ODYSSEY 24

Then Hermes of Cyllene began to summon forth the souls of the slain suitors; and in his hand he held the wand, beautiful and golden, with which he charms the eyes of men, casting into slumber those he wills, and waking others from their sleep. With this he stirred and led them, and they followed with a twittering cry. And as when bats, within the depths of a wondrous cave, flit about with twittering cries when one of them drops away from the cluster on the rock, for they cling one to another, so they went, gibbering together; and leading them was Hermes the Helper, down the dank and decaying paths. They passed the streams of Oceanus and the White Rock, and past the Gates of the Sun and the land of Dreams they went; and soon they came to the meadow of asphodel, where the souls, the phantoms of the weary dead, have their abode.

There they found the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, and of Patroclus, and of blameless Antilochus, and of Ajax, who in form and figure was the best of all the other Danaans, after the flawless son of Peleus. So these gathered in a throng about Achilles; and drawing near to them came the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in deep sorrow; and around him were gathered all the others, as many as had died with him in the house of Aegisthus and met their doom. And the soul of the son of Peleus was the first to speak to him:

“Son of Atreus, we used to say that you, above all other heroes, were dearest all your days to Zeus who delights in thunder,

for you were lord over many and mighty men in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered such sorrows. Yet it seems that a baleful doom was destined to stand beside you, too, in your prime, a fate that no one born can escape. If only you, while still enjoying the honor you commanded, had met your death and your destiny in the land of the Trojans. Then the whole Achaean host would have raised a tomb in your honor, and you would have won great glory for your son to inherit. But now, it seems, you were fated to be seized by a most pitiful death.”

And the soul of the son of Atreus answered him in turn: “Fortunate son of Peleus, Achilles, you who are like the gods, who died in Troy, far from Argos; and around you other noblest sons of the Trojans and Achaeans were slain, fighting over your body. But you, in a whirlwind of dust, lay there, mighty in your mightiness, all horsemanship forgotten. And we fought on for the entire day; nor would we ever have ceased from the battle, had Zeus not stayed us with a storm. But after we had carried you to the ships from the field of war, we laid you on a bier and cleansed your fair skin with warm water and with unguents. And all around you the Danaans shed hot tears and cut their hair in mourning. And your mother came up from the sea with her immortal sea-nymphs, when she heard the news; and a wondrous cry arose across the waters, and trembling seized all the Achaeans. And they would have sprung up and rushed to the hollow ships, had not a man, who knew many things of old, restrained them, Nestor, whose counsel had ever before seemed the best. With wise intent he addressed them and spoke among them: ‘Hold, Argives! Flee not, you sons of the Achaeans! It is his mother who comes now from the sea with her immortal sea-nymphs to be with her son who is dead.’ So he spoke, and the great-hearted Achaeans checked their flight. And around you stood the daughters of the old man of the sea, lamenting piteously, and they clothed you in immortal robes. And all the nine Muses, answering one another with beautiful voice, sang your dirge. You would not have seen a single Argive without tears, so deeply did the clear-voiced Muse stir them. For seventeen days and nights, we mourned you alike, both immortal gods and mortal men; and on the eighteenth day we gave you to the fire. And upon it we sacrificed many fat sheep and crumpled-horned cattle. You were burned in the raiment of the gods and with much ointment and with sweet honey. And many Achaean heroes danced in their armor around the pyre as you burned, both footmen and horsemen, and a great clamor arose. But when the flame of Hephaestus had at last consumed you, at dawn we gathered your white bones, Achilles, in unmixed wine and in oil. Your mother gave a golden two-handled urn; a gift, she said, from Dionysus, and the work of the far-famed Hephaestus. In this your white bones lie, glorious Achilles, mingled with those of the dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius, but apart from those of Antilochus, whom you honored above all your other comrades, after the death of Patroclus. And over them, we, the sacred host of Argive spearmen, piled up a great and faultless tomb, on a jutting headland, above the wide Hellespont, so that it might be seen from far out on the sea by men, both those who are alive now and those who are yet to be. Then your mother, asking the gods for most beautiful prizes, set them in the midst of the arena for the champions of the Achaeans. You have before been present at the funeral of many heroes, when, upon the death of a king, the young men gird themselves and make ready for the games. But seeing those prizes, you would have marveled most in your heart, such beautiful prizes as the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, set out in your honor. For you were most dear to the gods. And so, not even in death have you lost your name, but always your noble fame will live on among all mankind, Achilles. But what joy is this for me, now that I have wound up the skein of war? For on my return, Zeus devised a lamentable end for me at the hands of Aegisthus and my own accursed wife.”

So they spoke these words to one another. And the messenger, the slayer of Argus, came near to them, leading down the souls of the suitors slain by Odysseus. The two heroes, amazed at the sight, went straight toward them. And the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, recognized the son of Melaneus, renowned Amphimedon, for he had been his host when he lodged in his house in Ithaca. The soul of the son of Atreus was the first to speak:

“Amphimedon, what has befallen you, that you have entered the sunless earth, all of you chosen men and of like age? A man choosing the best warriors in a city would not pick otherwise. Did Poseidon overcome you on your ships, raising grievous winds and towering waves? Or did hostile men do you harm upon the land while you were cutting out their cattle and their fine flocks of sheep, or as you fought for their city and their women? Tell me, for I ask as one who claims to be your guest-friend. Do you not remember when I came down to your house to urge Odysseus, with godlike Menelaus, to follow us to Ilium upon the well-benched ships? A full month we spent crossing the wide sea, having with great difficulty persuaded Odysseus, sacker of cities.”

Then the soul of Amphimedon answered him in turn: “Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, I remember all these things, O cherished of Zeus, just as you say. And I, for my part, will tell you plainly and truthfully of the evil end of our death, and how it came to pass. We were wooing the wife of Odysseus, long since gone; and she would neither refuse the hateful marriage nor bring it to a close, plotting death and black doom for us instead. And this was the other guile she devised in her heart: she set up a great loom in her halls and began to weave, a fine-threaded and exceedingly wide cloth. And at once she said to us: ‘Young men, my suitors, since godlike Odysseus is dead, be patient, though eager for my hand, until I finish this robe, lest my threads be wasted and come to nothing: a shroud for the hero Laertes, for that time when the ruinous doom of dolorous death shall take him, so that none of the Achaean women in the land may be wroth with me, if he who won so many possessions should lie without a winding-sheet.’ So she spoke, and our proud hearts were persuaded. And so by day she would weave at the great loom, but by night she would unravel it, when she had her torches placed beside her. For three years she hid her deceit and persuaded the Achaeans, but when the fourth year came and the seasons turned, as the months waned and the many days were fulfilled, then at last one of her women, who knew all, told us, and we found her unraveling the splendid web. Thus she finished it, unwillingly and by force. And when she showed us the robe, having woven the great web and washed it, it shone like the sun or the moon. It was then that some evil deity brought Odysseus from somewhere to the edge of his lands, where the swineherd had his dwelling. There the dear son of godlike Odysseus also came, sailing in his black ship from sandy Pylos. And these two, plotting a grim death for the suitors, came to the renowned city; Odysseus, it is true, came later, while Telemachus led the way before him. The swineherd brought him, clad in wretched rags, looking for all the world like a miserable beggar and an old man, leaning on a staff. And the wretched clothes he wore were rags. And not one of us could know him for who he was, appearing so suddenly, not even those of us who were older. Instead, we assailed him with evil words and with missiles. But for a time he endured in his own halls, being struck and reviled with a patient heart. But when the will of aegis-bearing Zeus roused him, with Telemachus he took up the beautiful armor, carried it to the storeroom, and bolted the doors. Then, in his great cunning, he bid his wife to set out the bow and the gray iron for the suitors, as a contest for us ill-fated men, and the beginning of our slaughter. And not one of us was able to string the cord of the mighty bow; we were wanting by far. But when the great bow came to the hands of Odysseus, we all cried out with one voice,

