ODYSSEY BOOK II
NOW when the morning was newly arisen, the roseate-fingered,
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Out of his bed uprising the well-loved son of Odysseus
Donned his apparel, suspended the keen-edged sword from his shoulder,
Under his smooth-skinned feet then tying his beautiful sandals
Out of his chamber he came, as a god immortal in presence;
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Nor did he further delay, but the clear-voiced heralds he ordered
Unto a council to summon the long-haired sons of Achaea.
These then made proclamation, and quickly they gathered together.
Now when they all had collected together and formed an assembly,
Bearing a bronzen spear in his hand to the council he gat him,
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Neither alone did he go—by his fleet-paced dogs he was followed.
Wondrous too was the grace that around him was shed by Athene,
Making the people to marvel that saw him approach; and the elders
Yielded him place, and he sat him adown in the seat of his father.
First then rising the hero Aegyptus began to address them;
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Bowed was his body by age, but his mind held infinite knowledge.
One of his well-loved sons with the godlike hero Odysseus
Sailed in the hollow vessels to Ilium famed for its horses,
Antiphus, skilled with the spear: he was slain by the terrible Cyclops,
Caught in his cavern—the last that the monster had roasted and eaten.
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Though he possessed three others (the one with the suitors consorted,
Eurynomus, and the two aye tended the fields of the homestead)
Him howbeit he never forgat, but bewailed him and mourned him;
Ay and in tears as he thought of his son he arose to address them:
"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter.
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Never was yet our meeting of council or session assembled
Since that the noble Odysseus in hollow vessels departed.
Who is it now that hath summoned us here? who found it so urgent?
One of the younger among us perhaps, or one of the elders?
Would he perish some tidings impart of the army returning—
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Tidings that first he hath learn'd and of which he can give us assurance?
Or for the weal of the state hath he aught to inform or advise us ?
Sure it is some good man. Fair fortune attend him, and heaven
Grant him a boon, fulfilling whatever his soul desireth!"
Thus did he speak, and rejoicing the well-loved son of Odysseus
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Took it as omen, nor seated remained, but intent to harangue them
Forth in the midst of the council he stood; and at once was a sceptre
Placed in his hand by Pisenor, the herald expert and sagacious.
Then to the aged Aegyptus he turned, and first he addressed him:
"Sire, not afar is the man that thou seek'st; right soon shalt thou see him.
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He that hath summoned you hither am I—who am foremost in sorrow.
Neither, alas, is it news I impart of the army returning,
News that is come to me first, and of which I can give you assurance;
Nor for the weal of the state is it aught I can tell or advise you.
No—it is mine own need. —On my home is calamity fallen
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Twofold: firstly a sire right noble I mourn, who among you,
All of you here, was a monarch and lovingly ruled as a father.
Second, and worse, is an evil that soon on the whole of my homestead
Infinite ruin will bring, and my substance utterly squander :
Suitors I mean, who in spite of the wish of my mother annoy her,
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Some of them favourite sons of the noblest here in my presence
Cowards, who fear to betake them at once to the house of her father
Icarius, who alone should settle the gifts for his daughter,
Yea and bestow her at will on the wooer that winneth his favour.
These now every day to the house come flocking, and daily
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Slaughtering oxen and sheep and the fat-fed goats of the farmstead
Revel at feasts, and carousing and quaffing the fiery red wine,
Wantonly waste. Nigh all is consumed, nor still is a man there,
Such as Odysseus of yore, to avert this plague from the household.
We, all powerless now to avert it, await for the future
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Truly a pitiful lot, and shall know not how to defend us.
Sooth, to defend me I lack not the will, had I only the power,
Since it is not to be borne what I suffer; nor truly I deem it
Fair for my home to be ruined: yourselves should also resent it,
Ay and if only for shame that ye feel of the neighbouring nations
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Dwelling around us or else for the dread of the anger of heaven,
Lest in its wrath at the deeds ill done it shall send you reverses.
Now I petition you all by Olympian Zeus and by Justice,
Goddess that gathers together the councils of men and dissolves them,
Spare me, my friends! Nay, leave me alone with my pain and my sorrow!
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Leave me to mourn!—unless that my father, the noble Odysseus,
Acting in malice did ill to the well-greaved sons of Achaea,
Which to requite ye are treating me evilly, also in malice,
While these men ye abet. 'Twere verily more to my profit
Were it yourselves that consumed my paternal estate and my cattle!
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Were it yourselves, right soon would compensation be offered;
Else, in the streets of the town we had made an appeal and entreaty,
PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB
Claiming amends, till the whole of the loss were duly repaid us.
Now it is worse—on my heart ye inflict an incurable torture."
These words uttered, the sceptre he dashed to the ground in his anger,
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Bursting in tears, and the whole of the council was touched with compassion.
Then did the rest all silent remain, nor was any that ventured
Telemachus to assail and to answer with words of resentment;
Antinous was the one who alone addressed him in answer:
"Telemachus, big boaster, unbridled in temper—what prat'st thou,
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Thus to insult us and fasten the blame of the matter upon us?
'Tis not the princely Achaeans that wrong thee by wooing thy mother,
Nay, 'tis that mother of thine, who in guile all women exceedeth.
Past is already the third, and the fourth year soon will be passing,
Since she began deluding the hearts of the noble Achaeans.
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All she befooleth with hopes, and she giveth her promise to each one,
Sending them many a message; but things quite other she longs for.
Yea and besides in her heart this crafty device she hath plotted:
Rearing a spacious loom in her hall, she betook her to weaving,
Working a broad and a delicate web; and anon she addressed us :
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Princes, who sue for my hand—since dead is the godlike Odysseus—
Patiently wait, though eager to hasten my marriage, till fully
Woven this web—lest vainly I forfeit the fruits of my spinning.
Lo, 'tis a shroud for the hero Laertes, to wrap him, whenever
Bringing his destined doom low-laying death overtakes him;
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Else in Achaea's land might well some woman reproach me,
Were he to lie, who possessed such riches, lacking a grave-cloth.'
So did she speak and within us the valiant heart was persuaded.
Thus then all of the day at the spacious loom she was weaving;
During the night she unravelled the web with her torches beside her.
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Three long years with her secret device she befooled the Achaeans;
Till, when the fourth year came, and as season was followed by season,
Then at the last (since one of her women, who knew it, had told us),
While at the loom her magnificent web she unravelled, we caught her.
Thus was she forced, though sorely unwilling, to finish her labour.
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Thee such answer the suitors return—thou'lt soon understand it
Turning it o'er in thy mind, and likewise all the Achaeans.
Touching this mother of thine—dismiss her, and bid her to marry
Whomsoever her father commands or that pleases her fancy.
Should she however continue insulting the sons of Achaea,
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Using the arts in the which she is richly endowed by Athene,
Deftness in exquisite work and the talent for cunning invention
—Ay and invention of guile—such guile as we never in old times
Hear of the fair-tressed wives or the daughters of ancient Achaeans,
Tyro or Alcmene or the fair-crowned lady Mycene—
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None of them all had the clever devices that Penelopeia
Knoweth to practise and here's a device not seemly, not decent!
Well—they will never desist consuming thy living and substance
While this woman retaineth the purpose that powers immortal
Plant in her bosom. A mighty renown for herself she is winning
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Doubtless but also for thee a regret for thy vanished riches.
Touching us suitors—we mean to betake us nor homeward nor elsewhere,
Till she has married the man that she chooses of all the Achaeans."
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer:
"Antinous, it is nowise possible thus to eject her;
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She is the mother that bare me and reared me. My father is absent,
Dead or alive; and amends right heavy—for me a disaster—
Icarius will demand, if I wilfully force her to leave me.
Nor from her father alone shall I suffer, for heaven will surely
Punish me worse when my mother shall call on the awful Erinys,
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Forced to depart from her home; and of all mankind will the censure
Fall on my head. Thus, never and never the word will I utter.
Now for yourselves if the spirit within you is wroth and indignant,
Well then, quit ye my halls! Ye can seek your junketings elsewhere.
Feed on your own! Go feasting in turn each one with the other!
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Should it however appear to your minds more pleasant and better
Thus to devour the possessions of others, nor fear the avenger,
Waste as ye will! But the gods everlasting I call to my succour,
Hoping that heaven will grant such deeds to receive retribution:
Then in this selfsame hall shall ye perish—and none shall avenge you."
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Thus pray'd Telemachus, and the Father who speaketh in thunder
Sent two eagles, that swooped from aloft, from the crest of a mountain.
Swift as the blast of a storm for a while came flying together
Both of them, each by the side of the other outspreading his pinions,
Till right over the place of the council and buzzing assembly
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Suddenly wheeling they circled around and with many a flapping
Gazed in the faces of all with a glare foreboding destruction.
Then with his claws each clutched at the neck and the cheeks of the other,
Sweeping away to the right straight over the roofs of the city.
All in astonishment stared at the eagles, whenas they beheld them,
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Wondering much in their hearts what things were destined to happen.
Then stood forth and addressed them the hero, old Halitherses,
Mastor's son, who alone of his age was surpassingly gifted
Birds to discern as a seer and tell the event that was coming.
Moved with a kindly intention he spake and addressed the assembly:
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"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter!
Chiefly I speak to the suitors for them concern my predictions,
Since that on them there rolleth a mighty disaster: Odysseus
Now not long from his friends shall absent him, but even already
Near is at hand and is sowing for these their doom and destruction,
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All of them ay and on many another he bringeth disaster,
Many of us that inhabit the far-seen Ithaca. Come then,
Ere it befall let us counsel to end their mischief—themselves too,
See that they end it! and truly the sooner they end it, the better.
Not as a fool unpractised I prophesy: sure is my knowledge.
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Ay, I affirm, in regard to the man, that it all is accomplished,
All that I once foretold, when the Argive leaders embarked them,
Sailing for Troy—and together with these went cunning Odysseus.
'Many a woe shall he suffer, I said, 'and his comrades shall perish.
Then in the twentieth year he shall come, unknown, unexpected,
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Back to his home.' Lo, all these things are finding fulfilment."
Forthwith Polybus' son, prince Eurymachus, made answer:
"Go to thy home, old gaffer, and prophesy there to thy children,
Lest peradventure on them some mighty disaster is rolling !
Touching this matter, methinks I can prophesy better than thou canst.
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Many a feathered fowl in the sunlight spaces of heaven
Flutters about—nor do all bring augury. Dead is Odysseus,
Dead in a distant land. Had ye gone to perdition together
Well had it been, for thou ne'er hadst talked such folly as augur,
Nor hadst Telemachus thus further incited to anger,
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Hoping a gift for thy house, I suppose—if he careth to give one.
Now will I speak to thee plainly a word that shall find a fulfilment:
While that a man like thee that is elder and wiser than others
Leadeth a younger astray with his words and incites him to anger,
First for the youngster himself far worse is the trouble he causeth,
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(Ay and he ne'er will be able to help him because of the men here)
While for thyself, old man, we shall force thee to pay us a forfeit
Such as shall madden thy soul; and a grievous pain it will cause thee.
Also to Telemachus this counsel I publicly offer :
Straight let him order his mother to go to the house of her father;
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There can her parents arrange for the wedding and settle the presents,
All of the wealth that is wont with a well-loved daughter to follow;
Ere it be done, we shall never (believe me), we sons of Achaea,
Cease from this forcible wooing; we fear not a mortal that liveth,
Not e'en Telemachus—how fluent soever his tongue be.
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Nor do we hold divination for aught—of the which in thy dotage
Emptily prating thou makest thyself still more to be hated.
Yea, his estate shall be eaten to nothing, nor any requital
Ever be made, till she cease with delays to befool the Achaeans
Touching her marriage ;—and we meanwhile, all patiently waiting,
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Still for this fair perfection compete, forgetful of others,
Leaving unsought such wives as a man might willingly wed with."
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
"Eurymachus and the rest of you high-born nobles and suitors,
Touching this matter I cease to entreat; no more will I utter.
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Known is already the truth to the gods and to all the Achaeans.
Grant me howbeit a good swift vessel and twenty companions,
Such as shall help to accomplish the voyaging thither and hither,
Since I intend to betake me to Sparta and Pylos the sandy,
Tidings to learn of my father's return who so long is unheard of.
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Haply an earth-born man shall inform thee, or haply shall Rumour,
Daughter of Zeus, who on earth is the busiest bringer of tidings.
Should I be told of my father as living and homeward returning,
Surely for one more year I can bear with the waste of my substance.
Should they report him as perished and gone from the land of the living,
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Forthwith quickly regaining the well-loved home of my fathers,
Here I shall build him a tomb and funeral offerings offer,
Many and rich, as is meet, and my mother bestow on a husband."
These words spoken he sat him adown; then rose to address them
Mentor, once of the noble Odysseus a faithful companion.
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Him, when he sailed, did the hero entrust with the care of his homestead,
Leaving the old man there to command in the house and protect it.
Moved with a kindly intention he spake and addressed the assembly:
"Ithacans, listen I pray to the words I am wishful to utter!
Never be kindly affectioned again, nor loving and gentle,
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Any that beareth the sceptre as king, nor righteously minded!
Nay, let him rather be hard and be cruel and practise injustice!
So is it true that the godlike Odysseus by none is remembered,
None of the people he governed and lovingly ruled as a father.
'Tis not the arrogant suitors so much that I view with resentment,
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Though outrageous the deeds that they do with malicious intention,
Since they imperil their heads, audaciously braving Odysseus,
Eating his wealth, in belief that he ne'er shall return to the homeland.
Nay, I am wroth far more with the rest of the people—with you here
Silently sitting with never a word of rebuke for the suitors,
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Never attempting to stay these few, though many ye number."
Him addressing replied Leiocritus, son of Euenor:
“Mentor, mischievous fool, where wander thy wits? and what prat'st thou,
Bidding them stop us? Methinks ye will find it a difficult matter
Fighting with men for a feast and with men who exceed you in number.
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E'en if Odysseus himself, your Ithacan hero, appearing
Found at the feast in his house the illustrious band of the suitors,
Were he to long in his spirit to drive us away from his mansion,
Verily little his wife would joy, despite of her yearnings,
Seeing him safely returned; for a doom disgraceful awaits him
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Fighting with those that exceed him in number. 'Tis folly thou talkest.
Come now, all of you people, disperse, each man to his farmstead.
Touching this youth, Halitherses and Mentor shall see to his voyage,
Both of them being of yore good friends of the house of his father.
Natheless, long will he linger, I trow, exploring for tidings
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Only in Ithaca island, and never accomplish the journey."
Thus he addressed them, and hastily all from the council dispersed them,
Scattering hither and thither, and each man went to his homestead,
All but the suitors—who went to the house of the godlike Odysseus.
Meantime Telemachus, to the beach of the ocean withdrawing,
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Washed in the hoar salt water his hands, and he prayed to Athene:
"List, O thou who as god yestreen to the home of my fathers
Camest, and badest me traverse the mist-bound gulf of the ocean,
Tidings to seek of my father's return, who so long is unheard of:
Yea, thou badest me go, but Achaeans hinder my going,
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Chiefly of all those men o'erweening and wicked, the suitors."
Thus as he uttered his prayer drew nigh him the goddess Athene,
Likened to Mentor in voice and also in bodily semblance.
Then did she open her lips, and with swift-winged words she addressed him :
"Telemachus, thou'lt prove not in future a fool or a coward,
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Hast thou within thee a drop of the valiant blood of thy father—
Such was he ever at winning his purpose in word and in action—
Nor shall I fear that thy voyage be vain or be never accomplished;
While if thou beest no son of Odysseus and Penelopeia,
Then can I nowise hope that thy wishes will find a fulfilment.
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Seldom indeed is a son to be found who can rival his father;
Most are worse—but it happens at times that the child is the better.
Nay but in future, I know, thou'lt prove not a fool or a coward,
Nor is the craft of Odysseus in thee so totally wanting;
Therefore good is my hope thou'lt bring these works to fulfilment.
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Come, put away from thy mind the designs and the thoughts of the suitors,
Senseless fools that they are—yea, equally foolish and wicked—
Unsuspecting of death and the darkness of doom that is rolling
Nearer, to swallow them all on the selfsame day in perdition.
Touching the journey thou longst to attempt, nought now shall delay it,
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Such is the friendship I feel for the son, as I felt for the father.
Straight will I get thee a good swift ship, and will come as thy comrade.
Now, I exhort thee, return to thy home and consort with the suitors.
There for the journey prepare thy provision and stow it in vessels,
Wine in the jars, white meal of the barley, the marrow of mortals,
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Packed in the well-sewn skins. Meantime will I levy as shipmates
Those of the people that offer them gladly; and many a vessel
Lies on the sea-girt island of Ithaca, newer and older;
One of them first I shall choose—whichever appears to be fittest—
Then we can quickly equip her and set her afloat on the ocean."
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These words uttered Athena, the daughter of Zeus, and incited
Telemachus to depart; who, aware of the voice of the goddess,
Went on his way to the palace with heart that was grievously troubled.
Here in the halls of his home he discovered the arrogant suitors
Busy with flaying of goats and with singeing of swine in the courtyard.
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Seeing him Antinous with a laugh came forward to meet him,
Clasped him at once by the hand, and with accents of welcome addressed him:
"Telemachus, big boaster, unbridled in temper, I pray thee,
Nourish within no more such anger in word and in action!
Come, let us see thee be merry and feast and carouse as aforetime!
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All these things, be assured, we Achaeans will duly attend to,
Even a vessel and crew—picked rowers, to carry thee quickly
Tidings to seek of the noble Odysseus in beautiful Pylos."
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer :
"Antinous, I can never with boisterous brawlers as you be
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Peacefully sit at the board and delight me in quiet enjoyment.
Were't not enough in the past to have wasted so many a treasure—
Wasted so much of my riches, ye suitors, in days of my childhood?
Now I am grown to a man, and I listen to all that is spoken,
Listen and learn and, as stronger within me is waxing my spirit,
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Soon shall I try to excite doom's terrible furies against you,
Whether I journey to Pylos or stay still here in my country.
Nay, I shall go—nor in vain shall I go on the journey I speak of—
Go as a passenger. Ne'er shall I get me a vessel or rowers
Granted by you: it is thus, I am sure, ye determined to treat me."
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Speaking, he snatched full lightly his hand from the hand of the suitor
Antinous; but the rest, in the palace preparing a banquet,
Seeing it, jeered and with words insulting disdainfully mocked him,
While in their midst thus spake one insolent youth to another:
"Verily Telemachus is devising us death and destruction!
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Either from Pylos the sandy his friends he will bring to avenge him,
Or from the city of Sparta! He seemeth in terrible earnest !
Else to the fertile fields of the Ephyran land he intendeth
Straight to betake him, and thence some drug right deadly to fetch him,
Poison, to cast in the bowl, that we all of us perish together."
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Then in the midst made answer an insolent youth to the other:
"Ay, who knoweth? perchance as he sails in his hollow vessel,
Wandering far from his home, he will perish, as perished Odysseus.
Were it to hap, 'twould make our troubles the more and the greater,
Seeing that all of his goods 'twere need to divide, and the homestead
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Give to his mother to have and to hold with the man that she marries."
Thus did they speak; but he gat him adown to a room of his father's
Vaulted and broad, where piles were lying of gold and of copper,
Garments also in chests and fragrant oil in abundance;
Many a cask moreover of wine sweet-savoured and ancient
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Stood there, holding within it a liquor divine, undiluted.
Close to the wall and in order they stood, lest haply Odysseus
Back to his home might come, all toils and sufferings ended.
Doors close-fitting and furnished with locks were hung in the portals,
Folding together, and here was a matron by night as by daytime
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Wont to resort, who it all full wisely and carefully guarded,
Eurycleia, the daughter of Ops, who was son of Pisenor.
Her now Telemachus to the store-room called, and addressed her:
"Come, good mother, decant me a wine, I beseech thee, in wine-jars,
Sweet—ay, even the choicest of all but the wine that thou keepest
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Mindful of him, ill-fated—if haply appearing from somewhere
Godlike Odysseus shall come, escaping from doom and destruction.
Fill me a dozen of jars and fit all closely with covers.
Pour me as well fine barley in well-sewn wallets of leather.
Twenty in all be the measures of meal of the mill-ground barley.
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Only thyself mayst know it. Let all be collected together.
During the eveningtide I shall fetch it, as soon as my mother
Unto her upper apartment ascends and prepares her for slumber,
Since I intend to betake me to Sparta and Pylos the sandy,
Tidings to hear, if I may, of my well-loved father's returning."
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Hearing the words he had spoken, the dear nurse Eurycleia
Uttered a woful lament, and with swift-winged words she addressed him :
"Why, ah why, in thy heart, dear child, should such an intention
Ever arise? How canst thou be wishing to wander in far lands,
Thou the belov'd sole son of thy mother? Afar from his country
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Perished is godlike Odysseus amidst some people of strangers ;
Yea and as soon as thou goest the men will be plotting behind thee
How to destroy thee with guile and divide all these thy possessions.
Stay now quiet at home on thy lands. Sure, ne'er is it needful
Thus to go toiling and wandering off on the wastes of the ocean."
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Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
"Comfort thee, nurse; not without God's will is the thing that I purpose.
Now come swear to me nought to reveal to my mother belovéd
Ere that of days not less than eleven or twelve shall be ended
(Save that she miss me before and shall ask and shall learn my departure),
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Lest she lament me with tears and her fair face mar with her weeping."
Then by the oath that is mighty among the immortals she sware it.
So when at last she had given her oath and had finished the plighting,
Straight did the dear old mother decant him the wine in the wine-jars,
Packed him besides fine barley in well-sewn wallets of leather.
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Telemachus then returned to the house to consort with the suitors.
Other was now the device of the grey-eyed goddess Athene.
Likened to Telemachus through all of the city she hastened
Seeking the men; and each she accosted imparting her orders,
Bidding them come to the good swift ship at the fall of the even.
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Also to Phronius' son she addressed her, the famous Noëmon,
Begging a swift-winged ship; and he willingly promised to lend one.
So when the even was come and darkened was every roadway,
Down to the salt sea water the vessel they hauled, and aboard her
All of the tackle they shipped that by well-decked vessels is carried.
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Then was she moored by the point of the bay, and the stalwart rowers
Gathered aboard, each surged to his work by the voice of the goddess.
Planning another device did the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Forthwith go on her way to the palace of godlike Odysseus;
Here a delightsome slumber she shed on the eyes of the suitors,
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Dazing them so that the wine-cups dropt from the hands of the drinkers.
Soon to the town they departed to lay them to slumber, unable
Still at the banquet to sit, since drowsiness fell on their eyelids.
Calling to Telemachus did the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Summon him forth from the midst of the fair-built halls of the mansion,
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Likened to Mentor in voice and also in bodily semblance:
"Come now, Telemachus for already thy well-greaved shipmates
Sit at the oar, and for nought are waiting but thee to despatch them.
Come, let us quickly be gone, nor longer delay them from starting."
These words uttered, at once went forward Pallas Athene,
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Hastily leading the way, and he followed the steps of the goddess.
Now when at last they had gotten them down to the sea and the vessel,
Here on the strand of the ocean the long-haired youths they discovered;
These prince Telemachus as their lord and their leader accosted:
"Hither, my friends! let us fetch the provisions. Already together
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All at the house is collected. My mother with nought is acquainted,
Neither the others the maids; one only I told of my purpose."
These words uttered, he guided them forward; they following after
Fetched the provisions and bringing them all to the well-decked vessel
Stowed them aboard at the hest of the well-loved son of Odysseus.
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Then did he mount on the ship, and before him Athena embarking
Sat her adown at the stern of the vessel, and near to the goddess
Telemachus took seat; and the shipmates loosing the cables
Mounted the vessel themselves and sat them adown on the benches.
Sent was a fair stern-wind by the grey-eyed goddess Athene,
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Blustering Zephyr, that roars as he sweepeth the wine-dark ocean.
Then called Telemachus to his men and exhorted and bade them
Set their hands to the gear; and they set them to work as he surged them.
Raising the pine-wood mast to its height, in the notch of the cross-bar
Firmly they fixed it, and bracing it taut to the prow with the forestays
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Hoisted the fair white sails with the ropes tight-twisted of oxhide.
Struck was the midst of the sail by the wind, and the purpling billow
Shouted in front of the prow as she moved on her way in the waters
Over the waves of the ocean, rejoicing her course to accomplish.
Now in the swift black vessel when all of the gear they had fastened,
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Setting them bowls for the mixing of wine full-brimming with liquor
Unto the gods immortal, eternal, they offered libation,
Chiefly the grey-eyed goddess, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty.
Thus then all of the night and into the dawn she was speeding.
Telemachus with Athena as Mentor (1810). Drawing by John Flaxman. 