Odyssey, Book 1: Athena and Telemachus

1ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, μοῦσα, πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ

πλάγχθη, ἐπεὶ Τροίης ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἔπερσεν·

πολλῶν δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἴδεν ἄστεα καὶ νόον ἔγνω,

πολλὰ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθεν ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,

5ἀρνύμενος ἥν τε ψυχὴν καὶ νόστον ἑταίρων.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἑτάρους ἐρρύσατο, ἱέμενός περ·

αὐτῶν γὰρ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο,

νήπιοι, οἳ κατὰ βοῦς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο

ἤσθιον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.

10τῶν ἁμόθεν γε, θεά, θύγατερ Διός, εἰπὲ καὶ ἡμῖν.

1Tell me, Muse, of the man of many turns, who wandered far

after he sacked the sacred citadel of Troy.

He saw the cities of many peoples and came to know their minds;

many were the pains he suffered in his spirit on the sea,

5struggling to save his own life and secure his companions' return.

Yet even so he could not save them, for all his striving:

they perished through their own reckless folly,

blind fools, who ate the cattle of Helios Hyperion;

but the Sun took from them the day of their return.

10From somewhere in this story, goddess, daughter of Zeus, tell us too.

11ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες, ὅσοι φύγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,

οἴκοι ἔσαν, πόλεμόν τε πεφευγότες ἠδὲ θάλασσαν·

τὸν δʼ οἶον νόστου κεχρημένον ἠδὲ γυναικὸς

νύμφη πότνιʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων

15ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἔτος ἦλθε περιπλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν,

τῷ οἱ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι

εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ ἔνθα πεφυγμένος ἦεν ἀέθλων

καὶ μετὰ οἷσι φίλοισι. θεοὶ δʼ ἐλέαιρον ἅπαντες

20νόσφι Ποσειδάωνος· ὁ δʼ ἀσπερχὲς μενέαινεν

ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι πάρος ἣν γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.

11Then all the others who escaped sheer destruction

were home, free of both war and sea.

But him alone, still longing for his return and his wife,

the mighty nymph Calypso, radiant among goddesses, detained

15in her hollow caves, desiring him as her husband.

But when, in the circling of the seasons, there came the year

the gods had spun for him to journey home

to Ithaca—even there he had not escaped his ordeals,

though he was among his own. All the gods pitied him

20except Poseidon, who raged without respite

against godlike Odysseus before he reached his native land.

22ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν Αἰθίοπας μετεκίαθε τηλόθʼ ἐόντας,

Αἰθίοπας τοὶ διχθὰ δεδαίαται, ἔσχατοι ἀνδρῶν,

οἱ μὲν δυσομένου Ὑπερίονος οἱ δʼ ἀνιόντος,

25ἀντιόων ταύρων τε καὶ ἀρνειῶν ἑκατόμβης.

ἔνθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐτέρπετο δαιτὶ παρήμενος· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

Ζηνὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀλυμπίου ἁθρόοι ἦσαν.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Αἰγίσθοιο,

30τόν ῥʼ Ἀγαμεμνονίδης τηλεκλυτὸς ἔκτανʼ Ὀρέστης·

τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα·

22Poseidon had gone to the distant Ethiopians,

the Ethiopians divided in two, farthest of men,

one people where Hyperion sets, the other where he rises,

25to receive a hecatomb of bulls and rams.

There he sat taking pleasure in the feast; but all the other gods

were gathered in the halls of Olympian Zeus.

The father of gods and men began speaking among them,

for in his spirit he remembered blameless Aegisthus,

30whom Orestes, Agamemnon's renowned son, had killed.

Thinking of him, he addressed the immortals:

32ὢ πόποι, οἷον δή νυ θεοὺς βροτοὶ αἰτιόωνται·

ἐξ ἡμέων γάρ φασι κάκʼ ἔμμεναι, οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

σφῇσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὑπὲρ μόρον ἄλγεʼ ἔχουσιν,

35ὡς καὶ νῦν Αἴγισθος ὑπὲρ μόρον Ἀτρεΐδαο

γῆμʼ ἄλοχον μνηστήν, τὸν δʼ ἔκτανε νοστήσαντα,

εἰδὼς αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον, ἐπεὶ πρό οἱ εἴπομεν ἡμεῖς,

Ἑρμείαν πέμψαντες, ἐύσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην,

μήτʼ αὐτὸν κτείνειν μήτε μνάασθαι ἄκοιτιν·

40ἐκ γὰρ Ὀρέσταο τίσις ἔσσεται Ἀτρεΐδαο,

ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσῃ τε καὶ ἧς ἱμείρεται αἴης.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ Ἑρμείας, ἀλλʼ οὐ φρένας Αἰγίσθοιο

πεῖθʼ ἀγαθὰ φρονέων· νῦν δʼ ἁθρόα πάντʼ ἀπέτισεν.

32“Look how mortals now accuse the gods!

From us, they say, their evils come; yet they themselves,

through their own reckless acts, suffer grief beyond their lot.

35Just so Aegisthus, beyond his lot, took to himself

the wedded wife of Atreus' son and killed him on his return,

knowing it meant sheer destruction. We warned him beforehand,

sending Hermes, keen-sighted slayer of Argus,

neither to kill the man nor court his wife:

40for Orestes would exact vengeance for Atreus' son

once he came of age and longed for his own land.

So Hermes spoke, but despite his good intent, he did not persuade

Aegisthus' heart; and now he has paid the whole price at once.”

44τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

45ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,

καὶ λίην κεῖνός γε ἐοικότι κεῖται ὀλέθρῳ·

ὡς ἀπόλοιτο καὶ ἄλλος, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι·

ἀλλά μοι ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι δαΐφρονι δαίεται ἦτορ,

δυσμόρῳ, ὃς δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχει

50νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, ὅθι τʼ ὀμφαλός ἐστι θαλάσσης.

