Odyssey, Book 24: Peace in Ithaca

1Ἑρμῆς δὲ ψυχὰς Κυλλήνιος ἐξεκαλεῖτο

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων· ἔχε δὲ ῥάβδον μετὰ χερσὶν

καλὴν χρυσείην, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει

ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει·

5τῇ ῥʼ ἄγε κινήσας, ταὶ δὲ τρίζουσαι ἕποντο.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε νυκτερίδες μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο

τρίζουσαι ποτέονται, ἐπεί κέ τις ἀποπέσῃσιν

ὁρμαθοῦ ἐκ πέτρης, ἀνά τʼ ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,

ὣς αἱ τετριγυῖαι ἅμʼ ἤϊσαν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρα σφιν

10Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα κατʼ εὐρώεντα κέλευθα.

πὰρ δʼ ἴσαν Ὠκεανοῦ τε ῥοὰς καὶ Λευκάδα πέτρην,

ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων

ἤϊσαν· αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,

ἔνθα τε ναίουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων.

1Hermes of Cyllene called forth the shades

of the suitors. In his hands he held the wand,

beautiful and golden, with which he charms the eyes

of any men he wishes, and wakes others from their sleep.

5He stirred them with it and led them on; they followed, squeaking.

As bats within the recess of a wondrous cave

fly squeaking when one falls away

from the cluster on the rock, where they cling one to another,

so the shades went squeaking together. Hermes the Helper

10led them down the dank and moldering ways.

They passed the streams of Ocean and the White Rock,

passed the gates of the Sun and the country of dreams,

and quickly reached the meadow of asphodel,

where shades dwell, images of those worn out by toil.

15εὗρον δὲ ψυχὴν Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο

Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε

τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐδαο

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ κεῖνον ὁμίλεον· ἀγχίμολον δὲ

20ἤλυθʼ ἔπι ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο

ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσαι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ

οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.

τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεε Πηλεΐωνος·

Ἀτρεΐδη, περὶ μέν σʼ ἔφαμεν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

25ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων φίλον ἔμμεναι ἤματα πάντα,

οὕνεκα πολλοῖσίν τε καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἄνασσες

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί.

ἦ τʼ ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρῶϊ παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν

μοῖρʼ ὀλοή, τὴν οὔ τις ἀλεύεται ὅς κε γένηται.

30ὡς ὄφελες τιμῆς ἀπονήμενος, ἧς περ ἄνασσες,

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·

τῷ κέν τοι τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,

ἠδέ κε καὶ σῷ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤραʼ ὀπίσσω·

νῦν δʼ ἄρα σʼ οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.

15There they found the shade of Achilles, Peleus’ son,

with Patroclus and faultless Antilochus,

and Ajax, who in appearance and stature was the finest

of all the Danaans after the faultless son of Peleus.

These gathered around Achilles. Close beside them

20came the shade of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,

grieving; other shades had clustered around him, all who

died and met their fate with him in Aegisthus’ house.

The shade of Peleus’ son spoke first:

“Son of Atreus, we thought that thunder-loving Zeus

25held you dear above heroic men throughout your days,

because you ruled so many strong warriors

in the land of Troy, where we Achaeans suffered pain.

Yet it was destined to stand beside you early as well—

murderous fate, which no one born can escape.

30If only, still enjoying the honor of your rule,

you had met death and destiny in the land of Troy.

Then all the Achaeans would have made your tomb,

and you would have won great renown for your son hereafter.

Instead, fate caught you in the most pitiful death.”

35τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρείδαο·

ὄλβιε Πηλέος υἱέ, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

ὃς θάνες ἐν Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος· ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἄλλοι

κτείνοντο Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν υἷες ἄριστοι,

μαρνάμενοι περὶ σεῖο· σὺ δʼ ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης

40κεῖσο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.

ἡμεῖς δὲ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐμαρνάμεθʼ· οὐδέ κε πάμπαν

παυσάμεθα πτολέμου, εἰ μὴ Ζεὺς λαίλαπι παῦσεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σʼ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐνείκαμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο,

κάτθεμεν ἐν λεχέεσσι, καθήραντες χρόα καλὸν

45ὕδατί τε λιαρῷ καὶ ἀλείφατι· πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέον Δαναοὶ κείροντό τε χαίτας.

μήτηρ δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν

ἀγγελίης ἀΐουσα· βοὴ δʼ ἐπὶ πόντον ὀρώρει

θεσπεσίη, ὑπὸ δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε πάντας Ἀχαιούς·

50καί νύ κʼ ἀναΐξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,

εἰ μὴ ἀνὴρ κατέρυκε παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς,

Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ἴσχεσθʼ, Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ φεύγετε, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν·

55μήτηρ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἥδε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν

ἔρχεται, οὗ παιδὸς τεθνηότος ἀντιόωσα.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔσχοντο φόβου μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί·

35The shade of Atreus’ son answered him:

“Blessed Achilles, son of Peleus, equal to the gods,

you died at Troy, far from Argos. Around you

the best sons of Trojans and Achaeans fell,

fighting for your body, while you lay in the swirl of dust,

40vast in your greatness, your chariot-driving forgotten.

We fought the entire day; we would never

have stopped the battle had Zeus not checked us with a storm.

But when we had carried you from the fighting to the ships,

we laid you on a bier and cleansed your handsome body

45with tepid water and oil. Around your body

the Danaans shed abundant hot tears and sheared their hair.

Your mother rose from the sea, attended by deathless sea-nymphs,

after hearing the tidings; an unearthly cry swept across the deep,

and trembling seized all the Achaeans.

50They would have leapt up and rushed to the hollow ships

if one man had not restrained them, a man who knew much wisdom

from long ago—Nestor, whose counsel had always proved best.

Thinking kindly of them, he addressed the army:

‘Hold fast, Argives! Do not flee, young Achaeans.

55This is his mother coming from the sea with immortal

sea-nymphs to meet her son who has died.’

So he spoke, and the great-hearted Achaeans checked their fear.

58ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος

οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, περὶ δʼ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσαν.

60Μοῦσαι δʼ ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ

θρήνεον· ἔνθα κεν οὔ τινʼ ἀδάκρυτόν γʼ ἐνόησας

Ἀργείων· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπώρορε Μοῦσα λίγεια.

ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μέν σε ὁμῶς νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ

κλαίομεν ἀθάνατοί τε θεοὶ θνητοί τʼ ἄνθρωποι·

65ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἔδομεν πυρί, πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ

μῆλα κατεκτάνομεν μάλα πίονα καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.

