέν τ' ἐν πεδίῳ νέφεα πτώσσουσαι ἵενται,
οἱ δέ τε τὰς ὀλέκουσιν ἐπάλμενοι, οὐδέ τις ἀλκὴ
γίνεται οὐδὲ φυγή· χαίρουσι δέ τ' ἀνέρες ἄγρῃ·
ὣς ἄρα τοὶ μνηστῆρας ἐπεσσύμενοι κατὰ δῶμα
τύπτον ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτ' ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δ' ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.

Λειώδης δ' Ὀδυσῆος ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε γούνων
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«γουνοῦμαί σ', Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μ' αἴδεο καί μ' ἐλέησον·
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι γυναικῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν
εἰπεῖν οὐδέ τι ῥέξαι ἀτάσθαλον· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλους
παύεσκον μνηστῆρας, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.

ἀλλά μοι οὐ πείθοντο κακῶν ἄπο χεῖρας ἔχεσθαι·
τῶ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος οὐδὲν ἐοργὼς
κείσομαι, ὡς οὐκ ἔστι χάρις μετόπισθ' εὐεργέων.»

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«εἰ μὲν δὴ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος εὔχεαι εἶναι,
πολλάκι που μέλλεις ἀρήμεναι ἐν μεγάροισι
τηλοῦ ἐμοὶ νόστοιο τέλος γλυκεροῖο γενέσθαι,
σοὶ δ' ἄλοχόν τε φίλην σπέσθαι καὶ τέκνα τεκέσθαι·
τῶ οὐκ ἂν θάνατόν γε δυσηλεγέα προφύγοισθα.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ξίφος εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ
κείμενον, ὅ ῥ' Ἀγέλαος ἀποπροέηκε χαμᾶζε
κτεινόμενος· τῷ τόν γε κατ' αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε·
φθεγγομένου δ' ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.

Τερπιάδης δ' ἔτ' ἀοιδὸς ἀλύσκανε κῆρα μέλαιναν,
Φήμιος, ὅς ῥ' ἤειδε παρὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.
ἔστη δ' ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
ἄγχι παρ' ὀρσοθύρην· δίχα δὲ φρεσὶ μερμήριζεν,
ἢ ἐκδὺς μεγάροιο Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμὸν
ἑρκείου ἕζοιτο τετυγμένον, ἔνθ' ἄρα πολλὰ
Λαέρτης Ὀδυσεύς τε βοῶν ἐπὶ μηρί' ἔκηαν,
ἦ γούνων λίσσοιτο προσαΐξας Ὀδυσῆα.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
γούνων ἅψασθαι Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
ἦ τοι ὁ φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν κατέθηκε χαμᾶζε
μεσσηγὺς κρητῆρος ἰδὲ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,
αὐτὸς δ' αὖτ' Ὀδυσῆα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«γουνοῦμαί σ', Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μ' αἴδεο καί μ' ἐλέησον.
αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθ' ἄχος ἔσσεται, εἴ κεν ἀοιδὸν
πέφνῃς, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀείδω.
αὐτοδίδακτος δ' εἰμί, θεὸς δέ μοι ἐν φρεσὶν οἴμας
παντοίας ἐνέφυσεν· ἔοικα δέ τοι παραείδειν
ὥς τε θεῷ· τῶ μή με λιλαίεο δειροτομῆσαι.
καί κεν Τηλέμαχος τάδε γ' εἴποι, σὸς φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν ἐς σὸν δόμον οὐδὲ χατίζων
πωλεύμην μνηστῆρσιν ἀεισόμενος μετὰ δαῖτας,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες καὶ κρείσσονες ἦγον ἀνάγκῃ.»

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ' ἤκουσ' ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο,
αἶψα δ' ἑὸν πατέρα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

«ἴσχεο, μηδέ τι τοῦτον ἀναίτιον οὔταε χαλκῷ.
καὶ κήρυκα Μέδοντα σαώσομεν, ὅς τέ μευ αἰεὶ
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ κηδέσκετο παιδὸς ἐόντος,
εἰ δὴ μή μιν ἔπεφνε Φιλοίτιος ἠὲ συβώτης,
ἠὲ σοὶ ἀντεβόλησεν ὀρινομένῳ κατὰ δῶμα.»

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ' ἤκουσε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
πεπτηὼς γὰρ ἔκειτο ὑπὸ θρόνον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα
ἕστο βοὸς νεόδαρτον, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
αἶψα δ' ὑπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, βοὸς δ' ἀπέδυνε βοείην,
Τηλέμαχον δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ὦ φίλ', ἐγὼ μὲν ὅδ' εἰμί, σὺ δ' ἴσχεο· εἰπὲ δὲ πατρί,
μή με περισθενέων δηλήσεται ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων κεχολωμένος, οἵ οἱ ἔκειρον
κτήματ' ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σὲ δὲ νήπιοι οὐδὲν ἔτιον.»