νῆσος δενδρήεσσα, θεὰ δʼ ἐν δώματα ναίει,

Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ ὀλοόφρονος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης

πάσης βένθεα οἶδεν, ἔχει δέ τε κίονας αὐτὸς

μακράς, αἳ γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσιν.

55τοῦ θυγάτηρ δύστηνον ὀδυρόμενον κατερύκει,

αἰεὶ δὲ μαλακοῖσι καὶ αἱμυλίοισι λόγοισιν

θέλγει, ὅπως Ἰθάκης ἐπιλήσεται· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἱέμενος καὶ καπνὸν ἀποθρῴσκοντα νοῆσαι

ἧς γαίης, θανέειν ἱμείρεται. οὐδέ νυ σοί περ

60ἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ, Ὀλύμπιε. οὔ νύ τʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ χαρίζετο ἱερὰ ῥέζων

Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ; τί νύ οἱ τόσον ὠδύσαο, Ζεῦ;

44Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

45“Our Father, son of Cronus, highest of rulers,

his ruin was entirely fitting;

so may any other perish who does such things.

But my heart burns for Odysseus, skilled in counsel,

that ill-fated man who has suffered long, far from his own,

50on a sea-girt island, where the sea has its navel.

The island is wooded, and a goddess has her home there,

daughter of malignant-minded Atlas, who knows the depths

of every sea and himself holds the tall pillars

that keep earth and heaven apart.

55His daughter detains the wretched man while he grieves,

and with soft and beguiling words she continually

charms him to forget Ithaca. But Odysseus,

longing to see even the smoke springing up

from his own land, yearns to die. Does your heart

60not turn toward him at all, Olympian? Did not Odysseus

please you beside the Argive ships by making sacrifice

on the broad plain of Troy? Why are you so angry with him, Zeus?”

63τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.

65πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,

ὃς περὶ μὲν νόον ἐστὶ βροτῶν, περὶ δʼ ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν

ἀθανάτοισιν ἔδωκε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;

ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἀσκελὲς αἰεὶ

Κύκλωπος κεχόλωται, ὃν ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν,

70ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον, ὅου κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον

πᾶσιν Κυκλώπεσσι· Θόωσα δέ μιν τέκε νύμφη,

Φόρκυνος θυγάτηρ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο μέδοντος,

ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι Ποσειδάωνι μιγεῖσα.

ἐκ τοῦ δὴ Ὀδυσῆα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

75οὔ τι κατακτείνει, πλάζει δʼ ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς οἵδε περιφραζώμεθα πάντες

νόστον, ὅπως ἔλθῃσι· Ποσειδάων δὲ μεθήσει

ὃν χόλον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι δυνήσεται ἀντία πάντων

ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν ἐριδαινέμεν οἶος.

63Cloud-gathering Zeus answered her:

“My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!

65How could I forget godlike Odysseus,

who surpasses all mortals in understanding and in sacrifices

offered to the deathless gods who hold the wide heaven?

But Poseidon, sustainer of earth, is always unrelenting

in anger because of the Cyclops whose eye he blinded,

70godlike Polyphemus, whose power is greatest

among all Cyclopes. The nymph Thoosa bore him,

daughter of Phorcys, lord of the barren sea,

after she lay with Poseidon in the hollow caves.

Ever since then Poseidon, shaker of earth, does not

75kill Odysseus, but drives him wandering far from his native land.

Come then, all of us here, let us devise

his return, so he may come home; and Poseidon will relent

from his anger. For against all the deathless gods,

alone and against our will, he cannot carry on this quarrel.”

80τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,

εἰ μὲν δὴ νῦν τοῦτο φίλον μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν,

νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,

Ἑρμείαν μὲν ἔπειτα διάκτορον ἀργεϊφόντην

85νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην ὀτρύνομεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα

νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἴπῃ νημερτέα βουλήν,

νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν Ἰθάκηνδʼ ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα οἱ υἱὸν

μᾶλλον ἐποτρύνω καί οἱ μένος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,

90εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσαντα κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πᾶσι μνηστήρεσσιν ἀπειπέμεν, οἵ τέ οἱ αἰεὶ

μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς.

πέμψω δʼ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα

νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσῃ,

95ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν.

80Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

“Our Father, son of Cronus, highest of rulers,

if now this course is pleasing to the blessed gods,

that Odysseus, of many counsels, return to his own home,

then let us send Hermes, the guide and slayer of Argus,

85to the island Ogygia, so with all speed

he may tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring resolve—

the return of steadfast-hearted Odysseus, that he may come home.

And I will go to Ithaca, to stir his son

still more and put strength into his mind:

90he will call the long-haired Achaeans to assembly

and warn off all the suitors, who continually slaughter

his sheep in droves and shambling, curved-horned cattle.

I will send him to Sparta and sandy Pylos

to ask about his dear father's return, in case he hears news,

95and so he may win honorable renown among men.”

96ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν

ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο·

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι χαλκῷ,

100βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν

ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀίξασα,

στῆ δʼ Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ ἐπὶ προθύροις Ὀδυσῆος,

οὐδοῦ ἐπʼ αὐλείου· παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,

105εἰδομένη ξείνῳ, Ταφίων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ.

εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα

πεσσοῖσι προπάροιθε θυράων θυμὸν ἔτερπον

ἥμενοι ἐν ῥινοῖσι βοῶν, οὓς ἔκτανον αὐτοί·

κήρυκες δʼ αὐτοῖσι καὶ ὀτρηροὶ θεράποντες

110οἱ μὲν οἶνον ἔμισγον ἐνὶ κρητῆρσι καὶ ὕδωρ,

οἱ δʼ αὖτε σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι τραπέζας

νίζον καὶ πρότιθεν, τοὶ δὲ κρέα πολλὰ δατεῦντο.

