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When dear Eurykleia heard this she began to cry, and spoke fondly to him, saying, “My dear child, what ever can have put such notion as that into your head? Where in the world do you want to go to— [365] you, who are the one hope of the house? Your poor illustrious father is dead and gone in some foreign locale [ dēmos] nobody knows where, and as soon as your back is turned these wicked ones here will be scheming to get you put out of the way, and will share all your possessions among themselves; stay where you are among your own people, [370] and do not go wandering and worrying your life out on the barren ocean.”

“Fear not, nurse,” answered the spirited Telemachus, “my scheme is not without the sanction of the gods; but swear that you will say nothing about all this to my mother, till I have been away some ten or twelve days, [375] unless she hears of my having gone, and asks you; for I do not want her to spoil her beauty by crying.”

The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not, and when she had completed her oath, she began drawing off the wine into jars, [380] and getting the barley meal into the bags, while Telemachus went back to the suitors.

Then owl-vision Athena turned her thoughts to another matter. She took his shape, and went round the town to each one of the crew, telling them [385] to meet at the ship by sundown. She went also to Noemon, glorious son of Phronios, and asked him to let her have a ship—which he was very ready to do.

Odyssey. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1898.

Current edition Experimental

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὀδύσσεια Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 2.361 focus

ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,

καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

τίπτε δέ τοι, φίλε τέκνον, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα

ἔπλετο; πῇ δʼ ἐθέλεις ἰέναι πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν

μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀγαπητός; ὁ δʼ ὤλετο τηλόθι πάτρης

365

διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἀλλογνώτῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.

οἱ δέ τοι αὐτίκʼ ἰόντι κακὰ φράσσονται ὀπίσσω,

ὥς κε δόλῳ φθίῃς, τάδε δʼ αὐτοὶ πάντα δάσονται.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ αὖθʼ ἐπὶ σοῖσι καθήμενος· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον κακὰ πάσχειν οὐδʼ ἀλάλησθαι.

370

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

θάρσει, μαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἥδε γε βουλή.

ἀλλʼ ὄμοσον μὴ μητρὶ φίλῃ τάδε μυθήσασθαι,

πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται,

ἢ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,

375

ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃ.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρῆυς δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ἀπώμνυ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτά οἱ οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσεν,

ἐν δέ οἱ ἄλφιτα χεῦεν ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσι.

380

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

Τηλεμάχῳ ἐικυῖα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντῃ,

καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον,

ἑσπερίους δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἀγέρεσθαι ἀνώγει.

385

ἡ δʼ αὖτε Φρονίοιο Νοήμονα φαίδιμον υἱὸν

ᾔτεε νῆα θοήν· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.

Translations (8)

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 2.361 focus

So he spoke, and the dear nurse, Eurycleia, uttered a shrill cry, and weeping spoke to him winged words:“Ah, dear child, how has this thought come into thy mind? Whither art thou minded to go over the wide earth, 365 thou who art an only son and well-beloved? But he hath perished far from his country, the Zeus-born Odysseus, in a strange land; and these men, so soon as thou art gone, will devise evil for thee hereafter, that thou mayest perish by guile, and themselves divide all these possessions. Nay, abide here in charge of what is thine; thou hast no need 370 to suffer ills and go a wanderer over the unresting sea.” Then wise Telemachus answered her: “Take heart, nurse, for not without a god's warrant is this my plan. But swear to tell naught of this to my dear mother until the eleventh or twelfth day shall come, 375 or until she shall herself miss me and hear that I am gone, that she may not mar her fair flesh with weeping.” So he spoke, and the old woman swore a great oath by the gods to say naught. But when she had sworn and made an end of the oath, straightway she drew for him wine in jars, 380 and poured barley meal into well-sewn skins; and Telemachus went to the hall and joined the company of the wooers. Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, took other counsel. In the likeness of Telemachus she went everywhere throughout the city, and to each of the men she drew near and spoke her word, 385 bidding them gather at even beside the swift ship. Furthermore, of Noemon, the glorious son of Phronius, she asked a swift ship, and he promised it to her with a ready heart.

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey: rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. Revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. London: A.C. Fifield, 1900.) — 2.377 focus

377 The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not, and when she had completed her oath, she began drawing off the wine into jars, and getting the barley meal into the bags, while Telemakhos went back to the suitors.

382 Then Athena bethought her of another matter. She took his shape, and went round the town to each one of the crew, telling them to meet at the ship by sundown. She went also to Noemon son of Phronios, and asked him to let her have a ship - which he was very ready to do. When the sun had set and darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the water, put all the tackle on board her that ships generally carry, and stationed her at the end of the harbor. Presently the crew came up, and the goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them.