καίεο δʼ ἔν τʼ ἐσθῆτι θεῶν καὶ ἀλείφατι πολλῷ

καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ· πολλοὶ δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοὶ

τεύχεσιν ἐρρώσαντο πυρὴν πέρι καιομένοιο,

70πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή σε φλὸξ ἤνυσεν Ἡφαίστοιο,

ἠῶθεν δή τοι λέγομεν λεύκʼ ὀστέʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,

οἴνῳ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ καὶ ἀλείφατι· δῶκε δὲ μήτηρ

χρύσεον ἀμφιφορῆα· Διωνύσοιο δὲ δῶρον

75φάσκʼ ἔμεναι, ἔργον δὲ περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο.

ἐν τῷ τοι κεῖται λεύκʼ ὀστέα, φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

μίγδα δὲ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος,

χωρὶς δʼ Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸν ἔξοχα τῖες ἁπάντων

τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων, μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα.

80ἀμφʼ αὐτοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον

χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων

ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ,

ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη

τοῖς οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται.

58The daughters of the old sea-god stood around you,

lamenting piteously, and clothed you in immortal garments.

60All nine Muses, answering one another in lovely voices,

sang your dirge. There you would not have seen one Argive

without tears, such lament the clear-voiced Muse had stirred.

For seventeen days and nights together

we mourned you, immortal gods and mortal men.

65On the eighteenth day we committed you to the flames, and around you

slaughtered many fat sheep and cattle with curving horns.

You burned in divine clothing, with abundant oil

and sweet honey. Many Achaean heroes

ran in armor around your blazing pyre,

70foot soldiers and horsemen; a mighty tumult rose.

But when Hephaestus’ flame had finished its work on you,

at dawn we gathered your white bones, Achilles,

in unmixed wine and oil. Your mother gave

a golden amphora, which she said was Dionysus’ gift

75and the work of renowned Hephaestus.

In it lie your white bones, glorious Achilles,

mingled with those of dead Patroclus, Menoetius’ son;

Antilochus’ lie apart, the companion you honored above

all the others after Patroclus had died.

80Around them the sacred army of Argive spearmen

then heaped a great and peerless mound

on a projecting headland beside the broad Hellespont,

so it could be seen far out at sea by men

alive today and those who will come hereafter.

85μήτηρ δʼ αἰτήσασα θεοὺς περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα

θῆκε μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἤδη μὲν πολέων τάφῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας

ἡρώων, ὅτε κέν ποτʼ ἀποφθιμένου βασιλῆος

ζώννυνταί τε νέοι καὶ ἐπεντύνονται ἄεθλα·

90ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν θηήσαο θυμῷ,

οἷʼ ἐπὶ σοὶ κατέθηκε θεὰ περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα,

ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις· μάλα γὰρ φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν.

ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομʼ ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ

πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ,

95αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τί τόδʼ ἦδος, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσα;

ἐν νόστῳ γάρ μοι Ζεὺς μήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον

Αἰγίσθου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο.

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

85Your mother asked the gods for magnificent prizes

and set them in the assembly for the best Achaeans.

You have attended the funerals of many men,

heroes, when after a king’s death

young men gird themselves and prepare for contests;

90yet your heart would have marveled most of all at those

magnificent prizes the goddess set out in your honor,

silver-footed Thetis, for you were very dear to the gods.

So even in death you did not lose your name. Your noble

renown, Achilles, will endure among all mankind.

95But what joy is this to me, now that I have wound up the war?

On my homeward journey Zeus devised a wretched death for me

at the hands of Aegisthus and my accursed wife.”

So the two spoke of these things with one another.

99ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης,

100ψυχὰς μνηστήρων κατάγων Ὀδυσῆϊ δαμέντων,

τὼ δʼ ἄρα θαμβήσαντʼ ἰθὺς κίον, ὡς ἐσιδέσθην.

ἔγνω δὲ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο

παῖδα φίλον Μελανῆος, ἀγακλυτὸν Ἀμφιμέδοντα·

ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.

105τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·

Ἀμφίμεδον, τί παθόντες ἐρεμνὴν γαῖαν ἔδυτε

πάντες κεκριμένοι καὶ ὁμήλικες; οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως

κρινάμενος λέξαιτο κατὰ πτόλιν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.

ἦ ὔμμʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν,

110ὄρσας ἀργαλέους ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα μακρά;

ἦ που ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου

βοῦς περιταμνομένους ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,

ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενοι ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ· ξεῖνος δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.

115ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε κεῖσε κατήλυθον ὑμέτερον δῶ,

ὀτρυνέων Ὀδυσῆα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ

Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι ἐϋσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν;

μηνὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὔλῳ πάντα περήσαμεν εὐρέα πόντον,

σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον.

120τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀμφιμέδοντος·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,

μέμνημαι τάδε πάντα, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·

σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ εὖ μάλα πάντα καὶ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω,

ἡμετέρου θανάτοιο κακὸν τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη.

99Then the Guide, the Slayer of Argus, came near them,

100leading down the shades of the suitors Odysseus had killed.

Both shades were amazed and went straight toward them when they saw them.

The shade of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, recognized

the dear son of Melaneus, renowned Amphimedon,

for Amphimedon had been his guest-friend, with a house in Ithaca.

105The shade of Atreus’ son spoke first:

“Amphimedon, what happened that you entered the dark earth,

all of you chosen men of one age? No one could otherwise

select the finest men throughout a city.

Did Poseidon overcome you in your ships,

110raising harsh winds and towering waves?

Or did hostile men destroy you on land

while you were raiding their cattle or their fine flocks of sheep,

or fought over a city or over women?

Tell me when I ask, for I claim to be your guest-friend.

115Do you not remember when I came to your house

to urge Odysseus, together with godlike Menelaus,

to follow us to Ilios on the well-benched ships?

It took us a whole month to cross the broad sea,

so hard was it to persuade Odysseus, sacker of cities.”

120The shade of Amphimedon answered him:

“Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,

Zeus-nurtured king, I remember everything you say.

I will recount fully and exactly

how the evil end of our death was brought about.

125μνώμεθʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα·

ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἠρνεῖτο στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτʼ ἐτελεύτα,

ἡμῖν φραζομένη θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,

ἀλλὰ δόλον τόνδʼ ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·

στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,

130λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἡμῖν μετέειπε·

κοῦροι ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος

ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται,

Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν

135μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,

μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,

αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,

140νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.

ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,

μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,

καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,

145καὶ τήν γʼ ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.

ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης.

125We courted Odysseus’ wife through his long absence.

She neither refused the hateful marriage nor completed it,

while planning death and black fate for us.

Instead she devised this other trick within her mind:

she set up a great loom in the halls and began to weave,

130a web fine and immense. At once she told us:

‘Young men, my suitors, since godlike Odysseus is dead,

though you press for my marriage, wait until I finish

this shroud, so that my threads may not be wasted:

a funeral cloth for the hero Laertes, against the day

135when the destructive fate of grievous death lays him low.

Then no Achaean woman among the people can reproach me

if a man who gained so much should lie without a shroud.’

So she spoke, and our proud hearts were persuaded.

Then by day she would weave at the great loom,

140but by night unravel the web when she set torches beside it.

For three years she deceived and persuaded the Achaeans by this trick.

But when the fourth year came and the seasons returned,

as the months waned and many days were completed,

one of the women, who knew the truth, told us.

145We caught Penelope unraveling the splendid web,

so she finished it unwillingly, under compulsion.

147εὖθʼ ἡ φᾶρος ἔδειξεν, ὑφήνασα μέγαν ἱστόν,

πλύνασʼ, ἠελίῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠὲ σελήνῃ,

καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆα κακός ποθεν ἤγαγε δαίμων

150ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε συβώτης.

ἔνθʼ ἦλθεν φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,

ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος ἰὼν σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ·

τὼ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον κακὸν ἀρτύναντε

ἵκοντο προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς

155ὕστερος, αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευε.

τὸν δὲ συβώτης ἦγε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα,

πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι

σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·

οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο γνῶναι τὸν ἐόντα

160ἐξαπίνης προφανέντʼ, οὐδʼ οἳ προγενέστεροι ἦσαν,

ἀλλʼ ἔπεσίν τε κακοῖσιν ἐνίσσομεν ἠδὲ βολῇσιν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ τῆος ἐτόλμα ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσι

βαλλόμενος καὶ ἐνισσόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νοός αἰγιόχοιο,

165σὺν μὲν Τηλεμάχῳ περικαλλέα τεύχεʼ ἀείρας

ἐς θάλαμον κατέθηκε καὶ ἐκλήϊσεν ὀχῆας,

αὐτὰρ ὁ ἣν ἄλοχον πολυκερδείῃσιν ἄνωγε

τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον,

ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.

147When she displayed the shroud, after weaving the great web

and washing it, it shone like the sun or moon.

Then some evil divine power brought Odysseus

150to the edge of the fields, where the swineherd had his dwelling.

There the dear son of godlike Odysseus arrived,

returning from sandy Pylos in a black ship.

The two prepared a cruel death for the suitors

and came to the renowned city—Odysseus

155behind, while Telemachus led the way ahead.

The swineherd brought Odysseus in foul clothing,

looking like a wretched old beggar

who leaned upon a staff, with miserable rags around his body.

None of us could recognize who he was

160when he suddenly appeared, not even the older men.

Instead we abused him with cruel words and missiles.

For a time he endured inside his own halls,

pelted and abused, with an enduring heart.

But when the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus roused him,

165he and Telemachus lifted the splendid weapons,

stored them in a chamber, and locked the bolts.

Then, in his wealth of cunning, he told his wife

to set the bow and gray iron before the suitors—

the contest for us doomed men, and the beginning of slaughter.

170οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο κρατεροῖο βιοῖο

νευρὴν ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δʼ ἐπιδευέες ἦμεν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε χεῖρας ἵκανεν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον,

ἔνθʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὁμοκλέομεν ἐπέεσσι

τόξον μὴ δόμεναι, μηδʼ εἰ μάλα πολλʼ ἀγορεύοι·

175Τηλέμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ δέξατο χειρὶ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ῥηϊδίως δʼ ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου,

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς

δεινὸν παπταίνων, βάλε δʼ Ἀντίνοον βασιλῆα.

180αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοις ἐφίει βέλεα στονόεντα,

ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.

γνωτὸν δʼ ἦν ὅ ῥά τίς σφι θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦεν·

αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ

κτεῖνον ἐπιστροφάδην, τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

185κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.

ὣς ἡμεῖς, Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀπωλόμεθʼ, ὧν ἔτι καὶ νῦν

σώματʼ ἀκηδέα κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος·

οὐ γάρ πω ἴσασι φίλοι κατὰ δώμαθʼ ἑκάστου,

οἵ κʼ ἀπονίψαντες μέλανα βρότον ἐξ ὠτειλέων

190κατθέμενοι γοάοιεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

170Not one of us could draw the string

of the powerful bow; we fell far short.

But when the great bow reached Odysseus’ hands,

we all shouted at once,

telling them not to give him the bow however much he spoke.

175Telemachus alone urged him on and gave the order.

Then much-enduring, godlike Odysseus took it in hand,

easily strung the bow, and shot through the iron.

He stepped onto the threshold and poured out swift arrows,

glaring terribly, and struck lord Antinous.

180Then he sent groan-bringing shafts at the others,

taking aim straight at them; they fell thick and close.

It was plain that one of the gods was helping them.

At once they swept through the hall in their own fury

and killed men on every side. A hideous groaning rose

185as heads were struck, and the whole floor surged with blood.

So, Agamemnon, we died. Even now

our bodies lie uncared for in Odysseus’ halls.

Our loved ones in each house do not yet know;

otherwise they would wash the dark blood from our wounds,

190lay us out, and mourn us. That is the honor due the dead.”

191τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·

ὄλβιε Λαέρταο πάϊ, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

ἦ ἄρα σὺν μεγάλῃ ἀρετῇ ἐκτήσω ἄκοιτιν.

ὡς ἀγαθαὶ φρένες ἦσαν ἀμύμονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

195κούρῃ Ἰκαρίου· ὡς εὖ μέμνητʼ Ὀδυσῆος,

ἀνδρὸς κουριδίου· τῷ οἱ κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται

ἧς ἀρετῆς, τεύξουσι δʼ ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδὴν

ἀθάνατοι χαρίεσσαν ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

οὐχ ὡς Τυνδαρέου κούρη κακὰ μήσατο ἔργα,

200κουρίδιον κτείνασα πόσιν, στυγερὴ δέ τʼ ἀοιδὴ

ἔσσετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, χαλεπὴν δέ τε φῆμιν ὀπάσσει

θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

ἑσταότʼ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοις, ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίης·

191The shade of Atreus’ son answered him:

“Blessed son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

what a wife of great excellence you won.

How good was the understanding of peerless Penelope,

195Icarius’ daughter; how faithfully she remembered Odysseus,

her wedded husband. The renown of her excellence

will never die. The immortals will make for mortals

a gracious song in honor of discerning Penelope.