that the bow not be given him, no matter how much he might demand it, but Telemachus alone urged him on and commanded it be so. And much-enduring, godlike Odysseus received it in his hand, and with ease he strung the bow and sent an arrow through the iron. Then he went and stood upon the threshold, and poured out the swift arrows, glaring terribly, and shot king Antinous. And then he let fly his grievous shafts at the others, aiming straight before him, and they fell thick and fast. It was plain that some god was their ally. For at once, pursuing them through the halls in their fury, they struck them down on all sides, and a hideous groaning arose as heads were smitten, and the whole floor swam with blood. Thus, Agamemnon, did we perish, and even now our bodies lie un-cared for in the halls of Odysseus. For our kinsfolk in each of our homes do not yet know, they who might wash the black blood from our wounds and lay us out and mourn us; for that is the due of the dead.”

And the soul of the son of Atreus answered him in turn: “Fortunate son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices, truly you have won a wife of great virtue. How good was the heart of flawless Penelope, daughter of Icarius, and how well she remembered Odysseus, her wedded husband. And so the fame of her virtue shall never die, but the immortals will fashion for mortal men a song of grace for wise Penelope. Not so did the daughter of Tyndareus devise evil deeds, slaying her wedded husband; and a hateful song shall there be of her among men, and she gives a harsh repute to all womankind, even to one who is virtuous.”

So they spoke these words to one another, standing in the house of Hades, beneath the depths of the earth. But the others, when they had come down from the city, soon reached the fair, well-ordered farm of Laertes, which he himself had once acquired after toiling mightily for it. There was his house, and all around it ran a line of sheds, in which the bondsmen who did his bidding would eat and sit and take their rest. And within was an old Sicilian woman, who tended the old man with care on his farm, far from the city. There Odysseus spoke a word to his thralls and to his son:

“You now, go inside the well-built house, and quickly slaughter the best of the swine for our meal. But I will go and make trial of my father, to see if he will know me and recognize me by sight, or if he will fail to know me, having been gone so long a time.”

So saying, he gave his weapons of war to the servants. They then went quickly toward the house, but Odysseus drew near to the fruitful vineyard to make his trial. But he did not find Dolius as he went down into the great orchard, nor any of the thralls or his sons. For they had all gone to gather stones for the vineyard walls, and the old man was leading their way. His father he found alone in the well-tilled orchard, hoeing about a plant. He was clad in a squalid tunic, wretchedly patched, and around his shins he had tied stitched leggings of ox-hide to ward off scratches, and gloves on his hands against the brambles; and over all, a goatskin cap upon his head, deepening his sorrow. When much-enduring, godlike Odysseus saw him, worn out with old age and bearing a great sorrow in his heart, he stood still under a tall pear tree and shed a tear. Then he debated in his mind and in his spirit, whether to kiss and embrace his father and tell him everything, how he had returned and come to his own native land, or whether he should first question him and test him in every way. And as he pondered, this seemed to him the better course: first to test him with words of subtle meaning. With this in mind, godlike Odysseus went straight toward him. His father, with head bent low, was digging around the plant, and his glorious son, standing beside him, addressed him:

“Old man, you show no lack of skill in tending to this orchard; indeed, your care is excellent, and there is nothing at all, no plant, no fig tree, no vine, no, nor olive, no pear tree, no garden plot in this whole garden that lacks for care. But I will say another thing, and do not take offense in your heart: you yourself are not well cared for, but you bear at once a grievous old age and are squalid and clad in unseemly garments. Surely it is not for idleness that your master fails to care for you, nor is there anything of the slave to be seen in your appearance, your form and stature. You are like a kingly man. Such a man as you should, after bathing and eating, sleep softly; for that is the right of the old. But come, tell me this and declare it truly: Whose thrall are you? And whose orchard do you tend? And tell me this truthfully, so that I may know for sure, if this is truly Ithaca that we have reached, as that man told me just now, whom I met on my way here, a man not entirely sound of mind, since he did not deign to tell me all I asked, nor to hearken to my words, when I inquired about a guest-friend of mine, whether he still lives and is, or is already dead and in the house of Hades. For I will tell you, so listen and mark my words: I once hosted a man in my own dear country, who had come to our house, and no other mortal man from a distant land was ever a more welcome guest in my home. He claimed to be from Ithaca by birth, and said that Laertes, son of Arcesius, was his father. I took him into my house and gave him good welcome, treating him kindly with the abundance that was in my home, and I gave him gifts of guest-friendship, as was fitting. I gave him seven talents of well-wrought gold, and I gave him a solid silver mixing-bowl, embossed with flowers, and twelve single-folded cloaks, and as many carpets, and as many fair mantles, and as many tunics besides, and in addition to these, four women skilled in flawless work, comely to look upon, whom he himself wished to choose.”

Then his father answered him, shedding tears: “Stranger, you have indeed come to the land you ask of, but insolent and reckless men now hold it. And those gifts you bestowed, countless gifts, you gave in vain. For if you had found him alive in the land of Ithaca, he would have sent you on your way with fine return-gifts and good hospitality. For that is the custom, when one begins the exchange. But come, tell me this and declare it truly: How many years has it been, since you hosted that man, your ill-fated guest, my son—if he ever was? Wretched man. Far from his friends and his native land, the fishes have likely devoured him in the sea, or on the shore he has become prey for beasts and birds. And his mother did not weep for him and lay him out, nor his father, we who begot him. Nor did his wife of many dowries, wise Penelope, wail over her husband on his deathbed, as was fitting, and close his eyes; for that is the due of the dead. And tell me this truthfully, so that I may know for sure: Who are you and from where? Where is your city and your parents? Where is the swift ship moored that brought you here with your godlike companions? Or did you come as a passenger on another’s ship, and they, having landed you, went on their way?”