96With this she bound beneath her feet her beautiful sandals,

immortal, golden, which carried her over the sea

and over boundless land together with the blasts of wind;

she took her powerful spear, tipped with sharpened bronze,

100heavy, huge, and stout, with which she crushes ranks

of heroes when the daughter of a mighty father is enraged.

She swept down from Olympus' peaks

and stood in the land of Ithaca, at the outer doors of Odysseus' house,

on the courtyard threshold, bronze spear in hand,

105in the likeness of a guest—Mentes, leader of the Taphians.

There she found the arrogant suitors. They

sat before the doors amusing themselves with gaming stones,

on hides of cattle they themselves had killed.

Heralds and ready attendants served them:

110some mixed wine and water in bowls,

while others scrubbed the tables with porous sponges

and set them out; carvers portioned the heaps of meat.

113τὴν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής,

ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μνηστῆρσι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,

115ὀσσόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν

μνηστήρων τῶν μὲν σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείη,

τιμὴν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοι καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι.

τὰ φρονέων, μνηστῆρσι μεθήμενος, εἴσιδʼ Ἀθήνην.

βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς προθύροιο, νεμεσσήθη δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

120ξεῖνον δηθὰ θύρῃσιν ἐφεστάμεν· ἐγγύθι δὲ στὰς

χεῖρʼ ἕλε δεξιτερὴν καὶ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

χαῖρε, ξεῖνε, παρʼ ἄμμι φιλήσεαι· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

δείπνου πασσάμενος μυθήσεαι ὅττεό σε χρή.

125ὣς εἰπὼν ἡγεῖθʼ, ἡ δʼ ἕσπετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἔντοσθεν ἔσαν δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,

ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν

δουροδόκης ἔντοσθεν ἐυξόου, ἔνθα περ ἄλλα

ἔγχεʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἵστατο πολλά,

130αὐτὴν δʼ ἐς θρόνον εἷσεν ἄγων, ὑπὸ λῖτα πετάσσας,

καλὸν δαιδάλεον· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.

πὰρ δʼ αὐτὸς κλισμὸν θέτο ποικίλον, ἔκτοθεν ἄλλων

μνηστήρων, μὴ ξεῖνος ἀνιηθεὶς ὀρυμαγδῷ

δείπνῳ ἁδήσειεν, ὑπερφιάλοισι μετελθών,

135ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο.

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,

140εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·

δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας

παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα·

κῆρυξ δʼ αὐτοῖσιν θάμʼ ἐπῴχετο οἰνοχοεύων.

ἐς δʼ ἦλθον μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα

145ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,

τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,

σῖτον δὲ δμῳαὶ παρενήνεον ἐν κανέοισιν,

κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

150αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο

μνηστῆρες, τοῖσιν μὲν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἄλλα μεμήλει,

μολπή τʼ ὀρχηστύς τε· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός·

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν κίθαριν περικαλλέα θῆκεν

Φημίῳ, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε παρὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.

155ἦ τοι ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν.

113Godlike Telemachus was by far the first to see her.

He sat among the suitors, sorrowing in his heart,

115envisioning his noble father in his mind—if he might come

and scatter those suitors through the house,

reclaim his honor, and rule his own household.

Turning this over as he sat among them, he saw Athena.

He went straight to the porch, indignant at heart

120that a guest had stood so long at the door. Drawing close,

he took her right hand and received the bronze spear,

then spoke to her in winged words:

“Welcome, stranger. You will be received warmly here; once

you have eaten, you can tell us what you need.”

125So he spoke and led the way; Pallas Athena followed.

When they had gone inside the high-roofed house,

he carried the spear and stood it against a tall pillar,

inside the polished spear-rack, where many other

spears of steadfast-hearted Odysseus stood.

130He led her to a chair, spread a fine cloth beneath her,

and seated her; it was handsome and skillfully made, with a footstool below.

Beside her he placed his own ornate chair, apart from the other

suitors, so the guest, distressed by their uproar,

would not lose his appetite at dinner among overbearing men,

135and so that he might ask her about his absent father.

A serving woman brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher

and poured it over a silver basin

so they could wash; then drew a polished table beside them.

The honored housekeeper brought and set down bread,

140adding many foods, giving freely of the stores at hand.

The carver lifted platters of every kind of meat

and set them before them, placing golden cups beside them;

a herald came by often, pouring wine.

The arrogant suitors entered. They

145sat in order along the chairs and couches;

heralds poured water over their hands,

enslaved women heaped bread in baskets beside them,

and young men brimmed the mixing bowls with drink.

They reached their hands toward the good things laid ready.

150When the suitors had satisfied their desire for food and drink,

other pleasures occupied their minds:

song and dancing, the crowning grace of a feast.

A herald placed the exquisitely wrought lyre in the hands

of Phemius, who sang among the suitors under compulsion.

155He struck a prelude on the strings and began his beautiful song.

156αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος προσέφη γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην,

ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·

ξεῖνε φίλʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;

τούτοισιν μὲν ταῦτα μέλει, κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή,

160ῥεῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν,

ἀνέρος, οὗ δή που λεύκʼ ὀστέα πύθεται ὄμβρῳ

κείμενʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου, ἢ εἰν ἁλὶ κῦμα κυλίνδει.

εἰ κεῖνόν γʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα,

πάντες κʼ ἀρησαίατʼ ἐλαφρότεροι πόδας εἶναι

165ἢ ἀφνειότεροι χρυσοῖό τε ἐσθῆτός τε.

νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε κακὸν μόρον, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν

θαλπωρή, εἴ πέρ τις ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων

φῇσιν ἐλεύσεσθαι· τοῦ δʼ ὤλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·

170τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦται

ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;

οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀίομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.

καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,

175ἠὲ νέον μεθέπεις ἦ καὶ πατρώιός ἐσσι

ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοὶ ἴσαν ἀνέρες ἡμέτερον δῶ

ἄλλοι, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐπίστροφος ἦν ἀνθρώπων.

156Telemachus spoke to bright-eyed Athena,

leaning his head close so the others would not hear:

“Dear guest, will you resent me for what I am about to say?

These men care only for these things—the lyre and song—

160easily enough, since they consume another man's livelihood without repayment,

a man whose white bones are probably rotting in the rain

where they lie on land, or the wave rolls them in the sea.

If they saw him come home to Ithaca,

they would all pray to be lighter on their feet

165rather than richer in gold and clothes.

But now he has perished by a wretched fate, and no

comfort remains for us, even if some earthly man

says he will return: the day of his return is lost.

But come, tell me this and give me a true account:

170Who are you among men, and where from? What is your city, and who are your parents?

What kind of ship brought you? How did the sailors

carry you to Ithaca, and who did they claim to be?

For I do not think you came here on foot.

And tell me this truthfully, so I may know clearly:

175is this your first visit, or are you an inherited

guest-friend of our house? Many other men once came

to our hall, since my father moved widely among men.”

178τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

180Μέντης Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχομαι εἶναι

υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω.

νῦν δʼ ὧδε ξὺν νηὶ κατήλυθον ἠδʼ ἑτάροισιν

πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους,

ἐς Τεμέσην μετὰ χαλκόν, ἄγω δʼ αἴθωνα σίδηρον.

185νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος,

ἐν λιμένι Ῥείθρῳ ὑπὸ Νηίῳ ὑλήεντι.

ξεῖνοι δʼ ἀλλήλων πατρώιοι εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι

ἐξ ἀρχῆς, εἴ πέρ τε γέροντʼ εἴρηαι ἐπελθὼν

Λαέρτην ἥρωα, τὸν οὐκέτι φασὶ πόλινδε

190ἔρχεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ πήματα πάσχειν

γρηὶ σὺν ἀμφιπόλῳ, ἥ οἱ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε

παρτιθεῖ, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κάματος κατὰ γυῖα λάβῃσιν

ἑρπύζοντʼ ἀνὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο.

νῦν δʼ ἦλθον· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔφαντʼ ἐπιδήμιον εἶναι,

195σὸν πατέρʼ· ἀλλά νυ τόν γε θεοὶ βλάπτουσι κελεύθου.

οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἀλλʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ

νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, χαλεποὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν

ἄγριοι, οἵ που κεῖνον ἐρυκανόωσʼ ἀέκοντα.

200αὐτὰρ νῦν τοι ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀίω,

οὔτε τι μάντις ἐὼν οὔτʼ οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς.

οὔ τοι ἔτι δηρόν γε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης

ἔσσεται, οὐδʼ εἴ πέρ τε σιδήρεα δέσματʼ ἔχῃσιν·

205φράσσεται ὥς κε νέηται, ἐπεὶ πολυμήχανός ἐστιν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

εἰ δὴ ἐξ αὐτοῖο τόσος πάϊς εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.

αἰνῶς μὲν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὄμματα καλὰ ἔοικας

κείνῳ, ἐπεὶ θαμὰ τοῖον ἐμισγόμεθʼ ἀλλήλοισιν,

210πρίν γε τὸν ἐς Τροίην ἀναβήμεναι, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι

Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι ἔβαν κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν·

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔτʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἴδον οὔτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος.

178The goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

“Then I will give you a wholly truthful account.

180I declare that I am Mentes, son of wise Anchialus,

and I rule the oar-loving Taphians.

I have come here now with my ship and companions,

sailing the wine-dark sea to a people of foreign speech,

bound for Temese to trade for copper, with burnished iron to offer.

185My ship stands by the countryside, far from the city,

in the harbor of Reithron, below wooded Neion.

We claim to be guest-friends by inheritance

from the beginning. You can learn this if you go and ask

old hero Laertes, who they say no longer comes

190into town, but suffers hardship far off in the fields,

with one elderly serving woman, who sets food and drink

beside him whenever exhaustion takes hold of his limbs

as he creeps along the slope of his wine-bearing vineyard.

I came because they said that he—your father—

195was here at home. But the gods are blocking his journey.

For godlike Odysseus is not yet dead on the earth;

he is still alive somewhere, detained on the broad sea,

on a sea-girt island, held by fierce men,

savages who keep him there against his will.

200But now I will prophesy to you, as the immortals

put it in my spirit and as I think it will be fulfilled,

though I am no seer and have no sure knowledge of bird-signs:

he will not be away from his dear native land

much longer, not even if bonds of iron hold him.

205He will devise his way home, for he is a man of many devices.

But come, tell me this and give me a true account:

are you really Odysseus' own son, grown so tall?

You are remarkably like him in your head and your fine eyes,

since we often met each other,

210before he embarked for Troy, where the other

best men of the Argives went in the hollow ships.

Since then, neither have I seen Odysseus nor he me.”

213τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

215μήτηρ μέν τέ μέ φησι τοῦ ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

οὐκ οἶδʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἑὸν γόνον αὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.

ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον μάκαρός νύ τευ ἔμμεναι υἱὸς

ἀνέρος, ὃν κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖς ἔπι γῆρας ἔτετμε.