τὸν δ' ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«θάρσει, ἐπεὶ δή σ' οὗτος ἐρύσατο καὶ ἐσάωσεν,
ὄφρα γνῷς κατὰ θυμόν, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσθα καὶ ἄλλῳ,
ὡς κακοεργίης εὐεργεσίη μέγ' ἀμείνων.
ἀλλ' ἐξελθόντες μεγάρων ἕζεσθε θύραζε
ἐκ φόνου εἰς αὐλήν, σύ τε καὶ πολύφημος ἀοιδός,
ὄφρ' ἂν ἐγὼ κατὰ δῶμα πονήσομαι ὅττεό με χρή.»

ὣς φάτο, τὼ δ' ἔξω βήτην μεγάροιο κιόντε·
ἑζέσθην δ' ἄρα τώ γε Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμόν,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντε, φόνον ποτιδεγμένω αἰεί.

πάπτηνεν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς καθ' ἑὸν δόμον, εἴ τις ἔτ' ἀνδρῶν
ζωὸς ὑποκλοπέοιτο, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
τοὺς δὲ ἴδεν μάλα πάντας ἐν αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι
πεπτεῶτας πολλούς, ὥς τ' ἰχθύας, οὕς θ' ἁλιῆες
κοῖλον ἐς αἰγιαλὸν πολιῆς ἔκτοσθε θαλάσσης
δικτύῳ ἐξέρυσαν πολυωπῷ· οἱ δέ τε πάντες
κύμαθ' ἁλὸς ποθέοντες ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι κέχυνται·
τῶν μέν τ' ἠέλιος φαέθων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ὣς τότ' ἄρα μνηστῆρες ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισι κέχυντο.
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

«Τηλέμαχ', εἰ δ' ἄγε μοι κάλεσον τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν,
ὄφρα ἔπος εἴπωμι, τό μοι καταθύμιόν ἐστιν.»

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,
κινήσας δὲ θύρην προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

«δεῦρο δὴ ὄρσο, γρηῢ παλαιγενές, ἥ τε γυναικῶν
δμῳάων σκοπός ἐσσι κατὰ μέγαρ' ἡμετεράων,
ἔρχεο· κικλήσκει σε πατὴρ ἐμός, ὄφρα τι εἴπῃ.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δ' ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,
ὤϊξεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων ἐῢ ναιεταόντων,
βῆ δ' ἴμεν· αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθ' ἡγεμόνευεν.
εὗρεν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν
αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον ὥς τε λέοντα,
ὅς ῥά τε βεβρωκὼς βοὸς ἔρχεται ἀγραύλοιο·
πᾶν δ' ἄρα οἱ στῆθός τε παρήϊά τ' ἀμφοτέρωθεν
αἱματόεντα πέλει, δεινὸς δ' εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς πεπάλακτο πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
ἡ δ' ὡς οὖν νέκυάς τε καὶ ἄσπετον εἴσιδεν αἷμα,
ἴθυσέν ῥ' ὀλολύξαι, ἐπεὶ μέγα εἴσιδεν ἔργον·
ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένην περ
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἐν θυμῷ, γρηῦ, χαῖρε καὶ ἴσχεο μηδ' ὀλόλυζε·
οὐχ ὁσίη κταμένοισιν ἐπ' ἀνδράσιν εὐχετάασθαι.
τούσδε δὲ μοῖρ' ἐδάμασσε θεῶν καὶ σχέτλια ἔργα·
οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτίς σφεας εἰσαφίκοιτο·
τῶ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι σὺ γυναῖκας ἐνὶ μεγάροις κατάλεξον,
αἵ τέ μ' ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
πεντήκοντά τοί εἰσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες
δμῳαί, τὰς μέν τ' ἔργα διδάξαμεν ἐργάζεσθαι,
εἴριά τε ξαίνειν καὶ δουλοσύνην ἀνέχεσθαι·
τάων δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἀναιδείης ἐπέβησαν,
οὔτ' ἐμὲ τίουσαι οὔτ' αὐτὴν Πηνελόπειαν.
Τηλέμαχος δὲ νέον μὲν ἀέξετο, οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
σημαίνειν εἴασκεν ἐπὶ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐγὼν ἀναβᾶσ' ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
εἴπω σῇ ἀλόχῳ, τῇ τις θεὸς ὕπνον ἐπῶρσε.»