393 Furthermore she went to the house of Odysseus, and threw the suitors into a deep slumber. She caused their drink to fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went back into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness. Then she took the form and voice of Mentor, and called Telemakhos to come outside.

402 "Telemakhos," said she, "the men are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders, so make haste and let us be off."

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 2.361 focus

So spake the youth, and his beloved nurse

455

Sobbed, wept aloud, and spake these winged words:

"Why should there come, dear child, a thought like this

Into thy heart. Why wouldst thou wander forth

To distant regions, - thou an only son

And dearly loved? Ulysses, nobly born,

460

Has perished, from his native land afar,

'Mid a strange race. These men, when thou art gone,

At once will lay their plots to take thy life,

And share thy wealth among them. Stay thou here

Among thy people; need is none that thou

465

Shouldst suffer, roaming o'er the barren deep."

Then spake discreet Telemachus again : -

"Be of good cheer, O nurse, for my design

Is not without the sanction of a god;

But swear thou not to let my mother know

470

Of my intent until the eleventh day

Or twelfth shall pass, or till, in missing me,

She learn of my departure, lest she weep

And stain with tears the beauty of her face."

He spake; the ancient woman solemnly

475

Swore by the gods, and when the rite was o'er

Drew wine into the jars, and poured the meal

Into the well-sewn skins. Telemachus

Entered the hall and joined the suitor train.

Then did the blue-eyed goddess turn her thoughts

480

To other plans, and taking on herself

The semblance of Telemachus, she ranged

The city, speaking to each man in turn,

And bidding him at nightfall to repair

To where the good ship lay. That gallant ship

485

She begged of the renowned Noëmon, son

Of Phronius, who with cheerful grace complied.

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 2.361 focus

While yet he spoke, she fill'd the walls with cries,

And tears ran trickling from her aged eyes.

EURYCLEA

'Oh whither, whither flies my son?' (she cried)

'To realms, that rocks and roaring seas divide ?
410

'In foreign lands thy father's days decay'd,

'And foreign lands contain the mighty dead.

'The watery way ill-fated if thou try,

'All, all must perish, and by fraud you die!

'Then stay, my child! storms beat, and rolls the main;
415

'Oh, beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain!'

TELEMACHUS

'Far hence' (replied the prince) 'thy fears be driven :

'Heaven calls me forth; these counsels are of Heaven.

'But, by the powers that hate the perjur'd, swear

'To keep my voyage from the royal ear,
420

'Nor uncompell'd the dangerous truth betray,

'Till twice six times descends the lamp of day;¹

TELEMACHUS

'Lest the sad tale a mother's life impair,

'And grief destroy what time awhile would spare.'

Thus he. The matron with uplifted eyes

425

Attests th' all-seeing sovereign of the skies.

Then studious she prepares the choicest flour,

The strength of wheat, and wines an ample store.

While to the rival train the prince returns,

The martial goddess with impatience burns;

430

Like thee, Telemachus, in voice and size,

With speed divine from street to street she flies,

She bids the mariners, prepar'd, to stand,

When night descends, embodied on the strand.

Then to Noëmon² swift she runs, she flies,

435

And asks a bark: the chief a bark supplies.

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 2.361 focus

Euryclea then wept and sobb'd, and said,

Dear child, why will you go from hence so far

Alone ? Your mother you will make afraid,

Of whom so dearly you beloved are.

Your father far off is already dead,

345

And by the way the suitors seek to kill you,

And share your goods amongst them by the head.

I pray stay here, and do not go. Why will you ?

Nurse, said Telemachus, be of good cheer;

'Tis by the counsel of a God I go,

350

And I require you solemnly to swear

You'll not my going let my mother know.

Telemachus to the suitors went again,

And Pallas, in his likeness, to the town,

For his transporting to procure him men,

355

From house to house she goeth up and down,

And of Noemon borrowed a bark,

Who not unwillingly it to him lent.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 2.361 focus

Out Euryclea cried,

And ask'd with tears: "Why is your mind applied,

535

Dear son, to this course? Whither will you go?

So far off leave us, and beloved so,

So only? And the sole hope of your race?

Royal Ulysses, far from the embrace

Of his kind country, in a land unknown

540

Is dead; and, you from your lov'd country gone,

The Wooers will with some deceit assay

To your destruction, making then their prey

Of all your goods. Where, in your own y'are strong,

Make sure abode. It fits not you so young

545

To suffer so much by the aged seas,

And err in such a wayless wilderness."

"Be cheer'd, lov'd nurse," said he, "for, not without

The will of God, go my attempts about.

Swear therefore, not to wound my mother's ears

550

With word of this, before from heaven appears

Th' eleventh or twelfth light, or herself shall please

To ask of me, or hears me put to seas,

Lest her fair body with her woe be wore.'

