Homer, Odyssey, Samuel Butler (Translator), 24.412

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

412 While they were thus busy getting their dinner ready, Rumor went round the town, and noised abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suitors; as soon, therefore, as the people heard of it they gathered from every quarter, groaning and hooting before the house of Odysseus. They took the dead away, buried every man his own, and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take each of them to his own place. They then met angrily in the place of assembly, and when they were got together Eupeithes rose to speak. He was overwhelmed with grief [ penthos] for the death of his son Antinoos, who had been the first man killed by Odysseus, so he said, weeping bitterly, "My friend, this man has done the Achaeans great wrong. He took many of our best men away with him in his fleet, and he has lost both ships and men; now, moreover, on his return he has been killing all the foremost men among the Cephallênians. Let us be up and doing before he can get away to Pylos or to Elis where the Epeans rule, or we shall be ashamed of ourselves for ever afterwards. It will be an everlasting disgrace to us if we do not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers. For my own part I should have no more pleasure in life, but had rather die at once. Let us be up, then, and after them, before they can cross over to the mainland."

438 He wept as he spoke and every one pitied him. But Medon and the bard Phemios had now woke up, and came to them from the house of Odysseus. Every one was astonished at seeing them, but they stood in the middle of the assembly, and Medon said, "Hear me, men of Ithaca . Odysseus did not do these things against the will of heaven. I myself saw an immortal god take the form of Mentor and stand beside him. This god appeared, now in front of him encouraging him, and now going furiously about the court and attacking the suitors whereon they fell thick on one another."

450 On this pale fear laid hold of them, and old Halitherses, son of Mastor, rose to speak, for he was the only man among them who knew both past and future; so he spoke to them plainly and in all honesty, saying,

454 "Men of Ithaca , it is all your own fault that things have turned out as they have; you would not listen to me, nor yet to Mentor, when we bade you check the folly of your sons who were doing much wrong in the wantonness of their hearts - wasting the substance and dishonoring the wife of a chieftain who they thought would not return. Now, however, let it be as I say, and do as I tell you. Do not go out against Odysseus, or you may find that you have been drawing down evil on your own heads."

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.) — 24.412 focus

ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο·

Ὄσσα δʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντη,

μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἐνέπουσα.

οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς ἀΐοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

415

μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος,

ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,

τοὺς δʼ ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον

πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες·

αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.

420

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἀνά θʼ ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε·

παιδὸς γάρ οἱ ἄλαστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔκειτο,

Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

425

ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὅδʼ ἐμήσατʼ Ἀχαιούς·

τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δʼ ὤλεσε λαούς·

τοὺς δʼ ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχʼ ἀρίστους,

ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι

430

ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,

ἴομεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθʼ αἰεί·

λώβη γὰρ τάδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,

εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας

τισόμεθʼ. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο

435

ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι.

ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, οἶκτος δʼ ἕλε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,

440

ἔσταν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι· τάφος δʼ ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·

κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδʼ ἐμήσατο ἔργα·

αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ

445

ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.

ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος

φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων

θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.

Translations (7)

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.) — 24.412 focus

So they were busied with their meal in the halls; but meanwhile Rumor, the messenger, went swiftly throughout all the city, telling of the terrible death and fate of the wooers. 415 And the people heard it all at once, and gathered from every side with moanings and wailings before the palace of Odysseus. Forth from the halls they brought each his dead, and buried them; and those from other cities they sent each to his own home, placing them on swift ships for seamen to bear them, 420 but they themselves went together to the place of assembly, sad at heart. Now when they were assembled and met together Eupeithes arose and spoke among them, for comfortless grief for his son lay heavy on his heart, even for Antinous, the first man whom goodly Odysseus had slain. 425 Weeping for him he addressed their assembly and said: “Friends, a monstrous deed has this man of a truth devised against the Achaeans. Some he led forth in his ships, many men and goodly, and he has lost his hollow ships and utterly lost his men; and others again has he slain on his return, and these by far the best of the Cephallenians. 430 Nay then, come, before the fellow goes swiftly to Pylos or to goodly Elis , where the Epeans hold sway, let us go forth; verily even in days to come shall we be disgraced forever. For a shame is this even for men that are yet to be to hear of, if we shall not 435 take vengeance on the slayers of our sons and our brothers. To me surely life would then no more be sweet; rather would I die at once and be among the dead. Nay, let us forth, lest they be too quick for us, and cross over the sea.” So he spoke, weeping, and pity laid hold of all the Achaeans. Then near them came Medon and the divine minstrel 440 from the halls of Odysseus, for sleep had released them; and they took their stand in the midst, and wonder seized every man. Then Medon, wise of heart, spoke among them: “Hearken now to me, men of Ithaca , for verily not without the will of the immortal gods has Odysseus devised these deeds. 445 Nay, I myself saw an immortal god, who stood close beside Odysseus, and seemed in all things like unto Mentor. Yet as an immortal god now in front of Odysseus would he appear, heartening him, and now again would rage through the hall, scaring the wooers; and they fell thick and fast.”