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«μή πω τήν γ' ἐπέγειρε· σὺ δ' ἐνθάδε εἰπὲ γυναιξὶν
ἐλθέμεν, αἵ περ πρόσθεν ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
εἰς ἓ καλεσσάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ἄρχετε νῦν νέκυας φορέειν καὶ ἄνωχθε γυναῖκας·
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι καθαίρειν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ πάντα δόμον διακοσμήσησθε,
δμῳὰς ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
θεινέμεναι ξίφεσιν τανυήκεσιν, εἰς ὅ κε πασέων
ψυχὰς ἐξαφέλησθε καὶ ἐκλελάθωντ' Ἀφροδίτης,
τὴν ἄρ' ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ἔχον μίσγοντό τε λάθρῃ.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες ἀολλέες ἦλθον ἅπασαι,
αἴν' ὀλοφυρόμεναι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαι.
πρῶτα μὲν οὖν νέκυας φόρεον κατατεθνηῶτας,
κὰδ δ' ἄρ' ὑπ' αἰθούσῃ τίθεσαν εὐερκέος αὐλῆς,
ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρείδουσαι· σήμαινε δ' Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὐτὸς ἐπισπέρχων· ταὶ δ' ἐκφόρεον καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι κάθαιρον.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτης
λίστροισιν δάπεδον πύκα ποιητοῖο δόμοιο
ξῦον· ταὶ δ' ἐφόρεον δμῳαί, τίθεσαν δὲ θύραζε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶν μέγαρον διεκοσμήσαντο,
δμῳὰς ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
εἴλεον ἐν στείνει, ὅθεν οὔ πως ἦεν ἀλύξαι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν·

«μὴ μὲν δὴ καθαρῷ θανάτῳ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην

τάων, αἳ δὴ ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ κατ' ὀνείδεα χεῦαν
μητέρι θ' ἡμετέρῃ, παρά τε μνηστῆρσιν ἴαυον.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, καὶ πεῖσμα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
κίονος ἐξάψας μεγάλης περίβαλλε θόλοιο,
ὑψόσ' ἐπεντανύσας, μή τις ποσὶν οὖδας ἵκοιτο.
ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἂν ἢ κίχλαι τανυσίπτεροι ἠὲ πέλειαι
ἕρκει ἐνιπλήξωσι, τό θ' ἑστήκῃ ἐνὶ θάμνῳ,
αὖλιν ἐσιέμεναι, στυγερὸς δ' ὑπεδέξατο κοῖτος,
ὣς αἵ γ' ἑξείης κεφαλὰς ἔχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ πάσαις
δειρῇσι βρόχοι ἦσαν, ὅπως οἴκτιστα θάνοιεν.
ἤσπαιρον δὲ πόδεσσι μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν.

ἐκ δὲ Μελάνθιον ἦγον ἀνὰ πρόθυρόν τε καὶ αὐλήν·
τοῦ δ' ἀπὸ μὲν ῥῖνάς τε καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
τάμνον μήδεά τ' ἐξέρυσαν, κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,
χεῖράς τ' ἠδὲ πόδας κόπτον κεκοτηότι θυμῷ.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀπονιψάμενοι χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δόμονδε κίον, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γε προσέειπε φίλην τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

«οἶσε θέειον, γρηΰ, κακῶν ἄκος, οἶσε δέ μοι πῦρ,
ὄφρα θεειώσω μέγαρον· σὺ δὲ Πηνελόπειαν
ἐλθεῖν ἐνθάδ' ἄνωχθι σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·
πάσας δ' ὄτρυνον δμῳὰς κατὰ δῶμα νέεσθαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
«ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε, τέκνον ἐμόν, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλ' ἄγε τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματ' ἐνείκω,
μηδ' οὕτω ῥάκεσιν πεπυκασμένος εὐρέας ὤμους
ἕσταθ' ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.»

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«πῦρ νῦν μοι πρώτιστον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέσθω.»

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
ἤνεικεν δ' ἄρα πῦρ καὶ θήϊον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὖ διεθείωσεν μέγαρον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλήν.

γρηῢς δ' αὖτ' ἀπέβη διὰ δώματα κάλ' Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι·
αἱ δ' ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι.
αἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἀμφεχέοντο καὶ ἠσπάζοντ' Ὀδυσῆα
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
χεῖράς τ' αἰνύμεναι· τὸν δὲ γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει
κλαυθμοῦ καὶ στοναχῆς, γίνωσκε δ' ἄρα φρεσὶ πάσας.


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