To this the great oath of the Gods she swore;

555

Which having sworn, and of it every due

Perform'd to full, to vessels wine she drew,

And into well-sew'd sacks pour'd foody meal.

In mean time he, with cunning to conceal

All thought of this from others, himself bore

560

In broad house, with the Wooers, as before.

Then grey-eyed Pallas other thoughts did own,

And like Telemachus trod through the town,

Commanding all his men in th' even to be

Aboard his ship. Again then question'd she

565

Noemon, famed for aged Phronius' son,

About his ship; who all things to be done

Assured her freely should.

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 2.361 focus

He ceased; then wept his gentle nurse that sound

470

Hearing, and in wing'd accents thus replied.

My child! ah, wherefore hath a thought so rash

Possess'd thee? whither, only and beloved,

Seek'st thou to ramble, travelling, alas!

To distant climes? Ulysses is no more;

475

Dead lies the hero in some land unknown,

And thou no sooner shalt depart, than these

Will plot to slay thee, and divide thy wealth.

No, stay with us who love thee. Need is none

That thou should'st on the barren Deep distress

480

Encounter, roaming without hope or end.

Whom, prudent, thus answer'd Telemachus.

Take courage, nurse! for not without consent

Of the Immortals I have thus resolved.

But swear, that till eleven days be past,

485

Or twelve, or till enquiry made, she learn

Herself my going, thou wilt nought impart

Of this my purpose to my mother's ear,

Lest all her beauties fade by grief impair'd.

He ended, and the ancient matron swore

490

Solemnly by the Gods; which done, she fill'd

With wine the vessels and the skins with meal,

And he, returning, join'd the throng below.

Then Pallas, Goddess azure-eyed, her thoughts

Elsewhere directing, all the city ranged

495

In semblance of Telemachus, each man

Exhorting, at the dusk of eve, to seek

The gallant ship, and from Noëmon, son

Renown'd of Phronius, ask'd, herself, a bark,

Which soon as ask'd, he promised to supply.

500

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 2 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK II

NOW when the morning was newly arisen, the roseate-fingered,

Out of his bed uprising the well-loved son of Odysseus

Donned his apparel, suspended the keen-edged sword from his shoulder,

Under his smooth-skinned feet then tying his beautiful sandals

Out of his chamber he came, as a god immortal in presence;

Nor did he further delay, but the clear-voiced heralds he ordered

Unto a council to summon the long-haired sons of Achaea.

These then made proclamation, and quickly they gathered together.

Now when they all had collected together and formed an assembly,

Bearing a bronzen spear in his hand to the council he gat him,

Neither alone did he go—by his fleet-paced dogs he was followed.

Wondrous too was the grace that around him was shed by Athene,

Making the people to marvel that saw him approach; and the elders

Yielded him place, and he sat him adown in the seat of his father.

First then rising the hero Aegyptus began to address them;

Bowed was his body by age, but his mind held infinite knowledge.

One of his well-loved sons with the godlike hero Odysseus

Sailed in the hollow vessels to Ilium famed for its horses,

Antiphus, skilled with the spear: he was slain by the terrible Cyclops,

Caught in his cavern—the last that the monster had roasted and eaten.

Though he possessed three others (the one with the suitors consorted,

Eurynomus, and the two aye tended the fields of the homestead)

Him howbeit he never forgat, but bewailed him and mourned him;

Ay and in tears as he thought of his son he arose to address them:

"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter.

Never was yet our meeting of council or session assembled

Since that the noble Odysseus in hollow vessels departed.

Who is it now that hath summoned us here? who found it so urgent?

One of the younger among us perhaps, or one of the elders?

Would he perish some tidings impart of the army returning—

Tidings that first he hath learn'd and of which he can give us assurance?

Or for the weal of the state hath he aught to inform or advise us ?

Sure it is some good man. Fair fortune attend him, and heaven

Grant him a boon, fulfilling whatever his soul desireth!"

Thus did he speak, and rejoicing the well-loved son of Odysseus

Took it as omen, nor seated remained, but intent to harangue them

Forth in the midst of the council he stood; and at once was a sceptre

Placed in his hand by Pisenor, the herald expert and sagacious.

Then to the aged Aegyptus he turned, and first he addressed him:

"Sire, not afar is the man that thou seek'st; right soon shalt thou see him.

He that hath summoned you hither am I—who am foremost in sorrow.

Neither, alas, is it news I impart of the army returning,

News that is come to me first, and of which I can give you assurance;

Nor for the weal of the state is it aught I can tell or advise you.

No—it is mine own need. —On my home is calamity fallen

Twofold: firstly a sire right noble I mourn, who among you,

All of you here, was a monarch and lovingly ruled as a father.