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 24.412 focus

While they were thus busy getting their dinner ready, Rumor went round the town, and noised abroad the terrifying fate that had befallen the suitors; [415] as soon, therefore, as the people heard of it they gathered from every quarter, groaning and hooting before the house of Odysseus. They took the dead away, buried every man his own, and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take each of them to his own place. [420] They then met angrily in the place of assembly, and when they were got together Eupeithes rose to speak. He was overwhelmed with grief [ penthos] for the death of his son, Antinoos, who had been the first man killed by Odysseus, [425] so he said, weeping bitterly, “My friends, this man has done the Achaeans great wrong. He took many of our best men away with him in his fleet, and he has lost both ships and men; now, moreover, on his return he has been killing all the foremost men among the Kephallēnians. [430] Let us be up and doing before he can get away to Pylos or to shining Elis where the Epeioi rule, or we shall be ashamed of ourselves for ever afterwards. It will be an everlasting disgrace to us if we do not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers. [435] For my own part I should have no more pleasure in life, but had rather die at once. Let us be up, then, and after them, before they can cross over to the mainland.”

He wept as he spoke and every one pitied him. But Medon and the bard Phemios had now woken up, [440] and came to them from the house of Odysseus. Every one was astonished at seeing them, but they stood in the middle of the assembly, and Medon said, “Hear me, men of Ithaca. Odysseus did not do these things against the will [445] of the gods. I myself saw an immortal god take the form of Mentor and stand beside him. This god appeared, now in front of him encouraging him, and now going furiously about the court and attacking the suitors whereon they fell thick on one another.”

[450]

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 24.412 focus

Now through the city meantime swiftly ran

The rumor that the suitors all had met

505

A bloody death. No sooner had men heard

The tidings than they came with cries and moans

Before the palace, moving to and fro.

Each carried forth his dead, and gave to each

His funeral rites, except to those who came

510

From distant cities; these they put on board

Swift-sailing galleys of the fishermen,

That they might bear them home. And then they came

Sorrowing together in the market-place.

There, when the assembly now was full, arose

515

Eupeithes and addressed them. In his heart

Was sorrow, that could never be consoled,

For his slain son Antinoüs, who was first

To fall before Ulysses. Weeping rose

The father, and harangued the assembly thus : -

520

"Great things, indeed, my friends, hath this man done

For us Achaians. Many valiant men

He gathered in his ships and led abroad,

And lost his gallant ships, and lost his men ;

And now, returning, he has put to death

525

The best of all the Cephallenian race.

Come, then, and ere he find a safe retreat

In Pylos, or in hallowed Elis, where

The Epeians rule, pursue him; endless shame

Will be our portion else, and they who live

530

In future years will hear of our disgrace.

If we avenge not on these men of blood

The murder of our sons and brothers, life

Will not be sweet to me, and I would go

At once, and gladly, down among the dead.

535

Rise, then, and fall upon them ere they flee."

So spake he, weeping; and the Greeks were moved

With pity as they heard him. Now appeared

The herald Medon and the sacred bard,

As, rising from the sleep of night, they left

540

The palace of Ulysses. They stood forth

Amid the multitude, who all beheld

With wonder. Then sagacious Medon spake :-

"Give ear, ye men of Ithaca, and know

That not without the approval of the gods

545

Ulysses hath done this. I saw, myself,

One of the immortals taking part with him,

In all things like to Mentor. Now the god

Standing before Ulysses strengthened him

For combat, and now drove the routed band

550

Of suitors through the hall; in heaps they fell."

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 24.412 focus

Now flying Fame the swift report had spread

Through all the city, of the suitors dead.

475

In throngs they rise, and to the palace crowd;

Their sighs were many, and the tumult loud.