νῦν δʼ ὃς ἀποτμότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,

220τοῦ μʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ με τοῦτʼ ἐρεείνεις.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

οὐ μέν τοι γενεήν γε θεοὶ νώνυμνον ὀπίσσω

θῆκαν, ἐπεὶ σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο Πηνελόπεια.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·

225τίς δαίς, τίς δὲ ὅμιλος ὅδʼ ἔπλετο; τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;

εἰλαπίνη ἠὲ γάμος; ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔρανος τάδε γʼ ἐστίν·

ὥς τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ὑπερφιάλως δοκέουσι

δαίνυσθαι κατὰ δῶμα. νεμεσσήσαιτό κεν ἀνὴρ

αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ὁρόων, ὅς τις πινυτός γε μετέλθοι.

213Discerning Telemachus then answered her face to face:

“Then, guest, I will give you a wholly truthful account.

215My mother says that I am his son, but I myself

do not know; no man has ever known his own begetting firsthand.

I wish I had been the son of some fortunate

man whom old age found among his own possessions.

But as it is, they say I was born from the most ill-fated

220of mortal men—since you ask me this.”

The goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

“The gods have not destined your lineage to go nameless

in generations to come, since Penelope bore such a son as you.

But come, tell me this and give me a true account:

225What feast is this, what gathering? What need do you have for it?

Is it a banquet or a wedding? It is certainly not a feast each man has contributed to.

They seem to me outrageously overbearing as they feast

through the house. Any man would feel indignation

at seeing so many shameful acts, if he came among them with any sense.”

230τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,

μέλλεν μέν ποτε οἶκος ὅδʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ ἀμύμων

ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἔτι κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἐπιδήμιος ἦεν·

νῦν δʼ ἑτέρως ἐβόλοντο θεοὶ κακὰ μητιόωντες,

235οἳ κεῖνον μὲν ἄιστον ἐποίησαν περὶ πάντων

ἀνθρώπων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε θανόντι περ ὧδʼ ἀκαχοίμην,

εἰ μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισι δάμη Τρώων ἐνὶ δήμῳ,

ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.

τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,

240ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσω.

νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο·

οἴχετʼ ἄιστος ἄπυστος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὀδύνας τε γόους τε

κάλλιπεν. οὐδέ τι κεῖνον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω

οἶον, ἐπεί νύ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔτευξαν.

245ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,

Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,

ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,

τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.

ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν

250ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες

οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.

230Discerning Telemachus then answered her face to face:

“Guest, since you ask me these questions and press me for answers,

this household was once likely to be prosperous and beyond reproach

while that man was still at home among us.

But now the gods, devising ruin, have willed it otherwise;

235among all men they have made him vanish

without a trace. I would not grieve so deeply, even if he had died,

if he had fallen among his companions in the land of Troy,

or in his friends' arms after he had wound up the war.

Then all the Achaeans would have made him a tomb,

240and he would have won great renown for his son in days to come.

But now the Harpies have snatched him away without renown:

he is gone, unseen, unheard of, and has left me pain and lamentation.

Yet it is not for him alone that I grieve and groan:

the gods have fashioned other bitter troubles for me.

245Every nobleman who holds power in the islands—

Dulichium, Same, and wooded Zacynthus—

and all who rule throughout rugged Ithaca,

all court my mother and waste away my estate.

She neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able

250to bring it to completion, while they consume and diminish

my estate—and soon they will tear me apart as well.”

252τὸν δʼ ἐπαλαστήσασα προσηύδα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·

ὢ πόποι, ἦ δὴ πολλὸν ἀποιχομένου Ὀδυσῆος

δεύῃ, ὅ κε μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφείη.

255εἰ γὰρ νῦν ἐλθὼν δόμου ἐν πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι

σταίη, ἔχων πήληκα καὶ ἀσπίδα καὶ δύο δοῦρε,

τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν μιν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐνόησα

οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ πίνοντά τε τερπόμενόν τε,

ἐξ Ἐφύρης ἀνιόντα παρʼ Ἴλου Μερμερίδαο—

260ᾤχετο γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς

φάρμακον ἀνδροφόνον διζήμενος, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη

ἰοὺς χρίεσθαι χαλκήρεας· ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὔ οἱ

δῶκεν, ἐπεί ῥα θεοὺς νεμεσίζετο αἰὲν ἐόντας,

ἀλλὰ πατήρ οἱ δῶκεν ἐμός· φιλέεσκε γὰρ αἰνῶς—

265τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·

πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,

ἤ κεν νοστήσας ἀποτίσεται, ἦε καὶ οὐκί,

οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα,

270ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἀπώσεαι ἐκ μεγάροιο.

εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων·

αὔριον εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς

μῦθον πέφραδε πᾶσι, θεοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ μάρτυροι ἔστων.

μνηστῆρας μὲν ἐπὶ σφέτερα σκίδνασθαι ἄνωχθι,

275μητέρα δʼ, εἴ οἱ θυμὸς ἐφορμᾶται γαμέεσθαι,

ἂψ ἴτω ἐς μέγαρον πατρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο·

οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα

πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.

σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πυκινῶς ὑποθήσομαι, αἴ κε πίθηαι·

280νῆʼ ἄρσας ἐρέτῃσιν ἐείκοσιν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,

ἔρχεο πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,

ἤν τίς τοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν, ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσῃς

ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισι.

πρῶτα μὲν ἐς Πύλον ἐλθὲ καὶ εἴρεο Νέστορα δῖον,

285κεῖθεν δὲ Σπάρτηνδε παρὰ ξανθὸν Μενέλαον·

ὃς γὰρ δεύτατος ἦλθεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσῃς,

ἦ τʼ ἂν τρυχόμενός περ ἔτι τλαίης ἐνιαυτόν·

εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσῃς μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντος,

290νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

σῆμά τέ οἱ χεῦαι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεΐξαι

πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δοῦναι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ ταῦτα τελευτήσῃς τε καὶ ἔρξῃς,

φράζεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

295ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι

κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδόν· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

νηπιάας ὀχέειν, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐσσι.

ἢ οὐκ ἀίεις οἷον κλέος ἔλλαβε δῖος Ὀρέστης

πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ἐπεὶ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,

300Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα;

καὶ σύ, φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,

ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν κατελεύσομαι ἤδη

ἠδʼ ἑτάρους, οἵ πού με μάλʼ ἀσχαλόωσι μένοντες·

305σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω, καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων.

252Outraged, Pallas Athena addressed him:

“You have great need now for Odysseus, so long absent,

to lay his hands on these shameless suitors.

255If only he came now and stood at the outer doors

of his house, wearing a helmet, with shield and two spears,

the man he was when first I knew him—

drinking and taking pleasure in our house,

coming up from Ephyra, from Ilus son of Mermerus.

260For Odysseus had gone there too aboard his swift ship,

searching for a man-killing poison, so he could

smear it on his bronze-tipped arrows. But Ilus would not

give it, for he feared the gods who live forever.

My father gave it to him, because he loved him dearly.

265If such a man as Odysseus met the suitors now,

their lives would be short, their weddings bitter.

But all this lies upon the knees of the gods—

whether he will return and make them pay, or not,

here in his own halls. I charge you now to consider

270how you can drive the suitors out of the hall.

Come now: understand me, and heed my authoritative words.

Tomorrow call the Achaean lords to assembly

and declare your case to them all, with the gods as witnesses.

Order the suitors to scatter, each to his own place.

275As for your mother, if her spirit urges her to marry,

let her return to the house of her powerful father.

Her family will prepare the wedding and arrange a bride-price

in abundance, as should accompany a beloved daughter.

And for you yourself, I will give careful counsel, if you will listen:

280fit out the best ship you can, with twenty rowers,

and go seek news of your father, so long absent—

whether any mortal can tell you, or you hear a voice

from Zeus, which most of all carries report among men.

First go to Pylos and question godlike Nestor;

285from there to Sparta, to golden-haired Menelaus,

for he was the last of the bronze-armored Achaeans to come home.

If you hear your father is alive and coming home,

then, worn down though you are, you could endure another year.

But if you hear that he is dead and no longer living,

290return then to your dear native land,

heap up his grave-mound and offer funeral gifts upon it,

many and fitting, and give your mother to a husband.

Once you have brought all this to completion,

then consider closely in your mind and spirit

295how you may kill the suitors here in your halls,

whether by cunning or openly. You have no need

to cling to childish ways, since you are no longer of such an age.

Have you not heard what renown godlike Orestes won

among all mankind when he killed his father's murderer,

300treacherous Aegisthus, who killed his renowned father?

You too, my friend—for I see you are fine and tall—

be brave, so that generations yet unborn may speak well of you.

But now I will go down to my swift ship

and my companions, who must be vexed at waiting so long.

305Let this be your concern, and heed my authoritative words.”

306τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα φίλα φρονέων ἀγορεύεις,

ὥς τε πατὴρ ᾧ παιδί, καὶ οὔ ποτε λήσομαι αὐτῶν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,

310ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε τεταρπόμενός τε φίλον κῆρ,

δῶρον ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆα κίῃς, χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

τιμῆεν, μάλα καλόν, ὅ τοι κειμήλιον ἔσται

ἐξ ἐμεῦ, οἷα φίλοι ξεῖνοι ξείνοισι διδοῦσι.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

315μή μʼ ἔτι νῦν κατέρυκε, λιλαιόμενόν περ ὁδοῖο.

δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοῦναι φίλον ἦτορ ἀνώγῃ,

αὖτις ἀνερχομένῳ δόμεναι οἶκόνδε φέρεσθαι,

καὶ μάλα καλὸν ἑλών· σοὶ δʼ ἄξιον ἔσται ἀμοιβῆς.

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

320ὄρνις δʼ ὣς ἀνόπαια διέπτατο· τῷ δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

θῆκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ὑπέμνησέν τέ ἑ πατρὸς

μᾶλλον ἔτʼ ἢ τὸ πάροιθεν. ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι νοήσας

θάμβησεν κατὰ θυμόν· ὀίσατο γὰρ θεὸν εἶναι.

αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρας ἐπῴχετο ἰσόθεος φώς.

306Discerning Telemachus then answered her face to face:

“Guest, you speak all this with loving concern,

as a father to his son, and I will never forget it.

But come, stay now, though you are eager for the road,

310so you may bathe and refresh your dear heart,

then go to your ship bearing a gift, glad in spirit,

a precious, beautiful gift, which will be a keepsake

from me—the sort dear guest-friends give to guest-friends.”

Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

315“Do not detain me now; I long to be on my way.

Whatever gift your own heart urges you to give me,

give it when I return, to carry home.

Choose one truly fine; you will receive one worth as much in return.”

Bright-eyed Athena spoke and departed,

320flying up and away like a bird; in his spirit

she set force and courage, and brought his father

to mind more than before. He understood in his own heart

and stood in awe, for he thought she was a god.

At once the godlike man went back among the suitors.

325τοῖσι δʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ

ἥατʼ ἀκούοντες· ὁ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν νόστον ἄειδε

λυγρόν, ὃν ἐκ Τροίης ἐπετείλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

τοῦ δʼ ὑπερωιόθεν φρεσὶ σύνθετο θέσπιν ἀοιδὴν

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

330κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν κατεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,

οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.

ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·

335ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.

δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτα προσηύδα θεῖον ἀοιδόν·

Φήμιε, πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλλα βροτῶν θελκτήρια οἶδας,

ἔργʼ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε, τά τε κλείουσιν ἀοιδοί·

τῶν ἕν γέ σφιν ἄειδε παρήμενος, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ

340οἶνον πινόντων· ταύτης δʼ ἀποπαύεʼ ἀοιδῆς

λυγρῆς, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ

τείρει, ἐπεί με μάλιστα καθίκετο πένθος ἄλαστον.

τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ποθέω μεμνημένη αἰεί,

ἀνδρός, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.

345τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

μῆτερ ἐμή, τί τʼ ἄρα φθονέεις ἐρίηρον ἀοιδὸν

τέρπειν ὅππῃ οἱ νόος ὄρνυται; οὔ νύ τʼ ἀοιδοὶ

αἴτιοι, ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς αἴτιος, ὅς τε δίδωσιν

ἀνδράσιν ἀλφηστῇσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ.

350τούτῳ δʼ οὐ νέμεσις Δαναῶν κακὸν οἶτον ἀείδειν·

τὴν γὰρ ἀοιδὴν μᾶλλον ἐπικλείουσʼ ἄνθρωποι,

ἥ τις ἀκουόντεσσι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται.

σοὶ δʼ ἐπιτολμάτω κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀκούειν·

οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς οἶος ἀπώλεσε νόστιμον ἦμαρ

355ἐν Τροίῃ, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι φῶτες ὄλοντο.

ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,

ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· μῦθος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

360ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·

παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.

ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ

κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον

ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

325The renowned bard was singing to them, and in silence

they sat listening. He sang the Achaeans' grievous return

from Troy, which Pallas Athena had laid upon them.

From her room above, she heard and took in the inspired song,

Discerning Penelope, daughter of Icarius;

330she descended the high stairway of her house,

not alone—two attendant women followed her.

When she, radiant among women, reached the suitors,

she stood beside a column of the strongly built roof,

holding her shining veil before her cheeks;

335a loyal attendant stood on either side.

In tears, she addressed the inspired bard:

“Phemius, you know many other songs that charm mortals—

deeds of men and gods, which singers make renowned.

Sit and sing them one of these, while in silence

340they drink their wine. But stop this

sorrowful song, which always wears down the dear heart

within my breast, since unforgettable grief has fallen on me most of all.

For I yearn for such a man, remembering always

for my husband, whose renown spreads through Hellas and the heart of Argos.”

345Discerning Telemachus then answered her face to face:

“Mother, why begrudge the faithful bard

delighting us in whatever way his mind is stirred? Bards

are not responsible—Zeus, perhaps, is responsible; he gives

to each bread-earning man whatever portion he chooses.

350No one should blame this singer for singing the Danaans' ruin.

For people prize that song the highest

which comes to its hearers as the newest.

Let your heart and spirit dare to listen.

Odysseus was not the only one who lost the day of return

355at Troy; many other men also perished.

But go back into the house and tend to your own work,

the loom and distaff, and order your attendant women

to set about their tasks. Authoritative speech is men's concern—every man's,

mine most of all; for authority in this house belongs to me.”

360Astonished, she went back into the house,

for she took her son's discerning speech to heart.

She climbed to the upper room with her attendant women,

and there wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until bright-eyed Athena

cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.

365μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,

πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.

τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·

μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες,

νῦν μὲν δαινύμενοι τερπώμεθα, μηδὲ βοητὺς

370ἔστω, ἐπεὶ τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ

τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.

ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀγορήνδε καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες

πάντες, ἵνʼ ὕμιν μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀποείπω,

ἐξιέναι μεγάρων· ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας,

375ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες, ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.

εἰ δʼ ὕμιν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον

ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,

κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,

αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι·

380νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες

Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευεν.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή σε διδάσκουσιν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ

385ὑψαγόρην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέως ἀγορεύειν·

μὴ σέ γʼ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλῆα Κρονίων

ποιήσειεν, ὅ τοι γενεῇ πατρώιόν ἐστιν.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;

390καί κεν τοῦτʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διός γε διδόντος ἀρέσθαι.

ἦ φῂς τοῦτο κάκιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τετύχθαι;

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν· αἶψά τέ οἱ δῶ

ἀφνειὸν πέλεται καὶ τιμηέστερος αὐτός.

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι

395πολλοὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,

τῶν κέν τις τόδʼ ἔχῃσιν, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἴκοιο ἄναξ ἔσομʼ ἡμετέροιο

καὶ δμώων, οὕς μοι ληίσσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

400Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,

ὅς τις ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλεύσει Ἀχαιῶν·

κτήματα δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοις καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοις.

μὴ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἔλθοι ἀνὴρ ὅς τίς σʼ ἀέκοντα βίηφιν

κτήματʼ ἀπορραίσει, Ἰθάκης ἔτι ναιετοώσης.

405ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω σε, φέριστε, περὶ ξείνοιο ἐρέσθαι,

ὁππόθεν οὗτος ἀνήρ, ποίης δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι

γαίης, ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα.

ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην πατρὸς φέρει ἐρχομένοιο,

ἦ ἑὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος ἐελδόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνει;

410οἷον ἀναΐξας ἄφαρ οἴχεται, οὐδʼ ὑπέμεινε

γνώμεναι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακῷ εἰς ὦπα ἐῴκει.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστος ἀπώλετο πατρὸς ἐμοῖο·

οὔτʼ οὖν ἀγγελίῃ ἔτι πείθομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι,

415οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι, ἥν τινα μήτηρ

ἐς μέγαρον καλέσασα θεοπρόπον ἐξερέηται.