Second, and worse, is an evil that soon on the whole of my homestead

Infinite ruin will bring, and my substance utterly squander :

Suitors I mean, who in spite of the wish of my mother annoy her,

Some of them favourite sons of the noblest here in my presence

Cowards, who fear to betake them at once to the house of her father

Icarius, who alone should settle the gifts for his daughter,

Yea and bestow her at will on the wooer that winneth his favour.

These now every day to the house come flocking, and daily

Slaughtering oxen and sheep and the fat-fed goats of the farmstead

Revel at feasts, and carousing and quaffing the fiery red wine,

Wantonly waste. Nigh all is consumed, nor still is a man there,

Such as Odysseus of yore, to avert this plague from the household.

We, all powerless now to avert it, await for the future

Truly a pitiful lot, and shall know not how to defend us.

Sooth, to defend me I lack not the will, had I only the power,

Since it is not to be borne what I suffer; nor truly I deem it

Fair for my home to be ruined: yourselves should also resent it,

Ay and if only for shame that ye feel of the neighbouring nations

Dwelling around us or else for the dread of the anger of heaven,

Lest in its wrath at the deeds ill done it shall send you reverses.

Now I petition you all by Olympian Zeus and by Justice,

Goddess that gathers together the councils of men and dissolves them,

Spare me, my friends! Nay, leave me alone with my pain and my sorrow!

Leave me to mourn!—unless that my father, the noble Odysseus,

Acting in malice did ill to the well-greaved sons of Achaea,

Which to requite ye are treating me evilly, also in malice,

While these men ye abet. 'Twere verily more to my profit

Were it yourselves that consumed my paternal estate and my cattle!

Were it yourselves, right soon would compensation be offered;

Else, in the streets of the town we had made an appeal and entreaty,

PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB

Claiming amends, till the whole of the loss were duly repaid us.

Now it is worse—on my heart ye inflict an incurable torture."

These words uttered, the sceptre he dashed to the ground in his anger,

Bursting in tears, and the whole of the council was touched with compassion.

Then did the rest all silent remain, nor was any that ventured

Telemachus to assail and to answer with words of resentment;

Antinous was the one who alone addressed him in answer:

"Telemachus, big boaster, unbridled in temper—what prat'st thou,

Thus to insult us and fasten the blame of the matter upon us?

'Tis not the princely Achaeans that wrong thee by wooing thy mother,

Nay, 'tis that mother of thine, who in guile all women exceedeth.

Past is already the third, and the fourth year soon will be passing,

Since she began deluding the hearts of the noble Achaeans.

All she befooleth with hopes, and she giveth her promise to each one,

Sending them many a message; but things quite other she longs for.

Yea and besides in her heart this crafty device she hath plotted:

Rearing a spacious loom in her hall, she betook her to weaving,

Working a broad and a delicate web; and anon she addressed us :

Princes, who sue for my hand—since dead is the godlike Odysseus—

Patiently wait, though eager to hasten my marriage, till fully

Woven this web—lest vainly I forfeit the fruits of my spinning.

Lo, 'tis a shroud for the hero Laertes, to wrap him, whenever

Bringing his destined doom low-laying death overtakes him;

100

Else in Achaea's land might well some woman reproach me,

Were he to lie, who possessed such riches, lacking a grave-cloth.'

So did she speak and within us the valiant heart was persuaded.

Thus then all of the day at the spacious loom she was weaving;

During the night she unravelled the web with her torches beside her.

105

Three long years with her secret device she befooled the Achaeans;

Till, when the fourth year came, and as season was followed by season,

Then at the last (since one of her women, who knew it, had told us),

While at the loom her magnificent web she unravelled, we caught her.

Thus was she forced, though sorely unwilling, to finish her labour.

110

Thee such answer the suitors return—thou'lt soon understand it

Turning it o'er in thy mind, and likewise all the Achaeans.

Touching this mother of thine—dismiss her, and bid her to marry

Whomsoever her father commands or that pleases her fancy.

Should she however continue insulting the sons of Achaea,

115

Using the arts in the which she is richly endowed by Athene,

Deftness in exquisite work and the talent for cunning invention

—Ay and invention of guile—such guile as we never in old times

Hear of the fair-tressed wives or the daughters of ancient Achaeans,

Tyro or Alcmene or the fair-crowned lady Mycene—

120

None of them all had the clever devices that Penelopeia

Knoweth to practise and here's a device not seemly, not decent!

Well—they will never desist consuming thy living and substance

While this woman retaineth the purpose that powers immortal

Plant in her bosom. A mighty renown for herself she is winning

125

Doubtless but also for thee a regret for thy vanished riches.