Not so the daughter of Tyndareus, who plotted evil deeds

200and killed her wedded husband. A hateful song

will live among mankind, and she will fasten a harsh report

upon all womankind, even upon one who acts well.”

Such was the talk the shades exchanged

as they stood in Hades’ halls, hidden beneath the earth.

205οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πόλιος κατέβαν, τάχα δʼ ἀγρὸν ἵκοντο

καλὸν Λαέρταο τετυγμένον, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς

Λαέρτης κτεάτισσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἐμόγησεν.

ἔνθα οἱ οἶκος ἔην, περὶ δὲ κλίσιον θέε πάντη,

ἐν τῷ σιτέσκοντο καὶ ἵζανον ἠδὲ ἴαυον

210δμῶες ἀναγκαῖοι, τοί οἱ φίλα ἐργάζοντο.

ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηῢς πέλεν, ἥ ῥα γέροντα

ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νόσφι πόληος.

ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δμώεσσι καὶ υἱέϊ μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἔλθετʼ ἐϋκτίμενον δόμον εἴσω,

215δεῖπνον δʼ αἶψα συῶν ἱερεύσατε ὅς τις ἄριστος·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πατρὸς πειρήσομαι ἡμετέροιο,

αἴ κέ μʼ ἐπιγνώῃ καὶ φράσσεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ἦέ κεν ἀγνοιῇσι, πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα.

ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἀρήϊα τεύχεʼ ἔδωκεν.

220οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα δόμονδε θοῶς κίον, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἆσσον ἴεν πολυκάρπου ἀλωῆς πειρητίζων.

οὐδʼ εὗρεν Δολίον, μέγαν ὄρχατον ἐσκαταβαίνων,

οὐδέ τινα δμώων οὐδʼ υἱῶν· ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε

αἱμασιὰς λέξοντες ἀλωῆς ἔμμεναι ἕρκος

225ᾤχοντʼ, αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσι γέρων ὁδὸν ἡγεμόνευε.

205Meanwhile the others came down from the city and soon reached

the fine, well-ordered farm of Laertes, which

Laertes himself had acquired after laboring long and hard.

His house stood there, with a shelter running all around it.

Inside, they ate and sat and slept—

210enslaved men bound to serve him, who performed the work he required.

An old Sicilian woman lived there too, and carefully

tended the old man on the farm, far from the city.

There Odysseus addressed the enslaved men and his son:

“Go now inside the well-built house

215and quickly slaughter the best pig for dinner.

Meanwhile I will test our father,

whether he will recognize me and perceive who I am with his eyes,

or fail to know me after so long apart.”

So he spoke and gave the enslaved men his weapons of war.

220They went quickly toward the house, while Odysseus

drew near the fruit-laden orchard to make his test.

As he descended into the great orchard, he did not find Dolios,

or any of the enslaved men or Dolios’ sons. They

had gone to gather stones for a wall

225around the orchard, and the old man led them on their way.

226τὸν δʼ οἶον πατέρʼ εὗρεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,

λιστρεύοντα φυτόν· ῥυπόωντα δὲ ἕστο χιτῶνα

ῥαπτὸν ἀεικέλιον, περὶ δὲ κνήμῃσι βοείας

κνημῖδας ῥαπτὰς δέδετο, γραπτῦς ἀλεείνων,

230χειρῖδάς τʼ ἐπὶ χερσὶ βάτων ἕνεκʼ· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν

αἰγείην κυνέην κεφαλῇ ἔχε, πένθος ἀέξων.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

γήραϊ τειρόμενον, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,

στὰς ἄρʼ ὑπὸ βλωθρὴν ὄγχνην κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβε.

235μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

κύσσαι καὶ περιφῦναι ἑὸν πατέρʼ, ἠδὲ ἕκαστα

εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,

240πρῶτον κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσιν πειρηθῆναι.

τὰ φρονέων ἰθὺς κίεν αὐτοῦ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν κατέχων κεφαλὴν φυτὸν ἀμφελάχαινε·

τὸν δὲ παριστάμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·

ὦ γέρον, οὐκ ἀδαημονίη σʼ ἔχει ἀμφιπολεύειν

245ὄρχατον, ἀλλʼ εὖ τοι κομιδὴ ἔχει, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν,

οὐ φυτόν, οὐ συκέη, οὐκ ἄμπελος, οὐ μὲν ἐλαίη,

οὐκ ὄγχνη, οὐ πρασιή τοι ἄνευ κομιδῆς κατὰ κῆπον.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ μὴ χόλον ἔνθεο θυμῷ

αὐτόν σʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κομιδὴ ἔχει, ἀλλʼ ἅμα γῆρας

250λυγρὸν ἔχεις αὐχμεῖς τε κακῶς καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσαι.

οὐ μὲν ἀεργίης γε ἄναξ ἕνεκʼ οὔ σε κομίζει,

οὐδέ τί τοι δούλειον ἐπιπρέπει εἰσοράασθαι

εἶδος καὶ μέγεθος· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.

τοιούτῳ δὲ ἔοικας, ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε,

255εὑδέμεναι μαλακῶς· ἡ γὰρ δίκη ἐστὶ γερόντων.

226He found his father alone in the well-ordered orchard,

digging around a plant. The tunic he wore was filthy,

patched and disgraceful. Around his shins he had tied

stitched oxhide leggings to ward off scratches,

230and gloves covered his hands against the brambles. Above them

he wore a goatskin cap upon his head, nursing his grief.

When much-enduring, godlike Odysseus saw him

worn down by age and carrying great sorrow within,

he stood beneath a lofty pear tree and shed tears.

235Then he debated within his mind and spirit

whether to kiss and embrace his father, and tell him everything—

how he had come and reached his native land—

or first question him and test him point by point.

As he considered, this seemed the better course:

240to test him first with cutting words.

With this in mind, godlike Odysseus went straight toward him.

Laertes was bent over, digging around a plant,

when his glorious son stood beside him and said:

“Old man, you do not lack skill in tending

245an orchard. Your care is good; nothing at all—

not plant, fig tree, vine, olive,

pear tree, or garden bed—goes untended in your garden.

But I will say something else; do not let anger enter your heart.

You yourself are not well tended. Wretched age

250weighs on you, you are badly begrimed, and your clothing is shameful.

Surely your master does not neglect you because you are idle.

Nothing servile appears in your looks

or stature; you resemble a royal man.

You look like one who, after bathing and eating,

255should sleep softly. That is the right of old men.

256ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

τεῦ δμὼς εἶς ἀνδρῶν; τεῦ δʼ ὄρχατον ἀμφιπολεύεις;

καὶ μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,

εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ Ἰθάκην τήνδʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, ὥς μοι ἔειπεν

260οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν δὴ ξυμβλήμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἰόντι,

οὔ τι μάλʼ ἀρτίφρων, ἐπεὶ οὐ τόλμησεν ἕκαστα

εἰπεῖν ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ὡς ἐρέεινον

ἀμφὶ ξείνῳ ἐμῷ, ἤ που ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν

ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν.

265ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·

ἄνδρα ποτʼ ἐξείνισσα φίλῃ ἐνὶ πατρίδι γαίῃ

ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντα, καὶ οὔ πω τις βροτὸς ἄλλος

ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα·

εὔχετο δʼ ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἔφασκε

270Λαέρτην Ἀρκεισιάδην πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,

ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,

καί οἱ δῶρα πόρον ξεινήϊα, οἷα ἐῴκει.

χρυσοῦ μέν οἱ δῶκʼ εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,

275δῶκα δέ οἱ κρητῆρα πανάργυρον ἀνθεμόεντα,

δώδεκα δʼ ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,

τόσσα δὲ φάρεα καλά, τόσους δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας,

χωρὶς δʼ αὖτε γυναῖκας, ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας,

τέσσαρας εἰδαλίμας, ἃς ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.

256But come, tell me this and give me a precise account:

whose slave are you, and whose orchard do you tend?

Tell me this truth as well, so I may know:

have we truly reached Ithaca, as a man

260I met just now on my way here told me?

He was not very sound of mind, for he would not

tell me everything or listen when I asked

about my guest—whether he still lives

somewhere, or is dead now in the house of Hades.

265I will tell you; attend and listen to me.

Once in my own dear native land I welcomed a man

who came to our house. No other mortal

among distant guests was ever dearer beneath my roof.

He claimed that by birth he came from Ithaca, and said

270that Laertes, son of Arcesius, was his father.

I brought him to my house and treated him well as a guest,

showing him devoted affection amid my abundant stores.

I also gave him the guest-gifts that were fitting:

seven talents of finely worked gold,

275a flowered mixing bowl made entirely of silver,

twelve single-layered cloaks and as many carpets,

as many fine mantles, and the same number of tunics;

and separately enslaved women, skilled in excellent work,

four fine in appearance, whom he chose for himself.”

280τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πατὴρ κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν γαῖαν ἱκάνεις, ἣν ἐρεείνεις,

ὑβρισταὶ δʼ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν·

δῶρα δʼ ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρίʼ ὀπάζων·

εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γʼ ἐκίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ,

285τῷ κέν σʼ εὖ δώροισιν ἀμειψάμενος ἀπέπεμψε

καὶ ξενίῃ ἀγαθῇ ἡ γὰρ θέμις, ὅς τις ὑπάρξῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

πόστον δὴ ἔτος ἐστίν, ὅτε ξείνισσας ἐκεῖνον

σὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον, ἐμὸν παῖδʼ, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,

290δύσμορον; ὅν που τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

ἠέ που ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ἢ ἐπὶ χέρσου

θηρσὶ καὶ οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ γένετʼ· οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ

κλαῦσε περιστείλασα πατήρ θʼ, οἵ μιν τεκόμεσθα·

οὐδʼ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος, ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια,

295κώκυσʼ ἐν λεχέεσσιν ἑὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἐπεῴκει,

ὀφθαλμοὺς καθελοῦσα· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·

τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

ποῦ δὲ νηῦς ἕστηκε θοή, ἥ σʼ ἤγαγε δεῦρο

300ἀντιθέους θʼ ἑτάρους; ἦ ἔμπορος εἰλήλουθας

νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, οἱ δʼ ἐκβήσαντες ἔβησαν;

280His father answered him, shedding tears:

“Stranger, you have indeed reached the land you ask about,

but violent and reckless men control it.

The countless gifts you bestowed were given in vain.

If you had found him alive in the land of Ithaca,

285he would have sent you away with fine gifts in return

and generous hospitality, as is right when one man first receives another.

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

how many years have passed since you welcomed

that unhappy guest of yours—my son, if ever he lived—

290my ill-fated son? Far from his friends and native land,

perhaps fish ate him in the sea, or on land

he became prey for beasts and birds. His mother

and father, who gave him life, did not shroud and mourn him;

nor did his richly dowered wife, discerning Penelope,

295wail over her husband on his bed, as was fitting,

and close his eyes. That is the honor due the dead.

Tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:

Who are you, and where are you from? Where are your city and parents?

Where is the swift ship that brought you here

300with your godlike companions? Or did you come as a merchant

aboard another man’s ship, and they put you ashore and went on?”

302τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι πάντα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.

εἰμὶ μὲν ἐξ Ἀλύβαντος, ὅθι κλυτὰ δώματα ναίω,

305υἱὸς Ἀφείδαντος Πολυπημονίδαο ἄνακτος·

αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν Ἐπήριτος· ἀλλά με δαίμων

πλάγξʼ ἀπὸ Σικανίης δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·

νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.

αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆϊ τόδε δὴ πέμπτον ἔτος ἐστίν,

310ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης,

δύσμορος· ἦ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι,

δεξιοί, οἷς χαίρων μὲν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμπον ἐκεῖνον,

χαῖρε δὲ κεῖνος ἰών· θυμὸς δʼ ἔτι νῶϊν ἐώλπει

μίξεσθαι ξενίῃ ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδώσειν.

315ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα·

ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν

χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς πολιῆς, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.

τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμός, ἀνὰ ῥῖνας δέ οἱ ἤδη

δριμὺ μένος προὔτυψε φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσορόωντι.

320κύσσε δέ μιν περιφὺς ἐπιάλμενος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα·

κεῖνος μέν τοι ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, πάτερ, ὃν σὺ μεταλλᾷς,

ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

ἀλλʼ ἴσχεο κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.

ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω· μάλα δὲ χρὴ σπευδέμεν ἔμπης·

325μνηστῆρας κατέπεφνον ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι,

λώβην τινύμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεύς γε ἐμὸς πάϊς ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις,

σῆμά τί μοι νῦν εἰπὲ ἀριφραδές, ὄφρα πεποίθω.

302Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Then I will recount everything to you exactly.

I come from Alybas, where I live in a renowned house,

305the son of lord Apheidas, Polypemon’s son.

My own name is Eperitus, but a divine power

drove me unwillingly from Sicania to this place.