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: “Then I shall tell you all of this most truthfully. I am from Alybas, where I live in a famous house, the son of Apheidas, the son of lord Polypemon. And my name is Eperitus. But a god drove me from Sicania to come here against my will. And my ship is moored yonder by the fields, far from the city. As for Odysseus, this is now the fifth year since he went from there and departed from my country. Poor man; yet the birds were favorable on his right as he departed, and so I sent him on his way rejoicing, and he rejoiced as he went. Our hearts still hoped that we would meet again in guest-friendship and give glorious gifts.”

So he spoke, and a black cloud of sorrow enveloped the old man. With both his hands he took up the grimy dust and poured it over his gray head, groaning ceaselessly. And the heart of Odysseus was stirred, and up through his nostrils

a sharp pang shot as he looked upon his dear father. And leaping forward, he embraced and kissed him and spoke out:

“I am that man, Father, I myself, the one you ask of, returned in the twentieth year to my native land. But cease your weeping and your tearful lamenting. For I will tell you—and we must make great haste— I have slain the suitors in our halls, avenging their heart-grieving insolence and their evil deeds.”

Then Laertes answered him again and said: “If you are indeed Odysseus, my son, who has returned, give me now some clear sign, so that I may be certain.”

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: “First, look with your eyes upon this scar, which a wild boar dealt me with his white tusk on Parnassus when I went there. You and my lady mother had sent me to my mother’s father, Autolycus, so that I might receive the gifts which he promised and vowed to give me when he came here. Come, then, and I shall also name the trees in the well-tended orchard which you once gave me, when I, just a boy, begged you for each of them as I followed you through the garden. As we passed among them, you named each one and told me what it was. You gave me thirteen pear trees and ten apple trees and forty fig trees. And you promised to give me fifty rows of vines, each ripening in its turn. And on them are grapes of every kind, whenever the seasons of Zeus weigh them down with bounty from above.”

So he spoke, and his father’s knees gave way and his own heart melted, recognizing the signs that Odysseus had told him for certain. He threw his arms about his dear son, and much-enduring, godlike Odysseus caught him to him, for his spirit was fainting. But when he revived and his spirit returned to his breast, he answered him once more and spoke these words:

“Father Zeus, you gods do still exist on high Olympus, if truly the suitors have paid for their reckless pride. But now I have a terrible fear in my heart, that soon all the men of Ithaca will come against us here, and will send messengers everywhere to the cities of the Cephallenians.”

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: “Take heart, and let these things not weigh upon your mind. But let us go to the house that lies near the orchard; I have sent Telemachus there before us, and the oxherd and the swineherd, so that they may prepare our supper as quickly as possible.”

So speaking, the two of them went toward the fine house. And when they came to the well-sited halls, they found Telemachus and the oxherd and the swineherd carving much meat and mixing the gleaming wine.

Meanwhile, the great-hearted Laertes, in his own house, was bathed by the Sicilian handmaid and anointed with oil, and she cast a fine cloak about him. And Athena, standing near, filled out the limbs of the shepherd of the people, making him taller and broader to behold than before. He came forth from the bath, and his dear son marveled at him, seeing him face to face, like one of the immortal gods, and speaking to him, he uttered winged words:

“O my father, surely one of the gods who live forever has made you better to behold in form and stature.”

And wise Laertes answered him in turn: “Ah, if only, by Father Zeus and Athena and Apollo, I were the man I was when I took Nericus, that well-built citadel, on the mainland coast, as king of the Cephallenians— if only I had been such a man yesterday in our halls, with armor on my shoulders, standing by your side to defend you from the suitors. Then would I have loosened the knees of many of them in our halls, and you would have rejoiced in your heart.”

So they spoke these words to one another. But when the others had ceased from their labor and prepared the feast, they sat down in order on chairs and on thrones. Then they set their hands to the meal. And drawing near came old Dolius, and with him the old man’s sons, weary from their work, for their mother had gone out to call them, the old Sicilian woman who cared for them and tended to the old man with devotion, now that old age had seized him. When they saw Odysseus and understood in their hearts, they stood in the hall, astonished. But Odysseus addressed them, speaking with gentle words:

“Old man, sit down to your meal, and put aside your wonder. For a long time we have been eager to set our hands to the food, waiting in the hall, ever expecting your return.”

So he spoke, and Dolius came straight toward him with outstretched hands, and taking the hand of Odysseus, kissed it on the wrist, and speaking to him, he uttered winged words:

“My friend, since you have returned to us who greatly longed for you, and no longer thought to see you, but the gods themselves have brought you, hail and be glad, and may the gods grant you blessings. And tell me this truthfully, so that I may know for sure, does the wise Penelope already know for certain that you have returned here, or should we send a messenger?”

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying: “Old man, she already knows. Why must you trouble yourself with this?”

So he spoke, and Dolius sat down again on the polished stool. And in the same way, the sons of Dolius gathered around famed Odysseus and greeted him with words and clasped his hands, and sat down in order beside Dolius, their father.

Thus they busied themselves with their meal in the hall. Meanwhile, Rumor the messenger went swiftly through the city, telling of the hideous death and fate of the suitors. And the people, hearing it, gathered from all sides with moans and groans before the halls of Odysseus. They carried the dead out from the houses and buried each one, while those from other cities they placed on swift ships for fishermen to carry, each to his own home. And they themselves went to the place of assembly, all together, grieving at heart. When they were gathered and assembled, Eupeithes rose up among them and spoke, for an unceasing sorrow for his son lay upon his heart, Antinous, the first whom godlike Odysseus had slain. Shedding tears for him, he addressed the assembly and spoke:

“My friends, this man has wrought a great evil against the Achaeans. Some he led away on his ships, many good men, and lost the hollow ships, and lost the men entirely. And now he has returned and killed the very best of the Cephallenians. Come, then, before he can flee swiftly to Pylos or even to sacred Elis, where the Epeans rule, let us go; or else we will be shamed forever. For this will be a disgrace for future generations to hear of, if we do not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers. For me, at least, there would be no more joy in living, but I would rather die at once and be with the dead. So let us go, before they can make their escape across the sea.”

So he spoke, weeping, and pity seized all the Achaeans. But then Medon and the divine singer drew near them, coming from the halls of Odysseus, for sleep had released them. They stood in the midst, and amazement seized every man. And Medon, wise in counsel, spoke among them:

“Hear me now, men of Ithaca, for Odysseus did not devise these deeds against the will of the immortal gods. I myself saw an immortal god, who stood close beside Odysseus, and in every way resembled Mentor. And this immortal god appeared now before Odysseus, giving him courage, and now, stirring up the suitors, he stormed through the hall, and they fell thick and fast.”

So he spoke, and pale fear seized them all. Then the old hero Halitherses, son of Mastor, spoke among them, for he alone could see both before and after. With wise intent he addressed the assembly and spoke:

“Hear me now, men of Ithaca, what I have to say. Through your own cowardice, my friends, these deeds have come to pass. For you would not listen to me, nor to Mentor, shepherd of the people, when we told you to make your sons cease from their folly. They committed a great wickedness with their evil recklessness, wasting the possessions and dishonoring the wife of a great hero, who they said would never return. So let it now be thus, and hearken to my words: let us not go, lest someone find a self-inflicted evil.”

