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1 And they came to the hollow land of Lacedaemon with its many ravines, and drove to the palace of glorious Menelaus. Him they found giving a marriage feast to his many kinsfolk for his noble son and daughter within his house. 5 His daughter he was sending to the son of Achilles, breaker of the ranks of men, for in the land of Troy he first had promised and pledged that he would give her, and now the gods were bringing their marriage to pass. Her then he was sending forth with horses and chariots to go her way to the glorious city of the Myrmidons, over whom her lord was king; 10 but for his son he was bringing to his home from Sparta the daughter of Alector, even for the stalwart Megapenthes, who was his son well-beloved,¹ born of a slave woman; for to Helen the gods vouchsafed issue no more after that she had at the first borne her lovely child, Hermione, who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite. 15 So they were feasting in the great high-roofed hall, the neighbors and kinsfolk of glorious Menelaus, and making merry; and among them a divine minstrel was singing to the lyre, and two tumblers whirled up and down through the midst of them, as he began his song. 20 Then the two, the prince Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor, halted at the gateway of the palace, they and their two horses. And the lord Eteoneus came forth and saw them, the busy squire of glorious Menelaus; and he went through the hall to bear the tidings to the shepherd of the people. 25 So he came near and spoke to him winged words: “Here are two strangers, Menelaus, fostered of Zeus, two men that are like the seed of great Zeus. But tell me, shall we unyoke for them their swift horses, or send them on their way to some other host, who will give them entertainment?” 30 Then, stirred to sore displeasure, fair-haired Menelaus spoke to him: “Aforetime thou was not wont to be a fool, Eteoneus, son of Boethous, but now like a child thou talkest folly. Surely we two ate full often hospitable cheer of other men, ere we came hither in the hope that Zeus 35 would hereafter grant us respite from sorrow. Nay, unyoke the strangers' horses, and lead the men forward into the house, that they may feast.” So he spoke, and the other hastened through the hall, and called to the other busy squires to follow along with him. They loosed the sweating horses from beneath the yoke 40 and tied them at the stalls of the horses, and flung before them spelt, and mixed therewith white barley. Then they tilted the chariot against the bright entrance walls, and led the men into the divine palace. But at the sight they marvelled as they passed through the palace of the king, fostered of Zeus; 45 for there was a gleam as of sun or moon over the high-roofed house of glorious Menelaus. But when they had satisfied their eyes with gazing they went into the polished baths and bathed.

Odyssey. Homer. A. T. Murray (Translator). London. 1919.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

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.) — 4.1 focus

οἱ δʼ ἷξον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,

πρὸς δʼ ἄρα δώματʼ ἔλων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

τὸν δʼ εὗρον δαινύντα γάμον πολλοῖσιν ἔτῃσιν

υἱέος ἠδὲ θυγατρὸς ἀμύμονος ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

τὴν μὲν Ἀχιλλῆος ῥηξήνορος υἱέι πέμπεν·

ἐν Τροίῃ γὰρ πρῶτον ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε

δωσέμεναι, τοῖσιν δὲ θεοὶ γάμον ἐξετέλειον.

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι πέμπε νέεσθαι

Μυρμιδόνων προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν.

υἱέι δὲ Σπάρτηθεν Ἀλέκτορος ἤγετο κούρην,

ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος γένετο κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης

ἐκ δούλης· Ἑλένῃ δὲ θεοὶ γόνον οὐκέτʼ ἔφαινον,

ἐπεὶ δὴ τὸ πρῶτον ἐγείνατο παῖδʼ ἐρατεινήν,

Ἑρμιόνην, ἣ εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης.

ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα

γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

φορμίζων, δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατʼ αὐτούς,

μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος, ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.

τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν προθύροισι δόμων αὐτώ τε καὶ ἵππω,

Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,

στῆσαν· ὁ δὲ προμολὼν ἴδετο κρείων Ἐτεωνεύς,

ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν,

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ξείνω δή τινε τώδε, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,

ἄνδρε δύω, γενεῇ δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἔικτον.

ἀλλʼ εἴπʼ, ἤ σφωιν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους,

ἦ ἄλλον πέμπωμεν ἱκανέμεν, ὅς κε φιλήσῃ.

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

οὐ μὲν νήπιος ἦσθα, Βοηθοΐδη Ἐτεωνεῦ,

τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πάϊς ὣς νήπια βάζεις.

ἦ μὲν δὴ νῶι ξεινήια πολλὰ φαγόντε

ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους

ξείνων, ἐς δʼ αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δὲ μεγάροιο διέσσυτο, κέκλετο δʼ ἄλλους

ὀτρηροὺς θεράποντας ἅμα σπέσθαι ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.

οἱ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,

καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐφʼ ἱππείῃσι κάπῃσι,

πὰρ δʼ ἔβαλον ζειάς, ἀνὰ δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἔμιξαν,

ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,

αὐτοὺς δʼ εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες

θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος·

ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐυξέστας λούσαντο.

Translations (8)

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.) — 4.1 focus

1 They reached the low lying city of Lacedaemon , where they drove straight to the halls of Menelaos. They found him in his own house, feasting with his many clansmen in honor of the wedding of his son, and also of his daughter, whom he was marrying to the son of that valiant warrior Achilles. He had given his consent and promised her to him while he was still at Troy , and now the gods were bringing the marriage about; so he was sending her with chariots and horses to the city of the Myrmidons over whom Achilles’ son was reigning. For his only son he had found a bride from Sparta , daughter of Alektor. This son, Megapenthes, was born to him of a bondwoman, for heaven granted Helen no more children after she had borne Hermione, who was fair as golden Aphrodite herself.

15 So the neighbors and kinsmen of Menelaos were feasting and making merry in his house. There was a singer also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune.

20 Telemakhos and the son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate, whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaos came out, and as soon as he saw them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master. He went close up to him and said, "Menelaos, there are some strangers come here, two men, who look like sons of Zeus. What are we to do? Shall we take their horses out, or tell them to find friends elsewhere as they best can?"

30 Menelaos was very angry and said, "Eteoneus, son of Boethoos, you never used to be a fool, but now you talk like a simpleton. Take their horses out, of course, and show the strangers in that they may have supper; you and I have stayed often enough at other people's houses before we got back here, where heaven grant that we may rest in peace henceforward."

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 4.1 focus

They reached the low-lying city of Lacedaemon, where they drove straight to the halls of glorious Menelaos. They found him in his own house, feasting with his many clansmen in honor of the wedding of his son, and also of his daughter, whom [5] he was marrying to the son of that valiant warrior Achilles. He had given his consent and promised her to him while he was still at Troy, and now the gods were bringing the marriage about; so he was sending her with chariots and horses to the city of the Myrmidons over whom Achilles’ son [10] was reigning. For his only son he had found a bride from Sparta, daughter of Alektor. This son, Megapenthes, was born to him of a bondwoman, for the gods granted Helen no more children after she had borne Hermione, who was fair as golden Aphrodite herself.

[15] So they feasted throughout the big palace with its high ceilings, 16 both the neighbors and the kinsmen of glorious Menelaos, 17 and they were feeling delight [ terpesthai]; in their midst sang-and-danced [ melpesthai] a divine singer [ aoidos], 18playing on the special lyre [ phorminx]; two special dancers [ kubistētēre] among them 19were swirling as he led [ exarkhein] the singing-and-dancing [ molpē] in their midst.

[20] The hero Telemachus and the shining son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate, whereon powerful Eteoneus, servant to glorious Menelaos came out, and as soon as he saw them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master. [25] He went close up to him and said, “Menelaos, dear to Zeus, there are some strangers come here, two men, who look like sons of Zeus. What are we to do? Shall we take their horses out, or tell them to find friends elsewhere as they best can?”

[30] Fair-haired Menelaos was very angry and said, “Eteoneus, son of Boethoös, you never used to be a fool, but now you talk like a simpleton. Take their horses out, of course, and show the strangers in that they may have supper; you and I have stayed often enough at other people’s houses before we got back here, where the gods [35] grant that we may rest in peace henceforward.”

So Eteoneus bustled back and bade other servants come with him. They took their sweating steeds from under the yoke, [40] made them fast to the mangers, and gave them a feed of oats and barley mixed. Then they leaned the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard. 43 They [=Telemachus and Peisistratos] were escorted inside the heavenly [ theion] palace. Seeing what they were seeing, 44 they were filled with awe [ thauma] as they proceeded through the palace of the king, that man whose origins are celestial. [45] There was a gleam [ aiglē] there, which was like the gleam of the sun or the moon, 46 spreading throughout that palace famed for its high ceilings, that home of radiant Menelaos. 47 But then, after they had feasted their eyes on what they saw, they went into the bath room and washed themselves.

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 4.1 focus

THEY came to Lacedæmon's valley, seamed

With dells, and to the palace of its king,

The glorious Menelaus, whom they found

Within, and at a wedding banquet, made

Both for his blameless daughter and his son,

And many guests. Her he must send away,

Bride of the son of that invincible chief,

Achilles. He betrothed her while in Troy,

And gave his kingly word, and now the gods

Fulfilled it by the marriage. He was now

Sending her forth, with steeds and cars, to reach

The noble city of the Myrmidons,

Where ruled her consort. From the Spartan coast

He brought Alector's daughter for his son,

The gallant Megapenthes, borne to him

By a handmaiden in his later years.

For not to Helen had the gods vouchsafed

Yet other offspring, after she had brought

A lovely daughter forth, Hermione,

Like golden Venus both in face and form.

So banqueting the neighbors and the friends

Of glorious Menelaus sat beneath

The lofty ceiling of those spacious halls,

Delighted with the feast. A sacred bard

Amidst them touched the harp and sang to them

While, as the song began, two dancers sprang

Into the midst and trod the measure there

But they - the hero-youth Telemachus

And Nestor's eminent son were at the gate,

And standing in the entrance with their steeds.

The worthy Eteoneus, coming forth, -

The trusty servant of the glorious son

Of Atreus, - saw, and hastening thence to tell

The shepherd of the people, through the hall

He came to him, and spake these winged words :

“O Menelaus, foster-child of Jove,

Two strangers have arrived, two men who seem

Descended from almighty Jupiter.

Shall we then loose the harness from their steeds,

Or bid them elsewhere seek a friendly host?"

The fair-haired king indignantly replied: -

"Nay, Eteoneus, thou hast not been wont,

Son of Boëthus, thus to play the fool.

Thou pratest idly, like a child. Ourselves

Have sat, as guests, at generous banquets given

By other men, when journeying hitherward

In hope that Jove might grant a respite here

From our disasters. Hasten, then, to loose

The steeds, and bring the strangers to the feast."

He spake; the attendant hastened forth and called

The other trusty servitors, with charge

To follow. They unyoked the sweaty steeds,

And bound them to the stalls, and gave them oats,

With which they mingled the white barley-grains,

And close against the shining wall they placed

The car, and then they led the guests within

The sumptuous palace. Entering, these admired

The palace of the foster-child of Jove,

For like the splendor of the sun and moon

Its glory was.

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 4.1 focus

AND now proud Sparta with their wheels resounds,

Sparta whose walls a range of hills surrounds:

At the fair dome the rapid labour ends;

Where sate Atrides 'midst his bridal friends,

With double vows invoking Hymen's power,

To bless his son's and daughter's nuptial hour.

That day, to great Achilles' son¹ resign'd,

Hermione, the fairest of her kind,

Was sent to crown the long-protracted joy,

Espous'd before the final doom of Troy:

With steeds and gilded cars, a gorgeous train

Attend the nymph to Phthia's distant reign.

Meanwhile at home, to Megapenthes' bed

The virgin-choir Alector's daughter led.

Brave Megapenthes from a stolen amour

To great Atrides' age his handmaid bore:

To Helen's bed the gods alone assign

Hermione, t' extend the regal line;²

On whom a radiant pomp of Graces wait,

Resembling Venus in attractive state.

While this gay friendly troop the king surround,

With festival and mirth the roofs resound:

A bard amid the joyous circle sings

High airs, attemper'd to the vocal strings;

Whilst, warbling to the varied strain, advance

Two sprightly youths to form the bounding dance.

'Twas then, that, issuing through the palace gate,

The splendid car roll'd slow in regal state:

On the bright eminence young Nestor shone,

And fast beside him great Ulysses' son:

Grave Eteoneus saw the pomp appear,

And, speeding, thus address'd the royal ear:

ETEONEUS

'Two youths approach, whose semblant features prove

'Their blood devolving from the source of Jove.

'Is due reception deign'd, or must they bend
35

'Their doubtful course to seek a distant friend?'

MENELAUS

'Insensate!' (with a sigh the king replies,)

'Too long, misjudging, have I thought thee wise:

'But sure relentless folly steels thy breast,

'Obdurate to reject the stranger-guest;
40

'To those dear hospitable rites a foe,

'Which in my wanderings oft reliev'd my woe:

'Fed by the bounty of another's board,

'Till pitying Jove my native realm restor'd:

'Straight be the coursers from the car releas'd;
45

'Conduct the youths to grace the genial feast.'

The seneschal rebuk'd in haste withdrew;

With equal haste a menial train pursue:

Part led the coursers, from the car enlarged,

Each to a crib with choicest grain surcharged;

Part in a portico, profusely graced

With rich magnificence, the chariot placed:

Then to the dome the friendly pair invite,

Who eye the dazzling roofs with vast delight;

Resplendent as the blaze of summer-noon,

Or the pale radiance of the midnight moon.

From room to room their eager view they bend;

Thence to the bath, a beauteous pile, descend;

Where a bright damsel-train attends the guests

With liquid odours, and embroider'd vests.

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 4.1 focus

AND then to Lacedaemon come were they,

And drove up to the house of Menelaus.

At home they found him, for there on that day

A double wedding celebrated was.

One of his daughters, fair Hermione,

Whom he before at Troy had promised

Of Neoptolemus the wife should be,

And on this day the same accomplished,

And her he sent unto the Myrmidons,

Where reigned he. To Pthia she was brought.

And then the second wedding was his son's,

Whom on a bond-woman he had begot,

And Megapenthes nam'd (for Helen's bed

Fruitless was after fair Hermione);

And he Alector's daughter married,

Of Lacedaemon citizen was he.

And now they merry sat that bidden were,

Making good cheer, and hearing voice and fiddle,

And wond'ring at two tumblers that were there,

That moving to the time stood in the middle.

Meanwhile by th' horses, th' utter gate without,

Telemachus stood and Pisistratus.

Then Eteoneus by chance came out,

A careful servant of Menelaus.

And, having seen them, in he went again,

And being near to where his master sate,

O king, said he, there are without two men,

Like great mens sons, with their coach at the gate;

Shall I take out their horses, or shall I

Tell them where they may lodged be elsewhere ?

At this, Atrides, grieved, made reply:

Eteoneus, sure once you wiser were;

Have we not oft by strangers heretofore,

In our necessity relieved been ?

And I pray God it may be so no more.

Go, loose the horses, and the men bring in.

This said, he went again, with servants more,

Takes out the horses, ties them to the mangers,

And throws before them provender good store;

Sets up the coach, and then brings in the strangers,

Who at the beauty of the house amazed,

(For bright it shined as the moon or sun).

And when they had sufficiently gazed,

To where the bathing-room was, walked on.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 4.1 focus

IN Lacedæmon now, the nurse of whales,

These two arriv'd, and found at festivals,

With mighty concourse, the renowned king,

His son and daughter jointly marrying.

Alector's daughter he did give his son,

Strong Megapenthes, who his life begun

By Menelaus' bondmaid; whom he knew

In years when Helen could no more renew

In issue like divine Hermione,

Who held in all fair form as high degree

As golden Venus. Her he married now

To great Achilles' son, who was by vow

Betrothed to her at Troy. And thus the Gods

To constant loves give nuptial periods.

Whose state here past, the Myrmidons' rich town

Of which she shar'd in the imperial crown)

With horse and chariots he resign'd her to.

Mean space, the high huge house with feast did flow

Of friends and neighbours, joying with the king.

Amongst whom did a heavenly poet sing,

And touch his harp. Amongst whom likewise danc'd

Two, who in that dumb motion advanc'd,

Would prompt the singer what to sing and play.

All this time in the utter court did stay,

With horse and chariot, Telemachus,

And Nestor's noble son Pisistratus.

Whom Eteoneus, coming forth, descried,

And, being a servant to the king, most tried

In care and his respect, he ran and cried:

"Guests, Jove-kept Menelaus, two such men

As are for form of high Saturnius' strain.

¹²³

Inform your pleasure, if we shall unclose

Their horse from coach, or say they must dispose

Their way to some such house, as may embrace

Their known arrival with more welcome grace?"

He, angry, answer'd: "Thou didst never show

Thyself a fool, Boethides, till now;

But now, as if turn'd child, a childish speech

Vents thy vain spirits. We ourselves now reach

Our home by much spent hospitality

Of other men; nor know if Jove will try

With other after-wants our state again;

And therefore from our feast no more detain

Those welcome guests, but take their steeds from coach,

And with attendance guide in their approach."

This said, he rush'd abroad, and call'd some more

Tried in such service, that together bore

Up to the guests, and took their steeds that swet

Beneath their yokes from coach; at mangers set,

Wheat and white barley gave them mix'mixed; and plac'd

Their chariot by a wall so clear, it cast

A light quite through it. And then they led

Their guests to the divine house; which so fed

Their eyes at all parts with illustrious sights,

That admiration seized them. Like the lights

The sun and moon gave, all the palace threw

A lustre through it. Satiate with whose view,

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 4.1 focus

IN hollow Lacedæmon's spacious vale

Arriving, to the house they drove direct

Of royal Menelaus; him they found

In his own palace, all his numerous friends

Regaling at a nuptial banquet given

Both for his daughter and the prince his son.

His daughter to renown'd Achilles' heir

He sent, to whom he had at Troy engaged

To give her, and the Gods now made her his.

With chariots and with steeds he sent her forth

To the illustrious city where the prince,

Achilles' offspring, ruled the Myrmidons.

But to his son he gave a Spartan fair,

Alector's daughter; from an handmaid sprang

That son to Menelaus in his age,

Brave Megapenthes; for the Gods no child

To Helen gave, made mother, once, of her

Who vied in perfect loveliness of form

With golden Venus' self, Hermione.

Thus all the neighbour princes and the friends

Of noble Menelaus, feasting sat

Within his spacious palace, among whom

A sacred bard sang sweetly to his harp,

While, in the midst, two dancers smote the ground

With measured steps responsive to his song.

And now the Heroes, Nestor's noble son

And young Telemachus, arrived within

The vestibule, whom issuing from the hall,

The noble Eteoneus of the train

Of Menelaus, saw; at once he ran

Across the palace to report the news

To his Lord's ear, and standing at his side,

In accents wing'g with haste thus greeted him.

Oh Menelaus! Heaven-descended Chief!

Two guests arrive, both strangers, but the race

Of Jove supreme resembling each in form.

Say, shall we loose, ourselves, their rapid steeds,

Or hence dismiss them to some other host?

But Menelaus, Hero golden-hair'd,

Indignant answer'd him. Boethe's son!

Thou wast not, Eteoneus, heretofore,

A babbler, who now pratest as a child.

We have ourselves arrived indebted much

To hospitality of other men,

If Jove shall, even here, some pause at last

Of woe afford us. Therefore loose, at once,

Their steeds, and introduce them to the feast.

He said, and issuing, Eteoneus call'd

The brisk attendants to his aid, with whom

He loosed their foaming coursers from the yoke.

Them first they bound to mangers, which with oats

And mingled barley they supplied, then thrust

The chariot sidelong to the splendid wall.

Themselves he, next, into the royal house

Conducted, who survey'd, wondering, the abode

Of the heaven-favour'd King; for on all sides

As with the splendour of the sun or moon

The lofty dome of Menelaus blazed.

Satiate, at length, with wonder at that sight,

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 4 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK IV

FAIR Lacedaemon they reached, embosomed in cavernous mountains.

Here to the mansion they drave of the far-famed prince Menelaus.

Him in his palace they found in the midst of a throng of his kindred

Holding a marriage feast for his peerless son and his daughter,

Sending her forth to the son of Achilles, the router of cohorts,

Whom long since in the land of the Trojans he promised the maiden,

Vowing to give her; and heaven was now completing the marriage.

Her was he sending with cars and with chariot-horses to journey

Unto the city renown'd of the Myrmidons, where he was chieftain.

Also a bride he was taking—Alector's daughter, of Sparta—

Unto his son, the beloved and stalwart youth Megapenthes,

Born of a slave for to Helen an offspring never was granted

After she once gave birth to a daughter of exquisite beauty,

Hermione, who was fair as the Queen Aphrodite the golden.

Thus were holding a feast in the high-roofed halls of the palace

Neighbours and all of the kin of the far-famed prince Menelaus,

Making them merry; amidst them a godlike singer was singing

Unto the sound of the harp; and aye as his song was beginning

Went two tumblers whirling around in the midst of the feasters.

Meanwhile reaching the gate of the palace the twain with their horses,

Nestor's glorious son and Telemachus the heroic,

Halted, and here came forth and beheld them the lord Eteoneus,

Ever-alert attendant of far-famed King Menelaus;

Hurrying back to the house to report to the prince of the people,

Close to his side he approached, and swift-winged words he addressed him:

"Guests be arrived, unknown—O Zeus-loved King Menelaus!—

Two be the men, and like to the offspring of Zeus the Almighty.

Say, shall we loose from the yokes for the men their fleet-paced horses,

Or shall we send them away where others shall give them reception?"

Sorely displeased gave answer the fair-haired prince Menelaus:

"Ne'er did I deem thee a fool, Boëthous' son, Eteoneus,

—Never till now; but behold, it is childish folly thou pratest.

Verily both of us often as guests at the table of others

Ate of their bread ere safely we landed—if truly in safety

Zeus will protect us from evils to come. Go, loosen the horses;

Then to the hall lead forward the strangers to share in the banquet."

Thus did he speak, and the man from the hall went busily hasting,

Calling on other alert attendants and bidding them follow.

These then, loosing from under the yoke all sweating the horses,

Carefully fastened them both in the stall, each one at a manger,

Poured out spelt in the manger and mixed it with glittering barley,

Tilted the chariot up to the smooth white wall of the courtyard,

Then with the strangers returned to the wonderful house; and with marvel

Gazing around them they entered the home of the Zeus-loved monarch.

For, as the sheen of the sun or the moon, there floated a glory

Over the high-roofed palace of far-famed King Menelaus.

Then, when at last they had sated their eyes with the pleasure of gazing,

Straightway into a bath well polished they entered and bathed them.

Now when the women had washed them and rubbed them with oil of the olive,

Round them they cast soft mantles of wool and doublets and led them

Into the hall; and they seated them nigh Menelaus Atrides.

Water for washing of hands by a maiden was brought in an ewer

Beautiful, golden; and over a basin of silver she poured it,

Bidding them wash, and she stationed a polished table beside him.

Then did a grave house-dame bring bread and lay it before him,

Lavishly adding thereto from her stores full many a dainty.

Carrying platters aloft came also a carver and offered

Dishes of various meats; and gold-wrought goblets he gave them.

Then to the strangers a greeting addressed fair-haired Menelaus:

"Now partake of the food, and be welcome heartily! Later,

After the supper is done, we shall ask your names and inform us

Whence your descent—for in neither is perished the blood of the parent;

Both are surely the children of chieftains nurtured by heaven,

Bearers of sceptres. By churls were suchlike never begotten."

These words spoken he took rich meat and placed it beside them,

Roast of the chine of an ox that was served for himself as an honour.

Then did they stretch forth hands to the food that was lying before them.

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

Telemachus then turned him to Nestor's son and addressed him,

Holding his head right close, to be noticed of none of the others:

"Nestor's son, dear friend, the delight of my heart, I beseech thee,

Mark but the flashing of bronze in the echoing halls of the palace,

Ay and of ivory too, and of amber, of gold and of silver.

Such, I believe, inside is the mansion of Zeus on Olympus!

Riches unending! Amazement possesseth me while I behold it."

Thus as he spake it was noted of fair-haired prince Menelaus;

Wherefore lifting his voice these swift-winged words he addressed them :

"Nay, dear children, with Zeus to compete none dareth of mortals;

Lasting for ever and ever remain his mansion and riches.

Whether a mortal exists that can rival my treasures I know not;

Possible were it; but far did I wander and sorely I suffered

Bringing them home in my ships, and the eighth year saw my arrival.

Even to Cyprus I came and to Phoenicé and to Egypt;

Aethiop tribes I beheld, and Erembian; visited Sidon,

Libya too, where lambs from their birth bear horns on the forehead;

Here do the flocks thrice yean in the year's complete revolution;

Never is lacking abundance to any—to lord or to shepherd—

Either of sweet white milk, or of flesh for the table, or cheeses;

Such an unfailing supply is afforded by flocks to the milker.

While that in these far lands I was journeying, gathering riches,

Wandering widely, another had meantime murdered my brother,

Caught unawares by the craft of his wife—that woman accursed :

Thus do I feel no joy in the wealth whereof I am master.

Ah but, I trow, these things ye have heard your fathers recounting,

Whosoever they be, for immense was the woe that I suffered,

Even the loss of a home right happy and wealth in abundance.

Would that I dwelt in a homestead with only a part of my riches,

Yea with a third, and that still were living the heroes who perished

There on the plain of the Troad afar from the pastures of Argos.

Still, though all of the men I bewail and am ever lamenting,

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Ofttimes thinking thereon as I sit in the halls of my palace,

Bidding my soul for awhile to delight in her sorrow, and sometimes

Bidding her cease (since soon one wearies of chill lamentation),

None of them all howbeit I mourn, though sorely I miss them,

So as I grieve for the one—whose memory brings me abhorrence

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Even of food and of sleep; for of all of the sons of Achaea

None could dare and endure as Odysseus; but destiny gave him

Many a woe, and to me this inconsolable sorrow,

Sorrow for one that is vanished away long years, and we know not

Whether he lives or is dead; and I ween that at home they bewail him,

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Aged Laertes his sire, and the true-souled Penelopeia,

Yea and Telemachus, whom he left as a babe in his homestead."

Thus did he speak, and a longing to wail in the youth was awakened,

While at the name of his sire from his eye there trickled a teardrop.

Hastily then uplifting his mantle of purple, he held it

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Close to his face with his hands; which marking the prince Menelaus

Doubtfully mused for a while in the depths of his mind and his spirit,

Whether to leave him alone and allow him to mention his father,

Or to begin forthwith and with questions straitly to test him.

Thus as he mused and revolved such things in his mind and his spirit,

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Out of the fragrant recess of a high-roofed chamber appearing

Helen approached—like Artemis, goddess of glittering arrows.

Set was her well-wrought chair by her maiden attendant Adrasté,

While by Alcippe a wrapper was carried of delicate sheep-wool;

Phylo carried a basket of silver, a present to Helen

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Given by Polybus' wife, Alcandré, dwelling in Thebae,

City of Egypt, the houses whereof hold many a treasure.

Polybus gave to the prince two bathing-vessels of silver,

Two great tripods as well, and of gold ten talents he gave him.

Also his consort bestowed right beautiful presents on Helen,

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Even a distaff of gold, and a fine-wrought basket of silver

Standing on wheels; but in gold were finished the rims of the basket.

This was the one now placed at her side by the maiden attendant

Laden with yarn well-dressed for the spinning, and o'er it the distaff

Lay outstretched with its wool dark-dyed of a violet colour.

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So she reclined on the chair; and below for her feet was a footstool.

Straightway then to her husband she spake and questioned him closely:

"Know we at all these men, Zeus-foster'd king Menelaus?

What is the race they avow, these strangers that visit thy palace?

Should I dissemble, or speak what is true? I am minded to speak it.

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Never before, I affirm, did I see such likeness in mortal,

Whether in woman or man (it amazeth me while I behold it),

Such as the youth here bears to the son of the noble Odysseus,

Telemachus, who was left as a newborn child in the homestead,

While that his father and ye the Achaeans for sake of a wanton,

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Even myself, came boldly assailing the town of the Trojans."

Her then in answer addressed these words fair-haired Menelaus:

"Verily now I perceive, O lady, the likeness thou notest.

Such were truly the hands and the feet of the hero Odysseus;

Such was the glance of his eyes, and also his hair and his forehead.

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Ay and behold, just now, as I spake concerning Odysseus,

Calling to mind how sorely he toiled and suffered affliction

All for my sake, from the eyes of the youth there trickled a teardrop;

Hastily then to his face he uplifted his mantle of purple."

Him then addressing did Nestor's son Peisistratus answer:

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"Captain of warrior hosts, Zeus-loved Menelaus Atrides,

Verily this is indeed, as thou sayest, the son of Odysseus;

Lowly however he beareth his spirit and holds it unseemly

Now on his early arrival to utter presumptuous language

Here in the presence of one whose voice as a god's doth enchant us.

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Touching myself, I was sent by the knight Gerenian Nestor

Him to attend on his journey as guide for he longed to behold thee,

Hoping to hear thee suggest some counsel for word or for action.

Many a trouble and grief, when a father is gone from the homestead,

Falls on a son, if he lacketh another to help and defend him.

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Telemachus has it thus for his father is vanished, and no one,

None in the land of his birth, can he find to protect him from ruin."

Him then in answer addressed these words fair-haired Menelaus:

"Verily now 'tis the son of a friend that is come to my palace,

One that hath borne for the sake of myself full many a trial!

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Great was my longing to welcome him home as I welcomed no other,

None of the Argives, had Zeus the Olympian, god of the thunder,

Granted us both to return with the swift ships over the ocean.

Then had I found him a city in Argos and made him a homestead,

Bidding him come with his goods and his child from the Ithacan island,

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Ay and with all of his people—A town I had emptied of dwellers,

One of the towns in the region anigh, of the which I am chieftain.

Here had we oft foregathered in friendship, and nothing had ever

Parted us, each one loving and happy in love of the other,

Till at the last with its shadow the darkness of death overwhelmed us.

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All howbeit was fated, I ween, and the envy of heaven

Cut from the one poor mortal the hope of return to his homeland."

Thus did he speak, and a longing to wail in them all he awakened:

Weeping was Argive Helen, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty;

Weeping was Telemachus, and prince Menelaus Atrides;

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Neither did Nestor's son keep tearless eyes as he listened,

Deep in his spirit recalling the thought of the hero unrivalled

Antilochus, who was slain by the glorious son of the Morning.

Thinking thereon, to the monarch with swift-winged words he addressed him :

"Atreus' son, of thy wisdom, surpassing the wisdom of mortals,

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Ancient Nestor was wont to recount us, if e'er in his palace

Mention was made of thy name and we plied each other with questions.

Now too follow my counsel, if possible—since, as I hold it,

Wailing amidst of a banquet is far from a pleasure, and daylight

Soon will be dawning. I blame not indeed nor resent as unseemly

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Weeping for one who is dead—whose destined doom is accomplished.

This is the one last due we can offer to pitiful mortals,

Even the cutting of hair and the falling from cheeks of the teardrop.

I too mourn for the lost—for a brother that died—of the Argives

None of the worst; and methinks thou'rt like to have known him; for my part

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Ne'er did I meet or behold him; but ever of all was the foremost

Antilochus, it is said, unrivalled in speed and in fighting."

Him then in turn gave answer the fair-haired prince Menelaus:

"Friend, thou speak'st as a man endowed with the spirit of wisdom

Well might speak and perform—yea, even a man that is elder.

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Seeing that such is thy father, to speak thus wisely becomes thee.

Easily known is the child of a man whom Father Cronion

Destines to bliss on the day of his birth and the day of his marriage.

Such is the fortune that all of his life he hath granted to Nestor,

Yea and allots him a smooth old age in the halls of his homestead,

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Blesséd in sons so wise and all unrivalled as spearmen.

Now let us, putting away this sadness that lately befell us,

Mind us again of the feast. Let a page bring water and pour it

Over the hands. In the morn we shall find full many a story,

Telemachus and myself, to recount each one to the other."

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Thus did he speak and Asphalion on the hands poured water,

Ever-alert attendant of far-famed prince Menelaus.

Then did they stretch forth hands to the food that was lying before them.

Meantime Helen the daughter of Zeus planned other devices,

Casting a drug in the wine from the which were drinking the feasters.

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Soother of pain is the drug, and of wrath, and of every sorrow;

Whosoe'er should swallow a draught thus mixed in a wine-bowl,

Not for the space of a day on his cheeks would trickle a teardrop,

Not if his father himself should die or the mother that bare him,

Nay not e'en if his brother be slain, or the son that he loveth

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Fall by the edge of the sword, and he see them dying before him.

Many a suchlike drug, both potent and kindly, did Helen

Gain from the consort of Thon, Polydamna, a woman of Egypt.

(Here doth the fertile soil breed potent plants in abundance,

Many benign, thus mixed as a potion, and many malignant.

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Every dweller in Egypt moreover surpasseth as healer

Others of mortals; for truly the folk is the race of Paeon.)

So when the potion was mingled she bade bear forth to the drinkers,

Then once more brake silence, addressing her husband in answer:

"Zeus-loved king Menelaus Atrides, and all of you present,

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Sons of illustrious sires (It is God who to this or to that one

Giveth of good or of evil. To him are possible all things),

Seated remain, I beseech, in the hall, and renewing the banquet

Take ye enjoyment in tales—I will tell one suiting the season.

All of the stories I ne'er can relate, nor e'en can I name them,

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All the adventurous feats of the dauntless-hearted Odysseus;

One will I tell that was dared and was done by the valiant hero

While in the Trojan land ye Achaeans suffered affliction.

Unto disfiguring stripes of the lash he subjected his body;

Then with his shoulders enveloped in pitiful wraps, as a bondman,

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Into the wide-way'd town of the foe he audaciously entered.

Here he assumed the disguise of an utterly different person,

Even a beggar—a part scarce his at the camp of the Grecians.

Thus in the town of the Trojans he entered; nor felt a suspicion

Any but I—for beneath the disguise of the beggar I knew him;

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Ay and I questioned him too; but he met me with crafty evasions.

Lastly, whenas he was bathed and anointed with oil of the olive,

Raiment I gave him to don and the solemn assurance I made him

Not to betray him amidst of the Trojan folk as Odysseus,

Till to the huts of the camp he had come and the swift-winged vessels.

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Then did he clearly inform me of all the designs of the Grecians.

Thus he escaped, and many a Trojan he slew with the broadsword

Ere to the Greeks he was come; and he carried them plentiful tidings.

Then did the women of Troy raise shrill lamentation; but my heart

Joy'd, for already my spirit was changed, and again I was yearning

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Back to my home, and repented the madness that queen Aphrodite

Sent me when thither, afar from my well-loved country, she led me,

Making me part from my child and my marriage-bed and a husband

Lacking in nought—nor gifts of the mind nor beauty of person."

Her then in turn gave answer the fair-haired prince Menelaus:

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“Verily, lady, thou tellest thy tale in an excellent manner.

Many a hero I knew, and his inmost thoughts and his counsels

Carefully marked, and in many a far-off land did I travel,

Yet did I never behold with my eyes such daring in mortal

Like to the inborn courage of dauntless-hearted Odysseus.

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Hear this too that was dared and was done by the valiant hero.

While in the wood-built horse were sitting the chiefs of the Argives,

All of us, plotting to bring on the enemy death and destruction,

Thither anon thou camest. (A deity surely impelled thee,

One that was wishing to grant to the Trojans glory and honour.)

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Godlike Deïphobus came also giving thee escort.

Testing by touch of the fingers the hollow ambush, thou passedst

Thrice all round it, and calling by name on the chiefs of the Argives

Madest thy voice to resemble the voice of a woman of Argos.

Meanwhile Tydeus' son and myself and the godlike Odysseus

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Sat in the midst and listened intent to thy voice as it called us.

Both of us others indeed kept longing to rise and to rush forth

Out of the ambush, or else from within to respond to thy calling;

Only Odysseus opposed our eager excitement and stay'd us.

Then, all silent remaining the rest of the sons of Achaea,

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Anticlus was alone still wishing to give thee an answer,

Ay and he opened his mouth; but Odysseus was sudden and closed it

Firmly with powerful hands, thus saving the lives of the Grecians,

Holding him fast till away thou wast summoned by Pallas Athene."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

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"Captain of warrior hosts, Zeus-loved Menelaus Atrides,

Still more grievous it seems that to hinder his pitiful ending

Nought did avail, though truly within him his heart was of iron.

Now will I beg thee to show us to bed; 'tis the season already

Gladly to lay us to rest and with slumber sweet to delight us."

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Thus did he speak, and Argive Helen commanded her maidens

Under the porch two beds to arrange, and beautiful blankets,

Purple, upon them to cast, and over them coverlets spreading,

Mantles of wool moreover to lay enwrapping them warmly.

So from the hall went quickly the handmaids carrying torches.

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Then, when the beds were strown, with a henchman to guide them the strangers,

Nestor's glorious son and Telemachus the heroic,

Came forth unto the porch in the front of the palace and slept there.

Atreus' son too slept in the innermost room of the mansion,

Long-robed Helen reposing anigh, most lovely of women.

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

Then from his bed uprose Menelaus good at the war-cry,

Donned his apparel and hung him his 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;

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Near to Odysseus' son then seating himself he addressed him:

"Hero Telemachus, come say what reason hath brought thee

Hither to fair Lacedaemon across wide wastes of the ocean,

Whether a public affair or a private? Tell me exactly!"

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

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"Captain of warrior hosts, Zeus-loved Menelaus Atrides,

Hither for news I am come—hast thou aught to relate—of my father.

Wasted away and devoured is the wealth of my lands and my homestead;

Filled is my palace with foes, who for ever infest it, and slaughter

Sheep of my thick-thronged folds and my shambling, crook-horned cattle;

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Suitors these of my mother, exceedingly insolent mortals.

Wherefore now to thy knees am I come, if perchance thou art able

News of his pitiful death to impart. Peradventure thou sawst it

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

One who had wandered—for born to a pitiful fate was Odysseus.

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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 deed 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."

Sorely displeased gave answer the fair-haired prince Menelaus :

"Nay, by the gods! in the bed of a man right valiant-hearted

These have chosen a couch for themselves—poor cowardly creatures!

E'en as it haps when a hind in the lair of a powerful lion

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Maketh a bed for her fawns, new-litter'd and delicate sucklings,

Fares then forth to the slopes and the grassy ravines of the mountains

Seeking for pasture—and lo, to his covert returning the lion

Suddenly maketh of both of the yeanlings a terrible ending;

Thus shall a terrible ending be made of the men by Odysseus.

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Would that, by Father Zeus and Athena and Phoebus Apollo,

Such as he proved when of yore in the flourishing island of Lesbos

Fearless he met with the huge Philomeleides in a contest,

Wrestled and heavily threw him, and all the Achaeans exulted;

Would that he came e'en such an Odysseus—to visit the suitors,

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Bringing to all of them speedy perdition and nuptials of anguish!

Now for the matter whereof thou dost ask and entreat me, I promise

Nought will I wrest from the truth, nor evasively speak and deceive thee;

All that the ancient god of the sea—that prophet unerring—

Told me, of this will I nought keep back nor attempt to conceal it.

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Once, as in Egypt I yearned to return to my home, the immortals

Hindered me still, for I failed to perform sufficing oblations

(Yea and the deities will it that mortals shall keep their commandments).

Now by the mouth of Aegyptus, amidst deep surges of ocean,

Riseth an isle—and the name that they give to the island is Pharos—

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Distant so far from the coast that a hollow vessel can reach it

Sailing the whole of a day when the wind blows shrilly behind her.

Here is a haven secure, whence many a well-built vessel

Puts forth into the ocean, with dark sweet water replenished.

Days full twenty herein by the gods I was holden, nor ever

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Rose with a favouring breath such breeze of the sea as attendeth

Vessels, to waft them along o'er wide expanses of ocean.

Now had the food been wholly consumed, and the strength of my comrades,

Save for the help of a goddess who felt compassion and saved me,

Daughter of Proteus, ancient and powerful god of the ocean,

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Eidotheë, whose heart I had strongly aroused to affection.

While I was roaming alone and afar from the others she met me.

These all over the coast of the isle were wandering widely

Fishing with well-bent hooks, since famine gnawed at their belly.

Near to my side she approached and uplifted her voice and addressed me :

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'Utterly childish thou seemst, O stranger, and indolent-witted.

Or is it choice that hath made thee remiss? Does suffering please thee?

Lo, it is long in this isle thou art holden, nor seemst to be able

Any escape to devise ; and thy comrades' spirit is failing.'

Thus did she speak; forthwith then I answered and thus I addressed her :

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'Whichsoever thou be'st of the goddesses, all will I tell thee.

Nowise willingly here am I held, but have surely by sinning

Angered immortals who dwell in the wide expanses of heaven.

Therefore tell me, I pray—since gods have knowledge of all things—

Which of the deities fetters me thus, and has hindered my going?

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Tell me the way to return and the teeming ocean to traverse!'

Thus did I speak; forthwith responded the beautiful goddess:

'Yea, O stranger, the truth will I tell thee and clearly explain it.

Oft doth an ancient god of the ocean—the prophet unerring—

Proteus, hither resort—an Egyptian immortal, who knoweth

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Every deep of the seas, and as herdsman serveth Poseidon.

Him do the voices of all as the father proclaim who begat me.

Lo now, shouldst thou be able by laying an ambush to catch him,

All he will surely reveal thee—the course and the bounds of thy journey—

Tell thee the way to return and the teeming ocean to traverse;

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Ay and if so thou shalt wish, Zeus-fostered prince, he will tell thee

All that has happened of good and of ill in the halls of thy homestead

During the years thou hast fared on a journey so long and so grievous.'

Thus did she speak; forthwith then I answered and thus I addressed her :

• Plan me an ambush thyself for the old sea-god, to ensnare him,

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Lest too soon he shall see me and, ware of my purpose, escape me.

Truly to master a god is a difficult task for a mortal.'

So did I speak; forthwith responded the beautiful goddess :

'Yea, O stranger, the truth will I tell thee and plainly declare it :

Oft as the sun upmounting attaineth the middle of heaven,

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Out of the brine creeps forth that ancient oracular sea-god.

Hidden beneath black ripples he comes when the Zephyr is blowing,

Crawls from the water, and lays him to sleep in the shade of a cavern.

Round him the brood fin-footed of seals of the fair Halosydne

Issuing forth from the grey salt sea lie huddled together

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Sleeping, and rank is the smell they emit of the deep salt water.

Unto the spot will I guide thee as soon as the morn is appearing;

There will I hide thee and station thy comrades. Be careful to choose thee

Three of the bravest of all of thy men in the well-decked vessels.

Now of the magical wiles of that ancient god I will tell thee :

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First he will number his seals and will go on his round to inspect them;

After the counting is over and every seal is inspected,

Down in the midst, as a shepherd amidst of his flock, he will lay him.

Now so soon as ye see him at last well settled for slumber,

Then is the moment at hand that ye look to your strength and your courage :

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Hold to him fast, however he longs and attempts to escape you!

This he will try by assuming the form of whatever of creatures

Creeps on the earth, and of water, and fire that fiercely consumeth.

Yet shall ye ever the more persistently hold him and grip him,

Till at the last he shall speak and himself shall address thee a question,

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Bearing the shape once more in the which he was seen as he slumbered;

Then shalt thou loosen thy hold from the ancient god and release him;

Question him too, O prince, which deity beareth thee malice;

Ask him the way to return and the teeming ocean to traverse.'

These words uttered, she plunged in the flood of the billowing ocean.

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Then to the vessels, that lay high-beached on the sands of the sea-shore,

Straight I returned, and my heart as I went grew dark with forebodings.

After at last I had come to the sea and arrived at my vessels,

After the supper was done and ambrosial night was descending,

Then did we lay us to sleep on the surf-beat strand of the ocean.

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

Straight I betook me along by the beach of the wide-wayed waters

Uttering many a prayer to the gods. Of the band of my shipmates

Three I had brought, whom chiefly I trusted for any adventure.

Meanwhile plunging below in the broad-spread gulf of the ocean

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Out of the watery depths four sea-calves' skins she had carried,

All of them flayed quite fresh—a device for ensnaring her father.

Then, so soon in the sand she had scooped out hollows for hiding,

Sitting she waited until we arrived at the spot and approached her.

So in the lairs she arranged us and covered us each with a seal's skin.

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Terrible now had it been—this lying in ambush; for sorely

Tried us the deadly malodorous stench of the brine-bred sea-calves;

(Where is the man would care to be couched with a monster of ocean?)

This howbeit she spared us, devising what greatly relieved us:

Bringing ambrosia, under the nostrils of each she applied it,

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Breathing a scent so sweet that it conquered the stench of the sea-beasts.

Thus then all of the morning we waited with hearts of endurance,

Till at the last from the brine came flocking the seals, and they laid them

One by another in ranks on the surf-beat strand of the ocean.

High was the noon when the old god crawled from the water, and straightway,

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Finding his fat-fed flock, went round it and counted the number,

Counting us too in the number of seals, nor felt a suspicion,

Noticing nought of the snare; and he laid him to slumber amidst them.

Suddenly then with a shout did we cast us upon him and hold him

Fast with the hands; and the old sea-god forgat not his cunning.

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Firstly, behold, to the form of a long-maned lion he changed him,

Then to a serpent, and then an enormous boar, and a leopard;

Melted to water, and then as a tree shot towering upward.

Natheless still we persistently held him with hearts of endurance,

Till at the last, grown weary of trying his magic devices,

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Thus did he speak—that old sea-god—and addressed me a question :

'Say now, which of immortals hath given thee counsel, Atrides,

Thus to enforce me by laying an ambush? For what dost thou want me?"

So did he speak; forthwith then I answered and thus I addressed him :

'Nay, thou knowest it! Why dost thou prate, old man, to mislead me?

465

Lo, it is long in this isle I am holden, nor yet am I able

Any escape to devise, and the heart in my bosom is failing.

Therefore tell me, I pray (since gods have knowledge of all things),

Which of the deities fetters me thus and has hindered my going?

Tell me the way to return and the teeming ocean to traverse.'

470

So did I speak; forthwith then he answered and thus he addressed me:

'Ay, but thou shouldst have offered to Zeus and to other immortals,

Ere embarking, a goodly oblation and prayed them to bring thee

Over the wine-dark sea with the utmost speed to thy country,

Since thou art fated thy friends no more to revisit, and never

475

Win to thy well-built home and arrive at the land of thy fathers,

PATTEN WILSON,
THE STRUGGLE WITH PROTEUS

Ere once more to the flood of the heav'n-sprung river of Egypt

Making return thou shalt offer again some splendid atonement

Unto immortals who dwell in the wide expanses of heaven.

Then shall the deities grant thee the path that thy soul desireth.'

480

Thus did he speak and my spirit was utterly broken within me,

Since he had bid me retraverse my path on the mist-bound ocean

Back to the river Aegyptus, so long and grievous a journey.

Yet e'en thus did I find me the words to address him in answer:

'Well then, all will I duly perform, old man, as thou biddest.

485

Tell me however a thing that I ask thee, and clearly explain it :

Whether the whole of the Greeks came home unscathed in their vessels,

All who remained when with Nestor I sailed from the land of the Trojans.

Know'st thou of any that met an inglorious death on the ocean,

Or at the hands of his kindred, when wound to the end was the warfare?'

490

So did I speak; forthwith then he answered and thus he addressed me:

'Atreus' son, what maketh thee ask? 'Twere verily better

Nothing to know, nor to learn of my thoughts. Not long, I assure thee,

Tearless wouldst thou remain, if with all these sorrows acquainted.

Many a man of the Grecians is fallen and many surviving.

495

Two of the leaders alone of the bronzen-coated Achaeans

Perished returning (thyself wert present during the warfare).

One, still living, I ween, on the wide-spread ocean is holden.

Ajax met with his death in the midst of his long-oared vessels.

First by Poseidaon he was favoured, and coming to Gyrae

500

Under enormous cliffs found refuge safe from the ocean,

Yea and had surely escaped, though hated by Pallas Athene,

Had he not uttered a vaunt in his pride and infatuate madness,

Saying in spite of the gods he had traversed the gulf of the waters.

Him did Poseidon hear as he uttered the arrogant boasting.

505

Straight with his powerful hands did the sea-god seizing his trident

Smite on the rock Gyraean a blow which cleft it asunder.

Part of it held, but the part that was broken was flung in the ocean,

Even the portion whereon he had climbed and had sat in his madness.

So to the infinite depths of the billowing ocean it bore him.

510

There did he die, down-swallowing floods of the salt sea water.

Touching thy brother, escaping the dangers of ocean he safely

Crossed in his hollow ships, by the favour of Hera protected.

Ay and he nearly as far as Malea's precipitous headland

Now was arrived, when a tempest of wind down-sweeping upon him

515

Carried him, heavily groaning, away to the home of the fishes,

Unto a distant bound of the land, once home of Thyestes,

Later the dwelling-place of Aegisthus, the son of Thyestes.

Hence too dawned for thy brother a hope of returning in safety.

Veered by the gods was the wind to a breeze which wafted him homeward.

520

Then at the last did he step on the land of his birth, and exultant,

Touching the earth of his own dear country he kissed it, and teardrops

Many and hot did he shed in his joy at beholding his homeland.

Him from a sentinel crag did the watcher descry, who was stationed

There by the crafty Aegisthus and promised reward for his watching,

525

E'en two talents of gold; and the whole of a year he had watched there,

Lest that the king should pass and make him remember his prowess.

Straight did he haste with the news to the house of the prince of the people.

Here forthwith was a plot right cunning devised by Aegisthus:

Choosing him twenty—the best of the fighters—he set them in ambush,

530

While at the opposite end of the hall he commanded a banquet.

Then did he go to invite Agamemnon the prince of the people;

Even with cars and with horses he met him—but brooded on murder;

Welcomed him home, all unsuspecting of treason—and killed him—

Feasted him—killed him as one might slaughter an ox at the manger.

535

Neither was left one man that had followed with King Agamemnon,

Nor of Aegisthus' men: all died in the hall of the palace.

Thus did he speak, and my spirit was utterly broken within me.

Bitterly weeping I sat on the sand, and the heart in my bosom

Cared not for living on earth or longer beholding the sunlight.

540

Then, when at last I was weary of weeping and writhing in anguish,

Speaking again he addressed me, that ancient oracular sea-god:

'Atreus' son, no longer, I pray, persist in this endless

Weeping, wherein no gain we shall find. Nay, rather bethink thee

How with the utmost speed to arrive at the land of thy fathers;

545

So shalt thou seize him alive, unless he is killed by Orestes

Ere thou arrivest and findest them holding his funeral banquet.'

Thus as he spake, in my heart and my valiant spirit within me

Once more comfort revived, though bitter indeed was my sorrow.

Then did I open my lips and with swift-winged words I addressed him:

550

'Now their fate do I know. Come, tell me the name of the third one,

Even the one still held in the midst of the wide-spread ocean,

Living or dead. Though bitter my grief, I am eager to hear it.'

Thus did I speak; forthwith then he answered and thus he addressed me :

'He that I mean is Odysseus the Ithacan, son of Laertes.

555

Him I beheld on an island, and plentiful tears he was shedding,

Held in Calypso's halls; for the sea-nymph still with compulsion

Keepeth him there all hopeless of reaching the land of his fathers,

Since no ship well-fitted with oars he possesseth or shipmates,

Such as to help him to traverse the wide expanses of ocean.

560

Touching thyself and thy fate, O Zeus-loved prince Menelaus,

Not with thy doom thou'lt meet midst horse-grazed meadows of Argos.

Thee to the ends of the earth and the plain Elysian later

Gods everlasting shall bring, where dwells fair-haired Rhadamanthys;

Here is a life that of all is the lightest for earth-born mortals:

565

Here comes never the snow, nor a violent tempest and rain-storm;

Here incessantly breatheth the breeze of the soft-voiced Zephyr

Sent by the ocean to bring to the land and its dwellers refreshment.

Yea, since Helen is thine, gods hail thee as son of the Highest.'

These words uttered, he plunged in the flood of the billowing ocean.

570

Then to the vessels, together with those my heroic companions,

Straight I returned, and my heart as I went grew dark with forebodings.

After at last we had come to the sea and arrived at the vessel,

After the supper was made and ambrosial night was descending,

Then did we lay us to sleep on the surf-beat strand of the ocean.

575

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

Firstly of all down-dragging the ships to the vast salt water

On to the well-trimmed vessels we carried the sails and the mainmasts,

Then ourselves we embarked and seating us down on the benches

Smote with the well-ranged oars on the grey-green brine of the ocean.

580

Back to the stream we returned of the heav'n-sprung river of Egypt;

Here our vessels I moored and performed sufficing oblations.

So when appeased was the wrath of the gods everlasting, I straightway

Built Agamemnon a tomb, for his fame's undying remembrance;

Which things duly fulfilled I departed, and favouring breezes,

585

Sent by the deities, sped me across to the home that I yearned for.

Now come, hearken I pray, and remain thou here in my palace

Till the eleventh is past and the twelfth day come to its dawning;

Then will I speed thy departing and offer thee glorious presents,

Horses three and a car well polished; and then I will give thee

590

Also a beautiful cup, that whenever thou makest libation

Unto the gods thou'lt think of thy friend so long as thou livest."

Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Ah, Menelaus, attempt no longer, I beg, to detain me!

E'en for the space of a year 'twere easy to sit with contentment

595

Here at thy side, nor yearn to revisit my home and my parents,

Such is the wonderful pleasure with which to thy words and thy stories

Ravished I list; but already my mates are weary of waiting

Over in beautiful Pylos—for long is the time thou hast kept me.

Touching thy gift, give rather a present to keep as an heirloom!

600

Horses to Ithaca ne'er will I take—far liefer I leave them

Here, as the pride of thy stalls. Thou art lord of a plain and of pastures

Widely extending and bearing abundance of lotus and spear-grass,

Waving with wheat and with spelt and with broad-ear'd glistering barley.

Ithaca holds not a mead, nor widespread courses for riding;

605

Pastures it offers for goats more lovely than pastures for horses.

Suited for riding and pasturing horses is none of the islands

Lying exposed to the ocean, and Ithaca less than the others."

Thus did he speak. With a smile Menelaus good at the war-cry

Touched him caressing, and thus with a word of affection addressed him :

610

"Noble indeed is thy blood, dear child, since nobly thou speakest.

Well, I will make an exchange in the gifts—I can readily do so.

Out of the store of the treasures that lie in my palace as heirlooms

One that is fairest of all, unrivalled in worth, will I give thee,

Even a bowl for the mixing of wine, well-fashioned of silver,

615

All of it solid; but finished with gold is the lip of the vessel.

This is a work of Hephaestus that hero Phaedimus gave me,

King of the people of Sidon, who once in his palace received me,

Thither returning, and now I am wishful on thee to bestow it."

Thus long time did they hold such converse one with the other.

620

Meantime banqueters flocked to the house of the godlike monarch

Bringing the sheep for the feast, and wine which gladdens a mortal.

Bread moreover was sent by the fair-tressed wives of the feasters.

Then in the hall of the palace they busily furnished a banquet.

Meantime sported the suitors in front of the home of Odysseus,

625

Taking delight in the hurling of spears and in casting the discus,

Using a levelled ground that was often the scene of their uproars.

Seated was Antinous, and anigh him was sitting the godlike

Eurymachus. These two were bravest and best of the suitors.

Now came Phronius' son, and approached them, the famous Noëmon.

630

Turning to Antinous he addressed him and asked him a question :

"Antinous, do we know in the least—doth none of us know it, —

How soon Telemachus is returning from Pylos the sandy ?

Off he is gone with a vessel of mine, and it happens I need her

Over to spacious Elis to cross, for a dozen of brood-mares

635

There I possess. Hard-labouring mules I am rearing beneath them,

Still unbroken, and one I will take from the mother and train it."

Thus did he speak, and they gazed with amazement, for ne'er had they deemed him

Gone to Neleïan Pylos, but thought he was still in the country,

Somewhere either afield with the flocks or perhaps with the swineherd.

640

Then spake Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed him :

"Tell me the truth! Say, when did he go? What followers took he?

Were they the pick of the Ithacan youths, or a crew of his own men,

Servants and thralls of the farm? He was capable even of this too.

Also relate me the truth of the matter and give me assurance :

645

Took he by force and in spite of thy wishes thy black-hulled vessel ?

Or was it willingly lent him—thy ship—when he asked and entreated?"

Straightway Phronius' son thus answered, the famous Noëmon:

"Willingly lent was my ship. How could one possibly elsewise,

Seeing a man like this, with a mind so full of vexations,

650

Begging a loan? 'Twas truly a difficult thing to refuse him.

Also the noblest youths of the land—we only excepted—

Join'd him as crew; and Mentor I noticed embarking as captain,

Mentor or else an immortal in all points like him exactly.

One thing puzzles me still; for the godlike Mentor I saw here

655

Yester dawn—but the vessel had started already for Pylos."

These words uttered, he left them and went to the house of his father,

While in the valiant spirits of both fierce anger was kindled.

Unto the suitors they called to desist from the games and be seated.

Then spoke Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed them:

660

Wroth was the man, with a heart in the turbulent depths of his bosom

Swelling with rage, and his two eyes blazing as flames of a furnace:

"Heavens! A fine thing now and an impudent too—has accomplished

Telemachus, with this voyage of his that we never believed in.

Gone is the child, and in spite of us all! He has simply defied us—

665

Got them to launch him a ship, and has chosen the best of the rowers!

Now still more of a plague he will prove. Zeus hurl to perdition

Him and his fury before he shall hatch new troubles to vex us.

Come now, give me a good swift vessel and twenty companions,

So shall I lay me an ambush and watch his arrival, and catch him

670

Just 'twixt Ithacan shores and the rock-bound island of Samos.

Doleful enough he'll find these sailings in search of a father!"

Thus did he speak, and they all of them shouted approval and urged it.

Then forthwith uprising they entered the house of Odysseus.

Neither for long thereafter from Penelopeia was hidden

675

All that was said, and the plot so darkly devised by the suitors.

Medon the herald informed her, who oft to the plottings had listened

Standing outside of the court as they wove these counsels within it.

Thorough the palace he hasted to tell it to Penelopeia,

Till, as he stepped from the stone of the door she perceived and addressed him :

680

"Wherefore, herald, I pray, art thou sent by the arrogant suitors?

Cam'st thou to order the women attendants of godlike Odysseus

Laying aside their tasks to prepare these masters a banquet?

Would that without more wooings, without more banquetings either,

Now on the spot they'd sup their last and their latest supper!

685

Ye that as wolves come trooping and wasting the wealth of the homestead,

Riches of Telemachus wise-hearted, I ween that ye never

Heard your fathers in days of the past—you being but children—

Speak of Odysseus and how he was prized by the men that begat you,

How that he never in word or in deed wrought any injustice

690

Unto the people—the wont of a ruler appointed by heaven,

While that he hateth the one of his subjects and favours another.

No! by Odysseus was none e'er treated with pride and presumption,

Whilst for yourselves what spirit is yours, what shameless behaviour,

Plainly appears; and to him that is kind ye are utterly thankless."

695

Then did the sage old Medon, the herald, address her in answer:

"Would, dear lady, that this were the worst of the evils that threaten!

Greater by far is the crime, and fraught more fully with danger,

Now by the suitors devised. God grant that they never fulfil it !

Telemachus with the edge of the sword they are meaning to murder

700

While he is voyaging homeward; for, hoping to hear of his father,

Lately he started for Pylos the fair and divine Lacedaemon."

Thus did he speak, and with knees and with heart all quaking she stood there.

Speechless long she remained, struck mute, while gathering teardrops

Flooded her eyes, and the flow of her clear-voiced utterance failed her,

705

Till at the last she recovered her speech and addressed him in answer:

“Wherefore, herald, I pray, is my son departed? He nowise

Needed to mount on a ship—on a swift-paced vessel that sailors

Ride as a horse and traverse the watery waste of the ocean.

Wills he that even his name no longer remain in remembrance?"

710

Then did the sage old Medon, the herald, in answer address her:

"Whether a deity urged him I know not, or whether within him

Moved was his spirit to journey to Pylos to gain him assurance

Or of his father's return or else of the fate he hath met with."

These words uttered he turned and retraversed the house of Odysseus,

715

While o'erwhelmed with her grief, heartbroken, and wholly unable

Still on a chair to remain of the many that stood in her homestead—

Down by the threshold she sank on the floor of the well-built chamber,

Uttering pitiful wails, and around her lamented her maidens,

All of the women attendants, the young as the old, in the palace.

720

These then addressing with many a groan spake Penelopeia :

"Dear ones, listen for sorrow hath Zeus the Olympian sent me

Passing the sorrows of all of the friends and the mates of my childhood.

Erstwhile lost I a husband—my lord with the heart of a lion—

Foremost of all of the Grecians in every manly perfection,

725

Him whose fame is abroad through Hellas and midmost Argos.

Now is my dearly-belovéd, my son, swept hence by the storm-blasts,

Vanished from hearing and home—nay, e'en of his going I heard not!

Ah, hard-hearted! for none of you, none, took thought to inform me,

Waking me out of my slumbers, and none, though fully ye knew it,

730

Said to me aught when he mounted aboard of the black-hulled vessel.

Had I but known he was making him ready to fare on a journey,

Verily either at home he had stay'd, though bent on departure,

Else he had left me behind him dead in the halls of his homestead.

Nay come, one of you haste and the good old Dolius summon,

735

Even the slave I received, ere hither I came, from my father.

Now to my garden of trees he attends. Go, see that he quickly

Sit by the side of Laertes and tell him of all that has happened.

He peradventure will weave a device in his mind, and in public

Unto the people will proffer his plaint of the men who so fiercely

740

Purpose his seed to destroy and the seed of the godlike Odysseus."

Her did the nurse give answer, the dear old Eurycleia:

“Slay me, my mistress belov'd, with the pitiless blade, or in pity

Leave me to live in thy halls—not a word will I hide of the matter.

All of it, all, did I know; I supplied him with all that he wanted,

745

Even with bread and with sweet strong wine, and I solemnly promised

Nothing to thee to reveal till the twelfth day came to its dawning

(Didst thou not miss him before, and by questioning learn his departure)

Lest thou perchance shouldst weep and thy fair face mar with thy weeping.

Nay now, bathe thee with water and throw fresh raiment around thee,

750

Then to thy upper apartment ascending with women attendants

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

She is a goddess that even from death will be able to save him.

Trouble the old man not! — he hath trouble enough—and believe me,

Ne'er is the race of Arceisius' son by the blesséd immortals

755

Hated so wholly; an heir shall survive and shall hold in possession

High-roof'd homes and the fruitful domains spread widely around them."

Thus did she still her lament and her pitiful tears; and her lady,

After herself she had bathed and cast fresh raiment around her,

Unto her upper apartment ascending with women attendants

760

Placed in a basket the barley for sprinkling and prayed to Athene:

"Daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis, thou maiden unwearied,

Listen! If ever of yore in his homestead wileful Odysseus

Burnt to thy honour the fat thigh pieces of sheep or of oxen,

This I beseech thee remember, and rescue my son, my beloved !

765

Ward far off the malicious designs of the insolent suitors!"

These prayers uttered, she wailed, and her vows were heard by the goddess,

While from the shadowy hall came sounding the din of the suitors,

All of the insolent youths thus shouting, the one to the other :

"Lo now, truly at last our lady of many a wooer

770

Thinketh of wedding—nor knows that the death of her son is determined."

Thus spake one to the other, nor knew they of what was determined.

Antinous then turned to his fellows, and thus he addressed them :

"See to avoid, good sirs, all language loudly disdainful—

All such boasting—that none to the palace within shall report it.

775

Rather in silence, so far as ye can, let us rise and accomplish

All we bespake, for the thing we decided was fully agreed on."

Thus did he speak, and choosing him twenty, the best of the rowers,

Forthwith went on his way to the ship and the strand of the ocean.

Here did they first draw down to the deep sea water a vessel,

780

Then, on the black-hulled vessel embarking the sails and the mast-tree,

All of the oars to the tholes made fast with the lashings of leather,

Each in its place, and the white sails hoisted aloft on the yardarm.

Weapons also aboard were carried by haughty attendants.

Now when at last she was moor'd high out in the harbour, embarking

785

There on the vessel they supped and awaited the coming of even.

Still in her upper apartment remained wise Penelopeia.

Fasting she lay on her couch, and heedless of thirst and of hunger

Mused on her valiant son—was he yet to escape from destruction,

Or was he doomed as the victim to fall of the arrogant suitors?

790

E'en as a lion that wavers in doubt in the throng of the hunters,

Fearing, as closer they draw the insidious circle around him,

Thus did she waver in doubt till, a deep sleep falling upon her,

Backward softly she sank with her joints all loosened, and slumbered.

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

795

First she created a phantom. In form it was like to a woman,

Iphthimé, who was daughter of Icarius great-hearted.

(Her Eumelus had taken to wife, and her home was at Pherae.)

Then did she send it to go to the palace of godlike Odysseus,

Bidding it make the bewailing and sorrowing Penelopeia

800

Cease from her groaning and shedding of tears and her sad lamentation.

Into the room by the hole of the latch-string entered the phantom,

Stood at the head of the queen, and thus it began to address her :

"Sleep'st thou, Penelopeia, outwearied at heart with thy mourning?

Ne'er can it hap that the gods, who live at their ease in the heaven,

805

Wish thee to weep and to sorrow. Again to his home they will bring him,

Even thy son for in nought hath he vexed the immortals by sinning."

Then forthwith gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia,

Though at the portal of dreams she already was slumbering softly:

"Wherefore now art thou come, O sister? Never aforetime

810

Here to resort was thy wont, since distant far is thy homestead.

Yea and thou biddest me cease from my pain and forget my afflictions,

All those many afflictions that torture my mind and my spirit!

Its-while lost I a husband—my lord with the heart of a lion,

Foremost of all of the Achaeans in every manly perfection,

815

Him whose fame is abroad through Hellas and midmost Argos.

Now is my well-loved son on a hollow vessel departed,

Yet but a child, unskilled in the deeds of a man and in speaking.

Him I lament more bitterly still than I mourned for his father,

Yea I lament and I tremble in fear lest aught shall befall him

820

Either among those people he visits, or else on the ocean,

Seeing that many a foe plots evil devices against him,

Longing to kill him or ever he win to the land of his fathers."

Then to the queen once more made answer the shadowy phantom:

"Take thou courage, nor feel in thy heart such dread and despondence.

825

She who attendeth and guards him is such that a mortal in peril

Ever will pray her to stand at his side (for to aid she is able),

Pallas Athena, the goddess who pities thee now in thy sorrow;

Yea it is she that hath bidden me come this message to bring thee.”

Then to the phantom again spake wise-souled Penelopeia:

830

"Art thou divine, or hast listened to words by divinity spoken,

Come, I beseech, and the fate of that other unfortunate tell me,

Whether he still is alive on the earth and beholdeth the sunlight,

Or is he dead and already below in the mansion of Hades?"

Then to the queen once more made answer the shadowy phantom:

835

"Touching the fate of thy lord I can say to thee nothing for certain

Whether he lives or is dead; and an evil is idle discussion."

These words uttered it glided away by the bolt of the doorpost

Into the air and the breezes of heaven; and out of her slumbers

Penelopeia awoke, and the heart in her bosom was lightened,

840

Such was the clearness with which had approached her that vision of midnight.

Now had the suitors embarked and had voyaged the paths of the waters

Plotting a violent death in their hearts for the son of Odysseus.

Far from the land there riseth a crag in the midst of the waters,

Just 'twixt Ithacan shores and the rock-bound island of Samos,

845

Asteris; tiny the isle, but within it a harbour for shipping

Twy-mouthed; here the Achaeans awaited him, lying in ambush.

Notes on the current edition

Odyssey

1. 1

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

As Telemachus, accompanied by Peisistratos, arrives at Sparta, he finds that a wedding feast is in progress, in celebration of not one but two weddings. Menelaos, king of Sparta, is giving away his daughter in marriage to Neoptolemos, son of Achilles. She will be sent off to Neoptolemos. Meanwhile, Menelaos is also marrying off his bastard son Megapenthes.

source

With the continued aid of the goddess Athena, young Telemachus now becomes an ideal guest for his new hosts, Menelaos together with Helen. The identity of Helen as a goddess becomes more evident now that she is back in Sparta. This divine identity will point to the future immortalization of the hero Menelaos by virtue of his winning back Helen as his consort.

draft js image error “The Fair Helen.” Willy Pogany (Hungarian, 1882–1955). Image via.

source

We see at work here the mythological convention of naming a son after a primary heroic trait of the father, as in the case of the son of Ajax, whose name Eurusakēs means ‘the one with the wide shield [sakos]’; the meaning of this “speaking name” (nomen loquens) is made explicit in the wording of Sophocles Ajax 574–578. See also the comment on I.22.506–507 with reference to the the first of two names given to the son of Hector, Astyanax [Astuanax], I.06.403, which means ‘king [anax] of the city [astu]’. This meaning is relevant to the heroic role of the father as protecting a citadel from sieges. Such a role is expressed by the very name of Hector, Héktōr, which is an agent noun meaning ‘one who holds [ekhein]’ in the sense of ‘one who protects’. In the case of Megapenthēs, the meaning of his name as ‘the one with the great sorrow [penthos]’ is made explicit by references to the great penthos ‘sorrow’ experienced by the Achaeans in reaction to a most painful wounding of Menelaos in the context of the Trojan War, I.04.197, I.04.207. Also viewed in general are the sorrows of the Trojan War itself, which Menelaos expresses in detail at O.04.093–112. See the comment on O.04.093–116. As we will see at O.04.220–226, Helen attempts to neutralize such sorrows by drugging the wine to be poured for the feast hosted by Menelaos in honor of Telemachus: the word for this drug is nēpenthes, Ο.04.221, which can be interpreted as ‘negating sorrow [penthos]’.

source

|15 ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο καθ’ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα |16 γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο, |17 τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς |18 φορμίζων· δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατ’ αὐτοὺς |19 μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.

|15 So they feasted throughout the big palace with its high ceilings, |16 both the neighbors and the kinsmen of glorious Menelaos, |17 and they were feeling delight [terpesthai]; in their midst sang-and-danced [melpesthai] a divine singer [aoidos], |18 playing on the special lyre [phorminx]; two special dancers [kubistētēre] among them |19 were swirling as he led [ex-arkhein] the singing-and-dancing [molpē] in their midst.

This passage provides comparative evidence for interpreting both the shorter and the longer versions of another passage, analyzed in the comment on I.18.603–604–(605–)606. As argued in that comment, a formulaic analysis of both the longer and the shorter versions of I.18.603–604–(605–)606 indicates that both versions are compatible with Homeric diction, suiting different phases in the evolution of this diction as a formulaic system.

source

Aristarchus accepting the wording in these verses while rejecting the same at I.18.604-605, in the context of the analysis of the medieval manuscript tradition’s not attesting I.18.604-605, their restoration based on Athenaeus, and authentication on the basis of O.13.027-028

source

Epitome from Nagy 2016.02.18§§1–4

[§1] The wording about to be quoted describes the very first impression experienced by the young hero Telemachus when he sees the splendor of the palace of Menelaos and Helen. We join the action as Telemachus and his traveling companion, the young hero Peisistratos, son of Nestor, are both being escorted into the palace of Menelaos and Helen:

|43 αὐτοὺς δ’ εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες |44 θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος· |45 ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης |46 δῶμα καθ’ ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο. |47 αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν …

|43 They were escorted inside the heavenly [theion] palace. Seeing what they were seeing, |44 they were filled with awe [thauma] as they proceeded through the palace of the king, that man whose origins are celestial. |45 There was a gleam [aiglē] there, which was like the gleam of the sun or the moon, |46 spreading throughout that palace famed for its high ceilings, that home of radiant Menelaos. |47 But then, after they had feasted their eyes on what they saw …

O.04.043–047

[§2] At this point, the story proceeds to take the visitors through a series of welcoming rituals, followed by a grand dinner arranged by Menelaos as the gracious host, O.04.047–070. And now the dinner conversation gets underway, starting with words of appreciation spoken by Telemachus and intended for Menelaos. Telemachus speaks here as a grateful guest, addressing his fellow guest Peisistratos, son of Nestor, but his words are really intended for Menelaos as the generous host. I will now quote these words of Telemachus as spoken to the son of Nestor—words that not only compliment Menelaos but also express most sincerely the young guest’s awestruck reaction to the splendor of the king’s palace:

|71 “φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ, |72 χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κατὰ δώματα ἠχήεντα |73 χρυσοῦ τ’ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδ’ ἐλέφαντος. |74 Ζηνός που τοιήδε γ’ Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή, |75 ὅσσα τάδ’ ἄσπετα πολλά· σέβας μ’ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.”

|71 “I want you to notice something, son of Nestor, you who are so dear to my heart: |72 notice the flash [steropē] of bronze [khalkos] as its light pervades the echoing hall |73 and also the flash of gold and of electrum and of silver and of ivory. |74 I’m guessing that Zeus, who lives on Olympus, has such a hall inside his palace, |75 and he would have as many indescribable things as are here. A sense of holy awe [sebas] takes hold of me as I look at these things.”

O.04.071–075

[§3] What first catches the young man’s eye here is all the shining bronze he sees. And then it’s the gold, then the electrum, then the silver, and finally the ivory. But the first impression is the bronze, all that bronze. The light that he sees streaming from the bronze envelops everything with its radiance, and it’s just like heaven for the young man.

[§4] “Thought I’d died and gone to heaven.” The colloquial saying that I just quoted, which has become the title of a popular song recorded in 1991 by Bryan Adams, captures the young man’s awareness that he has just experienced something celestial. The reduced theology of this kind of imagined heaven resembles the celestial realm of the ancient Greek gods. Their ‘sky’ or ouranos, as we read at I.17.425, is traditionally visualized as ‘made of bronze’, khalkeos (χάλκεον οὐρανόν). This expression shows its own special kind of reduced theology: from out of the sky, when it’s bright, the gleam of a mighty bronze dome envelops everything on earth. Presiding over this bronze dome is the god Zeus, whose heavenly residence is called the khalkobates dō, ‘the palace with floor made of bronze’ (χαλκοβατὲς δῶ), I.01.426; I.14.173, I.21.438, I.21.505, O.08.321—a residence situated high above Mount Olympus, I.01.426, I.21.438, I.21.505. As we will see at O.07.084–090, the heavenly residence of Menelaos is comparable to the palace of Alkinoos (latinized as Alcinous), king of the Phaeacians.

source

Homer Odyssey 4.1

A. T. Murray (Translator)

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Current edition Perseus

ETEONEUS

'Two youths approach, whose semblant features prove

'Their blood devolving from the source of Jove.

'Is due reception deign'd, or must they bend
35

'Their doubtful course to seek a distant friend?'

ODYSSEY BOOK IV

PATTEN WILSON,
THE STRUGGLE WITH PROTEUS

Notes on the current edition

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

ETEONEUS 'Two youths approach, whose semblant features prove 'Their blood devolving from the source of Jove. 'Is due reception deign'd, or must they bend 35 'Their doubtful course to seek a distant friend?'

ODYSSEY BOOK IV

PATTEN WILSON, THE STRUGGLE WITH PROTEUS

Notes on the current edition

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

ETEONEUS

'Two youths approach, whose semblant features prove

'Their blood devolving from the source of Jove.

'Is due reception deign'd, or must they bend
35

'Their doubtful course to seek a distant friend?'

PATTEN WILSON,
THE STRUGGLE WITH PROTEUS