Touching us suitors—we mean to betake us nor homeward nor elsewhere,

Till she has married the man that she chooses of all the Achaeans."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer:

"Antinous, it is nowise possible thus to eject her;

130

She is the mother that bare me and reared me. My father is absent,

Dead or alive; and amends right heavy—for me a disaster—

Icarius will demand, if I wilfully force her to leave me.

Nor from her father alone shall I suffer, for heaven will surely

Punish me worse when my mother shall call on the awful Erinys,

135

Forced to depart from her home; and of all mankind will the censure

Fall on my head. Thus, never and never the word will I utter.

Now for yourselves if the spirit within you is wroth and indignant,

Well then, quit ye my halls! Ye can seek your junketings elsewhere.

Feed on your own! Go feasting in turn each one with the other!

140

Should it however appear to your minds more pleasant and better

Thus to devour the possessions of others, nor fear the avenger,

Waste as ye will! But the gods everlasting I call to my succour,

Hoping that heaven will grant such deeds to receive retribution:

Then in this selfsame hall shall ye perish—and none shall avenge you."

145

Thus pray'd Telemachus, and the Father who speaketh in thunder

Sent two eagles, that swooped from aloft, from the crest of a mountain.

Swift as the blast of a storm for a while came flying together

Both of them, each by the side of the other outspreading his pinions,

Till right over the place of the council and buzzing assembly

150

Suddenly wheeling they circled around and with many a flapping

Gazed in the faces of all with a glare foreboding destruction.

Then with his claws each clutched at the neck and the cheeks of the other,

Sweeping away to the right straight over the roofs of the city.

All in astonishment stared at the eagles, whenas they beheld them,

155

Wondering much in their hearts what things were destined to happen.

Then stood forth and addressed them the hero, old Halitherses,

Mastor's son, who alone of his age was surpassingly gifted

Birds to discern as a seer and tell the event that was coming.

Moved with a kindly intention he spake and addressed the assembly:

160

"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter!

Chiefly I speak to the suitors for them concern my predictions,

Since that on them there rolleth a mighty disaster: Odysseus

Now not long from his friends shall absent him, but even already

Near is at hand and is sowing for these their doom and destruction,

165

All of them ay and on many another he bringeth disaster,

Many of us that inhabit the far-seen Ithaca. Come then,

Ere it befall let us counsel to end their mischief—themselves too,

See that they end it! and truly the sooner they end it, the better.

Not as a fool unpractised I prophesy: sure is my knowledge.

170

Ay, I affirm, in regard to the man, that it all is accomplished,

All that I once foretold, when the Argive leaders embarked them,

Sailing for Troy—and together with these went cunning Odysseus.

'Many a woe shall he suffer, I said, 'and his comrades shall perish.

Then in the twentieth year he shall come, unknown, unexpected,

175

Back to his home.' Lo, all these things are finding fulfilment."

Forthwith Polybus' son, prince Eurymachus, made answer:

"Go to thy home, old gaffer, and prophesy there to thy children,

Lest peradventure on them some mighty disaster is rolling !

Touching this matter, methinks I can prophesy better than thou canst.

180

Many a feathered fowl in the sunlight spaces of heaven

Flutters about—nor do all bring augury. Dead is Odysseus,

Dead in a distant land. Had ye gone to perdition together

Well had it been, for thou ne'er hadst talked such folly as augur,

Nor hadst Telemachus thus further incited to anger,

185

Hoping a gift for thy house, I suppose—if he careth to give one.

Now will I speak to thee plainly a word that shall find a fulfilment:

While that a man like thee that is elder and wiser than others

Leadeth a younger astray with his words and incites him to anger,

First for the youngster himself far worse is the trouble he causeth,

190

(Ay and he ne'er will be able to help him because of the men here)

While for thyself, old man, we shall force thee to pay us a forfeit

Such as shall madden thy soul; and a grievous pain it will cause thee.

Also to Telemachus this counsel I publicly offer :

Straight let him order his mother to go to the house of her father;

195

There can her parents arrange for the wedding and settle the presents,

All of the wealth that is wont with a well-loved daughter to follow;

Ere it be done, we shall never (believe me), we sons of Achaea,

Cease from this forcible wooing; we fear not a mortal that liveth,

Not e'en Telemachus—how fluent soever his tongue be.

200

Nor do we hold divination for aught—of the which in thy dotage

Emptily prating thou makest thyself still more to be hated.

Yea, his estate shall be eaten to nothing, nor any requital

Ever be made, till she cease with delays to befool the Achaeans

Touching her marriage ;—and we meanwhile, all patiently waiting,

205

Still for this fair perfection compete, forgetful of others,

Leaving unsought such wives as a man might willingly wed with."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Eurymachus and the rest of you high-born nobles and suitors,

Touching this matter I cease to entreat; no more will I utter.

