Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

337 "Vixen," replied Odysseus, scowling at her, "I will go and tell Telemakhos what you have been saying, and he will have you torn limb from limb."

340 With these words he scared the women, and they went off into the body of the house. They trembled all aver, for they thought he would do what he said was true [ alêthês]. But Odysseus took his stand near the burning braziers, holding up torches and looking at the people - brooding the while on things that should surely come to pass.

346 But Athena would not let the suitors for one moment cease their insolence, for she wanted Odysseus to become even more bitter against them in his grief [ akhos]; she therefore set Eurymakhos son of Polybos on to gibe at him, which made the others laugh. "Listen to me," said he, "you suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. It is not for nothing that this man has come to the house of Odysseus; I believe the light has not been coming from the torches, but from his own head - for his hair is all gone, every bit of it."

356 Then turning to Odysseus he said, "Stranger, will you work as a servant, if I send you to the outer limits of the field and see that you are well paid? Can you build a stone fence, or plant trees? I will have you fed all the year round, and will find you in shoes and clothing. Will you go, then? Not you; for you have got into bad ways, and do not want to work; you had rather fill your belly by going round the dêmos begging."

Odyssey. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1900 (?).

Current edition Perseus

Odyssey (English) (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.)

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.) — 18.337 focus

τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἦ τάχα Τηλεμάχῳ ἐρέω, κύον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,

κεῖσʼ ἐλθών, ἵνα σʼ αὖθι διὰ μελεϊστὶ τάμῃσιν.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπέεσσι διεπτοίησε γυναῖκας.

340

βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι διὰ δῶμα, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης

ταρβοσύνῃ· φὰν γάρ μιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.

αὐτὰρ ὁ πὰρ λαμπτῆρσι φαείνων αἰθομένοισιν

ἑστήκειν ἐς πάντας ὁρώμενος· ἄλλα δέ οἱ κῆρ

ὥρμαινε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν, ἅ ῥʼ οὐκ ἀτέλεστα γένοντο.

345

μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη

λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον

δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,

κερτομέων Ὀδυσῆα· γέλω δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἔτευχε.

350

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

οὐκ ἀθεεὶ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ Ὀδυσήϊον ἐς δόμον ἵκει·

ἔμπης μοι δοκέει δαίδων σέλας ἔμμεναι αὐτοῦ

κὰκ κεφαλῆς, ἐπεὶ οὔ οἱ ἔνι τρίχες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί.

355

ἦ ῥʼ, ἅμα τε προσέειπεν Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ κʼ ἐθέλοις θητευέμεν, εἴ σʼ ἀνελοίμην,

ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς—μισθὸς δέ τοι ἄρκιος ἔσται—

αἱμασιάς τε λέγων καὶ δένδρεα μακρὰ φυτεύων;

ἔνθα κʼ ἐγὼ σῖτον μὲν ἐπηετανὸν παρέχοιμι,

360

εἵματα δʼ ἀμφιέσαιμι ποσίν θʼ ὑποδήματα δοίην.

ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθες, οὐκ ἐθελήσεις

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσειν κατὰ δῆμον

βούλεαι, ὄφρʼ ἄν ἔχῃς βόσκειν σὴν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.

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.) — 18.337 focus

Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows Odysseus of many wiles answered her: “Presently shall I go yonder, thou shameless thing, and tell Telemachus, since thou speakest thus, that on the spot he may cut thee limb from limb.” 340 So he spoke, and with his words scattered the women, who fled through the hall, and the limbs of each were loosened beneath her in terror, for they thought that he spoke truth. But Odysseus took his stand by the burning braziers to give light, and looked upon all the men. 345 Yet other things was the heart within him pondering—things that were not to be unfulfilled. But Athena would in no wise suffer the proud wooers to abstain from bitter outrage, that pain might sink yet deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes. So among them Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak, 350 jeering at Odysseus, and making mirth for his companions: “Hear me, wooers of the glorious queen, that I may say what the heart in my breast bids me. Not without the will of the gods has this man come to the palace of Odysseus; in any case there is a glare of torches from him— 355 from his head, for there is no hair on it, no, not a trace.”¹ Therewith he called to Odysseus, sacker of cities: “Stranger, wouldest thou have a mind to serve for hire, if I should take thee into service on an outlying farm—thy pay shall be assured thee—gathering stones for walls, and planting tall trees? 360 There would I provide thee with food the year through, and clothe thee with raiment and give thee sandals for thy feet. But since thou hast learned only deeds of evil, thou wilt not care to busy thyself with work, but art minded rather to go skulking through the land, that thou mayest have wherewith to feed thy insatiate belly.”

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 18.337 focus

“Vixen,” replied resourceful Odysseus, scowling at her, “I will go and tell Telemachus what you have been saying, and he will have you torn limb from limb.”

[340] With these words he scared the women, and they went off into the body of the house. They trembled all over, for they thought he would do as he said in a true [ alēthēs] way. But Odysseus took his stand near the burning braziers, holding up torches and looking at the people— [345] brooding the while on things that should surely come to pass.

But Athena would not let the suitors for one moment cease their insolence, for she wanted Odysseus, son of Laertes, to become even more bitter [ akhos] against them; she therefore set Eurymakhos, son of Polybos, on [350] to gibe at him, which made the others laugh. “Listen to me,” said he, “you suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. It is not for nothing that this man has come to the house of Odysseus; I believe the light has not been coming from the torches, [355] but from his own head—for his hair is all gone, every bit of it.”

Then turning to Odysseus he said, “Stranger, will you work as a servant, if I send you to the moor and see that you are well paid? Can you build a stone fence, or plant trees? [360] I will have you fed all the year round, and will find you in shoes and clothing. Will you go, then? Not you; for you have got into bad ways, and do not want to work; you had rather fill your belly by going round the district [ dēmos] begging.”

[365]

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 18.337 focus

The sage Ulysses frowned on her and said :

"Impudent one, Telemachus shall hear

From me the saucy words which thou hast said,

420

And he will come and hew thee limb from limb."

He spake; the damsels, frightened at his words,

Fled through the hall, and shook in every limb

With terror, lest his threat should be fulfilled.

He meantime stood beside the kindled hearths

425

And fed the flames, and, looking on the crowd

Of suitors, brooded in his secret heart

O'er plans that would not fail to be fulfilled.

But Pallas suffered not the suitors yet

To cease from railing speeches, all the more

430

To wound the spirit of Laertes' son.

Eurymachus, the son of Polybus,

Began to scoff at him, and thus he spake

To wake the ready laughter of the rest : -

"Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen.

435

I speak the thought that comes into my mind.

Led by some god, no doubt, this man has come

Into the palace; for the light we have

Of torches seems to issue from the crown

Of his bald pate, a head without a hair."

440

So said Eurymachus, and then bespake

Ulysses, the destroyer of walled towns : -

"Stranger, if I accept thee, wilt thou serve

Upon the distant parts of my estate?

There shalt thou have fair wages, and shalt bring

445

The stones in heaps together, and shalt plant

Tall trees, and I will feed thee through the year,

And give thee clothes, and sandals for thy feet.

But thou art used, no doubt, to idle ways,

And never dost thou work with willing hands,

450

But dost prefer to roam the town and beg,

Purveying for thy gluttonous appetite."

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 18.337 focus

To whom with frowns: 'O impudent in wrong!

385

ULYSSES

'Thy lord shall curb that insolence of tongue ;

'Know, to Telemachus I tell th' offence;

'The scourge, the scourge shall lash thee into sense.'

With conscious shame they hear the stern rebuke,

Nor longer durst sustain the sovereign look.

390

Then to the servile task the monarch turns

His royal hands: each torch refulgent burns

With added day: meanwhile in museful mood,

Absorb'd in thought, on vengeance fix'd he stood.

And now the martial maid, by deeper wrongs

395

To rouse Ulysses, points the suitors' tongues :

Scornful of age, to taunt the virtuous man,

Thoughtless and gay, Eurymachus began :

EURYMACHUS

'Hear me,' (he cries,) 'confederates and friends!

'Some god, no doubt, this stranger kindly sends;
400

'The shining baldness of his head survey,

'It aids our torch-light, and reflects the ray.'

Then to the king that levell'd haughty Troy:

'Say, if large hire can tempt thee to employ

'Those hands in work; to tend the rural trade,
405

'To dress the walk, and form th' embowering shade.

'So food and raiment constant will I give :

'But idly thus thy soul prefers to live,

'And starve by strolling, not by work to thrive.'

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 18.337 focus

Ulysses, looking sourly, answered,

You bitch, Telemachus shall straightway know

These words; he'll cause thee to be tortured.

310

They, fearing he would do't, away they go.

Ulysses ready stood to take in hand

A torch when bidden ; casting in his mind

How he might safely carry on the grand

Mischief against the woo'rs he had design'd.

315

And Pallas yet not suffered them to keep

Themselves in any bounds of modesty,

But fix Ulysses' anger yet more deep.

Eurymachus then said to th' standers by,

To make them laugh, Ulysses to disgrace,

320

Hear, sirs, I pray, what now comes in my thought.

The man comes opportunely to this place;

'Tis sure some God that him has hither brought

To give us greater light; for from his head

Methinks I see arise another flame

325

Besides the flame the torch gives, and so spread

Upon his bald pate doubled has the same.

Then says t' Ulysses, Man, wilt thou serve me,

To pluck up thorns and briars, and trees to plant ?

Thou shalt have meat enough, and clothes, and fee,

330

And shoes, and whatsoever thou shalt want.

But, since thou hast been us'd to idleness,

I doubt thou ne'er wilt labour any more,

But rather feed thy carcass labourless,

And wand'ring choose to beg from door to door.

335

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 18.337 focus

He, looking sternly on her, answer'd her:

"Dog! What broad language giv'st thou? I'll prefer

490

Your usage to the prince, that he may fall

Foul on your fair limbs till he tell them all."