My ship lies there in the country, far from the city.

For Odysseus this is now the fifth year

310since he left me there and departed from my country,

unhappy man. Yet the birds were favorable as he went,

appearing on the right; I rejoiced as I sent him onward,

and he rejoiced as he went. Our hearts still hoped

to meet again in guest-friendship and give splendid gifts.”

315So he spoke, and a black cloud of grief covered Laertes.

With both hands he gathered soot-dark dust

and poured it over his gray head, groaning heavily.

Odysseus’ spirit stirred, and a sharp force surged

up through his nostrils as he looked upon his dear father.

320He sprang upon him, embraced him, kissed him, and said:

“Father, the man you ask about is here—I am he.

I have come to my native land in the twentieth year.

But stop your weeping and tearful lament.

I will tell you plainly, for we must make haste despite everything:

325I killed the suitors inside our house,

avenging their heart-wounding outrage and evil deeds.”

Laertes answered him:

“If you truly are my son Odysseus and have come here,

tell me some unmistakable sign so that I may believe.”

330τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

οὐλὴν μὲν πρῶτον τήνδε φράσαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

τὴν ἐν Παρνησῷ μʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι

οἰχόμενον· σὺ δέ με προΐεις καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

ἐς πατέρʼ Αὐτόλυκον μητρὸς φίλον, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἑλοίμην

335δῶρα, τὰ δεῦρο μολών μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν.

εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ δένδρεʼ ἐϋκτιμένην κατʼ ἀλωὴν

εἴπω, ἅ μοί ποτʼ ἔδωκας, ἐγὼ δʼ ᾔτεόν σε ἕκαστα

παιδνὸς ἐών, κατὰ κῆπον ἐπισπόμενος· διὰ δʼ αὐτῶν

ἱκνεύμεσθα, σὺ δʼ ὠνόμασας καὶ ἔειπες ἕκαστα.

340ὄγχνας μοι δῶκας τρισκαίδεκα καὶ δέκα μηλέας,

συκέας τεσσαράκοντʼ· ὄρχους δέ μοι ὧδʼ ὀνόμηνας

δώσειν πεντήκοντα, διατρύγιος δὲ ἕκαστος

ἤην· ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὰ σταφυλαὶ παντοῖαι ἔασιν—

ὁππότε δὴ Διὸς ὧραι ἐπιβρίσειαν ὕπερθεν.

345ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,

σήματʼ ἀναγνόντος τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.

ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε· τὸν δὲ ποτὶ οἷ

εἷλεν ἀποψύχοντα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,

350ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥα ἔτʼ ἔστε θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

εἰ ἐτεὸν μνηστῆρες ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔτισαν.

νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μὴ τάχα πάντες

ἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθωσιν Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀγγελίας δὲ

355πάντη ἐποτρύνωσι Κεφαλλήνων πολίεσσι.

330Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“First look with your own eyes at this scar,

where a boar struck me on Parnassus with its white tusk

when I went there. You and my revered mother sent me

to Autolycus, my mother’s dear father, so I might receive

335the gifts that, when he came here, he promised me with a nod.

Come, I will also name the trees in the well-ordered orchard

that you once gave me. I was a child and asked you for each

as I followed you through the garden. We walked among them,

and you named every one and told me what it was.

340You gave me thirteen pear trees, together with ten apple trees,

and forty fig trees; you also named rows of vines

you would give me—fifty, each ripening in its own season.

All kinds of grape clusters grow there

when Zeus’ seasons weigh heavily upon them from above.”

345So he spoke. Laertes’ knees and dear heart gave way

as he recognized the certain signs Odysseus had disclosed.

He threw both arms around his dear son. As he fainted,

much-enduring godlike Odysseus caught him against himself.

When he breathed again and his spirit gathered in his breast,

350he answered once more and said:

“Father Zeus, then gods still dwell upon high Olympus,

if the suitors have truly paid for their reckless violence.

Yet a terrible fear now grips me that all the Ithacans

will soon come against us here and send messages

355everywhere to rouse the cities of the Cephallenians.”

356τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ οἶκον, ὃς ὀρχάτου ἐγγύθι κεῖται·

ἔνθα δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην

360προὔπεμψʼ, ὡς ἂν δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσωσι τάχιστα.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε βάτην πρὸς δώματα καλά.

οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,

εὗρον Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην

ταμνομένους κρέα πολλὰ κερῶντάς τʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον.

365τόφρα δὲ Λαέρτην μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

ἀμφίπολος Σικελὴ λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη

ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν,

μείζονα δʼ ἠὲ πάρος καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.

370ἐκ δʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ· θαύμαζε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,

ὡς ἴδεν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον ἄντην·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μάλα τίς σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἀμείνονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.

375τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

ἀκτὴν ἠπείροιο, Κεφαλλήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων,

τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν,

380τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν, ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας· τῷ κε σφέων γούνατʼ ἔλυσα

πολλῶν ἐν μεγάροισι, σὺ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐγήθεις.

356Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Take courage. Do not let these things trouble your mind.

Let us go to the house beside the orchard.

I sent Telemachus, the cattle herdsman, and the swineherd there

360ahead of us, so they could prepare dinner quickly.”

After speaking, the two went toward the fine house.

When they reached the well-inhabited dwelling,

they found Telemachus, the cattle herdsman, and the swineherd

cutting abundant meat and mixing fiery wine.

365Meanwhile, inside the house, the Sicilian attendant

washed great-hearted Laertes and rubbed him with oil,

then cast a fine cloak around him. Athena

stood close beside the shepherd of the people and strengthened his limbs,

making him appear taller and more massive than before.

370He stepped from the bath. His dear son marveled

when he saw him standing there like the immortal gods,

and addressed him in winged words:

“Father, surely one of the everlasting gods

has made you finer to look upon in stature and appearance.”

375Thoughtful Laertes answered him:

“If only, Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo,

I were as I was when I took Nericum, the well-built citadel

on the mainland shore, while ruling the Cephallenians.

If I had stood yesterday inside our house as that man,

380armor on my shoulders, to defend it

against the suitors, I would have loosened many knees

inside the hall, and you would have rejoiced in your heart.”

383ὣς οἷ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,

385ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·

ἔνθʼ οἱ μὲν δείπνῳ ἐπεχείρεον, ἀγχίμολον δὲ

ἦλθʼ ὁ γέρων Δολίος, σὺν δʼ υἱεῖς τοῖο γέροντος,

ἐξ ἔργων μογέοντες, ἐπεὶ προμολοῦσα κάλεσσεν

μήτηρ γρηῦς Σικελή, ἥ σφεας τρέφε καί ῥα γέροντα

390ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν, ἐπεὶ κατὰ γῆρας ἔμαρψεν.

οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον φράσσαντό τε θυμῷ,

ἔσταν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεθηπότες· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·

ὦ γέρον, ἵζʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἀπεκλελάθεσθε δὲ θάμβευς·

395δηρὸν γὰρ σίτῳ ἐπιχειρήσειν μεμαῶτες

μίμνομεν ἐν μεγάροις, ὑμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί.

ὣς ἄρ ἔφη, Δολίος δʼ ἰθὺς κίε χεῖρε πετάσσας

ἀμφοτέρας, Ὀδυσεῦς δὲ λαβὼν κύσε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

400ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ νόστησας ἐελδομένοισι μάλʼ ἡμῖν

οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ὀϊομένοισι, θεοὶ δέ σʼ ἀνήγαγον αὐτοί,

οὖλέ τε καὶ μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.

καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,

ἢ ἤδη σάφα οἶδε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια

405νοστήσαντά σε δεῦρʼ, ἦ ἄγγελον ὀτρύνωμεν.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

ὦ γέρον, ἤδη οἶδε· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα πένεσθαι;

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου.

ὣς δʼ αὔτως παῖδες Δολίου κλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα

410δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐν χείρεσσι φύοντο,

ἑξείης δʼ ἕζοντο παραὶ Δολίον, πατέρα σφόν.

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο·

383So they spoke of these things with one another.

When the others had finished their work and prepared the meal,

385they sat in order upon chairs and seats.

They began their dinner, and soon

old Dolios approached, and with him came his sons,

weary from their work. Their mother, the old Sicilian woman,

had gone ahead to call them; she had raised them and carefully

390tended the old man once old age had overtaken him.

When they saw Odysseus and recognized him in their hearts,

they stood amazed inside the hall. Odysseus

addressed them gently:

“Old man, sit down to dinner, and all of you put aside your amazement.

395We have long been waiting here in the hall,

eager to begin the meal and always expecting you.”

So he spoke. Dolios came straight toward him with both hands

outstretched, grasped Odysseus’ hand, and kissed it at the wrist.

Then he addressed him in winged words:

400“Dear master, since you have returned to us who longed for you

though we no longer expected you; the gods themselves brought you home.

Welcome, and great joy to you. May the gods grant you blessings.

Tell me this truthfully too, so that I may know well:

does discerning Penelope already know for certain

405that you have returned here, or should we send a messenger?”

Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Old man, she knows already. Why should you labor over this?”

So he spoke, and Dolios sat down again on his polished chair.

Likewise the sons of Dolios gathered around renowned Odysseus,

410greeted him with words, and clasped his hands.

Then they sat in order beside Dolios, their father.

So they attended to dinner inside the hall.

413Ὄσσα δʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντη,

μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἐνέπουσα.

415οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς ἀΐοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος,

ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,

τοὺς δʼ ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον

πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες·

420αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἀνά θʼ ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε·

παιδὸς γάρ οἱ ἄλαστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔκειτο,

Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

425τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὅδʼ ἐμήσατʼ Ἀχαιούς·

τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δʼ ὤλεσε λαούς·

τοὺς δʼ ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχʼ ἀρίστους,

430ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι

ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,

ἴομεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθʼ αἰεί·

λώβη γὰρ τάδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,

εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας

435τισόμεθʼ. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο

ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι.

ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, οἶκτος δʼ ἕλε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.

413Meanwhile Rumor, the messenger, went swiftly through the whole city,

announcing the suitors’ hateful death and doom.

415As people heard, they came from every side

with groans and cries before Odysseus’ house.

Each family carried its dead from the house and buried them.

Those from other cities they gave to fishermen,

laid aboard swift ships, and sent each one home.

420Then they went together to the assembly, grieving at heart.

When they had gathered and all were in one place,

Eupeithes rose among them and spoke.

Unrelenting grief for his son lay in his heart—

for Antinous, the first man godlike Odysseus killed.

425Shedding tears for him, Eupeithes addressed them:

“Friends, this man has devised a terrible deed against the Achaeans.

He led many good men away with their ships,

destroyed the hollow ships and lost their crews.

Now he has returned and killed the finest men among the Cephallenians.

430Come, before he quickly reaches Pylos

or even holy Elis, where the Epeians rule,

let us go. Otherwise we will be ashamed forever.

This will be a disgrace for future generations to hear:

that we did not avenge the killers of our sons

435and brothers. Life would not be sweet to me;

I would rather die at once and join the dead.

Let us go before those men cross the water ahead of us.”

So he spoke through tears, and pity seized all the Achaeans.

439ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

440ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,

ἔσταν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι· τάφος δʼ ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·

κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδʼ ἐμήσατο ἔργα·

445αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ

ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.

ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος

φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων

θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.

450ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης

Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·

455ὑμετέρῃ κακότητι, φίλοι, τάδε ἔργα γένοντο·

οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πείθεσθʼ, οὐ Μέντορι ποιμένι λαῶν,

ὑμετέρους παῖδας καταπαυέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,

οἳ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξαν ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσι,

κτήματα κείροντες καὶ ἀτιμάζοντες ἄκοιτιν

460ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τὸν δʼ οὐκέτι φάντο νέεσθαι.

καὶ νῦν ὧδε γένοιτο. πίθεσθέ μοι ὡς ἀγορεύω·

μὴ ἴομεν, μή πού τις ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν εὕρῃ.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀνήϊξαν μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ

ἡμίσεων πλείους· τοὶ δʼ ἀθρόοι αὐτόθι μίμνον·

465οὐ γὰρ σφιν ἅδε μῦθος ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἀλλʼ Εὐπείθει

πείθοντʼ· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ τεύχεα ἐσσεύοντο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,

ἀθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο πρὸ ἄστεος εὐρυχόροιο.

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἡγήσατο νηπιέῃσι·

470φῆ δʼ ὅ γε τίσεσθαι παιδὸς φόνον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐφέψειν.

439Then Medon and the godlike singer came near them

440from Odysseus’ hall, once sleep released them.

They stood in their midst, and amazement seized every man.

Medon, knowing prudent counsel, addressed them:

“Now hear me, Ithacans. Odysseus did not

devise these deeds without the immortal gods’ consent.

445I myself saw an immortal god standing near Odysseus,

in every way like Mentor.

At one moment the immortal god appeared before Odysseus,

encouraging him; at another, rushing the suitors

through the hall, he drove them on, and they fell close-packed.”