210

Known is already the truth to the gods and to all the Achaeans.

Grant me howbeit a good swift vessel and twenty companions,

Such as shall help to accomplish the voyaging thither and hither,

Since I intend to betake me to Sparta and Pylos the sandy,

Tidings to learn of my father's return who so long is unheard of.

215

Haply an earth-born man shall inform thee, or haply shall Rumour,

Daughter of Zeus, who on earth is the busiest bringer of tidings.

Should I be told of my father as living and homeward returning,

Surely for one more year I can bear with the waste of my substance.

Should they report him as perished and gone from the land of the living,

220

Forthwith quickly regaining the well-loved home of my fathers,

Here I shall build him a tomb and funeral offerings offer,

Many and rich, as is meet, and my mother bestow on a husband."

These words spoken he sat him adown; then rose to address them

Mentor, once of the noble Odysseus a faithful companion.

225

Him, when he sailed, did the hero entrust with the care of his homestead,

Leaving the old man there to command in the house and protect it.

Moved with a kindly intention he spake and addressed the assembly:

"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter!

Never be kindly affectioned again, nor loving and gentle,

230

Any that beareth the sceptre as king, nor righteously minded!

Nay, let him rather be hard and be cruel and practise injustice!

So is it true that the godlike Odysseus by none is remembered,

None of the people he governed and lovingly ruled as a father.

'Tis not the arrogant suitors so much that I view with resentment,

235

Though outrageous the deeds that they do with malicious intention,

Since they imperil their heads, audaciously braving Odysseus,

Eating his wealth, in belief that he ne'er shall return to the homeland.

Nay, I am wroth far more with the rest of the people—with you here

Silently sitting with never a word of rebuke for the suitors,

240

Never attempting to stay these few, though many ye number."

Him addressing replied Leiocritus, son of Euenor:

“Mentor, mischievous fool, where wander thy wits? and what prat'st thou,

Bidding them stop us? Methinks ye will find it a difficult matter

Fighting with men for a feast and with men who exceed you in number.

245

E'en if Odysseus himself, your Ithacan hero, appearing

Found at the feast in his house the illustrious band of the suitors,

Were he to long in his spirit to drive us away from his mansion,

Verily little his wife would joy, despite of her yearnings,

Seeing him safely returned; for a doom disgraceful awaits him

250

Fighting with those that exceed him in number. 'Tis folly thou talkest.

Come now, all of you people, disperse, each man to his farmstead.

Touching this youth, Halitherses and Mentor shall see to his voyage,

Both of them being of yore good friends of the house of his father.

Natheless, long will he linger, I trow, exploring for tidings

255

Only in Ithaca island, and never accomplish the journey."

Thus he addressed them, and hastily all from the council dispersed them,

Scattering hither and thither, and each man went to his homestead,

All but the suitors—who went to the house of the godlike Odysseus.

Meantime Telemachus, to the beach of the ocean withdrawing,

260

Washed in the hoar salt water his hands, and he prayed to Athene:

"List, O thou who as god yestreen to the home of my fathers

Camest, and badest me traverse the mist-bound gulf of the ocean,

Tidings to seek of my father's return, who so long is unheard of:

Yea, thou badest me go, but Achaeans hinder my going,

265

Chiefly of all those men o'erweening and wicked, the suitors."

Thus as he uttered his prayer drew nigh him the goddess Athene,

Likened to Mentor in voice and also in bodily semblance.

Then did she open her lips, and with swift-winged words she addressed him :

"Telemachus, thou'lt prove not in future a fool or a coward,

270

Hast thou within thee a drop of the valiant blood of thy father—

Such was he ever at winning his purpose in word and in action—

Nor shall I fear that thy voyage be vain or be never accomplished;

While if thou beest no son of Odysseus and Penelopeia,

Then can I nowise hope that thy wishes will find a fulfilment.

275

Seldom indeed is a son to be found who can rival his father;

Most are worse—but it happens at times that the child is the better.

Nay but in future, I know, thou'lt prove not a fool or a coward,

Nor is the craft of Odysseus in thee so totally wanting;

Therefore good is my hope thou'lt bring these works to fulfilment.

280

Come, put away from thy mind the designs and the thoughts of the suitors,

Senseless fools that they are—yea, equally foolish and wicked—

Unsuspecting of death and the darkness of doom that is rolling

Nearer, to swallow them all on the selfsame day in perdition.

Touching the journey thou longst to attempt, nought now shall delay it,

285

Such is the friendship I feel for the son, as I felt for the father.

Straight will I get thee a good swift ship, and will come as thy comrade.

Now, I exhort thee, return to thy home and consort with the suitors.

