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And now, declining with his sloping wheels,

Down sunk the sun behind the western hills.

The goddess shov'd the vessel from the shores,

And stow'd within its womb the naval stores.

440

Full in the openings of the spacious main

It rides; and now descends the sailor-train.

Next, to the court, impatient of delay,

With rapid step the goddess urged her way:

There every eye with slumberous chains she bound,

445

And dash'd the flowing goblet to the ground.

Drowsy they rose, with heavy fumes oppress'd,

Reel'd from the palace, and retir'd to rest.

Then thus, in Mentor's reverend form array'd,

Spoke to Telemachus the martial maid:

450

MINERVA

'Lo! on the seas prepar'd the vessel stands ;

'Th' impatient mariner thy speed demands.'

Swift as she spoke, with rapid pace she leads;

The footsteps of the deity he treads.

Swift to the shore they move; along the strand

455

The ready vessel rides, the sailors ready stand.

He bids them bring their stores; th' attending train

Load the tall bark, and launch into the main.

The prince and goddess to the stern ascend;

To the strong stroke at once the rowers bend.

460

Full from the west she bids fresh breezes blow;

The sable billows foam and roar below.

The chief his orders gives; th' obedient band

With due observance wait the chief's command:

With speed the mast they rear, with speed unbind

465

The spacious sheet, and stretch it to the wind.

High o'er the roaring waves the spreading sails

Bow the tall mast, and swell before the gales;

The crooked keel the parting surge divides,

And to the stern retreating roll the tides.

470

And now they ship their oars, and crown with wine

The holy goblet to the powers divine:

Imploring all the gods that reign above,

But chief the blue-ey'd progeny of Jove.

Thus all the night they stem the liquid way,

475

And end their voyage with the morning ray.

BOOK III.

ARGUMENT.

THE INTERVIEW OF TELEMACHUS AND NESTOR.

Telemachus, guided by Pallas in the shape of Mentor, arrives in the morning at Pylos, where Nestor and his sons are sacrificing on the sea-shore to Neptune. Telemachus declares the occasion of his coming and Nestor relates what passed in their return from Troy, how their fleets were separated, and he never since heard of Ulysses. They discourse concerning the death of Agamemnon, the revenge of Orestes, and the injuries of the suitors. Nestor advises him to go to Sparta, and inquire further of Menelaus. The sacrifice ending with the night, Minerva vanishes from them in the form of an eagle: Telemachus is lodged in the palace. The next morning they sacrifice a bullock to Minerva; and Telemachus proceeds on his journey to Sparta, attended by Pisistratus.

The scene lies on the sea-shore of Pylos.

Odyssey. Homer. London. 1858.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὀδύσσεια Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 2.388 focus

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,

καὶ τότε νῆα θοὴν ἅλαδʼ εἴρυσε, πάντα δʼ ἐν αὐτῇ

ὅπλʼ ἐτίθει, τά τε νῆες ἐύσσελμοι φορέουσι.

390

στῆσε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ λιμένος, περὶ δʼ ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι

ἁθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο· θεὰ δʼ ὤτρυνεν ἕκαστον.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

ἔνθα μνηστήρεσσιν ἐπὶ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευε,

395

πλάζε δὲ πίνοντας, χειρῶν δʼ ἔκβαλλε κύπελλα.

οἱ δʼ εὕδειν ὤρνυντο κατὰ πτόλιν, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

ἥατʼ, ἐπεί σφισιν ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν.

αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχον προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη μεγάρων ἐὺ ναιεταόντων,

400

Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν·

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μέν τοι ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι

ἥατʼ ἐπήρετμοι τὴν σὴν ποτιδέγμενοι ὁρμήν·

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ δηθὰ διατρίβωμεν ὁδοῖο.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

405

καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,

εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ κάρη κομόωντας ἑταίρους.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·

δεῦτε, φίλοι, ἤια φερώμεθα· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη

410

ἁθρόʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. μήτηρ δʼ ἐμὴ οὔ τι πέπυσται,

οὐδʼ ἄλλαι δμωαί, μία δʼ οἴη μῦθον ἄκουσεν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο.

οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέροντες ἐυσσέλμῳ ἐπὶ νηὶ

κάτθεσαν, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.

415

ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη,

νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῆς

ἕζετο Τηλέμαχος. τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν,

ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

420

ἀκραῆ Ζέφυρον, κελάδοντʼ ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν

ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν.

ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης

στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,

425

ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐυστρέπτοισι βοεῦσιν.

ἔπρησεν δʼ ἄνεμος μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα

στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλʼ ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·

ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.

δησάμενοι δʼ ἄρα ὅπλα θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν

430

στήσαντο κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,

λεῖβον δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν,

ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Διὸς γλαυκώπιδι κούρῃ.