So he spoke, but with a great roar they leapt up, more than half of them; but the others remained there together. For his words were not to their liking, but to Eupeithes they gave their assent. And at once they rushed to arm themselves. When they had clad their bodies in gleaming bronze, they gathered together before the wide-wayed city. And Eupeithes led them in his foolishness. He thought he would avenge his son’s murder, but he was not to return, but there to meet his own doom. Then Athena spoke to Zeus, the son of Cronos:

“O our father, son of Cronos, highest of all rulers, tell me what I ask: what does your heart now hold in secret? Will you bring about further evil war and the terrible din of battle, or will you establish peace between both sides?”

And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her, saying: “My child, why do you question me and ask these things? For was it not you yourself who devised this plan, that Odysseus should return and take vengeance upon those men? Do as you will. But I shall tell you what is fitting. Now that godlike Odysseus has taken vengeance on the suitors, let them swear faithful oaths, and let him be king for all his days. And let us bring about a forgetting of the slaughter of their sons and brothers. Let them love one another as before, and let there be wealth and peace in abundance.”

So speaking, he spurred on Athena, who was already eager, and she went darting down from the peaks of Olympus.

But when the others had put from them the desire for honey-sweet food, much-enduring, godlike Odysseus was the first to speak among them:

“Let one of you go out and see if they are drawing near.”

So he spoke, and a son of Dolius went out, as he commanded, and went and stood upon the threshold, and saw them all close by. At once he spoke winged words to Odysseus:

“They are here, close at hand. Let us arm ourselves quickly.”

So he spoke, and they rose up and put on their armor, the four men with Odysseus, and the six sons of Dolius. And Laertes and Dolius also put on their armor, gray-headed though they were, warriors now by necessity. When they had clad their bodies in gleaming bronze, they opened the doors and went out, and Odysseus led them.

Then Athena, daughter of Zeus, came near to them, in the likeness of Mentor, both in form and in voice. Seeing her, much-enduring, godlike Odysseus rejoiced, and at once he spoke to Telemachus, his dear son:

“Telemachus, now you shall learn this for yourself, when you enter the battle where the best men are decided, that you must not bring shame upon the line of your fathers, we who in time past have been renowned for our strength and valor over all the earth.”

And wise Telemachus answered him in turn: “You shall see, if you wish, dear father, that in my present temper I will bring no shame upon your lineage, as you say.”

So he spoke, and Laertes was glad and said: “What a day this is for me, dear gods! I am truly joyful: my son and my grandson are vying with one another in valor.”

Then bright-eyed Athena, standing beside him, spoke: “O son of Arcesius, by far the dearest of all my comrades, pray to the bright-eyed maiden and to father Zeus, then brandish your long-shadowed spear and cast it at once.”

So spoke Pallas Athena, and breathed great strength into him. And praying then to the daughter of great Zeus, he brandished his long-shadowed spear and cast it at once, and struck Eupeithes through the cheek-piece of his bronze helmet. It did not stop the spear, but the bronze point went right through, and he fell with a thud, and his armor clattered about him. Then Odysseus and his glorious son fell upon the front ranks, striking with swords and with double-pointed spears. And now they would have killed them all and left none to return, had not Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, cried out with her voice and held back all the host:

“Hold back from grievous war, men of Ithaca, so that you may be parted at once, without bloodshed.”

So spoke Athena, and pale fear seized them. And from the hands of the frightened men their weapons flew, and all fell to the ground when the goddess uttered her voice. They turned toward the city, longing to save their lives. Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus gave a terrible cry, and gathering himself, he swooped down like a high-flying eagle. And at that moment the son of Cronos cast a blazing thunderbolt, and it fell before the bright-eyed daughter of the mighty sire. Then bright-eyed Athena spoke to Odysseus:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices, hold back, and cease this strife of all-consuming war, lest the son of Cronos, wide-seeing Zeus, be wroth with you.”

So spoke Athena, and he obeyed, and was glad at heart. And then a peace-oath for all time to come was sworn between both sides by Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, in the likeness of Mentor, both in form and in voice.

ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 24

Ἑρμῆς δὲ ψυχὰς Κυλλήνιος ἐξεκαλεῖτο
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων· ἔχε δὲ ῥάβδον μετὰ χερσὶ
καλὴν χρυσείην, τῇ τ' ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δ' αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει·
τῇ ῥ' ἄγε κινήσας, ταὶ δὲ τρίζουσαι ἕποντο.
ὡς δ' ὅτε νυκτερίδες μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο
τρίζουσαι ποτέονται, ἐπεί κέ τις ἀποπέσῃσιν
ὁρμαθοῦ ἐκ πέτρης, ἀνά τ' ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,
ὣς αἱ τετριγυῖαι ἅμ' ἤϊσαν· ἦρχε δ' ἄρα σφιν
Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα κατ' εὐρώεντα κέλευθα.
πὰρ δ' ἴσαν Ὠκεανοῦ τε ῥοὰς καὶ Λευκάδα πέτρην,
ἠδὲ παρ' Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον Ὀνείρων
ἤϊσαν· αἶψα δ' ἵκοντο κατ' ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
ἔνθα τε ναίουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων.

εὗρον δὲ ψυχὴν Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θ', ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ κεῖνον ὁμίλεον· ἀγχίμολον δὲ
ἤλυθ' ἔπι ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δ' ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθ', ὅσσοι ἅμ' αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεε Πηλεΐωνος·

«Ἀτρεΐδη, περὶ μέν σε φάμεν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων φίλον ἔμμεναι ἤματα πάντα,

οὕνεκα πολλοῖσίν τε καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἄνασσες
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγε' Ἀχαιοί.
ἦ τ' ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρωῒ παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλε
μοῖρ' ὀλοή, τὴν οὔ τις ἀλεύεται, ὅς κε γένηται.
ὡς ὄφελες τιμῆς ἀπονήμενος, ἧς περ ἄνασσες,
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·
τῶ κέν τοι τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ σῷ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρα' ὀπίσσω·
νῦν δ' ἄρα σ' οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
«ὄλβιε Πηλέος υἱέ, θεοῖσ' ἐπιείκελ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,
ὃς θάνες ἐν Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος· ἀμφὶ δέ σ' ἄλλοι
κτείνοντο Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν υἷες ἄριστοι,
μαρνάμενοι περὶ σεῖο· σὺ δ' ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης
κεῖσο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.
ἡμεῖς δὲ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐμαρνάμεθ'· οὐδέ κε πάμπαν
παυσάμεθα πτολέμου, εἰ μὴ Ζεὺς λαίλαπι παῦσεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σ' ἐπὶ νῆας ἐνείκαμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο,
κάτθεμεν ἐν λεχέεσσι, καθήραντες χρόα καλὸν
ὕδατί τε λιαρῷ καὶ ἀλείφατι· πολλὰ δέ σ' ἀμφὶ
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέον Δαναοὶ κείροντό τε χαίτας.
μήτηρ δ' ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε σὺν ἀθανάτῃσ' ἁλίῃσιν
ἀγγελίης ἀΐουσα· βοὴ δ' ἐπὶ πόντον ὀρώρει
θεσπεσίη, ὑπὸ δὲ τρόμος ἤλυθε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
καί νύ κ' ἀναΐξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,
εἰ μὴ ἀνὴρ κατέρυκε παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς,
Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
ὅ σφιν ἐῢ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
«ἴσχεσθ', Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ φεύγετε, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν.
μήτηρ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἥδε σὺν ἀθανάτῃσ' ἁλίῃσιν
ἔρχεται, οὗ παιδὸς τεθνηότος ἀντιόωσα.»
ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἔσχοντο φόβου μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί.
ἀμφὶ δέ σ' ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος
οἴκτρ' ὀλοφυρόμεναι, περὶ δ' ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσαν.
Μοῦσαι δ' ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ
θρήνεον· ἔνθα κεν οὔ τιν' ἀδάκρυτόν γ' ἐνόησας
Ἀργείων· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπώρορε Μοῦσα λίγεια.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μέν σε ὁμῶς νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
κλαίομεν ἀθάνατοί τε θεοὶ θνητοί τ' ἄνθρωποι·
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἔδομεν πυρί· πολλὰ δ' ἐπ' αὐτῷ
μῆλα κατεκτάνομεν μάλα πίονα καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
καίεο δ' ἔν τ' ἐσθῆτι θεῶν καὶ ἀλείφατι πολλῷ
καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ· πολλοὶ δ' ἥρωες Ἀχαιοὶ
τεύχεσιν ἐῤῥώσαντο πυρὴν πέρι καιομένοιο,
πεζοί θ' ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δ' ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή σε φλὸξ ἤνυσεν Ἡφαίστοιο,
ἠῶθεν δή τοι λέγομεν λεύκ' ὀστέ', Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οἴνῳ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ καὶ ἀλείφατι. δῶκε δὲ μήτηρ
χρύσεον ἀμφιφορῆα· Διωνύσοιο δὲ δῶρον
φάσκ' ἔμεναι, ἔργον δὲ περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο.
ἐν τῷ τοι κεῖται λεύκ' ὀστέα, φαίδιμ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,
μίγδα δὲ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος,
χωρὶς δ' Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸν ἔξοχα τῖες ἁπάντων
τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα.
ἀμφ' αὐτοῖσι δ' ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον
χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων
ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ,
ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη
τοῖσ', οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται.
μήτηρ δ' αἰτήσασα θεοὺς περικαλλέ' ἄεθλα
θῆκε μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων τάφῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας
ἡρώων, ὅτε κέν ποτ' ἀποφθιμένου βασιλῆος
ζώννυνταί τε νέοι καὶ ἐπεντύνωνται ἄεθλα·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν θηήσαο θυμῷ,
οἷ' ἐπὶ σοὶ κατέθηκε θεὰ περικαλλέ' ἄεθλα,
ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις· μάλα γὰρ φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν.
ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομ' ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ
πάντας ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τί τόδ' ἦδος, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσα;
ἐν νόστῳ γάρ μοι Ζεὺς μήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Αἰγίσθου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθε διάκτορος Ἀργεϊφόντης
ψυχὰς μνηστήρων κατάγων Ὀδυσῆϊ δαμέντων.
τὼ δ' ἄρα θαμβήσαντ' ἰθὺς κίον, ὡς ἐσιδέσθην.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
παῖδα φίλον Μελανῆος, ἀγακλυτὸν Ἀμφιμέδοντα·
ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·

«Ἀμφίμεδον, τί παθόντες ἐρεμνὴν γαῖαν ἔδυτε
πάντες κεκριμένοι καὶ ὁμήλικες; οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
κρινάμενος λέξαιτο κατὰ πτόλιν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.
ἢ ὔμμ' ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέους ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα μακρά,
ἦ που ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντ' ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνομένους ἠδ' οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
ἦε περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενοι ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ· ξεῖνος δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.
ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ, ὅτε κεῖσε κατήλυθον ὑμέτερον δῶ
ὀτρυνέων Ὀδυσῆα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμ' ἕπεσθαι ἐϋσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν;
μηνὶ δ' ἐν οὔλῳ πάντα περήσαμεν εὐρέα πόντον,
σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀμφιμέδοντος·
«Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
μέμνημαι τάδε πάντα, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
σοὶ δ' ἐγὼ εὖ μάλα πάντα καὶ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω,
ἡμετέρου θανάτοιο κακὸν τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη.
μνώμεθ' Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα·
ἡ δ' οὔτ' ἠρνεῖτο στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελεύτα,
ἡμῖν φραζομένη θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ἀλλὰ δόλον τόνδ' ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δ' ἡμῖν μετέειπε·
«κοῦροι, ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μίμνετ' ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματ' ὄληται,
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρ' ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.»
ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡμῖν δ' αὖτ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δ' ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπὴν δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλ' ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δ' ἤματα πόλλ' ἐτελέσθη,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γ' ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσ', ὑπ' ἀνάγκης.
εὖθ' ἡ φᾶρος ἔδειξεν, ὑφήνασα μέγαν ἱστόν,
πλύνασ', ἠελίῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠὲ σελήνῃ,
καὶ τότε δή ῥ' Ὀδυσῆα κακός ποθεν ἤγαγε δαίμων
ἀγροῦ ἐπ' ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε συβώτης.
ἔνθ' ἦλθεν φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος ἰὼν σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
τὼ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον κακὸν ἀρτύναντε
ἵκοντο προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὕστερος, αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθ' ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δὲ συβώτης ἦγε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματ' ἔχοντα,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο γνῶναι τὸν ἐόντα,
ἐξαπίνης προφανέντ', οὐδ' οἳ προγενέστεροι ἦσαν,
ἀλλ' ἔπεσίν τε κακοῖσιν ἐνίσσομεν ἠδὲ βολῇσιν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τεῖος ἐτόλμα ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσι
βαλλόμενος καὶ ἐνισσόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νόος αἰγιόχοιο,
σὺν μὲν Τηλεμάχῳ περικαλλέα τεύχε' ἀείρας
ἐς θάλαμον κατέθηκε καὶ ἐκλήϊσεν ὀχῆας,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἣν ἄλοχον πολυκερδείῃσιν ἄνωγε
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον,
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο κρατεροῖο βιοῖο
νευρὴν ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δ' ἐπιδευέες ἦμεν.
ἀλλ' ὅτε χεῖρας ἵκανεν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον,
ἔνθ' ἡμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὁμοκλέομεν ἐπέεσσι

τόξον μὴ δόμεναι, μηδ' εἰ μάλα πόλλ' ἀγορεύοι,
Τηλέμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ δέξατο χειρὶ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ῥηϊδίως δ' ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δ' ἧκε σιδήρου·
στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰών, ταχέας δ' ἐκχεύατ' ὀϊστοὺς
δεινὸν παπταίνων, βάλε δ' Ἀντίνοον βασιλῆα.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' ἄλλοισ' ἐφίει στονόεντα βέλεμνα
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
γνωτὸν δ' ἦν, ὅ ῥά τίς σφι θεῶν ἐπιτάῤῥοθος ἦεν·
αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ δώματ' ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ
κτεῖνον ἐπιστροφάδην, τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτ' ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δ' ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
ὣς ἡμεῖς, Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀπωλόμεθ', ὧν ἔτι καὶ νῦν
σώματ' ἀκηδέα κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροισ' Ὀδυσῆος·
οὐ γάρ πω ἴσασι φίλοι κατὰ δώμαθ' ἑκάστου,
οἵ κ' ἀπονίψαντες μέλανα βρότον ἐξ ὠτειλέων
κατθέμενοι γοάοιεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
«ὄλβιε Λαέρταο πάϊ, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἦ ἄρα σὺν μεγάλῃ ἀρετῇ ἐκτήσω ἄκοιτιν·
ὡς ἀγαθαὶ φρένες ἦσαν ἀμύμονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίου, ὡς εὖ μέμνητ' Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀνδρὸς κουριδίου. τῶ οἱ κλέος οὔ ποτ' ὀλεῖται
ἧς ἀρετῆς, τεύξουσι δ' ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδὴν
ἀθάνατοι χαρίεσσαν ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὐχ ὡς Τυνδαρέου κούρη κακὰ μήσατο ἔργα,
κουρίδιον κτείνασα πόσιν, στυγερὴ δέ τ' ἀοιδὴ
ἔσσετ' ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους, χαλεπὴν δέ τε φῆμιν ὀπάσσει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κ' εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἑσταότ' εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισ', ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίης·
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ ἐκ πόλιος κατέβαν, τάχα δ' ἀγρὸν ἵκοντο
καλὸν Λαέρταο τετυγμένον, ὅν ῥά ποτ' αὐτὸς
Λαέρτης κτεάτισσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ μόγησεν.
ἔνθα οἱ οἶκος ἔην, περὶ δὲ κλίσιον θέε πάντῃ,
ἐν τῷ σιτέσκοντο καὶ ἵζανον ἠδὲ ἴαυον
δμῶες ἀναγκαῖοι, τοί οἱ φίλα ἐργάζοντο.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηῢς πέλεν, ἥ ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπ' ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.
ἔνθ' Ὀδυσεὺς δμώεσσι καὶ υἱέϊ μῦθον ἔειπεν·

«ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἔλθετ' ἐϋκτίμενον δόμον εἴσω,
δεῖπνον δ' αἶψα συῶν ἱερεύσατε ὅς τις ἄριστος·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πατρὸς πειρήσομαι ἡμετέροιο,
αἴ κέ μ' ἐπιγνώῃ καὶ φράσσεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ἦέ κεν ἀγνοιῇσι πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα.»

ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἀρήϊα τεύχε' ἔδωκεν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα δόμονδε θοῶς κίον, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἄσσον ἴεν πολυκάρπου ἀλῳῆς πειρητίζων.
οὐδ' εὗρεν Δολίον, μέγαν ὄρχατον ἐσκαταβαίνων,
οὐδέ τινα δμώων οὐδ' υἱῶν· ἀλλ' ἄρα τοί γε
αἱμασιὰς λέξοντες ἀλῳῆς ἔμμεναι ἕρκος
ᾤχοντ', αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσι γέρων ὁδὸν ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δ' οἶον πατέρ' εὗρεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλῳῇ,
λιστρεύοντα φυτόν· ῥυπόωντα δὲ ἕστο χιτῶνα,
ῥαπτὸν ἀεικέλιον, περὶ δὲ κνήμῃσι βοείας
κνημῖδας ῥαπτὰς δέδετο, γραπτῦς ἀλεείνων,
χειρῖδάς τ' ἐπὶ χερσὶ βάτων ἕνεκ'· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν
αἰγείην κυνέην κεφαλῇ ἔχε, πένθος ἀέξων.
τὸν δ' ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
γήραϊ τειρόμενον, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,
στὰς ἄρ' ὑπὸ βλωθρὴν ὄγχνην κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβε.
μερμήριξε δ' ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
κύσσαι καὶ περιφῦναι ἑὸν πατέρ' ἠδὲ ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτ' ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
ἦ πρῶτ' ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτον κερτομίοισ' ἔπεσιν διαπειρηθῆναι.
τὰ φρονέων ἰθὺς κίεν αὐτοῦ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν κατέχων κεφαλὴν φυτὸν ἀμφελάχαινε·
τὸν δὲ παριστάμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·

«ὦ γέρον, οὐκ ἀδαημονίη σ' ἔχει ἀμφιπολεύειν
ὄρχατον, ἀλλ' εὖ τοι κομιδὴ ἔχει, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν,
οὐ φυτόν, οὐ συκῆ, οὐκ ἄμπελος, οὐ μὲν ἐλαίη,
οὐκ ὄγχνη, οὐ πρασιή τοι ἄνευ κομιδῆς κατὰ κῆπον.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ μὴ χόλον ἔνθεο θυμῷ·
αὐτόν σ' οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κομιδὴ ἔχει, ἀλλ' ἅμα γῆρας
λυγρὸν ἔχεις αὐχμεῖς τε κακῶς καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσαι.
οὐ μὲν ἀεργίης γε ἄναξ ἕνεκ' οὔ σε κομίζει,
οὐδέ τί τοι δούλειον ἐπιπρέπει εἰσοράασθαι
εἶδος καὶ μέγεθος· βασιλῆι γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
τοιούτῳ δὲ ἔοικεν, ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε,
εὑδέμεναι μαλακῶς· ἡ γὰρ δίκη ἐστὶ γερόντων.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τεῦ δμώς εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τεῦ δ' ὄρχατον ἀμφιπολεύεις;
καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
εἰ ἐτεόν γ' Ἰθάκην τήνδ' ἱκόμεθ', ὥς μοι ἔειπεν
οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν δὴ ξυμβλήμενος ἐνθάδ' ἰόντι,
οὔ τι μάλ' ἀρτίφρων, ἐπεὶ οὐ τόλμησεν ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν ἠδ' ἐπακοῦσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ὡς ἐρέεινον
ἀμφὶ ξείνῳ ἐμῷ, ἤ που ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν,
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
ἄνδρα ποτ' ἐξείνισσα φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ
ἡμέτερόνδ' ἐλθόντα, καὶ οὔ πώ τις βροτὸς ἄλλος
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα·
εὔχετο δ' ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἔφασκε
Λαέρτην Ἀρκεισιάδην πατέρ' ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματ' ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,
ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,
καί οἱ δῶρα πόρον ξεινήϊα, οἷα ἐῴκει.
χρυσοῦ μέν οἱ δῶκ' εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,
δῶκα δέ οἱ κρητῆρα πανάργυρον ἀνθεμόεντα,
δώδεκα δ' ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,
τόσσα δὲ φάρεα καλά, τόσους δ' ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας,
χωρὶς δ' αὖτε γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας
τέσσαρας εἰδαλίμας, ἃς ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πατὴρ κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων·
«ξεῖν', ἦ τοι μὲν γαῖαν ἱκάνεις, ἣν ἐρεείνεις,
ὑβρισταὶ δ' αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσι.
δῶρα δ' ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρί' ὀπάζων·
εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
τῶ κέν σ' εὖ δώροισιν ἀμειψάμενος ἀπέπεμψε
καὶ ξενίῃ ἀγαθῇ· ἡ γὰρ θέμις, ὅς τις ὑπάρξῃ.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
πόστον δὴ ἔτος ἐστίν, ὅτε ξείνισσας ἐκεῖνον,
σὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον, ἐμὸν παῖδ', εἴ ποτ' ἔην γε;
δύσμορον· ὅν που τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
ἠέ που ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ἢ ἐπὶ χέρσου
θηρσὶ καὶ οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ γένετ'· οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
κλαῦσε περιστείλασα πατήρ θ', οἵ μιν τεκόμεσθα·
οὐδ' ἄλοχος πολύδωρος, ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια,
κώκυσ' ἐν λεχέεσσιν ἑὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἐπεῴκει,
ὀφθαλμοὺς καθελοῦσα· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ποῦ δαὶ νηῦς ἕστηκε θοή, ἥ σ' ἤγαγε δεῦρο
ἀντιθέους θ' ἑτάρους; ἦ ἔμπορος εἰλήλουθας
νηὸς ἐπ' ἀλλοτρίης, οἱ δ' ἐκβήσαντες ἔβησαν;»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι πάντα μάλ' ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.
εἰμὶ μὲν ἐξ Ἀλύβαντος, ὅθι κλυτὰ δώματα ναίω,
υἱὸς Ἀφείδαντος Πολυπημονίδαο ἄνακτος·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γ' ὄνομ' ἐστὶν Ἐπήριτος· ἀλλά με δαίμων
πλάγξ' ἀπὸ Σικανίης δεῦρ' ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·
νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδ' ἕστηκεν ἐπ' ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆϊ τόδε δὴ πέμπτον ἔτος ἐστίν,
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης,
δύσμορος· ἦ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι,
δεξιοί, οἷς χαίρων μὲν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμπον ἐκεῖνον,
χαῖρε δὲ κεῖνος ἰών· θυμὸς δ' ἔτι νῶϊν ἐώλπει
μείξεσθαι ξενίῃ ἠδ' ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδώσειν.»

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα·
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν
χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς πολιῆς, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.
τοῦ δ' ὠρίνετο θυμός, ἀνὰ ῥῖνας δέ οἱ ἤδη

δριμὺ μένος προὔτυψε φίλον πατέρ' εἰσορόωντι.
κύσσε δέ μιν περιφὺς ἐπιάλμενος ἠδὲ προσηύδα·

«κεῖνος μὲν δὴ ὅδ' αὐτὸς ἐγώ, πάτερ, ὃν σὺ μεταλλᾷς,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλ' ἴσχευ κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω· - μάλα δὲ χρὴ σπευδέμεν ἔμπης· -
μνηστῆρας κατέπεφνον ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι
λώβην τεινύμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Λαέρτης ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
«εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεύς γε, ἐμὸς πάϊς, εἰλήλουθας,
σῆμά τί μοι νῦν εἰπὲ ἀριφραδές, ὄφρα πεποίθω.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«οὐλὴν μὲν πρῶτον τήνδε φράσαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
τὴν ἐν Παρνησῷ μ' ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι
οἰχόμενον· σὺ δέ με προΐεις καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
ἐς πατέρ' Αὐτόλυκον μητρὸς φίλον, ὄφρ' ἂν ἑλοίμην
δῶρα, τὰ δεῦρο μολών μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν.
εἰ δ' ἄγε τοι καὶ δένδρε' ἐϋκτιμένην κατ' ἀλῳὴν
εἴπω, ἅ μοί ποτ' ἔδωκας, ἐγὼ δ' ᾔτευν σε ἕκαστα
παιδνὸς ἐών, κατὰ κῆπον ἐπισπόμενος· διὰ δ' αὐτῶν
ἱκνεύμεσθα, σὺ δ' ὠνόμασας καὶ ἔειπες ἕκαστα.
ὄγχνας μοι δῶκας τρεισκαίδεκα καὶ δέκα μηλέας,
συκέας τεσσαράκοντ'· ὄρχους δέ μοι ὧδ' ὀνόμηνας
δώσειν πεντήκοντα, διατρύγιος δὲ ἕκαστος
ἤην; ἔνθα δ' ἀνὰ σταφυλαὶ παντοῖαι ἔασιν,
ὁππότε δὴ Διὸς ὧραι ἐπιβρίσειαν ὕπερθεν.»

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ' αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
σήματ' ἀναγνόντος, τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδ' Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε· τὸν δὲ ποτὶ οἷ
εἷλεν ἀποψύχοντα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

«Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥ' ἔτι ἐστὲ θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
εἰ ἐτεὸν μνηστῆρες ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔτεισαν.
νῦν δ' αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα, μὴ τάχα πάντες
ἐνθάδ' ἐπέλθωσιν Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀγγελίας δὲ
πάντῃ ἐποτρύνωσι Κεφαλλήνων πολίεσσι.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
ἀλλ' ἴομεν προτὶ οἶκον, ὃς ὀρχάτου ἐγγύθι κεῖται·
ἔνθα δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
προὔπεμψ', ὡς ἂν δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσωσι τάχιστα.»

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε βάτην πρὸς δώματα καλά.
οἱ δ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἵκοντο δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας,
εὗρον Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
ταμνομένους κρέα πολλὰ κερῶντάς τ' αἴθοπα οἶνον.

τόφρα δὲ Λαέρτην μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἀμφίπολος Σικελὴ λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρα χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλε' ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν,
μείζονα δ' ἠὲ πάρος καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐκ δ' ἀσαμίνθου βῆ· θαύμαζε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἴδεν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσ' ἐναλίγκιον ἄντην,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μάλα τίς σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἀμείνονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Λαέρτης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἀκτὴν ἠπείροιο, Κεφαλλήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων,
τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι
τεύχε' ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν
ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας· τῶ κέ σφεων γούνατ' ἔλυσα
πολλῶν ἐν μεγάροισι, σὺ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐγήθεις.»

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.
ἔνθ' οἱ μὲν δείπνῳ ἐπεχείρεον· ἀγχίμολον δὲ
ἦλθ' ὁ γέρων Δολίος, σὺν δ' υἱεῖς τοῖο γέροντος,
ἐξ ἔργων μογέοντες, ἐπεὶ προμολοῦσα κάλεσσε
μήτηρ, γρηῦς Σικελή, ἥ σφεας τρέφε καί ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν, ἐπεὶ κατὰ γῆρας ἔμαρψεν.
οἱ δ' ὡς οὖν Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον φράσσαντό τε θυμῷ,
ἔσταν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεθηπότες· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μειλιχίοισ' ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·

«ὦ γέρον, ἵζ' ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἀπεκλελάθεσθε δὲ θάμβευς·
δηρὸν γὰρ σίτῳ ἐπιχειρήσειν μεμαῶτες
μίμνομεν ἐν μεγάροισ', ὑμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, Δολίος δ' ἰθὺς κίε χεῖρε πετάσσας
ἀμφοτέρας, Ὀδυσεῦς δὲ λαβὼν κύσε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«ὦ φίλ', ἐπεὶ νόστησας ἐελδομένοισι μάλ' ἡμῖν
οὐδ' ἔτ' ὀϊομένοισι, θεοὶ δέ σε ἤγαγον αὐτοί,
οὖλέ τε καὶ μέγα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.
καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
ἢ ἤδη σάφα οἶδε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
νοστήσαντά σε δεῦρ', ἦ ἄγγελον ὀτρύνωμεν.»

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὦ γέρον, ἤδη οἶδε· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα πένεσθαι;»

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δ' αὖτις ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου.
ὣς δ' αὔτως παῖδες Δολίου κλυτὸν ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆα
δεικανόωντ' ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐν χείρεσσι φύοντο,
ἑξείης δ' ἕζοντο παραὶ Δολίον, πατέρα σφόν.

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο·
ὄσσα δ' ἄρ' ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντῃ
μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρ' ἐνέπουσα.
οἱ δ' ἄρ' ὁμῶς ἀΐοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθ' Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,
τοὺς δ' ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον
πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇσ' ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες·
αὐτοὶ δ' εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἁθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τ' ἐγένοντο,
τοῖσιν δ' Εὐπείθης ἀνά θ' ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε·
παιδὸς γάρ οἱ ἄλαστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔκειτο,
Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

«ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὅδε μήσατ' Ἀχαιούς·
τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς
ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δ' ὤλεσε λαούς,
τοὺς δ' ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχ' ἀρίστους.
ἀλλ' ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι
ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,
ἴομεν· ἢ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθ' αἰεί.
λώβη γὰρ τάδε γ' ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,
εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας
τεισόμεθ'· οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο
ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.
ἀλλ' ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι.»

ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, οἶκτος δ' ἕλε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,
ἔσταν δ' ἐν μέσσοισι· τάφος δ' ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·

«κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδε μήσατο ἔργα·
αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥ' Ὀδυσῆϊ
ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.
ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθ' Ὀδυσῆος
φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων
θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον· τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.»

ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δ' ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·
ὅ σφιν ἐῢ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

«κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω.
ὑμετέρῃ κακότητι, φίλοι, τάδε ἔργα γένοντο·
οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πείθεσθ', οὐ Μέντορι ποιμένι λαῶν,
ὑμετέρους παῖδας καταπαυέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
οἳ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεζον ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσι,
κτήματα κείροντες καὶ ἀτιμάζοντες ἄκοιτιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τὸν δ' οὐκέτι φάντο νέεσθαι.
καὶ νῦν ὧδε γένοιτο, πίθεσθέ μοι, ὡς ἀγορεύω·
μὴ ἴομεν, μή πού τις ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν εὕρῃ.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρ' ἀνήϊξαν μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ
ἡμίσεων πλείους· - τοὶ δ' ἁθρόοι αὐτόθι μεῖναν· -
οὐ γάρ σφιν ἅδε μῦθος ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἀλλ' Εὐπείθει
πείθοντ'· αἶψα δ' ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ τεύχεα ἐσσεύοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ἁθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο πρὸ ἄστεος εὐρυχόροιο.
τοῖσιν δ' Εὐπείθης ἡγήσατο νηπιέῃσι·
φῆ δ' ὅ γε τείσεσθαι παιδὸς φόνον, οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔμελλεν
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐφέψειν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη Ζῆνα Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·

«ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῃ· τί νύ τοι νόος ἔνδοθι κεύθει;
ἢ προτέρω πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν
τεύξεις, ἦ φιλότητα μετ' ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησθα;»

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
«τέκνον ἐμόν, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς;
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτείσεται ἐλθών;
ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἐρέω δέ τοι ὡς ἐπέοικεν.
ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτείσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,
ἡμεῖς δ' αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο
ἔκλησιν θέωμεν· τοὶ δ' ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων
ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,
βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.

οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσ' ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

«ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι, μὴ δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες.»

ὣς ἔφατ'· ἐκ δ' υἱὸς Δολίου κίεν, ὡς ἐκέλευε,
στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν εἴσιδε πάντας.
αἶψα δ' Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

«οἵδε δὴ ἐγγὺς ἔασ'· ἀλλ' ὁπλιζώμεθα θᾶσσον.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ὤρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,
τέσσαρες ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆ', ἓξ δ' υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο·
ἐν δ' ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τ' ἐς τεύχε' ἔδυνον,
καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δ' ἤϊον, ἦρχε δ' Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

«Τηλέμαχ', ἤδη μὲν τό γε εἴσεαι αὐτὸς ἐπελθών,
ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,
μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
ἀλκῇ τ' ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπ' αἶαν.»

τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ὄψεαι, αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσθα, πάτερ φίλε, τῷδ' ἐπὶ θυμῷ
οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.»

ὣς φάτο, Λαέρτης δ' ἐχάρη καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·
«τίς νύ μοι ἡμέρη ἥδε, θεοὶ φίλοι; ἦ μάλα χαίρω·
υἱός θ' υἱωνός τ' ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσι.»

τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
«ὦ Ἀρκεισιάδη, πάντων πολὺ φίλταθ' ἑταίρων,
εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,
αἶψα μάλ' ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.»

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥ' ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
εὐξάμενος δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
αἶψα μάλ' ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.
ἡ δ' οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.
ἐν δ' ἔπεσον προμάχοισ' Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,
τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.
καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ θῆκαν ἀνόστους,
εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
ἤϋσεν φωνῇ, κατὰ δ' ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα·

«ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,
ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα.»

ὣς φάτ' Ἀθηναίη, τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλε·
τῶν δ' ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,
πάντα δ' ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης·
πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.
σμερδαλέον δ' ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τ' αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.
καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,
κὰδ δ' ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.
δὴ τότ' Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο,
μή πώς τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.»

ὣς φάτ' Ἀθηναίη, ὁ δ' ἐπείθετο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.
ὅρκια δ' αὖ κατόπισθε μετ' ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.