Odyssey, Book 22: The Reckoning

1αὐτὰρ ὁ γυμνώθη ῥακέων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἆλτο δʼ ἐπὶ μέγαν οὐδόν, ἔχων βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην

ἰῶν ἐμπλείην, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς

αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·

5οὗτος μὲν δὴ ἄεθλος ἀάατος ἐκτετέλεσται·

νῦν αὖτε σκοπὸν ἄλλον, ὃν οὔ πώ τις βάλεν ἀνήρ,

εἴσομαι, αἴ κε τύχωμι, πόρῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.

ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ Ἀντινόῳ ἰθύνετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν.

ἦ τοι ὁ καλὸν ἄλεισον ἀναιρήσεσθαι ἔμελλε,

10χρύσεον ἄμφωτον, καὶ δὴ μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,

ὄφρα πίοι οἴνοιο· φόνος δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

μέμβλετο· τίς κʼ οἴοιτο μετʼ ἀνδράσι δαιτυμόνεσσι

μοῦνον ἐνὶ πλεόνεσσι, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη,

οἷ τεύξειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν;

15τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ λαιμὸν ἐπισχόμενος βάλεν ἰῷ,

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή.

ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε, δέπας δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρὸς

βλημένου, αὐτίκα δʼ αὐλὸς ἀνὰ ῥῖνας παχὺς ἦλθεν

αἵματος ἀνδρομέοιο· θοῶς δʼ ἀπὸ εἷο τράπεζαν

20ὦσε ποδὶ πλήξας, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε·

σῖτός τε κρέα τʼ ὀπτὰ φορύνετο. τοὶ δʼ ὁμάδησαν

μνηστῆρες κατὰ δώμαθʼ, ὅπως ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόντα,

ἐκ δὲ θρόνων ἀνόρουσαν ὀρινθέντες κατὰ δῶμα,

πάντοσε παπταίνοντες ἐϋδμήτους ποτὶ τοίχους·

25οὐδέ πη ἀσπὶς ἔην οὐδʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἑλέσθαι.

νείκειον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσι·

ξεῖνε, κακῶς ἀνδρῶν τοξάζεαι· οὐκέτʼ ἀέθλων

ἄλλων ἀντιάσεις· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

καὶ γὰρ δὴ νῦν φῶτα κατέκτανες ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος

30κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τῷ σʼ ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.

ἴσκεν ἕκαστος ἀνήρ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φάσαν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα

ἄνδρα κατακτεῖναι· τὸ δὲ νήπιοι οὐκ ἐνόησαν,

ὡς δή σφιν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπτο.

τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

35ὦ κύνες, οὔ μʼ ἔτʼ ἐφάσκεθʼ ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι

δήμου ἄπο Τρώων, ὅτι μοι κατεκείρετε οἶκον,

δμῳῇσιν δὲ γυναιξὶ παρευνάζεσθε βιαίως,

αὐτοῦ τε ζώοντος ὑπεμνάασθε γυναῖκα,

οὔτε θεοὺς δείσαντες, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,

40οὔτε τινʼ ἀνθρώπων νέμεσιν κατόπισθεν ἔσεσθαι·

νῦν ὑμῖν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.

1Then the master of many plans, Odysseus, stripped off his rags,

sprang onto the great threshold, holding his bow and quiver

packed with arrows, and poured the swift shafts out

there before his feet. Then he addressed the suitors:

5“That harmless contest has now been completed.

Now I will see whether I can hit another target, one

no man has struck before, and whether Apollo grants me glory.”

He spoke and aimed the bitter arrow at Antinous.

Antinous was about to lift the fine goblet,

10the golden two-handled cup, and already was turning it in his hands

to drink the wine. Death held no place in his mind:

who, among men at a feast, could imagine that one man,

alone amid so many—even if he were immensely strong—

would deal him cruel death and black doom?

15Odysseus took aim and struck him in the throat with the arrow;

straight through the tender neck the point passed.

He slumped to one side; the cup dropped from his hand

when he was hit, and at once a thick jet of human blood

spurted from his nostrils. Quickly he shoved the table

20away with a kick, spilling the food onto the floor;

bread and roasted meat were fouled. The suitors raised an uproar

through the hall when they saw the man fall.

They sprang from their seats, alarmed throughout the house,

staring everywhere along the well-built walls;

25nowhere was there a shield or stout spear to take up.

They railed at Odysseus with angry words:

“Stranger, you shoot at men to your cost. You will face

no further contests; now sheer destruction awaits you.

For you have just killed the man who was by far the best

30of Ithaca’s young men. Vultures will eat you here.”

So each man supposed, because they thought he had not meant

to kill the man. Fools—they did not understand

that the cords of destruction had been fastened around them all.

Looking darkly at them, the master planner Odysseus said:

35“Dogs! You thought I would never return home

from the Trojan land, while you wasted my house,

lay by force with the enslaved women,

and courted my wife while I was still alive,

with no fear of the gods who hold broad heaven

40and no dread of human indignation to come.

Now the cords of destruction have been fastened around you all.”

42ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν·

πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπη φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

Εὐρύμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

45εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος εἰλήλουθας,

ταῦτα μὲν αἴσιμα εἶπας, ὅσα ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί,

πολλὰ μὲν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀτάσθαλα, πολλὰ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κεῖται ὃς αἴτιος ἔπλετο πάντων,

Ἀντίνοος· οὗτος γὰρ ἐπίηλεν τάδε ἔργα,

50οὔ τι γάμου τόσσον κεχρημένος οὐδὲ χατίζων,

ἀλλʼ ἄλλα φρονέων, τά οἱ οὐκ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων,

ὄφρʼ Ἰθάκης κατὰ δῆμον ἐϋκτιμένης βασιλεύοι

αὐτός, ἀτὰρ σὸν παῖδα κατακτείνειε λοχήσας.

νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν μοίρῃ πέφαται, σὺ δὲ φείδεο λαῶν

55σῶν· ἀτὰρ ἄμμες ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσάμενοι κατὰ δῆμον,

ὅσσα τοι ἐκπέποται καὶ ἐδήδοται ἐν μεγάροισι,

τιμὴν ἀμφὶς ἄγοντες ἐεικοσάβοιον ἕκαστος,

χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τʼ ἀποδώσομεν, εἰς ὅ κε σὸν κῆρ

ἰανθῇ· πρὶν δʼ οὔ τι νεμεσσητὸν κεχολῶσθαι.

60τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐδʼ εἴ μοι πατρώϊα πάντʼ ἀποδοῖτε,

ὅσσα τε νῦν ὔμμʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἴ ποθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖτε,

οὐδέ κεν ὣς ἔτι χεῖρας ἐμὰς λήξαιμι φόνοιο

πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.

65νῦν ὑμῖν παράκειται ἐναντίον ἠὲ μάχεσθαι

ἢ φεύγειν, ὅς κεν θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξῃ·

ἀλλά τινʼ οὐ φεύξεσθαι ὀΐομαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

ὣς φάτο, τῶν δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ.

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος προσεφώνεε δεύτερον αὖτις·

70ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους,

ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἔλλαβε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην,

οὐδοῦ ἄπο ξεστοῦ τοξάσσεται, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας

ἄμμε κατακτείνῃ· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.

φάσγανά τε σπάσσασθε καὶ ἀντίσχεσθε τραπέζας

75ἰῶν ὠκυμόρων· ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔχωμεν

ἀθρόοι, εἴ κέ μιν οὐδοῦ ἀπώσομεν ἠδὲ θυράων,

ἔλθωμεν δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο·

τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.

42He spoke, and pale fear seized every man;

each looked about for a way to escape sheer destruction.

Eurymachus alone answered him:

45“If you truly are Odysseus of Ithaca, returned at last,

then what you have said of the Achaeans’ acts is just—

the many outrages in the halls and many out on the land.

But the one responsible for everything already lies dead:

Antinous. He drove these deeds,

50not because he so greatly needed or desired the marriage,

but planning something else which Cronus’ son did not fulfill:

to become king himself throughout well-settled Ithaca

after ambushing and killing your son.

Now he has been killed as he deserved. Spare your own people.

55Afterward we will repay you publicly

for all the food and drink consumed in your halls,

each bringing compensation worth twenty oxen;

we will repay bronze and gold until your heart

is soothed. Until then no one can blame your anger.”

60Looking darkly at him, the master planner Odysseus said:

“Eurymachus, even if you returned all the wealth your fathers gave you,

whatever is yours today, with further wealth brought from elsewhere,

my hands would still not cease their work of death

until the suitors have repaid all their transgression.

65The choice before you now is to fight me face to face

or flee—whoever can escape death and doom.

But I think not one of you will escape sheer destruction.”

He spoke; their knees and hearts went slack where they stood.

Then Eurymachus addressed them a second time:

70“Friends, this man will not restrain his invincible hands.

Now that he has seized the polished bow and quiver,

he will shoot from the smooth threshold until

he kills us all. Remember your fighting spirit!

Draw your swords and hold the tables up

75against the arrows that bring swift death. Let us rush him

all together, if we can drive him from the threshold and doors,

reach the city, and raise the alarm at once.

Then this man will soon have shot his last.”

79ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας εἰρύσσατο φάσγανον ὀξὺ

80χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον, ἆλτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὁ δʼ ἁμαρτῆ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἰὸν ἀποπροίει, βάλε δὲ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν,

ἐν δέ οἱ ἥπατι πῆξε θοὸν βέλος· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς

φάσγανον ἧκε χαμᾶζε, περιρρηδὴς δὲ τραπέζῃ

85κάππεσεν ἰδνωθείς, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε

καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον· ὁ δὲ χθόνα τύπτε μετώπῳ

θυμῷ ἀνιάζων, ποσὶ δὲ θρόνον ἀμφοτέροισι

λακτίζων ἐτίνασσε· κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν δʼ ἔχυτʼ ἀχλύς.

Ἀμφίνομος δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο

90ἀντίος ἀΐξας, εἴρυτο δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,

εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειε θυράων. ἀλλʼ ἄρα μιν φθῆ

Τηλέμαχος κατόπισθε βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ

ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.

95Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἀπόρουσε, λιπὼν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἀμφινόμῳ· περὶ γὰρ δίε μή τις Ἀχαιῶν

ἔγχος ἀνελκόμενον δολιχόσκιον ἢ ἐλάσειε

φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας ἠὲ προπρηνέα τύψας.

βῆ δὲ θέειν, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,

100ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ πάτερ, ἤδη τοι σάκος οἴσω καὶ δύο δοῦρε

καὶ κυνέην πάγχαλκον, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν

αὐτός τʼ ἀμφιβαλεῦμαι ἰών, δώσω δὲ συβώτῃ

καὶ τῷ βουκόλῳ ἄλλα· τετευχῆσθαι γὰρ ἄμεινον.

105τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

οἶσε θέων, ἧός μοι ἀμύνεσθαι πάρʼ ὀϊστοί,

μή μʼ ἀποκινήσωσι θυράων μοῦνον ἐόντα.

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,

βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδʼ, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ τεύχεα κεῖτο.

110ἔνθεν τέσσαρα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, δούρατα δʼ ὀκτὼ

καὶ πίσυρας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·

βῆ δὲ φέρων, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,

αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα περὶ χροῒ δύσετο χαλκόν·

ὣς δʼ αὔτως τὼ δμῶε δυέσθην τεύχεα καλά,

115ἔσταν δʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην.

79With that he drew his sharp sword,

80bronze, edged on both sides, and leapt at him

with a terrible shout. At the same instant noble Odysseus

let an arrow fly and struck his chest beside the nipple,

driving the swift shaft into his liver. The sword

fell from his hand. Doubled over across the table,

85he collapsed, spilling food on the ground

and the two-handled cup. He struck the floor with his brow,

writhing in anguish, and kicked the chair

with both feet until it shook; darkness veiled his eyes.

Amphinomus charged straight at glorious Odysseus,

90springing face-to-face and drawing his sharp sword,

hoping he might force him from the doors. But he was forestalled

when Telemachus struck him from behind with his bronze-shod spear

midway between the shoulders and drove the weapon through his chest.

He fell with a crash and struck the ground full on his forehead.

95Telemachus sprang away, leaving the long-shadowed spear

there in Amphinomus, for he feared some Achaean might

rush him while he pulled the long-shadowed spear free,

cut him with a sword, or strike while he bent forward.

He ran and quickly reached his dear father.

100Standing close, he spoke winged words:

“Father, now I will fetch a shield for you and two spears,

with a helmet of solid bronze fitted over the temples.

I will arm myself as I go, and give more armor to the swineherd

and the cattle herdsman. Better for us to be equipped.”

105The master planner Odysseus answered him:

“Fetch them at a run, while arrows remain for my defense,

before they force me from the doorway, standing alone.”

He spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father.

He went to the storeroom where the splendid weapons lay.

110From there he took four shields and eight spears

and four bronze-fitted helmets with horsehair crests.

Bearing them, he quickly reached his dear father.

First he himself put bronze armor around his body;

the two enslaved household men likewise put on fine armor

115and took their stand around Odysseus, skilled in counsel, rich in stratagems.

116αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὄφρα μὲν αὐτῷ ἀμύνεσθαι ἔσαν ἰοί.

τόφρα μνηστήρων ἕνα γʼ αἰεὶ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

βάλλε τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λίπον ἰοὶ ὀϊστεύοντα ἄνακτα,

120τόξον μὲν πρὸς σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

ἔκλινʼ ἑστάμεναι, πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,

αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,

κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,

ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·

125εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ.

ὀρσοθύρη δέ τις ἔσκεν ἐϋδμήτῳ ἐνὶ τοίχῳ,

ἀκρότατον δὲ παρʼ οὐδὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

ἦν ὁδὸς ἐς λαύρην, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι.

τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς φράζεσθαι ἀνώγει δῖον ὑφορβὸν

130ἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτῆς· μία δʼ οἴη γίγνετʼ ἐφορμή.

τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·

ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀνʼ ὀρσοθύρην ἀναβαίη

καὶ εἴποι λαοῖσι, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο;

τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.

135τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·

οὔ πως ἔστʼ, Ἀγέλαε διοτρεφές· ἄγχι γὰρ αἰνῶς

αὐλῆς καλὰ θύρετρα καὶ ἀργαλέον στόμα λαύρης·

καί χʼ εἷς πάντας ἐρύκοι ἀνήρ, ὅς τʼ ἄλκιμος εἴη.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὑμῖν τεύχεʼ ἐνείκω θωρηχθῆναι

140ἐκ θαλάμου· ἔνδον γάρ, ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ πη ἄλλῃ

τεύχεα κατθέσθην Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνέβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,

εἰς θαλάμους Ὀδυσῆος ἀνὰ ῥῶγας μεγάροιο.

ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, τόσσα δὲ δοῦρα

145καὶ τόσσας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·

βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φέρων μνηστῆρσιν ἔδωκεν.

καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,

ὡς περιβαλλομένους ἴδε τεύχεα χερσί τε δοῦρα

μακρὰ τινάσσοντας· μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ φαίνετο ἔργον.

116So long as the lord had arrows to defend himself,

he aimed and struck one suitor after another inside his own house;

they fell crowded close together.

When at last the arrows failed the lord as he shot,

120he leaned the bow against a doorpost of the sturdy hall,

to stand against the shining face of the wall.

He set the four-layered shield around his shoulders,

placed the well-made helmet on his powerful head,

its horsehair crest nodding terribly above,

125and took two stout spears tipped with bronze.

There was a raised side-door in the well-built wall;

at the far end beside the threshold of the sturdy hall

a passage led to a narrow corridor, secured by close-fitting planks.

Odysseus ordered the noble swineherd to watch it

130from close beside it, for there was only one approach.

Then Agelaus addressed them all:

“Friends, could someone climb up through the side-door

and bring word to the people, raising the alarm at once?

Then this man will soon have shot his last.”

135Melanthius the goatherd answered him:

“That cannot be, Zeus-nurtured Agelaus. The fine courtyard gates

are far too close, and the corridor’s mouth is narrow.

One courageous man could hold off all of us.

But come, I will bring you weapons from the storeroom

140to arm yourselves. Inside, I think, and nowhere else,

Odysseus and his illustrious son laid the weapons down.”

Melanthius the goatherd spoke and climbed

up through the hall’s narrow ways to Odysseus’ storeroom.

From there he took twelve shields, as many spears,

145and as many bronze-fitted helmets with horsehair crests.

He went back quickly and gave them to the suitors.

Then Odysseus’ knees and heart went slack

when he saw them putting on armor and shaking

long spears in their hands. The task looked immense to him.

150αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν

νῶϊν ἐποτρύνει πόλεμον κακὸν ἠὲ Μελανθεύς.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὦ πάτερ, αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τόδε γʼ ἤμβροτον—οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

155αἴτιος—ὃς θαλάμοιο θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν

κάλλιπον ἀγκλίνας· τῶν δὲ σκοπὸς ἦεν ἀμείνων.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, θύρην ἐπίθες θαλάμοιο

καὶ φράσαι ἤ τις ἄρʼ ἐστὶ γυναικῶν ἣ τάδε ῥέζει,

ἢ υἱὸς Δολίοιο, Μελανθεύς, τόν περ ὀΐω.

160ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

βῆ δʼ αὖτις θάλαμόνδε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,

οἴσων τεύχεα καλά. νόησε δὲ δῖος ὑφορβός,

αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

165κεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἀΐδηλος ἀνήρ, ὃν ὀϊόμεθʼ αὐτοί,

ἔρχεται ἐς θάλαμον· σὺ δέ μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,

ἤ μιν ἀποκτείνω, αἴ κε κρείσσων γε γένωμαι,

ἦε σοὶ ἐνθάδʼ ἄγω, ἵνʼ ὑπερβασίας ἀποτίσῃ

πολλάς, ὅσσας οὗτος ἐμήσατο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

170τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἦ τοι ἐγὼ καὶ Τηλέμαχος μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς

σχήσομεν ἔντοσθεν μεγάρων, μάλα περ μεμαῶτας.

σφῶϊ δʼ ἀποστρέψαντε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

ἐς θάλαμον βαλέειν, σανίδας δʼ ἐκδῆσαι ὄπισθε,

175σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε

κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἐρύσαι πελάσαι τε δοκοῖσιν,

ὥς κεν δηθὰ ζωὸς ἐὼν χαλέπʼ ἄλγεα πάσχῃ·

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,

βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, λαθέτην δέ μιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.

150Quickly he addressed winged words to Telemachus:

“Telemachus, one of the women in the hall

is stirring up a cruel battle against us—or Melanthius.”

Discerning Telemachus answered him:

“Father, I made this mistake myself—no one else

155is to blame. I left the storeroom’s close-fitting door

ajar, and their lookout was better.

Go, noble Eumaeus, shut the storeroom door

and find out whether one of the women is doing this

or Melanthius, Dolios’ son, as I suspect.”

160So they spoke with one another.

Melanthius the goatherd went back to the storeroom

to bring fine armor. The noble swineherd saw him

and at once called to Odysseus nearby:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

165there goes that murderous man we ourselves suspected,

heading to the storeroom. Tell me plainly:

should I kill him, if I prove stronger,

or bring him here to you, so he can pay

for all the violations he plotted in your house?”

170The master planner Odysseus answered him:

“Telemachus and I will hold the proud suitors

here inside the hall, however fiercely they fight.

You two twist his feet and hands behind him,

throw him into the storeroom, and fasten the door-planks behind you.

175Then loop a braided rope around him,

haul him high up a pillar close to the rafters,

so he may live long and suffer bitter pain.”

He spoke, and they listened carefully and obeyed.

They went into the storeroom without the man inside noticing.

180ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν θαλάμοιο μυχὸν κάτα τεύχεʼ ἐρεύνα,

τὼ δʼ ἔσταν ἑκάτερθε παρὰ σταθμοῖσι μένοντε.

εὖθʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἔβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,

τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν χειρὶ φέρων καλὴν τρυφάλειαν,

τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ σάκος εὐρὺ γέρον, πεπαλαγμένον ἄζῃ,

185Λαέρτεω ἥρωος, ὃ κουρίζων φορέεσκε·

δὴ τότε γʼ ἤδη κεῖτο, ῥαφαὶ δὲ λέλυντο ἱμάντων·

τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξανθʼ ἑλέτην ἔρυσάν τέ μιν εἴσω

κουρίξ, ἐν δαπέδῳ δὲ χαμαὶ βάλον ἀχνύμενον κῆρ,

σὺν δὲ πόδας χεῖράς τε δέον θυμαλγέϊ δεσμῷ

190εὖ μάλʼ ἀποστρέψαντε διαμπερές, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν

υἱὸς Λαέρταο, πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε

κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἔρυσαν πέλασάν τε δοκοῖσι.

τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·

195νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ, Μελάνθιε, νύκτα φυλάξεις,

εὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ καταλέγμενος, ὥς σε ἔοικεν·

οὐδέ σέ γʼ ἠριγένεια παρʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων

λήσει ἐπερχομένη χρυσόθρονος, ἡνίκʼ ἀγινεῖς

αἶγας μνηστήρεσσι δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένεσθαι.

200ὣς ὁ μὲν αὖθι λέλειπτο, ταθεὶς ὀλοῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ·

τὼ δʼ ἐς τεύχεα δύντε, θύρην ἐπιθέντε φαεινήν,

βήτην εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην.

ἔνθα μένος πνείοντες ἐφέστασαν, οἱ μὲν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ

τέσσαρες, οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμων πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.

180He was searching for armor in the back of the room,

while the two waited on either side beside the doorposts.

As Melanthius the goatherd crossed the threshold,

holding a fine helmet in one hand

and in the other a broad old shield, grimed with dust,

185which the hero Laertes had worn in his youth—

now it lay there, its leather stitching loosened—

the two sprang upon him, seized him, and dragged him inside

by the hair, then flung him to the floor, sick at heart.

They bound his feet and hands behind him with a painful bond,

190twisting them hard and fastening them tight as

Laertes’ son, much-enduring noble Odysseus, had ordered.

They looped a braided rope around him,

hauled him high up the pillar, and brought him close to the rafters.

Mocking him, you spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:

195“Now then, Melanthius, you will keep watch all night,

tucked into the soft bed you deserve.

Nor will golden-throned Dawn, early-born from Ocean’s streams,

escape your notice when she comes—the hour when you drive

the goats in for the suitors’ feast through the house.”

200So he was left there, stretched in the deadly bond.

The two put on armor, shut the gleaming door,

and returned to Odysseus, battle-skilled and rich in stratagems.

There they stood breathing fury: the four at the threshold,

the others inside the house, many and brave.

205τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·

Μέντορ, ἄμυνον ἀρήν, μνῆσαι δʼ ἑτάροιο φίλοιο,

ὅς σʼ ἀγαθὰ ῥέζεσκον· ὁμηλικίην δέ μοί ἐσσι.

210ὣς φάτʼ, ὀϊόμενος λαοσσόον ἔμμεν Ἀθήνην.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισι·

πρῶτος τήν γʼ ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·

Μέντορ, μή σʼ ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς

μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δέ οἱ αὐτῷ.

215ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·

ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρʼ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν,

ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς

ἔρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δʼ αὐτοῦ κράατι τίσεις.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ,

220κτήμαθʼ ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τʼ ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι,

τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμίξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας

ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ θύγατρας

οὐδʼ ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν.

ὣς φάτʼ, Ἀθηναίη δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

225νείκεσσεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·

οὐκέτι σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή

οἵη ὅτʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ,

εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί,

πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

230σῇ δʼ ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.

πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν τε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἱκάνεις,

ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,

ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν

235Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ οὔ πω πάγχυ δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην,

ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν

ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδʼ υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.

αὐτὴ δʼ αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον

240ἕζετʼ ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.

205Athena, daughter of Zeus, came near them,

resembling Mentor in body and voice.

Odysseus rejoiced to see her and said:

“Mentor, ward off disaster! Remember your dear companion,

who often treated you well; you are my own age.”

210So he spoke, believing her to be Athena, rouser of armies.

From the other side the suitors shouted threats in the hall.

Agelaus, son of Damastor, rebuked her first:

“Mentor, do not let Odysseus persuade you with words

to fight the suitors and defend him.

215This is how I think our plan will be fulfilled:

when we have killed them, father and son,

you will be slain with them for what you intend

to do in this hall; you will pay with your own head.

And when we strip away your strength with bronze,

220we will merge all the property you own inside and out

with Odysseus’ estate. We will not allow your sons

to live in your halls, nor your daughters

nor faithful wife to walk the city of Ithaca.”

He spoke, and Athena grew still more angry at heart

225and reproached Odysseus with furious words:

“Odysseus, no longer is your strength steady or your courage

what it was when, for white-armed Helen, born of a noble father,

you fought the Trojans relentlessly for nine years,

killing many men in grim combat;

230by your counsel the broad-streeted city of Priam fell.

How can you now, when you have reached your own house and property,

bemoan the need for courage before the suitors?

Come here beside me, friend, stand and see what I do,

so you may learn how Mentor, son of Alcimus, repays

235kindness among hostile men.”

She spoke, but did not yet grant victory that turned the tide;

she was still testing the strength and courage

both of Odysseus and his illustrious son.

She herself leapt up onto a roof-beam

240of the smoke-darkened hall, looking like a swallow.

241μνηστῆρας δʼ ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος,

Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε,

Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων·

οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι,

245ὅσσοι ἔτʼ ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο·

τοὺς δʼ ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.

τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·

ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους·

καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών,

250οἱ δʼ οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.

τῷ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά,

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν.

255ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὡς ἐκέλευεν,

ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη,

τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

βεβλήκει, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·

ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.

260αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατʼ ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων,

τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι

μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν

ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν.

265ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα

ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς,

Εὐρυάδην δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης,

Πείσανδρον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας,

270μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε·

τοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δʼ ἐξ ἔγχεʼ ἕλοντο.

αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα

ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.

τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

275βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·

ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.

Ἀμφιμέδων δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ

λίγδην, ἄκρον δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.

Κτήσιππος δʼ Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ

280ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δʼ ἔραζε.

241Agelaus, son of Damastor, urged the suitors on,

Eurynomus, Amphimedon and Demoptolemus,

Peisander, son of Polyctor, and prudent Polybus.

These were the strongest and best in prowess among

245the suitors still alive and fighting for their lives;

the bow and swarming arrows had already subdued the rest.

Agelaus addressed them all:

“Friends, now this man will check his irresistible hands.

Mentor has left after speaking empty boasts,

250and they are alone at the front doors.

So do not all throw your long spears together.

Come, let the six of us cast first, in case Zeus

grants us a hit on Odysseus and the glory.

We need not care about the others once he falls.”

255He spoke, and all six threw as he ordered,

taking aim, but Athena made every cast useless.

One struck a doorpost of the sturdy hall,

another the close-fitting door,

and another’s bronze-weighted ash spear fell into the wall.

260When they had avoided the suitors’ spears,

much-enduring noble Odysseus began to speak:

“Friends, now I would say it is our turn

to cast into the suitors’ mass, since they are bent

on killing us besides all their former crimes.”

265He spoke, and all four cast their sharp spears

straight at their marks. Odysseus killed Demoptolemus,

Telemachus Euryades, the swineherd Elatus,

and the cattle herdsman killed Peisander.

Together they bit the boundless floor with their teeth.

270The suitors drew back to the hall’s recess;

the four rushed forward and pulled their spears from the corpses.

Again the suitors cast their sharp spears

at them, but Athena made most of the throws useless.

One struck a doorpost of the sturdy hall,

275another the close-fitting door,

and another’s bronze-weighted ash spear fell into the wall.

Amphimedon grazed Telemachus on the wrist,

and the bronze only scraped the surface of the skin.

Ctesippus’ long spear scored Eumaeus’

280shoulder above the shield, then flew past and fell to the ground.

281τοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην,

μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς,

Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·

285Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνὴρ

βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος, ἐπευχόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

ὦ Πολυθερσεΐδη φιλοκέρτομε, μή ποτε πάμπαν

εἴκων ἀφραδίῃς μέγα εἰπεῖν, ἀλλὰ θεοῖσιν

μῦθον ἐπιτρέψαι, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.

290τοῦτό τοι ἀντὶ ποδὸς ξεινήϊον, ὅν ποτʼ ἔδωκας

ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ δόμον κάτʼ ἀλητεύοντι.

ἦ ῥα βοῶν ἑλίκων ἐπιβουκόλος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

οὖτα Δαμαστορίδην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ Εὐηνορίδην Λειώκριτον οὖτα

295δουρὶ μέσον κενεῶνα, διαπρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν·

ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.

δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη φθισίμβροτον αἰγίδʼ ἀνέσχεν

ὑψόθεν ἐξ ὀροφῆς· τῶν δὲ φρένες ἐπτοίηθεν.

οἱ δʼ ἐφέβοντο κατὰ μέγαρον βόες ὣς ἀγελαῖαι·

300τὰς μέν τʼ αἰόλος οἶστρος ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐδόνησεν

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται.

οἱ δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι,

ἐξ ὀρέων ἐλθόντες ἐπʼ ὀρνίθεσσι θόρωσι·

ταὶ μέν τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ νέφεα πτώσσουσαι ἵενται,

305οἱ δέ τε τὰς ὀλέκουσιν ἐπάλμενοι, οὐδέ τις ἀλκὴ

γίγνεται οὐδὲ φυγή· χαίρουσι δέ τʼ ἀνέρες ἄγρῃ·

ὣς ἄρα τοὶ μνηστῆρας ἐπεσσύμενοι κατὰ δῶμα

τύπτον ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦε.

281Again the men around Odysseus, skilled in counsel, rich in stratagems,

cast sharp spears into the suitors’ mass.

Odysseus, sacker of cities, struck Eurydamas,

Telemachus Amphimedon, and the swineherd Polybus;

285then the cattle herdsman struck Ctesippus

in the chest and exulted over him:

“Son of Polytherses, lover of taunts, never again

give in to folly and speak so grandly; leave such speech

to the gods, who are far stronger.

290Here is the guest-gift in return for the hoof you once gave

godlike Odysseus when he wandered through his own house.”

So spoke the herdsman of the spiral-horned cattle. Odysseus

wounded Damastor’s son at close quarters with his long spear.

Telemachus wounded Leocritus, son of Euenor,

295with a spear through the middle of his flank, driving the bronze right through.

He fell face forward and struck the ground full on his forehead.

Then Athena held up the man-destroying aegis

from the roof above, and the suitors’ minds were terrified.

They scattered through the hall like cattle in a herd

300when a darting gadfly attacks and drives them wild

in the spring season, when the days grow long.

And as hook-taloned, crook-beaked vultures

swoop from the mountains upon birds below—

the birds scud low beneath the clouds across the plain,

305while the vultures pounce and kill; there is no defense,

no escape, and men delight in the hunt—

so Odysseus and his men rushed the suitors through the hall

and struck them on every side. Ugly groans rose

as heads were battered; the whole floor seethed with blood.

310Λειώδης δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε γούνων,

καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

γουνοῦμαί σʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·

οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι γυναικῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν

εἰπεῖν οὐδέ τι ῥέξαι ἀτάσθαλον· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλους

315παύεσκον μνηστῆρας, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.

ἀλλά μοι οὐ πείθοντο κακῶν ἄπο χεῖρας ἔχεσθαι·

τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος οὐδὲν ἐοργὼς

κείσομαι, ὡς οὐκ ἔστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ εὐεργέων·

320τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

εἰ μὲν δὴ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος εὔχεαι εἶναι,

πολλάκι που μέλλεις ἀρήμεναι ἐν μεγάροισι

τηλοῦ ἐμοὶ νόστοιο τέλος γλυκεροῖο γενέσθαι,

σοὶ δʼ ἄλοχόν τε φίλην σπέσθαι καὶ τέκνα τεκέσθαι·

325τῷ οὐκ ἂν θάνατόν γε δυσηλεγέα προφύγοισθα.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ξίφος εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ

κείμενον, ὅ ῥʼ Ἀγέλαος ἀποπροέηκε χαμᾶζε

κτεινόμενος· τῷ τόν γε κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε.

φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.

330Τερπιάδης δʼ ἔτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἀλύσκανε κῆρα μέλαιναν,

310Leodes rushed to Odysseus and grasped his knees,

begging him in winged words:

“I clasp your knees, Odysseus. Respect me and show mercy.

I swear I never said or did anything reckless

to any woman in this hall; instead I tried to stop

315any other suitor who acted that way.

But they would not heed me or keep their hands from evil,

and by their recklessness they met a shameful fate.

Yet I, their ritual diviner, who did nothing,

will lie among them—as if good deeds win no gratitude.”

320Looking darkly at him, the master planner Odysseus said:

“If you claim to have been their ritual diviner,

then often in these halls you must have prayed

that the fulfillment of my sweet homecoming would remain far away,

and that my dear wife would follow you and bear your children.

325Therefore you will not escape a death of bitter pain.”

With that he took in his heavy hand the sword

lying where Agelaus had thrown it to the ground

as he was killed, and struck Leodes across the neck with it.

While he was still speaking, his head mingled with the dust.

330The son of Terpes, the bard, was still escaping black doom—

331Φήμιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε μετὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.

ἔστη δʼ ἐν χείρεσσίν ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

ἄγχι παρʼ ὀρσοθύρην· δίχα δὲ φρεσὶ μερμήριζεν,

ἢ ἐκδὺς μεγάροιο Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμὸν

335ἑρκείου ἵζοιτο τετυγμένον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα πολλὰ

Λαέρτης Ὀδυσεύς τε βοῶν ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηαν,

ἦ γούνων λίσσοιτο προσαΐξας Ὀδυσῆα.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,

γούνων ἅψασθαι Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

340ἦ τοι ὁ φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν κατέθηκε χαμᾶζε

μεσσηγὺς κρητῆρος ἰδὲ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,

αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,

καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

γουνοῦμαί σʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·

345αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται, εἴ κεν ἀοιδὸν

πέφνῃς, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀείδω.

αὐτοδίδακτος δʼ εἰμί, θεὸς δέ μοι ἐν φρεσὶν οἴμας

παντοίας ἐνέφυσεν· ἔοικα δέ τοι παραείδειν

ὥς τε θεῷ· τῷ μή με λιλαίεο δειροτομῆσαι.

350καί κεν Τηλέμαχος τάδε γʼ εἴποι, σὸς φίλος υἱός,

ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν ἐς σὸν δόμον οὐδὲ χατίζων

πωλεύμην μνηστῆρσιν ἀεισόμενος μετὰ δαῖτας,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες καὶ κρείσσονες ἦγον ἀνάγκῃ.

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο,

355αἶψα δʼ ἑὸν πατέρα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

ἴσχεο μηδέ τι τοῦτον ἀναίτιον οὔταε χαλκῷ·

καὶ κήρυκα Μέδοντα σαώσομεν, ὅς τέ μευ αἰεὶ

οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ κηδέσκετο παιδὸς ἐόντος,

εἰ δὴ μή μιν ἔπεφνε Φιλοίτιος ἠὲ συβώτης,

360ἠὲ σοὶ ἀντεβόλησεν ὀρινομένῳ κατὰ δῶμα.

331Phemius, who had sung among the suitors under compulsion.

The clear-voiced lyre in his hands, he stood

beside the raised side-door, divided in his thoughts:

whether to slip from the hall and sit at the altar

335of great Zeus of the courtyard, the well-built altar where

Laertes and Odysseus had burned many cattle thighs,

or rush to Odysseus and plead at his knees.

As he considered, it seemed better to him

to take hold of the knees of Laertes’ son Odysseus.

340He set his hollow lyre down on the floor

between the mixing bowl and the chair studded with silver;

then sprang toward Odysseus and caught him by the knees,

begging him in winged words:

“I clasp your knees, Odysseus. Respect me and show mercy.

345You yourself will grieve afterward if you kill

a singer who sings for gods and mortals.

I am self-taught; a god has planted in my mind

paths of every kind of song. I am fit to sing beside you

as before a god; do not be eager to cut my throat.

350Telemachus himself, your dear son, can tell you

that I did not willingly or from desire come to your house

to sing for the suitors at their feasts.

They were far more numerous and stronger and brought me by force.”

He spoke; Telemachus in his sacred strength heard him

355and quickly called to his father nearby:

“Hold! Do not strike this guiltless man with bronze.

We will also save the herald Medon, who always

watched over me in our halls when I was little—

unless the cattle herdsman or swineherd has killed him already,

360or he met you as you raged through the hall.”

361ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·

πεπτηὼς γὰρ ἔκειτο ὑπὸ θρόνον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα

ἕστο βοὸς νεόδαρτον, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.

αἶψα δʼ ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, θοῶς δʼ ἀπέδυνε βοείην

365Τηλέμαχον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,

καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ φίλʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ὅδʼ εἰμί, σὺ δʼ ἴσχεο εἰπὲ δὲ πατρὶ

μή με περισθενέων δηλήσεται ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων κεχολωμένος, οἵ οἱ ἔκειρον

370κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σὲ δὲ νήπιοι οὐδὲν ἔτιον.

τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

θάρσει, ἐπεὶ δή σʼ οὗτος ἐρύσσατο καὶ ἐσάωσεν,

ὄφρα γνῷς κατὰ θυμόν, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσθα καὶ ἄλλῳ,

ὡς κακοεργίης εὐεργεσίη μέγʼ ἀμείνων.

375ἀλλʼ ἐξελθόντες μεγάρων ἕζεσθε θύραζε

ἐκ φόνου εἰς αὐλήν, σύ τε καὶ πολύφημος ἀοιδός,

ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ κατὰ δῶμα πονήσομαι ὅττεό με χρή.

ὣς φάτο, τὼ δʼ ἔξω βήτην μεγάροιο κιόντε,

ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρα τώ γε Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμόν,

380πάντοσε παπταίνοντε, φόνον ποτιδεγμένω αἰεί.

361He spoke, and thoughtful Medon heard him,

for he lay crouched under a chair, wrapped

in the fresh-flayed hide of an ox to escape black doom.

At once he rose from under the chair and quickly stripped off the oxhide,

365then rushed to Telemachus and clasped his knees,

begging him in winged words:

“Dear one, here I am. Hold back, and tell your father

not to overpower and cut me down with sharp bronze

in anger at the suitors, who wasted

370his property in the hall and foolishly gave you no honor.”

The master planner Odysseus smiled at him and said:

“Take heart: Telemachus has rescued and saved you,

so that you may know in your heart and tell another

how much better good dealing is than wrongdoing.

375But go out from the hall and sit outside

in the courtyard, away from the killing—you and the far-famed singer—

while I labor in the house at what remains to be done.”

He spoke; the two went out from the hall

and sat at the altar of great Zeus,

380looking around on every side, always expecting death.

381πάπτηνεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καθʼ ἑὸν δόμον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἀνδρῶν

ζωὸς ὑποκλοπέοιτο, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.

τοὺς δὲ ἴδεν μάλα πάντας ἐν αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι

πεπτεῶτας πολλούς, ὥστʼ ἰχθύας, οὕς θʼ ἁλιῆες

385κοῖλον ἐς αἰγιαλὸν πολιῆς ἔκτοσθε θαλάσσης

δικτύῳ ἐξέρυσαν πολυωπῷ· οἱ δέ τε πάντες

κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς ποθέοντες ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι κέχυνται·

τῶν μέν τʼ Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·

ὣς τότʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέχυντο.

390δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ δʼ ἄγε μοι κάλεσον τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν,

ὄφρα ἔπος εἴπωμι τό μοι καταθύμιόν ἐστιν.

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,

κινήσας δὲ θύρην προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

395δεῦρο δὴ ὄρσο, γρηῢ παλαιγενές, ἥ τε γυναικῶν

δμῳάων σκοπός ἐσσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ ἡμετεράων·

ἔρχεο· κικλήσκει σε πατὴρ ἐμός, ὄφρα τι εἴπῃ.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,

ὤϊξεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων,

400βῆ δʼ ἴμεν· αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευεν.

εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν,

αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον ὥστε λέοντα,

ὅς ῥά τε βεβρωκὼς βοὸς ἔρχεται ἀγραύλοιο·

πᾶν δʼ ἄρα οἱ στῆθός τε παρήϊά τʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν

405αἱματόεντα πέλει, δεινὸς δʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι·

ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς πεπάλακτο πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.

ἡ δʼ ὡς οὖν νέκυάς τε καὶ ἄσπετον εἴσιδεν αἷμα,

ἴθυσέν ῥʼ ὀλολύξαι, ἐπεὶ μέγα εἴσιδεν ἔργον·

ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένην περ,

410καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἐν θυμῷ, γρηῦ, χαῖρε καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀλόλυζε·

οὐχ ὁσίη κταμένοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐχετάασθαι.

τούσδε δὲ μοῖρʼ ἐδάμασσε θεῶν καὶ σχέτλια ἔργα·

οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,

415οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·

τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.

381Odysseus looked through his house in case any man

was still hiding alive, escaping black doom.

But he saw them all there in blood and dust,

the many fallen like fish that fishermen haul

385from the gray sea onto a hollow beach

in a many-meshed net. All of them,

longing for the sea’s waves, lie heaped on the sand,

and the blazing sun takes the life from them.

So the suitors lay heaped upon one another.

390Then the master planner Odysseus said to Telemachus:

“Telemachus, come, call the nurse Eurycleia,

so I can tell her what is in my mind.”

He spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father.

He rattled the door and called to the nurse Eurycleia:

395“Come, rise, ancient woman, you who oversee

our enslaved household women throughout the house.

Come. My father calls you so he may speak with you.”

So he spoke, and no answering word took wing from her.

She opened the doors of the well-inhabited hall

400and came, with Telemachus leading the way.

She found Odysseus among the slain corpses,

spattered with blood and gore like a lion

returning after devouring a bull in the open;

its whole breast and both cheeks

405are bloodied, and it is terrible to meet its gaze.

So Odysseus was spattered over hands and feet.

When she saw the corpses and the measureless blood,

she moved to raise the ritual cry at the great deed before her.

But Odysseus held her back and checked her, eager though she was,

410and spoke winged words to her:

“Rejoice within your heart, old woman, but restrain yourself; do not cry out.

It is not holy to exult over men who have been killed.

The gods’ allotment and their own cruel deeds subdued them.

For they honored no human being on earth,

415neither bad nor good, whoever came among them.

Thus by their recklessness they met a shameful fate.

417ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σὺ γυναῖκας ἐνὶ μεγάροις κατάλεξον,

αἵ τέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·

420τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.

πεντήκοντά τοί εἰσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες

δμῳαί, τὰς μέν τʼ ἔργα διδάξαμεν ἐργάζεσθαι,

εἴριά τε ξαίνειν καὶ δουλοσύνην ἀνέχεσθαι·

τάων δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἀναιδείης ἐπέβησαν,

425οὔτʼ ἐμὲ τίουσαι οὔτʼ αὐτὴν Πηνελόπειαν.

Τηλέμαχος δὲ νέον μὲν ἀέξετο, οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ

σημαίνειν εἴασκεν ἐπὶ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν ἀναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα

εἴπω σῇ ἀλόχῳ, τῇ τις θεὸς ὕπνον ἐπῶρσε.

430τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

μή πω τήνδʼ ἐπέγειρε· σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε εἰπὲ γυναιξὶν

ἐλθέμεν, αἵ περ πρόσθεν ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει

ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.

417Come now, list the women in the hall for me:

those who dishonor me and those who are guiltless.”

His dear nurse Eurycleia answered him:

420“Then, child, I will tell you the truth.

You have fifty enslaved women in the house,

whom we have taught to perform their tasks,

to card wool and endure their enslavement.

Twelve of them altogether have taken the path of shamelessness;

425they honor neither me nor Penelope herself.

Telemachus had only lately grown up, and his mother

would not let him exercise command over the enslaved women.

Come, though—let me climb to the gleaming upper rooms

and inform your wife; some god has cast sleep upon her.”

430The master planner Odysseus answered her:

“Do not wake her yet. Tell the women

who devised shameful acts before to come here.”

So he spoke; the old woman went through the hall

to give the women the message and urge them to return.

435αὐτὰρ ὁ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην

εἰς ἓ καλεσσάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἄρχετε νῦν νέκυας φορέειν καὶ ἄνωχθε γυναῖκας·

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας

ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι καθαίρειν.

440αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ πάντα δόμον κατακοσμήσησθε,

δμῳὰς ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,

μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,

θεινέμεναι ξίφεσιν τανυήκεσιν, εἰς ὅ κε πασέων

ψυχὰς ἐξαφέλησθε καὶ ἐκλελάθωντʼ Ἀφροδίτης,

445τὴν ἄρʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ἔχον μίσγοντό τε λάθρη.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες ἀολλέες ἦλθον ἅπασαι,

αἴνʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαι.

πρῶτα μὲν οὖν νέκυας φόρεον κατατεθνηῶτας,

κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ τίθεσαν εὐερκέος αὐλῆς,

450ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρείδουσαι· σήμαινε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς

αὐτὸς ἐπισπέρχων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκφόρεον καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας

ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι κάθαιρον.

αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτῃς

455λίστροισιν δάπεδον πύκα ποιητοῖο δόμοιο

ξῦον· ταὶ δʼ ἐφόρεον δμῳαί, τίθεσαν δὲ θύραζε.

435Odysseus called Telemachus, the cattle herdsman and the swineherd

to him and addressed them in winged words:

“Begin carrying out the corpses, and order the women

afterward to clean the fine chairs and tables

with water and many-holed sponges.

440When you have put the whole house in order,

take the enslaved women out of the sturdy hall,

between the round-house and the courtyard’s flawless wall,

and strike them with long-edged swords until

you have taken the life from every one and made them forget Aphrodite’s pleasures,

445enjoyed beneath the suitors when they coupled with them in secret.”

The women came all together,

wailing terribly and shedding full tears.

First they carried out the dead corpses

and laid them beneath the portico of the enclosed courtyard,

450propping them against one another. Odysseus directed them

himself and drove the work on; they carried them out under compulsion.

Then they cleaned the fine chairs and tables

with water and many-holed sponges.

Telemachus, the cattle herdsman and swineherd

455scraped the floor of the closely built house with scrapers,

while the enslaved women carried the scrapings and dumped them outside.

457αὐτὰρ ἐπειδὴ πᾶν μέγαρον διεκοσμήσαντο,

δμῳὰς δʼ ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,

μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,

460εἴλεον ἐν στείνει, ὅθεν οὔ πως ἦεν ἀλύξαι.

τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·

μὴ μὲν δὴ καθαρῷ θανάτῳ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην

τάων, αἳ δὴ ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ κατʼ ὀνείδεα χεῦαν

μητέρι θʼ ἡμετέρῃ παρά τε μνηστῆρσιν ἴαυον.

465ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ πεῖσμα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

κίονος ἐξάψας μεγάλης περίβαλλε θόλοιο,

ὑψόσʼ ἐπεντανύσας, μή τις ποσὶν οὖδας ἵκοιτο.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἢ κίχλαι τανυσίπτεροι ἠὲ πέλειαι

ἕρκει ἐνιπλήξωσι, τό θʼ ἑστήκῃ ἐνὶ θάμνῳ,

470αὖλιν ἐσιέμεναι, στυγερὸς δʼ ὑπεδέξατο κοῖτος,

ὣς αἵ γʼ ἑξείης κεφαλὰς ἔχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ πάσαις

δειρῇσι βρόχοι ἦσαν, ὅπως οἴκτιστα θάνοιεν.

ἤσπαιρον δὲ πόδεσσι μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν.

ἐκ δὲ Μελάνθιον ἦγον ἀνὰ πρόθυρόν τε καὶ αὐλήν·

475τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν ῥῖνάς τε καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

τάμνον, μήδεά τʼ ἐξέρυσαν, κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,

χεῖράς τʼ ἠδὲ πόδας κόπτον κεκοτηότι θυμῷ.

457When they had put the whole hall in order,

they led the enslaved women from the sturdy hall

between the round-house and the courtyard’s flawless wall,

460confining them in a narrow place from which escape was impossible.

Discerning Telemachus began to speak to the men:

“I will not take these women’s lives by a clean death—

they who poured abuse upon my head

and my mother’s, and slept beside the suitors.”

465So he spoke. He fastened a cable from a dark-prowed ship

to a great pillar and looped it around the round-house,

stretching it high so that no woman’s feet could reach the ground.

As when long-winged thrushes or doves

strike a snare set in a thicket

470as they try to enter their roost, and a hateful bed receives them,

so the women held their heads in a row, while nooses

lay around every neck, so that they might die most miserably.

Their feet kicked for a little while, but not very long.

Then they led Melanthius through the entryway and courtyard.

475With pitiless bronze they cut off his nose and ears,

ripped out his genitals for dogs to eat raw,

and hacked off his hands and feet in their fury.

478οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπονιψάμενοι χεῖράς τε πόδας τε

εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δόμονδε κίον, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·

480αὐτὰρ ὅ γε προσέειπε φίλην τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

οἶσε θέειον, γρηΰ, κακῶν ἄκος, οἶσε δέ μοι πῦρ,

ὄφρα θεειώσω μέγαρον· σὺ δὲ Πηνελόπειαν

ἐλθεῖν ἐνθάδʼ ἄνωχθι σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·

πάσας δʼ ὄτρυνον δμῳὰς κατὰ δῶμα νέεσθαι.

485τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε, τέκνον ἐμόν, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐνείκω,

μηδʼ οὕτω ῥάκεσιν πεπυκασμένος εὐρέας ὤμους

ἕσταθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.

490τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

πῦρ νῦν μοι πρώτιστον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέσθω.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,

ἤνεικεν δʼ ἄρα πῦρ καὶ θήϊον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

εὖ διεθείωσεν μέγαρον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλήν.

495γρηῢς δʼ αὖτʼ ἀπέβη διὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος

ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι·

αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι.

αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφεχέοντο καὶ ἠσπάζοντʼ Ὀδυσῆα,

καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαξόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους

500χεῖράς τʼ αἰνύμεναι· τὸν δὲ γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει

κλαυθμοῦ καὶ στοναχῆς, γίγνωσκε δʼ ἄρα φρεσὶ πάσας.

478Then they washed their hands and feet

and went into Odysseus’ house. The work was finished.

480He addressed his dear nurse Eurycleia:

“Bring sulfur, old woman, a remedy for taint, and bring me fire

so I may fumigate the hall. Tell Penelope

to come here with her attendant women,

and urge all the enslaved women through the house to return.”

485His dear nurse Eurycleia answered him:

“Yes indeed, my child, you have spoken properly.

But come, let me bring you a cloak and tunic for clothing;

do not stand in the hall like this, your broad shoulders

wrapped in rags. It would provoke indignation.”

490The master planner Odysseus answered her:

“Let there first be fire for me in the hall.”

He spoke, and his dear nurse Eurycleia did not disobey.

She brought fire and sulfur; then Odysseus

thoroughly fumigated the hall, the house, and the courtyard.

495The old woman went back through Odysseus’ fine house

to give the women the news and urge them to return.

They came from the hall with torches in their hands.

They gathered around Odysseus, embracing and greeting him,

kissing his head and shoulders in affection

500and grasping his hands. A sweet longing seized him

for weeping and groaning; in his mind he recognized them all.