There for the journey prepare thy provision and stow it in vessels,

Wine in the jars, white meal of the barley, the marrow of mortals,

290

Packed in the well-sewn skins. Meantime will I levy as shipmates

Those of the people that offer them gladly; and many a vessel

Lies on the sea-girt island of Ithaca, newer and older;

One of them first I shall choose—whichever appears to be fittest—

Then we can quickly equip her and set her afloat on the ocean."

295

These words uttered Athena, the daughter of Zeus, and incited

Telemachus to depart; who, aware of the voice of the goddess,

Went on his way to the palace with heart that was grievously troubled.

Here in the halls of his home he discovered the arrogant suitors

Busy with flaying of goats and with singeing of swine in the courtyard.

300

Seeing him Antinous with a laugh came forward to meet him,

Clasped him at once by the hand, and with accents of welcome addressed him:

"Telemachus, big boaster, unbridled in temper, I pray thee,

Nourish within no more such anger in word and in action!

Come, let us see thee be merry and feast and carouse as aforetime!

305

All these things, be assured, we Achaeans will duly attend to,

Even a vessel and crew—picked rowers, to carry thee quickly

Tidings to seek of the noble Odysseus in beautiful Pylos."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer :

"Antinous, I can never with boisterous brawlers as you be

310

Peacefully sit at the board and delight me in quiet enjoyment.

Were't not enough in the past to have wasted so many a treasure—

Wasted so much of my riches, ye suitors, in days of my childhood?

Now I am grown to a man, and I listen to all that is spoken,

Listen and learn and, as stronger within me is waxing my spirit,

315

Soon shall I try to excite doom's terrible furies against you,

Whether I journey to Pylos or stay still here in my country.

Nay, I shall go—nor in vain shall I go on the journey I speak of—

Go as a passenger. Ne'er shall I get me a vessel or rowers

Granted by you: it is thus, I am sure, ye determined to treat me."

320

Speaking, he snatched full lightly his hand from the hand of the suitor

Antinous; but the rest, in the palace preparing a banquet,

Seeing it, jeered and with words insulting disdainfully mocked him,

While in their midst thus spake one insolent youth to another:

"Verily Telemachus is devising us death and destruction!

325

Either from Pylos the sandy his friends he will bring to avenge him,

Or from the city of Sparta! He seemeth in terrible earnest !

Else to the fertile fields of the Ephyran land he intendeth

Straight to betake him, and thence some drug right deadly to fetch him,

Poison, to cast in the bowl, that we all of us perish together."

330

Then in the midst made answer an insolent youth to the other:

"Ay, who knoweth? perchance as he sails in his hollow vessel,

Wandering far from his home, he will perish, as perished Odysseus.

Were it to hap, 'twould make our troubles the more and the greater,

Seeing that all of his goods 'twere need to divide, and the homestead

335

Give to his mother to have and to hold with the man that she marries."

Thus did they speak; but he gat him adown to a room of his father's

Vaulted and broad, where piles were lying of gold and of copper,

Garments also in chests and fragrant oil in abundance;

Many a cask moreover of wine sweet-savoured and ancient

340

Stood there, holding within it a liquor divine, undiluted.

Close to the wall and in order they stood, lest haply Odysseus

Back to his home might come, all toils and sufferings ended.

Doors close-fitting and furnished with locks were hung in the portals,

Folding together, and here was a matron by night as by daytime

345

Wont to resort, who it all full wisely and carefully guarded,

Eurycleia, the daughter of Ops, who was son of Pisenor.

Her now Telemachus to the store-room called, and addressed her:

"Come, good mother, decant me a wine, I beseech thee, in wine-jars,

Sweet—ay, even the choicest of all but the wine that thou keepest

350

Mindful of him, ill-fated—if haply appearing from somewhere

Godlike Odysseus shall come, escaping from doom and destruction.

Fill me a dozen of jars and fit all closely with covers.

Pour me as well fine barley in well-sewn wallets of leather.

Twenty in all be the measures of meal of the mill-ground barley.

355

Only thyself mayst know it. Let all be collected together.

During the eveningtide I shall fetch it, as soon as my mother

Unto her upper apartment ascends and prepares her for slumber,

Since I intend to betake me to Sparta and Pylos the sandy,

Tidings to hear, if I may, of my well-loved father's returning."

360

Hearing the words he had spoken, the dear nurse Eurycleia

Uttered a woful lament, and with swift-winged words she addressed him :

"Why, ah why, in thy heart, dear child, should such an intention

Ever arise? How canst thou be wishing to wander in far lands,

Thou the belov'd sole son of thy mother? Afar from his country

365

Perished is godlike Odysseus amidst some people of strangers ;

Yea and as soon as thou goest the men will be plotting behind thee

How to destroy thee with guile and divide all these thy possessions.