This fray'd the wenches, and all straight got gone

In fear about their business, every one

Confessing he said well. But he stood now

495

Close by the cressets, and did looks bestow

On all men there; his brain employ'd about

Some sharper business than to dance it out,

Which had not long to go. Nor therefore would

Minerva let the Wooers' spleens grow cold

500

With too good usage of him, that his heart

Might fret enough, and make his choler smart.

Eurymachus provok'd him first, and made

His fellow laugh, with a conceit he had

Fetched far from what was spoken long before,

505

That his poor form perhaps some Deity bore.

"It well may chance," said he, "some God doth bear

This man's resemblance, for, thus standing near

The glistering torches, his slick'd head doth throw

Beams round about it as those cressets do,

510

For not a hair he hath to give it shade.

Say, will thy heart serve t' undertake a trade

For fitting wages? Should I take thee hence

To walk my grounds, and look to every fence,

Or plant high trees, thy hire should raise thy forces

515

Food store, and clothes. But these same idle courses

¹²

Thou art so prompt in that thou wilt not work,

But forage up and down, and beg, and lurk

In every house whose roofs hold any will

To feed such fellows. That thy gut may fill,

520

Gives end to all thy being." He replied:

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 18.337 focus

Snarler! Telemachus shall be inform'd

This moment of thy eloquent harangue,

That he may hew thee for it, limb from limb.

415

So saying, he scared the women; back they flew

Into the house, but each with faltering knees

Through dread, for they believed his threats sincere.

He then illumined by the triple blaze,

Watch'd close the lights, busy from hearth to hearth,

420

But in his soul, meantime, far other thoughts

Revolved, tremendous, not conceived in vain.

Nor Pallas (that they might exasperate more

Laertes' son) permitted to abstain

From heart-corroding bitterness of speech

425

Those suitors proud, of whom Eurymachus,

Offspring of Polybus, while thus he jeer'd

Ulysses, set the others in a roar.

Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious Queen !

I shall promulge my thought. This man, methinks,

430

Not unconducted by the Gods, hath reach'd

Ulysses' mansion, for to me the light

Of yonder torches altogether seems

His own, an emanation from his head,

Which not the smallest growth of hair obscures.

435

He ended; and the city-waster Chief

Himself accosted next. Art thou disposed

To serve me, friend! would I afford thee hire,

A labourer at my farm? thou shalt not want

Sufficient wages; thou may'st there collect

440

Stones for my fences, and may'st plant my oaks,

For which I would supply thee all the year

With food, and cloaths, and sandals for thy feet.

But thou hast learn'd less creditable arts,

Nor hast a will to work, preferring much

445

By beggary from others to extort

Wherewith to feed thy never-sated maw.

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 18 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK XVIII

NOW there came to the palace a well-known beggar, who alway

Begged in the Ithacan town. He was famed for his ravenous belly.

Endless his eating and drinking; but no great strength had the fellow,

Neither endurance, although right big was the bulk of his body.

Once was his name Arnaeus. The lady his mother had called him

So from his birth; but the youths all gave him the title of Irus,

Since that he willingly went on a message whene'er he was bidden.

He now came, and attempted to drive from his palace Odysseus,

Uttering threats and abuse, and with swift-winged words he addressed him :

"Get thee agone, old man—or be dragged by the feet—from the doorway!

Canst thou not see that they all are nodding and winking to bid me

Drag thee away? Natheless I am half unwilling to do so.

Up with thee! up! or the quarrel is like to be settled by fighting.”

Glaring askance at the man deep-plotting Odysseus addressed him :

"Navy, good sir, I am harming thee nothing by word or by action.

Ne'er will I grudge it if any shall give thee a dole—and a large one.

Sure there's room for us both on the threshold, and surely thou needst not

Envy the luck of another. Thou seemest a beggar and vagrant,

E'en as myself; and we look to the gods to vouchsafe us a blessing.

Challenge me not to a fray too hotly, nor rouse me to anger,

Lest that in spite of my age on thy breast and thy lips I shall paint thee

Red with thy blood. And indeed 'twould save me from further annoyance

Now and to-morrow, for truly methinks thou'dst dream of returning

Never again to the house of Odysseus the son of Laertes."

Then to a fury aroused thus answered him Irus the vagrant :

"Navy by the gods, how glibly he talks, this gluttonous porker!

Like to a crone that attends to an oven! I'll work him a mischief—

Slog him with both of my fists, and the whole of his teeth I will knock clean

Out of his jaws as the tusks of a hog that has ravaged a cornfield.

Gird thee! and all of the men here present shall judge of the matter,

Viewing us fight. I will teach thee to box with a man that is younger!"

Thus these twain in the front of the high hall door of the mansion,

Over the smooth-worn threshold, provoked each other to anger.

Now when the powerful prince, lord Antinous, had perceived it,

Sweetly and loudly he laughed, and he spake to the suitors around him:

"Comrades, here is a thing that has happened never aforetime!

Such an amusement as never before God sent to the palace!

Look at the stranger and Irus! The one is inciting the other

Unto a contest of fists! Come! Quick! Let us set them a-fighting."

Scarce had he uttered the words, all leapt to their feet and with laughter

Gathered around and encircled the raggedly raimented beggars.

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

"Listen, ye high-born suitors, I pray ! I will make a proposal.

There on the hearth are lying the stomachs of goats, that for supper

Ready we laid, well filled with the blood of the beasts and the caul-fat.

Now of the twain whichever shall conquer and prove him the better,

He shall advance and shall take of the stomachs the one that he chooseth;

He too alway shall join us at feasts, nor shall ever another

Beggar be present or e'er be permitted to sue for a pittance."

Thus spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.

Then with a crafty intent deep-plotting Odysseus addressed them:

"Friends, it is hopeless, I know, to contest with a man that is younger,

Since I am old and outworn with my woes; but the belly compels me,

Maker of mischief that bringeth upon me defeat and a flogging.

Come now, all of you swear me an oath and a solemn assurance

None shall in favour of Irus, uplifting a hand to assail me,

Wantonly strike me a blow and oblige me to yield to the fellow."

Thus did he speak, and they all of them swore to refrain, as I bade them.

Then, when at length they had given the oath and had finished the plighting,

Once more spake in the midst prince Telemachus and addressed him :

"Stranger, if truly thy heart and thy valiant spirit command thee

Thus to defend thee against him, be fearful of none of the nobles,

Since not only with one shall he fight, whoever shall strike thee.

Host of the banquet am I; these chieftains also approve it,

Antinous and Eurymachus—both noted for wisdom."

Thus did he speak, and they all consented thereto; and Odysseus

Gilded his loins with his rags, and his sinewy thighs he uncovered

Goodly and great; and the vast broad shoulders appeared, and the mighty

Chest and the arms. (At his side once more was the goddess Athene

Giving again their strength to the limbs of the prince of the people.)

Forthwith every suitor was filled with exceeding amazement,

While that the one, as he gazed, spake thus to another beside him:

"Irus, un-Irus'd, will soon be imbibing the broth he was brewing!

PATTEN WILSON
ODYSSEUS AND IRUS

Look at the old man's thigh that is showing from under his tatters!"

Thus did they speak, and the spirit of Irus was seized by a panic.

Yet e'en so he was girt by the servants and brought with compulsion

Utterly cowed, with the flesh on his limbs all quaking in terror.

Then spake Antinous and reproached him and loudly rebuked him:

"Better it were thou hadst died—nay, ne'er been living—thou bully,

Since thou art terribly fear'd by the fellow and quakest to meet him,

Though he is old and outworn with the misery fallen upon him.

Now will I tell thee a thing that will certainly find a fulfilment :

Should this fellow prevail in the combat and prove him the better,

Into a black-hulled ship I shall cast thee at once and shall send thee

Over to Echetus, lord of the mainland and maimer of mortals;

Then with the merciless steel he will shear thee thy nose and thy ears off,

Tear from thy body thy vitals and cast them to dogs to be fought for."

So as he spake still more did the man's limbs tremble in terror.

Thus to the ring he was brought, and with hands uplifted they stood there.

Now at the first was in doubt long-suffering godlike Odysseus

Whether to smite him a stroke to deprive him of life as it felled him,

Or with a moderate blow of the fist on the earth to extend him.

Thus as he pondered thereon this plan seemed surely the better,

Lightly to strike—for he feared to be known to the princely Achaeans.

So they uplifted their hands. First Irus a blow on the shoulder

Planted; but under the ear on the neck he was smitten, and inward

Crushed was the bone, and at once from his mouth red blood was a-spouting.

Moaning he fell in the dust and, his teeth tight-clenching together,

Drummed with his heels on the ground as he lay; and the arrogant suitors

Dying for laughter uplifted their hands in delight; but Odysseus

100

Hauled him away by the feet from the doorway and into the courtyard,

Right to the gates of the porch, and there by the wall of the courtyard

Set him and propped him, and placed in the hands of the fellow a cudgel.

Then upraising his voice these swift-winged words he addressed him:

"Sit now here as a scare for the pigs and the dogs! I advise thee

105

Never again to attempt o'er strangers and beggars to lord it,

Meddlesome fool, lest haply befall thee a greater misfortune."

These words spoken, he slung on his shoulders the beggarly wallet,

Terribly tattered and torn ; and thereon was a cord to suspend it.

Then to the threshold returning he sat him adown; and the suitors

110

Merrily laughing re-entered the palace and gave him a welcome:

"Zeus vouchsafe, O stranger, and other immortals, to grant thee

All of thy dearest desires—yea, all that thy spirit can long for,

Since thou hast stopped this insatiate fellow from playing the vagrant

Here in the Ithacan land. So now right soon we shall ship him

115

Over to Echetus, king of the mainland and maimer of mortals."

Thus did he speak, and the godlike Odysseus rejoiced at the omen.

Antinous now laid at his side of the stomachs a great one

Filled with the blood and the fat of the goats, while Amphinomus too

Lifted a couple of loaves from the basket and placed them beside him,

120

Then from a goblet of gold drank welcome and weal to him, saying:

"Hail to thee, stranger and father! I wish thee for ever in future

Happier days—since now thou art holden of many misfortunes."

Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:

"Amphinomus, as it seems, thou art verily gifted with wisdom,

125

E'en as thy father—for oft did I hear of his high reputation,

Nisus of Dulichium, as a man that was brave and was wealthy.

Being, they say, his son thou art like him in good understanding.

So I will tell thee the truth: attentively listen and mark me.

Nothing is nourished by earth more utterly feeble than man is,

130

Nothing of all that is breathing on earth and is creeping upon it.

'Verily never,' he saith to himself, 'shall I suffer misfortune

While God granteth me manhood and still are supple my knee-joints.'

Ay but whenever affliction is sent by the blesséd immortals

All, though sorely unwilling, he bears with a heart of endurance.

135

Such forsooth is the mind of an earth-born mortal: it changes

E'en as the Father of men and of gods sends seasons of fortune.

I too once had the hope to be blest in the world, but committed

Many infatuate deeds in the pride of my arrogant temper,

Trusting moreover my father and also my brothers to help me.

140

Wherefore ne'er is it wise for a man to be lawless, but rather

Quietly all to enjoy, whatsoe'er the immortals shall give him.

Thus an infatuate deed I behold these suitors committing,

Wantonly wasting the wealth of a man and insulting his consort,

Yea and a man that, I ween, not afar from his friends and his homeland

145

Long shall remain. He is even at hand! Some deity lead thee

Safely away to thy home, lest here in his palace thou haply

Meet him whene'er he returns to the well-loved land of his fathers,

Since not bloodless (or much I mistake) will they part from the combat,

He and the suitors, whene'er he shall enter the halls of his homestead."

150

These words spoken, he poured of the wine honey-sweet a libation,

Emptied the goblet and handed it back to the warrior chieftain.

He thro' the palace returned, with his heart sore troubled within him,

Bowing his head; for in sooth in his spirit he boded of evil.

Yet e'en so he escaped not his doom: him too did Athene

155

Destine to death by the hands and the spear of the son of Odysseus.

Then did he seat him again on the chair from the which he had risen.

Now was a thought vouchsafed by the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Unto the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelopeia,

E'en to appear to the suitors and make all hearts at her beauty

160

Open with rapture as never before—since thus she was minded

Still more honour to win from her lord and her son than aforetime.

So with a lightsome laugh to her woman she called and addressed her :

"Eurynomé, in my heart is a longing as ne'er I remember,

Under the gaze of the suitors to stand, though truly I hate them.

165

Also a rede to my son will I give that will tend to his welfare—

Not to consort too oft with the band of the arrogant suitors,

Seeing they speak fair words while secretly brooding on evil."

Then did the house-dame Eurynomé thus answer her saying:

"Ay, it is verily wisely and well thou hast spoken, my daughter.

170

Go to thy child and impart him thy wish, nor attempt to conceal it;

Not howbeit before thou hast bathed and thy face is anointed;

Not like this, with thy cheeks all stained by thy tears, I beseech thee!

Go! for it profiteth little to mourn thus ever and alway.

Yea and thy son, he is now of an age to be wise—and of heaven

175

This was thy dearest demand, with a beard on his chin to behold him."

Her then in turn gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia :

"Eurynomé, I beseech thee, refrain, though urged by affection,

Giving me comfort and bidding me bathe and anoint me with unguents.

All of the pride of my beauty the gods who inhabit Olympus

180

Withered as soon as my lord in the hollow ships had departed.

Seek now Autonoë and Hippodameia, and bid them

Hither to come; in the hall I am wishful to have them beside me;

Never alone to the men will I go, since shyness forbids it."

Thus did she speak, and her woman departing from out of the chamber

185

Went to the maidens, to give them the message and hasten their coming.

Now did a new thought come to the grey-eyed goddess Athene.

Over the daughter of Icarius sweet slumber diffusing

Backward she made her to sink, and with joints all loosened she lay there

Stretched on her couch. Meanwhile, as she slumbered, the beautiful goddess

190

Gifts ambrosial gave her, to dazzle the eyes of the princes.

First, to her features fair new beauty and brighter she added,

Such as the bloom immortal with which fair-crowned Cytherea

Gleameth whenever she goes to the beautiful dance of the Graces.

Taller moreover she made her in stature and larger in person,

195

Whiter she made her of skin than is fresh-sawn ivory's whiteness.

After that thus she had wrought she departed, the beautiful goddess.

Then did the white-armed maidens approach from the women's apartment,

Talking aloud as they came; and at once sweet slumber released her.

Rubbing her cheeks with her hands, these words half wakened she murmured:

200

"Sure in my weary affliction a deep soft trance overcame me!

Would that as gentle a death pure Artemis willed to vouchsafe me

Now on the spot! No more would mourning and grief in my spirit

Wither the days of my life, as I wail for my well-loved husband's

Manifold courage and skill, who was peerless among the Achaeans."

205

Spake, and began to descend from her glistering upper apartment;

Neither alone did she go: two handmaids followed behind her.

Now when at last she had come to the suitors, that fairest of women

Stood by the post of the door of the massively builded apartment,

Holding in front of her cheeks soft folds of her glistering head-dress,

210

While to the right and the left stood one of her faithful attendants.

Straight were loosened the knees of the men, and enraptured by passion

Each one uttered a prayer to the gods to possess her in marriage.

Then to her well-loved son, prince Telemachus, she addressed her:

"Telemachus, no more is thy mind and thy thought to be trusted.

215

E'en as a boy in thy thoughts thou wast guided with greater discretion.

Now thou art grown so tall and art come to the measure of manhood,

So that a stranger beholding thy beauty of person and stature

Sure would deem thee a son of a wealthy and fortunate father;

Yet no more is thy mind and thy judgment right as aforetime.

220

Lo, what deed thou hast caused to be wrought in the hall of thy palace,

Thus permitting a stranger to suffer injurious usage!

How if the stranger, who here as a guest in the home of thy fathers

Quietly sat, some damage received from his grievous maltreatment?

Thine were wholly the shame and disgrace in the judgment of all men."

225

Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Mother, I take it amiss nowise that herein thou art angered.

Well am I able within me to reason, and well to distinguish

Better from worse. Ere now it was merely unreasoning childhood.

Still, all things to contrive as is wise I am wholly unable,

230

Ever distraught by the presence of those who on this and on that side

Urge me with evil intent; nor is any at hand to assist me.

Touching howbeit the fight of the stranger with Irus, it happened

Not by the will of the suitors; and also he proved him the stronger.

Ay and by Father Zeus and Athena and Phoebus Apollo,

235

Would that the suitors themselves e'en thus in the halls of my homestead

Utterly crushed were wagging the head—some out in the courtyard,

Others inside of the house—with the joints all loosed in their bodies,

Even as Irus the beggar anigh to the gate of the courtyard

Sitteth and waggeth his head, just like to a man that is drunken ;

240

Neither erect on his feet is he able to stand, nor betake him

Homeward (if home he possess) since every joint is unloosened."

Thus did the mother and son hold converse the one with the other.

Then spake Eurymachus and addressed him to Penelopeia :

"Daughter of Icarius, O wise-souled Penelopeia,

245

Could now all the Achaeans in Iasan Argos behold thee,

Far more suitors, I trow, would feast in the hall of thy palace

E'en from the dawn of the morrow—for verily far thou excellest

Every woman in beauty and stature and inward discernment."

Him straightway gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia:

250

"Eurymachus, if indeed I excelled in the beauty of person,

All was destroyed by the gods when the Argives, sailing for Troyland,

Mounted the vessels with whom went also Odysseus my husband.

O that he came once more and had care of my life as aforetime!

Thus were fairer my fame, and my lot more happy; for alway

255

Now am I sad; such woes hath a deity sent to assail me.

Yae and I mind, on the day that he went and was leaving his homeland,

Tenderly clasping my hand by the wrist these words he addressed me :

'Listen, my wife! for I trow of the well-greaved sons of Achaea

Nowise all shall return unscathed from the land of the Trojans,

260

Seeing they say that the Trojans themselves are famous as fighters,

Whether at hurling the spear or at launching a bolt from the bowstring,

Yea and as chariot-drivers of fleet-paced horses—and war-cars

Ever decide most swiftly the turn of a dubious conflict.

Therefore I know not if heaven will save me, or dooms me to perish

265

There in the country of Troy. So, carefully see to the household.

Mindfully tend in the halls of the palace my father and mother

Even as now—nay, still more mindfully while I am absent.

Cometh the day that thy son as a bearded man thou beholdest,

Then shalt thou marry whomever thou willst, and relinquish thy homestead.'

270

Such was the word that he spake, and it all now findeth fulfilment.

Come shall the night that will force me to face a detestable marriage,

Ah unfortunate one, whose happiness heaven hath ruined!

Also a grief right sore hath befallen my heart and my spirit :

This was a habit, I trow, ne'er practised by suitors aforetime.

275

Those that will sue for a woman of worth and a rich man's daughter

Wishing to woo her to wife and competing the one with another,

Ever themselves bring cattle and fat-fed sheep for a banquet

Unto the friends of the maiden, and offer her glorious love-gifts;

Nor do they eat with impunity thus the possessions of others."

280

So did she speak, and it joyed long-suffering godlike Odysseus

While she was coaxing a gift from the men and beguiling their spirits

Thus with her winsome words, though things far other she longed for.

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

"Daughter of Icarius, O wise-souled Penelopeia,

285

Truly if any Achaean is willing to send for a present,

Gifts thou shalt have—and indeed 'twere wrong to refuse to receive them.

Yet—not a man of us all shall depart to his homestead or elsewhere

Ere thou art wed to the man who is best of the noble Achaeans."

Thus spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.

290

Forthwith each commanded a henchman to go for a present.

Antinous had a robe both ample and beautiful brought him,

Richly embroidered; with brooches, a dozen in all, it was fastened,

Fashioned of gold, and with clasps well-bent were fitted the brooches.

Eurynomus soon after they brought a magnificent necklace,

295

Golden and beaded with amber that shone as the sun in his glory.

Then prince Eurydamas two earrings received by his henchman

Triple with pendants of mulberry colour and wonderful lustre.

Back from the house of Pisander the chieftain, the son of Polyctor,

Carried his servant a necklet—a jewel of exquisite beauty.

300

Likewise all of the others received some beautiful present.

Then to her upper apartment ascended the fairest of women,

While at her side were borne by her maidens the glorious love-gifts.

Now did the suitors again to the pleasure of dancing and singing

Turn to delight them, intending to stay till the coming of even;

305

Nor was the rout at an end when the darkness of even descended.

Then forthwith to the hall three braziers bringing they set them

There as a light, and around them they laid dry faggots of fuel,

Long since seasoned and ready to blaze, new split with the hatchet.

Pine-brands too they inserted, and maidens alternately fed them,

310

Thralls of the patient Odysseus himself; and to these he addressed him,

Even the Zeus-born prince, their master, the wily Odysseus:

"Maids, whose lord is Odysseus—although so long he is absent—

Go to the chamber wherein your honoured lady abideth,

There by her side ye can twist with the spindle the yarn, or delight her

315

Sitting together within her apartment and carding the sheep-wool.

Leave me alone—I will see to the lights for the whole of the party.

E'en if they wish to remain till the coming of fair-throned Morning

None shall be able to beat me, I trow. I am full of endurance."

Thus did he speak; but they laughed, as they looked each one at the other.

320

Then right shamefully chid him the fair-cheeked maiden Melantho,

Dolius' daughter—but Penelopeia had nourished and reared her

E'en as her child, and had given her toys to her soul's satisfaction;

Yet was her heart untouched by the sorrows of Penelopeia,

Yea and to Eurymachus she had given her love and her honour.

325

This was the one that with words of abuse accosted Odysseus :

"Wretched, impertinent tramp, thou art surely bereft of thy senses.

Get thee away from the palace, and go to a smithy and sleep there,

Or to a tavern, instead of annoying us here with thy prating!

Ay, in the presence of princes thou prat'st, with thy impudent spirit

330

All unabashed. Is it wine that has got to thy wits? or, it may be,

Such is the bent of thy mind, to be always foolishly blabbing.

Crazy methinks thou art gone through conquering Irus the vagrant.

Have but a care for I fear that a better than Irus arising

Soon will be cuffing thy pate with his sinewy hands and will hunt thee

335

Out of the bounds of the palace, with blood all richly bedabbled."

Glaring askance at the maid deep-plotting Odysseus addressed her :

"Forthwith Telemachus shall be told what thou sayest, thou hussy!

Straight I shall go to him—straight; and at once he will cut thee in pieces."

Thus did he speak. At his words in alarm fled all of the women

340

Hurrying out of the hall, their knee-joints loosened with terror,

Quaking affrighted because they believed he had spoken in earnest.

Then to the lights he attended, and nigh to the glow of the braziers

Stationed himself, and he gazed at the rout; but the heart in his bosom

Pondered on things far other, nor destined to fail of fulfilment.

345

Nowise willed it Athena to suffer the arrogant suitors

Still to refrain from insulting contempt, for she wished the resentment

Deeper to sink in the heart of Odysseus the son of Laertes.

Then made Eurymachus, prince Polybus' son, a beginning,

Jeering in scorn at Odysseus and setting his fellows a-laughing:

350

"List to my words, O suitors of far-famed Penelopeia,

While that I utter a thing that the heart in my bosom enjoins me!

Sure it was heaven that guided this tramp to the house of Odysseus !

Leastways so it appeareth to me, for a beacon of pine-brands

There on his head is alight! He hath never a hair—not the least one!"

355

Spake, and withal to Odysseus, the sacker of cities, he turned him :

"Stranger, in case thou art willing to serve, come say, shall I take thee

Up to an inland farm (I can offer thee wages sufficient),

There to collect me the stones for the walls and to plant me the fruit-trees?

There, too, bread I am willing to give in unfailing abundance,

360

Also to keep thee in dress and with shoes for thy feet to provide thee.

Since however a right bad trade thou hast learnt, thou wilt never

Willingly set thee to work, for the tramping and begging is doubtless

More to thy mind, and to batten on doles his insatiate belly."

Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:

365

“Eurymachus, would only we twain had a trial of labour,

Late in the season of spring, when the days grow longer and longer,

Even a trial of grass, I holding a well-bent sickle,

Thou with a like, that we each might vie with the other at mowing,

Fasting till late in the gloom, with a crop right heavy before us.

370

Else let them give us a team to be driven—the strongest of oxen,

Tawny of colour and mighty in bulk, well sated with fodder,

Equal in age and in bearing the yoke, and of strength unexhausted—

Give us a field four-acred with soil that will yield to the ploughshare,

Then thou'dst see if the furrow I cut is a clean and a straight one.

375

Else let a war be awakened by Zeus whencever he willeth

Even to-morrow, and give me a shield and a couple of lances,

Give me a helmet of bronze, well-fitted to cover my temples,

Then thou'dst see me amidst of the foremost ranks of the fighters,

Neither again thou'dst talk with a scornful contempt of my belly.

380

Yea, in thy pride thou art utterly wanton—thy heart is unfeeling—

While in thy folly thou deemest thyself some mighty and great one,

Since it is only with men right weak thou consortest and cowards.

O that Odysseus returned! that he came once more to his homeland!

Soon thou'dst find that the doors, though verily broad is the doorway,

385

Prove too strait for thy flight, as thou hurriest out of the portal."

Thus did he speak; but the man with a heart more maddened to fury

Glared at Odysseus askance and with swift-winged words he addressed him :

"Ah, thou impertinent wretch, I'll punish thee soon for thy prating!

Ay, in the presence of princes thou prat'st, with thy impudent spirit

390

All unabashed. Is it wine that has got to thy wits? or, it may be,

Such is the bent of thy mind to be always foolishly blabbing.

Crazy methinks thou art gone through conquering Irus the vagrant."

Loudly he uttered the words, and he seized on a stool—but Odysseus

Turning to Amphinomus sank down by the knees of the chieftain,

395

Fearing the blow; and he cast and the footstool smote on the right hand

One that was bearing the wine, and the bowl to the ground with a clatter

Crash'd, and the youth with a groan on his back in the dust was extended.

Straight in the shadowy halls was a clamour aroused by the suitors,

While each looked in the face of another anigh him exclaiming:

400

"Would that this tramp of a stranger had elsewhere met his perdition

Ere he had come to the palace to cause such tumult and uproar.

Lo, we're quarrelling over a tramp; all joy in the banquet

Now will be utterly spoilt, for nought but unpleasantness reigneth."

Then spake Telemachus and with words right royal addressed them:

405

"Sirs, ye appear to be mad. No more your conduct conceals it

How ye partook of the food and the wine. Some demon excites you.

Now, if enough he has feasted, let each go sleep at his homestead—

Nay, he shall go when he wills; I will drive no guest from my palace."

Thus did he speak, and the men all biting their lips in amazement

410

Marvelled at Telemachus and the dauntless words he had uttered,

Till prince Amphinomus made answer and thus he addressed them

(Famed was the prince, and his father was son of Aretias, Nisus):

"Listen, my friends: when the word that is spoken is spoken with justice,

None should surely be wroth with the speaker and answer in anger.

415

Neither maltreat, I beseech you, the stranger or other soever,

None of the drudges that serve in the palace of godlike Odysseus.

Come, let the bearer of wine now prime for libation the goblets,

Then let us pour and return for the night each one to his homestead.

Touching the stranger, I vote in the halls of Odysseus to leave him.

420

Telemachus can befriend him, for his was the house that he came to."

Thus did he speak, and his word seemed pleasant to all of the others.

So was a bowl made ready of wine; lord Mulius mixed it,

Herald of Dulichium, who on Amphinomus was attendant.

Then to them all he dispensed it in turn, and they made a libation

425

Unto the blesséd immortals and drank of the wine honey-hearted.

After libation and drinking as much as their spirits enjoined them

Straight they departed to lay them to sleep each one in his homestead.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

In Rhapsody 18, Odysseus as a make-believe beggar is challenged by a most questionable character named Iros, who figures as a real beggar. What makes Iros so questionable is his similarity to characters who figure in a poetic form that can best be described as mock epic.

draft js image error “Ulysses Preparing to Fight with Irus” (1805). John Flaxman (English, 1755–1826) Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996. Image via the Tate.

source

See the comment on lōbeuein ‘say words of insult’ at O.02.323.

source

On kertomeîn ‘say words of insult’, see the comments at O.02.323 and I.02.256.

source

Leonard Muellner

analysis of the interconnections of mēnis, exchange rules, and timē for xenoi

source

Homer Odyssey 18.337

Samuel Butler (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

ULYSSES

'Thy lord shall curb that insolence of tongue ;

'Know, to Telemachus I tell th' offence;

'The scourge, the scourge shall lash thee into sense.'

ODYSSEY BOOK XVIII

PATTEN WILSON
ODYSSEUS AND IRUS

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

ULYSSES 'Thy lord shall curb that insolence of tongue ; 'Know, to Telemachus I tell th' offence; 'The scourge, the scourge shall lash thee into sense.'

ODYSSEY BOOK XVIII

PATTEN WILSON ODYSSEUS AND IRUS

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

ULYSSES

'Thy lord shall curb that insolence of tongue ;

'Know, to Telemachus I tell th' offence;

'The scourge, the scourge shall lash thee into sense.'

PATTEN WILSON
ODYSSEUS AND IRUS