ξεῖνος δʼ οὗτος ἐμὸς πατρώιος ἐκ Τάφου ἐστίν,

Μέντης δʼ Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχεται εἶναι

υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσει.

420ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος, φρεσὶ δʼ ἀθανάτην θεὸν ἔγνω.

365The suitors raised an uproar through the shadowed hall,

and every one prayed to lie beside her in bed.

Discerning Telemachus began an authoritative address to them:

“Suitors of my mother, possessed by overmastering arrogance,

for now let us take our pleasure at the feast, with no shouting.

370It is a fine thing to listen to a bard

such as this one, with a voice like the gods.

At dawn let us all go sit in the assembly,

so I can declare my command to you without reserve:

leave my halls. Prepare other feasts,

375consume your own possessions, taking turns from house to house.

But if this seems to you a better, more profitable course—

to destroy one man's livelihood without repayment—

then devour it. But I will cry out to the gods who live forever,

in hope Zeus may grant that deeds of requital come to pass;

380then you would die inside this house, yourselves without repayment.”

So he spoke. They all bit down hard on their lips

and marveled at Telemachus, who had spoken so boldly.

Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him:

“Telemachus, the gods themselves must surely be teaching you

385to declaim from on high and speak so boldly.

May the son of Cronus never make you king

in sea-girt Ithaca, though it is ancestral in your line.”

Discerning Telemachus then answered him face to face:

“Antinous, will you resent me for what I am about to say?

390Yes, I would be willing to accept this too, if Zeus should grant it.

Do you say this is the worst fate that can befall a man?

There is no harm in kingship: his house quickly

grows wealthy, and he himself is held in higher honor.

Yet there are indeed other Achaean kings,

395many in sea-girt Ithaca, young and old;

let one of them hold the kingship, now godlike Odysseus is dead.

But I will be master of our own household

and of the enslaved people godlike Odysseus took as plunder for me.”

Eurymachus, son of Polybus, then answered him:

400“Telemachus, it lies upon the knees of the gods

who will rule the Achaeans in sea-girt Ithaca.

But may you keep your own property and rule your own halls.

May no man ever come to strip you by force, against your will,

of your possessions, while Ithaca is still inhabited.

405But now, my friend, I want to ask about the guest:

where is this man from? From what land does he claim

to come? Where are his family and native fields?

Has he brought some message that your father is coming,

or has he come here seeking something for himself?

410How suddenly he sprang away and left, without waiting

for us to learn who he was. His face did not seem ignoble.”

Discerning Telemachus then answered him face to face:

“Eurymachus, my father's return is lost.

I no longer believe any message, wherever it comes from,

415nor heed any prophecy my mother asks of a seer

she has summoned here into the hall.

This man is a guest-friend of my father's from Taphos.

He declares himself Mentes, son of wise Anchialus,

and rules the oar-loving Taphians.”

420So Telemachus spoke, though in his mind he knew the immortal goddess.

421οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν

τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.

τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθε·

δὴ τότε κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος.

425Τηλέμαχος δʼ, ὅθι οἱ θάλαμος περικαλλέος αὐλῆς

ὑψηλὸς δέδμητο περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,

ἔνθʼ ἔβη εἰς εὐνὴν πολλὰ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζων.

τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα

Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο,

430τήν ποτε Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν

πρωθήβην ἔτʼ ἐοῦσαν, ἐεικοσάβοια δʼ ἔδωκεν,

ἶσα δέ μιν κεδνῇ ἀλόχῳ τίεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,

εὐνῇ δʼ οὔ ποτʼ ἔμικτο, χόλον δʼ ἀλέεινε γυναικός·

ἥ οἱ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε, καί ἑ μάλιστα

435δμῳάων φιλέεσκε, καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα.

ὤιξεν δὲ θύρας θαλάμου πύκα ποιητοῖο,

ἕζετο δʼ ἐν λέκτρῳ, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔκδυνε χιτῶνα·

καὶ τὸν μὲν γραίης πυκιμηδέος ἔμβαλε χερσίν.

ἡ μὲν τὸν πτύξασα καὶ ἀσκήσασα χιτῶνα,

440πασσάλῳ ἀγκρεμάσασα παρὰ τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο, θύρην δʼ ἐπέρυσσε κορώνῃ

ἀργυρέῃ, ἐπὶ δὲ κληῖδʼ ἐτάνυσσεν ἱμάντι.

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε παννύχιος, κεκαλυμμένος οἰὸς ἀώτῳ,

βούλευε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ὁδὸν τὴν πέφραδʼ Ἀθήνη.

421They turned again to dancing and alluring song,

taking pleasure as they waited for evening to come.

Black evening came upon them in their pleasure;

then each went home to lie down.

425Telemachus went where his chamber in the beautiful courtyard

had been built high, in a place with a commanding view.

There he went to bed, turning many things over in his mind.

Beside him, carrying blazing torches, went the loyal and knowing

Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, son of Peisenor,

430whom Laertes had once bought as an enslaved young woman with his own wealth;

she was still in her first youth, and he paid a price of twenty cattle.

In his halls he honored her equally with his faithful wife,

yet he never slept with her, avoiding his wife's anger.

She carried the blazing torches beside Telemachus. Of all

435the enslaved women, she loved him most and had nursed him as a little child.

She opened the doors of the strongly built chamber,

Telemachus sat down on the bed and took off his soft tunic,

then placed it in the hands of the shrewd old woman.

She folded and smoothed the tunic,

440then hung it from a peg beside the corded bed.

She left the chamber and pulled the door shut by its silver

handle, then drew the bolt home with its strap.

There all through the night, covered with a sheep's finest fleece,

he planned in his mind the journey Athena had shown him.