παννυχίη μέν ῥʼ ἥ γε καὶ ἠῶ πεῖρε κέλευθον.

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.) — 2.388 focus

Now the sun set and all the ways grew dark. Then she drew the swift ship to the sea and 390 put in it all the gear that well-benched ships carry. And she moored it at the mouth of the harbor, and round about it the goodly company was gathered together, and the goddess heartened each man. Then again the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, took other counsel. She went her way to the house of divine Odysseus, 395 and there began to shed sweet sleep upon the wooers and made them to wander in their drinking, and from their hands she cast the cups. But they rose to go to their rest throughout the city, and remained no long time seated, for sleep was falling upon their eyelids. But to Telemachus spoke flashing-eyed Athena, 400 calling him forth before the stately hall, having likened herself to Mentor both in form and in voice: “Telemachus, already thy well-greaved comrades sit at the oar and await thy setting out. Come, let us go, that we may not long delay their journey.” 405 So saying, Pallas Athena led the way quickly, and he followed in the footsteps of the goddess. Now when they had come down to the ship and to the sea, they found on the shore their long-haired comrades, and the strong and mighty¹ Telemachus spoke among them: 410 “Come, friends, let us fetch the stores, for all are now gathered together in the hall. My mother knows naught hereof, nor the handmaids either: one only heard my word.” Thus saying, he led the way, and they went along with him. So they brought and 415 stowed everything in the well-benched ship, as the dear son of Odysseus bade. Then on board the ship stepped Telemachus, and Athena went before him and sat down in the stern of the ship, and near her sat Telemachus, while the men loosed the stern cables and themselves stepped on board, and sat down upon the benches. 420 And flashing-eyed Athena sent them a favorable wind, a strong-blowing West wind that sang over the wine-dark sea. And Telemachus called to his men, and bade them lay hold of the tackling, and they hearkened to his call. The mast of fir 425 they raised and set in the hollow socket, and made it fast with fore-stays, and hauled up the white sail with twisted thongs of ox-hide. So the wind filled the belly of the sail, and the dark wave sang loudly about the stem of the ship as she went, and she sped over the wave accomplishing her way. 430 Then, when they had made the tackling fast in the swift black ship, they set forth bowls brim full of wine, and poured libations to the immortal gods that are forever, and chiefest of all to the flashing-eyed daughter of Zeus. So all night long and through the dawn the ship cleft her way.

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey: rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. Revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. London: A.C. Fifield, 1900.) — 2.377 focus

377 The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not, and when she had completed her oath, she began drawing off the wine into jars, and getting the barley meal into the bags, while Telemakhos went back to the suitors.

382 Then Athena bethought her of another matter. She took his shape, and went round the town to each one of the crew, telling them to meet at the ship by sundown. She went also to Noemon son of Phronios, and asked him to let her have a ship - which he was very ready to do. When the sun had set and darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the water, put all the tackle on board her that ships generally carry, and stationed her at the end of the harbor. Presently the crew came up, and the goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them.

393 Furthermore she went to the house of Odysseus, and threw the suitors into a deep slumber. She caused their drink to fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went back into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness. Then she took the form and voice of Mentor, and called Telemakhos to come outside.

402 "Telemakhos," said she, "the men are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders, so make haste and let us be off."

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 2.388 focus

When the sun had set and darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the water, put [390] all the tackle on board her that ships generally carry, and stationed her at the end of the harbor. Presently the crew came up, and the owl-vision goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them.

Furthermore she went to the house of godlike Odysseus, [395] and threw the suitors into a deep slumber. She caused their drink to fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went back into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness. [400] Then she took the form and voice of Mentor, and called Telemachus to come outside.

“Telemachus,” said she, “the strong-greaved men are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders, so make haste and let us be off.” [405] Then she led the way, while Telemachus followed in her steps. When they got to the ship they found the crew waiting by the water side, and the hallowed prince, Telemachus said, [410] “Now my men, help me to get the stores on board; they are all put together in the hall, and my mother does not know anything about it, nor any of the maid servants except one.”

With these words he led the way and the others followed after. [415] When they had brought the things as he told them, dear son of Odysseus, Telemachus went on board, Athena going before him and taking her seat in the stern of the vessel, while Telemachus sat beside her. Then the men loosed the hawsers and took their places on the benches. [420] Owl-vision Athena sent them a fair wind from the West, that whistled over the deep blue waves whereon Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes and hoist sail, and they did as he told them. They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it, [425] and made it fast with the forestays; then they hoisted their white sails aloft with ropes of twisted ox-hide. As the sail bellied out with the wind, the ship flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward. [430] Then they made all fast throughout the ship, filled the mixing-bowls to the brim, and made drink offerings to the immortal gods that are from everlasting, but more particularly to the owl-vision daughter of Zeus.