450So he spoke, and pale fear took hold of them all.

Then the old hero Halitherses addressed them,

Mastor’s son, who alone saw what lay ahead and behind.

With their good in mind, he addressed them:

“Hear me now, Ithacans, in what I have to say.

455Friends, these deeds came about through your own wrongdoing.

You would not obey me or Mentor, shepherd of the people,

and stop your sons from their folly.

In their wicked recklessness they committed a terrible deed,

wasting the possessions and dishonoring the wife

460of an excellent man, whom they said would never return.

Now let it be as I advise. Listen to me:

let us not go, or someone may draw evil upon himself.”

So he spoke. More than half sprang up with a great shout,

while the rest remained there together.

465The speech did not please those men; they followed Eupeithes

and quickly rushed away to fetch their weapons.

Once gleaming bronze enclosed their bodies,

they massed before the city with its broad spaces.

Eupeithes led them in their folly.

470He said he would avenge his son’s death, but he was not destined

to return again; there he would meet his doom.

472αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη Ζῆνα Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·

ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε, Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῃ, τί νύ τοι νόος ἔνδοθι κεύθει;

475ἢ προτέρω πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν

τεύξεις, ἦ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησθα;

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

τέκνον ἐμόν, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς;

οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,

480ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;

ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἐρέω τέ τοι ὡς ἐπέοικεν.

ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτίσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,

ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο

485ἔκλησιν θέωμεν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων

ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.

472Then Athena addressed Zeus, Cronus’ son:

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

answer my question: what purpose is hidden within your mind?

475Will you bring about further evil war and terrible battle,

or establish friendship between the two sides?”

Cloud-gathering Zeus answered her:

“My child, why do you ask and question me about this?

Was it not you yourself who devised this plan:

480that Odysseus should return and make those men pay?

Do as you wish, but I will tell you what is fitting.

Now that godlike Odysseus has punished the suitors,

let them cut binding oaths, and let him rule forever.

As for us, let us impose forgetfulness of the slaughter

485of sons and brothers. Let them love one another

as before, and let there be wealth and peace in abundance.”

So speaking, he urged on Athena, already eager,

and she darted down from the heights of Olympus.

489οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

490τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι μὴ δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες.

ὣς ἔφατʼ· ἐκ δʼ υἱὸς Δολίου κίεν, ὡς ἐκέλευεν·

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν ἔσιδε πάντας·

αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

495οἵδε δὴ ἐγγὺς ἔασʼ· ἀλλʼ ὁπλιζώμεθα θᾶσσον.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ὤρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσι δύοντο,

τέσσαρες ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ἓξ δʼ υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο·

ἐν δʼ ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τʼ ἐς τεύχεʼ ἔδυνον,

καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.

500αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,

ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον, ἄρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

489When they had satisfied their desire for honey-sweet food,

490much-enduring godlike Odysseus began to speak:

“Let someone step outside and see whether they are already near.”

So he spoke, and a son of Dolios went out as he ordered.

He reached the threshold and saw them all close at hand.

At once he addressed Odysseus in winged words:

495“They are close now. Let us arm ourselves quickly.”

So he spoke. They rose and put on their armor:

four around Odysseus and the six sons of Dolios.

Laertes and Dolios too put on armor,

gray-haired though they were, warriors by necessity.

500Once gleaming bronze enclosed their bodies,

they opened the doors and filed out, with Odysseus in front.

Athena, daughter of Zeus, came near them,

resembling Mentor in body and voice.

504τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

505αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μὲν τόδε γʼ εἴσεαι αὐτὸς ἐπελθών,

ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,

μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

ἀλκῇ τʼ ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν.

510τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, πάτερ φίλε, τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ

οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.

ὣς φάτο, Λαέρτης δʼ ἐχάρη καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·

τίς νύ μοι ἡμέρη ἥδε, θεοὶ φίλοι; ἦ μάλα χαίρω·

515υἱός θʼ υἱωνός τʼ ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσιν.

τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

ὦ Ἀρκεισιάδη, πάντων πολὺ φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων,

εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,

αἶψα μαλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

520ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,

αἶψα μάλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.

ἡ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

525δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

504Much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced when he saw her

505and at once addressed Telemachus, his dear son:

“Telemachus, now you yourself will learn, as you join

the fight where the best men are distinguished,

not to disgrace the line of your fathers. Until now

we have excelled in courage and manhood throughout the earth.”

510Discerning Telemachus answered him:

“Dear father, if you wish, you will see the spirit in me

bring no disgrace upon your line, as you say.”

So he spoke. Laertes rejoiced and said:

“What a day this is for me, dear gods! I am overjoyed:

515my son and grandson are contending over excellence.”

Bright-eyed Athena stood beside him and said:

“Son of Arcesius, dearest by far of all my companions,

pray to the bright-eyed maiden and Father Zeus,

then quickly balance your long-shadowed spear and cast it.”

520So she spoke, and Pallas Athena breathed great might into him.

After praying to the daughter of great Zeus,

he quickly balanced his long-shadowed spear and cast it,

striking Eupeithes through his bronze-cheeked helmet.

The helmet did not stop the spear; the bronze drove through.

525He fell with a thud, and his armor clattered over him.

526ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον προμάχοις Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,

τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.

καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἀνόστους,

εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

530ἤϋσεν φωνῇ, κατὰ ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα.

ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,

ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα.

ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν·

τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,

535πάντα δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης·

πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τʼ αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.

καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,

540κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.

δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο,

μή πως τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.

545ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, ὁ δʼ ἐπείθετο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.

ὅρκια δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκεν

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.

526Odysseus and his glorious son fell upon the front ranks,

striking with swords and double-edged spears.

They would have killed them all and denied every man a homecoming

if Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

530had not cried out and checked the whole force:

“Stop this bitter war, Ithacans,

so that you may part at once without further bloodshed.”

So Athena spoke, and pale fear seized them.

In their terror the weapons flew from their hands

535and all fell to the ground when the goddess raised her voice.

They wheeled toward the city, desperate to stay alive.

Much-enduring godlike Odysseus gave a terrible cry

and gathered himself to swoop like a high-flying eagle.

Then Cronus’ son hurled a smoking thunderbolt,

540and it fell before the bright-eyed daughter of the mighty father.

Bright-eyed Athena then addressed Odysseus:

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

hold back. End the strife of war that treats all alike,

before far-seeing Zeus, son of Cronus, grows angry with you.”

545So Athena spoke. He obeyed and rejoiced in his heart.

Afterward she established sworn peace between both sides—

Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus—

resembling Mentor in body and voice.