Stay now quiet at home on thy lands. Sure, ne'er is it needful

Thus to go toiling and wandering off on the wastes of the ocean."

370

Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Comfort thee, nurse; not without God's will is the thing that I purpose.

Now come swear to me nought to reveal to my mother belovéd

Ere that of days not less than eleven or twelve shall be ended

(Save that she miss me before and shall ask and shall learn my departure),

375

Lest she lament me with tears and her fair face mar with her weeping."

Then by the oath that is mighty among the immortals she sware it.

So when at last she had given her oath and had finished the plighting,

Straight did the dear old mother decant him the wine in the wine-jars,

Packed him besides fine barley in well-sewn wallets of leather.

380

Telemachus then returned to the house to consort with the suitors.

Other was now the device of the grey-eyed goddess Athene.

Likened to Telemachus through all of the city she hastened

Seeking the men; and each she accosted imparting her orders,

Bidding them come to the good swift ship at the fall of the even.

385

Also to Phronius' son she addressed her, the famous Noëmon,

Begging a swift-winged ship; and he willingly promised to lend one.

So when the even was come and darkened was every roadway,

Down to the salt sea water the vessel they hauled, and aboard her

All of the tackle they shipped that by well-decked vessels is carried.

390

Then was she moored by the point of the bay, and the stalwart rowers

Gathered aboard, each surged to his work by the voice of the goddess.

Planning another device did the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Forthwith go on her way to the palace of godlike Odysseus;

Here a delightsome slumber she shed on the eyes of the suitors,

395

Dazing them so that the wine-cups dropt from the hands of the drinkers.

Soon to the town they departed to lay them to slumber, unable

Still at the banquet to sit, since drowsiness fell on their eyelids.

Calling to Telemachus did the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Summon him forth from the midst of the fair-built halls of the mansion,

400

Likened to Mentor in voice and also in bodily semblance:

"Come now, Telemachus for already thy well-greaved shipmates

Sit at the oar, and for nought are waiting but thee to despatch them.

Come, let us quickly be gone, nor longer delay them from starting."

These words uttered, at once went forward Pallas Athene,

405

Hastily leading the way, and he followed the steps of the goddess.

Now when at last they had gotten them down to the sea and the vessel,

Here on the strand of the ocean the long-haired youths they discovered;

These prince Telemachus as their lord and their leader accosted:

"Hither, my friends! let us fetch the provisions. Already together

410

All at the house is collected. My mother with nought is acquainted,

Neither the others the maids; one only I told of my purpose."

These words uttered, he guided them forward; they following after

Fetched the provisions and bringing them all to the well-decked vessel

Stowed them aboard at the hest of the well-loved son of Odysseus.

415

Then did he mount on the ship, and before him Athena embarking

Sat her adown at the stern of the vessel, and near to the goddess

Telemachus took seat; and the shipmates loosing the cables

Mounted the vessel themselves and sat them adown on the benches.

Sent was a fair stern-wind by the grey-eyed goddess Athene,

420

Blustering Zephyr, that roars as he sweepeth the wine-dark ocean.

Then called Telemachus to his men and exhorted and bade them

Set their hands to the gear; and they set them to work as he surged them.

Raising the pine-wood mast to its height, in the notch of the cross-bar

Firmly they fixed it, and bracing it taut to the prow with the forestays

425

Hoisted the fair white sails with the ropes tight-twisted of oxhide.

Struck was the midst of the sail by the wind, and the purpling billow

Shouted in front of the prow as she moved on her way in the waters

Over the waves of the ocean, rejoicing her course to accomplish.

Now in the swift black vessel when all of the gear they had fastened,

430

Setting them bowls for the mixing of wine full-brimming with liquor

Unto the gods immortal, eternal, they offered libation,

Chiefly the grey-eyed goddess, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty.

Thus then all of the night and into the dawn she was speeding.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

The mentoring of Telemachus by Athena continues. First the goddess was Méntēs. Now she will become Méntōr to the young hero. Through the mentorship of the goddess, Telemachus modulates into mental connectivity: he will no longer be disconnected from the epic legacy of his father. As he boards the ship that will take him to Pylos, he is ready to connect with the Odyssey in progress.

draft js image error Telemachus with Athena as Mentor (1810). Drawing by John Flaxman. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

source

Homer Odyssey 2.361

Samuel Butler (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

TELEMACHUS

'Lest the sad tale a mother's life impair,

'And grief destroy what time awhile would spare.'

ODYSSEY BOOK II

PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

TELEMACHUS 'Lest the sad tale a mother's life impair, 'And grief destroy what time awhile would spare.'

ODYSSEY BOOK II

PATTEN WILSON, PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

TELEMACHUS

'Lest the sad tale a mother's life impair,

'And grief destroy what time awhile would spare.'

PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB