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As he spoke he handed her the cup. Athena thought that he was just [ dikaios] and right to have given it to herself first; she accordingly began praying heartily to Poseidon. [55] “O god,” she cried, “you who encircle the earth, grant the prayers of your servants that call upon you. More especially we pray you send down your grace on Nestor and on his sons; thereafter also make the rest of the Pylian people some handsome return for the goodly hecatomb they are offering you. [60] Lastly, grant Telemachus and myself a happy issue, in respect of the matter that has brought us in our swift black ship to Pylos.”

When she had thus made an end of praying, she handed the cup to dear Telemachus and he prayed likewise. [65] By and by, when the outer meats were roasted and had been taken off the spits, 66 apportioning portions [ moirai], they feasted a very glorious feast [ dais]. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, charioteer of Gerenia, began to speak.

“Now,” said he, “that our guests have done their dinner, [70] it will be best to ask them who they are. Who, then, sir strangers, are you, and from what port have you sailed? Are you traders? Or do you sail the seas as rovers with your hand against every man, and every man’s hand against you?”

[75] The spirited Telemachus answered boldly, for Athena had given him courage to ask about his father and get himself a good name [ kleos]. “Nestor,” said he, “son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, [80] you ask whence we come, and I will tell you. We come from Ithaca under Neriton, and the matter about which I would speak is of private not public import. 83 I am going after the widespread kleos of my father, if I should hear, radiant patient-hearted Odysseus, who is said [85] to have ransacked the town of Troy in company with yourself. We know what fate befell each one of the other heroes who fought at Troy, but as regards Odysseus the gods have hidden from us the knowledge even that he is dead at all, for no one can certify us in what place he perished, [90] nor say whether he fell in battle on the mainland, or was lost at sea amid the waves of Amphitrite. Therefore I am suppliant at your knees, if haply you may be pleased to tell me of his melancholy end, whether you saw it with your own eyes, or heard it from some [95] other traveler, for he was a man born to trouble. Do not soften things out of any pity for me, but tell me in all plainness exactly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever did you loyal service, either by word or deed, [100] when you Achaeans were harassed among the [ dēmos] Trojans, bear it in mind now as in my favor and tell me truly all.”

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.) — 3.51 focus

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἡδέος οἴνου·

χαῖρε δʼ Ἀθηναίη πεπνυμένῳ ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ,

οὕνεκα οἷ προτέρῃ δῶκε χρύσειον ἄλεισον·

αὐτίκα δʼ εὔχετο πολλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·

κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, μηδὲ μεγήρῃς

ἡμῖν εὐχομένοισι τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.

Νέστορι μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ υἱάσι κῦδος ὄπαζε,

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοισι δίδου χαρίεσσαν ἀμοιβὴν

σύμπασιν Πυλίοισιν ἀγακλειτῆς ἑκατόμβης.

δὸς δʼ ἔτι Τηλέμαχον καὶ ἐμὲ πρήξαντα νέεσθαι,

οὕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ πάντα τελεύτα.

δῶκε δὲ Τηλεμάχῳ καλὸν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον·

ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἠρᾶτο Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,

μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

νῦν δὴ κάλλιόν ἐστι μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι

ξείνους, οἵ τινές εἰσιν, ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδωδῆς.

ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;

ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε

οἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται

ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα

θαρσήσας· αὐτὴ γὰρ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θάρσος Ἀθήνη

θῆχʼ, ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο

ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν·

ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,

εἴρεαι ὁππόθεν εἰμέν· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.

ἡμεῖς ἐξ Ἰθάκης ὑπονηίου εἰλήλουθμεν·

πρῆξις δʼ ἥδʼ ἰδίη, οὐ δήμιος, ἣν ἀγορεύω.

πατρὸς ἐμοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ μετέρχομαι, ἤν που ἀκούσω,

δίου Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ποτέ φασι

σὺν σοὶ μαρνάμενον Τρώων πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι.

ἄλλους μὲν γὰρ πάντας, ὅσοι Τρωσὶν πολέμιζον,

πευθόμεθʼ, ἧχι ἕκαστος ἀπώλετο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ,

κείνου δʼ αὖ καὶ ὄλεθρον ἀπευθέα θῆκε Κρονίων.

οὐ γάρ τις δύναται σάφα εἰπέμεν ὁππόθʼ ὄλωλεν,

εἴθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου δάμη ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,

εἴτε καὶ ἐν πελάγει μετὰ κύμασιν Ἀμφιτρίτης.

τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα

κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας

ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας

πλαζομένου· πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.

μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,

ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.

λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,

100

τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.

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.) — 3.51 focus

So he spake, and placed in her hand the cup of sweet wine. But Pallas Athena rejoiced at the man's wisdom and judgment, in that to her first he gave the golden cup; and straightway she prayed earnestly to the lord Poseidon: 55 “Hear me, Poseidon, thou Earth-enfolder, and grudge not in answer to our prayer to bring these deeds to fulfillment. To Nestor, first of all, and to his sons vouchsafe renown, and then do thou grant to the rest gracious requital for this glorious hecatomb, even to all the men of Pylos ; 60 and grant furthermore that Telemachus and I may return when we have accomplished all that for which we came hither with our swift black ship.” Thus she prayed, and was herself fulfilling all. Then she gave Telemachus the fair two-handled¹ cup, and in like manner the dear son of Odysseus prayed. 65 Then when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off the spits, they divided the portions and feasted a glorious feast. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia ,² spoke first among them: “Now verily is it seemlier to ask and enquire 70 of the strangers who they are, since now they have had their joy of food. Strangers, who are ye? Whence do ye sail over the watery ways? Is it on some business, or do ye wander at random over the sea, even as pirates, who wander hazarding their lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?” 75 Then wise Telemachus took courage, and made answer, for Athena herself put courage in his heart, that he might ask about his father that was gone, and that good report might be his among men: “Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, 80 thou askest whence we are, and I will surely tell thee. We have come from Ithaca that is below Neion; but this business whereof I speak is mine own, and concerns not the people. I come after the wide-spread rumor of my father, if haply I may hear of it, even of goodly Odysseus of the steadfast heart, who once, men say, 85 fought by thy side and sacked the city of the Trojans. For of all men else, as many as warred with the Trojans, we learn where each man died a woeful death, but of him the son of Cronos has made even the death to be past learning; for no man can tell surely where he hath died,— 90 whether he was overcome by foes on the mainland, or on the deep among the waves of Amphitrite. Therefore am I now come to thy knees, if perchance thou wilt be willing to tell me of his woeful death, whether thou sawest it haply with thine own eyes, or didst hear from some other the story 95 of his wanderings;³ for beyond all men did his mother bear him to sorrow. And do thou nowise out of ruth or pity for me speak soothing words, but tell me truly how thou didst come to behold him. I beseech thee, if ever my father, noble Odysseus, promised aught to thee of word or deed and fulfilled it 100 in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered woes, be mindful of it now, I pray thee, and tell me the very truth.”

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.) — 3.69 focus

69 "Now," said he, "that our guests have done their dinner, it will be best to ask them who they are. Who, then, sir strangers, are you, and from what port have you sailed? Are you traders? Or do you sail the seas as rovers with your hand against every man, and every man's hand against you?"

75 Telemakhos answered boldly, for Athena had given him courage to ask about his father and get himself a good name [ kleos].

79 "Nestor," said he, "son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, you ask whence we come, and I will tell you. We come from Ithaca under Neritum, and the matter about which I would speak is of private not public import. I seek news [ kleos] of my unhappy father Odysseus, who is said to have sacked the town of Troy in company with yourself. We know what fate befell each one of the other heroes who fought at Troy , but as regards Odysseus heaven has hidden from us the knowledge even that he is dead at all, for no one can certify us in what place he perished, nor say whether he fell in battle on the mainland, or was lost at sea amid the waves of Amphitrite. Therefore I am suppliant at your knees, if haply you may be pleased to tell me of his melancholy end, whether you saw it with your own eyes, or heard it from some other traveler, for he was a man born to trouble. Do not soften things out of any pity for me, but tell me in all plainness exactly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever did you loyal service, either by word or deed, when you Achaeans were harassed at the district [ dêmos] of the Trojans, bear it in mind now as in my favor and tell me truly all."

102 "My friend," answered Nestor, "you recall a time of much sorrow to my mind, for the brave Achaeans suffered much both at sea, while privateering under Achilles, and in that district [ dêmos] when fighting before the great city of king Priam. Our best men all of them fell there - Ajax, Achilles, Patroklos peer of gods in counsel, and my own dear son Antilokhos, a man singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant. But we suffered much more than this; what mortal tongue indeed could tell the whole story? Though you were to stay here and question me for five years, or even six, I could not tell you all that the Achaeans suffered, and you would turn homeward weary of my tale before it ended. Nine long years did we try every kind of stratagem, but the hand of heaven was against us; during all this time there was no one who could compare with your father in subtlety - if indeed you are his son. I can hardly believe my eyes - and you talk just like him too - no one would say that people of such different ages could speak so much alike. He and I never had any kind of difference from first to last neither in camp nor council, but in singleness of heart and purpose [ noos] we advised the Argives how all might be ordered for the best.

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 3.51 focus

He spake, and in the hands of Pallas placed

The goblet of choice wine. Well pleased was she

With one so just and so discreet, - well pleased

That first to her he reached the cup of gold,

And thus she prayed to Neptune fervently : -

"Hear, Neptune, thou who dost embrace the earth,

And of thy grace disdain not to bestow

These blessings on thy suppliants. First of all

Vouchsafe to Nestor and his sons increase

Of glory; on the Pylian people next

Bestow, for this most sumptuous hecatomb,

Large recompense; and, lastly, grant to us

Telemachus and me - a safe return

To our own country with the end attained

Which brought us hither in our gallant bark."

Thus did she pray, while she fulfilled the prayer;

And then she handed to Telemachus

The fair round goblet, and in words like hers

The dear son of Ulysses prayed. Meanwhile

The Pylians, having roasted well the flesh

And drawn it from the spits, distributing

To each his portion, held high festival.

And when the calls of hunger and of thirst

Were silenced, Nestor, the Gerenian knight,

Began discourse, and thus bespake his guests :-

"The fitting time is come to ask our guests

Who they may be, since now their feast is o'er.

Say then, O strangers, who ye are, and whence

Ye come along the pathway of the deep.

Have ye an errand here, or do ye roam

The seas at large, like pirates, braving death,

And visiting with ravage foreign states?"

And then discreet Telemachus replied

Boldly, - for Pallas strengthened in that hour

100

His heart that he might confidently ask

News of his absent father, and so win

A worthy fame among the sons of men : -

"O Nestor, son of Neleus, pride of Greece !

Thou bid'st us tell thee whence we came, and I

105

Will faithfully declare it. We are come

From Ithaca, beneath the Neritus,

And private, and not general, is the cause

Of which I am to speak. I came to ask

Concerning my great father, the large souled

110

And nobly-born Ulysses, who 't is said

With thee, his friend in arms, laid waste the town

Of Ilium. We have heard where all the rest

Who warred against the Trojans were cut off,

And died sad deaths; his fate alone the son

115

Of Saturn hath not chosen to reveal,

Whether he fell on land by hostile hands,

Or while at sea was whelmed beneath the waves

Of Amphitrite. Wherefore to thy knees

I come, to ask that thou - if so thou wilt

120

Relate the manner of his mournful death,

As thou didst see it with thine eyes, or else

As thou from other wanderers hast heard

Its history; for she who brought him forth

Bore him to be unhappy. Think thou not

125

To soften aught, through tenderness to me,

In thy recital, but in faithful words

Tell me the whole, whatever thou hast seen.

And I conjure thee, that if, in his life,

My father, great Ulysses, ever gave

130

Promise of word or deed for thee, and kept

His promise, in the realm of Troy, where ye

Achaians bore such hardships, that thou now

Remember it and speak without disguise."

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 3.51 focus

He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl:

A secret pleasure touch'd Athena's soul,

To see the preference due to sacred age

Regarded ever by the just and sage.

Of Ocean's king she then implores the grace:

MINERVA

'O thou! whose arms this ample globe embrace,

'Fulfil our wish, and let thy glory shine
70

'On Nestor first, and Nestor's royal line;

'Next grant the Pylian states their just desires,

'Pleas'd with their hecatomb's ascending fires;

'Last, deign Telemachus and me to bless,

'And crown our voyage with desir'd success.'
75

Thus she: and, having paid the rite divine,

Gave to Ulysses' son the rosy wine.

Suppliant he pray'd. And now the victims dress'd

They draw, divide, and celebrate the feast.

The banquet done, the narrative old man,

Thus mild, the pleasing conference began:

NESTOR

'Now, gentle guests! the genial banquet o'er,

'It fits to ask ye, what your native shore,

'And whence your race? on what adventure, say,

'Thus far you wander through the watery way?
85

'Relate, if business, or the thirst of gain,

'Engage your journey o'er the pathless main:

'Where savage pirates seek through seas unknown

'The lives of others, venturous of their own.'

Urged by the precepts by the goddess given,

And fill'd with confidence infus'd from Heaven,

The youth, whom Pallas destin'd to be wise

And fam'd among the sons of men, replies:

TELEMACHUS

'Inquir'st thou, father! from what coast we came?

'(Oh grace and glory of the Grecian name!)
95

'From where high Ithaca o'erlooks the floods,

'Brown with o'er-arching shades and pendent woods,

'Us to these shores our filial duty draws,

'A private sorrow, not a public cause.

'My sire I seek, where'er the voice of fame
100

'Has told the glories of his noble name,

'The great Ulysses; fam'd from shore to shore

'For valour much, for hardy suffering more.

'Long time with thee before proud Ilion's wall

'In arms he fought: with thee beheld her fall.
105

'Of all the chiefs, this hero's fate alone

'Has Jove reserv'd, unheard of, and unknown;

'Whether in fields by hostile fury slain,

'Or sunk by tempests in the gulfy main,

'Of this to learn, oppress'd with tender fears,
110

'Lo, at thy knee his suppliant son appears.

'If or thy certain eye, or curious ear,

'Have learn'd his fate, the whole dark story clear:

'And, oh! whate'er Heaven destin'd to betide,

'Let neither flattery smooth, nor pity hide.
115

'Prepar'd I stand: he was but born to try

'The lot of man; to suffer, and to die.

'Oh then, if ever through the ten years' war

'The wise, the good Ulysses claim'd thy care;

'If e'er he join'd thy council, or thy sword,
120

'True in his deed, and constant to his word;

'Far as thy mind through backward time can see,

'Search all thy stores of faithful memory :

''Tis sacred truth I ask, and ask of thee.'

To him experienced Nestor thus rejoin'd :

125

NESTOR

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 3.51 focus

Then Pallas from his hand received the cup,

And pleased was to see his equity,

And then to Neptune sent her prayers up.

Neptune, said she, have to my prayer regard;

First Nestor and his sons with honour bless,

And of his people th' hecatomb reward,

And give Telemachus and me success.

Thus prayed she, and gave for what she prayed,

And to Telemachus then gave the cup,

And he to Neptune the same prayer said.

The meat being ready now and taken up,

And into messes cut, themselves they feast,

And when of hunger extinct was the force,

Then to his guests Nestor his speech address'd:

Friends, said he, now we time have to discourse,

Tell me, Who are you ? whence dye cross the main ?

Is it for traffic ? Or d'ye pleasure take,

As pirates walk at sea, to and again,

Others to spoil to set your lives at stake ?

To this, Telemachus with confidence

(Which into him the Goddess did inspire,

The better to obtain intelligence,

And reputation to himself acquire)

Answer'd: O Nestor Nelëiades,

The glory of the Greeks, we hither came

From Ithaca on no state-business,

But of my father to seek news from Fame,

Unbless'd Ulysses, who at Ilium

Together with you fought before the town.

Of th' other chiefs we hear what is become,

But where Ulysses died is still unknown,

Whether at land he slain were by the foe,

Or by the sea devoured he hath been;

But at your knees we hither come to know,

What you since then have heard of him or seen,

Wand'ring about, born to calamity.

Let no respect, or pity mitigate

Your story, howsoever sad it be.

Nothing but naked truth to me relate.

And I beseech you, for my father's sake,

If he before the town of Troy did well

Perform the service he did undertake,

That nothing but the very truth you tell.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 3.51 focus

Thus gave he her the cup of pleasant wine;

And since a wise and just man did design

The golden bowl first to her free receit,

Even to the Goddess it did add delight,

Who thus invok'd: "Hear thou, whose vast embrace

Enspheres the whole earth, nor disdain thy grace

To us that ask it in performing this:

To Nestor first, and these fair sons of his,

Vouchsafe all honour; and, next them, bestow

On all these Pylians, that have offer'd now

This most renowned hecatomb to thee,

Remuneration fit for them, and free;

And lastly deign Telemachus and me,

The work perform'd for whose effect we came,

Our safe return, both with our ship and fame."

Thus prayed she; and herself herself obey'd,

In th' end performing all for which she pray'd.

And now, to pray, and do as she had done,

She gave the fair round bowl t' Ulysses' son.

The meat then dress'd, and drawn, and serv'd t' each guest,

They celebrated a most sumptuous feast.

When appetite to wine and food allay'd,

Horse-taming Nestor then began, and said:

"Now life's desire is serv'd, as far as fare,

Time fits me to enquire what guests these are.

Fair guests, what are ye? And for what coast tries

Your ship the moist deeps? For fit merchandise,

Or rudely coast ye, like our men of prise,

100

The rough seas tempting, desperately erring,

The ill of others in their good conferring?"

The wise prince now his boldness did begin,

For Pallas' self had harden'd him within,

By this device of travel to explore

105

His absent father; which two girlonds wore;

His good by manage of his spirits; and then

To gain him high grace in th' accounts of men.

"O Nestor! still in whom Neleus lives!

And all the glory of the Greeks survives,

110

You ask from whence we are, and I relate:

From Ithaca (whose seat is situate

Where Neius, the renowned mountain, rears

His haughty forehead, and the honour bears

To be our sea-mark) we assay'd the waves.

115

The business, I must tell, our own good craves,

And not the public. I am come t' enquire,

If, in the fame that best men doth inspire

Of my most-suffering father, I may hear

Some truth of his estate now, who did bear

120

The name, being join'd in fight with you alone,

To even with earth the height of Ilion.

Of all men else, that any name did bear,

And fought for Troy, the several ends we hear;

But his death Jove keeps from the world unknown,

125

The certain fame thereof being told by none;

If on the continent by enemies slain,

Or with the waves eat of the ravenous main.

For his love 'tis that to your knees I sue,

That you would please, out of your own clear view,

130

T'assure his sad end; or say, if your ear

Hath heard of the unhappy wanderer,

To too much sorrow whom his mother bore.

You then by all your bounties I implore,

(If ever to you deed or word hath stood,

135

By my good father promis'd, rendered good

Amongst the Trojans, where ye both have tried

The Grecian suff'rance) that in nought applied

To my respect or pity you will glose,

But uncloth'd truth to my desires disclose."

140

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 3.51 focus

He ceased, and to her hand consign'd the cup,

Which Pallas gladly from a youth received

So just and wise, who to herself had first

The golden cup presented, and in prayer

Fervent the Sovereign of the Seas adored.

Hear, earth-encircler Neptune! O vouchsafe

To us thy suppliants the desired effect

Of this our voyage; glory, first, bestow

On Nestor and his offspring both, then grant

To all the Pylians such a gracious boon

As shall requite their noble offering well.

Grant also to Telemachus and me

To voyage hence, possess'd of what we sought

When hither in our sable bark we came.

So Pallas pray'd, and her own prayer herself

Accomplish'd. To Telemachus she gave

The splendid goblet next, and in his turn

Like prayer Ulysses' son also preferr'd.

And now (the banquet from the spits withdrawn)

They next distributed sufficient share

To each, and all were sumptuously regaled.

At length (both hunger satisfied and thirst)

Thus Nestor, the Gerenian Chief, began.

Now with more seemliness we may enquire,

After repast, what guests we have received.

Our guests! who are ye? Whence have ye the waves

Plough'd hither? Come ye to transact concerns

Commercial, or at random roam the Deep

Like pirates, who with mischief charged and woe

To foreign States, oft hazard life themselves?

Him answer'd, bolder now, but still discrete,

Telemachus: for Pallas had his heart

With manly courage arm'd, that he might ask

From Nestor tidings of his absent Sire,

And win himself distinction and renown.

Oh Nestor, Neleus' son, glory of Greece!

Thou askest whence we are. I tell thee whence.

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From Ithaca, by the umbrageous woods

Of Neritus o'erhung, by private need,

Not public, urged, we come. My errand is

To seek intelligence of the renown'd

Ulysses; of my noble father, praised

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For dauntless courage, whom report proclaims

Conqueror, with thine aid, of sacred Troy.

We have already learn'd where other Chiefs

Who fought at Ilium, died; but Jove conceals

Even the death of my illustrious Sire

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In dull obscurity; for none hath heard

Or confident can answer, where he died;

Whether he on the continent hath fallen

By hostile hands, or by the waves o'erwhelm'd

Of Amphitrite, welters in the Deep.

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For this cause, at thy knees suppliant, I beg

That thou would'st tell me his disastrous end,

If either thou beheld'st that dread event

Tholf, or from some wanderer of the Greeks

Hast heard it; for my father at his birth

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Was, sure, predestined to no common woes.

Neither through pity, or o'erstrain'd respect

Flatter me, but explicit all relate

Which thou hast witness'd. If my noble Sire

E'er gratified thee by performance just

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Of word or deed at Ilium, where ye fell

So numerous slain in fight, oh, recollect

Now his fidelity, and tell me true.

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 3 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK III

THEN, as the sun rushed up from the beautiful lake of the ocean

Into a heaven of brass and brought back light for immortals,

Yea and for mortals that live on the earth, rich giver of harvests,

Unto the Pylian city they came, strong castle of Neleus.

Here on the shore of the ocean the people had slain as oblation

Bulls all black to the blue-haired god, Earth-shaking Poseidon.

Companies nine were there, five hundred seated in each one

Feasting, and nine of the bulls each company kept for a portion.

Busy were all with the tasting of livers and burning of thigh-bones

While to the land these bore with their well-built vessel, and straightway

Striking the canvas they brailed it aloft; and they moored her and landed.

Out of her Telemachus stept down, and before him Athene.

First then breaking the silence the grey-eyed goddess addressed him :

"Telemachus, no need is at hand, not the least, to be bashful.

Even for this thou hast traversed the ocean—to hear of thy father,

What land hideth his bones and what was the doom he encountered.

Come now, straightly address thee to Nestor, the tamer of horses,

So shall we learn what counsel he holdeth concealed in his bosom.

Come and entreat him thyself, and the whole of the truth he will tell thee

Ne'er will he speak what is false; right wise is the heart of the hero."

Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer:

"Mentor, how shall I venture to go—how dare to salute him?

Never as yet was I practised at all in the art of a speaker;

Ay and a youth feels bashful to question a man that is older."

Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene:

"Telemachus, some thoughts thou'lt find in the depths of thy bosom,

Some will be sent by a god, since never and never (I know it)

Save by the will of the gods thou wast born and art come to thy manhood."

These words uttered, at once went forward Pallas Athene

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

Soon to the throng close-seated they came of the Pylian people.

Here in the midst with his sons sat Nestor; round him his comrades

Roasting or spitting the flesh were busy preparing the banquet.

These, when the strangers they saw, came hurrying eagerly forward,

Hands outstretching in welcome and bidding them both to be seated.

Foremost was Nestor's son Peisistratus; close he approached them,

Welcomed them both with the hand and gave them as seats at the banquet

Thick soft fleeces that lay on the sand of the salt sea water,

Close by the side of his sire and his brother the prince Thrasymedes.

Portions before them he set of the entrail meat, and he poured them

Wine in a goblet of gold, and he pledged them a welcome, addressing

Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis :

“Offer a prayer, O guest, to the King Earth-shaking Poseidon,

Since to the god of the sea is the feast that ye chance to arrive at.

Pour thy libation and offer thy prayer, as the custom ordaineth ;

Then this goblet of wine honey-sweet pass on to thy comrade

Bidding him make a libation and pray—and I doubt not that he too

Prays to the gods everlasting; for gods are needed by all men.

Younger however he seemeth—in years far rather my equal;

Wherefore first to thyself do I offer the cup of libation."

These words spoken, the goblet of wine sweet-savoured he tendered.

Much did Athena rejoice at the stripling's wisdom and judgment,

First to herself that he offered the gold-wrought cup of libation;

Fervently then did she utter a prayer to the god of the ocean :

"Hear me, Poseidaon, Earth-girdler, hear me! Refuse not

Answer to this our prayer! grant all these things a fulfilment !

Firstly to Nestor himself and his sons give glory and honour,

Then to the rest vouchsafe—to the whole of the Pylian people—

Favour and grace in requital of this their splendid oblation.

Us too grant that we safely return, when it all is accomplished,

All, for the winning of which we are come in the swift black vessel."

Thus as she prayed, of herself she was bringing it all to fulfilment.

Then from the goddess receiving the two-cupped beautiful goblet

Prayed in the selfsame manner the well-loved son of Odysseus.

Now when the outside meat they had roasted and drawn from the skewers,

All they apportioned and sat them adown to a glorious banquet,

Till, when at last they had lost all longing for meat and the wine-cup,

Then he addressed them, the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:

"Now is a moment befitting to ask and to question the strangers

Touching themselves for they now are fully contented with feasting.

Friends, come tell of yourselves. Whence sail ye the paths of the waters?

Come ye to chaffer for gain, or recklessly roaming at random

Like to the pirates and rovers that wander and rob on the ocean,

Setting their lives on the hazard in bringing disaster on others?"

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer;

Boldly he spake, for Athena herself in his bosom had planted

Courage to ask of his sire who was vanished so long from his homeland,

Yea and honour and glory to win in the land of the living:

"Nestor, Neleus' son, great glory of all the Achaeans,

Whence we arrive thou hast asked me. Behold, I will tell thee exactly.

Hither we came from the Ithacan isle 'neath Neïon's headland.

This is a quest of my own, not a matter that toucheth the people.

Following far-spread rumour I journey in search of my father,

Even of godlike Odysseus the brave, who, they tell me, aforetime

Stood at thy side in the battle and plundered the Ilian city.

Now of the rest of the heroes, as many as warred with the Trojans,

Tidings we hear, where any a pitiful doom hath encountered,

While for the fate of my sire—it is kept untold by Cronion :

None hath the power to say quite certainly where he is perished,

Whether by hostile tribes overwhelmed he was slain on the dry land,

Whether he lies in the depths mid the billows of Amphitrite.

Wherefore now to thy knees I am come, in the hope thou art willing

News of his pitiful death to impart, if perchance thou beheldst it

Even with thine own eyes, or hast heard some tale from another,

One who has wandered—for destined to ill from his birth was Odysseus.

Nor do thou shrink to offend, nor speak soft words in compassion;

Tell me exactly the truth—how far thou hast chanced to behold him.

Lo, I entreat thee if ever my father, the noble Odysseus,

Either by word or by action accomplished the thing that he promised

Where in the Trojan land ye Achaeans suffered affliction,

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This, I beseech thee, remember, and tell me the whole as it happened."

Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:

"Ah, dear friend, thou recallest the sorrows that once in the distant

Trojan land we endured, the invincible sons of Achaea—

All those toils that we suffered in ships on the mist-bound ocean,

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Seeking for spoil wherever Achilles was wishful to lead us.

How too fighting in front of the strong-built city of Priam

Battle we waged. Here fell of Achaeans the best and the bravest;

Here lies Ajax, the equal of Ares; here is Achilles,

Here Patroclus, in counsel a peer of the gods everlasting;

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Here too lieth my son, my beloved, the strong and the noble

Antilochus, who with fleetness excelled in the race and the battle:

Ay and besides all this, what travail unending we suffered—

Where is the mortal on earth to be found that can fully relate it?

Even for five whole years, or for six, 'twere vain to abide here

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Asking to hear of the woes once borne by the noble Achaeans;

Ere it was told, outwearied, I ween, thou'dst sail for thy homeland.

Nine years warring at Troy did we busily scheme for its downfall,

Weaving a tissue of wiles, which Zeus scarce granted fulfilment.

There might never another with him in devices of wisdom

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Dare to compete, since far he surpassed all others in cunning,

Godlike Odysseus I mean, ay even thy father—if truly

He was thy sire; and amazement possesseth me while I behold thee,

Seeing that verily even in speech thou art like him, nor would one

Say that a man so young could speak so like to an elder.

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All these years have never myself and the godlike Odysseus

Spoken diversely at meetings of men or the councils of chieftains;

Ever we held one mind, and with counsels of prudence and wisdom

Planned for the Greeks that it all might turn to the highest advantage.

Yet, when at last we had wasted the high-built city of Priam,

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After from thence we had sailed and a god had dispersed the Achaeans,

Then in his heart did the Father a terrible homeward returning

Plot for them, seeing that neither with wisdom at all nor with justice

Most of them acted; and many encountered a doom right doleful,

Whelmed by the wrath of the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus the Almighty;

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Yea, it was she that the quarrel excited between the Atridae;

These then called to the place of assembly the host of Achaeans

Hurriedly, all in disorderly haste, when the sun was a-sinking.

Heavy with wine they collected together, the sons of Achaea.

Both then spake of the reason for which they had summoned the people;

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First Menelaus addressed him to all the Achaeans and bade them

Think of the homeward return o'er broad expanses of ocean;

Nor pleased this Agamemnon at all, for he ordered the people

Still to remain and sacred oblations of cattle to offer,

Thus to appease by atonement the terrible wrath of Athene,

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Fool that he was, not knowing she ne'er would list to persuasion,

Seeing that lightly is turned not the mind of the gods everlasting.

Thus then violent words exchanging the one with the other

Stood these two; but the host of the well-greaved sons of Achaea

Rose with a terrible din, and in twain was divided the council.

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All that night did we lie and with hearts indignant we brooded,

Angered the one with the other; for Zeus our ruin was planning;

Then, at the dawn, down dragging the ships to the vast salt ocean

Straight we embarked our spoil, deep-girdled women and chattels,

While that a half of the host hung back, and remaining encamped there

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Kept with the King Agamemnon Atrides, as sheep with a shepherd.

Thus then half of us mounted the vessels, and rowing them swiftly

Voyaged—for calmed by a god was the ocean that teemeth with monsters.

Landing on Ténedos island we made to the gods an oblation,

Yearning for home; but the Father of heaven had planned to prevent it,

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Pitiless god, who aroused once more fierce quarrels amongst us.

Some then turning again their twy-beaked galleys departed,

Even the wise and the wary Odysseus with all of his comrades,

Taking the part once more of the King Agamemnon Atrides.

Then with the rest of my ships all following closely behind me

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Thence did I flee; for I saw that a deity plotted us evil;

Fled too, rousing his mates, Tydides equal of Ares.

Following later behind us the fair-haired prince Menelaus

Found us in Lesbos arrived, and the long sea-voyage debating,

Whether to steer for the sea from the coast of precipitous Chios,

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Making the Psyrian isle, and keeping the island to larboard,

Or to the landward of Chios to hold by tempestuous Mimas;

This we entreated the god to declare by an omen, and giving

Manifest answer he bade us the midmost sea to Euboea

Boldly to cross and escape by the path that was shortest from peril.

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Then did a stern-wind shrilling arise, and it blew, and the vessels

Speedily traversed the realm of the fishes, until at Geraestus

During the night they arrived; and we offered of bulls to Poseidon

Many a thigh, since crossed was a mighty expanse of the ocean.

Four days after at Argos a part of the gallant squadron,

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Vessels of Tydeus' son, Diomedes, tamer of horses,

Anchored; but onward for Pylos I held, and the favouring stern-wind

Never was quenched from the day that a deity sent it to waft us.

Thus I arrived, dear child, not knowing what happed, and I learnt not

Aught of the rest—who safely returned, who perished returning;

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Only the rumours I hear as I sit in the hall of my palace;

These, as is right, will I tell to thee fully, and hide from thee nothing.

Safely, they say, came home the ferocious Myrmidon spearmen,

Led by the glorious son of the dauntless-hearted Achilles;

Safely returned Philoctetes, the far-famed offspring of Poias;

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Likewise Idomeneus gained Creta with all his companions,

All that escaped from the war—since none were reft by the ocean.

What was the fate of Atrides ye know, though far is your homeland—

How he returned, and his death was so cruelly planned by Aegisthus:

Ay but Aegisthus himself was repaid in a terrible manner.

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So is it always good for a son to be left when a mortal

Perisheth; even as here 'twas the son of the slain that avenged him,

Killing the crafty Aegisthus, who murdered his glorious father.

Also do thou, dear lad (as in form thou art comely and stalwart),

Show thee courageous, and win thee a name in the age that is coming.”

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Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Nestor, Neleus' son, great glory of all the Achaeans,

Grandly indeed did he wreak his revenge, and the land of Achaea

Ever shall spread his renown till it reach unborn generations.

Would that the gods might will with a strength like his to endue me

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Thus to repay these suitors for all their cruel transgressions,

All the infatuate deeds that they wickedly scheme for my ruin.

Ah but, alas, not such is the fortune that destiny spun us,

Me and my father! Whatever befalls, it is needful to bear it."

Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:

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"Now that thy words, dear friend, have waked in my mind a remembrance,

Truly they tell me that suitors who woo for thy mother in numbers

Throng to thy palace and do thee despite, devising thy ruin.

Say, dost thou willingly suffer the insult? or else do the people

There in thy country dislike thee, obeying a warning from heaven ?

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Yet—who knows?— he can come and requite this iniquitous outrage,

Either appearing alone or with all of the host of Achaea.

Ah! were only the will of the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Thee such love to vouchsafe as she granted the famous Odysseus

Erst in the Trojan land, where many afflictions we suffered!

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(Never in sooth did I see such visible favour of heaven

Such as the manifest aid he was given by Pallas Athene.)

Were it but only her will such favouring love to vouchsafe thee,

Some of the suitors, methinks, would grow forgetful of wedlock."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

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"Sire, not yet, do I fear me, will this thou hast said be accomplished:

Great is the import thereof; awe filleth my heart, and unhoped for

Were the event, should even the gods permit it to happen."

Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene :

"Telemachus, what word by the door of thy lips hath escaped thee!

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Easily e'en from afar can a god, if he wishes, restore one.

I for myself would choose full many a toil and affliction,

Ere that I won me a day of return and arrived at my homeland,

Rather than come and be slain at my hearth, like King Agamemnon

Craftily trapped to his death by his wife and the traitor Aegisthus.

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Truly not even the gods have power, though much they may love him,

Death that is common to all to defend from a mortal, whenever

Bringing his destined doom low-laying death overtakes him."

Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Mentor, hereof let us cease to debate; let us sorrow in silence.

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Never shall this prove true; he shall never return; for already

Planned by the deathless gods is his doom; death's darkness awaits him.

Now I am wishful to turn to a theme far other and question

Nestor, who all surpasseth in wise discernment and counsel,

Since, it is said, he hath reigned through three generations of mortals;

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Yea and he seemeth indeed in appearance like an immortal.

Nestor, Neleus' son, I beseech thee, relate to me truly,

How was Atrides slain, wide-governing King Agamemnon?

Where meanwhile was the prince Menelaus? and how did Aegisthus

Use such craft as to murder a man so greatly the stronger?

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Say, was the prince not there, in Achaea and Argos, but elsewhere

Wandering over the world, when the bold foul crime was accomplished?"

Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:

"Well then listen, my son, while all of the truth I relate thee.

E'en of thyself canst clearly conceive what end had befallen

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Had but the other Atrides, the fair-haired prince Menelaus,

Coming from Troy discovered Aegisthus alive in the palace:

Verily over the corse of the dead no earth had they scattered;

Dogs and the ravening fowls of the heaven had torn it to pieces,

Cast from the city afar on the plain; of the women of Argos

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None had bewailed him; for truly a terrible deed he committed.

While in a far-off land enduring so many a hardship

Troy we besieged, in his idle retreat mid the meadows of Argos

Aye with his flattering words Agamemnon's wife he was tempting.

Now at the first she rejected the shameless deed he suggested,

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Fair Clytemnestra; for good was the heart that she bare in her bosom.

Yea and moreover at court was a bard, whom King Agamemnon

Sailing for Troy had enjoined full straitly to tend on his consort.

Yet, when at last by the will of the gods was determined her ruin,

Then did Aegisthus removing the bard to a desolate island

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Leave him to furnish a spoil and a feast to the birds of the heaven:

Her to his home as a lover he led, and she willingly followed.

Many a fat ox-thigh did he burn at the shrines of immortals,

Many a rich-worked web and a treasure of gold he suspended,

Now that the deed was fulfilled that his heart ne'er ventured to hope for.

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Meantime homeward returning from Troy were sailing together

I and Atrides the king, our fleets consorted in friendship.

Sunium's cape we had reached, high hallowed headland of Athens;

Here was the pilot of prince Menelaus by Phoebus Apollo

Stricken with painless shafts which smote him and suddenly slew him,

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E'en as the rudder he held and swiftly was speeding the vessel,

Phrontis Onétorides, who surpassed all mortals as helmsman

Vessels to pilot when storms came suddenly sweeping upon them.

Thus was the prince held back, though eager to haste on the journey,

Wishing his mate to inter and with funeral rites to bewail him.

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Hence he at last set sail and, over the wine-dark ocean

Steering his hollow ships, to the mountainous cape of Malea

Straightly he ran; but a course right wretched the god of the thunder

Shaped for him then; outpouring the shrill-voiced blast of the storm-wind,

Rollers he sent upsurging aloft and enormous as mountains.

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Sundered in twain was the fleet: some drave to the island of Creta,

Where the Cydonian race by the streams of Iardanus dwelleth.

Here is a smooth and precipitous rock confronting the ocean

Out in the mist-bound deep on the uttermost borders of Gortyn,

Where, on the left of the cape, great rollers aroused by the south wind

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Sweep upon Phaestus, and small is the rock-spit barring the surges.

Hither arriving with half of the fleet were saved from destruction

Hardly the crews; while hurled on the sharp-edged crags by the rollers

Perished the ships. Five others—the rest of his blue-prow'd vessels—

Carried away by the waves and the wind were drifted to Egypt.

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Here did he gain much wealth, and a treasure of gold he collected,

Wandering thus with his ships midst nations of barbarous language.

Meanwhile plotted Aegisthus at home his iniquitous treason,

Murdered Atrides and bowed to subjection beneath him the people.

Thus seven years did he reign mid the treasures of golden Mycenae;

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Then, in the eighth, o'ertook him his doom, for the godlike Orestes

Back from the city of Athens returned and he slew the assassin,

Crafty Aegisthus, who murdered his sire, great King Agamemnon.

Now, when the slaying was done, and a funeral feast to the Argives

O'er his detestable mother he gave and the craven Aegisthus,

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Lo, on the selfsame day Menelaus good at the war-cry

Landed, and many a treasure he brought as the freight of his vessels.

Ay and, my friend, take care, nor long from thy country absent thee,

Leaving possessions behind, and strangers too in thy homestead,

Mortals outrageous as these, lest parting thy substance among them

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All of thy wealth they devour, and vain prove also thy journey.

Rather I earnestly bid and exhort that to prince Menelaus

Straight thou proceed; for a short while since he returned from a far land,

Ay from a country of men whence none might dream in his spirit

E'er to return, had the blasts of the storm once forced him to wander

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Into a sea so mighty that even the birds of the heaven

Not in a year may traverse the vast and terrible water.

Come, set forth with thy vessel at once and thy comrades; or wilt thou

Rather by land, I will lend thee a chariot gladly and horses,

Ay and my sons will be ready, I know it, as guides to escort thee

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Unto divine Lacedaemon to find fair-haired Menelaus;

Yea and thyself shalt entreat him the whole of the truth to reveal thee;

Ne'er will he speak what is false; right wise is the heart of the hero."

Ere he had ended the sun sank down and the gloom was approaching.

Then from the midst of them answered the grey-eyed goddess Athene:

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"Verily, sire, right well were all these matters related.

Now let us order the tongues to be sliced and the wine to be mingled;

So shall we unto Poseidon and all of the other immortals

Offer libation, and then shall bethink us of sleep—for 'tis bed-time;

Sunk is already the day in the gloom of the west, nor beseems it

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Longer to sit at a feast of the gods, but to think of departure."

Thus she addressed them, the daughter of Zeus. To her words they attended.

Over the hands of the feasters the water was poured by the henchmen,

While that the youths wreathed high with the foaming liquor the wine-bowls.

Then, when to each they had handed a wine-cup primed for libation,

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Casting the tongues in the flames they arose and poured it upon them.

So when at last they had poured and had drunk to their hearts' satisfaction,

Then did Athena and also the godlike son of Odysseus

Both of them wish to be gone and return to the hollow vessel ;

Nestor however with words of persuasion attempted to stay them:

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"Father Zeus and all of the gods everlasting forfend it!

Ne'er will I let you depart to the swift-winged vessel, and treat me

Like to a man whose house quite lacketh in raiment—a pauper—

One that has got no rugs in his home nor plenty of blankets

Both for the use of himself and his guests—soft bedding to sleep in.

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Nay, I possess in my house both wrappers and beautiful blankets,

Nor shall the well-loved son, by my troth, of a man as Odysseus

Sleep on the deck of a ship while yet in the land of the living

Still I exist, or a son or a daughter be left in my palace

Strangers to welcome as guests, should ever they chance to arrive here."

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Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene:

"Well is it spoken in sooth, dear father, and well it beseemeth

Telemachus to obey, since thus 'twere certainly better.

Wherefore now let him follow thee hence and repose till the morning

There in the halls of thy palace; but I to the black-hulled vessel

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Mean to return, to inspirit my mates and to bring them the tidings,

Being the one of the crew that alone might claim to be elder,

Since that the others, the striplings that follow as friends and as shipmates,

All are equals in age of the high-souled son of Odysseus.

Then I shall lay me to rest by the side of the black-hulled vessel

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Just for the night, and at dawn to the bold Cauconian people

Mean to depart, to collect me a debt now owing a long time,

Neither a trifle. But him take back to thy home, and to-morrow

Send in a car with thy son as a guide, and provide him with horses,

Even the swiftest of all of thy steeds and the best at endurance."

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These words spoken, departed the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Likened in form to an osprey; and all were filled with amazement,

Yea and the long-lived king was astonished whenas he beheld it.

Grasping the hand of the son of Odysseus he hailed and addressed him :

"Truly, my friend, thou'lt prove as a man not a coward or weakling,

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Seeing that e'en in thy youth thou'rt thus by immortals attended.

Surely was this, of the gods that inhabit Olympian mansions,

None but the daughter of Zeus, most glorious Tritogeneia,

Even the goddess that honoured thy valiant sire mid the Argives.

Grant me thy grace, O queen! Fair fame vouchsafe, I beseech thee,

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Unto myself and my sons and my honoured and well-loved consort;

So shall I offer thee, goddess, a broad-brow'd heifer, a yearling

Still unbroken nor yet brought under the yoke by the ploughman;

Such is the victim I promise to slay, and her horns shall be gilded."

Thus did he speak, and his prayer was accepted by Pallas Athene.

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Then uprising the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor

Led to his beautiful palace his sons and his daughters' husbands.

Now when at length they had come to the far-failed halls of the chieftain,

All of them sat them in order adown on the couches and armchairs,

Then by the ancient monarch was mixed for his guests in a wine-bowl

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Wine sweet-savoured: eleven the years it had stood in the store-room

Ere that the matron had opened the jar, unloosing its cover;

Such was the wine that he mixed in the crater, and making libation

Prayed to Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis.

So when at last they had poured and had drunk to their hearts' satisfaction,

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All of the others departed to sleep, each one to his homestead,

All save Telemachus, dear son of the godlike Odysseus:

Him gave lodgment the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor

Under the echoing porch, on a bedstead with beautiful carvings,

Next to that spearman renown'd, Peisistratus, leader of heroes,

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Sole of his sons still left an unmarried youth in the palace,

Then did he lay him to rest in the innermost room of the mansion,

Where was arrayed by the lady his wife their bedding and bedstead.

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

Hastily roused him the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor.

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Issuing forth from his palace he sat on the polished stonework,

Where in the front of the high house-door were benches of marble

White and gleaming with unguent, whereon was accustomed aforetimes

Neleus oft to recline, that peer of immortals in counsel.

Neleus long since mastered by Fate had departed to Hades;

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Now sat there Gerenian Nestor, Achaea's defender,

Holding his sceptre, and round him his sons came thronging together

Issuing forth each one from his room, Stratius and Echephron,

Perseus and Arétus and the equal of gods Thrasymedes.

These as the sixth the heroic and young Peisistratus followed,

415

Bringing the godlike Telemachus; and they set him beside them.

Then brake silence the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor :

"Haste ye, I pray, dear sons, and quickly accomplish my longing;

Firstly of all will I sue for the grace of the goddess Athene,

Since at my bountiful feast to the god she was visibly present.

420

One of you go to the plain for a heifer, and see that she quickly

Hither be brought. Let a herd of the cattle be ordered to drive her.

One to the black-hulled vessel of Telemachus great-hearted

Hasten, to summon his mates, and let twain of them only remain there.

Then let another at once go order Laërces the goldsmith

425

Hither to come for the purpose of gilding the horns of the heifer.

All of you others remain here closely and send to the handmaids;

Bid them to spread us a feast in the far-famed hall of the palace,

Also to hand round chairs and to bring bright water and fuel."

So when he spoke all hastened to work; soon come was the heifer

430

Out of the plain; soon came from the swift-winged well-built vessel

Comrades of Telemachus great-hearted; and come was the smith too

Bearing the tools of his craft in his hands and his smithy utensils,

Even the anvil and hammer and pincers of delicate fabric,

Made for the working of gold; came also the goddess Athene,

435

Fain to receive the oblation; and old Gerenian Nestor

Gave to Laërces the gold, and he gilded the horns of the heifer

Skilfully, making the goddess rejoice at the beautiful victim.

Leading the cow by the horns now came Stratius and Echephron;

Water besides for the hands in a basin with flowery carvings

440

Arétus bare forth from a room; in his left was a basket

Holding the groats of the corn; Thrasymedes steadfast in battle

Stood with his sharp-edged axe by the cow, all ready to fell her;

Perseus lifted the bowl for the blood, while Nestor the aged

Opened the rites with ablution and sprinkled the grain, to Athene

445

Ardently praying, and cast in the flames as an earnest the forelock.

Now when at last were ended the prayers and the barley was sprinkled,

Instantly Nestor's son, high-spirited prince Thrasymedes,

Stepping anigh smote home with the axe: on the nape it descended

Cutting the tendons, and loosened the might of the heifer; and wailing

450

Rose from the women, the wives of the sons and the consort of Nestor,

Eurydice, who of prince Clymenus was the first-born daughter.

Then from the wide-way'd earth they uplifted the head of the victim

Baring the throat, and the leader of men Peisistratus cut it.

Out of it flowed black blood; from the bones departed the spirit.

455

Soon was the body dismembered, and cutting the meat from the thigh-bones

All of it duly they sliced and covered it over with caul-fat,

Making it double, and laid at the top raw chunks of the carcass.

This did the old king burn on the billets, and fiery red wine

Over it poured; and with five-pronged forks stood striplings beside him.

460

Now when the meat of the thighs was consumed and the liver was eaten,

Chopping the rest of it small on the skewers they spitted the pieces;

Then with the long sharp spits in their hands they began with the roasting.

Meantime bathed was the son of Odysseus by fair Polycaste,

Latest-born of the daughters of old Neleïan Nestor.

465

So when at length he was bathed and anointed with oil of the olive,

Round him she cast fair raiment a beautiful mantle and doublet;

Out of the bath then stepping, in semblance like an immortal,

Down by the prince of the people, the old King Nestor, he sat him.

So when the outside meat they had roasted and drawn from the skewers,

470

Sitting them down they partook of the banquet; and nobles as henchmen

Served them and carried the wine in the goblets of gold to the feasters.

Now when at last they had lost all longing for meat and the wine-cup,

Thus brake silence the warrior-knight, Gerenian Nestor :

"Sons, come send for the car and the fair-maned horses, and quickly

475

Yoke them, that Telemachus may forthwith fare on his journey."

Thus did he speak, and they gave good heed to his words and obeyed him;

Unto a car they attached full quickly the fleet-paced horses,

Also provisions of bread and of wine were stowed by the house-dame,

Relishes too such food as is eaten by Zeus-loved princes.

480

Forthwith Telemachus on the beautiful chariot mounted,

Also that leader of men Peisistratus, offspring of Nestor,

Into the car upmounted beside him, and grasping the rein-straps

Whipped to a start, and the horses at once right willingly cantered

Down to the plain, soon leaving the steep-built city of Pylos,

485

Then for the whole of the day kept shaking the yoke on their shoulders,

Till, when the sun sank down and darkened was every roadway,

Unto the township of Phera they came and the house of Diocles,

Offspring of Orsilochus, who was son of the River Alphéus ;

Here did they rest for the night, and as guests he entreated them kindly.

490

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

Straightway yoking the steeds, and the inlaid chariot mounting,

Forth of the echoing portal they drave and the gate of the courtyard.

Then did he whip to a start, and forward they willingly galloped,

First to a plain wide-waving with wheat, then further and further

495

Eager to finish their course pressed onward the fleet-paced horses,

Till, as the sun sank down and darkened was every roadway,

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

Aided by the goddess Athena, young Telemachus becomes an ideal guest for his host, the elderly Nestor. Telemachus dearly needs the diplomatic skills of Athena, since Nestor is a prime devotee of the god Poseidon, who is not only a major rival of the goddess but also a relentless antagonist of Odysseus. Nestor’s stories about the travels of the Achaeans as they try to make their way back home after the Trojan War will help connect Telemachus with the ultimate story of his father’s own homecoming.

draft js image error Nestor’s Sacrifice (1805). Engraving after John Flaxman (1755-1826). Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996. Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported).

source

Homer Odyssey 3.51

Samuel Butler (Translator)

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