Thus, then, the ship sped on her way through the watches of the night from dark till dawn.

Rhapsody 3

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 2.388 focus

The sun went down, the city streets lay all

In shadow. Then she drew the good ship down

Into the sea, and brought and put on board

490

The appointments every well-built galley needs,

And moored her at the bottom of the port,

Where, in a throng, obedient to the word

Of Pallas, round her came her gallant crew.

With yet a new device the blue-eyed maid

495

Went to the palace of the godlike chief

Ulysses, where she poured a gentle sleep

Over the suitors. As they drank she made

Their senses wander, and their hands let fall

The goblets. Now no longer at the board

500

They sat, but sallied forth, and through the town

Went to their slumbers, for the power of sleep

Had fallen heavily upon their lids.

Then blue-eyed Pallas from those sumptuous halls

Summoned Telemachus. She took the form

505

And voice of Mentor, and bespake him thus:-

"Telemachus, already at their oars

Sit thy well-armed companions and await

Thy coming; let us go without delay."

Thus having spoken, Pallas led the way

510

With rapid footsteps which he followed fast;

Till having reached the galley and the sea

They found their long-haired comrades at the beach,

And thus the gallant prince Telemachus

Bespake them : "Hither, comrades, let us bring

515

The sea-stores from the dwelling where they lie;

My mother knows not of it, nor her maids;

The secret has been told to one alone."

He spake, and went before them. In his steps

They followed. To the gallant bark they brought

520

The stores, and, as the well-beloved son

Of King Ulysses bade, they laid them down

Within the hull. Telemachus went up

The vessel's side, but Pallas first embarked,

And at the stern sat down, while next to her

525

Telemachus was seated. Then the crew

Cast loose the fastenings and went all on board,

And took their places on the rowers' seats,

While blue-eyed Pallas sent a favoring breeze,

A fresh wind from the west, that murmuring swept

530

The dark-blue main. Telemachus gave forth

The word to wield the tackle; they obeyed,

And raised the fir-tree mast, and, fitting it

Into its socket, bound it fast with cords,

And drew and spread with firmly twisted ropes

535

The shining sails on high. The steady wind

Swelled out the canvas in the midst; the ship

Moved on, the dark sea roaring round her keel,

As swiftly through the waves she cleft her way.

And when the rigging of that swift black ship

540

Was firmly in its place, they filled their cups

With wine, and to the ever-living gods

Poured out libations, most of all to one,

Jove's blue-eyed daughter. Thus through all that night

And all the ensuing morn they held their way.

545

BOOK III.

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 2.388 focus

And now the sun was down, the streets were dark,

And down to the sea-side the Goddess went,

360

And the good ship into the sea they haul,

And in it stow all that was needful fort;

The mariners were there together all,

And tied the ship at far end of the port.

Meanwhile the suitors merrily carouse,

365

And Pallas then, their fancies to confound,

From the sea-side went back into the house,

And from their hands the cups threw to the ground.

And with the love of sleep possess'd their eyes,

And made them nod, and let their eye-lids down;

370

And not long after from their seats they rise,

And for that night took lodging in the town.

Then, like to Mentor both in form and voice,

Telemachus she called out of doors.

Your men are ready at the port, she says,

375

There they expecting you sit with their oars.

Then out they went, and Pallas led the way,

And found the rowers ready on the beach.

Telemachus then said, Come back, I pray,

To th* house with me, our victual thence to fetch,

380

Which, well put up, I there have ready laid;

But nothing of it does my mother know,

Nor any else but I and one old maid.

Then with Telemachus to th' house they go,

And to the ships at once bring all away,

385

And stow it as Telemachus thought fit.

Pallas and he embark without delay,

And at the stern they both together sit.

And now the mariners their tackle ply;

First, in the midst they set the mast upright,

390

And it unto the ship with strong ropes tie,

And then their sails they hoist up to their height,

Which Pallas, with a lusty gale from west,

Kept full all night. The ship the sea then gores;

The water, swiftly running from her breast

395

By both her sides, wounded and broken roars.

And then unto the Gods they offer wine,

And to them all were praying for awhile,

But specially unto their guide divine;

Then sail'd all night, and were next mom at Pyle.

400

ODYSSEY.

LIB. III.

Nestor entertains him at Pyle, and tells him how the Greeks departed from Troy ; and sends him for further information to Sparta.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 2.388 focus

The sun then set,

And sable shadows slid through every street,

When forth they launch'd, and soon aboard did bring

570

All arms, and choice of every needful thing

That fits a well-rigg'd ship. The Goddess then

Stood in the port's extreme part, where her men,

Nobly appointed, thick about her came,

Whose every breast she did with spirit enflame.

575

Yet still fresh projects laid the grey-eyed Dame.

Straight to the house she hasted, and sweet sleep

Pour'd on each Wooer; which so laid in steep

Their drowsy temples, that each brow did nod,

As all were drinking, and each hand his load,

580

The cup, let fall. All start up, and to bed,

Nor more would watch, when sleep so surfeited

Their leaden eye-lids. Then did Pallas call

Telemachus, in body, voice, and all,

Resembling Mentor, from his native nest,

585

And said, that all his arm'd men were addrest

To use their oars, and all expected now

He should the spirit of a soldier show.

"Come then," said she, " no more let us defer

Our honour'd action." Then she took on her

590

A ravish'd spirit, and led as she did leap;

And he her most haste took out step by step.

Arrived at sea and ship, they found ashore

The soldiers that their fashion'd-long hair wore;

To whom the prince said: "Come, my friends, let's bring

595

Our voyage's provision; every thing

Is heap'd together in our court; and none,

No not my mother, nor her maids, but one

Knows our intention." This express'd, he led,

The soldiers close together followed;

600

And all together brought aboard their store.

Aboard the prince went; Pallas still before

Sat at the stern, he close to her, the men

Up hasted after. He and Pallas then

Put from the shore. His soldiers then he bad

605

See all their arms fit; which they heard, and had.

A beechen mast, then, in the hollow base

They put, and hoisted, fix'd it in his place

With cables; and with well-wreath'd halsers hoise

Their white sails, which grey Pallas now employs

610

With full and fore-gales through the dark deep main.

The purple waves, so swift cut, roar'd again

Against the ship sides, that now ran and plow'd

The rugged seas up. Then the men bestow'd

Their arms about the ship, and sacrifice

615

With crown'd wine-cups to th' endless Deities

They offer'd up. Of all yet throned above,

They most observed the grey-eyed seed of Jove;

Who, from the evening till the morning rose,

And all day long, their voyage did dispose.

620

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

THE ARGUMENT.

TELEMACHUS, and Heaven's wise* Dame¹

That never husband had, now came

To Nestor; who his either guest

Received at the religious feast

He made to Neptune, on his shore;

And there told what was done before

The Trojan turrets, and the state

Of all the Greeks since Ilion's fate.

This book † these three of greatest place²

Doth serve with many a varied grace.

Which past, Minerva takes her leave.

Whose state when Nestor doth perceive,

With sacrifice he makes it known,

Where many a pleasing rite is shown.

Which done, Telemachus hath gain'd

A chariot of him; who ordain'd

Pisistratus, his son, his guide

To Sparta; and when starry eyed

The ample heaven began to be,

All house-rites to afford them free,

In Pheris, Diocles did please,

His surname Ortilochides.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

Γάμμα. Ulysses son

With Nestor lies,

To Sparta gone;

Thence Pallas flies.

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 2.388 focus

Now set the sun, and twilight dimm'd the ways,

When, drawing down his bark into the Deep,

He gave her all her furniture, oars, arms

And tackle, such as well-built galleys bear,

Then moor'd her in the bottom of the bay.

505

Meantime, his mariners in haste repair'd

Down to the shore, for Pallas urged them on.

And now, on other purposes intent,

The Goddess sought the palace, where with dews

Of slumber drenching every suitor's eye,

510

She fool'd the drunkard multitude, and dash'd

The goblets from their idle hands away.

They through the city reel'd, happy to leave

The dull carousal, when the slumberous weight

Oppressive on their eye-lids once had fallen.

515

Next, Pallas azure-eyed in Mentor's form

And with the voice of Mentor, summoning

Telemachus abroad, him thus bespake.

Telemachus! already at their oars

Sit all thy fellow-voyagers, and wait

520

Thy coming; linger not, but haste away.

This said, Minerva led him thence, whom he

With nimble steps follow'd, and, on the shore

Arrived, found all his mariners prepared,

Whom thus the princely voyager address'd.

525

Haste, my companions! bring we down the stores

Already sorted, and set forth; but nought

My mother knows, or any of her train

Of this design, one matron sole except.

He spake, and led them; they, obedient, brought

530

All down, and, as Ulysses' son enjoin'd,

Within the gallant bark the charge bestow'd.

Then, led by Pallas, went the prince on board,

Where down they sat, the Goddess in the stern,

And at her side Telemachus. The crew

535

Cast loose the hawsers, and embarking, fill'd

The benches. Blue-eyed Pallas from the West

Call'd forth propitious breezes; fresh they curl'd

The sable Deep, and, sounding, swept the waves.

He loud-exhorting them, his people bade

540

Hand, brisk, the tackle; they, obedient, reared

The pine-tree mast, which in its socket deep

They lodged, then strain'd the cordage, and with thongs

Well-twisted, drew the shining sail aloft.

A land-breeze fill'd the canvas, and the flood

545

Roar'd as she went against the steady bark

Ran with even course her liquid way.

The rigging, thus, of all the galley set,

Their beakers crowning high with wine, they hail'd

The ever-living Gods, but above all

550

Minerva, daughter azure-eyed of Jove.

Thus, all night long the galley, and till dawn

Had brighten'd into day, cleaved swift the flood.

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

Telemachus arriving at Pylus, enquires of Nestor concerning

Ulysses. Nestor relates to him all that he knows or has

heard of the Greecians since their departure from the siege

of Troy, but not being able to give him any satisfactory

account of Ulysses, refers him to Menelaus. At evening

Minerva quits Telemachus, but discovers herself in going.

Nestor sacrifices to the Goddess, and the solemnity ended,

Telemachus sets forth for Sparta in one of Nestor's chariots,

and accompanied by Nestor's son Pisistratus.

THE ODYSSEY.
BOOK III.

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 2 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK II

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

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;

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,

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;

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.

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.

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—

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

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.

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

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,

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

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

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

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!

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!

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,

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,

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.

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 :

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;

100

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,

190

(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.

215

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,

220

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.

225

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,

230

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,

240

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

250

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

255

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,

260

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,

270

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.

275

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,

290

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.

300

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

310

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,

315

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."

330

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

335

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

340

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.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Anita Nikkanen

Telemakhos appeals to the principle of reciprocity in his address to the Ithacans: his speech shows that feasting, such as the suitors are undertaking at Odysseus’ house, is a matter that calls for reciprocation (when correctly conducted; O.2.74-78). Conversely, an evil turn should likewise be reciprocated by an evil turn, another aspect of reciprocity that Telemakhos’ words make clear, and which their chiastic arrangement further underscores (δυσμενέων κάκ’ ἔρεξεν … κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες ‘[if Odysseus,] bearing ill-will, did evil deeds … you are doing evil deeds, bearing ill-will,’ O.2.72-73). The Ithacans’ not stopping the suitors would in Telemakhos’ words be explicable as a return for an earlier bad turn by Odysseus, but if that is not the case, they deserve as punishment the mēnis of gods (O.2.66-67).

As for what mēnis is, let us take a step back and look at some elements in Telemakhos’s speech: he describes the wrongs of the suitors (O.2.63-64), presents a principle for the maintenance of the proper state of affairs – mēnis of gods as the punishment for the outrageous situation in Ithaca (O.2.66-67) – and extends the blame from the culprits proper to their solidarity group (O.2.64-66). As Muellner argues with regards to Telemakhos’ speech, mēnis is a sanction aimed at maintaining the cosmic order and incurring it implies the transgression of fundamental cosmic rules, such as the ones the suitors break in abusing the hospitality of Odysseus’ household. Furthermore, given the role of solidarity in maintaining the continuity of the world order, those in the solidarity group of a transgressor are liable for punishment along with the culprit. Thus the three elements singled out from Telemakhos’ speech conform to the concept of mēnis and its functioning in maintaining social and cosmic order. (Compare the speech of Mentor at O.2.229-241, in my note on which I discuss mēnis and memory, which works towards the same end as mēnis but in a symmetrically opposite manner, and the ethical function of the two further. With regard to reciprocity, Mentor, in contrast to what Telemakhos says here, is clear on the point that there has been no earlier bad turn by Odysseus that would justify the current outrage in Ithaca, and so, the people deserve a punishment as a reciprocation for their actions).

To return to reciprocity: just as mēnis has a moral dimension and a function in upholding the proper social and cosmic order, so, too, is reciprocity involved in morality. Reciprocal exchange is a total social phenomenon in the Maussian sense of the term, such that reciprocal exchange is also an articulation of the social order, of the cosmic hierarchy, and an instance of the working of themis (the rules that enforce cosmic hierarchy and proper social behavior) – it is worth noting here that Telemakhos appeals to Themis in his speech (O.2.68). mēnis in fact protects the rules of exchange and the hierarchy of proper cosmic order, and reciprocity and mēnis are thus interconnected. Telemakhos’ speech neatly illustrates this web of interconnected concepts, and his argument relies on understanding their role within the Homeric society.

See further:

Mauss, Marcel. 1990. The Gift: The form and reason for exchange in archaic societies. Transl. W. D. Halls. London: Routledge.

Muellner, Leonard. 1996. The Anger of Achilles: Mênis in Greek Epic. Ithaca; London: Cornell University Press.

Seaford, Richard. 1994. Reciprocity and Ritual: Homer and Tragedy in the Developing City-State. Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press.

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The wording of Mentor’s address to the assembly demonstrates the ethical dimension of the archaic Greek concept of memory: the failure of the people of Ithaca to respect Odysseus and behave appropriately towards him and his household is attributed to their not remembering him. Conversely, the speech also indicates that such forgetful subjects deserve harsh rulers (O.2.230-234): memory is the principle that maintains good social interactions and proper social order, and its absence brings about the opposite. Mentor’s name, ‘he who reminds,’ ‘he who stirs up’, is not inappropriate to the context, either.

Comparing Mentor’s speech with that of Telemakhos earlier in the assembly (O.2.45-69; some of what I discuss here is also included in my comment on O.2.63-79), we see further dimensions of memory as the principle that maintains proper social order. Telemakhos in his speech describes the wrongs of the suitors (O.2.63-64), presents a principle for the maintenance of the proper state of affairs – in his speech, it is mēnis of gods as the punishment for the outrageous situation in Ithaca (O.2.66-67) – and extends the blame from the culprits proper to their solidarity group (O.2.64-66). As Muellner argues with regards to Telemakhos’ speech, mēnis is a sanction aimed at maintaining the cosmic order and incurring it implies the transgression of fundamental cosmic rules, such as the ones the suitors break in abusing the hospitality of Odysseus’ household. Furthermore, given the role of solidarity in maintaining the continuity of the world order, those in the solidarity group of a transgressor are liable for punishment along with the culprit. Thus the three elements singled out from Telemakhos’ speech conform to the concept of mēnis and its functioning in maintaining social and cosmic order.

Likewise, then, we find all three elements of Telemakhos’ speech in that of Mentor’s, albeit with slight changes: the wrongs of the suitors are there (O.2.235-238) and the blame is extended to their solidarity group, the Ithacans (O.2.239-241, also O.2.233-234). Where there is a notable difference, however, is in the principle for the maintenance of the proper state of affairs: while in Telemakhos’ speech it is mēnis, in Mentor’s it is memory (O.2.233). However, Mentor makes clear that what is being perverted is the sovereign order, that of Odysseus’ position as the king over the Ithacans (O.2.230-234): this complements the role of mēnis in maintaining cosmic order, including the hierarchies of the sovereign order between and among gods and men. To underscore the parallelism of their speeches, at this very point Mentor’s words even echo those of Telemakhos’ (cp. πατὴρ δ’ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν ‘and how kind a father he was’, Telemakhos at O.2.47 and Mentor at O.2.234). Memory thus appears as the flipside of mēnis: just as the latter’s function is maintaining the cosmic order as a sanction, a punishment for transgressing the rules, memory is the principle that promotes behavior that agrees with cosmic order.

See further:

Muellner, Leonard. 1996. The Anger of Achilles: Mênis in Greek Epic. Ithaca; London: Cornell University Press.

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David Elmer

This line marks the first occurrence in the Odyssey of a formulaic expression"then he/she thought of other things"(ἔνθ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἐνόησε) that occurs, with minor variations, eleven times in the Odyssey and twice in the Iliad. The formula shows interesting patterns of restriction in both poems. In the Odyssey, it is always used with a female subject (Athena [2.382, 2.393, 4.795, 5.382, 6.112, 18.187, 23.242, 23.344], Helen [4.219], Nausikaa [6.251], or Penelope [16.409]). In the Iliad, it is used exclusively of Achilles (23.140, 23.193). See Iliad 23.140 for discussion of the two Iliadic instances; here I concentrate on the formula’s occurrences in the Odyssey.

\r\nFrom a narratological point of view, the expression has an important function: as noted by de Jong 2001:66, it “highlights a new, often sudden or unexpected turn in the story,” in this case “the—abrupt—change of scene from Telemachus to Athena.” In other words, the formula marks the development of the plot in a new direction that is not a mere continuation of what has preceded. (Odyssey 23.242 is a significant exception.) Furthermore, it links this new development with the intervention of some specific agent, who is thus momentarily represented as controlling the plot. De Jong 2001:66 notes that the frequency with which the expression is used of Athena corresponds to the goddess’s “role of ‘director’ of the story of the Odyssey.” Occurrences of the formula with Helen, Nausikaa, and Penelope as subjects extend this plot-making power to other prominent women. In this way, a convenient narrative device serves also to underscore one of the poem’s major thematic concerns, namely, the way in which the story of Odysseus’ homecoming—the plot of the Odyssey—depends upon the favorable disposition of certain women, above all Penelope. The poem has numerous ways of signaling that its plot hinges on female agents (see Odyssey 11.226, Odyssey 11.436-39). This should not, however, be interpreted as a subversive gesture: as stressed by Murnaghan 2005, Athena as “source and sponsor” of the Odyssey’s plot works to uphold the authority of the patriarchal oikos.

\r\n\r\nReferences

\r\nde Jong, Irene J. F. 2001. A Narratological Commentary on the Odyssey. Cambridge and New York.

\r\nMurnaghan, Sheila. 1995. “The Plan of Athena.” In The Distaff Side: Representing the Female in Homer’s Odyssey (ed. B. Cohen) 61-80. New York and Oxford.

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Douglas Frame

analysis of formulaic variation of Od. XI.114, Od. XII.141. The traditional context of prophesy is preserved without implication of “returning from death,” but Homer substitutes oíkad’ eleústhai for neȋai

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quoted as evidence that Homer understood neȋai as simply meaning “you will return home”

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Gregory Nagy

The mentoring of Telemachus by Athena continues. First the goddess was Méntēs. Now she will become Méntōr to the young hero. Through the mentorship of the goddess, Telemachus modulates into mental connectivity: he will no longer be disconnected from the epic legacy of his father. As he boards the ship that will take him to Pylos, he is ready to connect with the Odyssey in progress.

draft js image error Telemachus with Athena as Mentor (1810). Drawing by John Flaxman. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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The verb piphauskesthai ‘say formally’, referring here to what is being spoken in the agorē ‘assembly’, can be compared with the active form of the verb, piphauskein ‘say formally’, as it is used at I.18.500 in the context of describing what is happening at an agorē ‘assembly’, I.18.497, which is the context for the litigation scene as depicted on the Shield of Achilles. Whatever is spoken at an assembly like the one that is now in progress, O.02.032, can qualify as dēmion ‘of the community [dēmos]’ if it is public business, not private business. If whatever is spoken at the assembly qualifies as public business, then it is the business of the dēmos. See also the comment on O.02.080. On dēmos as ‘community, district’, see O.01.103; see also I.05.077–078.

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The speech of the old man Aiguptios, O.02.025–034, is described by the Master Narrator as a phēmē ‘something said’, O.02.035. This translation ‘something said’ does not fully capture, however, the deeper meaning of the word, which is something like this: something said that means more than what is meant by the one who says it. Such a deeper meaning is made explicit at O.20.100 and O.20.105. See the comment at O.20.098–121, [HR]3§23. This interpretation of the meaning of phēmē is relevant to the meaning of the “speaking name” (nomen loquens) of Phemios the singer: the adjectival Phēmios is a derivative of the noun phēmē. Accordingly, Phemios is a singer whose songs mean more than what is meant by that singer. See the comment on O.01.342.

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The context here shows that a speaker in an assembly holds the skēptron ‘scepter’ when it is his turn to speak. See I.01.015 and the cross-references there.

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See the comment on O.02.032.

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This form is a back-formation from nēpios ‘disconnected’, becoming that negative word’s positive alternative. A typical source of connectivity is the father in relation to his son. Full argumentation by Edmunds 1990 | 2016.

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Here the word refers generally to the cosmic sanction of the immortals in reaction to injustices committed by mortals. On mēnis ‘anger’ as cosmic sanction in general, I refer to the definitive work of Muellner 1996.

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The gesture here of throwing the scepter to the ground is comparable with what happens at I.01.233–246. See the comment there.

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This speech is most noteworthy for its incorporation of the myth about the continual weaving and unweaving of the web of Penelope.

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The intent of Penelope to outwit the suitors by way of her continual weaving and unweaving of her web is described in terms of her qualities of nóos ‘mind’, O.02.092.

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The mental feats of Penelope are described here as noēmata ‘feats of the mind [nóos]’ that are incomparable to any other woman’s feats. The comparison is expressed by way of the adjective homoio- ‘similar to, same as’ (further analysis in MoM 2§12). This adjective homoio- ‘similar to, same as’ can be used in comparisons that express rhetorically the incomparability of the referent, as here.

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The oncoming pēma ‘pain’ is pictured here as a boulder that breaks off from mountainous heights overhead and starts rolling downward from above, ever increasing in speed as it nears ground zero: only when the boulder has reached a level plain does it finally stop ‘rolling’, as expressed by the verb kulindesthai. For other instances of such an image, see the comment on I.11.347.

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Athena’s idea of conducting Telemachus on a journey to Pylos and Sparta is introduced, as we saw, already at O.01.088–095. See the comment there. Here too at O.02.212–218, as there, nostos in the sense of ‘song of homecoming’ is the direct object of the verb punthanesthai ‘learn’, O.02.215, and also the direct object of the verb akouein ‘hear’, O.02.218. Elsewhere too in the Odyssey, we see nostos as the direct object of punthanesthai ‘learn’: O.02.264, O.02.360, O.04.714. Also of akouein ‘hear’: O.01.094, O.01.287, O.02.360. Further, such nostos as ‘song of homecoming’ is linked with kleos ‘glory’ (of poetry), as at least indirectly at O.02.217 here.

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Athena speaks as mentor and as Méntōr.

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The meaning of the name Méntōr, ‘he who connects mentally’, is relevant to the plot of the Odyssey: see the comments on O.01.088–089.

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On this back-formation from nēpios ‘disconnected’, see again the comment on O.02.047.

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From the context here, we can see that the dēmos ‘community’ of Ithaca is populated not only by the families of the suitors.

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In the exchange between Athena and Telemachus here, the role of the goddess as mentor of the young hero converges with her role as the hero Méntōr. Once again here, nostos ‘homecoming, song of homecoming’ is the direct object of punthanesthai ‘learn’ at O.02.264.

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The idea that menos ‘mental power’, O.02.271, has been instilled into Telemachus by his father is conveyed here by the verb stazein, which literally means ‘drip’. We may compare line 35 of Archilochus F 196A (ed. West), where menos refers explicitly to ejaculated semen. For other references to male arousal by way of words referring to mental power, see Nagy 1974:267–268. [[GN 2017.03.08.]]

menos ‘mental power’

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We see here at O.02.282 an occurrence that is rare in Homeric diction: dikaios in the sense of ‘righteous’, derived from dikē in the absolutized sense of ‘justice, righteousness’.

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Telemachus admits here that he had been nēpios ‘disconnected’ in the immediate context of asserting that he is now no longer so. What made him grow up, so to speak? The overall context shows that it was the mentorship of the goddess Athena.

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The verb lōbeuein ‘say words of insult’ is parallel to kertomeîn ‘say words of insult’, on which see the comment at I.02.256.

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This word may be related to the name Larikhos: Nagy 2015.10.01 §54.

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Odysseus’ double frame of reference – unlike Achilles, he gets both kleos and nostos – in the context of analyzing the application of the phrase “best of the Achaeans” to him

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On nostos ‘homecoming, song of homecoming’ as the direct object of both punthanesthai ‘learn’ and akouein ‘hear’, see again the comment on O.01.088–095.

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reference to the importance of δέ at the beginning of a rhapsodic performance. Argues that separation of μέν and δέ does not signify that book-divisions are a product of the Hellenistic age but of rhapsodic practices

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Leonard Muellner

analysis of the meaning and uses of piphauskesthai, here in the sense of ‘reveal through speech’ (in the context of analyzing the semantic and formal confusion of piphaskein and piphauskesthai)

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analysis of the passage in terms of the mēnis theme (violation of rules of exchange, offending party’s solidarity group, etc.) and implying that the massacre of the suitors is a variant of the mēnis theme

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in the list of offenses that (threaten to) incur mēnis

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analysis of the meaning of thēmis and the role of Themis

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analysis of the meaning and uses of piphauskesthai, here in the sense of ‘reveal through speech’ (in the context of analyzing the semantic and formal confusion of piphaskein and piphauskesthai)

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example of a transformation of the themes in a prayer, in the context of the analysis of composition by theme in prayers, which can be amplified or minimized according to circumstances

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analysis of the formula (A), in which there is a series of variations in the verse as a totality, rather than its segments occurring as independent formulas, and comparison of this prayer by Telemachus to Athena with Achilles’ to Thetis

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Homer Odyssey 2.388

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

MINERVA

'Lo! on the seas prepar'd the vessel stands ;

'Th' impatient mariner thy speed demands.'

BOOK III.

ARGUMENT.

THE INTERVIEW OF TELEMACHUS AND NESTOR.

Current edition Experimental

Rhapsody 3

BOOK III.

ODYSSEY.

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

THE ARGUMENT.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE ODYSSEY.
BOOK III.

ODYSSEY BOOK II

PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB

New Alexandria Commentaries

menos ‘mental power’

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

MINERVA 'Lo! on the seas prepar'd the vessel stands ; 'Th' impatient mariner thy speed demands.'

BOOK III.

ARGUMENT.

THE INTERVIEW OF TELEMACHUS AND NESTOR.

Current edition Experimental

Rhapsody 3

BOOK III.

ODYSSEY.

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

THE ARGUMENT.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

THE THIRD BOOK OF HOMER'S ODYSSEYS.

ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE ODYSSEY. BOOK III.

ODYSSEY BOOK II

PATTEN WILSON, PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB

New Alexandria Commentaries

menos ‘mental power’

Stable identifiers

MINERVA

'Lo! on the seas prepar'd the vessel stands ;

'Th' impatient mariner thy speed demands.'

THE ODYSSEY.
BOOK III.

PATTEN WILSON,
PENELOPEIA UNRAVELS HER WEB