Weeping they bear the mangled heaps of slain,

Inhume the natives in their native plain;

The rest in ships are wafted o'er the main.

480

Then sad in council all the seniors sate,

Frequent and full, assembled to debate:

Amid the circle first Eupithes rose,

Big was his eye with tears, his heart with woes:

The bold Antinoüs was his age's pride,

485

The first who by Ulysses' arrow died:

Down his wan cheek the trickling torrent ran,

As, mixing words with sighs, he thus began:

"Great deeds, O friends! this wondrous man has wrought,

And mighty blessings to his country brought!

490

With ships he parted, and a numerous train;

Those, and their ships, he buried in the main.

Now he returns, and first essays his hand

In the best blood of all his native land.

Haste then, and ere to neighbouring Pyle he flies,

495

Or sacred Elis, to procure supplies;

Arise, (or ye for ever fall,) arise!

Shame to this age, and all that shall succeed!

If unreveng'd your sons and brothers bleed.

Prove that we live, by vengeance on his head,

500

Or sink at once forgotten with the dead."

Here ceas'd he, but indignant tears let fall

Spoke when he ceas'd: dumb sorrow touch'd them all.

When from the palace to the wondering throng

Sage Medon came, and Phemius came along;

505

(Restless and early sleep's soft bands they broke;)

And Medon first th' assembled chiefs bespoke:

"Hear me, ye peers and elders of the land,

Who deem this act the work of mortal hand;

As o'er the heaps of death Ulysses strode,

510

These eyes, these eyes beheld a present god,

Who now before him, now beside him stood,

Fought as he fought, and mark'd his way with blood:

In vain old Mentor's form the god belied;

'Twas Heaven that struck, and Heaven was on his side."

515

A sudden horror all th' assembly shook,

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 24.412 focus

Now fame divulged had the suitors' fate;

And people howling, came in ev'ry way,

And gathered whereabout Ulysses' gate,

To fetch the bodies of the dead away.

And those that out of Ithaca had liv'd,

375

To fishermen they gave to carry home.

And staying on the place, though sorely griev'd,

Amongst themselves they into counsel come.

Eupeithes, father of Antinous,

That first of all slain by Ulysses was,

380

Spake first, and weeping for his son, said thus:

See how much mischief this man done us has.

He carried hence our ships, and ablest men;

And lost them all, as one that had designed

Our utter ruin. Coming back agen,

385

He killed bath those whom he left behind.

Come then, let's to him quickly, lest meanwhile

He should pass over the wide sea, and get

Protection at Elis, or at Pyle,

And we so sham'd as we were never yet.

390

'Twill be a scorn to our posterity

To let the murder of our children so

Stay unrevenged, and put up cowardly.

For my part, to my grave I'd rather go.

Come quickly then, lest we prevented be.

395

This said, the people for him pity had.

Then came in Medon, who had scaped free,

And Phemius that scap'd too, and was glad.

And Medon to th'assembly spake, and said,

Ulysses of himself could not have done

400

This mighty deed without th' Immortals' aid.

I saw, when present I was looking on,

A God stand by that him encouraged,

In Mentor's shape he plainly did appear;

And then about the room the suitors fled,

405

And fell before Ulysses in their fear.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 24.412 focus

About which while they sat, about the town

Fame flew, and shriek'd about the cruel death

And fate the Wooers had sustain'd beneath

550

Ulysses' roofs. All heard; together all

From hence and thence met in Ulysses' hall,

Short-breath'd and noiseful, bore out all the dead

To instant burial, while their deaths were spread

To other neighbour cities where they lived,

555

From whence in swiftest fisher-boats arrived

Men to transfer them home. In mean space here

The heavy nobles all in counsel were;

Where, met in much heap, up to all arose

Extremely grieved Eupitheus so to lose

560

His son Antinous, who, first of all,

By great Ulysses' hand had slaught'rous fall.

Whose father, weeping for him, said: "O friends,

This man hath author'd works of dismal ends,

Long since conveying in his guide to Troy

565

Good men, and many that did ships employ,

All which are lost, and all their soldiers dead;

And now the best men Cephallenia bred

His hand hath slaughter'd. Go we then (before

His 'scape to Pylos, or the Elean shore

570

Where rule the Epeans) 'gainst his horrid hand;

For we shall grieve, and infamy will brand

Our fames for ever, if we see our sons

And brothers end in these confusions,

Revenge left uninflicted. Nor will I

575

Enjoy one day's life more, but grieve and die

With instant onset. Nor should you survive

To keep a base and beastly name alive.

Haste, then, lest flight prevent us." This with tears

His griefs advised, and made all sufferers

580

In his affliction. But by this was come

Up to the council from Ulysses' home—

When sleep had left them, which the slaughters there

And their self-dangers from their eyes in fear

Had two nights intercepted those two men

585

That just Ulysses saved out of the slain,

Which Medon and the sacred singer were.

These stood amidst the council; and the fear

The slaughter had impress'd in either's look

Stuck still so ghastly, that amaze it strook

590

Through every there beholder. To whose ears

One thus enforced, in his fright, cause of theirs :

"Attend me, Ithacensians! This stern fact

Done by Ulysses was not put in act

Without the Gods' assistance. These self eyes

595

Saw one of the immortal Deities

Close by Ulysses, Mentor's form put on

At every part. And this sure Deity shone

Now near Ulysses, setting on his bold

And slaught'rous spirit, now the points controll'd

600

Of all the Wooers' weapons, round about

The arm'd house whisking, in continual rout

Their party putting, till in heaps they fell."

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 24.412 focus

But Fame with rapid haste the city roam'd

In every part, promulging in all ears

485

The suitors' horrid fate. No sooner heard

The multitude that tale, than one and all

Groaning they met and murmuring before

Ulysses' gates. Bringing the bodies forth,

They buried each his friend, but gave the dead

490

Of other cities to be ferried home

By fishermen on board their rapid barks.

All hasted then to council; sorrow wrung

Their hearts, and, the assembly now convened,

Arising first Eupithes spake, for grief

495

Sat heavy on his soul, grief for the loss

Of his Antinoüs by Ulysses slain

Foremost of all, whom mourning, thus he said.

My friends! no trivial fruits the Greecians reap

Of this man's doings. Those he took with him

500

On board his barks, a numerous train and bold,

Then lost his barks, lost all his numerous train,

And these, our noblest, slew at his return.

Come therefore-ere he yet escape by flight

To Pylus or to noble Elis, realm

505

Of the Epeans, follow him; else shame

Attends us and indelible reproach.

If we avenge not on these men the blood

Of our own sons and brothers, farewell then

All that makes life desirable; my wish

510

Henceforth shall be to mingle with the shades.

Oh then pursue and seize them ere they fly.

Thus he with tears, and pity moved in all.

Then, Medon and the sacred bard whom sleep

Had lately left, arriving from the house

515

Of Laertiades, approach'd; amid

The throng they stood; all wonder'd seeing them,

And Medon, prudent senior, thus began.

Hear me, my countrymen! Ulysses plann'd

With no disapprobation of the Gods

520

The deed that ye deplore. I saw, myself,

A Power immortal at the Hero's side,

In semblance just of Mentor; now the God,

In front apparent, led him on, and now,

From side to side of all the palace, urged

525

To flight the suitors; heaps on heaps they fell.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

Before the Odyssey comes to an end, the Singer of Tales reaches back to what seems to be the beginning of the Iliad. It is as if the second epic, the Odyssey, could now restart before it ends by reaching back into the first epic, the Iliad. Still, there will be no restart here. The plot of that first epic had started with a grand feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, but the plot of the second epic will now come to an end with a resolution of that feud. The feuding is over, so that the two main characters of the Iliad can now take time to review not only what happened in the Iliad but also, beyond the Iliad, how the two of them died, each his own way. Since they are now dead, they have to speak ghost to ghost, but that is not enough for Agamemnon. He must also speak with the new ghosts, the suitors, who will now give him a retrospective on the Odyssey. This way, Agamemnon can compare the story of his own life with the stories of both Odysseus and Achilles. And the comparison must be most depressing for him. But the Odyssey does not end with the sad thoughts of Agamemnon. Odysseus still has to reconnect with his own ancestors, and so there needs to be a final recognition scene between the son and his father Laertes. But even after this reconnection of the generations is finally achieved, the story is still not done. The feuding that has been triggered by the killing of the suitors must end; otherwise, the story cannot end.

draft js image error “Mercury Conducting the Souls of the Suitors to the Infernal Regions” (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

In the present context, it is evident that the emotion of grief can undergo a metastasis into the emotion of anger, fueling the desire for vendetta.

source

Homer Odyssey 24.412

Samuel Butler (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers