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Vol 22: The Classics
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER
TRANSLATED BY
S H BUTCHER AND A LANG
WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES
VOLUME 22
I'rill
P F COLLIER & SON COMPANY
NEW YORK
Copyright. 1909
By P. F. Collier & Son
MANUFACTURED IN U. S. A..
Designed. Printed, and Bound at
^tje Collier ^resss, «$sto !° rfe
HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY
BRIGHAM YOUNG UKIVWITY
PROVO, UTAH
CONTENTS
PACT?
Book I g
Book II a . . 22
Book III 34
Book IV . . 48
Book V 71
Book VI 85
Book VII 94
Book VIII 104
Book IX 120
Book X 136
Book XI 152
Book XII 169
Book XIII. . , 181
Book XIV 193
Book XV 208
Book XVI » 224
Book XVII . 238
Book XVIII 255
Book XIX 267
Book XX .284
Book XXI 295
Book XXII 307
Book XXIII 321
Book XXIV 33i
A— Vol. 22 1 HC
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
By the ancient Greeks the authorship of their two great epic
poems, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," was ascribed to Homer.
Tradition as to the birthplace of this poet varied greatly, but
the place most favored was Smyrna in Asia Minor. It was re-
lated also that the poet was blind, that he made his home in the
island of Chios, and that he died in Ios.
The siege of Troy, which forms the subject of the "Iliad," and
is the occasion of the wanderings of Odysseus, is unknown to
history. Modern archaeological research has, indeed, unearthed
in Asia Minor a site which may plausibly be identified with the
Homeric city, and it is entirely possible that here there once
occurred a struggle between two peoples inhabiting the shores
of the Aegean Sea; but no discovery has been or is likely to be
made such as to render Homer's story of the war in any strict
sense historical.
Whatever may be the truth as to the method of composition
of the two epics, it may safely be surmised that they were pre-
ceded by a mass of legend that had in time gained a certain
amount of cohesion and become in a sense national. But the
constituent elements of this legend would have come together
from a great variety of sources; and many incidents in both
poems can be paralleled in the folk-tales of widely scattered
peoples. Thus the story of the blinding of the Cyclops, Polyphe-
mus, is found as a separate tale in several countries where no
Greek influence can be traced; the adventure in the isle of Circe
appears in an Indian collection of tales; the descent into Hades
is told by the South Sea Islanders; and the central situation of
the return of a far-traveled warrior to a wife who fails to rec-
ognize him occurs in stories all over the world. In the "Odyssey"
these and a hundred other incidents are combined into a single
plot of the most admirable structure, with almost perfect unity
of atmosphere, the whole being placed in the social setting of
the kingly age of Greece.
Until comparatively recent times it had been all but univer-
sally believed that both the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" were the
work of a single author, who conceived and executed the whole
plan of each. But in 1795 F. A. Wolf argued that in the tenth
3
4 INTRODUCTION
century B. C, when he supposed the poems to have been com-
posed, writing was not used by the Greeks for literary purposes,
and that therefore they must have been handed down orally
and so have undergone many changes. The unity which he
perceived in both epics he conceived to have been due to the
art of later revisers, working upon more or less detached poems
by various authors. Since his time controversy has raged over
this "Homeric question" and there is yet no prospect of agree-
ment. The extreme view that the poems are mere aggregations
of separate lays of different authorship is falling out of favor;
no two scholars agreeing in their analysis of the epics into their
supposed constituent lays. On the other hand, it is admitted that
there are clear evidences that parts of the poems belong to
different dates; and the tendency is to credit the composition of
two shorter epics dealing respectively with the Wrath of Achilles
and the Return of Odysseus to an author of great artistic genius,
and to conjecture that episodes were added by imitators, now
at this point and now at that, over a considerable stretch of time,
bringing them finally to their present form and length.
The twenty-four books of the "Odyssey" fall naturally into
six groups of four (though these are not to be regarded as in-
volving breaks in the structure), and a short account of each
of these groups will serve as a guide to the contents\pf the poem.
The first four books are occupied with the adventures of Telem-
achus, the son of Odysseus, (i) When the poem opens, it is
the tenth year since the fall of Troy, and Odysseus has not
yet returned to his home in the island of Ithaca, but is detained
in Ogygia, an island in the west, by the nymph Calypso. Mean-
time, at home, his wife Penelope is beset by suitors who feast
riotously in the house of the absent warrior, (ii) Failing in an
attempt to get the Ithacans to help him to assert his rights,
Telemachus sets out for Pylus under the guidance of the god-
dess Athene, who is disguised as Mentor, a friendly chief.
(Hi) Nestor, the aged king of Pylus, receives them hospitably;
and while he is banqueting his guests the supposed Mentor
vanishes and it is recognized that he ivas the guardian goddess
of the family of Odysseus. From Pylus, Telemachus sets out
for Sparta, accompanied by the son of Nestor, Peisistratus.
(iv) In Sparta they are received by Menelaus and the famous
Helen, now restored to her husband, and learn that Odysseus
INTRODUCTION 5
is in Ogygia. Telemachus decides to return to Ithaca, where
the suitors are plotting his death.
The second group treats of the wanderings of Odysseus be-
tween the island of Calypso and Phaeacia. (v) The gods, per-
suaded by Athene, send Hermes to order Calypso to let Odys-
seus go; but at sea his enemy Poseidon, the sea-god, wrecks
his ship, and he is saved by a veil which the goddess Ino gives
him, which buoys him up till he comes to the land of the
Phaeacians. (vij While the exhausted hero is sleeping by the
shore, the princess Nausicaa comes to the river mouth with her
maidens to wash linen; and after their task they play ball and
awaken the sleeper, who asks their pity and is directed to the city.
This scene is one of the most charming in the poem, (vii) Ar-
rived at the city, Odysseus is received by the king Alcinous, and
narrates his recent adventures, (viii) The Phaeacians are called
together, and offer the wanderer a ship to carry him to Ithaca;
games and a feast are held; and at the feast the blind Demodo-
cus sings of the siege of Troy and draws tears from Odysseus,
who is persuaded to tell of his wanderings since leaving Troy.
In the third group the narrative is retrospective, (ix) Odys-
seus tells of his visits to the Cicones, to the Lotus-eaters, and
to the country of the Cyclopes, where he blinded the one-eyed
Polyphemus; (x) of his adventures with Aeolus, god of the
winds, with the Laestrygonians, and with Circe, the sorceress;
(xi) of his descent into Hades, and his conversing with the
spirits of the dead; (xii) of his escape from the Sirens, and
from Scylla and Charybdis, and of the eating by his comrades
of the sacred kine of the sun, which caused them to perish and
left him alone on Calypso's isle.
The main narrative is resumed in the fourth group, (xiii)
The Phaeacians conduct the wanderer to his kingdom, but are
punished by Poseidon, who turns their ship to stone. In Ithaca
Athene disguises Odysseus as an old beggar, and directs him as
to how to destroy the suitors, (xiv) He finds his old swine-herd
Eumaeus, who fails to recognize him, and (xv) in the hut meets
Telemachus, (xvi) to whom he reveals himself and his plans. (
The fifth group deals with the return of Odysseus to his L
palace, (xvii) Telemachus goes home first, but does not tell
Penelope of her husband's return. The supposed beggar enters
and is recognised by his old dog Argos, who gives him welcome
6 INTRODUCTION
and dies, (xviii) In the midst of the revelry of the suitors
Odysseus has a fight with Irus, a beggar supported by their alms,
(xix) Penelope, conversing with her lord, fails to recognize
him, but tells him how she has baffled the suitors by the device
of postponing her choice among them till the completion of a
web woven by day and undone by night. The old nurse, Eurycleia,
washes her master's feet and knows him by a scar, but is told
to keep the secret, (xx) Athene comforts the hero by night;
and the suitors are warned of their impending doom by a seer.
In the last group the denouement is reached, (xxi) Penelope
proposes that the suitors should show their skill with the bow
of her husband; and when all fail even to bend it, the disguised
hero strings it easily and shoots an arrow through twelve axe-
heads, (xxii) The disguise is now cast off ; Odysseus, Telem-
achus, and two faithful adherents turn on the suitors and slay
them; and the unfaithful servants are hanged, (xxiii) from the
nurse Penelope hears the news, welcomes her lord home, and
learns of his wanderings. Odysseus goes out to a farm to visit
his father Laertes, (xxiv) Hermes leads the shades of the
suitors to Hades; while Odysseus makes himself known to his
father; and later is reconciled to his subjects.
The "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" stand at the head of the liter-
ature of Greece and of the epic poetry of the world; and their
influence in the country of their origin and throughout the
European peoples has been commensurate with their artistic
greatness. Historically, they give the earliest picture of Aryan
civilization, describing a period of culture of which we should
otherwise know almost nothing. Artistically, in spite of their
early date, they are the product of a mature art, expressing with
supreme nobility and grace permanent and varied yet simple
types of human nature, in a language unsurpassed for its com-
bination of directness, simplicity, and beauty. "The capital dis-
tinction of Homeric poetry," says Jebb, "is that it has all the
freshness and simplicity of a primitive age, — all the charm which
we associate with the 'childhood of the world'; while on the
other hand it has completely surmounted the rudeness of form,
the struggle of thought with language, the tendency to gro-
tesque or ignoble modes of speech, the incapacity for equable
maintenance of a high level, which belong to the primitive stage
in literature"
AS ONE THAT FOR A WEARY SPACE HAS LAIN
LULLED BY THE SONG OP CIRCE AND HER WINE
IN GARDENS NEAR THE PALE OP PROSERPINE,
WHERE THAT AEAEAN ISLE FORGETS THE MAIN,
AND ONLY THE LOW LUTES OP LOVE COMPLAIN,
AND ONLY SHADOWS OP WAN LOVERS PINE,
AS SUCH AN ONE WERE GLAD TO KNOW THE BRINE
SALT ON HIS LIPS, AND THE LARGE AIR AGAIN,
SO GLADLY, FROM THE SONGS OF MODERN SPEECH
MEN TURN, AND SEE THE STARS, AND PEEL THE FREE
SHRILL WIND BEYOND THE CLOSE OF HEAVY FLOWERS
AND THROUGH THE MUSIC OP THE LANGUID HOURS,
THEY HEAR LIKE OCEAN ON A WESTERN BEACH
THE SURGE AND THUNDER OF THE ODYSSEY.
A. L.
THE ODYSSEY
BOOK I
In a Council of the Gods, Poseidon absent, Pallas procureth an
order for the restitution of Odysseus ; and appearing to his son
Telemachus, in human shape, adviseth him to complain of the Wooers
before the Council of the people, and then go to Pylos and Sparta
to inquire about his father.
TELL me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who
wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the
sacred citadel of Troy, and many were the men
whose towns he saw and whose mind he learnt, yea, and
many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the deep, striv-
ing to win his own life and the return of his company. Nay,
but even so he saved not his company, though he desired it
sore. For through the blindness of their own hearts they
perished, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios Hyperion :
but the god took from them their day of returning. Of these
things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, whencesoever thou hast
heard thereof, declare thou even unto us.
Now all the rest, as many as fled from sheer destruction,
were at home, and had escaped both war and sea, but
Odysseus only, craving for his wife and for his homeward
path, the lady nymph Calypso held, that fair goddess, in her
hollow caves, longing to have him for her lord. But when
now the year had come in the courses of the seasons,
wherein the gods had ordained that he should return home
to Ithaca, not even there was he quit of labours, not even
among his own; but all the gods had pity on him save
Poseidon, who raged continually against godlike Odysseus,
till he came to his own country. Howbeit Poseidon had now
departed for the distant Ethiopians, the Ethiopians that are
sundered in twain, the uttermost of men, abiding some where
10 HOMER
Hyperion sinks and some where he rises. There he looked
to receive his hecatomb of bulls and rams, there he made
merry sitting at the feast, but the other gods were gath-
ered in the halls of Olympian Zeus. Then among them the
father of gods and men began to speak, for he bethought
him in his heart of noble Aegisthus, whom the son of Aga-
memnon, far-famed Orestes, slew. Thinking upon him he
spake out among the Immortals:
' Lo you now, how vainly mortal men do blame the gods !
For of us they say comes evil, whereas they even of them-
selves, through the blindness of their own hearts, have
sorrows beyond that which is ordained. Even as of late
Aegisthus, beyond that which was ordained, took to him the
wedded wife of the son of Atreus, and killed her lord on his
return, and that with sheer doom before his eyes, since we
had warned him by the embassy of Hermes the keen-
sighted, the slayer of Argos, that he should neither kill the
man, nor woo his wife. For the son of Atreus shall be
avenged at the hand of Orestes, so soon as he shall come
to man's estate and long for his own country. So spake
Hermes, yet he prevailed not on the heart of Aegisthus, for
all his good will ; but now hath he paid one price for all.'
And the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him, say-
ing : ' O father, our father Cronides, throned in the highest ;
that man assuredly lies in a death that is his due ; so perish
likewise all who work such deeds ! But my heart is rent for
wise Odysseus, the hapless one, who far from his friends
this long while sufrereth affliction in a seagirt isle, where is
the navel of the sea, a woodland isle, and therein a goddess
hath her habitation, the daughter of the wizard Atlas,
who knows the depths of every sea, and himself upholds the
tall pillars which keep earth and sky asunder. His daughter
it is that holds the hapless man in sorrow: and ever with
soft and guileful tales she is wooing him to forgetfulness of
Ithaca. But Odysseus yearning to see if it were but the
smoke leap upwards from his own land, hath a desire to die.
As for thee, thine heart regardeth it not at all, Olympian !
What ! did not Odysseus by the ships of the Argives make
thee free offering of sacrifice in the wide Trojan land?
Wherefore wast thou then so wroth with him, O Zeus?'
THE ODYSSEY 11
And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her, and said, ' My
child, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips? Yea,
how should I forget divine Odysseus, who in understanding
is beyond mortals and beyond all men hath done sacrifice
to the deathless gods, who keep the wide heaven ? Nay, but
it is Poseidon, the girdler of the earth, that hath been wroth
continually with quenchless anger for the Cyclops* sake
whom he blinded of his eye, even godlike Polyphemus whose
power is mightiest amongst all the Cyclopes. His mother
was the nymph Thoosa, daughter of Phorcys, lord of the
unharvested sea, and in the hollow caves she lay with
Poseidon. From that day forth Poseidon the earth-shaker
doth not indeed slay Odysseus, but driveth him wandering
from his own country. But come, let us here one and all
take good counsel as touching his returning, that he may be got
home; so shall Poseidon let go his displeasure, for he will in
no wise be able to strive alone against all, in despite of all
the deathless gods/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him, and
said : ' O father, our father Cronides, throned in the highest,
ff indeed this thing is now well pleasing to the blessed gods,
that wise Odysseus should return to his own home, let us
then speed Hermes the Messenger, the slayer of Argos, to
the island of Ogygia. There with all speed let him declare
to the lady of the braided tresses our unerring counsel, even
the return of the patient Odysseus, that so he may come to
his home. But as for me I will go to Ithaca that I may
rouse his son yet the more, planting might in his heart, to
call an assembly of the long-haired Achaeans and speak
out to all the wooers who slaughter continually the sheep
of his thronging flocks, and his kine with trailing feet and
shambling gait. And I will guide him to Sparta and to
sandy Pylos to seek tidings of his dear father's return, if
peradventure he may hear thereof and that so he may be had
in good report among men.*
She spake and bound beneath her feet her lovely golden
sandals that wax not old, and bare her alike over the wet sea
and over the limitless land, swift as the breath of the wind.
And she seized her doughty spear, shod with sharp bronze,
weighty and huge and strong, wherewith she quells the
12 HOMER
ranks of heroes with whomsoever she is wroth, the daugh-
ter of the mighty sire. Then from the heights of Olympus
she came glancing down, and she stood in the land of Ithaca,
at the entry of the gate of Odysseus, on the threshold of the
courtyard, holding in her hand the spear of bronze, in
the semblance of a stranger, Mentes the captain of the
Taphians. And there she found the lordly wooers: now
they were taking their pleasure at draughts in front of the
doors, sitting on hides of oxen, which themselves had slain.
And of the henchmen and the ready squires, some were
mixing for them wine and water in bowls, and some again
were washing the tables with porous sponges and were
setting them forth, and others were carving flesh in plenty.
And godlike Telemachus was far the first to descry her,
for he was sitting with a heavy heart among the wooers
dreaming on his good father, if haply he might come
somewhence, and make a scattering of the wooers there
throughout the palace, and himself get honour and bear rule
among his own possessions. Thinking thereupon, as he sat
among wooers, he saw Athene — and he went straight to the
outer porch, for he thought it blame in his heart that a
stranger should stand long at the gates: and halting nigh
her he clasped her right hand and took from her the spear
of bronze, and uttered his voice and spake unto her winged
words : 'Hail, stranger, with us thou shalt be kindly entreated,
and thereafter, when thou hast tasted meat, thou shalt tell
us that whereof thou hast need.'
Therewith he led the way, and Pallas Athene followed.
And when they were now within the lofty house, he set her
spear that he bore against a tall pillar, within the polished
spear-stand, where stood many spears besides, even those
of Odysseus of the hardy heart ; and he led the goddess and
seated her on a goodly carven chair, and spread a linen cloth
thereunder, and beneath was a footstool for the feet. For
himself he placed an inlaid seat hard by, apart from the
company of the wooers, lest the stranger should be dis-
quieted by the noise and should have a loathing for the
meal, being come among overweening men, and also that he
might ask him about his father that was gone from his
home.
THE ODYSSEY 13
Then a handmaid bare water for the washing of hands in
a goodly golden ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin
to wash withal, and drew to their side a polished table.
And a grave dame bare wheaten bread and set it by them,
and laid on the board many dainties, giving freely of such
things as she had by her. And a carver lifted and placed
by them platters of divers kinds of flesh, and nigh them he
set golden bowls, and a henchman walked to and fro pour-
ing out to them the wine.
Then in came the lordly wooers; and they sat them down
in rows on chairs and on high seats, and henchmen poured
water on their hands, and maidservants piled wheaten bread
by them in baskets, and pages crowned the bowls with drink ;
and they stretched forth their hands upon the good cheer
spread before them. Now when the wooers had put from
them the desire of meat and drink, they minded them of
other things, even of the song and dance: for these are the
crown of the feast. And a henchman placed a beauteous
lyre in the hands of Phemius, who was minstrel to the
wooers despite his will. Yea and as he touched the lyre
he lifted up his voice in sweet song. 1
But Telemachus spake unto grey-eyed Athene, holding his
head close to her that those others might not hear : * Dear
stranger, wilt thou of a truth be wroth at the word that I
shall say ? Yonder men verily care for such things as these,
the lyre and song, lightly, as they that devour the livelihood
of another without atonement, of that man whose white
bones, it may be, lie wasting in the rain upon the
mainland, or the billow rolls them in the brine. Were but
these men to see him returned to Ithaca, they all
would pray rather for greater speed of foot than for
gain of gold and raiment. But now he hath perished,
even so, an evil doom, and for us is no comfort, no,
not though any of earthly men should say that he will
come again. Gone is the day of his returning! But
come declare me this, and tell me all plainly : Who art thou
of the sons of men, and whence? Where is thy city, where
are they that begat thee? Say, on what manner of ship
1 Or, according to the ordinary interpretation of A»»«i8aAAeTo : So he
touched the chords in prelude to his sweet singing.
14 HOMER
didst thou come, and how did sailors bring thee to Ithaca,
and who did they avow themselves to be, for in nowise do
I deem that thou earnest hither by land. And herein tell
me true, that I may know for a surety whether thou art a
newcomer, or whether thou art a guest of the house, seeing
that many were the strangers that came to our home, for
that he too had voyaged much among men.'
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him : ' Yea
now, I will plainly tell thee all. I avow me to be Mentes,
son of wise Anchialus, and I bear rule among the Taphians,
lovers of the oar. And now am I come to shore, as thou
seest, with ship and crew, sailing over the wine-dark sea,
unto men of strange speech, even to Temesa, 2 in quest of
copper, and my cargo is shining iron. And there my ship
is lying toward the upland, away from the city, in the har-
bour of Rheithron beneath wooded Neion: and we declare
ourselves to be friends one of the other, and of houses
friendly, from of old. Nay, if thou wouldest be assured, go
ask the old man, the hero Laertes, who they say no more
comes to the city, but far away toward the upland suffers
affliction, with an ancient woman for his handmaid, who sets
by him meat and drink, whensoever weariness takes hold of
his limbs, as he creeps along the knoll of his vineyard plot.
And now am I come ; for verily they said that he, thy father,
was among his people; but lo, the gods withhold him from
his way. For goodly Odysseus hath not yet perished on the
earth; but still, methinks, he lives and is kept on the wide
deep in a seagirt isle, and hard men constrain him, wild
folk that hold him, it may be, sore against his will. But now
of a truth will I utter my word of prophecy, as the Immor-
tals bring it into my heart and as I deem it will be accom-
plished, though no soothsayer am I, nor skilled in the signs
of birds. Henceforth indeed for no long while shall he be
far from his own dear country, not though bonds of iron
bind him; he will advise him of a way to return, for he is a
man of many devices. But come, declare me this, and tell
me all plainly, whether indeed, so tall as thou art, thou art
sprung from the loins of Odysseus. Thy head surely and
thy beauteous eyes are wondrous like to his, since full many
STamasja, in the mountainous centre of Cyprus.
THE ODYSSEY IS
a time have we held converse together ere he embarked for
Troy, whither the others, aye the bravest of the Argives,
went in hollow ships. From that day forth neither have I
seen Odysseus nor he me.'
Then wise Telemachus answered her, and said : ' Yea, sir,
now will I plainly tell thee all. My mother verily saith
that I am his; for myself I know not, for never man yet
knew of himself his own descent. O that I had been the
son of some blessed man, whom old age overtook among
his own possessions ! But now of him that is the most hap-
less of mortal men, his son they say that I am, since thou
dost question me hereof.'
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake unto him, and
said : l Surely no nameless lineage have the gods ordained
for thee in days to come, since Penelope bore thee so goodly
a man. But come, declare me this, and tell it all plainly.
What feast, nay, what rout is this? What hast thou to do
therewith? Is it a clan drinking, or a wedding feast, for
here we have no banquet where each man brings his share?
In such wise, flown with insolence, do they seem to me to
revel wantonly through the house: and well might any man
be wroth to see so many deeds of shame, whatso wise man
came among them/
Then wise Telemachus answered her, and said : ' Sir, for-
asmuch as thou questionest me of these things and inquirest
thereof, our house was once like to have been rich and hon-*
ourable, while yet that man was among his people. But now
the gods willed it otherwise, in evil purpose, who have made
him pass utterly out of sight as no man ever before. Truly
I would not even for his death make so great sorrow, had
he fallen among his fellows in the land of the Trojans, or
in the arms of his friends when he had wound up the clew
of war. Then would the whole Achaean host have builded
him a barrow, and even for his son would he have won great
glory in the after days. But now the spirits of the storm
have swept him away inglorious. He is gone, lost to sight
and hearsay, but for me hath he left anguish and lamenta-
tion; nor henceforth is it for him alone that I mourn and
weep, since the gods have wrought for me other sore dis-
tress. For all the noblest that are princes in the isles, in
16 HOMER
Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus, and as many
as lord it in rocky Ithaca, all these woo my mother and
waste my house. But as for her she neither refuseth the
hated bridal, nor hath the heart to make an end: so they
devour and minish my house, and ere long will they make
havoc likewise of myself/
Then in heavy displeasure spake unto him Pallas Athene:
' God help thee ! thou art surely sore in need of Odysseus
that is afar, to stretch forth his hands upon the shameless
wooers. If he could but come now and stand at the enter-
ing in of the gate, with helmet and shield and lances twain,
as mighty a man as when first I marked him in our house
drinking and making merry what time he came up out of
Ephyra from Ilus son of Mermerus ! For even thither had
Odysseus gone on his swift ship to seek a deadly drug, that
he might have wherewithal to smear his bronze-shod ar-
rows: but Ilus would in nowise give it him, for he had in
awe the everliving gods. But my father gave it him, for he
bare him wondrous love. O that Odysseus might in such
strength consort with the wooers: so should they all have
swift fate and bitter wedlock ! Howbeit these things surely
lie on the knees of the gods, whether he shall return or not,
and take vengeance in his halls. But I charge thee to take
counsel how thou mayest thrust forth the wooers from the
hall. Come now, mark and take heed unto my words. On
the morrow call the Achaean lords to the assembly, and
declare thy saying to all, and take the gods to witness. As
for the wooers bid them scatter them each one to his own,
and for thy mother, if her heart is moved to marriage, let
her go back to the hall of that mighty man her father, and
her kinsfolk will furnish a wedding feast, and array the
gifts of wooing exceeding many, all that should go back
with a daughter dearly beloved. And to thyself I will give
a word of wise counsel, if perchance thou wilt hearken. Fit
out a ship, the best thou hast, with twenty oarsmen, and go
to inquire concerning thy father that is long afar, if per-
chance any man shall tell thee aught, or if thou mayest hear
the voice from Zeus, which chiefly brings tidings to men. Get
thee first to Pylos and inquire of goodly Nestor, and from
thence to Sparta to Menelaus of the fair hair, for he came
THE ODYSSEY 17
home the last of the mail-coated Achaeans. If thou shalt
hear news of the life and the returning of thy father, then
verily thou mayest endure the wasting for yet a year. But
if thou shalt hear that he is dead and gone, return then to
thine own dear country and pile his mound, and over it pay
burial rites, full many as is due, and give thy mother to a
husband. But when thou hast done this and made an end,
thereafter take counsel in thy mind and heart, how thou
mayest slay the wooers in thy halls, whether by guile or
openly; for thou shouldst not carry childish thoughts, being
no longer of years thereto. Or hast thou not heard what re-
nown the goodly Orestes gat him among all men in that he
slew the slayer of his father, guileful Aegisthus, who killed
his famous sire? And thou, too, my friend, for I see that thou
art very comely and tall, be valiant, that even men unborn
may praise thee. But I will now go down to the swift ship and
to my men, who methinks chafe much at tarrying for me;
and do thou thyself take heed and give ear unto my words/
Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying : ' Sir, verily
thou speakest these things out of a friendly heart, as a
father to his son, and never will I forget them. But now I
pray thee abide here, though eager to be gone, to the end
that after thou hast bathed and had all thy heart's desire,
thou mayest wend to the ship joyful in spirit, with a costly
gift and very goodly, to be an heirloom of my giving, such
as dear friends give to friends.'
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him:
1 Hold me now no longer, that am eager for the way. But
whatsoever gift thine heart shall bid thee give me, when I
am on my way back let it be mine to carry home : bear from
thy stores a gift right goodly, and it shall bring thee the
worth thereof in return.'
So spake she and departed, the grey-eyed Athene, and like
an eagle of the sea she flew away, but in his spirit she planted
might and courage, and put him in mind of his father yet
more than heretofore. And he marked the thing and was
amazed, for he deemed that it was a god ; and anon he went
among the wooers, a godlike man.
Now the renowned minstrel was singing to the wooers,
and they sat listening in silence; and his song was of the
18 HOMER
pitiful return of the Achaeans, that Pallas Athene laid on
them as they came forth from Troy. And from her upper
chamber the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, caught the
glorious strain, and she went down the high stairs from her
chamber, not alone, for two of her handmaids bare her com-
pany. Now when the fair lady had come unto the wooers,
she stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof holding up
her glistening tire before her face; and a faithful maiden
stood on either side her. Then she fell a weeping, and
spake unto the divine minstrel:
1 Phemius, since thou knowest many other charms for mor-
tals, deeds of men and gods, which bards rehearse, some one
of these do thou sing as thou sittest by them, and let them
drink their wine in silence ; but cease from this pitiful strain,
that ever wastes my heart within my breast, since to me above
all women hath come a sorrow comfortless. So dear a head
do I long for in constant memory, namely, that man whose
fame is noised abroad from Hellas to mid Argos/
Then wise Telemachus answered her, and said : ' O my
mother, why then dost thou grudge the sweet minstrel to
gladden us as his spirit moves him ? It is not minstrels who
are in fault, but Zeus, methinks, is in fault, who gives to
men, that live by bread, to each one as he will. As for him
it is no blame if he sings the ill-faring of the Danaans ; for
men always prize that song the most, which rings newest in
their ears. But let thy heart and mind endure to listen, for
not Odysseus only lost in Troy the day of his returning, but
many another likewise perished. Howbeit go to thy cham-
ber and mind thine own housewiferies, the loom and distaff,
and bid thy handmaids ply their tasks. But speech shall be
for men, for all, but for me in chief; for mine is the lord-
ship in the house/
Then in amaze she went back to her chamber, for she laid
up the wise saying of her son in her heart. She ascended
to her upper chamber with the women her handmaids, and
then was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till grey-eyed
Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
Now the wooers clamoured throughout the shadowy halls,
and each one uttered a prayer to be her bedfellow. And
wise Telemachus first spake among them:
THE ODYSSEY 19
' Wooers of my mother, men despiteful out of measure,
let us feast now and make merry and let there be no brawl-
ing; for, lo, it is a good thing to list to a minstrel such as
him, like to the gods in voice. But in the morning let us
all go to the assembly and sit us down, that I may declare
my saying outright, to wit that ye leave these halls: and
busy yourselves with other feasts, eating your own sub-
stance, going in turn from house to house. But if ye deem
this a likelier and a better thing, that one man's goods
should perish without atonement, then waste ye as ye will;
and I will call upon the everlasting gods, if haply Zeus may
grant that acts of recompense be made: so should ye here-
after perish within the halls without atonement/
So spake he, and all that heard him bit their lips and mar-
velled at Telemachus, in that he spake boldly.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: 'Telem-
achus, in very truth the gods themselves instruct thee to be
proud of speech and boldly to harangue. Never may
Cronion make thee king in seagirt Ithaca, which thing is of
inheritance thy right ! '
Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said : ' Antin-
ous, wilt thou indeed be wroth at the word that I shall say?
Yea, at the hand of Zeus would I be fain to take even this
thing upon me. Sayest thou that this is the worst hap that
can bef al a man ? Nay, verily, it is no ill thing to be a king :
the house of such an one quickly waxeth rich and himself is
held in greater honour. Howsoever there are many other
kings of the Achaeans in seagirt Ithaca, kings young and
old; someone of them shall surely have this kingship since
goodly Odysseus is dead. But as for me, I will be lord of
our own house and thralls, that goodly Odysseus gat me
with his spear.'
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him, saying :
1 Telemachus, on the knees of the gods it surely lies, what
man is to be king over the Achaeans in seagirt Ithaca. But
mayest thou keep thine own possessions and be lord in thine
own house! Never may that man come, who shall wrest
from thee thy substance violently in thine own despite
while Ithaca yet stands. But I would ask thee, friend, con-
cerning the stranger — whence he is, and of what land he
20 HOMER
avows him to be? Where are his kin and his native fields?
Doth he bear some tidings of thy father on his road, or
cometh he thus to speed some matter of his own? In such
wise did he start up, and lo, he was gone, nor tarried he
that we should know him ; — and yet he seemed no mean man
to look upon.' 3
Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said : ' Eurym-
achus, surely the day of my father's returning hath gone
by. Therefore no more do I put faith in tidings, whence-
soever they may come, neither have I regard unto any
divination, whereof my mother may inquire at the lips of a
diviner, when she hath bidden him lo the hall. But as for
that man, he is a friend of my house from Taphos, and he
avows him to be Mentes, son of wise Anchialus, and he
hath lordship among the Taphians, lovers of the oar/
So spake Telemachus, but in his heart he knew the death-
less goddess. Now the wooers turned them to the dance
and the delightsome song, and made merry, and waited till
evening should come on. And as they made merry, dusk
evening came upon them. Then they went each one to his
own house to lie down to rest.
But Telemachus, where his chamber was builded high up
in the fair court, in a place with wide prospect, thither be-
took him to his bed, pondering many thoughts in his mind;
and with him went trusty Eurycleia, and bare for him
torches burning. She was the daughter of Ops, son of
Peisenor, and Laertes bought her on a time with his wealth,
while as yet she was in her first youth, and gave for her the
worth of twenty oxen. And he honoured her even as he
honoured his dear wife in the halls, but he never lay with
her, for he shunned the wrath of his lady. She went with
Telemachus and bare for him the burning torches: and of
all the women of the household she loved him most, and she
had nursed him when a little one. Then he opened the doors
of the well-builded chamber and sat him on the bed and took
off his soft doublet, and put it in the wise old woman's hands.
So she folded the doublet and smoothed it, and hung it on
a pin by the jointed bedstead, and went forth on her
3 The yap explains the expression of surprise at the sudden departure of
the stranger.
THE ODYSSEY 21
way from the room, and pulled to the door with the silver
handle, and drew home the bar with the thong. There,
all night through, wrapped in a fleece of wool, he medi-
tated in his heart upon the journey that Athene had
showed him.
BOOK II
Telemachus complains in vain, and borrowing a ship, goes secretly
to Pylos by night. And how he was there received.
NOW so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fin-
gered, the dear son of Odysseus gat him up from
his bed, and put on his raiment and cast his sharp
sword about his shoulder, and beneath his smooth feet he
bound his goodly sandals, and stept forth from his chamber
in presence like a god. And straightway he bade the clear-
voiced heralds to call the long-haired Achaeans to the assem-
bly. And the heralds called the gathering, and the Achaeans
were assembled quickly. Now when they were gathered and
come together, he went on his way to the assembly holding
in his hand a spear of bronze, — not alone he went, for two
swift hounds bare him company. Then Athene shed on him
a wondrous grace, and all the people marvelled at him as he
came. And he sat him in his father's seat and the elders
gave place to him.
Then the lord Aegyptus spake among them first; bowed
was he with age, and skilled in things past number. Now for
this reason he spake that his dear son, the warrior Antiphus,
had gone in the hollow ships to Ilios of the goodly steeds;
but the savage Cyclops slew him in his hollow cave, and
made of him then his latest meal. Three other sons Aegyp-
tus had, and one consorted with the wooers, namely Euryno-
mus, but two continued in their father's fields; yet even so
forgat he not that son, still mourning and sorrowing. So
weeping for his sake he made harangue and spake among
them:
1 Hearken now to me, ye men of Ithaca, to the word that
I shall say. Never hath our assembly or session been since
the day that goodly Odysseus departed in the hollow ships.
And now who was minded thus to assemble us? On what
22
THE ODYSSEY 23
man hath such sore need come, of the young men or of the
elder born? Hath he heard some tidings of the host now
returning, which he might plainly declare to us, for that he
first learned thereof, or doth he show forth and tell some
other matter of the common weal? Methinks he is a true
man — good luck be with him! Zeus vouchsafe him some
good thing in his turn, even all his heart's desire ! '
So spake he, and the dear son of Odysseus was glad at
the omen of the word; nor sat he now much longer, but he
burned to speak, and he stood in mid assembly; and the
herald Peisenor, skilled in sage counsels, placed the staff
in his hands. Then he spake, accosting the old man first :
1 Old man, he is not far off, and soon shalt thou know
it for thyself, he who called the folk together, even Is for
sorrow hath come to me in chief. Neither have I heard
any tidings of the host now returning, which I may plainly
declare to you, for that I first learned thereof; neither do
I show forth or tell xny other matter of the common weal,
but mine own need, for that evil hath befallen my house,
a double woe. First, I have lost my noble sire, who some-
time was king among you here, and was gentle as a father;
and now is there an evil yet greater far, which surely shall
soon make grievous havoc of my whole house and ruin
all my livelihood. My mother did certain wooers beset sore
against her will, even the sons of those men that here are
the noblest. They are too craven to go to the house of
her father Icarius, that he may himself set the bride-
price for his daughter, and bestow her on whom he will,
even on him who finds favour in his sight. But they
resorting to our house day by day sacrifice oxen and sheep
and fat goats, and keep revel, and drink the dark wine
recklessly, and lo, our great wealth is wasted, for there is no
man now alive such as Odysseus was, to keep ruin from the
house. As for me I am nowise strong like him to ward mine
own; verily to the end of my days 1 shall I be a weakling
and all unskilled in prowess. Truly I would defend me if
but strength were mine; for deeds past sufferance have now
been wrought, and now my house is wasted utterly beyond
1 Cf. B. xxi. 131. For the use of the 1st pers. pi. like our royal plural,
cf. £. xvi. 44, II. vii. 190.
24 HOMER
pretence of right. Resent it in your own hearts, and have
regard to your neighbours who dwell around, and tremble
ye at the anger of the gods, lest haply they turn upon you
in wrath at your evil deeds. 2 I pray you by Olympian Zeus
and by Themis, who looseth and gathereth the meetings of
men, let be, my friends, and leave me alone to waste in bitter
grief ; — unless it so be that my father, the good Odysseus, out
of evil heart wrought harm to the goodly-greaved Achaeans,
in quittance whereof ye now work me harm out of evil hearts,
and spur on these men. Better for me that ye yourselves
should eat up my treasures and my flocks. Were ye so
to devour them, ere long would some recompense be made,
for we would urge our plea throughout the town, begging
back our substance, until all should be restored. But now
without remedy are the pains that ye lay up in my heart.'
So spake he in wrath, and dashed the staff to the ground,
and brake forth in tears; and pity fell on all the people.
Then all the others held their peace, and none had the
heart to answer Telemachus with hard words, but Antinous
alone made answer, saying :
* Telemachus, proud of speech and unrestrained in fury,
what is this thou hast said to put us to shame, and wouldest
fasten on us reproach? Behold the fault is not in the
Achaean wooers, but in thine own mother, for she is the
craftiest of women. For it is now the third year, and the
fourth is fast going by, since she began to deceive the minds
of the Achaeans in their breasts. She gives hope to all, and
makes promises to every man, and sends them messages, but
her mind is set on other things. And she hath devised in
her heart this wile besides; she set up in her halls a mighty
web, fine of woof and very wide, whereat she would weave,
and anon she spake among us :
' " Ye princely youths, my wooers, now that the goodly
Odysseus is dead, do ye abide patiently, how eager soever
to speed on this marriage of mine, till I finish the robe.
I would not that the threads perish to no avail, even this
shroud for the hero Laertes, against the day when the ruinous
doom shall bring him low, of death that lays men at their
length. So shall none of the Achaean women in the land
a Or, lest they bring your evil deeds in wrath on your own heads.
THE ODYSSEY 25
count it blame in me, as well might be, were he to lie without
a winding-sheet, a man that had gotten great possessions."
1 So spake she, and our high hearts consented thereto. So
then in the day time she would weave the mighty web, and
in the night unravel the same, when she had let place the
torches by her. Thus for the space of three years she hid the
thing by craft and beguiled the minds of the Achaeans; but
when the fourth year arrived and the seasons came round,
then at the last one of her women who knew all declared it,
and we found her unravelling the splendid web. Thus she
finished it perforce and sore against her will. But as for thee,
the wooers make thee answer thus, that thou mayest know
it in thine own heart, thou and all the Achaeans ! Send
away thy mother, and bid her be married to whomsoever her
father commands, and whoso is well pleasing unto her. But
if she will continue for long to vex the sons of the Achaeans,
pondering in her heart those things that Athene hath given
her beyond women, knowledge of all fair handiwork, yea, and
cunning wit, and wiles — so be it! Such wiles as hers we
have never yet heard that any even of the women of old
did know, of those that aforetime were fair-tressed Achaean
ladies, Tyro, and Alcmene, and Mycene, with the bright
crown. Not one of these in the imaginations of their
hearts was like unto Penelope, yet herein at least her
imagining was not good. For in despite of her the wooers
will devour thy living and thy substance, so long as she is
steadfast in such purpose as the gods now put within her
breast: great renown for herself she winneth, but for thee
regret for thy much livelihood. But we will neither go to
our own lands, nor otherwhere, till she marry that man
whom she will of the Achaeans.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Antinous,
I may in no wise thrust forth from the house, against her
will, the woman that bare me, that reared me: while as
for my father he is abroad on the earth, whether he be
alive or dead. Moreover, it is hard for me to make heavy
restitution to Icarius, as needs I must, if of mine own will I
send my mother away. For I shall have evil at his hand, at
the hand of her father, and some god will give me more be-
sides, for my mother will call down the dire Avengers as she
26 HOMER
departs from the house, and I shall have blame of men ; surely-
then I will never speak this word. Nay, if your own heart,
even yours, is indignant, quit ye my halls, and busy your-
selves with other feasts, eating your own substance, and going
in turn from house to house. But if ye deem this a likelier
and a better thing, that one man's goods should perish with-
out atonement, then waste ye as ye will: and I will call
upon the everlasting gods, if haply Zeus may grant that acts
of recompense be made : so should ye hereafter perish in the
halls without atonement.'
So spake Telemachus, and in answer to his prayer did
Zeus, of the far-borne voice, send forth two eagles in flight,
from on high, from the mountain-crest. Awhile they flew as
fleet as the blasts of the wind, side by side, with straining
of their pinions. But when they had now reached the mid
assembly, the place of many voices, there they wheeled
about and flapped their strong wings, and looked down upon
the heads of all, and destruction was in their gaze. Then tore
they with their talons each the other's cheeks and neck on
every side, and so sped to the right across the dwellings and
the city of the people. And the men marvelled at the birds
when they had sight of them, and pondered in their hearts the
things that should come to pass. Yea and the old man, the
lord Halitherses son of Mastor spake among them, for he
excelled his peers in knowledge of birds, and in uttering
words of fate. With good-will he made harangue and spake
among them:
* Hearken to me now, ye men of Ithaca, to the word that
I shall say: and mainly to the wooers do I show forth and
tell these things, seeing that a mighty woe is rolling upon
them. For Odysseus shall not long be away from his friends,
nay, even now, it may be, he is near, and sowing the seeds of
death and fate for these men, every one; and he will be a
bane to many another likewise of us who dwell in clear-seen
Ithaca. But long ere that falls out let us advise us how we
may make an end of their mischief ; yea, let them of their own
selves make an end, for this is the better way for them, as will
soon be seen. For I prophesy not as one unproved, but with
sure knowledge ; verily, I say, that for him all things now are
come to pass, even as I told him, what time the Argives
THE ODYSSEY 27
embarked for Ilios, and with them went the wise Odysseus.
I said that after sore affliction, with the loss of all his com-
pany, unknown to all, in the twentieth year he should come
home. And behold, all these things now have an end.'
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him, saying:
1 Go now, old man, get thee home and prophesy to thine own
children, lest haply they suffer harm hereafter: but herein
am I a far better prophet than thou. Howbeit there be
many birds that fly to and fro under the sun's rays, but
all are not birds of fate. Now as for Odysseus, he hath
perished far away, as would that thou too with him hadst
been cut off: so wouldst thou not have babbled thus much
prophecy, nor wouldst thou hound on Telemachus that is
already angered, expecting a gift for thy house, if perchance
he may vouchsafe thee aught. But now will I speak out,
and my word shall surely be accomplished. If thou that
knowest much lore from of old, shalt beguile with words a
younger man, and rouse him to indignation, first it shall be
a great grief to him : — and yet he can count on no aid from
these who hear him; — while upon thee, old man, we will
lay a fine, that thou mayest pay it and chafe at heart, and
sore pain shall be thine. And I myself will give a word of
counsel to Telemachus in presence of you all. Let him com-
mand his mother to return to her father's house; and her
kinsfolk will furnish a wedding feast, and array the gifts of
wooing, exceeding many, all that should go back with
a daughter dearly beloved. For ere that, I trow, we sons of
the Achaeans will not cease from our rough wooing, since,
come what may, we fear not any man, no, not Telemachus,
full of words though he be, nor soothsaying do we heed,
whereof thou, old man, pratest idly, and art hated yet the
more. His substance too shall be woefully devoured, nor
shall recompense ever be made, so long as she shall put off
the Achaeans in the matter of her marriage; while we in
expectation, from day to day, vie one with another for the
prize of her perfection, nor go we after other women whom
it were meet that we should each one wed/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Eurym-
achus, and ye others, that are lordly wooers, I entreat
you no more concerning this nor speak thereof, for the
28 HOMER
gods have knowledge of it now and all the Achaeans. But
come, give me a swift ship and twenty men, who shall accom-
plish for me my voyage to and fro. For I will go to Sparta
and to sandy Pylos to inquire concerning the return of my
father that is long afar, if perchance any man shall tell me
aught, or if I may hear the voice from Zeus, that chiefly
brings tidings to men. If I shall hear news of the life and
the returning of my father, then verily I may endure the
wasting for yet a year; but if I shall hear that he is dead
and gone, let me then return to my own dear country,
and pile his mound, and over it pay burial rites full many
as is due, and I will give my mother to a husband/
So with that word he sat him down; then in the midst
up rose Mentor, the companion of noble Odysseus. He it
was to whom Odysseus, as he departed in the fleet, had given
the charge over all his house, that it should obey the old
man, and that he should keep all things safe. With good
will he now made harangue and spake among them :
' Hearken to me now, ye men of Ithaca, to the word that
I shall say. Henceforth let not any sceptred king be kind
and gentle with all his heart, nor minded to do righteously,
but let him alway be a hard man and work unrighteousness:
for behold, there is none that remembereth divine Odysseus
of the people whose lord he was, and was gentle as a father.
Howsoever, it is not that I grudge the lordly wooers their
deeds of violence in the evil devices of their heart. For
at the hazard of their own heads they violently devour the
household of Odysseus, and say of him that he will come
no more again. But I am indeed wroth with the rest of the
people, to see how ye all sit thus speechless, and do not
cry shame upon the wooers, and put them down, ye that are
so many and they so few/
And Leocritus, son of Euenor, answered him, saying:
' Mentor infatuate, with thy wandering wits, what word hast
thou spoken, that callest upon them to put us down? Nay,
it is a hard thing to fight about a feast, and that with men
who are even more in number than you. Though Odysseus
of Ithaca himself should come and were eager of heart to
drive forth from the hall the lordly wooers that feast
throughout his house, yet should his wife have no joy of his
THE ODYSSEY 29
coming, though she yearns for him; — but even there should
he meet foul doom, if he fought with those that outnumbered
him ; so thou hast not spoken aright. But as for the people,
come now, scatter yourselves each one to his own lands,
but Mentor and Halitherses will speed this man's voyage,
for they are friends of his house from of old. Yet after
all, methinks, that long time he will abide and seek tidings
in Ithaca, and never accomplish this voyage/
Thus he spake, and in haste they broke up the assembly.
So they were scattered each one to his own dwelling, while
the wooers departed to the house of divine Odysseus.
Then Telemachus, going far apart to the shore of the sea,
laved his hands in the grey sea water, and prayed unto
Athene, saying : ' Hear me, thou who yesterday didst come
in thy godhead to our house, and badest me go in a ship
across the misty seas, to seek tidings of the return of my
father that is long gone: but all this my purpose do the
Achaeans delay, and mainly the wooers in the naughtiness
of their pride.'
So spake he in prayer, and Athene drew nigh him in the
likeness of Mentor, in fashion and in voice, and she spake
and hailed him in winged words:
' Telemachus, even hereafter thou shalt not be craven or
witless, if indeed thou hast a drop of thy father's blood and
a portion of his spirit ; such an one was he to fulfil both word
and work. Nor, if this be so, shall thy voyage be vain or
unfulfilled. But if thou art not the very seed of him and of
Penelope, then have I no hope that thou wilt accomplish thy
desire. For few children, truly, are like their father ; lo, the
more part are worse, yet a few are better than the sire. But
since thou shalt not even hereafter be craven or witless, nor
hath the wisdom of Odysseus failed thee quite, so is there
good hope of thine accomplishing this work. Wherefore
now take no heed of the counsel or the purpose of the
senseless wooers, for they are in no way wise or just: neither
know they aught of death and of black fate, which already
is close upon them, that they are all to perish in one day.
But the voyage on which thy heart is set shall not long be
lacking to thee — so faithful a friend of thy father am I, who
will furnish thee a swift ship and myself be thy companion.
30 HOMER
But go thou to the house, and consort with the wooers,
and make ready corn, and bestow all in vessels, the wine in
jars and barley-flour, the marrow of men, in well-sewn skins;
and I will lightly gather in the township a crew that offer
themselves willingly. There are many ships, new and old,
in seagirt Ithaca; of these I will choose out the best for
thee, and we will quickly rig her and launch her on the
broad deep.'
So spake Athene, daughter of Zeus, and Telemachus made
no long tarrying, when he had heard the voice of the goddess.
He went on his way towards the house, heavy at heart, and
there he found the noble wooers in the halls, flaying goats
and singeing swine in the court. And Antinous laughed out
and went straight to Telemachus, and clasped his hand and
spake and hailed him:
' Telemachus, proud of speech and unrestrained in fury, let
no evil word any more be in thy heart, nor evil work, but
let me see thee eat and drink as of old. And the Achaeans
will make thee ready all things without fail, a ship and
chosen oarsmen, that thou mayest come the quicker to fair
Pylos, to seek tidings of thy noble father.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : * Antinous,
in no wise in your proud company can I sup in peace, and
make merry with a quiet mind. Is it a little thing, ye wooers,
that in time past ye wasted many good things of my getting,
while as yet I was a child? But now that I am a man
grown, and learn the story from the lips of others, and my
spirit waxeth within me, I will seek to let loose upon you
evil fates, as I may, going either to Pylos for help, or
abiding here in this township. Yea, I will go, nor vain shall
the voyage be whereof I speak; a passenger on another's
ship go I, for I am not to have a ship nor oarsmen of mine
own ; so in your wisdom ye have thought it for the better.'
He spake and snatched his hand from out the hand of
Antinous, lightly, and all the while the wooers were busy
feasting through the house; and they mocked him and
sharply taunted him, and thus would some proud youth
speak :
' In very truth Telemachus planneth our destruction. He
will bring a rescue either from sandy Pylos, or even it may
THE ODYSSEY 31
be from Sparta, so terribly is he set on slaying us. Or else
he will go to Ephyra, a fruitful land, to fetch a poisonous
drug that he may cast it into the bowl and make an end of
all of us/
And again another proud youth would say: 'Who knows
but that he himself if he goes hence on the hollow ship, may
perish wandering far from his friends, even as Odysseus?
So should we have yet more ado, for then must we divide
among us all his substance, and moreover give the house to
his mother to possess it, and to him whosoever should wed
her/
So spake they; but he stepped down into the vaulted
treasure-chamber of his father, a spacious room, where gold
and bronze lay piled, and raiment in coffers, and fragrant
olive oil in plenty. And there stood casks of sweet wine and
old, full of the unmixed drink divine, all orderly ranged by
the wall, ready if ever Odysseus should come home, albeit
after travail and much pain. And the close-fitted doors, the
folding doors, were shut, and night and day there abode
within a dame in charge, who guarded all in the fulness of
her wisdom, Eurycleia, daughter of Ops son of Peisenor.
Telemachus now called her into the chamber and spake
unto her, saying:
' Mother, come draw off for me sweet wine in jars, the
choicest next to that thou keepest mindful ever of that ill-
fated one, Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, if perchance he
may come I know not whence, having avoided death and the
fates. So fill twelve jars, and close each with his lid, and
pour me barley-meal into well-sewn skins, and let there be
twenty measures of the grain of bruised barley-meal. Let
none know this but thyself ! As for these things let them all
be got together ; for in the evening I will take them with me,
at the time that my mother hath gone to her upper chamber
and turned her thoughts to sleep. Lo, to Sparta I go and
to sandy Pylos to seek tidings of my dear father's return,
if haply I may hear thereof.'
So spake he, and the good nurse Eurycleia wailed aloud,
and making lament spake to him winged words : 'Ah, where-
fore, dear child, hath such a thought arisen in thine heart?
How shouldst thou fare over wide lands, thou that art an
32 HOMER
only child and well-beloved? As for him he hath perished,
Odysseus of the seed of Zeus, far from his own country in
the land of strangers. And yonder men, so soon as thou art
gone, will devise mischief against thee thereafter, that thou
mayest perish by guile, and they will share among them all
this wealth of thine. Nay, abide here, settled on thine own
lands: thou hast no need upon the deep unharvested to
suffer evil and go wandering.'
Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying : l Take heart,
nurse, for lo, this my purpose came not but of a god. But
swear to tell no word thereof to my dear mother, till at
least it shall be the eleventh or twelfth day from hence, or
till she miss me of herself, and hear of my departure, that
so she may not mar her fair face with her tears/
Thus he spake, and the old woman sware a great oath by
the gods not to reveal it. But when she had sworn and done
that oath, straightway she drew off the wine for him in jars,
and poured barley-meal into well-sewn skins, and Telemachus
departed to the house and consorted with the wooers.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, turned to other
thoughts. In the likeness of Telemachus she went all
through the city, and stood by each one of the men and spake
her saying, and bade them gather at even by the swift ship.
Furthermore, she craved a swift ship of Noemon, famous
son of Phronius, and right gladly he promised it.
Now the sun sank and all the ways were darkened. Then
at length she let drag the swift ship to the sea and stored
within it all such tackling as decked ships carry. And she
moored it at the far end of the harbour and the good com-
pany was gathered together, and the goddess cheered on all.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, turned to other
thoughts. She went on her way to the house of divine
Odysseus; and there she shed sweet sleep upon the wooers
and made them distraught in their drinking, and cast the cups
from their hands. And they arose up to go to rest through-
out the city, nor sat they yet a long while, for slumber was
falling on their eyelids. Now grey-eyed Athene spake unto
Telemachus, and called him from out the fair-lying halls,
taking the likeness of Mentor, both in fashion and in voice :
1 Telemachus, thy goodly-greaved companions are sitting
A— Vol. 22 HC
THE ODYSSEY 33
already at their oars, it is thy despatch they are awaiting.
Nay then, let us go, that we delay them not long from the
way.'
Therewith Pallas Athene led the way quickly, and he
followed hard in the steps of the goddess. Now when they
had come down to the ship and to the sea, they found the
long-haired youths of the company on the shore; and the
mighty prince Telemachus spake among them :
1 Come hither, friends, let us carry the corn on board, for
all is now together in the room, and my mother knows
nought thereof, nor any of the maidens of the house: one
woman only heard my saying/
Thus he spake and led the way, and they went with him.
So they brought all and stowed it in the decked ship, ac-
cording to the word of the dear son of Odysseus. Then
Telemachus climbed the ship, and Athene went before him,
and behold, she sat her down in the stern, and near her sat
Telemachus. And the men loosed the hawsers and climbed
on board themselves and sat down upon the benches. And
grey-eyed Athene sent them a favourable gale, a fresh West
Wind, singing over the wine-dark sea.
And Telemachus called unto his company and bade them
lay hands on the tackling, and they hearkened to his call.
So they raised the mast of pine tree and set it in the hole of
the cross plank, and made it fast with forestays, and hauled
up the white sails with twisted ropes of oxhide. And the
wind filled the belly of the sail, and the dark wave seethed
loudly round the stem of the running ship, and she fleeted
over the wave, accomplishing her path. Then they made all
fast in the swift black ship, and set mixing bowls brimmed
with wine, and poured drink offering to the deathless gods
that are from everlasting, and in chief to the grey-eyed
daughter of Zeus. So all night long and through the dawn
the ship cleft her way.
B— Vol. 22 hc
BOOK III
Nestor entertains Telemachus at Pylos and tells him how the
Greeks departed from Troy ; and sends him for further information
to Sparta.
NOW the sun arose and left the lovely mere, speeding
to the brazen heaven, to give light to the immortals
and to mortal men on the earth, the graingiver, and
they reached Pylos, the stablished castle of Neleus. There
the people were doing sacrifice on the sea shore, slaying
black bulls without spot to the dark-haired god, the shaker
of the earth. Nine companies there were, and five hundred
men sat in each, and in every company they held nine bulls
ready to hand. Just as they had tasted the inner parts, and
were burning the slices of the thighs on the altar to the
god, the others were bearing straight to land, and brailed up
the sails of the gallant ship, and moored her, and themselves
came forth. And Telemachus too stept forth from the ship,
and Athene led the way. And the goddess, grey-eyed Ath-
ene, spake first to him, saying :
r Telemachus, thou needst not now be abashed, no, not
one whit. For to this very end didst thou sail over the deep,
that thou mightest hear tidings of thy father, even where
the earth closed over him, and what manner of death he
met. But come now, go straight to Nestor, tamer of horses :
let us learn what counsel he hath in the secret of his heart.
And beseech him thyself that he may give unerring answer;
and he will not lie to thee, for he is very wise/
The wise Telemachus answered, saying : ' Mentor, and
how shall I go, how shall I greet him, I, who am untried in
words of wisdom? Moreover, a young man may well be
abashed to question an elder/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:
'Telemachus, thou shalt bethink thee of somewhat in thine
own breast, and somewhat the god will give thee to say.
34
THE ODYSSEY 35
For thou, methinks, of all men wert not born and bred
without the will of the gods/
So spake Pallas Athene and led the way quickly ; and he
followed hard in the steps of the goddess. And they came
to the gathering and the session of the men of Pylos. There
was Nestor seated with his sons, and round him his com-
pany making ready the feast, and roasting some of the
flesh and spitting other. Now when they saw the strangers,
they went all together, and clasped their hands in welcome,
and would have them sit down. First Peisistratus, son of
Nestor, drew nigh, and took the hands of each, and made
them to sit down at the feast on soft fleeces upon the sea
sand, beside his brother Thrasymedes and his father. And
he gave them messes of the inner meat, and poured wine
into a golden cup, and pledging her, he spake unto Pallas
Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis:
1 Pray now, my guest, to the lord Poseidon, even as it is
his feast whereon ye have chanced in coming hither. And
when thou hast made drink-offering and prayed, as is due,
give thy friend also the cup of honeyed wine to make offering
thereof, inasmuch as he too, methinks, prayeth to the death-
less gods, for all men stand in need of the gods. Howbeit
he is younger and mine own equal in years, therefore to
thee first will I give the golden chalice/
Therewith he placed in her hand the cup of sweet wine.
And Athene rejoiced in the wisdom and judgment of the
man, in that he had given to her first the chalice of gold.
And straightway she prayed, and that instantly, to the lord
Poseidon :
' Hear me, Poseidon, girdler of the earth, and grudge not
the fulfilment of this labour in answer to our prayer. To
Nestor first and to his sons vouchsafe renown, and there-
after grant to all the people of Pylos a gracious recompense
for this splendid hecatomb. Grant moreover that Telema-
chus and I may return, when we have accomplished that for
which we came hither with our swift black ship/
Now as she prayed on this wise, herself the while was
fulfilling the prayer. And she gave Telemachus the fair
two-handled cup ; and in like manner prayed the dear son of
Odysseus. Then, when the others had roasted the outer
36 HOMER
parts and drawn them ofY the spits, they divided the messes
and shared the glorious feast But when they had put from
them the desire of meat and drink, Nestor of Gerenia, lord
of chariots, first spake among them:
1 Now is the better time to enquire and ask of the
strangers who they are, now that they have had their de-
light of food. Strangers, who are ye ? Whence sail ye over
the wet ways? On some trading enterprise, or at adventure
do ye rove, even as sea-robbers, over the brine, for they
wander at hazard of their own lives bringing bale to alien
men? '
Then wise Telemachus answered him and spake with
courage, for Athene herself had put boldness in his heart,
that he might ask about his father who was afar, and that
he might be had in good report among men:
' Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, thou
askest whence we are, and I will surely tell thee all. We
have come forth out of Ithaca that is below Neion ; and this
our quest whereof I speak is a matter of mine own, and not
of the common weal. I follow after the far-spread rumour
of my father, if haply I may hear thereof, even of the goodly
steadfast Odysseus, who upon a time, men say, fought by
thy side and sacked the city of the Trojans. For of all
the others, as many as warred with the Trojans, we hear
tidings, and where each one fell by a pitiful death; but
even the death of this man Cronion hath left untold. For
none can surely declare the place where he hath perished,
whether he was smitten by foemen on the mainland, or
lost upon the deep among the waves of Amphitrite. So
now am I come hither to thy knees, if perchance thou art
willing to tell me of his pitiful death, as one that saw it with
thine own eyes, or heard the story from some other wan-
derer, — for his mother bare him to exceeding sorrow. And
speak me no soft words in ruth or pity, but tell me plainly
what sight thou didst get of him. Ah ! I pray thee, if ever
at all my father, noble Odysseus, made promise to thee of
word or work, and fulfilled the same in the land of the
Trojans, where ye Achaeans suffered affliction; these things,
I pray thee, now remember and tell me truth/
Then Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, answered him:
THE ODYSSEY 37
'My friend, since thou hast brought sorrow back to mind,
behold, this is the story of the woe which we endured in that
land, we sons of the Achaeans, unrestrained in fury, and of
all that we bore in wanderings after spoil, sailing with our
ships over the misty deep, wheresoever Achilles led; and of
all our war round the mighty burg of king Priam. Yea and
there the best of us were slain. There lies valiant Aias, and
there Achilles, and there Patroclus, the peer of the gods in
counsel, and there my own dear son, strong and noble, An-
tilochus, that excelled in speed of foot and in the fight.
And many other ills we suffered beside these; who of
mortal men could tell the tale ? Nay none, though thou wert
to abide here for five years, ay and for six, and ask of all
the ills which the goodly Achaeans then endured. Ere all
was told thou wouldst be weary and turn to thine own
country. For nine whole years we were busy about them,
devising their ruin with all manner of craft; and scarce
did Cronion bring it to pass. There never a man durst
match with him in wisdom, for goodly Odysseus very far
outdid the rest in all manner of craft, Odysseus thy father,
if indeed thou art his son, — amazement comes upon me as
I look at thee; for verily thy speech is like unto his; none
would say that a younger man would speak so like an elder.
Now look you, all the while that myself and goodly Odys-
seus were there, we never spake diversely either in the as-
sembly or in the council, but always were of one mind, and
advised the Argives with understanding and sound counsel,
how all might be for the very best. But after we had
sacked the steep city of Priam, and had departed in our
ships, and a god had scattered the Achaeans, even then did
Zeus devise in his heart a pitiful returning for the Argives,
for in no wise were they all discreet or just. Wherefore
many of them met with an ill faring by reason of the deadly
wrath of the grey-eyed goddess, the daughter of the mighty
sire, who set debate between the two sons of Atreus. And
they twain called to the gathering of the host all the
Achaeans, recklessly and out of order, against the going
down of the sun; and lo, the sons of the Achaeans came
heavy with wine. And the Atreidae spake out and told
the reason wherefore they had assembled the host. Then
38 HOMER
verily Menelaus charged all the Achaeans to bethink them
of returning over the broad back of the sea, but in no sort
did he please Agamemnon, whose desire was to keep back
the host and to offer holy hecatombs, that so he might ap-
pease that dread wrath of Athene. Fool! for he knew not
this, that she was never to be won; for the mind of the
everlasting gods is not lightly turned to repentance. So
these twain stood bandying hard words; but the goodly -
greaved Achaeans sprang up with a wondrous din, and
twofold counsels found favour among them. So that one
night we rested, thinking hard things against each other,
for Zeus was fashioning for us a ruinous doom. But in
the morning, we of the one part drew our ships to the fair
salt sea, and put aboard our wealth, and the low-girdled
Trojan women. Now one half the people abode steadfastly
there with Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the
host; and half of us embarked and drave to sea and
swiftly the ships sailed, for a god made smooth the sea with
the depths thereof. And when we came to Tenedos, we did
sacrifice to the gods, being eager for the homeward way ; but
Zeus did not yet purpose our returning, nay, hard was he,
that roused once more an evil strife among us. Then some
turned back their curved ships, and went their way, even
the company of Odysseus, the wise and manifold in counsel,
once again showing a favour to Agamemnon, son of Atreus.
But I fled on with the squadron that followed me, for I knew
how now the god imagined mischief. And the warlike son
of Tydeus fled and roused his men thereto. And late in our
track came Menelaus of the fair hair, who found us in
Lesbos, considering about the long voyage, whether we
should go sea-ward of craggy Chios, by the isle of Psyria,
keeping the isle upon our left, or inside Chios past windy
Mimas. So we asked the god to show us a sign, and a sign
he declared to us, and bade us cleave a path across the
middle sea to Euboea, that we might flee the swiftest way
from sorrow. And a shrill wind arose and blew, and the
ships ran most fleetly over the teeming ways, and in the
night they touched at Geraestus. So there we sacrificed
many thighs of bulls to Poseidon, for joy that we had
measured out so great a stretch of sea. It was the fourth
THE ODYSSEY 39
day when the company of Diomede, son of Tydeus, tamer of
horses, moored their gallant ships at Argos; but I held on
for Pylos, and the breeze was never quenched from the
hour that the god sent it forth to blow. Even so I came,
dear child, without tidings, nor know I aught of those others,
which of the Achaeans were saved and which were lost.
But all that I hear tell of as I sit in our halls, thou shalt
learn as it is meet, and I will hide nothing from thee.
Safely, they say, came the Myrmidons the wild spearsmen,
whom the famous son of high-souled Achilles led; and
safely Philoctetes, the glorious son of Poias. And Ido-
meneus brought all his company to Crete, all that escaped
the war, and from him the sea gat none. And of the son
of Atreus even yourselves have heard, far apart though ye
dwell, how he came, and how Aegisthus devised his evil
end; but verily he himself paid a terrible reckoning. So
good a thing it is that a son of the dead should still be left,
even as that son also took vengeance on the slayer of his
father, guileful Aegisthus, who slew his famous sire. And
thou too, my friend, for I see thee very comely and tall,
be valiant, that even men unborn may praise thee/
And wise Telemachus answered him, and said : ' Nestor,
son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, verily and in-
deed he avenged himself, and the Achaeans shall noise his
fame abroad, that even those may hear who are yet for
to be. Oh that the gods would clothe me with such strength
as his, that I might take vengeance on the wooers for their
cruel transgression, who wantonly devise against me in-
fatuate deeds ! But the gods have woven for me the web
of no such weal, for me or for my sire. But now I must
in any wise endure it/
Then Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, made answer:
' Dear friend, seeing thou dost call these things to my re-
membrance and speak thereof, they tell me that many wooers
for thy mother's hand plan mischief within the halls in thy
despite. Say, dost thou willingly submit thee to oppression,
or do the people through the land hate thee, obedient to the
voice of a god? Who knows but that Odysseus may some
day come and requite their violence, either himself alone or
all the host of the Achaeans with him ? Ah, if but grey-eyed
40 HOMER
Athene were inclined to love thee, as once she cared exceed-
ingly for the renowned Odysseus in the land of the Trojans,
where we Achaeans were sore afflicted, — for never yet have
I seen the gods show forth such manifest love, as then did
Pallas Athene standing manifest by him, — if she would be
pleased so to love thee and to care for thee, then might
certain of them clean forget their marriage/
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Old man,
in no wise methinks shall this word be accomplished. This
is a hard saying of thine, awe comes over me. Not for my
hopes shall this thing come to pass, not even if the gods so
willed it/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:
'Telemachus, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips?
Lightly might a god, if so he would, bring a man safe home
even from afar. Rather myself would I have travail and
much pain ere I came home and saw the day of my return-
ing, than come back and straightway perish on my own
hearth-stone, even as Agamemnon perished by guile at the
hands of his own wife and of Aegisthus. But lo you,
death, which is common to all, the very gods cannot avert
even from the man they love, when the ruinous doom shall
bring him low of death that lays men at their length/
And wise Telemachus answered her, saying : * Mentor, no
longer let us tell of these things, sorrowful though we be.
There is none assurance any more of his returning, but
already have the deathless gods devised for him death and
black fate. But now I would question Nestor, and ask him
of another matter, as one who above all men knows judg-
ment and wisdom: for thrice, men say, he hath been king
through the generations of men; yea, like an immortal he
seems to me to look upon. Nestor, son of Neleus, now
tell me true : how died the son of Atreus, Agamemnon of the
wide domain? Where was Menelaus? What death did
crafty Aegisthus plan for him, in that he killed a man more
valiant far than he? Or was Menelaus not in Argos or
Achaia but wandering elsewhere among men, and that other
took heart and slew Agamemnon?'
Then Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, answered him:
4 Yea now, my child, I will tell thee the whole truth. Verily
THE ODYSSEY 41
thou guessest aright even of thyself how things would have
fallen out, if Menelaus of the fair hair, the son of Atreus,
when he came back from Troy, had found Aegisthus yet
alive in the halls. Then even in his death would they not
have heaped the piled earth over him, but dogs and fowls
of the air would have devoured him as he lay on the plain
far from the town. 1 Nor would any of the Achaean women
have bewailed him; so dread was the deed he contrived.
Now we sat in leaguer there, achieving many adventures;
but he the while in peace in the heart of Argos, the pas-
tureland of horses, spake ofttimes, tempting her, to the wife
of Agamemnon. Verily at the first she would none of
the foul deed, the fair Clytemnestra, for she had a good
understanding. Moreover, there was with her a minstrel,
whom the son of Atreus straitly charged as he went to
Troy to have a care of his wife. But when at last the doom
of the gods bound her to her ruin, then did Aegisthus carry
the minstrel to a lonely isle, and left him there to be the
prey and spoil of birds; while as for her, he led her to
his house, a willing lover with a willing lady. And he
burnt many thigh slices upon the holy altars of the gods,
and hung up many offerings, woven-work and gold, seeing
that he had accomplished a great deed, beyond all hope.
Now we, I say, were sailing together on our way from
Troy, the son of Atreus and I, as loving friends. But
when we had reached holy Sunium, the headland of Athens,
there Phoebus Apollo slew the pilot of Menelaus with the
visitation of his gentle shafts, as he held between his hands
the rudder of the running ship, even Phrontis, son of On-
etor, who excelled the tribes of men in piloting a ship, when-
so the storm-winds were hurrying by. Thus was Menelaus
holden there, though eager for the way, till he might bury
his friend and pay the last rites over him. But when he
in his turn, faring over the wine-dark sea in hollow ships,
reached in swift course the steep mount of Malea, then it
was that Zeus of the far-borne voice devised a hateful
path, and shed upon them the breath of the shrill winds, and
great swelling waves arose like unto mountains. There sun-
dered he the fleet in twain, and part thereof he brought nigh
x Reading 5mos. v. I. "Apyeos, which must be wrong.
42 HOMER
to Crete, where the Cydonians dwelt about the streams of
Iardanus. Now there is a certain cliff, smooth and sheer
towards the sea, on the border of Gortyn, in the misty deep,
where the South-West Wind drives a great wave against
the left headland, towards Phaestus, and a little rock keeps
back the mighty water. Thither came one part of the fleet,
and the men scarce escaped destruction, but the ships were
broken by the waves against the rock; while those other
five dark-prowed ships the wind and the water bare and
brought nigh to Egypt. Thus Menelaus, gathering much
livelihood and gold, was wandering there with his ships
among men of strange speech, and even then Aegisthus
planned that pitiful work at home. And for seven years
he ruled over Mycenae, rich in gold, after he slew the son
of Atreus, and the people were subdued unto him. But in
the eighth year came upon him goodly Orestes back from
Athens to be his bane, and slew the slayer of his father,
guileful Aegisthus, who killed his famous sire. Now when
he had slain him, he made a funeral feast to the Argives
over his hateful mother, and over the craven Aegisthus.
And on the selfsame day there came to him Menelaus of
the loud war-cry, bringing much treasure, even all the freight
of his ships. So thou, my friend, wander not long far
away from home, leaving thy substance behind thee and men
in thy house so wanton, lest they divide and utterly devour
all thy wealth, and thou shalt have gone on a vain journey.
Rather I bid and command thee to go to Menelaus, for he
hath lately come from a strange country, from the land of
men whence none would hope in his heart to return, whom
once the storms have driven wandering into so wide a sea.
Thence not even the birds can make their way in the space
of one year, so great a sea it is and terrible. But go now
with thy ship and with thy company, or if thou hast a mind
to fare by land, I have a chariot and horses at thy service,
yea and my sons to do thy will, who will be thy guides
to goodly Lacedaemon, where is Menelaus of the fair
hair. Do thou thyself entreat him, that he may give thee
unerring answer. He will not lie to thee, for he is very
wise/
Thus he spake, and the sun went down and darkness came
THE ODYSSEY 43
on. Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake among them,
saying : * Yea, old man, thou hast told all this thy tale
aright. But come, cut up the tongues of the victims and
mix the wine, that we may pour forth before Poseidon and
the other deathless gods, and so may bethink us of sleep,
for it is the hour for sleep. For already has the light gone
beneath the west, and it is not seemly to sit long at a ban-
quet of the gods, but to be going home/
So spake the daughter of Zeus, and they hearkened to
her voice. And the henchmen poured water over their hands,
and pages crowned the mixing bowls with drink, and served
out the wine to all, after they had first poured for libation
into each cup in turn; and they cast the tongues upon the
fire, and stood up and poured the drink-offering thereon. But
when they had poured forth and had drunken to their heart's
content, Athene and godlike Telemachus were both set on
returning to the hollow ship; but Nestor would have stayed
them, and accosted them, saying: 'Zeus forfend it, and all
the other deathless gods, that ye should depart from my
house to the swift ship, as from the dwelling of one that is
utterly without raiment or a needy man, who hath not rugs
or blankets many in his house whereon to sleep softly, he or
his guests. Nay not so, I have rugs and fair blankets by
me. Never, methinks, shall the dear son of this man, even
of Odysseus, lay him down upon the ship's deck, while as yet
I am alive, and my children after me are left in my hall to
entertain strangers, whoso may chance to come to my house/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:
'Yea, herein hast thou spoken aright, dear father: and
Telemachus may well obey thee, for before all things this is
meet. Behold, he shall now depart with thee, that he may
sleep in thy halls ; as for me I will go to the black ship, that
I may cheer my company and tell them all. For I avow me
to be the one elder among them ; those others are but younger
men, who follow for love of him, all of them of like age
with the high-souled Telemachus. There will I lay me
down by the black hollow ship this night ; but in the morn-
ing I will go to the Cauconians high of heart, where some-
what of mine is owing to me, no small debt nor of yesterday.
But do thou send this man upon his way with thy chariot
44 HOMER
and thy son, since he hath come to thy house, and give him
horses the lightest of foot and chief in strength.'
Therewith grey-eyed Athene departed in the semblance of
a sea-eagle; and amazement fell on all that saw it, and the
old man he marvelled when his eyes beheld it. And he took
the hand of Telemachus and spake and hailed him:
1 My friend, methinks that thou wilt in no sort be a coward
and a weakling, if indeed in thy youth the gods thus follow
with thee to be thy guides. For truly this is none other of
those who keep the mansions of Olympus, save only the
daughter of Zeus, the driver of the spoil, the maiden Trito-
born, she that honoured thy good father too among the
Argives. Nay be gracious, queen, and vouchsafe a goodly
fame to me, even to me and to my sons and to my wife
revered. And I in turn will sacrifice to thee a yearling
heifer, broad of brow, unbroken, which man never yet hath
led beneath the yoke. Such an one will I offer to thee, and
gild her horns with gold.'
Even so he spake in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard
him. Then Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, led them,
even his sons and the husbands of his daughters, to his own
fair house. But when they had reached this prince's fa-
mous halls, they sat down all orderly on seats and high
chairs; and when they were come, the old man mixed well
for them a bowl of sweet wine, which now in the eleventh
year from the vintaging the housewife opened, and un-
loosed the string that fastened the lid. The old man let
mix a bowl thereof, and prayed instantly to Athene as he
poured forth before her, even to the daughter of Zeus, lord
of the aegis.
But after they had poured forth and had drunken to their
heart's content, these went each one to his own house to lie
down to rest. But Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, would
needs have Telemachus, son of divine Odysseus, to sleep
there on a jointed bedstead beneath the echoing gallery, and
by him Peisistratus of the good ashen spear, leader of men,
who alone of his sons was yet unwed in his halls. As
for him he slept within the inmost chamber of the lofty
house, and the lady his wife arrayed for him bedstead
and bedding.
THE ODYSSEY 45
So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, gat him up from his bed,
and he went forth and sat him down upon the smooth stones,
which were before his lofty doors, all polished, white and
glistening, whereon Neleus sat of old, in counsel the peer of
the gods. Howbeit, stricken by fate, he had ere now gone
down to the house of Hades, and to-day Nestor of Gerenia
in his turn sat thereon, warder of the Achaeans, with his
staff in his hands. And about him his two sons were gath-
ered and come together, issuing from their chambers, Eche-
phron and Stratius, and Perseus and Aretus and the godlike
Thrasymedes. And sixth and last came the hero Peisistratus.
And they led godlike Telemachus and set him by their side,
and Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, spake first among
them:
1 Quickly, my dear children, accomplish my desire, that
first of all the gods I may propitiate Athene, who came to
me in visible presence to the rich feast of the god. Nay
then, let one go to the plain for a heifer, that she may come
as soon as may be, and that the neat-herd may drive her : and
let another go to the black ship of high-souled Telemachus to
bring all his company, and let him leave two men only. And
let one again bid Laerces the goldsmith to come hither that
he may gild the horns of the heifer. And ye others, abide
ye here together and speak to the handmaids within that they
make ready a banquet through our famous halls, and fetch
seats and logs to set about the altar, and bring clear water/
Thus he spake and lo, they all hastened to the work. The
heifer she came from the field, and from the swift gallant
ship came the company of great-hearted Telemachus; the
smith came holding in his hands his tools, the instruments of
his craft, anvil and hammer and well-made pincers, where-
with he wrought the gold; Athene too came to receive her
sacrifice. And the old knight Nestor gave gold, and the other
fashioned it skilfully, and gilded therewith the horns of the
heifer, that the goddess might be glad at the sight of her
fair offering. And Stratius and goodly Echephron led the
heifer by the horns. And Aretus came forth from the cham-
ber bearing water for the washing of hands in a basin of
flowered work, and in the other hand he held the bai ley-meal
46 HOMER
in a basket; and Thrasymedes, steadfast in the battle, stood
by holding in his hand a sharp axe, ready to smite the heifer.
And Perseus held the dish for the blood, and the old man
Nestor, driver of chariots, performed the first rite of the
washing of hands and the sprinkling of the meal, and he
prayed instantly to Athene as he began the rite, casting into
the fire the lock from the head of the victim.
Now when they had prayed and tossed the sprinkled
grain, straightway the son of Nestor, gallant Thrasymedes,
stood by and struck the blow; and the axe severed the ten-
dons of the neck and loosened the might of the heifer; and
the women raised their cry, the daughters and the sons'
wives and the wife revered of Nestor, Eurydice, eldest of the
daughters of Clymenus. And now they lifted the victim's
head from the wide-wayed earth, and held it so, while Peisis-
tratus, leader of men, cut the throat. And after the black
blood had gushed forth and the life had left the bones,
quickly they broke up the body, and anon cut slices from the
thighs all duly, and wrapt the same in the fat, folding them
double, and laid raw flesh thereon. So that old man burnt
them on the cleft wood, and poured over them the red wine,
and by his side the young men held in their hands the five-
pronged forks. Now after that the thighs were quite con-
sumed and they had tasted the inner parts, they cut the rest
up small and spitted and roasted it, holding the sharp spits
in their hands.
Meanwhile she bathed Telemachus, even fair Polycaste,
the youngest daughter of Nestor, son of Neleus. And after
she had bathed him and anointed him with olive oil, and
cast about him a goodly mantle and a doublet, he came
forth from the bath in fashion like the deathless gods.
So he went and sat him down by Nestor, shepherd of the
people.
Now when they had roasted the outer flesh, and drawn it
off the spits, they sat down and fell to feasting, and honour-
able men waited on them, pouring wine into the golden cups.
But when they had put from them the desire of meat and
drink, Nestor of Gerenia, lord of chariots, first spake among
them:
'Lo now, my son, yoke for Telemachus horses with
THE ODYSSEY 47
flowing mane and lead them beneath the car, that he may
get forward on his way/
Even so he spake, and they gave good heed and hearkened ;
and quickly they yoked the swift horses beneath the chariot.
And the dame that kept the stores placed therein corn and
wine and dainties, such as princes eat, the fosterlings of
Zeus. So Telemachus stept up into the goodly car, and
with him Peisistratus son of Nestor, leader of men, likewise
climbed the car and grasped the reins in his hands, and he
touched the horses with the whip to start them, and nothing
loth the pair flew towards the plain, and left the steep citadel
of Pylos. So all day long they swayed the yoke they bore
upon their necks.
Now the sun sank and all the ways were darkened. And
they came to Pherae, to the house of Diodes, son of Orsi-
lochus, the child begotten of Alpheus. There they rested
for the night, and by them he set the entertainment of
strangers.
Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid car. And forth
they drave from the gateway and the echoing gallery, and
Peisistratus touched the horses with the whip to start them,
and the pair flew onward nothing loth. So they came to the
wheat-bearing plain, and thenceforth they pressed toward
the end: in such wise did the swift horses speed forward.
Now the sun sank and all the ways were darkened.
BOOK IV
Telemachus's entertainment at Sparta, where Menelaus tells him
what befell many of the Greeks on their return ; that Odysseus was
with Calypso in the isle Ogygia, as he was told by Proteus.
AND they came to Lacedaemon lying low among the
I\ caverned hills, and drave to the dwelling of renowned
JL-JL Menelaus. Him they found giving a feast in his house
to many friends of his kin, a feast for the wedding of his
noble son and daughter. His daughter he was sending to
the son of Achilles, cleaver of the ranks of men, for in Troy
he first had promised and covenanted to give her, and now
the gods were bringing about their marriage. So now he
was speeding her on her way with chariot and horses, to the
famous city of the Myrmidons, among whom her lord bare
rule. And for his son he was bringing to his home the
daughter of Alector out of Sparta, for his well-beloved son,
strong Megapenthes, 1 born of a slave woman, for the gods
no more showed promise of seed to Helen, from the day that
she bare a lovely child, Hermione, as fair as golden Aphro-
dite. So they were feasting through the great vaulted hall,
the neighbours and the kinsmen of renowned Menelaus,
making merry; and among them a divine minstrel was sing-
ing to the lyre, and as he began the song two tumblers in
the company whirled through the midst of them.
Meanwhile those twain, the hero Telemachus and the
splendid son of Nestor, made halt at the entry of the gate,
they and their horses. And the lord Eteoneus came forth
and saw them, the ready squire of renowned Menelaus;
and he went through the palace to bear the tidings to the
shepherd of the people, and standing near spake to him
winged words:
1 Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, here are two strangers,
whosoever they be, two men like to the lineage of great Zeus.
X A son of sorrow: Tristram.
48
THE ODYSSEY 49
Say, shall we loose their swift horses from under the yoke, or
send them onward to some other host who shall receive them
kindly?'
Then in sore displeasure spake to him Menelaus of the
fair hair : ' Eteoneus son of Boethous, truly thou wert not
a fool aforetime, but now for this once, like a child thou
talkest folly. Surely ourselves ate much hospitable cheer of
other men, ere we twain came hither, even if in time to come
Zeus haply give us rest from affliction. Nay go, unyoke
the horses of the strangers, and as for the men, lead them
forward to the house to feast with us.'
So spake he, and Eteoneus hasted from the hall, and called
the other ready squires to follow with him. So they loosed
the sweating horses from beneath the yoke, and fastened
them at the stalls of the horses, and threw beside them spelt,
and therewith mixed white barley, and tilted the chariot
against the shining faces of the gateway, and led the men
into the hall divine. And they beheld and marvelled as they
gazed throughout the palace of the king, the fosterling of
Zeus; for there was a gleam as it were of sun or moon
through the lofty palace of renowned Menelaus. But after
they had gazed their fill, they went to the polished baths and
bathed them. Now when the maidens had bathed them and
anointed them with olive oil, and cast about them thick cloaks
and doublets, they sat on chairs by Menelaus, son of Atreus.
And a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly golden
ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to wash withal ;
and to their side she drew a polished table, and a grave dame
bare food and set it by them, and laid upon the board many
dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by her, and
a carver lifted and placed by them platters of divers kinds of
flesh, and nigh them he set golden bowls. So Menelaus
of the fair hair greeted the twain and spake :
i Taste ye food and be glad, and thereafter when ye have
supped, we will ask what men ye are; for the blood of your
parents is not lost in you, but ye are of the line of men that
are sceptred kings, the fosterlings of Zeus; for no churls
could beget sons like you.'
So spake he, and took and set before them the fat ox-
chine roasted, which they had given him as his own mess by
50 HOMER
way of honour. And they stretched forth their hands upon
the good cheer set before them. Now when they had put
from them the desire of meat and drink Telemachus spake to
the son of Nestor, holding his head close to him, that those
others might not hear :
' Son of Nestor, delight of my heart, mark the flashing of
bronze through the echoing halls, and the flashing of gold
and of amber and of silver and of ivory. Such like, methinks,
is the court of Olympian Zeus within, for the world of things
that are here; wonder comes over me as I look thereon.'
And as he spake Menelaus of the fair hair was ware of
him, and uttering his voice spake to them winged words :
' Children dear, of a truth no one of mortal men may con-
tend with Zeus, for his mansions and his treasures are ever-
lasting: but of men there may be who will vie with me in
treasure, or there may be none. Yea, for after many a woe
and wanderings manifold, I brought my wealth home in ships,
and in the eighth year came hither. I roamed over Cyprus
and Phoenicia and Egypt, and reached the Aethiopians and
Sidonians and Erembi and Libya, where lambs are horned
from the birth. For there the ewes yean thrice within the
full circle of a year ; there neither lord nor shepherd lacketh
aught of cheese or flesh or of sweet milk, but ever the flocks
yield store of milk continual. While I was yet roaming in
those lands, gathering much livelihood, meantime another
slew my brother privily, at unawares, by the guile of his
accursed wife. Thus, look you, I have no joy of my lord-
ship among these my possessions: and ye are like to have
heard hereof from your fathers, whosoever they be, for I
have suffered much and let a house go to ruin that was
stablished fair, and had in it much choice substance. I would
that I had but a third part of those my riches, and dwelt in
my halls, and that those men were yet safe, who perished of
old in the wide land of Troy, far from Argos, the pasture-
land of horses. Howbeit, though I bewail them all and
sorrow oftentimes as I sit in our halls, — awhile indeed I
satisfy my soul with lamentation, and then again I cease; for
soon hath man enough of chill lamentation — yet for them all
I make no such dole, despite my grief, as for one only,
who causes me to loathe both sleep and meat, when I think
THE ODYSSEY 51
upon him. For no one of the Achaeans toiled so greatly as
Odysseus toiled and adventured himself: but to him it was
to be but labour and trouble, and to me grief ever com-
fortless for his sake, so long he is afar, nor know we aught,
whether he be alive or dead. Yea methinks they lament him,
even that old Laertes and the constant Penelope and Telem-
achus, whom he left a child new-born in his house/
So spake he, and in the heart of Telemachus he stirred
a yearning to lament his father; and at his father's name
he let a tear fall from his eyelids to the ground, and held
up his purple mantle with both his hands before his eyes.
And Menelaus marked him and mused in his mind and
his heart whether he should leave him to speak of his father,
or first question him and prove him in every word.
While yet he pondered these things in his mind and in
his heart, Helen came forth from her fragrant vaulted cham-
ber, like Artemis of the golden arrows; and with her came
Adraste and set for her the well-wrought chair, and
Alcippe bare a rug of soft wool, and Phylo bare a silver
basket which Alcandre gave her, the wife of Polybus, who
dwelt in Thebes of Egypt, where is the chiefest store of
wealth in the houses. He gave two silver baths to Menelaus,
and tripods twain, and ten talents of gold. And besides all
this, his wife bestowed on Helen lovely gifts; a golden
distaff did she give, and a silver basket with wheels beneath,
and the rims thereof were finished with gold. This it was
that the handmaid Phylo bare and set beside her, filled with
dressed yarn, and across it was laid a distaff charged with
wool of violet blue. So Helen sat her down in the chair, and
beneath was a footstool for the feet. And anon she spake
to her lord and questioned him of each thing:
' Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, know we now who these
men avow themselves to be that have come under our roof?
Shall I dissemble or shall I speak the truth? Nay, I am
minded to tell it. None, I say, have I ever yet seen so like
another, man nor woman — wonder comes over me as I look on
him — as this man is like the son of great-hearted Odysseus,
Telemachus, whom he left a new-born child in his house,
when for the sake of me, shameless woman that I was, ye
Achaeans came up under Troy with bold war in your hearts/
52 HOMER
And Menelaus of the fair hair answered her, saying:
'Now I too, lady, mark the likeness even as thou tracest it.
For such as these were his feet, such his hands, and the
glances of his eyes, and his head, and his hair withal. Yea,
and even now I was speaking of Odysseus, as I remembered
him, of all his woeful travail for my sake; when, lo, he let
fall a bitter tear beneath his brows, and held his purple
cloak up before his eyes/
And Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him, saying:
'Menelaus, son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the
host, assuredly this is the son of that very man, even as thou
sayest. But he is of a sober wit, and thinketh it shame in
his heart as on this his first coming to make show of pre-
sumptuous words in the presence of thee, in whose voice we
twain delight as m the voice of a god. Now Nestor of Gere-
nia, lord of chariots, sent me forth to be his guide on the
way: for he desired to see thee that thou mightest put into
his heart some word or work. For a son hath many griefs in
his halls when his father is away, if perchance he hath none
to stand by him. Even so it is now with Telemachus; his
father is away, nor hath he others in the township to defend
him from distress/
And Menelaus of the fair hair answered him, and said:
'Lo now, in good truth there has come unto my house the
son of a friend indeed, who for my sake endured many
adventures. And I thought to welcome him on his coming
more nobly than all the other Argives, if but Olympian Zeus,
of the far-borne voice, had vouchsafed us a return over the
sea in our swift ships, — that such a thing should be. And in
Argos I would have given him a city to dwell in, and stab-
lished for him a house, and brought him forth from Ithaca
with his substance and his son and all his people, making
one city desolate of those that lie around, and are in mine
own domain. Then ofttimes would we have held converse
here, and nought would have parted us, the welcoming and
the welcomed, 2 ere the black cloud of death overshadowed us.
Howsoever, the god himself, methinks, must have been jeal-
2 Mr. Evelyn Abbott of Balliol College" has suggested to us that f»Moi>Te
and reprroti.ei'o) are here correlatives, and denote respectively the parts of
host and of guest. This is sufficiently borne out by the usage of the words
elsewhere.
THE ODYSSEY S3
Otis hereof, who from that hapless man alone cut off his
returning.'
So spake he, and in the hearts of all he stirred the desire
of lamentation. She wept, even Argive Helen the daughter
of Zeus, and Telemachus wept, and Menelaus the son of
Atreus; nay, nor did the son of Nestor keep tearless eyes.
For he bethought him in his heart of noble Antilochus,
whom the glorious son of the bright Dawn had slain. Think-
ing upon him he spake winged words :
' Son of Atreus, the ancient Nestor in his own halls was
ever wont to say that thou wert wise beyond man's wisdom,
whensoever we made mention of thee and asked one another
concerning thee. And now, if it be possible, be persuaded
by me, who for one have no pleasure in weeping at supper
time — the new-born day will right soon be upon us. 3 Not
indeed that I deem it blame at all to weep for any mortal
who hath died and met his fate. Lo, this is now the only due
we pay to miserable men, to cut the hair and let the tear fall
from the cheek. For I too have a brother dead, nowise the
meanest of the Argives, and thou art like to have known
him, for as for me I never encountered him, never beheld
him. But men say that Antilochus outdid all, being excellent
in speed of foot and in the fight/
And Menelaus of the fair hair answered him, and said:
' My friend, lo, thou hast said all that a wise man might
say or do, yea, and an elder than thou; — for from such
a sire too thou art sprung, wherefore thou dost even
speak wisely. Right easily known is that man's seed, for
whom Cronion weaves the skein of luck at bridal and at
birth: even as now hath he granted prosperity to Nestor
for ever for all his days, that he himself should grow
into a smooth old age in his halls, and his sons moreover
should be wise and the best of spearsmen. But we will
cease now the weeping which was erewhile made, and let
us once more bethink us of our supper, and let them pour
water over our hands. And again in the morning there
will be tales for Telemachus and me to tell one to the
other, even to the end.'
So spake he. and Asphalion poured water over their hands,
* Ci . B. xv. so.
54 HOMER
the ready squire of renowned Menelaus. And they put forth
their hands upon the good cheer spread before them.
Then Helen, daughter of Zeus, turned to new thoughts.
Presently she cast a drug into the wine whereof they drank,
a drug to lull all pain and anger, and bring forgetfulness
of every sorrow. Whoso should drink a draught thereof,
when it is mingled in the "bowl, on that day he would let no
tear fall down his cheeks, not though his mother and his
father died, not though men slew his brother or dear son
with the sword before his face, and his own eyes beheld it.
Medicines of such virtue and so helpful had the daughter of
Zeus, which Polydamna, the wife of Thon, had given her, a
woman of Egypt, where earth the grain-giver yields herbs
in greatest plenty, many that are healing in the cup, and
many baneful. There each man is a leech skilled beyond all
human kind; yea, for they are of the race of Paeeon. Now
after she had cast in the drug and bidden pour forth of the
wine, she made answer once again, and spake imto her lord:
' Son of Atreus, Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, and lo, ye
sons of noble men, forasmuch as now to one and now to
another Zeus gives good and evil, for to him all things are
possible, — now, verily, sit ye down and feast in the halls, and
take ye joy in the telling of tales, and I will tell you one that
fits the time. Now all of them I could not tell or number, so
many as were the adventures of Odysseus of the hardy heart ;
but, ah, what a deed was this he wrought and dared in his
hardiness in the land of the Trojans, where ye Achaeans
suffered affliction. He subdued his body with unseemly
stripes, and a sorry covering he cast about his shoulders, and
in the fashion of a servant he went down into the wide-wayed
city of the foemen, and he hid himself in the guise of another,
a beggar, though in no wise such an one was he at the ships
of the Achaeans. In this semblance he passed into the city
of the Trojans, and they wist not who he was, and I alone
knew him in that guise, and I kept questioning him, but in
his subtlety he avoided me. But when at last I was about
washing him and anointing him with olive oil, and had put
on him raiment, and sworn a great oath not to reveal
Odysseus amid the Trojans, ere he reached the swift ships
and the huts, even then he told me all the purpose of the
THE ODYSSEY 55
Achaeans. And after slaying many of the Trojans with the
long sword, he returned to the Argives and brought back
word again of all. Then the other Trojan women wept aloud,
but my soul was glad, for already my heart was turned to go
back again even to my home: and now at the last I groaned
for the blindness that Aphrodite gave me, when she led me
thither away from mine own country, forsaking my child and
my bridal chamber and my lord, that lacked not aught
whether for wisdom or yet for beauty.'
And Menelaus of the fair hair answered her, saying:
' Verily all this tale, lady, thou hast duly told. Ere now
have I learned the counsel and the thought of many heroes,
and travelled over many a land, but never yet have mine
eyes beheld any such man of heart as was Odysseus; such
another deed as he wrought and dared in his hardiness even
in the shapen horse, wherein sat all we chiefs of the Argives,
bearing to the Trojans death and doom. Anon thou earnest
thither, and sure some god must have bidden thee, who
wished to bring glory to the Trojans. Yea and godlike
Deiphobus went with thee on thy way. Thrice thou didst
go round about the hollow ambush and handle it, calling
aloud on the chiefs of the Argives by name, and making thy
voice like the voices of the wives of all the Argives. Now I
and the son of Tydeus and goodly Odysseus sat in the midst
and heard thy call ; and verily we twain had a desire to start
up and come forth or presently to answer from within; but
Odysseus stayed and held us there, despite our eagerness.
Then all the other sons of the Achaeans held their peace,
but Anticlus alone was still minded to answer thee. How-
beit Odysseus firmly closed his mouth with strong hands,
and so saved all the Achaeans, and held him until such time
as Pallas Athene led thee back/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said : ' Mene-
laus, son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the host,
all the more grievous it is ! for in no way did this courage
ward from him pitiful destruction, not though his heart
within him had been very iron. But come, bid us to bed,
that forthwith we may take our joy of rest beneath the
spell of sleep/
So spake he, and Argive Helen bade her handmaids set
56 HOMER
out bedsteads beneath the gallery, and fling on them fair
purple blankets and spread coverlets above, and thereon lay-
thick mantles to be a clothing over all. So they went from
the hall with torch in hand, and spread the beds, and the
henchman led forth the guests. Thus they slept there in the
vestibule of the house, the hero Telemachus and the splen-
did son of Nestor. But the son of Atreus slept, as his
custom was, in the inmost chamber of the lofty house, and
by him lay long-robed Helen, that fair lady.
Soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, Mene-
laus of the loud war-shout gat him up from his bed and put
on his raiment, and cast his sharp sword about his shoulder,
and beneath his smooth feet bound his goodly sandals, and
stept forth from his chamber, in presence like a god, and sat
by Telemachus, and spake and hailed him:
' To what end hath thy need brought thee hither, hero
Telemachus, unto fair Lacedaemon, over the broad back
of the sea? Is it a matter of the common weal or of thine
own? Herein tell me the plain truth.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said: ' Mene-
laus, son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the host, I
have come if perchance thou mayest tell me some tidings
of my father. My dwelling is being devoured and my fat
lands are ruined, and of unfriendly men my house is full, —
who slaughter continually my thronging flocks, and my kine
with trailing feet and shambling gait, — none other than the
wooers of my mother, despiteful out of measure. So now
am I come hither to thy knees, if haply thou art willing
to tell me of his pitiful death, as one that saw it perchance
with thine own eyes, or heard the story from some other
wanderer; for his mother bare him to exceeding sorrow.
And speak me no soft words in ruth or pity, but tell me
plainly how thou didst get sight of him. Ah, I pray thee,
if ever at all my father, good Odysseus, made promise to
thee of word or work and fulfilled the same in the land
of the Trojans, where ye Achaeans suffered affliction, these
things, I pray thee, now remember and tell me truth/
Then in heavy displeasure spake to him Menelaus of the
fair hair : ' Out upon them, for truly in the bed of a brave-
hearted man were they minded to lie, very cravens as they
THE ODYSSEY 57
are ! Even as when a hind hath couched her newborn fawns
unweaned in a strong lion's lair, and searcheth out the
mountain knees and grassy hollows, seeking pasture, and
afterward the lion cometh back to his bed, and sendeth forth
unsightly death upon that pair, even so shall Odysseus send
forth unsightly death upon the wooers. Would to our
father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, would that in such
might as when of old in stablished Lesbos he rose up and
wrestled a match with Philomeleides and threw him mightily,
and all the Achaeans rejoiced; would that in such strength
Odysseus might consort with the wooers: then should they
all have swift fate, and bitter wedlock! But for that
whereof thou askest and entreatest me, be sure I will not
swerve from the truth in aught that I say, nor deceive thee;
but of all that the ancient one of the sea, whose speech is
sooth, declared to me, not a word will I hide or keep from
thee.
' In the river Aegyptus, 4 though eager I was to press on-
ward home, the gods they stayed me, for that I had not
offered them the acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs, and the
gods ever desired that men should be mindful of their com-
mandments. Now there is an island in the wash of the
waves over against Aegyptus, and men call it Pharos, within
one day's voyage of a hollow ship, when shrill winds blow
fair in her wake. And therein is a good haven, whence men
launch the gallant ships into the deep when they have drawn
a store of deep black water. There the gods held me twenty
days, nor did the sea-winds ever show their breath, they
that serve to waft ships over the broad back of the sea. And
now would all our corn have been spent, and likewise the
strength of the men, except some goddess had taken pity
on me and saved me, Eidothee, daughter of mighty Proteus,
the ancient one of the sea. For most of all I moved her
heart, when she met me wandering alone apart from my
company, who were ever roaming round the isle, fishing
with bent hooks, for hunger was gnawing at their belly.
So she stood by, and spake, and uttered her voice, saying:
1 "Art thou so very foolish, stranger, and feeble-witted, or
4 The only name for the Nile in Homer. Cf. Wilkinson, Ancient Egyp-
tians .(1878), vol. i. p. 7.
58 HOMER
art thou wilfully remiss, and hast pleasure in suffering?
So long time art thou holden in the isle and canst find no
issue therefrom, while the heart of thy company faileth
within them ? "
' Even so she spake, and I answered her saying : " I will
speak forth, what goddess soever thou art, and tell thee that
in no wise am I holden here by mine own will, but it needs
must be that I have sinned against the deathless gods, who
keep the wide heaven. Howbeit, do thou tell me — for the
gods know all things — which of the immortals it is that
binds me here and hath hindered me from my way, and de-
clare as touching my returning how I may go over the teem-
ing deep."
1 So I spake, and straightway the fair goddess made
answer : " Yea now, sir, I will plainly tell thee all. Hither
resorteth that ancient one of the sea, whose speech is sooth,
the deathless Egyptian Proteus, who knows the depths of
every sea, and is the thrall of Poseidon, and who, they say,
is my father that begat me. If thou couldst but lay an
ambush and catch him, he will surely declare to thee the way
and the measure of thy path, and will tell thee of thy return-
ing, how thou mayest go over the teeming deep. Yea, and
he will show thee, O fosterling of Zeus, if thou wilt, what
good thing and what evil hath been wrought in thy halls,
whilst thou has been faring this long and grievous way."
1 So she spake, but I answered and said unto her : " De-
vise now thyself the ambush to take this ancient one divine,
lest by any chance he see me first, or know of my coming,
and avoid me. For a god is hard for mortal man to quell."
1 So spake I, and straightway the fair goddess made
answer : " Yea now, sir, I will plainly tell thee all. So often
as the sun in his course stands high in mid heaven, then
forth from the brine comes the ancient one of the sea, whose
speech is sooth, before the breath of the West Wind he
comes, and the sea's dark ripple covers him. And when he
is got forth, he lies down to sleep in the hollow of the caves.
And around him the seals, the brood of the fair daughter
of the brine, sleep all in a flock, stolen forth from the grey
sea water, and bitter is the scent they breathe of the deeps
Of the salt sea. There will I lead thee at the breaking of the
THE ODYSSEY 59
day, and couch you all orderly ; so do thou choose diligently
three of thy company, the best thou hast in thy decked ships.
And I will tell thee all the magic arts of that old man. First,
he will number the seals and go over them, but when he has
told their tale and beheld them, he will lay him down in the
midst, as a shepherd mid the sheep of his flock. So soon as
ever ye shall see him couched, even then mind you of your
might and strength, and hold him there, despite his eager-
ness and striving to be free. And he will make assay, and
take all manner of shapes of things that creep upon the
earth, of water likewise, and of fierce fire burning. But do
ye grasp him steadfastly and press him yet the more, and at
length when he questions thee in his proper shape, as he was
when first ye saw him laid to rest, then, hero, hold thy
strong hands, and let the ancient one go free, and ask him
which of the gods is hard upon thee, and as touching thy
returning, how thou mayest go over the teeming deep."
'Therewith she dived beneath the heaving sea, but I be-
took me to the ships where they stood in the sand, and my
heart was darkly troubled as I went. But after I had come
down to the ship and to the sea, and we had made ready our
supper and immortal night had come on, then did we lay
us down to rest upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn
shone forth, the rosy-fingered, in that hour I walked by the
shore of the wide-wayed sea, praying instantly to the gods;
and I took with me three of my company, in whom I trusted
most for every enterprise.
1 Meanwhile, so it was that she had plunged into the
broad bosom of the sea, and had brought from the deep the
skins of four sea-calves, and all were newly flayed, for she
was minded to lay a snare for her father. She scooped lairs
on the sea-sand, and sat awaiting us, and we drew very nigh
her, and she made us all lie down in order, and cast a skin
over each. There would our ambush have been most terri-
ble, for the deadly stench of the sea-bred seals distressed us
sore: nay, who would lay him down by a beast of the sea?
But herself she wrought deliverance, and devised a great
comfort. She took ambrosia of a very sweet savour, and
set it beneath each man's nostril, and did away with the
stench of the beast. So all the morning we waited with
60 HOMER
steadfast heart, and the seals came forth in troops from
the brine, and then they couched them all orderly by the
sea-beach. And at high day the ancient one came forth
from out of the brine, and found his fatted seals, yea and he
went along their line and told their tale; and first among
the sea-beasts he reckoned us, and guessed not that there
was guile, and afterward he too laid him down. Then we
rushed upon him with a cry, and cast our hands about him,
nor did that ancient one forget his cunning. Now behold,
at the first he turned into a bearded lion, and thereafter into
a snake, and a pard, and a huge boar ; then he took the shape
of running water, and of a tall and flowering tree. We the
while held him close with steadfast heart. But when now
that ancient one of the magic arts was aweary, then at last
he questioned me and spake unto me, saying:
' " Which of the gods was it, son of Atreus, that aided
thee with his counsel, that thou mightest waylay and take me
perforce? What wouldest thou thereby?"
1 Even so he spake, but I answered him saying : " Old
man, thou knowest all, wherefore dost thou question me
thereof with crooked words ? For lo, I am holden long time
in this isle, neither can I find any issue therefrom, and my
heart faileth within me. Howbeit do thou tell me — for the
gods know all things — which of the immortals it is that
bindeth me here, and hath hindered me from my way; and
declare as touching my returning, how I may go over the
teeming deep."
1 Even so I spake, and he straightway answered me, say-
ing: " Nay, surely thou shouldest have done goodly sacrifice
to Zeus and the other gods ere thine embarking, that with
most speed thou mightst reach thy country, sailing over
the wine-dark deep. For it is not thy fate to see thy friends,
and come to thy stablished house and thine own country, till
thou hast passed yet again within the waters of Aegyptus,
the heaven-fed stream, and offered holy hecatombs to the
deathless gods who keep the wide heaven. So shall the gods
grant thee the path which thou desirest."
1 So spake he, but my spirit within me was broken, for that
he bade me again to go to Aegyptus over the misty deep, a
long and grievous way.
THE ODYSSEY 61
'Yet even SO I answered Kim saying: "Old man, all this
will I do, according to thy word. But come, declare me this,
and tell it all plainly. Did all those Achaeans return safe
with their ships, all whom Nestor and I left as we went from
Troy, or perished any by a shameful death aboard his own
ship, or in the arms of his friends, after he had wound up
the clew of war?"
' So spake I> and anon he answered me, saying : " Son of
Atreus, why dost thou straitly question me hereof? Nay, it
is not for thy good to know or learn my thought; for I tell
thee thou shalt not long be tearless, when thou hast heard
it all aright. For many of these were taken, and many were
left ; but two only of the leaders of the mail-coated Achaeans
perished in returning; as for the battle, thou thyself wast
there. And one methinks is yet alive, and is holden on the
wide deep. Aias in truth was smitten in the midst of his
ships of the long oars. Poseidon at first brought him nigh
to Gyrae, to the mighty rocks, and delivered him from the
sea. And so he would have fled his doom, albeit hated by
Athene, had he not let a proud word fall in the fatal dark-
ening of his heart. He said that in the gods' despite he had
escaped the great gulf of the sea; and Poseidon heard his
loud boasting, and presently caught up his trident into his
strong hands, and smote the rock Gyraean and cleft it in
twain. And the one part abode in his place, but the other
fell into the sea, the broken piece whereon Aias sat at the
first, when his heart was darkened. And the rock bore him
down into the vast and heaving deep; so there he perished
when he had drunk of the salt sea water. But thy brother
verily escaped the fates and avoided them in his hollow
ships, for queen Hera saved him. But now when he was
like soon to reach the steep mount of Malea, lo, the storm
wind snatched him away and bore him over the teeming deep,
making great moan, to the border of the country whereof
old Thyestes dwelt, but now Aegisthus abode there, the son
of Thyestes. But when thence too there showed a good
prospect of safe returning, and the gods changed the wind
to a fair gale, and they had reached home, then verily did
Agamemnon set foot with joy upon his country's soil, and
as he touched his own land he kissed it, and many were the
62 HOMER
hot tears he let fall, for he saw his land and was glad. And
it was so that the watchman spied him from his tower, the
watchman whom crafty Aegisthus had led and posted there,
promising him for a reward two talents of gold. Now he
kept watch for the space of a year, lest Agamemnon should
pass by him when he looked not, and mind him of his wild
prowess. So he went to the house to bear the tidings to the
shepherd of the people. And straightway Aegisthus con-
trived a cunning treason. He chose out twenty of the best
men in the township, and set an ambush, and on the further
side of the hall he commanded to prepare a feast. Then
with chariot and horses he went to bid to the feast Aga-
memnon, shepherd of the people; but caitiff thoughts were
in his heart. He brought him up to his house, all unwitting
of his doom, and when he had feasted him slew him, as one
slayeth an ox at the stall. And none of the company of
Atreides that were of his following were left, nor any of
the men of Aegisthus, but they were all killed in the halls."
1 So spake he, and my spirit within me was broken, and I
wept as I sat upon the sand, nor was I minded any more to
live and see the light of the sun. But when I had taken
my fill of weeping and grovelling on the ground, then spake
the ancient one of the sea, whose speech is sooth:
' " No more, son of Atreus, hold this long weeping without
cease, for we shall find no help therein. Rather with all
haste make essay that so thou mayest come to thine own
country. For either thou shalt find Aegisthus yet alive, or
it may be Orestes was beforehand with thee and slew him;
so mayest thou chance upon his funeral feast."
' So he spake, and my heart and lordly soul again were
comforted for all my sorrow, and I uttered my voice and I
spake to him winged words:
'"Their fate I now know; but tell me of the third; who
is it that is yet living and holden on the wide deep, or per-
chance is dead? and fain would I hear despite my sorrow."
* So spake I, and straightway he answered, and said : " It
is the son of Laertes, whose dwelling is in Ithaca; and I
saw him in an island shedding big tears in the halls of the
nymph Calypso, who holds him there perforce; so he may
not come to his own country, for he has by him no ships
THE ODYSSEY 63
with oars, and no companions to send him on his way over
the broad back of the sea. But thou, Menelaus, son of Zeus,
art not ordained to die and meet thy fate in Argos, the
pasture-land of horses, but the deathless gods will convey
thee to the Elysian plain and the world's end, where is
Rhadamanthus of the fair hair, where life is easiest for
men. No snow is there, nor yet great storm, nor any rain;
but always ocean sendeth forth Jie breeze of the shrill West
to blow cool on men : yea, for thou hast Helen to wife, and
thereby they deem thee to be son of Zeus."
1 So spake he, and plunged into the heaving sea ; but I be-
took me to the ships with my godlike company, and my
heart was darkly troubled as I went. Now after I had come
down to the ship and to the sea, and had made ready our
supper, and immortal night had come on, then did we lay us
to rest upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn shone
forth, the rosy-fingered, first of all we drew down our ships
to the fair salt sea and placed the masts and the sails in the
gallant ships, and the crew too climbed on board, and sat
upon the benches and smote the grey sea water with their
oars. Then back I went to the waters of Aegyptus, the
heaven-fed stream, and there I moored the ships and offered
the acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs. So when I had ap-
peased the anger of the everlasting gods, I piled a barrow
to Agamemnon, that his fame might never be quenched. So
having fulfilled all, I set out for home, and the deathless
gods gave me a fair wind, and brought me swiftly to mine
own dear country. But lo, now tarry in my halls till it shall
be the eleventh day hence or the twelfth. Then will I send
thee with all honour on thy way, and give thee splendid
gifts, three horses and a polished car; and moreover I will
give thee a goodly chalice, that thou mayest pour forth be-
fore the deathless gods, and be mindful of me all the days
of thy life.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Son of
Atreus, nay, hold me not long time here. Yea even for a
year would I be content to sit by thee, and no desire for
home or parents would come upon me ; for I take wondrous
pleasure in thy tales and talk. But already my company
wearieth in fair Pylos, and yet thou art keeping me long
64 HOMER
time here. And whatsoever gift thou wouldest give me,
let it be a thing to treasure; but horses I will take none to
Ithaca, but leave them here to grace thine own house, for
thou art lord of a wide plain wherein is lotus great plenty,
and therein is spear-reed and wheat and rye, and white and
spreading barley. In Ithaca there are no wide courses, nor
meadow land at all. It is a pasture-land of goats, and more
pleasant in my sight than one that pastureth horses; for
of the isles that lie and lean upon the sea, none are fit for
the driving of horses, or rich in meadow land, and least of
all is Ithaca/
So spake he, and Menelaus, of the loud war cry, smiled,
and caressed him with his hand, and spake and hailed him:
' Thou art of gentle blood, dear child, so gentle the words
thou speakest. Therefore I will make exchange of the
presents, as I may. Of the gifts, such as are treasures stored
in my house, I will give thee the goodliest and greatest of
price. I will give thee a mixing bowl beautifully wrought;
it is all of silver, and the lips thereof are finished with gold,
the work of Hephaestus; and the hero Phaedimus, the king
of the Sidonians, gave it me, when his house sheltered me
on my coming thither, and to thee now would I give it.'
Even so they spake one to another, while the guests came
to the palace of the divine king. They drave their sheep,
and brought wine that maketh glad the heart of man: and
their wives with fair tire sent them, wheaten bread. Thus
were these men preparing the feast in the halls.
But the wooers meantime were before the palace of
Odysseus, taking their pleasure in casting of weights and
spears on a levelled place, as heretofore, in their insolence.
And Antinous and god-like Eurymachus were seated there,
the chief men of the wooers, who were far the most excellent
of all. And Noemon, son of Phromius, drew nigh to them
and spake unto Antinous and questioned him, saying :
1 Antinous, know we at all, or know we not, when Telem-
achus will return from sandy Pylos? He hath departed
with a ship of mine, and I have need thereof, to cross over
into spacious Elis, where I have twelve brood mares with
hardy mules unbroken at the teat; I would drive off one of
these and break him in/
THE ODYSSEY 65
So spake he, and they were amazed, for they deemed not
that Telemachus had gone to Neleian Pylos, but that he was
at home somewhere in the fields, whether among the flocks,
or with the swineherd.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake to him in turn:
' Tell me the plain truth ; when did he go, and what noble
youths went with him ? Were they chosen men of Ithaca or
hirelings and thralls of his own? He was in case to bring
even that about. And tell me this in good sooth, that I may
know for a surety: did he take thy black ship from thee
perforce against thy will? or didst thou give it him of free
will at his entreaty ? '
Then Noemon, son of Phromius, answered him saying: 'I
gave it him myself of free will. What can any man do,
when such an one, so bestead with care, begs a favour? it
were hard to deny the gift. The youths who next to us are
noblest in the land, even these have gone with him; and I
marked their leader on board ship, Mentor, or a god who in
all things resembled Mentor. But one matter I marvel at:
I saw the goodly Mentor here yesterday toward dawn,
though already he had embarked for Pylos/
He spake and withal departed to his father's house. And
the proud spirits of these twain were angered, and they made
the wooers sit down together and cease from their games.
And among them spake Antinous, son of Eupeithes, in dis-
pleasure; and his black heart was wholly filled with rage,
and his eyes were like flaming fire:
' Out on him, a proud deed hath Telemachus accomplished
with a high hand, even this journey, and we thought that he
would never bring it to pass ! This lad hath clean gone with-
out more ado, in spite of us all ; his ship he hath let haul to
the sea, and chosen the noblest in the township. He will
begin to be our bane even more than heretofore; but may
Zeus destroy his might, not ours, ere he reach the measure
of manhood! But come, give me a swift ship and twenty
men, that I may lie in watch and wait even for him on his
way home, in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
that so he may have a woeful end of his cruising in quest
of his father/
So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and bade him
C— Vol. 22 HC
66 HOMER
to the work. And thereupon they arose and went to the
house of Odysseus.
Now it was no long time before Penelope heard of the
counsel that the wooers had devised in the deep of their
heart. For the henchman Medon told her thereof, who
stood without the court and heard their purposes, while they
were weaving their plot within. So he went on his way
through the halls to bring the news to Penelope; and as he
stept down over the threshold, Penelope spake unto him:
'Henchman, wherefore have the noble wooers sent thee
forth? Was it to tell the handmaids of divine Odysseus
to cease from their work, and prepare a banquet for them?
Nay, after thus much wooing, never again may they come
together, but here this day sup for their last and latest
time; all ye who assemble so often, and waste much liveli-
hood, the wealth of wise Telemachus ! Long ago when ye
were children ye marked not your fathers telling what man-
ner of man was Odysseus among them, one that wrought no
iniquity toward any man, nor spake aught unrighteous in
the township, as is the wont of divine kings. One man a
king is like to hate, another he might chance to love. But
never did he do aught at all presumptuously to any man.
Nay, it is plain what spirit ye are of, and your unseemly
deeds are manifest to all, nor is there any gratitude left
for kindness done.'
Then Medon, wise of heart, answered her : ' Would, oh
queen, that this were the crowning evil ! But the wooers
devise another far greater and more grievous, which I pray
the son of Cronos may never fulfil ! They are set on slay-
ing Telemachus with the edge of the sword on his home-
ward way; for he is gone to fair Pylos and goodly Lace-
daemon, to seek tidings of his father/
So spake I12, but her knees were loosened where she
stood, and her heart melted within her, and long time was
she speechless, and lo, her eyes were filled with tears and
the voice of her utterance was stayed. And at the last she
answered him and said:
'Henchman, wherefore I pray thee is my son departed?
There is no need that he should go abroad on swift ships,
that serve men for horses on the sea, and that cross the
THE ODYSSEY 67
great wet waste. Is it that even his own name may no
more be left upon earth ? '
Then Medon, wise of heart, answered her : ■ I know not
whether some god set him on, or whether his own spirit
stirred him to go to Pylos to seek tidings of his father's
return, or to hear what end he met.'
He spake, and departed through the house of Odysseus,
and on her fell a cloud of consuming grief; so that she
might no more endure to seat her on a chair, whereof there
were many in the house, but there she crouched on the
threshold of her well-builded chamber, wailing piteously,
and her handmaids round her made low moan, as many as
were in the house with her, young and old. And Penelope
spake among them pouring forth her lamentation :
1 Hear me, my friends, for the Olympian sire hath given
me pain exceedingly beyond all women who were born and
bred in my day. For erewhile I lost my noble lord of the
lion heart, adorned with all perfection among the Danaans,
my good lord, whose fame is noised abroad from Hellas to
mid Argos. And now again the storm-winds have snatched
away my well-beloved son without tidings from our halls,
nor heard I of his departure. Oh, women, hard of heart,
that even ye did not each one let the thought come into your
minds, to rouse me from my couch when he went to the
black hollow ship, though ye knew full well thereof! For
had I heard that he was purposing this journey, verily he
should have stayed here still, though eager to be gone, or
have left me dead in the halls. Howbeit let some one make
haste to call the ancient Dolius, my thrall, whom my father
gave me ere yet I had come hither, who keepeth my garden
of trees. So shall he go straightway and sit by Laertes, and
tell him all, if perchance Laertes may weave some counsel
in his heart, and go forth and make his plaint to the people,
who are purposed to destroy his seed, and the seed of god-
like Odysseus/
Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered her : ' Dear lady,
aye, slay me if thou wilt with the pitiless sword or let me
yet live on in the house, — yet will I not hide my saying
from thee. I knew all this, and gave him whatsoever he
commanded, bread and sweet wine. And he took a great
68 HOMER
oath of me not to tell thee till at least the twelfth day should
come, or thou thyself shouldst miss him. and hear of his
departure, that thou mightest not mar thy fair flesh with
thy tears. But now, wash thee in water, and take to thee
clean raiment and ascend to thy upper chamber with the
women thy handmaids, and pray to Athene, daughter of
Zeus, lord of the aegis. For so may she save him even from
death. And heap not troubles on an old man's trouble;
for the seed of the son of Arceisius, is not, methinks,
utterly hated by the blessed gods, but someone will haply
yet remain to possess these lofty halls, and the fat fields
far away/
So spake she, and lulled her queen's lamentation, and
made her eyes to cease from weeping. So she washed her
in water, and took to her clean raiment, and ascended to the
upper chamber with the women her handmaids, and placed
the meal for sprinkling in a basket, and prayed unto
Athene :
' Hear me, child of Zeus, lord of the aegis, unwearied
maiden ! If ever wise Odysseus in his halls burnt for thee
fat slices of the thighs of heifer or of sheep, these things,
I pray thee, now remember, and save my dear son, and ward
from him the wooers in the naughtiness of their pride/
Therewith she raised a cry, and the goddess heard her
prayer. But the wooers clamoured through the shadowy
halls, and thus would some proud youth say :
* Verily this queen of many wooers prepareth our mar-
riage, nor knoweth at all how that for her son death hath
been ordained/
Thus would certain of them speak, but they knew not how
these things were ordained. And Antinous made harangue
and spake among them :
1 Good sirs, my friends, shun all disdainful words alike,
lest someone hear and tell it even in the house. But come
let us arise, and in silence accomplish that whereof we
spake, for the counsel pleased us every one/
Therewith he chose twenty men that were the best, and
they departed to the swift ship and the sea-banks. So first
of all they drew the ship down to the deep water, and placed
the mast and sails in the black ship, and fixed the oars in
THE ODYSSEY 69
leathern loops all orderly, and spread forth the white sails.
And squires, haughty of heart, bare for them their arms.
And they moored her high out in the shore water, and them-
selves disembarked. There they supped and waited for
evening to come on.
But the wise Penelope lay there in her upper chamber,
fasting and tasting neither meat nor drink, musing whether
her noble son should escape death, or even fall before the
proud wooers. And as a lion broods all in fear among the
press of men, when they draw the crafty ring around him,
so deeply was she musing when deep sleep came over
her. And she sank back in sleep and all her joints were
loosened.
Now the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, turned to other
thoughts. She made a phantom, and fashioned it after the
likeness of a woman, Iphthime, daughter of great-hearted
Icarius, whom Eumelus wedded, whose dwelling was in
Pherae. And she sent it to the house of divine Odysseus to
bid Penelope, amid her sorrow and lamenting, to cease from
her weeping and tearful lamentation. So the phantom, passed
into the chamber by the thong of the bolt, and stood above
her head and spake unto her, saying :
1 Sleepest thou, Penelope, stricken at heart? Nay, even
the gods who live at ease suffer thee not to wail or be
afflicted, seeing that thy son is yet to return; for no sinner
is he in the eyes of the gods/
Then wise Penelope made her answer as she slumbered
very softly at the gates of dreams :
' Wherefore, sister, hast thou come hither, that before
wert not wont to come, for thou hast thine habitation very
far away? Biddest thou me indeed to cease from the sor-
rows and pains, so many that disquiet my heart and soul?
Erewhile I lost my noble lord of the lion heart, adorned
with all perfection among the Danaans, my true lord, whose
fame is noised abroad from Hellas to mid Argos. And now,
again, my well-beloved son is departed on his hollow ship,
poor child, not skilled in toils or in the gatherings of men.
For him I sorrow yet more than for my lord, and I tremble
and fear for him lest aught befal him, whether, it may be.
amid that folk where he is gone, or in the deep. For many
70 HOMER
foemen devise evil against him, and go about to kill him, or
ever he come to his own country/
And the dim phantom answered her, and said : ' Take
courage, and be not so sorely afraid. For lo, such a friend
goes to guide him, as all men pray to stand by them, for
that she hath the power, even Pallas Athene. And she
pitieth thee in thy sorrow, and now hath sent me forth to
speak these words to thee.'
And wise Penelope answered her, saying: 'If thou art
indeed a god, and hast heard the word of a god, come, I
pray thee, and tell me tidings concerning that ill-fated man,
whether perchance he is yet alive and sees the light of the
sun, or hath already died, and is a dweller in the house of
Hades/
And the dim phantom answered her and said : ' Concern-
ing him I will not tell thee all the tale, whether he be alive
or dead; it is ill to speak words light as wind/
Therewith the phantom slipped away by the bolt of the
door and passed into the breath of the wind. And the daugh-
ter of Icarius started up from sleep; and her heart was
cheered, so clear was the vision that sped toward her in the
dead of the night.
Meanwhile the wooers had taken ship and were sailing
over the wet ways, pondering in their hearts sheer death for
Telemachus. Now there is a rocky isle in the mid sea, mid-
way between Ithaca and rugged Samos, Asteris, a little isle;
and there is a harbour therein with a double entrance, where
ships may ride. There the Achaeans abode lying in wait for
Telemachus.
BOOK V
The Gods in council command Calypso by Hermes to send away
Odysseus on a raft of trees; and Poseidon, returning from Ethiopia
and seeing him on the coast of Phaeacia, scattered his raft ; and how
by the help of Ino he was thrown ashore, and slept on a heap of
dry leaves till the next day.
NOW the Dawn arose from her couch, from the side
of the lordly Tithonus, to bear light to the immortals
and to mortal men. And lo, the gods were gathering
to session, and among them Zeus, that thunders on high,
whose might is above all. And Athene told them the tale
of the many woes of Odysseus, recalling them to mind;
for near her heart was he that then abode in the dwelling
of the nymph:
' Father Zeus, and all ye other blessed gods that live for
ever, henceforth let not any sceptred king be kind and gen-
tle with all his heart, nor minded to do righteously, but let
him alway be a hard man and work unrighteousness, for
behold, there is none that remembereth divine Odysseus of
the people whose lord he was, and was gentle as a father.
Howbeit, as for him he lieth in an island suffering strong
pains, in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holdeth him
perforce; so he may not reach his own country, for he hath
no ships by him with oars, and no companions to send him
on his way over the broad back of the sea. And now,
again, they are set on slaying his beloved son on his home-
ward way, for he is gone to fair Pylos and to goodly
Lacedaemon, to seek tidings of his father/
And Zeus, gatherer of the clouds, answered and spake
unto her : * My child, what word hath escaped the door of
thy lips? Nay, didst thou not thyself plan this device, that
Odysseus may assuredly take vengeance on those men at his
coming? As for Telemachus, do thou guide him by thine
art, as well thou mayest, that so he may come to his own.
71
72 HOMER
country all unharmed, and the wooers may return in their
ship with their labour all in vain.'
Therewith he spake to Hermes, his dear son : ' Hermes,
forasmuch as even in all else thou art our herald, tell unto
the nymph of the braided tresses my unerring counsel, even
the return of the patient Odysseus, how he is to come to
his home, with no furtherance of gods or of mortal men.
Nay, he shall sail on a well-bound raft, in sore distress, and
on the twentieth day arrive at fertile Scheria, even at the
land of the Phaeacians, who are near of kin to the gods.
And they shall give him all worship heartily as to a god,
and send him on his way in a ship to his own dear country,
with gifts of bronze and gold, and raiment in plenty, much
store, such as never would Odysseus have won for himself
out of Troy, yea, though he had returned unhurt with the
share of the spoil that fell to him. On such wise is he fated
to see his friends, and come to his high-roofed home and
his own country.'
So spake he, nor heedless was the messenger, the slayer
of Argos. Straightway he bound beneath his feet his lovely
golden sandals, that wax not old, that bare him alike over
the wet sea and over the limitless land, swift as the breath
of the wind. And he took the wand wherewith he lulls the
eyes of whomso he will, while others again he even wakes
from out of sleep. With this rod in his hand flew the
strong slayer of Argos. Above Pieria he passed and leapt
from the upper air into the deep. Then he sped along the
wave like the cormorant, that chaseth the fishes through
the perilous gulfs of the unharvested sea, and wetteth his
thick plumage in the brine. Such like did Hermes ride upon
the press of the waves. But when he had now reached that
far-off isle, he went forth from the sea of violet blue to get
him up into the land, till he came to a great cave, wherein
dwelt the nymph of the braided tresses: and he found her
within. And on the hearth there was a great fire burning,
and from afar through the isle was smelt the fragrance of
cleft cedar blazing, and of sandal wood. And the nymph
within was singing with a sweet voice as she fared to and fro
before the loom, and wove with a shuttle of gold. And
round about the cave there was a wood blossoming, alder
THE ODYSSEY 73
and poplar and sweet-smelling cypress. And therein roosted
birds long of wing, owls and falcons and chattering sea-
crows, which have their business in the waters. And lo,
there about the hollow cave trailed a gadding garden vine,
all rich with clusters. And fountains four set orderly were
running with clear water, hard by one another, turned each
to his own course. And all around soft meadows bloomed
of violets and parsley, yea, even a deathless god who came
thither might wonder at the sight and be glad at heart.
There the messenger, the slayer of Argos, stood and won-
dered. Now when he had gazed at all with wonder, anon
he went into the wide cave; nor did Calypso, that fair god-
dess, fail to know him, when she saw him face to face; for
the gods use not to be strange one to another, the immortals,
not though one have his habitation far away. But he found
not Odysseus, the greathearted, within the cave, who sat
weeping on the shore even as aforetime, straining his soul
with tears and groans and griefs, and as he wept he looked
wistfully over the unharvested deep. And Calypso, that fair
goddess, questioned Hermes, when she had made him sit
on a bright shining seat:
1 Wherefore, I pray thee, Hermes, of the golden wand,
hast thou come hither, worshipful and welcome, whereas as
of old thou wert not wont to visit me? Tell me all thy
thought; my heart is set on fulfilling it, if fulfil it I may, and
if it hath been fulfilled in the counsel of fate. But now
follow me further, that I may set before thee the entertain-
ment of strangers.'
Therewith the goddess spread a table with ambrosia and
set it by him, and mixed the ruddy nectar. So the mes-
senger, the slayer of Argos, did eat and drink. Now after
he had supped and comforted his soul with food, at the last
he answered, and spake to her on this wise:
' Thou makest question of me on my coming, a goddess
of a god, and I will tell thee this my saying truly, at thy com-
mand. 'Twas Zeus that bade me come hither, by no will
of mine; nay, who of his free will would speed over such
a wondrous space of brine, whereby is no city of mortals
that do sacrifice to the gods, and offer choice hecatombs?
But surely it is in no wise possible for another god to go
74 HOMER
beyond or to make void the purpose of Zeus, lord of the aegis.
He saith that thou hast with thee a man most wretched
beyond his fellows, beyond those men that round the burg of
Priam for nine years fought, and in the tenth year sacked
the city and departed homeward. Yet on the way they
sinned against Athene, and she raised upon them an evil
blast and long waves of the sea. Then all the rest of his
good company was lost, but it came to pass that the wind
bare and the wave brought him hither. And now Zeus bid-
deth thee send him hence with what speed thou mayest,
for it is not ordained that he die away from his friends, but
rather it is his fate to look on them even yet, and to come
to his high-roofed home and his own country/
So spake he, and Calypso, that fair goddess, shuddered
and uttered her voice, and spake unto him winged words:
* Hard are ye gods and jealous exceeding, who ever grudge
goddesses openly to mate with men, if any make a mortal
her dear bed-fellow. Even so when rosy-fingered Dawn
took Orion for her lover, ye gods that live at ease were
jealous thereof, till chaste Artemis, of the golden throne,
slew him in Ortygia with the visitation of her gentle shafts.
So too when fair-tressed Demeter yielded to her love, and
lay with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed fallow-field, Zeus was
not long without tidings thereof, and cast at him with his
white bolt and slew him. So again ye gods now grudge
that a mortal man should dwell with me. Him I saved as he
went all alone bestriding the keel of a bark, for that Zeus had
crushed 1 and cleft his swift ship with a white bolt in the
midst of the wine-dark deep. There all the rest of his good
company was lost, but it came to pass that the wind bare
and the wave brought him hither. And him have I loved
and cherished, and I said that I would make him to know
not death and age for ever. Yet forasmuch as it is in
no wise possible for another god to go beyond, or make void
the purpose of Zeus, lord of the aegis, let him away over the
unharvested seas, if the summons and the bidding be of
Zeus. But I will give him no despatch, not I, for I have
no ships by me with oars, nor company to bear him on his
1 It seems very doubtful whether ZKaas can bear this meaning. The
reading e\aras, ■ smote,' preserved by the Schol. is highly probable.
THE ODYSSEY 75
way over the broad back of the sea. Yet will I be forward
to put this in his mind, and will hide nought, that all un-
harmed he may come to his own country/
Then the messenger, the slayer of Argos, answered her:
* Yea, speed him now upon his path and have regard unto
the wrath of Zeus, lest haply he be angered and bear hard
on thee hereafter.'
Therewith the great slayer of Argos departed, but the
lady nymph went on her way to the great-hearted Odysseus,
when she had heard the message of Zeus. And there she
found him sitting on the shore, and his eyes were never
dry of tears, and his sweet life was ebbing away as he
mourned for his return; for the nymph no more found
favour in his sight. Howsoever by night he would sleep
by her, as needs he must, in the hollow caves, unwilling
lover by a willing lady. And in the day-time he would sit
on the rocks and on the beach, straining his soul with tears,
and groans, and griefs, and through his tears he would
look wistfully over the unharvested deep. So standing near
him that fair goddess spake to him:
1 Hapless man, sorrow no more I pray thee in this isle,
nor let thy good life waste away, for even now will I send
thee hence with all my heart Nay, arise and cut long beams,
and fashion a wide raft with the axe, and lay deckings high
thereupon, that it may bear thee over the misty deep. And
I will place therein bread and water, and red wine to thy
heart's desire, to keep hunger far away. And I will put rai-
ment upon thee, and send a fair gale in thy wake, that so thou
may est come all unharmed to thine own country, if indeed
it be the good pleasure of the gods who hold wide heaven,
who are stronger than I am both to will and to do.'
So she spake, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus shud-
dered, and uttering his voice spake to her winged words:
' Herein, goddess, thou hast plainly some other thought, and
in no wise my furtherance, for that thou biddest me to cross
in a raft the great gulf of the sea so dread and difficult,
which not even the swift gallant ships pass over rejoicing
in the breeze of Zeus. Nor would I go aboard a raft to
displeasure thee, unless thou wilt deign, O goddess, to swear
a great oath not to plan any hidden guile to mine own hurt.'
76 HOMER
So spake he, and Calypso, the fair goddess, smiled and
caressed him with her hand, and spake and hailed him:
* Knavish thou art, and no weakling 2 in wit, thou that
hast conceived and spoken such a word. Let earth be now
witness hereto, and the wide heaven above, and that falling
water of the Styx, the greatest oath and the most terrible
to the blessed gods, that I will not plan any hidden guile
to thine own hurt. Nay, but my thoughts are such, and
such will be my counsel, as I would devise for myself, if
ever so sore a need came over me. For I too have a
righteous mind, and my heart within me is not of iron, but
pitiful even as thine.'
Therewith the fair goddess led the way quickly, and he
followed hard in the steps of the goddess. And they reached
the hollow cave, the goddess and the man; so he sat him
down upon the chair whence Hermes had arisen, and the
nymph placed by him all manner of food to eat and drink,
such as is meat for men. As for her she sat over against
divine Odysseus, and the handmaids placed by her ambrosia
and nectar. So they put forth their hands upon the good
cheer set before them. But after they had taken their fill of
meat and drink, Calypso, the fair goddess, spake first and said:
' Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, so it is indeed thy wish to get thee home to thine
own dear country even in this hour? Good fortune go
with thee even so ! Yet didst thou know in thine heart what
a measure of suffering thou art ordained to fulfil, or ever
thou reach thine own country, here, even here, thou wouldst
abide with me and keep this house, and wouldst never taste
of death, though thou longest to see thy wife, for whom
thou hast ever a desire day by day. Not in sooth that I
avow me to be less noble than she in form or fashion, for it
is in no wise meet that mortal women should match them
with immortals, in shape and comeliness/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered, and spake
unto her : ' Be not wroth with me hereat, goddess and queen.
Myself I know it well, how wise Penelope is meaner to
look upon than thou, in comeliness and stature. But she is
' aTTotfxoAio?, from root 4>v, ' ill-grown,' ^ i. e. a weakling, in the literal
6ense as B. xi. 249, adv. 212, or metaphorical, as here and viii. 177,
THE ODYSSEY 77
mortal and thou knowest not age nor death. Yet even so, I
wish and long day by day to fare homeward and see the
day of my returning. Yea, and if some god shall wreck me
in the wine-dark deep, even so I will endure, with a heart
within me patient of affliction. For already have I suffered
full much, and much have I toiled in perils of waves and
war; let this be added to the tale of those.'
So spake he, and the sun sank and darkness came on.
Then they twain went into the chamber of the hollow rock,
and had their delight of love, abiding each by other.
So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, anon
Odysseus put on him a mantle and doublet, and the nymph
clad her in a great shining robe, light of woof and gracious,
and about her waist she cast a fair golden girdle, and a veil
withal upon her head. Then she considered of the sending
of Odysseus, the great-hearted. She gave him a great axe,
fitted to his grasp, an axe of bronze double-edged, and
with a goodly 'handle of olive wood fastened well. Next
she gave him a polished adze, and she led the way to the
border of the isle where tall trees grew, alder and poplar,
and pine that reacheth unto heaven, seasoned long since
and sere, that might lightly float for him. Now after she
had shown him where the tall trees grew, Calypso, the fair
goddess, departed homeward. And he set to cutting timber,
and his work went busily. Twenty trees in all he felled,
and then trimmed them with the axe of bronze, and deftly
smoothed them, and over them made straight the line. Mean-
while Calypso, the fair goddess, brought him augers, so he
bored each piece and jointed them together, and then made
all fast with trenails and dowels. Wide as is the floor of
a broad ship of burden, which some man well skilled in
carpentry may trace him out, of such beam did Odysseus
fashion his broad raft. And thereat he wrought, and set
up the deckings, fitting them to the close-set uprights, and
finished them off with long gunwales, and there he set a
mast, and a yard arm fitted thereto, and moreover he made
him a rudder to guide the craft. And he fenced it with
wattled osier withies from stem to stern, to be a bulwark
against the wave, and piled up wood to back them. Mean-
while Calypso, the fair goddess, brought him web of cloth
78 HOMER
to make him sails ; and these too he fashioned very skilfully.
And he made fast therein braces and halyards and sheets,
and at last he pushed the raft with levers down to the fair
salt sea.
It was the fourth day when he had accomplished all.
And, lo, on the fifth, the fair Calypso sent him on his way
from the island, when she had bathed him and clad him in
fragrant attire. Moreover, the goddess placed on board the
ship two skins, one of dark wine, and another, a great one,
of water, and corn too in a wallet, and she set therein a
store of dainties to his heart's desire, and sent forth a warm
and gentle wind to blow. And goodly Odysseus rejoiced as
he set his sails to the breeze. So he sate and cunningly
guided the craft with the helm, nor did sleep fall upon his
eyelids, as he viewed the Pleiads and Bootes, that setteth
late, and the Bear, which they likewise call the Wain, which
turneth ever in one place, and keepeth watch upon Orion,
and alone hath no part in the baths of Ocean. This star,
Calypso, the fair goddess, bade him to keep ever on the left
as he traversed the deep. Ten days and seven he sailed
traversing the deep, and on the eighteenth day appeared the
shadowy hills of the land of the Phaeacians,at the point where
it lay nearest to him; and it showed like a shield in the
misty deep.
Now the lord, the shaker of the earth, on his way from
the Ethiopians espied him afar off from the mountains of
the Solymi : even thence he saw Odysseus as he sailed over
the deep; and he was mightily angered in spirit, and shak-
ing his head he communed with his own heart. * Lo now,
it must be that the gods at the last have changed their
purpose concerning Odysseus, while I was away among the
Ethiopians. And now he is nigh to the Phaeacian land,
where it is ordained that he escape the great issues of the
woe which hath come upon him. But, methinks, that even
yet I will drive him far enough in the path of suffering/
With that he gathered the clouds and troubled the waters
of the deep, grasping his trident in his hands ; and he roused
all storms of all manner of winds, and shrouded in clouds
the land and sea: and down sped night from heaven. The
East Wind and the South Wind clashed, and the stormy
THE ODYSSEY 79
West, and the North, that is born in the bright air, rolling
onward a great wave. Then were the knees of Odysseus
loosened and his heart melted, and heavily he spake to his
own great spirit:
' Oh, wretched man that I am ! what is to bef al me at the
last? I fear that indeed the goddess spake all things truly,
who said that I should fill up the measure of sorrow on the
deep, or ever I came to mine own country; and lo, all these
things have an end. In such wise doth Zeus crown the
wide heaven with clouds, and hath troubled the deep, and
the blasts rush on of all the winds ; yea, now is utter doom
assured me. Thrice blessed those Danaans, yea, four times
blessed, who perished on a time in wide Troy-land, doing a
pleasure to the sons of Atreus ! Would to God that I too
had died, and met my fate on that day when the press of
Trojans cast their bronze-shod spears upon me, fighting for
the body of the son of Peleus ! So should I have gotten my
dues of burial, and the Achaeans would have spread my
fame; but now it is my fate to be overtaken by a pitiful
death/
Even as he spake, the great wave smote down upon him,
driving on in terrible wise, that the raft reeled again. And
far therefrom he fell, and lost the helm from his hand; and
the fierce blast of the jostling winds came and brake his
mast in the midst, and sail and yard-arm fell afar into the
deep. Long time the water kept him under, nor could he
speedily rise from beneath the rush of the mighty wave : for
the garments hung heavy which fair Calypso gave him.
But late and at length he came up, and spat forth from his
mouth the bitter salt water, which ran down in streams
from his head. Yet even so forgat he not his raft, for all
his wretched plight, but made a spring after it in the waves,
and clutched it to him, and sat in the midst thereof, avoiding
the issues of death ; and the great wave swept it hither and
thither along the stream. And as the North Wind in the
harvest tide sweeps the thistle-down along the plain, and
close the tufts cling each to other, even so the winds bare
the raft hither and thither along the main. Now the South
wouldtossittothe North to carry, and now again'the East would
yield it to the West to chase.
80 HOMER
But the daughter of Cadmus marked him, Ino of the fair
ankles, Leucothea, who in time past was a maiden of mortal
speech, but now in the depths of the salt sea she had gotten
her share of worship from the gods. She took pity on
Odysseus in his wandering and travail, and she rose, like a
sea-gull on the wing, from the depth of the mere, and sat
upon the well-bound raft and spake saying:
1 Hapless one, wherefore was Poseidon, shaker of the
earth, so wondrous wroth with thee, seeing that he soweth
for thee the seeds of many evils? Yet shall he not make
a full end of thee, for all his desire. But do even as I tell
thee, and methinks thou art not witless. Cast off these gar-
ments, and leave the raft to drift before the winds, but do
thou swim with thine hands and strive to win a footing on
the coast 3 of the Phaeacians, where it is decreed that thou
escape. Here, take this veil imperishable and wind it about
thy breast; so is there no fear that thou suffer aught or
perish. But when thou hast laid hold of the mainland with
thy hands, loose it from off thee and cast it into the wine-
dark deep far from the land, and thyself turn away/
With that the goddess gave the veil, and for her part dived
back into the heaving deep, like a sea-gull: and the dark
wave closed over her. But the steadfast, goodly Odysseus
pondered, and heavily he spake to his own brave spirit :
'Ah, woe is me ! Can it be that some one of the immor-
tals is weaving a new snare for me, that she bids me quit my
raft? Nay verily, I will not yet obey, for I had sight of the
shore yet a long way off, where she told me that I might
escape. I am resolved what I will do ; — and methinks on this
wise it is best. So long as the timbers abide in the dowels,
so long will I endure steadfast in affliction, but so soon as
the wave hath shattered my raft asunder, I will swim, for
meanwhile no better counsel may be.'
While yet he pondered these things in his heart and soul,
Poseidon, shaker of the earth, stirred against him a great
wave, terrible and grievous, and vaulted from the crest, and
therewith smote him. And as when a great tempestuous
3 Lit. Strive after an arrival on the land, etc. fooros originally meant
going, journeying, and had no idea of return. The earlier use survives
here, and in Soph. Philoct. 43, Eur. Iph. Aul. 1261. Similarly, perhaps,
voarelv in Odyssey iv. 619, xv. 119, and veeaQat. frequently.
THE ODYSSEY 81
wind tosseth a heap of parched husks, and scatters them this
way and that, even so did the wave scatter the long beams of
the raft. But Odysseus bestrode* a single beam, as one
rideth on a courser, and stript him of the garments which
fair Calypso gave him. And presently he wound the veil
beneath his breast, and fell prone into the sea, outstretching
his hands as one eager to swim. And the lord, the shaker
of the earth, saw him and shook his head, and communed
with his own soul. ' Even so, after all thy sufferings, go wan-
dering over the deep, till thou shalt come among a people,
the fosterlings of Zeus. Yet for all that I deem not that
thou shalt think thyself too lightly afflicted.' Therewith he
lashed his steeds of the flowing manes, and came to Aegae,
where is his lordly home.
But Athene, daughter of Zeus, turned to new thoughts.
Behold, she bound up the courses of the other winds, and
charged them, all to cease and be still; but she roused the
swift North and brake the waves before him that so
Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, might mingle with the
Phaeacians, lovers of the oar, avoiding death and the fates.
So for two nights and two days he was wandering in the
swell of the sea, and much his heart boded of death. But
when at last the fair-tressed Dawn brought the full light of
the third day, thereafter the breeze fell, and lo, there was a
breathless calm, and with a quick glance ahead, (he being
upborne on a great wave,) he saw the land very near. And
even as when most welcome to his children is the sight of a
father's life, who lies in sickness and strong pains long
wasting away, some angry god assailing him; and to their
delight the gods have loosed him from his trouble; so wel-
come to Odysseus showed land and wood; and he swam
onward, being eager to set foot on the strand. But when he
was within earshot of the shore, and heard now the thunder
of the sea against the reefs — for the great wave crashed
against the dry land belching in terrible wise, and all was
covered with foam of the sea, — for there were no harbours
for ships nor shelters, but jutting headlands and reefs and
cliffs, then at last the knees of Odysseus were loosened and
his heart melted, and in heaviness he spake to his own brave
spirit :
82 HOMER
' Ah me ! now that beyond all hope Zeus hath given me
sight of land, and withal I have cloven my way through this
gulf of the sea, here there is no place to land on from out of
the grey water. For without are sharp crags, and round
them the wave roars surging, and sheer the smooth rock
rises, and the sea is deep thereby, so that in no wise may I
find firm foothold and escape my bane, for as I fain would
go ashore, the great wave may haply snatch and dash me
on the jagged rock — and a wretched endeavour that would
be. But if I swim yet further along the coast to find, if I
may, spits that take the waves aslant and havens of the sea,
I fear lest the storm-wind catch me again and bear me
over the teeming deep, making heavy moan; or else some
god may even send forth against me a monster from out
of the shore water; and many such pastureth the renowned
Amphitrite. For I know how wroth against me hath been
the great Shaker of the Earth/
Whilst yet he pondered these things in his heart and
mind, a great wave bore him to the rugged shore. There
would he have been stript of his skin and all his bones been
broken, but that the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put a
thought into his heart. He rushed in, and with both his
hands clutched the rock, whereto he clung till the great
wave went by. So he escaped that peril, but again with
backward wash it leapt on him and smote him and cast him
forth into the deep. And as when the cuttlefish is dragged
forth from his chamber, the many pebbles clinging to his
suckers, even so was the skin stript from his strong hand
against the rocks, and the great wave closed over him.
There of a truth would luckless Odysseus have perished
beyond that which was ordained, had not grey-eyed Athene
given him sure counsel. He rose from the line of the break-
ers that belch upon the shore, and swam outside, ever look-
ing landwards, to find, if he might, spits that take the waves
aslant, and havens of the sea. But when he came in his
swimming over against the mouth of a fair-flowing river
whereby the place seemed best in his eyes, smooth of rocks,
and withal there was a covert from the wind, Odysseus felt
the river running, and prayed to him in his heart:
1 Hear me, O king, whosoever thou art ; unto thee am I
THE ODYSSEY 83
come, as to one to whom prayer is made, while I flee the
rebukes of Poseidon from the deep. Yea, reverend even to
the deathless gods is that man who comes as a wanderer,
even as I now have come to thy stream and to thy knees
after much travail. Nay pity me, O king; for I avow
myself thy suppliant.'
So spake he, and the god straightway stayed his stream
and withheld his waves, and made the water smooth before
him, and brought him safely to the mouths of the river.
And his knees bowed and his stout hands fell, for his heart
was broken by the brine. And his flesh was all swollen and
a great stream of sea water gushed up through his mouth
and nostrils. So he lay without breath or speech, swooning,
such terrible weariness came upon him. But when now his
breath returned and his spirit came to him again, he loosed
from off him the veil of the goddess, and let it fall into the
salt flowing river. And the great wave bare it back down
the stream, and lightly Ino caught it in her hands. Then
Odysseus turned from the river, and fell back in the reeds,
and kissed earth, the grain-giver, and heavily he spake unto
his own brave spirit:
'Ah, woe is me! what is to betide me? what shall happen
unto me at the last? If I watch the river bed all through
the careful night, I fear that the bitter frost and fresh dew
may overcome me, as I breathe forth my life for faintness,
for the river breeze blows cold betimes in the morning. But
if I climb the hill-side up to the shady wood, and there take
rest in the thickets, though perchance the cold and weariness
leave hold of me, and sweet sleep may come over me, I fear
lest of wild beasts I become the spoil and prey/
So as he thought thereon this seemed to him the better
way. He went up to the wood, and found it nigh the water
in a place of wide prospect. So he crept beneath twin
bushes that grew from one stem, both olive trees, one of
them wild olive. Through these the force of the wet winds
blew never, neither did the bright sun light on it with his
rays, nor could the rain pierce through, so close were they
twined either to other; and thereunder crept Odysseus and
anon he heaped together with his hands a broad couch; for
of fallen leaves there was great plenty, enough to cover two
84 HOMER
or three men in winter time, however hard the weather.
And the steadfast goodly Odysseus beheld it and rejoiced,
and he laid him in the midst thereof and flung over him
the fallen leaves. And as when a man hath hidden away a
brand in the black embers at an upland farm, one that hath
no neighbours nigh, and so saveth the seed of fire, that he
may not have to seek a light otherwhere, even so did
Odysseus cover him with the leaves. And Athene shed sleep
upon his eyes, that so it might soon release him from his
weary travail, overshadowing his eyelids.
BOOK VI
Nausicaa, going to a river near that place to wash the clothes of
her father, mother, and brethren, while the clothes were drying
played with her maids at ball; and Odysseus coming forth is fed
and clothed, and led on his way to the house of her father, King
Alcinous.
SO there he lay asleep, the steadfast goodly Odysseus,
fordone with toil and drowsiness. Meanwhile Athene
went to the land and the city of the Phaeacians, who
of old, upon a time, dwelt in spacious Hypereia; near the
Cyclopes they dwelt, men exceeding proud, who harried
them continually, being mightier than they. Thence the
godlike Nausithous made them depart, and he carried them
away, and planted them in Scheria, far off from men that
live by bread. And he drew a wall around the town, and
builded houses and made temples for the gods and meted
out their fields. Howbeit ere this had he been stricken by
fate, and had gone down to the house of Hades, and now
Alcinous was reigning, with wisdom granted by the gods.
To his house went the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, devising
a return for the great-hearted Odysseus. She betook her
to the rich-wrought bower, wherein was sleeping a maiden
like to the gods in form and comeliness, Nausicaa, the
daughter of Alcinous, high of heart. Beside her on either
hand of the pillars of the door were two handmaids, dow-
ered with beauty from the Graces, and the shining doors
were shut.
But the goddess, fleet as the breath of the wind, swept
towards the couch of the maiden, and stood above her head,
and spoke to her in the semblance of the daughter of a
famous seafarer, Dymas, a girl of like age with Nausicaa,
who had found grace in her sight. In her shape the grey-
eyed Athene spake to the princess, saying:
' Nausicaa, how hath thy mother so heedless a maiden to
85
86 HOMER
her daughter? Lo, thou hast shining raiment that lies by
thee uncared for, and thy marriage-day is near at hand,
when thou thyself must needs go beautifully clad, and have
garments to give to them who shall lead thee to the house of
the bridegroom ! And, behold, these are the things whence
a good report goes abroad among men, wherein a father
and lady mother take delight. But come, let us arise and
go a-washing with the breaking of the day, and I will follow
with thee to be thy mate in the toil, that without delay thou
mayst get thee ready, since truly thou art not long to be a
maiden. Lo, already they are wooing thee, the noblest
youths of all the Phaeacians, among that people whence thou
thyself dost draw thy lineage. So come, beseech thy noble
father betimes in the morning to furnish thee with mules
and a wain to carry the men's raiment, and the robes, and
the shining coverlets. Yea and for thyself it is seemlier far
to go thus than on foot, for the places where we must wash
are a great way off the town/
So spake the grey-eyed Athene, and departed to Olympus,
where, as they say, is the seat of the gods that standeth fast
for ever. Not by winds is it shaken, nor ever wet with rain,
nor doth the snow come nigh thereto, but most clear air is
spread about it cloudless, and the white light floats over it.
Therein the blessed gods are glad for all their days, and
thither Athene went when she had shown forth all to the
maiden.
Anon came the throned Dawn, and awakened Nausicaa
of the fair robes, who straightway marvelled on the dream,
and went through the halls to tell her parents, her father
dear and her mother. And she found them within, her
mother sitting by the hearth with the women her handmaids,
spinning yarn of sea-purple stain, but her father she met as
he was going forth to the renowned kings in their council,
whither the noble Phaeacians called him. Standing close by
her dear father she spake, saying : ' Father, dear, couldst
thou not lend me a high waggon with strong wheels, that I
may take the goodly raiment to the river to wash, so much
as I have lying soiled? Yea and it is seemly that thou thy-
self, when thou art with the princes in council, shouldest
have fresh raiment to wear. Also, there are five dear sons
THE ODYSSEY 87
of thine in the halls, two married, but three are lusty bach-
elors, and these are always eager for new-washen garments
wherein to go to the dances; for all these things have I
taken thought.'
This she said, because she was ashamed to speak of glad
marriage to her father; but he saw all and answered, saying:
' Neither the mules nor aught else do I grudge thee, my
child. Go thy ways, and the thralls shall get thee ready a
high waggon with good wheels, and fitted with an upper
frame/
Therewith he called to his men, and they gave ear, and
without the palace they made ready the smooth-running
mule-wain, and led the mules beneath the yoke, and har-
nessed them under the car, while the maiden brought forth
from her bower the shining raiment. This she stored in the
polished car, and her mother filled a basket with all manner
of food to the heart's desire, dainties too she set therein,
and she poured wine into a goat-skin bottle, while Nausicaa
climbed into the wain. And her mother gave her soft olive
oil also in a golden cruse, that she and her maidens might anoint
themselves after the bath. Then Nausicaa took the whip
and the shining reins, and touched the mules to start them;
then there was a clatter of hoofs, and on they strained with-
out flagging, with their load of the raiment and the maiden.
Not alone did she go, for her attendants followed with her.
Now when they were come to the beautiful stream of
the river, where truly were the unfailing cisterns, and bright
water welled up free from beneath, and flowed past, enough
to wash the foulest garments clean, there the girls unhar-
nessed the mules from under the chariot, and turning them
loose they drove them along the banks of the eddying river
to graze on the honey-sweet clover. Then they took the
garments from the wain, in their hands, and bore them to
the black water, and briskly trod them down in the trenches,
in busy rivalry. Now when they had washed and cleansed
all the stains, they spread all out in order along the shore of
the deep, even where the sea, in beating on the coast, washed
the pebbles clean. Then having bathed and anointed them
well with olive oil, they took their mid-day meal on the
river's bank, waiting till the clothes should dry in the bright-
88 HOMER
ness of the sun. Anon, when they were satisfied with food,
the maidens and the princess, they fell to playing at ball,
casting away their tires, and among them Nausicaa of the
white arms began the song. And even as Artemis, the
archer, moveth down the mountain, either along the ridges
of lofty Taygetus or Erymanthus, taking her pastime in the
chase of boars and swift deer, and with her the wild wood-
nymphs disport them, the daughters of Zeus, lord of the
aegis, and Leto is glad at heart, while high over all she rears
her head and brows, and easily may she be known, — but all
are fair; even so the girl unwed outshone her maiden
company.
But when now she was about going homewards, after
yoking the mules and folding up the goodly raiment, then
grey-eyed Athene turned to other thoughts, that so Odysseus
might awake, and see the lovely maiden, who should be his
guide to the city of the Phaeacian men. So then the princess
threw the ball at one of her company; she missed the girl,
and cast the ball into the deep eddying current, whereat
they all raised a piercing cry. Then the goodly Odysseus
awoke and sat up, pondering in his heart and spirit:
' Woe is me ! to what men's land am I come now ? say,
are they froward, and wild, and unjust, or are they hospit-
able, and of God-fearing mind ? How shrill a cry of maidens
rings round me, of the nymphs that hold the steep hill-tops,
and the river-springs, and the grassy water meadows ! It
must be, methinks, that I am near men of human speech.
Go to, I myself will make trial and see/
Therewith the goodly Odysseus crept out from under the
coppice, having broken with his strong hand a leafy bough
from the thick wood, to hold athwart his body, that it might
hide his nakedness withal. And forth he sallied like a lion
mountain-bred, trusting in his strength, who fares out blown
and rained upon, with flaming eyes; amid the kine he goes
or amid the sheep or in the track of the wild deer ; yea, his
belly bids him go even to the good homestead to make assay
upon the flocks. Even so Odysseus was fain to draw nigh
to the fair-tressed maidens, all naked as he was, such need
had come upon him. But he was terrible in their eyes, being
marred with the salt sea foam, and they fled cowering here
THE ODYSSEY 89
and there about the jutting spits of shore. And the daughter
of Alcinous alone stood firm, for Athene gave her courage
of heart, and took all trembling from her limbs. So she
halted and stood over against him, and Odysseus considered
whether he should clasp the knees of the lovely maiden, and
so make his prayer, or should stand as he was, apart, and
beseech her with smooth words, if haply she might show
him the town, and give him raiment. And as he thought
within himself, it seemed better to stand apart, and beseech
her with smooth words, lest the maiden should be angered
with him if he touched her knees: so straightway he spake
a sweet and cunning word :
' I supplicate thee, O queen, whether thou art a goddess or
a mortal! If indeed thou art a goddess of them that keep
the wide heaven ; to Artemis, then, the daughter of great
Zeus, I mainly liken thee, for beauty and stature and shape-
liness. But if thou art one of the daughters of men who
dwell on earth, thrice blessed are thy father and thy lady
mother, and thrice blessed thy brethren. Surely their souls
ever glow with gladness for thy sake, each time they see thee
entering the dance, so fair a flower of maidens. But he is of
heart the most blessed beyond all other who shall prevail
with gifts of wooing, and lead thee to his home. Never have
mine eyes beheld such an one among mortals, neither man
nor woman; great awe comes upon me as I look on thee.
Yet in Delos once I saw as goodly a thing: a young sapling
of a palm tree springing by the altar of Apollo. For thither
too I went, and much people with me, on that path where
my sore troubles were to be. Yea, and when I looked there-
upon, long time I marvelled in spirit, — for never grew there
yet so goodly a shoot from ground, — even in such wise as
I wonder at thee, lady, and am astonied and do greatly
fear to touch thy knees, though grievous sorrow is upon me.
Yesterday, on the twentieth day, I escaped from the wine-
dark deep, but all that time continually the wave bare me,
and the vehement winds drave, from the isle Ogygia. And
now some god has cast me on this shore, that here too,
methinks, some evil may betide me; for I trow not that
trouble will cease ; the gods ere that time will yet bring many
a thing to pass. But, queen, have pity on me. for after many
90 HOMER
trials and sore to thee first of all am I come, and of the other
folk, who hold this city, and land, I know no man. Nay
show me the town, give me an old garment to cast about me,
if thou hadst, when thou earnest here, any wrap for the
linen. And may the gods grant thee all thy heart's desire:
a husband and a home, and a mind at one with his may
they give — a good gift, for there is nothing mightier and
nobler than when man and wife are of one heart and mind
in a house, a grief to their foes, and to their friends great
joy, but their own hearts know it best/
Then Nausicaa of the white arms answered him, and
said : ' Stranger, forasmuch as thou seemest no evil man nor
foolish — and it is Olympian Zeus himself that giveth weal to
men, to the good and to the evil, to each one as he will, and
this thy lot doubtless is of him, and so thou must in anywise
endure it: — and now, since thou hast come to our city and
our land, thou shalt not lack raiment, nor aught else that is
the due of a hapless suppliant, when he has met them who
can befriend him. And I will show thee the town, and
name the name of the people. The Phaeacians hold this
city and land, and I am the daughter of Alcinous, great of
heart, on whom all the might and force of the Phaeacians
depend.'
Thus she spake, and called to her maidens of the fair
tresses : ' Halt, my maidens, whither flee ye at the sight of a
man? Ye surely do not take him for an enemy? That
mortal breathes not, and never will be born, who shall come
with war to the land of the Phaeacians, for they are very
dear to the gods. Far apart we live in the wash of the
waves, the outermost of men, and no other mortals are con-
versant with us. Nay, but this man is some helpless one
come hither in his wanderings, whom now we must kindly
entreat, for all strangers and beggars are from Zeus, and a
little gift is dear. So, my maidens, give the stranger meat
and drink, and bathe him in the river, where withal is a
shelter from the winds.'
So she spake, but they had halted and called each to the
other, and they brought Odysseus to the sheltered place, and
made him sit down, as Nausicaa bade them, the daughter of
Alcinous, high of heart. Beside him they laid a mantle, and
THE ODYSSEY 91
a doublet for raiment, and gave him soft olive oil in the
golden cruse, and bade him wash in the streams of the river.
Then goodly Odysseus spake among the maidens, saying:
' I pray you stand thus apart, while I myself wash the brine
from my shoulders, and anoint me with olive oil, for truly
oil is long a stranger to my skin. But in your sight I will
not bathe, for I am ashamed to make me naked in the com-
pany of fair-tressed maidens/
Then they went apart and told all to their lady. But with
the river water the goodly Odysseus washed from his skin
the salt scurf that covered his back and broad shoulders, and
from his head he wiped the crusted brine of the barren sea.
But when he had washed his whole body, and anointed him
with olive oil, and had clad himself in the raiment that the
unwedded maiden gave him, then Athene, the daughter of
Zeus, made him greater and more mightly to behold, and from
his head caused deep curling locks to flow, like the hyacinth
flower. And as when some skilful man overlays gold upon
silver — one that Hephaestus and Pallas Athene have taught
all manner of craft, and full of grace is his handiwork — even
so did Athene shed grace about his head and shoulders.
Then to the shore of the sea went Odysseus apart, and
sat down, glowing in beauty and grace, and the princess
marvelled at him, and spake among her fair-tressed maidens,
saying :
' Listen, my white-armed maidens, and I will say some-
what. Not without the will of all the gods who hold
Olympus hath this man come among the godlike Phaeacians.
Erewhile he seemed to me uncomely, but now he is like the
gods that keep the wide heaven. Would that such an one
might be called my husband, dwelling here, and that it might
please him here to abide! But come, my maidens, give the
stranger meat and drink/
Thus she spake, and they gave ready ear and hearkened,
and set beside Odysseus meat and drink, and the steadfast
goodly Odysseus did eat and drink eagerly, for it was long
since he had tasted food.
Now Nausicaa of the white arms had another thought.
She folded the raiment and stored it in the goodly wain, and
yoked the mules strong of hoof, and herself climbed into the
92 HOMER
car. Then she called on Odysseus, and spake and hailed
him : ' Up now, stranger, and rouse thee to go to the city,
that I may convey thee to the house of my wise father,
where, I promise thee, thou shalt get knowledge of all the
noblest of the Phaeacians. But do thou even as I tell thee,
and thou seemest a discreet man enough. So long as we
are passing along the fields and farms of men, do thou fare
quickly with the maidens behind the mules and the chariot,
and I will lead the way. But when we set foot within the
city, — whereby goes a high wall with towers, and there is a
fair haven on either side of the town, and narrow is the
entrance, and curved ships are drawn up on either hand of
the mole, for all the folk have stations for their vessels, each
man one for himself. And there is the place of assembly
about the goodly temple of Poseidon, furnished with heavy
stones, deep bedded in the earth. There men look to the gear
of the black ships, hawsers and sails, and there they fine
down the oars. For the Phaeacians care not for bow nor
quiver, but for masts, and oars of ships, and gallant barques,
wherein rejoicing they cross the grey sea. Their ungracious
speech it is that I would avoid, lest some man afterward
rebuke me, and there are but too many insolent folk among
the people. And some one of the baser sort might meet me
and say : " Who is this that goes with Nausicaa, this tall and
goodly stranger? Where found she him? Her husband he
will be, her very own. Either she has taken in some ship-
wrecked wanderer of strange men, — for no men dwell near
us; or some god has come in answer to her instant prayer;
from heaven has he descended, and will have her to wife for
evermore. Better so, if herself she has ranged abroad and
found a lord from a strange land, for verily she holds in no
regard the Phaeacians here in this country, the many men
and noble who are her wooers." So will they speak, and this
would turn to my reproach. Yea, and I myself would think it
blame of another maiden who did such things in despite of
her friends, her father and mother being still alive, and was
conversant with men before the day of open wedlock. But,
stranger, heed well what I say, that as soon as may be thou
mayest gain at my father's hands an escort and a safe return.
Thou shalt find a fair grove of Athene, a poplar grove near
THE ODYSSEY 93
the road, and a spring wells forth therein, and a meadow lies
all around. There is my father's demesne, and his fruitful
close, within the sound of a man's shout from the city. Sit
thee down there and wait until such time as we may have
come into the city, and reached the house of my father. But
when thou deemest that we are got to the palace, then go up
to the city of the Phaeacians, and ask for the house of my
father Alcinous, high of heart. It is easily known, and a
young child could be thy guide, for nowise like it are builded
the houses of the Phaeacians, so goodly is the palace of the
hero Alcinous. But when thou art within the shadow of the
halls and the court, pass quickly through the great chamber,
till thou comest to my mother, who sits at the hearth in the
light of the fire, weaving yarn of sea-purple stain, a wonder
to behold. Her chair is leaned against a pillar, and her
maidens sit behind her. And there my father's throne leans
close to hers, wherein he sits and drinks his wine, like an
immortal. Pass thou by him, and cast thy hands about my
mother's knees, that thou mayest see quickly and with joy
the day of thy returning, even if thou art from a very far
country. If but her heart be kindly disposed toward thee,
then is there hope that thou shalt see thy friends, and come
to thy well-builded house, and to thine own country/
She spake, and smote the mules with the shining whip,
and quickly they left behind them the streams of the river.
And well they trotted and well they paced, and she took
heed to drive in such wise that the maidens and Odysseus
might follow on foot, and cunningly she plied the lash.
Then the sun set, and they came to the famous grove, the
sacred place of Athene; so there the goodly Odysseus sat
him down. Then straightway he prayed to the daughter of
mighty Zeus : ' Listen to me, child of Zeus, lord of the
aegis, unwearied maiden; hear me even now, since before
thou heardest not when I was smitten on the sea, when the
renowned Earth Shaker smote me. Grant me to come to
the Phaeacians as one dear, and worthy of pity.'
So he spake in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him; but
she did not yet appear to him face to face, for she had
regard unto her father's brother, who furiously raged against
the godlike Odysseus, till he should come to his own country.
BOOK VII
Odysseus being received at the house of the king Alcinous, the
queen after supper, taking notice of his garments, gives him occasion
to relate his passage thither on the raft. Alcinous promises him a
convoy for the morrow.
SO he prayed there, the steadfast goodly Odysseus, while
the two strong mules bare the princess to the town.
And when she had now come to the famous palace of
her father, she halted at the gateway, and round her gathered
her brothers, men like to the immortals, and they loosed the
mules from under the car, and carried the raiment within.
But the maiden betook her to her chamber; and an aged
dame from Aperaea kindled the fire for her, Eurymedusa,
the handmaid of the chamber, whom the curved ships upon
a time had brought from Aperaea; and men chose her as
a prize for Alcinous, seeing that he bare rule over all the
Phaeacians, and the people hearkened to him as to a god.
She waited on the white-armed Nausicaa in the palace halls ;
she was wont to kindle the fire and prepare the supper in
the inner chamber.
At that same hour Odysseus roused him to go to the city,
and Athene shed a deep mist about Odysseus for the favour
that she bare him, lest any of the Phaeacians, high of heart,
should meet him and mock him in sharp speech, and ask
him who he was. But when he was now about to enter the
pleasant city, then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, met him,
in the fashion of a young maiden carrying a pitcher, and she
stood over against him, and goodly Odysseus inquired of her:
* My child, couldst thou not lead me to the palace of the
lord Alcinous, who bears sway among this people? Lo, I
am come here, a stranger travel-worn from afar, from a
distant land ; wherefore of the folk who possess this city and
country I know not any man/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him say-
*, 94
THE ODYSSEY 95
ing: 'Yea now, father and stranger, I will show thee the
house that thou bidst me declare, for it lies near the palace
of my noble father ; behold, be silent as thou goest, and I will
lead the way. And look on no man, nor question any. For
these men do not gladly suffer strangers, nor lovingly entreat
whoso cometh from a strange land. They trust to the speed
of their swift ships, wherewith they cross the great gulf, for
the Earth-shaker hath vouchsafed them this power. Their
ships are swift as the flight of a bird, or as a thought.'
Therewith Pallas Athene led the way swiftly, and he fol-
lowed hard in the footsteps of the goddess. And it came to
pass that the Phaeacians, mariners renowned, marked him
not as he went down the city through their midst, for the fair-
tressed Athene suffered it not, that awful goddess, who shed
a wondrous mist about him, for the favour that she bare him
in her heart. And Odysseus marvelled at the havens and the
gallant ships, yea and the places of assembly of the heroes,
and the long high walls crowned with palisades, a marvel to
behold. But when they had now come to the famous palace
of the king, the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake first and
said:
' Lo, here, father and stranger, is the house that thou
wouldst have me show thee: and thou shalt find kings at
the feast, the fosterlings of Zeus; enter then, and fear not
in thine heart, for the dauntless man is the best in every
adventure, even though he comes from a strange land. Thou
shalt find the queen first in the halls: Arete is the name
whereby men call her, and she came even of those that begat
the king Alcinous. First Nausithous was son of Poseidon,
the Earth-shaker, and of Periboea, the comeliest of women,
youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon, who once
was king among the haughty Giants. Howbeit, he de-
stroyed his infatuate people, and was himself destroyed;
but Poseidon lay with Periboea and begat a son, proud
Nausithous, who sometime was prince among the Phaeacians ;
and Nausithous begat Rhexenor and Alcinous. While
Rhexenor had as yet no son, Apollo of the silver bow smote
him, a groom new wed, leaving in his halls one only child
Arete; and Alcinous took her to wife, and honoured her
as no other woman in the world is honoured, of all that
96 HOMER
now-a-days keep house under the hand of their lords. Thus
she hath, and hath ever had, all worship heartily from her
dear children and from her lord Alcinous and from all the
folk, who look on her as on a goddess, and greet her with
reverend speech, when she goes about the town. Yea, for
she too hath no lack of understanding. To whomso she
shows favour, even if they be men, she ends their feuds. 1
If but her heart be kindly disposed to thee, then is there
good hope that thou mayest see thy friends, and come to thy
high-roofed home and thine own country/
Therewith grey-eyed Athene departed over the unhar-
vested seas, and left pleasant Scheria, and came to Marathon
and wide-wayed Athens, and entered the good house of
Erechtheus. Meanwhile Odysseus went to the famous palace
of Alcinous, and his heart was full of many thoughts as he
stood there or ever he had reached the threshold of bronze.
For there was a gleam as it were of sun or moon through
the high-roofed hall of great-hearted Alcinous. Brazen were
the walls which ran this way and that from the threshold to
the inmost chamber, and round them was a frieze of blue,
and golden were the doors that closed in the good house.
Silver were the door-posts that were set on the brazen thres-
hold, and silver the lintel thereupon, and the hook of the door
was of gold. And on either side stood golden hounds and
silver, which Hephaestus wrought by his cunning, to guard
the palace of great-hearted Alcinous, being free from death
and age all their days. And within were seats arrayed against
the wall this way and that, from the threshold even to the
inmost chamber, and thereon were spread light coverings
finely woven, the handiwork of women. There the Phaeacian
chieftains were wont to sit eating and drinking, for they had
continual store. Yea, and there were youths fashioned in
gold, standing on firm-set bases, with flaming torches in their
hands, giving light through the night to the feasters in the
palace. And he had fifty handmaids in the house, and some
grind the yellow grain on the millstone, and others weave
webs and turn the yarn as they sit, restless as the leaves
of the tall poplar tree: and the soft olive oil drops off that
1 v. 1. 3rtv. And for the women she favours, she ends the feuds of
their lords also.
THE ODYSSEY 97
linen, so closely is it woven. For as the Phaeacian men are
skilled beyond all others in driving a swift ship upon the
deep, even so are the women the most cunning at the loom,
for Athene hath given them notable wisdom in all fair handi-
work and cunning wit. And without the courtyard hard by
the door is a great garden, of four ploughgates, and a hedge
runs round on either side. And there grow tall trees blossom-
ing, pear-trees and pomegranates, and apple-trees with bright
fruit, and sweet figs, and olives in their bloom. The fruit of
these trees never perisheth neither faileth, winter nor sum-
mer, enduring through all the year. Evermore the West
Wind blowing brings some fruits to birth and ripens others.
Pear upon pear waxes old, and apple on apple, yea and
cluster ripens upon cluster of the grape, and fig upon fig.
There too hath he a fruitful vineyard planted, whereof the
one part is being dried by the heat, a sunny plot on level
ground, while other grapes men are gathering, and yet others
they are treading in the wine-press. In the foremost row are
unripe grapes that cast the blossom, and others there be that
are growing black to vintaging. There too, skirting the
furthest line, are all manner of garden beds, planted trimly,
that are perpetually fresh, and therein are two fountains of
water, whereof one scatters his streams all about the garden,
and the other runs over against it beneath the threshold of
the courtyard, and issues by the lofty house, and thence did
the townsfolk draw water. These were the splendid gifts of
the gods in the palace of Alcinous.
There the steadfast goodly Odysseus stood and gazed. But
when he had gazed at all and wondered, he passed quickly
over the threshold within the house. And he found the cap-
tains and the counsellors of the Phaeacians pouring forth
wine to the keen-sighted god, the slayer of Argos ; for to him
they poured the last cup when they were minded to take rest.
Now the steadfast goodly Odysseus went through the hall,
clad in a thick mist, which Athene shed around him, till he
came to Arete and the king Alcinous. And Odysseus cast
his hands about the knees of Arete, and then it was that the
wondrous mist melted from off him, and a silence fell on them
that were within the house at the sight of him, and they mar-
velled as they beheld him. Then Odysseus began his prayer :
D— Vol. 22 HG
98 HOMER
'Arete, daughter of god-like Rhexenor, after many toils
am I come to thy husband and to thy knees and to these
guests, and may the gods vouchsafe them a happy life, and
may each one leave to his children after him his substance
in his halls and whatever dues of honour the people have
rendered unto him. But speed, I pray you, my parting, that
I may come the more quickly to mine own country, for
already too long do I suffer affliction far from my friends.'
Therewith he sat him down by the hearth in the ashes at
the fire, and behold, a dead silence fell on all. And at the
last the ancient lord Echeneus spake among them, an elder
of the Phaeacians, excellent in speech and skilled in much
wisdom of old time. With good will he made harangue and
spake among them :
'Alcinous, this truly is not the more seemly way, nor is it
fitting that the stranger should sit upon the ground in the
ashes by the hearth, while these men refrain them, waiting
thy word. Nay come, bid the stranger arise, and set him on
a chair inlaid with silver, and command the henchmen to
mix the wine, that we may pour forth likewise before Zeus,
whose joy is in the thunder, who attendeth upon reverend
suppliants. And let the housewife give supper to the stranger
out of such stores as be within/
Now when the mighty king Alcinous heard this saying, he
took Odysseus, the wise and crafty, by the hand, and raised
him from the hearth, and set him on a shining chair, whence
he bade his son give place, valiant Laodamas, who sat next
him and was his dearest. And a handmaid bare water for
the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it forth over
a silver basin to wash withal, and drew to his side a polished
table. And a grave dame bare wheaten bread and set it by
him and laid upon the board many dainties, giving freely
of such things as she had by her. So the steadfast goodly
Odysseus did eat and drink; and then the mighty Alcinous
spake unto the henchman :
1 Pontonous, mix the bowl and serve out the wine to all
in the hall, that we may pour forth likewise before Zeus,
whose joy is in the thunder, who attendeth upon reverend
suppliants/
So spake he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,
THE ODYSSEY 99
and served it out to all, when he had poured for libation into
each cup in turn. But when they had poured forth and had
drunken to their heart's content, Alcinous made harangue and
spake among them:
' Hear me, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
that I may speak as my spirit bids me. Now that the feast
is over, go ye home and lie down to rest; and in the morning
we will call yet more elders together, and entertain the
stranger in the halls and do fair sacrifice to the gods, and
thereafter we will likewise bethink us of the convoy, that so
without pain or grief yonder stranger may by our convoy
reach his own country speedily and with joy, even though he
be from very far away. So shall he suffer no hurt or harm
in mid passage, ere he set foot on his own land; but there-
after he shall endure such things as Fate and the stern
spinning women drew off the spindles for him at his birth
when his mother bare him. But if he is some deathless god
come down from heaven, then do the gods herein imagine
some new device against us. For always heretofore the
gods appear manifest amongst us, whensoever we offer
glorious hecatombs, and they feast by our side, sitting at the
same board; yea, and even if a wayfarer going all alone has
met with them, they use no disguise, since we are near of
kin to them, even as are the Cyclopes and the wild tribes of
the Giants/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:
' Alcinous, that thought be far from thee ! for I bear no
likeness either in form or fashion to the deathless gods, who
keep wide heaven, but to men that die. Whomsoever ye
know of human kind the heaviest laden with sorrow, to
them might I liken myself in my griefs. Yea, and I might
tell of yet other woes, even the long tale of toil that by the
gods' will I endured. But as for me, suffer me to sup,
afflicted as I am ; for nought is there more shameless than a
ravening belly, which biddeth a man perforce be mindful of
him, though one be worn and sorrowful in spirit, even as I
have sorrow of heart; yet evermore he biddeth me eat and
drink and maketh me utterly to forget all my sufferings, and
commandeth me to take my fill. But do ye bestir you at
the breaking of the day, that so ye may set me, hapless as
100 HOMER
I am, upon my country's soil, albeit after much suffering.
Ah, and may life leave me when I have had sight of mine
own possessions, my thralls, and my dwelling that is great
and high ! '
So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and bade send
the stranger on his way, for that he had spoken aright. Now
when they had poured forth and had drunken to their hearts'
content, they went each one to his house to lay them to rest.
But goodly Odysseus was left behind in the hall, and by him
sat Arete and godlike Alcinous ; and the maids cleared away
the furniture of the feast ; and white-armed Arete first spake
among them. For she knew the mantle and the doublet,
when she saw the goodly raiment that she herself had
wrought with the women her handmaids. So she uttered
her voice and spake to him winged words :
' Sir, I am bold to ask thee first of this. Who art thou
of the sons of men, and whence? Who gave thee this rai-
ment? Didst thou not say indeed that thou earnest hither
wandering over the deep ? '
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her, and said:
4 'Tis hard, O queen, to tell my griefs from end to end, for
that the gods of heaven have given me griefs in plenty. But
this will I declare to thee, whereof thou dost question and
inquire. There is an isle, Ogygia, that lies far off in the
sea; there dwells the daughter of Atlas, crafty Calypso, of
the braided tresses, an awful goddess, nor is any either of
gods or mortals conversant with her. Howbeit, some god
brought me to her hearth, wretched man that I am, all alone,
for that Zeus with white bolt crushed my swift ship and
cleft it in the midst of the wine-dark deep. There all the
rest of my good company was lost, but I clung with fast em-
brace about the keel of the curved ship, and so was I borne
for nine whole days. And on the tenth dark night the gods
brought me nigh the isle Ogygia, where Calypso of the
braided tresses dwells, an awful goddess. She took me in,
and with all care she cherished me and gave me sustenance,
and said that she would make me to know not death nor age
for all my days ; but never did she win my heart within me.
There I abode for seven years continually, and watered with
my tears the imperishable raiment that Calypso gave me,
THE ODYSSEY 101
But when the eighth year came round in his course, then
at last she urged and bade me to be gone, by reason of a
message from- Zeus, or it may be that her own mind was
turned. So she sent me forth on a well-bound raft, and gave
me plenteous store, bread and sweet wine, and she clad me
in imperishable raiment, and sent forth a warm and gentle
wind to blow. For ten days and seven I sailed, traversing
the deep, and on the eighteenth day the shadowy hills of
your land showed in sight, and my heart was glad —
wretched that I was — for surely I was still to be the mate of
much sorrow. For Poseidon, shaker of the earth, stirred
up the same, who roused against me the winds and stopped
my way, and made a wondrous sea to swell, nor did the
wave suffer me to be borne upon my raft, as I made ceaseless
moan. Thus the storm winds shattered the raft, but as for
me I cleft my way through the gulf yonder, till the wind
bare and the water brought me nigh your coast. Then as
I strove to land upon the shore, the wave had overwhelmed
me, dashing me against the great rocks and a desolate
place, but at length I gave way and swam back, till I came
to the river, where the place seemed best in mine eyes,
smooth of rocks, and withal there was a shelter from the
wind. And as I came out I sank down, gathering to me
my spirit, and immortal night came on. Then I gat me
forth and away from the heaven-fed river, and laid me to
sleep in the bushes and strewed leaves about me, and the
god shed over me infinite sleep. There among the leaves
I slept, stricken at heart, all the night long, even till the
morning and mid-day. And the sun sank when sweet sleep
let me free. And I was aware of the company of thy daugh-
ter disporting them upon the sand, and there was she in the
midst of them like unto the goddesses. To her I made my
supplication, and she showed no lack of a good understand-
ing, behaving, so as thou couldst not hope for in chancing
upon one so young; for the younger folk lack wisdom
always. She gave me bread enough and red wine, and let
wash me in the river and bestowed on me these garments.
Herein, albeit in sore distress, have I told thee all the truth.'
And Alcinous answered again, and spake saying : ' Sir,
surely this was no right thought of my daughter, in that
102 HOMER
she brought thee not to our house with the women her
handmaids, though thou didst first entreat her grace.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered, and said unto
him : ' My lord, chide not, I pray thee, for this the blame-
less maiden. For indeed she bade me follow with her
company, but I would not for fear and very shame, lest per-
chance thine heart might be clouded at the sight; for a
jealous race upon the earth are we, the tribes of men/
And Alcinous answered yet again, and spake saying : ' Sir,
my heart within me is not of such temper as to have been
wroth without a cause: due measure in all things is best.
Would to father Zeus, and Athene, and Apollo, would that
so goodly a man as thou art, and like-minded with me, thou
Wouldst wed my daughter, and be called my son, here abid-
ing: so would I give thee house and wealth, if thou wouldst
stay of thine own will : but against thy will shall none of the
Phaeacians keep thee: never be this well-pleasing in the
eyes of father Zeus ! And now I ordain an escort for thee
on a certain day, that thou mayst surely know, and that day
the morrow. Then shalt thou lay thee down overcome by
sleep, and they the while shall smite the calm waters, till thou
come to thy country and thy house, and whatsoever place
is dear to thee, even though it be much farther than Euboea,
which certain of our men say is the farthest of lands, they
who saw it, when they carried Rhadamanthus, of the fair
hair, to visit Tityos, son of Gaia. Even thither they went,
and accomplished the journey on the self-same day and won
home again, and were not weary. And now shalt thou know
for thyself how far my ships are the best, and how my
young men excel at tossing the salt water with the oar-
blade.'
So spake he, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced;
and then he uttered a word in prayer, and called aloud to
Zeus : ' Father Zeus, oh that Alcinous may fulfil all that
he hath said, so may his fame never be quenched upon the
earth, the grain-giver, and I should come to mine own
land ! ■
Thus they spake one to the other. And white-armed
Arete bade her handmaids set out bedsteads beneath the
gallery, and cast fair purple blankets over them, and spread
THE ODYSSEY 103
coverlets above, and thereon lay thick mantles to be a
clothing over all. So they went from the hall with torch in
hand. But when they had busied them and spread the good
bedstead, they stood by Odysseus and called unto him,
saying :
1 Up now, stranger, and get thee to sleep, thy bed is made.'
So spake they, and it seemed to him that rest was won-
drous good. So he slept there, the steadfast goodly Odys-
seus, on the jointed bedstead, beneath the echoing gallery.
But Alcinous laid him down in the innermost chamber of the
high house, and by him the lady his wife arrayed bedstead
and bedding.
BOOK VIII
The next day's entertainment of Odysseus, where he sees them
contend in wrestling and other exercises, and upon provocation took
up a greater stone than that which they were throwing, and over-
threw them all. Alcinous and the lords give him presents. And
how the king asked his name, his country, and his adventures.
NOW when early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
then the mighty king Alcinous gat him up from his
bed; and Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, likewise
uprose, the waster of cities. And the mighty king Alcinous
led the way to the assembly place of the Phaeacians, which
they had stablished hard by the ships. So when they had
come thither, and sat them down on the polished stones close
by each other, Pallas Athene went on her way through the
town, in the semblance of the herald of wise Alcinous, de-
vising a return for the great-hearted Odysseus. Then stand-
ing by each man she spake, saying:
* Hither now get ye to the assembly, ye captains and coun-
sellors of the Phaeacians, that ye may learn concerning the
stranger, who hath lately come to the palace of wise Alcinous,
in his wanderings over the deep, and his form is like the
deathless gods/
Therewith she aroused the spirit and desire of each one,
and speedily the meeting-places and seats were filled with
men that came to the gathering: yea, and many an one
marvelled at the sight of the wise son of Laertes, for won-
drous was the grace Athene poured upon his head and
shoulders, and she made him greater and more mighty to
behold, that he might win love and worship and honour
among all the Phaeacians, and that he might accomplish
many feats, wherein the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus.
Now when they were gathered and come together, Alcinous
made harangue and spake among them :
' Harken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
104
THE ODYSSEY 10S
and I will say that which my spirit within me bids me utter.
This stranger, I know not who he is, hath come to my
house in his wandering, whether from the men of the
dawning or the westward, and he presses for a convoy, and
prays that it be assured to him. So let us, as in time past,
speed on the convoy. For never, nay never, doth any man
who cometh to my house, abide here long in sorrow for
want of help upon his way. Nay, come let us draw down a
black ship to the fair salt sea, for her first voyage, and let
them choose fifty and two noble youths throughout the town-
ship, who have been proved heretofore the best. And when
ye have made fast the oars upon the benches, step all ashore,
and thereafter come to our house, and quickly fall to feast-
ing; and I will make good provision for all. To the noble
youths I give this commandment; but ye others, sceptred
kings, come to my fair dwelling, that we may entertain the
stranger in the halls, and let no man make excuse. More-
over, bid hither the divine minstrel, Demodocus, for the god
hath given minstrelsy to him as to none other, to make men
glad in what way soever his spirit stirs him to sing.'
He spake and led the way, and the sceptred kings accom-
panied him, while the henchmen went for the divine min-
strel. And chosen youths, fifty and two, departed at his
command, to the shore of the unharvested sea. But after
they had gone down to the ship and to the sea, first of all
they drew the ship down to the deep water, and placed the
mast and sails in the black ship, and fixed the oars in
leathern loops, all orderly, and spread forth the white sails.
And they moored her high out in the shore water, and
thereafter went on their way to the great palace of the wise
Alcinous. Now the galleries and the courts and the rooms
were thronged with men that came to the gathering, for
there were many, young and old. Then Alcinous sacrificed
twelve sheep among them, and eight boars with flashing
tusks, and two oxen with trailing feet. These they flayed
and made ready, and dressed a goodly feast.
Then the henchman drew near, leading with him the
beloved minstrel, whom the muse loved dearly, and she gave
him both good and evil; of his sight she reft him, but
granted him sweet song. Then Pontonous, the henchman,
106 HOMER
set for him a high chair inlaid with silver, in the midst of
the guests, leaning it against the tall pillar, and he hung
the loud lyre on a pin, close above his head, and showed
him how to lay his hands on it. And close by him he placed
a basket, and a fair table, and a goblet of wine by his side, to
drink when his spirit bade him. So they stretched forth
their hands upon the good cheer spread before them. But
after they had put from them the desire of meat and drink,
the Muse stirred the minstrel to sing the songs of famous
men, even that lay whereof the fame had then reached the
wide heaven, namely, the quarrel between Odysseus and
Achilles, son of Peleus; how once on a time they contended
in fierce words at a rich festival of the gods, but Agamem-
non, king of men, was inly glad when the noblest of the
Achaeans fell at variance. For so Phoebus Apollo in his
soothsaying had told him that it must be, in goodly Pytho,
what time he crossed the threshold of stone, to seek to the
oracle. For in those days the first wave of woe was rolling
on Trojans and Danaans through the counsel of great
Zeus.
This song it was that the famous minstrel sang; but
Odysseus caught his great purple cloak with his stalwart
hands, and drew it down over his head, and hid his comely
face, for he was ashamed to shed tears beneath his brows
in presence of the Phaeacians. Yea, and oft as the divine
minstrel paused in his song, Odysseus would wipe away
the tears, and draw the cloak from off his head, and take
the two-handled goblet and pour forth before the gods. But
whensoever he began again, and the chiefs of the Phaeacians
stirred him to sing, in delight at the lay, again would Odys-
seus cover up his head and make moan. Now none of all
the company marked him weeping, but Alcinous alone noted
it and was ware thereof as he sat by him and heard him
groaning heavily. And presently he spake among the
Phaeacians, masters of the oar:
' Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
now have our souls been satisfied with the good feast, and
with the lyre, which is the mate of the rich banquet. Let us
go forth anon, and make trial of divers games, that the
stranger may tell his friends, when home he returneth, how
THE ODYSSEY 107
greatly we excel all men in boxing, and wrestling, and leap-
ing, and speed of foot.'
He spake, and led the way, and they went with him. And
the henchman hung the loud lyre on the pin, and took the
hand of Demodocus, and let him forth from the hall, and
guided him by the same way, whereby those others, the
chiefs of the Phaeacians, had gone to gaze upon the games.
So they went on their way to the place of assembly, and
with them a great company innumerable; and many a noble
youth stood up to play. There rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus,
and Elatreus, and Nauteus, and Prymneus, and Anchialus,
and Eretmeus, and Ponteus, and Proreus, Thoon, and
Anabesineus, and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tek-
ton, and likewise Euryalus, the peer of murderous Ares, the
son of Naubolus, who in face and form was goodliest of all
the Phaeacians next to noble Laodamas. And there stood
up the three sons of noble Alcinous, Laodamas, and Halius,
and god-like Clytoneus. And behold, these all first tried
the issue in the foot race. From the very start they strained
at utmost speed: and all together they flew forward swiftly,
raising the dust along the plain. And noble Clytoneus was
far the swiftest of them all in running, and by the length
of the furrow that mules cleave in a fallow field, 1 so far
did he shoot to the front, and came to the crowd by the lists,
while those others were left behind. Then they made trial
of strong wrestling, and here in turn Euryalus excelled all
the best. And in leaping Amphialus was far the foremost,
and Elatreus in weight-throwing, and in boxing Laodamas,
the good son of Alcinous. Now when they had all taken
their pleasure in the games, Laodamas, son of Alcinous,
spake among them:
* Come, my friends, let us ask the stranger whether he is
skilled or practised in any sport. Ill fashioned, at least,
he is not in his thighs and sinewy legs and hands withal,
and his stalwart neck and mighty strength : yea and he
lacks not youth, but is crushed by many troubles. For I
tell thee there is nought else worse than the sea to confound
a man, how hardy soever he may be/
1 The distance here indicated seems to be that which the mule goes in
ploughing, without pausing to take breath.
108 HOMER
And Euryalus in turn made answer, and said: 'Laoda-
mas, verily thou hast spoken this word in season. Go now
thyself and challenge him, and declare thy saying.'
Now when the good son of Alcinous heard this, he went
and stood in the midst, and spake unto Odysseus : * Come,
do thou too, father and stranger, try thy skill in the sports,
if haply thou art practised in any; and thou art like to have
knowledge of games, for there is no greater glory for a man
while yet he lives, than that which he achieves by hand and
foot. Come, then, make essay, and cast away care from thy
soul: thy journey shall not now be long delayed; lo, thy
ship is even now drawn down to the sea, and the men of
thy company are ready.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:
' Laodamas, wherefore do ye mock me, requiring this thing
of me ? Sorrow is far nearer my heart than sports, for
much have I endured and laboured sorely in time past, and
now I sit in this your gathering, craving my return, and
making my prayer to the king and all the people.'
And Euryalus answered, and rebuked him to his face:
' No truly, stranger, nor do I think thee at all like one that
is skilled in games, whereof there are many among men,
rather art thou such an one as comes and goes in a benched
ship, a master of sailors that are merchantmen, one with a
memory for his freight, or that hath the charge of a cargo
homeward bound, and of greedily gotten gains; thou seemest
not a man of thy hands.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him
and said : ' Stranger, thou hast not spoken well ; thou art
like a man presumptuous. So true it is that the gods do
not give every gracious gift to all, neither shapeliness, nor
wisdom, nor skilled speech. For one man is feebler than
another in presence, yet the god crowns his words with
beauty, and men behold him and rejoice, and his speech runs
surely on his way with a sweet modesty, and he shines forth
among the gathering of his people, and as he passes through
the town men gaze on him as a god. Another again is like
the deathless gods for beauty, but his words have no crown
of grace about them; even as thou art in comeliness pre-
eminent, nor could a god himself fashion thee for the better,
THE ODYSSEY 109
but in wit thou art a weakling. Yet, thou hast stirred my
spirit in my breast by speaking thus amiss. I am not all
unversed in sports, as thy words go, but methinks I was
among the foremost while as yet I trusted in my youth and
my hands, but now am I holden in misery and pains: for
I have endured much in passing through the wars of men
and the grievous waves of the sea. Yet even so, for all
my affliction, I will essay the games, for thy word hath bitten
to the quick, and thou hast roused me with thy saying.'
He spake, and clad even as he was in his mantle leaped to
his feet, and caught up a weight larger than the rest, a
huge weight heavier far than those wherewith the Phaea-
cians contended in casting. With one whirl he sent it from
his stout hand, and the stone flew hurtling: and the Phaea-
cians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned, crouched
to earth beneath the rushing of the stone. Beyond all the
marks it flew, so lightly it sped from his hand, and Athene
in the fashion of a man marked the place, and spake and
hailed him :
' Yea, even a blind man, stranger, might discern that
token if he groped for it, for it is in no wise lost among
the throng of the others, but is far the first; for this bout
then take heart: not one of the Phaeacians shall attain
thereunto or overpass it.'
So spake she; and the steadfast goodly Odysseus re-
joiced and was glad, for that he saw a true friend in
the lists. Then with a lighter heart he spake amid the
Phaeacians :
" Now reach ye this throw, young men, if ye may ; and
soon methinks, will I cast another after it, as far or yet
further. And whomsoever of the rest his heart and spirit
stir thereto, hither let him come and try the issue with me,
in boxing or in wrestling or even in the foot race, I care
not which, for ye have greatly angered me : let any of all the
Phaeacians come save Laodamas alone, for he is mine host:
who would strive with one that entreated him kindly? Wit-
less and worthless is the man, whoso challengeth his host
that receiveth him in a strange land, he doth but maim his
own estate. But for the rest, I refuse none and hold none
lightly, but I fain would know and prove them face to face.
110 HOMER
For I am no weakling in all sports, even in the feats of
men. I know well how to handle the polished bow, and ever
the first would I be to shoot and smite my man in the press
of foes, even though many of my company stood by, and
were aiming at the enemy. Alone Philoctetes in the Trojan
land surpassed me with the bow in our Achaean archery.
But I avow myself far more excellent than all besides, oi
the mortals that are now upon the earth and live by bread.
Yet with the men of old time I would not match me, neither
with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia, who contended
even with the deathless gods for the prize of archery.
Wherefore the great Eurytus perished all too soon, nor
did old age come on him in his halls, for Apollo slew him
in his wrath, seeing that he challenged him to shoot a match.
And with the spear I can throw further than any other
man can shoot an arrow. Only I doubt that in the foot
race some of the Phaeacians may outstrip me, for I have
been shamefully broken in many waters, seeing that there
was no continual sustenance on board; wherefore my knees
are loosened/
So spake he and all kept silence; and Alcinous alone
answered him, saying:
* Stranger, forasmuch as these thy words are not ill-taken
in our gathering, but thou wouldest fain show forth the
valour which keeps thee company, being angry that yonder
man stood by thee in the lists, and taunted thee, in such
sort as no mortal would speak lightly of thine excellence,
who had knowledge of sound words; nay now, mark my
speech ; so shalt thou have somewhat to tell another hero,
when with thy wife and children thou suppest in thy halls,
and recallest our prowess, what deeds Zeus bestoweth even
upon us from our fathers' days even until now. For we
are no perfect boxers, nor wrestlers, but speedy runners,
and the best of seamen; and dear to us ever is the ban-
quet, and the harp, and the dance, and changes of raiment,
and the warm bath, and love, and sleep. Lo, now arise,
ye dancers of the Phaeacians, the best in the land, and
make sport, that so the stranger may tell his friends, when
he returneth home, how far we surpass all men besides in
seamanship, and speed of foot, and in the dance and song.
THE ODYSSEY 111
And let one go quickly, and fetch for Demodocus the loud
lyre which is lying somewhere in our halls/
So spake Alcinous the godlike, and the henchman rose to
bear the hollow lyre from the king's palace. Then stood up
nine chosen men in all, the judges of the people, who were
wont to order all things in the lists aright. So they levelled
the place for the dance, and made a fair ring and a wide.
And the henchman drew near bearing the loud lyre to De-
modocus, who gat him into the midst, and round him stood
boys in their first bloom, skilled in the dance, and they smote
the good floor with their feet. And Odysseus gazed at the
twinklings of the feet, and marvelled in spirit.
Now as the minstrel touched the lyre, he lifted up his
voice in sweet song, and he sang of the love of Ares and
Aphrodite, of the fair crown, how at the first they lay to-
gether in the house of Hephaestus privily; and Ares gave
her many gifts, and dishonoured the marriage bed of the
lord Hephaestus. And anon there came to him one to re-
port the thing, even Helios, that had seen them at their pas-
time. Now when Hephaestus heard the bitter tidings, he
went his way to the forge, devising evil in the deep of his
heart, and set the great anvil on the stithy, and wrought
fetters that none might snap or loosen, that the lovers might
there unmoveably remain. Now when he had forged the
crafty net in his anger against Ares, he went on his way
to the chamber where his marriage bed was set out, and
strewed his snares all about the posts of the bed, and many
too were hung aloft from the main beam, subtle as spiders'
webs, so that none might see them, even of the blessed gods :
so cunningly were they forged. Now after he had done
winding the snare about the bed, he made as though he
would go to Lemnos, that stablished castle, and this was far
the dearest of all lands in his sight. But Ares of the golden
rein kept no blind watch, what time he saw Hephaestus, the
famed craftsman, depart afar. So he went on his way to
the house of renowned Hephaestus, eager for the love of
crowned Cytherea. Now she was but newly come from her
sire, the mighty Cronion, and as it chanced had sat her
down; and Ares entered the house, and clasped her hand,
and spake, and hailed her:
112
HOMER
'Come, my beloved, let us to bed, and take our pleasure
of love, for Hephaestus is no longer among his own people;
methinks he is already gone to Lemnos, to the Sintians, men
of savage speech.'
So spake he, and a glad thing it seemed to her to lie with
him. So they twain went to the couch, and laid them to
sleep, and around them clung the cunning bonds of skilled
Hephaestus, so that they could not move nor raise a limb.
Then at the last they knew it, when there was no way to flee.
Now the famous god of the strong arms drew near to them,
having turned him back ere he reached the land of Lemnos.
For Helios had kept watch, and told him all. So heavy
at heart he went his way to his house, and stood at the
entering in of the gate, and wild rage gat hold of him, and
he cried terribly, and shouted to all the gods :
' Father Zeus, and ye other blessed gods, that live for
ever, come hither, that ye may see a mirthful thing and a
cruel, for that Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, ever dishonours
me by reason of my lameness, and sets her heart on Ares the
destroyer, because he is fair and straight of limb, but as for
me, feeble was I born. Howbeit, there is none to blame but
my father and mother, — would they had never begotten me !
But now shall ye see where these have gone up into my bed,
and sleep together in love; and I am troubled at the sight.
Yet, methinks, they will not care to lie thus even for a little
while longer, despite their great love. Soon will they have
no desire to sleep together, but the snare and the bond shall
hold them, till her sire give back to me the gifts of wooing,
one and all, those that I bestowed upon him for the hand of
his shameless girl; for that his daughter is fair, but without
discretion/
So spake he; and lo, the gods gathered together to the
house of the brazen floor. Poseidon came, the girdler of the
earth, and Hermes came, the bringer of luck, and prince
Apollo came, the archer. But the lady goddesses abode each
within her house for shame. So the gods, the givers of
good things, stood in the porch: and laughter unquenchable
arose among the blessed gods, as they beheld the sleight of
cunning Hephaestus. And thus would one speak, looking
to his neighbour:
THE ODYSSEY 113
'111 deed, ill speed! The slow catcheth the swift! Lo,
how Hephaestus, slow as he is, hath overtaken Ares, albeit
he is the swiftest of the gods that hold Olympus, by his craft
hath he taken him despite his lameness; wherefore surely
Ares oweth the fine of the adulterer.' Thus they spake one
to the other. But the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spake to
Hermes :
' Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger and giver of good things,
wouldst thou be fain, aye, pressed by strong bonds though
it might be, to lie on the couch by golden Aphrodite ? '
Then the messenger, the slayer of Argos, answered him:
'I would that this might be, Apollo, my prince of archery!
So might thrice as many bonds innumerable encompass me
about, and all ye gods be looking on and all the goddesses,
yet would I lie by golden Aphrodite/
So spake he, and laughter rose among the deathless
gods. Howbeit, Poseidon laughed not, but was instant with
Hephaestus, the renowned artificer, to loose the bonds of
Ares: and he uttered his voice, and spake to him winged
words :
' Loose him, I pray thee, and I promise even as thou
biddest me, that he shall himself pay all fair forfeit in the
presence of the deathless gods/
Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:
'Require not this of me, Poseidon, girdler of the earth.
Evil are evil folk's pledges to hold. How could I keep thee
bound among the deathless gods, if Ares were to depart,
avoiding the debt and the bond?'
Then Poseidon answered him, shaker of the earth : ' He-
phaestus, even if Ares avoid the debt and flee away, I my-
self will pay thee all.'
Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:
' It may not be that I should say thee nay, neither is it
meet/
Therewith the mighty Hephaestus loosed the bonds, and
the twain, when they were freed from that strong bond,
sprang up straightway, and departed, he to Thrace, but
laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Paphos of Cyprus, where
is her precinct and fragrant altar. There the Graces bathed
and anointed her with oil imperishable, such as is laid upon
114 HOMER
the everlasting gods. And they clad her in lovely raiment,
a wonder to see.
This was the song the famous minstrel sang; and
Odysseus listened and was glad at heart, and likewise did
the Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned.
Then Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamas dance alone,
for none ever contended with them. So when they had
taken in their hands the goodly ball of purple hue, that
cunning Polybus had wrought for them, the one would
bend backwards, and throw it towards the shadowy clouds;
and the other would leap upward from the earth, and catch
it lightly in his turn, before his feet touched the ground.
Now after they had made trial of throwing the ball straight
up, the twain set to dance upon the bounteous earth, tossing
the ball from hand to hand, and the other youths stood by
the lists and beat time, and a great din uprose.
Then it was that goodly Odysseus spake unto Alcinous;
' My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, thou
didst boast thy dancers to be the best in the world, and lo,
thy words are fulfilled ; I wonder as I look on them/
So spake he, and the mighty king Alcinous rejoiced and
spake at once among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar:
' Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
this stranger seems to me a wise man enough. Come then,
let us give him a stranger's gift, as is meet. Behold, there
are twelve glorious princes who rule among this people and
bear sway, and I myself am the thirteenth. Now each man
among you bring a fresh robe and a doublet, and a talent of
fine gold, and let us speedily carry all these gifts together,
that the stranger may take them in his hands, and go to
supper with a glad heart. As for Euryalus, let him yield
amends to the man himself with soft speech and with a gift,
for his was no gentle saying/
So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and would
have it so. And each one sent forth his henchman to
fetch his gift, and Euryalus answered the king and spake,
saying :
* My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, I
will make atonement to thy guest according to thy word. I
will give him a hanger all of bronze, with a silver hilt
THE ODYSSEY US
thereto, and a sheath of fresh-sawn ivory covers it about,
and it shall be to him a thing of price/
Therewith he puts into his hands the hanger dight with
silver, and uttering his voice spake to him winged words:
' Hail, stranger and father; and if aught grievous hath been
spoken, may the storm-winds soon snatch and bear it away.
But may the gods grant thee to see thy wife and to come to
thine own country, for all too long hast thou endured afflic-
tion away from thy friends/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
' Thou too, my friend, all hail ; and may the gods vouchsafe
thee happiness, and mayst thou never miss this sword which
thou hast given me, thou that with soft speech hast yielded
me amends/
He spake and hung about his shoulders the silver-studded
sword. And the sun sank, and the noble gifts were brought
him. Then the proud henchmen bare them to the palace of
Alcinous, and the sons of noble Alcinous took the fair gifts,
and set them by their reverend mother. And the mighty
king Alcinous led the way, and they came in and sat them
down on the high seats. And the mighty Alcinous spake
unto Arete:
' Bring me hither, my lady, a choice coffer, the best thou
hast, and thyself place therein a fresh robe and a doublet,
and heat for our guest a cauldron on the fire, and warm
water, that after the bath the stranger may see all the gifts
duly arrayed which the noble Phaeacians bare hither, and
that he may have joy in the feast, and in hearing the song
of the minstrelsy. Also I will give him a beautiful golden
chalice of mine own, that he may be mindful of me all the
days of his life when he poureth the drink-offering to Zeus
and to the other gods/
So spake he, and Arete bade her handmaids to set a great
cauldron on the fire with what speed they might. And they
set the cauldron for the filling of the bath on the blazing
fire, and poured water therein, and took faggots and kindled
them beneath. So the fire began to circle round the belly of
the cauldron, and the water waxed hot. Meanwhile Arete
brought forth for her guest the beautiful coffer from the
treasure chamber, and bestowed fair gifts therein, raiment
116 HOMER
and gold, which the Phaeacians gave him. And with her
own hands she placed therein a robe and goodly doublet,
and uttering her voice spake to him winged words :
' Do thou now look to the lid, and quickly tie the knot,
lest any man spoil thy goods by the way, when presently
thou fallest on sweet sleep travelling in thy black ship/
Now when the steadfast goodly Odysseus heard this say-
ing, forthwith he fixed on the lid, and quickly tied the
curious knot which the lady Circe on a time had taught him.
Then straightway the housewife bade him go to the bath
and bathe him, and he saw the warm water and was glad,
for he was not wont to be so cared for, from the day that
he left the house of fair-tressed Calypso, but all that while
he had comfort continually as a god.
Now after the maids had bathed him and anointed him
with olive oil, and had cast a fair mantle and a doublet upon
him, he stept forth from the bath, and went to be with the
chiefs at their wine. And Nausicaa, dowered with beauty
by the gods, stood by the pillar of the well-builded hall, and
marvelled at Odysseus, beholding him before her eyes, and
she uttered her voice and spake to him winged words:
1 Farewell, stranger, and even in thine own country be-
think thee of me upon a time, for that to me first thou owest
the ransom of life/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
4 Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, yea, may
Zeus, the thunderer, the lord of Here, grant me to reach
my home and see the day of my returning; so would I, even
there, do thee worship as to a god, all my days for ever-
more, for thou, lady, hast given me my life/
He spake and sat him in the high seat by king Alcinous.
And now they were serving out the portions and mixing the
wine. Then the henchman drew nigh leading the sweet
minstrel, Demodocus, that was had in honour of the people.
So he set him in the midst of the feasters, and made him
lean against a tall column. Then to the henchman spake
Odysseus of many counsels, for he had cut off a portion of
the chine of a white-toothed boar, whereon yet more was
left, with rich fat on either side:
' Lo, henchman, take this mess, and hand it to Demod-
THE ODYSSEY 117
ocus, that he may eat, and I will bid him hail, despite my
sorrow. For minstrels from all men on earth get their meed
of honour and worship; inasmuch as the Muse teacheth
them the paths of song, and loveth the tribe of minstrels/
Thus he spake, and the henchman bare the mess, and set
it upon the knees of the lord Demodocus, and he took it,
and was glad at heart. Then they stretched forth their
hands upon the good cheer set before them. Now after they
had put from them the desire of meat and drink, then
Odysseus of many counsels spake to Demodocus, saying:
' Demodocus, I praise thee far above all mortal men,
whether it be the Muse, the daughter of Zeus, that taught
thee, or even Apollo, for right duly dost thou chant the
faring of the Achaeans, even all that they wrought and
suffered, and all their travail, as if, methinks, thou hadst
been present, or heard the tale from another. Come now,
change thy strain, and sing of the fashioning of the horse
of wood, which Epeius made by the aid of Athene, even the
guileful thing, that goodly Odysseus led up into the citadel,
when he had laden it with the men who wasted Ilios. If
thou wilt indeed rehearse me this aright, so will I be thy
witness among all men, how the god of his grace hath given
thee the gift of wondrous song/
So spake he, and the minstrel, being stirred by the god,
began and showed forth his minstrelsy. He took up the tale
where it tells how the Argives of the one part set fire to
their huts, and went aboard their decked ships and sailed
away, while those others, the fellowship of renowned
Odysseus, were now seated in the assembly-place of the
Trojans, all hidden in the horse, for the Trojans them-
selves had dragged him to the citadel. So the horse stood
there, while seated all around him the people spake many
things confusedly and three ways their counsel looked;
either to cleave the hollow timber with the pitiless spear, or
to drag it to the brow of the hill, and hurl it from the
rocks, or to leave it as a mighty offering to appease the gods.
And on this wise it was to be at the last. For the doom
was on them to perish when their city should have closed
upon the great horse of wood, wherein sat all the bravest
of the Argives, bearing to the Trojans death and destiny.
118 HOMER
And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans poured forth
from the horse, and left the hollow lair, and sacked the
burg. And he sang how and where each man wasted the
town, and of Odysseus, how he went like A^res to the house
of Deiphobus with godlike Menelaus. It was. there, he said,
that Odysseus adventured the most grievous battle, and in
the end prevailed, by grace of great-hearted Athene.
This was the 6ong that the famous minstrel sang. But
the heart of Odysseus melted, and the tear wet his cheeks
beneath the eyelids. And as a woman throws herself wail-
ing about her dead lord, who hath fallen before his city and
the host, warding from his town and his children the pitiless
day ; and she beholds him dying and drawing difficult breath,
and embracing his body wails aloud, while the foemen be-
hind smite her with spears on back and shoulders and lead
her up into bondage to bear labour and trouble, and with
the most pitiful grief her cheeks are wasted; even so piti-
fully fell the tears beneath the brows of Odysseus. Now
none of all the company marked him weeping; but Alcinous
alone noted it, and was ware thereof, as he sat nigh him
and heard him groaning heavily. And presently he spake
among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar:
* Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
and now let Demodocus hold his hand from the loud lyre,
for this song of his is nowise pleasing alike to all. From
the time that we began to sup, and that the divine minstrel
was moved to sing, ever since hath yonder stranger never
ceased from woeful lamentation: sore grief, methinks, hath
encompassed his heart. Nay, but let the minstrel cease, that
we may all alike make merry, hosts and guest, since it is far
meeter so. For all these things are ready for the sake of the
honourable stranger, even the convoy and the loving gifts
which we give him out of our love. In a brother's place
stand the stranger and the suppliant, to him whose wits
have even a little range. Wherefore do thou too hide not
now with crafty purpose aught whereof I ask thee; it were
more meet for thee to tell it out. Say, what is the name
whereby they called thee at home, even thy father and thy
mother, and others thy townsmen and the dwellers round
about? For there is none of all mankind nameless, neither
THE ODYSSEY 119
the mean man nor yet the noble, from the first hour of his
birth, but parents bestow a name on every man so soon as
he is born. Tell me too of thy land, thy township, and thy
city, that our ships may conceive of their course to bring
thee thither. For the Phaeacians have no pilots nor any
rudders after the manner of other ships, but their barques
themselves understand the thoughts and intents of men;
they know the cities and fat fields of every people, and
most swiftly they traverse the gulf of the salt sea, shrouded
in mist and cloud, and never do they go in fear of wreck or
ruin. Howbeit I heard upon a time this word thus spoken
by my father Nausithous, who was wont to say that Posei-
don was jealous of us for that we give safe escort to all
men. He said that the god would some day smite a well-
wrought ship of the Phaeacians as she came home from a
convoy over the misty deep, and would overshadow our city
with a great mountain. Thus that ancient one would speak,
and thus the god may bring it about, or leave it undone,
according to the good pleasure of his will. But come now,
declare me this and plainly tell it all; whither wast thou
borne wandering, and to what shores of men thou earnest;
tell me of the people and of their fair-lying cities, of those
whoso are hard and wild and unjust, and of those likewise
who are hospitable and of a god-fearing mind. Declare,
too, wherefore thou dost weep and mourn in spirit at the
tale of the faring of the Argive Danaans and the lay of
Uios. All this the gods have fashioned, and have woven
the skein of death for men, that there might be a song in
the ears even of the folk of aftertime. Hadst thou even a
kinsman by marriage that fell before Ilios, a true man, a
daughter's husband or wife's father, such as are nearest us
after those of cur own stock and blood? Or else, may be,
some loving friend, a good man and true; for a friend with
an understanding heart is no whit worse than a brother/
BOOK IX
Odysseus relates, first, what befell him amongst the Cicones at
Ismarus; secondly, amongst the Lotophagi ; thirdly, how he was
used by the Cyclops Polyphemus.
AND Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
ZA 'King Alcinous, most notable of all the people,
-LA verily it is a good thing to list to a minstrel such as
this one, like to the gods in voice. Nay, as for me, I say
that there is no more gracious or perfect delight than when
a whole people makes merry, and the men sit orderly at
feast in the halls and listen to the singer, and the tables by
them are laden with bread and flesh, and a wine-bearer
drawing the wine serves it round and pours it into the cups.
This seems to me well-nigh the fairest thing in the world.
But now thy heart was inclined to ask of my grievous
troubles, that I may mourn for more exceeding sorrow.
What then shall I tell of first, what last, for the gods of
heaven have given me woes in plenty? Now, first, will I
tell my name, that ye too may know it, and that I, when
I have escaped the pitiless day, may yet be your host, though
my home is in a far country. I am Odysseus, son of
Laertes, who am in men's minds for all manner of wiles,
and my fame reaches unto heaven. And I dwell in clear-
seen Ithaca, wherein is a mountain Neriton, with trembling
forest leaves, standing manifest to view, and many islands
lie around, very near one to the other, Dulichium and Same,
and wooded Zacynthus. Now Ithaca lies low, furthest up
the sea-line toward the darkness, but those others face the
dawning and the sun: a rugged isle, but a good nurse of
noble youths; and for myself I can see nought beside
sweeter than a man's own country. Verily Calypso, the fair
goddess, would fain have kept me with her in her hollow
caves, longing to have me for her lord; and likewise too,
guileful Circe of Aia, would have stayed me in her halls,
120
THE ODYSSEY 121
longing to have me for her lord. But never did they prevail
upon my heart within my breast. So surely is there nought
sweeter than a man's own country and his parents, even
though he dwell far off in a rich home, in a strange land,
away from them that begat him. But come, let me tell thee
too of the troubles of my journeying, which Zeus laid on
me as I came from Troy.
' The wind that bare me from Ilios brought me nigh to the
Cicones, even to Ismarus, whereupon I sacked their city
and slew the people. And from out the city we took their
wives and much substance, and divided them amongst us,
that none through me might go lacking his proper share.
Howbeit, thereafter I commanded that we should flee with
a swift foot, but my men in their great folly hearkened not.
There was much wine still a drinking, and still they slew
many flocks of sheep by the seashore and kine with trailing
feet and shambling gait. Meanwhile the Cicones went and
raised a cry to other Cicones their neighbours, dwelling
inland, who were more in number than they and braver
withal: skilled they were to fight with men from chariots,
find when need was on foot. So they gathered in the early
morning as thick as leaves and flowers that spring in their
season — yea and in that hour an evil doom of Zeus stood
by us, ill-fated men, that so we might be sore afflicted.
They set their battle in array by the swift ships, and the
hosts cast at one another with their bronze-shod spears. So
long as it was morn and the sacred day waxed stronger, so
long we abode their assault and beat them off, albeit they
outnumbered us. But when the sun was wending to the
time of the loosing of cattle, then at last the Cicones drave
in the Achaeans and overcame them, and six of my goodly-
greaved company perished from each ship: but the remnant
of us escaped death and destiny.
* Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as
men saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear com-
panions. Nor did my curved ships move onward ere we had
called thrice on each of those our hapless fellows, who died
at the hands of the Cicones on the plain. Now Zeus, gath-
erer of the clouds, aroused the North Wind against our
ships with a terrible tempest, and covered land and sea alike
122 HOMER
with clouds, and down sped night from heaven. Thus the
ships were driven headlong, and their sails were torn to
shreds by the might of the wind. So we lowered the sails
into the hold, in fear of death, but rowed the ships land-
ward apace. There for two nights and two days we lay
continually, consuming our hearts with weariness and sor-
row. But when the fair-tressed Dawn had at last brought
the full light of the third day, we set up the masts and
hoisted the white sails and sat us down, while the wind and
the helmsman guided the ships. And now I should have
come to mine own country all unhurt, but the wave and the
stream of the sea and the North Wind swept me from my
course as I was doubling Malea, and drave me wandering
past Cythera.
1 Thence for nine whole days was I borne by ruinous
winds over the teeming deep, but on the tenth day we set foot
on the land of the lotus-eaters, who eat a flowery food. So
we stepped ashore and drew water, and straightway my
company took their midday meal by the swift ships. Now
when we had tasted meat and drink I sent forth certain of
my company to go and make search what manner of men
they were who here live upon the earth by bread, and I chose
out two of my fellows, and sent a third with them as
herald. Then straightway they went and mixed with the
men of the lotus-eaters, and so it was that the lotus-eaters
devised not death for our fellows, but gave them of the
lotus to taste. Now whosoever of them did eat the honey-
sweet fruit of the lotus, had no more wish to bring tidings
nor to come back, but there he chose to abide with the
lotus-eating men, ever feeding on the lotus and forgetful of
his homeward way. Therefore I led them back to the
ships weeping, and sore against their will, and dragged them
beneath the benches, and bound them in the hollow barques.
But I commanded the rest of my well-loved company to
make speed and go on board the swift ships, lest haply any
should eat of the lotus and be forgetful of returning. Right
soon they embarked, and sat upon the benches, and sitting
orderly they smote the grey sea water with their oars.
' Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart. And we
came to the land of the Cyclopes, a fro ward and a lawless
THE ODYSSE\ 123
'folk, who trusting to the deathless gods plant not aught with
their hands, neither plough: but, behold, all these things
spring for them in plenty, unsown and untilled, wheat, and
barley, and vines, which bear great clusters of the juice of
the grape, and the rain of Zeus gives them increase. These
have neither gatherings for council nor oracles of law, but
they dwell in hollow caves on the crests of the high hills,
and each one utters the law to his children and his wives,
and they reck not one of another.
1 Now there is a waste isle stretching without the harbour
of the land of the Cyclopes, neither nigh at hand nor yet
afar off, a woodland isle, wherein are wild goats unnum-
bered, for no path of men scares them, nor do hunters
resort thither who suffer hardships in the wood, as they
range the mountain crests. Moreover it is possessed neither
by flocks nor by ploughed lands, but the soil lies unsown
evermore and untilled, desolate of men, and feeds the bleat-
ing goats. For the Cyclopes have by them no ships with
vermilion cheek, not yet are there shipwrights in the island,
who might fashion decked barques, which should accomplish
all their desire, voyaging to the towns of men (as ofttimes
men cross the sea to one another in ships), who might like-
wise have made of their isle a goodly settlement. Yea, it is
in no wise a sorry land, but would bear all things in their
season; for therein are soft water-meadows by the shores
of the grey salt sea, and there the vines know no decay,
and the land is level to plough; thence might they reap a
crop exceeding deep in due season, for verily there is fat-
ness beneath the soil. Also there is a fair haven, where is
no need of moorings, either to cast anchor or to fasten
hawsers, but men may run the ship on the beach, and tarry
until such time as the sailors are minded to be gone, and
favourable breezes blow. Now at the head of the harbour
is a well of bright water issuing from a cave, and round it
are poplars growing. Thither we sailed, and some god
guided us through the night, for it was dark and there was
no light to see, a mist lying deep about the ships, nor did
the moon show her light from heaven, but was shut in with
clouds. No man then beheld that island, neither saw we the
long waves rolling to the beach, till we had run our decked
124 HOMER
ships ashore. And when our ships were beached, we took
down all their sails, and ourselves too stept forth upon the
strand of the sea, and there we fell into sound sleep and
waited for the bright Dawn.
' So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, in
wonder at the island we roamed over the length thereof:
and the Nymphs, the daughters of Zeus, lord of the aegis,
started the wild goats of the hills, that my company might
have wherewith to sup. Anon we took to us our curved
bows from out the ships and long spears, and arrayed in
three bands we began shooting at the goats ; and the god
soon gave us game in plenty. Now twelve ships bare me
company, and to each ship fell nine goats for a portior, but
for me alone they set ten apart.
' Thus we sat there the livelong day until the going down
of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and on sweet wine.
For the red wine was not yet spent from out the ships, but
somewhat was yet therein, for we had each one drawn off
large store thereof in jars, when we took the sacred citadel
of the Cicones. And we looked across to the land of the
Cyclopes, who dwell nigh, and to the smoke, and to the voice
of the men, and of the sheep and of the goats. And when
the sun had sunk and darkness had come on, then we laid
us to rest upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn
shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then I called a gathering of
my men, and spake among them all:
'" Abide here all the rest of you, my dear companions;
but I will go with mine own ship and my ship's company,
and make proof of these men, what manner of folk they are,
whether froward, and wild, and unjust, or hospitable and of
god-fearing mind."
' So I spake, and I climbed the ship's side, and bade my
company themselves to mount, and to loose the hawsers.
So they soon embarked and sat upon the benches, and sitting
orderly smote the grey sea water with their oars. Now
when we had come to the land that lies hard by, we saw a
cave on the border near to the sea, lofty and roofed over with
laurels, and there many flocks of sheep and goats were used
to rest. And about it a high outer court was built with
stones, deep bedded, and with tall pines and oaks with their
THE ODYSSEY 125
high crown of leaves. And a man was wont to sleep therein,
of monstrous size, who shepherded his flocks alone and afar,
and was not conversant with others, but dwelt apart in
lawlessness of mind. Yea, for he was a monstrous thing
and fashioned marvellously, nor was he like to any man
that lives by bread, but like a wooded peak of the towering
hills, which stands out apart and alone from others.
' Then I commanded the rest of my well-loved company
to tarry there by the ship, and to guard the ship, but I chose
out twelve men, the best of my company, and sallied forth.
Now I had with me a goat-skin of the dark wine and sweet
which Maron, son of Euanthes, had given me, the priest of
Apollo, the god that watched over Ismarus. And he gave
it, for that we had protected him with his wife and child
reverently ; for he dwelt in a thick grove of Phoebus Apollo.
And he made me splendid gifts; he gave me seven talents
of gold well wrought, and he gave me a mixing bowl of
pure silver, and furthermore wine which he drew off in
twelve jars in all, sweet wine unmingled, a draught divine;
nor did any of his servants or of his handmaids in the
house know thereof, but himself and his dear wife and one
housedame only. And as often as they drank that red wine
honey sweet, he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty
measures of water, and a marvellous sweet smell went up
from the mixing bowl: then truly it was no pleasure to
refrain.
1 With this wine I filled a great skin, and bare it with me,
and corn too I put in a wallet, for my lordly spirit straight-
way had a boding that a man would come to me, a strange
man, clothed in mighty strength, one that knew not judg-
ment and justice. 1
1 Soon we came to the cave, but we found him not within ;
he was shepherding his fat flocks in the pastures. So we
went into the cave, and gazed on all that was therein. The
baskets were well laden with cheeses, and the folds were
thronged with lambs and kids; each kind was penned by
itself, the firstlings apart, and the summer lambs apart, apart
too the younglings of the flock. Now all the vessels swam
with whey, the milk-pails and the bowls, the well-wrought
1 Literally, knowing neither dooms, nor ordinances of law.
126 HOMER
vessels whereinto he milked. My company then spake and
besought me first of all to take of the cheeses and to return,
and afterwards to make haste and drive off the kids and
lambs to the swift ships from out the pens, and to sail over
the salt sea water. Howbeit I hearkened not (and far
better would it have been), but waited to see the giant him-
self, and whether he would give me gifts as a stranger's
due. Yet was not his coming to be with joy to my company.
* Then we kindled a fire, and made burnt-offering, and
ourselves likewise took of the cheeses, and did eat, and sat
waiting for him within till he came back, shepherding his
flocks. And he bore a grievous weight of dry wood, against
supper time. This log he cast down with a din inside the
cave, and in fear we fled to the secret place of the rock. As
for him, he drave his fat flocks into the wide cavern, even
all that he was wont to milk; but the males both of the
sheep and of the goats he left without in the deep yard.
Thereafter he lifted a huge doorstone and weighty, and set
it in the mouth of the cave, such an one as two and twenty
good four-wheeled wains could not raise from the ground,
so mighty a sheer rock did he set against the doorway. Then
he sat down and milked the ewes and bleating goats, all
orderly, and beneath each ewe he placed her young. And
anon he curdled one half of the white milk, and massed it
together, and stored it in wicker-baskets, and the other half
he let stand in pails, that he might have it to take and drink
against supper time. Now when he had done all his work
busily, then he kindled the fire anew, and espied us, and
made question:
' " Strangers, who are ye ? Whence sail ye over the
wet ways? On some trading enterprise or at adventure
do ye rove, even as sea-robbers over the brine, for at
hazard of their own lives they wander, bringing bale to
alien men."
' So spake he, but as for us our heart within us was broken
for terror of the deep voice and his own monstrous shape;
yet despite all I answered and spake unto him, saying :
' " Lo, we are Achaeans, driven wandering from Troy, by
all manner of winds over the great gulf of the sea; seeking
our homes we fare, but another path have we come, by other
THE ODYSSEY 127
ways: even such, methinks, was the will and the counsel of
Zeus. And we avow us to be the men of Agamemnon, son
of Atreus, whose fame is even now the mightiest under
heaven, so great a city did he sack, and destroyed many
people; but as for us we have lighted here, and come to
these thy knees, if perchance thou wilt give us a stranger's
gift, or make any present, as is the due of strangers. Nay,
lord, have regard to the gods, for we are thy suppliants;
and Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and sojourners, Zeus,
the god of the stranger, who fareth in the company of
reverend strangers."
' So I spake, and anon he answered out of his pitiless
heart : " Thou art witless, my stranger, or thou hast come
from afar, who biddest me either to fear or shun the gods.
For the Cyclopes pay no heed to Zeus, lord of the aegis, nor
to the blessed gods, for verily we are better men than they.
Nor would I, to shun the enmity of Zeus, spare either thee
or thy company, unless my spirit bade me. But tell me
where thou didst stay thy well-wrought ship on thy coming ?
Was it perchance at the far end of the island, or hard by,
that I may know ? "
' So he spake, tempting me, but he cheated me not, who
knew full much, and I answered him again with words of
guile :
1 "As for my ship, Poseidon, the shaker of the earth, brake
it to pieces, for he cast it upon the rocks at the border of
your country, and brought it nigh the headland, and a wind
bare it thither from the sea. But I with these my men
escaped from utter doom."
1 So I spake, and out of his pitiless heart he answered
me not a word, but sprang up, and laid his hands upon my
fellows, and clutching two together dashed them, as they had
been whelps, to the earth, and the brain flowed forth upon
the ground, and the earth was wet Then cut he them up
piecemeal, and made ready his supper. So he ate even as
a mountain-bred lion, and ceased not, devouring entrails
and flesh and bones with their marrow. And we wept and
raised our hands to Zeus, beholding the cruel deeds; and
we were at our wits' end. And after the Cyclops had filled
his huge maw with human flesh and the milk he drank
128 HOMER
thereafter, he lay within the cave, stretched out among his
sheep.
' So I took counsel in my great heart, whether I should
draw near, and pluck my sharp sword from my thigh, and
stab him in the breast, where the midriff holds the liver,
feeling for the place with my hand. But my second thought
withheld me, for so should we too have perished even there
with utter doom. For we should not have prevailed to roll
away with our hands from the lofty door the heavy stone
which he set there. So for that time we made moan, await-
ing the bright Dawn.
1 Now when early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
again he kindled the fire and milked his goodly flocks all
orderly, and beneath each ewe set her lamb. Anon when he
had done all his work busily, again he seized yet other two
men and made ready his mid-day meal. And after the meal,
lightly he moved away the great door-stone, and drave his
fat flocks forth from the cave, and afterwards he set it in his
place again, as one might set the lid on a quiver. Then
with a loud whoop, the Cyclops turned his fat flocks towards
the hills; but I was left devising evil in the deep of my
heart, if in any wise I might avenge me, and Athene grant
me renown.
'And this was the counsel that showed best in my sight.
There lay by a sheep-fold a great club of the Cyclops, a club
of olive wood, yet green, which he had cut to carry with him
when it should be seasoned. Now when we saw it we
likened it in size to the mast of a black ship of twenty oars,
a wide merchant vessel that traverses the great sea gulf, so
huge it was to view in bulk and length. I stood thereby and
cut off from it a portion as it were a fathom's length, and set
it by my fellows, and bade them fine it down, and they made
it even, while I stood by and sharpened it to a point, and
straightway I took it and hardened it in the bright fire. Then
I laid it well away, and hid it beneath the dung, which was
scattered in great heaps in the depths of the cave. And I
bade my company cast lots among them, which of them
should risk the adventure with me, and lift the bar and turn
it about in his eye, when sweet sleep came upon him. And
the lot fell upon those four whom I myself would have been
THE ODYSSEY 129
fain to choose, and I appointed myself to be the fifth among
them. In the evening he came shepherding his flocks of
goodly fleece, and presently he drave his fat flocks into the
cave each and all, nor left he any without in the deep court-
yard, whether through some foreboding, or perchance that
the god so bade him do. Thereafter he lifted the huge
door-stone and set it in the mouth of the cave, and sitting
down he milked the ewes and bleating goats, all orderly, and
beneath each ewe he placed her young. Now when he had
done all his work busily, again he seized yet other two and
made ready his supper. Then I stood by the Cyclops and
spake to him, holding in my hands an ivy bowl of the dark
wine:
* " Cyclops, take and drink wine after thy feast of man's
meat, that thou mayest know what manner of drink this was
that our ship held. And lo, I was bringing it thee as a
drink offering, if haply thou mayest take pity and send me
on my way home, but thy mad rage is past all sufferance.
O hard of heart, how may another of the many men there
be come ever to thee again, seeing that thy deeds have been
lawless ? "
' So I spake, and he took the cup and drank it off, and
found great delight in drinking the sweet draught, and asked
me for it yet a second time :
4 " Give it me again of thy grace, and tell me thy name
straightway, that I may give thee a stranger's gift, wherein
thou mayest be glad. Yea for the earth, the grain-giver,
bears for the Cyclopes the mighty clusters of the juice of
the grape, and the rain of Zeus gives them increase, but
this is a rill of very nectar and ambrosia."
1 So he spake, and again I handed him the dark wine.
Thrice I bare and gave it him, and thrice in his folly he
drank it to the lees. Now when the wine had got about the
wits of the Cyclops, then did I speak to him with soft words :
1 " Cyclops, thou askest me my renowned name, and I
will declare it unto thee, and do thou grant me a stranger's
gift, as thou didst promise. Noman is my name, and Noman
they call me, my father and my mother and all my fellows."
* So I spake, and straightway he answered me out of his
pitiless heart:
E— Vol. 22 HC
130 HOMER
1 " Noman will I eat last in the number of his fellows, and
the others before him : that shall be thy gift."
* Therewith he sank backwards and fell with face upturned,
and there he lay with his great neck bent round, and sleep,
that conquers all men, overcame him. And the wine and the
fragments of men's flesh issued forth from his mouth, and he
vomited, being heavy with wine. Then I thrust in that stake
under the deep ashes, until it should grow hot, and I spake
to my companions comfortable words, lest any should hang
back from me in fear. But when that bar of olive wood
was just about to catch fire in the flame, green though it
was, and began to glow terribly, even then I came nigh,
and drew it from the coals, and my fellows gathered about
me, and some god breathed great courage into us. For their
part they seized the bar of olive wood, that was sharpened
at the point, and thrust it into his eye, while I from my place
aloft turned it about, as when a man bores a ship's beam
with a drill while his fellows below spin it with a strap,
which they hold at either end, and the auger runs round con-
tinually. Even so did we seize the fiery-pointed brand and
whirled it round in his eye, and the blood flowed about the
heated bar. And the breath of the flame singed his eyelids
and brows all about, as the ball of the eye burnt away, and
the roots thereof crackled in the flame. And as when a smith
dips an axe or adze in chill water with a great hissing, when
he would temper it — for hereby anon comes the strength of
iron — even so did his eye hiss round the stake of olive. And
he raised a great and terrible cry, that the rock rang around,
and we fled away in fear, while he plucked forth from his
eye the brand bedabbled in much blood. Then maddened
with pain he cast it from him with his hands, and called with
a loud voice on the Cyclopes, who dwelt about him in the
caves along the windy heights. And they heard the cry
and flocked together from every side, and gathering round
the cave asked him what ailed him :
' " What hath so distressed thee, Polyphemus, that thou
criest thus aloud through the immortal night, and makest us
sleepless? Surely no mortal driveth off thy flocks against
thy will: surely none slayeth thyself by force or craft?"
'And the strong Polyphemus spake to them again from
THE ODYSSEY 131
out the cave : " My friends, Noman is slaying me by guile,
nor at all by force."
'And they answered and spake winged words: "If then
no man is violently handling thee in thy solitude, it can in
no wise be that thou shouldest escape the sickness sent by
mighty Zeus. Nay, pray thou to thy father, the lord
Poseidon."
* On this wise they spake and departed ; and my heart
within me laughed to see how my name and cunning counsel
had beguiled them. But the Cyclops, groaning and travailing
in pain, groped with his hands, and lifted away the stone from
the door of the cave, and himself sat in the entry, with arms
outstretched to catch, if he might, any one that was going
forth with his sheep, so witless, methinks, did he hope to find
me. But I advised me how all might be for the very best,
if perchance I might find a way of escape from death for my
companions and myself, and I wove all manner of craft and
counsel, as a man will for his life, seeing that great mischief
was nigh. And this was the counsel that showed best in
my sight. The rams of the flock were well nurtured and
thick of fleece, great and goodly, with wool dark as the
violet. Quietly I lashed them together with twisted withies,
whereon the Cyclops slept, that lawless monster. Three
together I took: now the middle one of the three would
bear each a man, but the other twain went on either side,
saving my fellows. Thus every three sheep bare their man.
But as for me I laid hold of the back of a young ram who
was far the best and the goodliest of all the flock, and curled
beneath his shaggy belly there X lay, and so clung face up-
ward, grasping the wondrous fleece with a steadfast heart.
So for that time making moan we awaited the bright Dawn.
' So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
then did the rams of the flock hasten forth to pasture, but the
ewes bleated unmilked about the pens, for their udders were
swollen to bursting. Then their lord, sore stricken with pain,
felt along the backs of all the sheep as they stood up before
him, and guessed not in his folly how that my men were
bound beneath the breasts of his thick-fleeced flocks. Last
of all the sheep came forth the ram, cumbered with his
wool and the weight of me and my cunning. And the
132 HOMER
strong Polyphemus laid his hands on him and spake to him
saying :
4 " Dear ram, wherefore, I pray thee, art thou the last of
all the flocks to go forth from the cave, who of old wast not
wont to lag behind the sheep, but wert ever the foremost
to pluck the tender blossom of the pasture, faring with long
strides, and wert still the first to come to the streams of the
rivers, and first did long to return to the homestead in the
evening? But now art thou the very last. Surely thou art
sorrowing for the eye of thy lord, which an evil man blinded,
with his accursed fellows, when he had subdued my wits
with wine, even Noman, whom I say hath not yet escaped
destruction. Ah, if thou couldst feel as I, and be endued
with speech, to tell me where he shifts about to shun my
wrath; then should he be smitten, and his brains be dashed
against the floor here and there about the cave, and my
heart be lightened of the sorrows which Noman, nothing
worth, hath brought me! M
* Therewith he sent the ram forth from him. and when we
had gone but a little way from the cave and from the yard,
first I loosed myself from under the ram and then I set my
fellows free. And swiftly we drave on those stiff-shanked
sheep, so rich in fat, and often turned to look about, till we
came to the ship. And a glad sight to our fellows were we
that had fled from death, but the others they would have
bemoaned with tears; howbeit I suffered it not, but with
frowning brows forbade each man to weep. Rather I bade
them to cast on board the many sheep with goodly fleece,
and to sail over the salt sea water. So they embarked forth-
with, and sate upon the benches, and sitting orderly smote
the grey sea water with their oars. But when I had not
gone so far, but that a man's shout might be heard, then
I spoke unto the Cyclops taunting him:
1 " Cyclops, so thou wert not to eat the company of a
weakling by main might in thy hollow cave! Thine evil
deeds were very sure to find thee out, thou cruel man, who
hadst no shame to eat thy guests within thy gates, wherefore
Zeus hath requited thee, and the other gods."
' So I spake, and he was mightily angered at heart, and
he brake off the peak of a great hill and threw it at us,
THE ODYSSEY 133
and it fell in front of the dark-prowed ship.* And the sea
heaved beneath the fall of the rock, and the backward flow of
the wave bare the ship quickly to the dry land, with the wash
from the deep sea, and drave it to the shore. Then I caught
up a long pole in my hands, and thrust the ship from off the
land, and roused my company, and with a motion of the head
bade them dash in with their oars, that so we might escape
our evil plight. So they bent to their oars and rowed on. But
when we had now made twice the distance over the brine,
I would fain have spoken to the Cyclops, but my company
stayed me on every side with soft words, saying:
' " Foolhardy that thou art, why wouldst thou rouse a wild
man to wrath, who even now hath cast so mighty a throw
towards the deep and brought our ship back to land, yea and
we thought that we had perished 3 even there? If he had
heard any of us utter sound or speech he would have crushed
our heads and our ship timbers with a cast of a rugged stone,
so mightily he hurls."
1 So spake they, but they prevailed not on my lordly spirit,
and I answered him again from out an angry heart:
' " Cyclops, if any one of mortal men shall ask thee of the
unsightly blinding of thine eye, say that it was Odysseus that
blinded it, the waster of cities, son of Laertes, whose dwelling
is in Ithaca."
' So I spake, and with a moan he answered me, saying :
1 " Lo now, in very truth the ancient oracles have come
upon me. There lived here a soothsayer, a noble man and
a mighty, Telemus, son of Eurymus, who surpassed all men
in soothsaying, and waxed old as a seer among the Cyclopes.
He told me that all these things should come to pass in the
aftertime, even that I should lose my eyesight at the hand
of Odysseus. But I ever looked for some tall and goodly
man to come hither, clad in great might, but behold now one
that is a dwarf, a man of no worth and a weakling, hath
blinded me of my eye after subduing me with wine. Nay
come hither, Odysseus, that I may set by thee a stranger's
3 We have omitted line 483, as required by the sense. It is introduced
here from line 540.
3 Neither in this passage nor in B ii. 171 nor in B xx. 121 do we think
that the aorist infinitive after a verb of saying can bear a future sense.
The aorist infinitive after eXwwpij (ii. 280, vii. 76) is hardly an argument
in its favour; the infinitive there is in fact a noun in the genitive case.
134 HOMER
cheer, and speed thy parting hence, that so the Earth-shaker
may vouchsafe it thee, for his son am I, and he avows him
for my father. And he himself will heal me, if it be his will ;
and none other of the blessed gods or of mortal men."
* Even so he spake, but I answered him, and said : " Would
god that I were as sure to rob thee of soul and life, and send
thee within the house of Hades, as I am that not even the
Earth-shaker will heal thine eye ! "
' So I spake, and then he prayed to the lord Poseidon
stretching forth his hands to the starry heaven : " Hear me,
Poseidon, girdler of the earth, god of the dark hair, if indeed
I be thine, and thou avowest thee my sire, — grant that he may
never come to his home, even Odysseus, waster of cities, the
son of Laertes, whose dwelling is in Ithaca; yet if he is
ordained to see his friends and come unto his well-builded
house, and his own country, late may he come in evil case,
with the loss of all his company, in the ship of strangers,
and find sorrows in his house."
* So he spake in prayer, and the god of the dark locks
heard him. And once again he lifted a stone, far greater than
the first, and with one swing he hurled it, and he put forth
a measureless strength, and cast it but a little space behind
the dark-prowed ship, and all but struck the end of the rudder.
And the sea heaved beneath the fall of the rock, but the wave
bare on the ship and drave it to the further shore.
1 But when we had now reached that island, where all our
other decked ships abode together, and our company were
gathered sorrowing, expecting us evermore, on our coming
thither we ran our ship ashore upon the sand, and ourselves
too stept forth upon the sea beach. Next we took forth the
sheep of the Cyclops from out the hollow ship, and divided
them, that none through me might go lacking his proper
share. But the ram for me alone my goodly-greaved com-
pany chose out, in the dividing of the sheep, and on the
shore I offered him up to Zeus, even to the son of Cronos,
who dwells in the dark clouds, and is lord of all, and I
burnt the slices of the thighs. But he heeded not the
sacrifice, but was devising how my decked ships and my
dear company might perish utterly. Thus for that time we
sat the livelong day, until the going down of the sun, feast-
THE ODYSSEY 135
ing on abundant flesh and sweet wine. And when the sun
had sunk and darkness had come on, then we laid us to rest
upon the sea beach. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the
rosy-fingered, I called to my company, and commanded them
that they should themselves climb the ship and loose the
hawsers. So they soon embarked and sat upon the benches,
and sitting orderly smote the grey sea water with their oars.
1 Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as
men saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear com-
panions.
BOOK X
Odysseus, his entertainment by Aeolus, of whom he received a fair
wind for the present, and all the rest of the winds tied up in a bag;
which his men untying, flew out, and carried him back to Aeolus,
who refused to receive him. His adventure at Lestrygonia with
Antiphates, where of twelve ships he lost eleven, men and all.
How he went thence to the Isle of Aea, where half of his men were
turned by Circe into swine, and how he went himself, and by the
help of Hermes recovered them and stayed with Circe a year.
THEN we came to the isle Aeolian, where dwelt Aeolus,
son of Hippotas, dear to the deathless gods, in a
floating island, and all about it is a wall of bronze
unbroken, and the cliff runs up sheer from the sea. His
twelve children too abide there in his halls, six daughters
and six lusty sons; and, behold, he gave his daughters to
his sons to wife. And they feast evermore by their dear
father and their kind mother, and dainties innumerable lie
ready to their hands. And the house is full of the savour
of feasting, and the noise thereof rings round, yea in the
courtyard, by day, and in the night they sleep each one by
his chaste wife in coverlets and on jointed bedsteads. So
then we came to their city and their goodly dwelling, and
the king entreated me kindly for a whole month, and sought
out each thing, Ilios and the ships of the Argives, and the
return of the Achaeans. So I told him all the tale in order
duly. But when I in turn took the word and asked of my
journey, and bade him send me on my way, he too denied
me not, but furnished an escort. He gave me a wallet,
made of the hide of an ox of nine seasons old, which he
let flay, and therein he bound the ways of all the noisy
winds ; for him the son of Cronos made keeper of the winds,
either to lull or to rouse what blasts he will. And he made
it fast in the hold of the ship with a shining silver thong,
that not the faintest breath might escape. Then he sent
forth the blast of the West Wind to blow for me, to bear
136
THE ODYSSEY 137
our ships and ourselves upon our way; but this he was
never to bring to pass, for we were undone through our
own heedlessness.
4 For nine whole days we sailed by night and day con-
tinually, and now on the tenth day my native land came in
sight, and already we were so near that we beheld the folk
tending the beacon fires. Then over me there came sweet
slumber in my weariness, for all the time I was holding the
sheet, nor gave it to any of my company, that so we might
come quicker to our own country. Meanwhile my company
held converse together, and said that I was bringing home
for myself gold and silver, gifts from Aeolus the high-
hearted son of Hippotas. And thus would they speak look-
ing each man to his neighbour :
* " Lo now, how beloved he is and highly esteemed among
all men, to the city and land of whomsoever he may come.
Many are the goodly treasures he taketh with him out of
the spoil from Troy, while we who have fulfilled like
journeying with him return homeward bringing with us but
empty hands. And now Aeolus hath given unto him these
things freely in his love. Nay come, let us quickly see
what they are, even what wealth of gold and silver is in the
wallet."
1 So they spake, and the evil counsel of my company pre-
vailed. They loosed the wallet, and all the winds brake
forth. And the violent blast seized my men, and bare them
towards the high seas weeping, away from their own
country; but as for me, I awoke and communed with my
great heart, whether I should cast myself from the ship and
perish in the deep, or endure in silence and abide yet among
the living. Howbeit I hardened my heart to endure, and
muffling my head I lay still in the ship. But the vessels
were driven by the evil storm-wind back to the isle Aeolian,
and my company made moan.
' There we stepped ashore and drew water, and my com-
pany presently took their midday meal by the swift ships.
Now when we had tasted bread and wine, I took with me a
herald and one of my company, and went to the famous
dwelling of Aeolus: and I found him feasting with his
wife and children. So we went in and sat by the pillars
138 HOMEU
of the door on the threshold, and they all marvelled and
asked us:
' " How hast thou come hither, Odysseus ? What evil
god assailed thee? Surely we sent thee on thy way with all
diligence, that thou mightest get thee to thine own country
and thy home, and whithersoever thou wouldest."
* Even so they said, but I spake among them heavy at
heart : " My evil company hath been my bane, and sleep
thereto remorseless. Come, my friends, do ye heal the harm,
for yours is the power."
1 So I spake, beseeching them in soft words, but they held
their peace. And the father answered, saying : " Get thee
forth from the island straightway, thou that art the most
reprobate of living men. Far be it from me to help or to
further that man whom the blessed gods abhor ! Get thee
forth, for lo, thy coming marks thee hated by the deathless
gods."
1 Therewith he sent me forth from the house making heavy
moan. Thence we sailed onwards stricken at heart. And
the spirit of the men was spent beneath the grievous rowing
by reason of our vain endeavour, for there was no more any
sign of a wafting wind. So for the space of six days we
sailed by night and day continually, and on the seventh
we came to the steep stronghold of Lamos, Telepylos of the
Laestrygons, where herdsman hails herdsman as he drives
in his flock, and the other who drives forth answers the
call. There might a sleepless man have earned a double
wage, the one as neat-herd, the other shepherding white
flocks: so near are the outgoings of the night and of the
day. Thither when we had come to the fair haven, where-
about on both sides goes one steep cliff unbroken, and
jutting headlands over against each other stretch forth to the
mouth of the harbour, and strait is the entrance; thereinto
all the others steered their curved ships. Now the vessels
were bound within the hollow harbour each hard by other,
for no wave ever swelled within it, great or small, but
there was a bright calm all around. But I alone moored
my dark ship without the harbour, at the uttermost point
thereof, and made fast the hawser to a rock. And I went
up a craggy hill, a place of out-look, and stood thereon:
THE ODYSSEY 139
thence there was no sign of the labour of men or oxen,
only we saw the smoke curling upward from the land.
Then I sent forth certain of my company to go and search
out what manner of men they were who here live upon the
earth by bread, choosing out two of my company and send-
ing a third with them as herald. Now when they had gone
ashore, they went along a level road whereby wains were
wont to draw down wood from the high hills to the town.
And without the town they fell in with a damsel drawing
water, the noble daughter of Laestrygonian Antiphates. She
had come down to the clear-flowing spring Artacia, for
thence it was custom to draw water to the town. So they
stood by her and spake unto her, and asked who was king
of that land, and who they were he ruled over. Then at
once she showed them the high-roofed hall of her father.
Now when they had entered the renowned house, they found
his wife therein: she was huge of bulk as a mountain peak
and was loathly in their sight. Straightway she called the
renowned Antiphates, her lord, from the assembly-place, and
he contrived a pitiful destruction for my men. Forthwith
he clutched up one of my company and made ready his
midday meal, but the other twain sprang up and came in
flight to the ships. Then he raised the war cry through the
town, and the valiant Laestrygons at the sound thereof,
flocked together from every side, a host past number, not
like men but like the Giants. They cast at us from the
cliffs with great rocks, each of them a man's burden, and
anon there arose from the fleet an evil din of men dying and
ships shattered withal. And like folk spearing fishes they
bare home their hideous meal. While as yet they were
slaying my friends within the deep harbour, I drew my sharp
sword from my thigh, and with it cut the hawsers of my
dark-prowed ship. Quickly then I called to my company,
and bade them dash in with the oars, that we might clean
escape this evil plight. And all with one accord they tossed
the sea water with the oar-blade, in dread of death, and to
my delight my barque flew forth to the high seas away from
the beetling rocks, but those other ships were lost there,
one and all.
• Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as
140 HOMER
men saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear com-
panions.
' And we came to the isle Aeaean, where dwelt Circe
of the braided tresses, an awful goddess of mortal speech,
own sister to the wizard Aeetes. Both were begotten
of Helios, who gives light to all men, and their mother
was Perse, daughter of Oceanus. There on the shore we
put in with our ship into the sheltering haven silently, and
some god was our guide. Then we stept ashore, and for
two days and two nights lay there, consuming our own
hearts for weariness and pain. But when now the fair-
tressed Dawn had brought the full light of the third day,
then did I seize my spear and my sharp sword, and quickly
departing from the ship I went up unto a place of wide pros-
pect, if haply I might see any sign of the labour of men and
hear the sound of their speech. So I went up a craggy hill, a
place of out-look, and I saw the smoke rising from the broad-
wayed earth in the halls of Circe, through the thick coppice
and the woodland. Then I mused in my mind and heart
whether I should go and make discovery, for that I had seen
the smoke and flame. And as I thought thereon this seemed
to me the better counsel, to go first to the swift ship and to
the sea-banks, and give my company their midday meal, and
then send them to make search. But as I came and drew
nigh to the curved ship, some god even then took pity on me
in my loneliness, and sent a tall antlered stag across my very
path. He was coming down from his pasture in the wood-
land to the river to drink, for verily the might of the sun
was sore upon him. And as he came up from out of the
stream, I smote him on the spine in the middle of the back,
and the brazen shaft went clean through him, and with a
moan he fell in the dust, and his life passed from him. Then
I set my foot on him and drew forth the brazen shaft from
the wound, and laid it hard by upon the ground and let it lie.
Next I broke withies and willow twigs, and wove me a rope
a fathom in length, well twisted from end to end, and bound
together the feet of the huge beast, and went to the black
ship bearing him across my neck, and leaning on a spear, for
it was in no wise possible to carry him on my shoulder with
the one hand, for he was a mighty quarry. And I threw him
THE ODYSSEY 141
down before the ship and roused my company with soft
words, standing by each man in turn:
1 " Friends, for all our sorrows we shall not yet a while go
down to the house of Hades, ere the coming of the day of
destiny; go to then, while as yet there is meat and drink
in the swift ship, let us take thought thereof, that we be not
famished for hunger."
1 Even so I spake, and they speedily hearkened to my
words. They unmuffled their heads, and there on the shore
of the unharvested sea gazed at the stag, for he was a
mighty quarry. But after they had delighted their eyes
with the sight of him, they washed their hands and got ready
the glorious feast. So for that time we sat the livelong day
till the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh
and sweet wine. But when the sun sank and darkness had
come on, then we laid us to rest upon the sea beach. So
soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, I called
a gathering of my men and spake in the ears of them all :
' " Hear my words, my fellows, despite your evil case. My
friends, lo, now we know not where is the place of dark-
ness or of dawning, nor where the Sun, that gives light to
men, goes beneath the earth, nor where he rises; therefore
let us advise us speedily if any counsel yet may be: as for
me, I deem there is none. For I went up a craggy hill, a
place of out-look, and saw the island crowned about with the
circle of the endless sea, the isle itself lying low; and in
the midst thereof mine eyes beheld the smoke through the
thick coppice and the woodland."
' Even so I spake, but their spirit within them was broken,
as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestry-
gonian, and all the evil violence of the haughty Cyclops, the
man-eater. So they wept aloud shedding big tears. Howbeit
no avail came of their weeping.
'Then I numbered my goodly-greaved company in two
bands, and appointed a leader for each, and I myself took
the command of the one part, and godlike Eurylochus of
the other. And anon we shook the lots in a brazen-fitted
helmet, and out leapt the lot of proud Eurylochus. So
he went on his way, and with him two and twenty of my
fellowship all weeping; and we were left behind making
142 HOMER
lament. In the forest glades they found the halls of Circe
builded, of polished stone, in a place with wide prospect
And all around the palace mountain-bred wolves and lions
were roaming, whom she herself had bewitched with evil
drugs that she gave them. Yet the beasts did not set on
my men, but lo, they ramped about them and fawned on
them, wagging their long tails. And as when dogs fawn
about their lord when he comes from the feast, for he always
brings them the fragments that soothe their mood, even so
the strong-clawed wolves and the lions fawned around them ;
but they were affrighted when they saw the strange and
terrible creatures. So they stood at the outer gate of the
fair-tressed goddess, and within they heard Circe singing in
a sweet voice, as she fared to and fro before the great web
imperishable, such as is the handiwork of goddesses, fine
of woof and full of grace and splendour. Then Polites, a
leader of men, the dearest to me and the trustiest of all
my company, first spake to them:
* " Friends, forasmuch as there is one within that fares
to and fro before a mighty web singing a sweet song, so
that all the floor of the hall makes echo, a goddess she is
or a woman ; come quickly and cry aloud to her."
* He spake the word and they cried aloud and called to
her. And straightway she came forth and opened the shining
doors and bade them in, and all went with her in their
heedlessness. But Eurylochus tarried behind, for he guessed
that there was some treason. So she led them in and set
them upon chairs and high seats, and made them a mess
of cheese and barley-meal and yellow honey with Pramnian
wine, and mixed harmful drugs with the food to make them
utterly forget their own country. Now when she had given
them the cup and they had drunk it off, presently she smote
them with a wand, and in the styes of the swine she penned
them. So they had the head and voice, the bristles and the
shape of swine, but their mind abode even as of old. Thus
were they penned there weeping, and Circe flung them
acorns and mast and fruit of the cornel tree to eat, whereon
wallowing swine do always batten.
' Now Eurylochus came back to the swift black ship to
bring tidings of his fellows, and of their unseemly doom.
THE ODYSSEY 143
Not a word could he utter, for all his desire, so deeply
smitten was he to the heart with grief, and his eyes were
filled with tears and his soul was fain of lamentation. But
when we all had pressed him with our questions in amaze-
ment, even then he told the fate of the remnant of our com-
pany.
' " We went, as thou didst command, through the coppice,
noble Odysseus: we found within the forest glades the fair
halls, builded of polished stone, in a place with wide pros-
pect. And there was one that fared before a mighty web
and sang a clear song, a goddess she was or a woman,
and they cried aloud and called to her. And straightway
she came forth, and opened the shining doors and bade
them in, and they all went with her in their heedlessness.
But I tarried behind, for I guessed that there was some
treason. Then they vanished away one and all, nor did
any of them appear again, though I sat long time watching."
1 So spake he, whereon I cast about my shoulder my sil-
ver-studded sword, a great blade of bronze, and slung my
bow about me and bade him lead me again by the way
that he came. But he caught me with both hands, and by
my knees he besought me, and bewailing him spake to me
winged words:
' " Lead me not thither against my will, oh fosterling of
Zeus, but leave me here ! For well I know thou shalt thyself
return no more, nor bring any one of all thy fellowship ; nay,
let us flee the swifter with those that be here, for even yet
may we escape the evil day."
' On this wise he spake, but I answered him, saying:
" Eurylochus, abide for thy part here in this place, eating
and drinking by the black hollow ship: but I will go forth,
for a strong constraint is laid on me."
' With that I went up from the ship and the sea-shore.
But lo, when in my faring through the sacred glades I was
now drawing near to the great hall of the enchantress Circe,
then did Hermes, of the golden wand, meet me as I ap-
proached the house, in the likeness of a young man with
the first down on his lip, the time when youth is most
gracious. So he clasped my hand and spake and hailed me :
' " Ah, hapless man, whither away again, all alone through
144 HOMER
the wolds, thou that knowest not this country? And thy
company yonder in the hall of Circe are penned in the guise
of swine, in their deep lairs abiding. Is it in hope to free
them that thou art come hither? Nay, methinks, thou thy-
self shalt never return but remain there with the others.
Come then, I will redeem thee from thy distress, and bring
deliverance. Lo, take this herb of virtue, and go to the
dwelling of Circe, that it may keep from thy head the evil
day. And I will tell thee all the magic sleight of Circe.
She will mix thee a potion and cast drugs into the mess;
but not even so shall she be able to enchant thee ; so helpful
is this charmed herb that I shall give thee, and I will tell
thee all. When it shall be that Circe smites thee with her
long wand, even then draw thou thy sharp sword from thy
thigh, and spring on her, as one eager to slay her. And
she will shrink away and be instant with thee to lie with
her. Thenceforth disdain not thou the bed of the goddess,
that she may deliver thy company and kindly entertain thee.
But command her to swear a mighty oath by the blessed
gods, that she will plan nought else of mischief to thine own
hurt, lest she make thee a dastard and unmanned, when she
hath thee naked."
' Therewith the slayer of Argos gave me the plant that he
had plucked from the ground, and he showed me the growth
thereof. It was black at the root, but the flower was like to
milk. Moly the gods call it, but it is hard for mortal men to
dig; howbeit with the gods all things are possible.
' Then Hermes departed toward high Olympus, up through
the woodland isle, but as for me I held on my way to the
house of Circe, and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
So I halted in the portals of the fair-tressed goddess; there
I stood and called aloud and the goddess heard my voice,
who presently came forth and opened the shining doors and
bade me in, and I went with her heavy at heart. So she led
me in and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly
carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet. And
she made me a potion in a golden cup, that I might drink,
and she also put a charm therein, in the evil counsel of her
heart.
'Now when she had given it and I had drunk if off
THE ODYSSEY 145
and was not bewitched, she smote me with her wand and
spake and hailed me:
1 "Go thy way now to the stye, couch thee there with the
rest of thy company."
' So spake she, but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh
and sprang upon Circe, as one eager to slay her. But with
a great cry she slipped under, and clasped my knees, and
bewailing herself spake to me winged words :
' " Who art thou of the sons of men, and whence? Where
is thy city? Where are they that begat thee? I marvel to
see how thou hast drunk of this charm, and wast nowise sub-
dued. Nay, for there lives no man else that is proof against
this charm, whoso hath drunk thereof, and once it hath
passed his lips. But thou hast, methinks, a mind within
thee that may not be enchanted. Verily thou art Odysseus,
ready at need, whom he of the golden wand, the slayer of
Argos, full often told me was to come hither, on his way
from Troy with his swift black ship. Nay come, put thy sword
into the sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed,
that meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other."
1 So spake she, but I answered her, saying : " Nay, Circe,
how canst thou bid me be gentle to thee, who hast turned
my company into swine within thy halls, and holding me
here with a guileful heart requirest me to pass within thy
chamber and go up into thy bed, that so thou mayest make
me a dastard and unmanned when thou hast me naked?
Nay, never will I consent to go up into thy bed, except
thou wilt deign, goddess, to swear a mighty oath, that thou
wilt plan nought else of mischief to mine own hurt."
' So I spake, and she straightway swore the oath not to
harm me, as I bade her. But when she had sworn and had
done that oath, then at last I went up into the beautiful bed
of Circe.
1 Now all this while her handmaids busied them in the
halls, four maidens that are her serving women in the house.
They are born of the wells and of the woods and of the holy
rivers, that flow forward into the salt sea. Of these one cast
upon the chairs goodly coverlets of purple above, and spread
a linen cloth thereunder. And lo, another drew up silver
tables to the chairs, and thereon set for them golden baskets.
148 HOMER
And a third mixed sweet honey-hearted wine in a silver bowl,
and set out cups of gold. And a fourth bare water, and
kindled a great fire beneath the mighty cauldron. So the
water waxed warm ; but when it boiled in the bright brazen
vessel, she set me in a bath and bathed me with water from
out a great cauldron, pouring it over head and shoulders,
when she had mixed it to a pleasant warmth, till from my
limbs she took away the consuming weariness. Now after
she had bathed me and anointed me well with olive oil, and
cast about me a fair mantle and a doublet, she led me into
the halls and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly
carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet. And
a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly golden
ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to wash withal ;
and to my side she drew a polished table, and a grave dame
bare wheaten bread and set it by me, and laid on the board
many dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by
her. And she bade me eat, but my soul found no pleasure
therein. I sat with other thoughts, and my heart had a
boding of ill.
' Now when Circe saw that I sat thus, and that I put not
forth my hands to the meat, and that I was mightily afflicted,
she drew near to me and spake to me winged words:
' " Wherefore thus, Odysseus, dost thou sit there like a
speechless man, consuming thine own soul, and dost not
touch meat nor drink ? Dost thou indeed deem there is some
further guile? Nay, thou hast no cause to fear, for already
I have sworn thee a strong oath not to harm thee.'*
' So spake she, but I answered her, saying : " Oh, Circe,
what righteous man would have the heart to taste meat and
drink ere he had redeemed his company, and beheld them
face to face? But if in good faith thou biddest me eat and
drink, then let them go free, that mine eyes may behold my
dear companions."
1 So I spake, and Circe passed out through the hall with the
wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the stye, and
drave them forth in the shape of swine of nine seasons old.
There they stood before her, and she went through their
midst, and anointed each one of them with another charm.
And lo, from their limbs the bristles dropped away, where-
THE ODYSSEY 147
with the venom had erewhile clothed them, that lady Circe
gave them. And they became men again, younger than
before they were, and goodlier far, and taller to behold.
And they all knew me again and each one took my hands,
and wistful was the lament that sank into their souls, and
the roof around rang wondrously. And even the goddess
herself was moved with compassion.
' Then standing nigh me the fair goddess spake unto me :
" Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, depart now to thy swift ship and the sea-banks.
And first of all, draw ye up the ship ashore, and bestow the
goods in the caves and all the gear. And thyself return
again, and bring with thee thy dear companions/'
' So spake she, and my lordly spirit consented thereto.
So I went on my way to the swift ship and the sea-banks,
and there I found my dear company on the swift ship
lamenting piteously, shedding big tears. And as when calves
of the homestead gather round the droves of kine that have
returned to the yard, when they have had their fill of pasture,
and all with one accord frisk before them, and the folds may
no more contain them, but with a ceaseless lowing they skip
about their dams, so flocked they all about me weeping, when
their eyes beheld me. Yea, and to their spirit it was as
though they had got to their dear country, and the very city
of rugged Ithaca, where they were born and reared.
' Then making lament they spake to me winged words :
a O fosterling of Zeus, we were none otherwise glad at thy
returning, than if we had come to Ithaca, our own country.
Nay come, of our other companions tell us the tale of their
ruin. ,,
' So spake they, but I answered them with soft words :
" Behold, let us first of all draw up the ship ashore, and
bestow our goods in the caves and all our gear. And do
ye bestir you, one and all, to go with me, that ye may see
your fellows in the sacred dwelling of Circe, eating and
drinking, for they have continual store."
' So spake I, and at once they hearkened to my words,
but Eurylochus alone would have holden all my companions,
and uttering his voice he spake to them winged words:
'"Wretched men that we are! whither are we going?
148 HOMER
Why are your hearts so set on sorrow that ye should go
down to the hall of Circe, who will surely change us all to
swine, or wolves, or lions, to guard her great house perforce,
according to the deeds that the Cyclops wrought, when
certain of our company went to his inmost fold, and with
them went Odysseus, ever hardy, for through the blindness
of his heart did they too perish?"
1 So spake he, but I mused in my heart whether to draw
my long hanger from my stout thigh, and therewith smite off
his head and bring it to the dust, albeit he was very near of
kin to me, but the men of my company stayed me on every
side with soothing words :
1 " Prince of the seed of Zeus, as for this man, we will
suffer him, if thou wilt have it so, to abide here by the
ship and guard the ship; but as for us, be our guide to
the sacred house of Circe."
' So they spake and went up from the ship and the sea.
Nay, nor yet was Eurylochus left by the hollow ship, but he
went with us, for he feared my terrible rebuke.
' Meanwhile Circe bathed the rest of my company in her
halls with all care, and anointed them well with olive
oil and cast thick mantles and doublets about them. And
we found them all feasting nobly in the halls. And when
they saw and knew each other face to face, they wept and
mourned, and the house rang around. Then she stood near
me, that fair goddess, and spake saying:
' " Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, no more now wake this plenteous weeping: myself I
know of all the pains ye endured upon the teeming deep, and
the great despite done you by unkindly men upon the land.
Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine, till your spirit shall
return to you again, as it was when first ye left your own
country of rugged Ithaca; but now are ye wasted and want-
ing heart, mindful evermore of your sore wandering, nor
has your heart ever been merry, for very grievous hath been
your trial."
* So spake she, and our lordly spirit consented thereto.
So there we sat day by day for the full circle of a year,
feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine. But when now
a year had gone, and the seasons returned as the months
THE ODYSSEY 149
waned, and the long days came in their course, then did
my dear company call me forth, and say:
* " Good sir, now is it high time to mind thee of thy native
land, if it is ordained that thou shalt be saved, and come to
thy lofty house and thine own country."
1 So spake they and my lordly spirit consented thereto.
So for that time we sat the livelong day till the going down
of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine. But
when the sun sank and darkness came on, they laid them to
rest throughout the shadowy halls.
' But when I had gone up into the fair bed of Circe, I
besought her by her knees, and the goddess heard my speech,
and uttering my voice I spake to her winged words : " Circe,
fulfil for me the promise which thou madest me to send
me on my homeward way. Now is my spirit eager to be
gone, and the spirit of my company, that wear away my
heart as they mourn around me, when haply thou art gone
from us."
* So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon :
" Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, tarry ye now no longer in my house against your
will; but first must ye perform another journey, and reach
the dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone to seek to
the spirit of Theban Teiresias, the blind soothsayer, whose
wits abide steadfast. To him Persephone hath given judg-
ment, even in death, that he alone should have under-
standing; but the other souls sweep shadow-like around."
' Thus spake she, but as for me, my heart was broken,
and I wept as I sat upon the bed, and my soul had no more
care to live and to see the sunlight. But when I had my fill
of weeping and grovelling, then at the last I answered and
spake unto her saying: "And who, Circe, will guide us
on this way? for no man ever yet sailed to hell in a black
ship."
' So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon :
" Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, nay, trouble not thyself for want of a guide, by thy
ship abiding, but set up the mast and spread abroad the
white sails and sit thee down; and the breeze of the North
Wind will bear thy vessel on her way. But when thou
150 HOMER
hast now sailed in thy ship across the stream Oceanus,
where is a waste shore and the groves of Persephone, even
tall poplar trees and willows that shed their fruit before
the season, there beach thy ship by deep eddying Oceanus,
but go thyself to the dank house of Hades. Thereby into
Acheron flows Pyriphlegethon, and Cocytus, a branch of
the water of the Styx, and there is a rock, and the meeting
of the two roaring waters. So, hero, draw nigh thereto,
as I command thee, and dig a trench as it were a cubit in
length and breadth, and about it pour a drink-offering to
all the dead, first with mead and thereafter with sweet wine,
and for the third time with water, and sprinkle white meal
thereon and entreat with many prayers the strengthless
heads of the dead, and promise that on thy return to Ithaca
thou wilt offer in thy halls a barren heifer, the best thou
hast, and wilt fill the pyre with treasure, and wilt sacrifice
apart, to Teiresias alone, a black ram without spot, the
fairest of your flock. But when thou hast with prayers made
supplication to the lordly races of the dead, then offer up a
ram and a black ewe, bending their heads towards Erebus
and thyself turn thy back, with thy face set for the shore of
the river. Then will many spirits come to thee of the dead
that be departed. Thereafter thou shalt call to thy company
and command them to flay the sheep which even now lie
slain by the pitiless sword, and to consume them with fire,
and to make prayer to the gods, to mighty Hades and to
dread Persephone. And thyself draw the sharo sword from
thy thigh and sit there, suffering not the strengthless heads of
the dead to draw nigh to the blood, ere thou hast word of
Teiresias. Then the seer will come to thee quickly, leader
of the people; he will surely declare to thee the way and
the measure of thy path, and as touching thy returning,
how thou mayst go over the teeming deep."
1 So spake she, and anon came the golden throned Dawn.
Then she put on me a mantle and a doublet for raiment, and
the nymph clad herself in a great shining robe, light of woof
and gracious, and about her waist she cast a fair golden
girdle, and put a veil upon her head. But I passed through
the halls and roused my men with smooth words, standing
by each one in turn:
THE ODYSSEY 151
' " Sleep ye now no more nor breathe sweet slumber ; but
let us go on our way, for surely she hath shown me all, the
lady Circe/*
' So spake I, and their lordly soul consented thereto. Yet
even thence I led not my company safe away. There was
one, Elpenor, the youngest of us til, not very valiant in
war, neither steadfast in mind. He was lying apart from the
rest of my men on the housetop of Circe's sacred dwelling,
very fain of the cool air, as one heavy with wine. Now
when he heard the noise of the voices and of the feet of my
fellows as they moved to and fro, he leaped up of a sudden
and minded him not to descend again by the way of the tall
ladder, but fell right down from the roof, and his neck was
broken from the bones of the spine, and his spirit went down
to the house of Hades.
1 Then I spake among my men as they went on their way,
saying : " Ye deem now, I see, that ye are going to your
own dear country; but Circe hath showed us another way,
even to the dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone, to
seek to the spirit of Theban Teiresias."
1 Even so I spake, but their heart within them was broken,
and they sat them down even where they were, and made
lament and tore their hair. Howbeit no help came of their
weeping.
' But as we were now wending sorrowful to the swift
ship and the sea-banks, shedding big tears, Circe meanwhile
had gone her ways and made fast a ram and a black ewe by
the dark ship, lightly passing us by: who may behold a
god against his will, whether going to or fro?
BOOK XI
Odysseus, his descent into hell, and discourses with the ghosts of
the deceased heroes.
NOW when we had gone down to the ship and to the
sea, first of all we drew the ship unto the fair salt
water and placed the mast and sails in the black ship,
and took those sheep and put them therein, and ourselves
too climbed on board, sorrowing, and shedding big tears.
And in the wake of our dark-prowed ship she sent a favour-
ing wind that filled the sails, a kindly escort, — even Circe
of the braided tresses, a dread goddess of human speech.
And we set in order all the gear throughout the ship and sat
us down ; and the wind and the helmsman guided our barque.
And all day long her sails were stretched in her seafaring;
and the sun sank and all the ways were darkened.
* She came to the limits of the world, to the deep-flowing
Oceanus. There is the land and the city of the Cimmerians,
shrouded in mist and cloud, and never does the shining sun
look down on them with his rays, neither when he climbs
up the starry heavens, nor when again he turns earthward
from the firmament, but deadly night is outspread over miser-
able mortals. Thither we came and ran the ship ashore
and took out the sheep; but for our part we held on our
way along the stream of Oceanus, till we came to the place
which Circe had declared to us.
' There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims, but I
drew my sharp sword from my thigh, and dug a pit, as it
were a cubit in length and breadth, and about it poured a
drink-offering to all the dead, first with mead and there-
after with sweet wine, and for the third time with water.
And I sprinkled white meal thereon, and entreated with many
prayers the strengthless heads of the dead, and promised
that on my return to Ithaca I would offer in my halls a
152
THE ODYSSEY 153
barren heifer, the best I had, and fill the pyre with treasure,
and apart unto Teiresias alone sacrifice a black ram without
spot, the fairest of my flock. But when I had besought the
tribes of the dead with vows and prayers, I took the sheep
and cut their throats over the trench, and the dark blood
flowed forth, and lo, the spirits of the dead that be departed
gathered them from out of Erebus. Brides and youths un-
wed, and old men of many and evil days, and tender maidens
with grief yet fresh at heart; and many there were, wounded
with bronze-shod spears, men slain in fight with their bloody
mail about them. And these many ghosts flocked together
from every side about the trench with a wondrous cry, and
pale fear gat hold of me. Then did I speak to my company
and command them to flay the sheep that lay slain by the
pitiless sword, and to consume them with fire, and to make
prayer to the gods, to mighty Hades and to dread Perseph-
one, and myself I drew the sharp sword from my thigh and
sat there, suffering not the strengthless heads of the dead
to draw nigh to the blood, ere I had word of Teiresias.
' And first came the soul of Elpenor, my companion, that
had not yet been buried beneath the wide-wayed earth; for
we left the corpse behind us in the hall of Circe, unwept
and unburied, seeing that another task was instant on us.
At the sight of him I wept and had compassion on him, and
uttering my voice spake to him winged words : " Elpenor,
how hast thou come beneath the darkness and the shadow?
Thou hast come fleeter on foot than I in my black ship."
1 So spake I, and with a moan he answered me, saying :
" Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, an evil doom of some god was my bane and wine
out of measure. When I laid me down on the house-top of
Circe I minded me not to descend again by the way of the
tall ladder, but fell right down from the roof, and my neck
was broken off from the bones of the spine, and my spirit
went down to the house of Hades. And now I pray thee in the
name of those whom we left, who are no more with us, thy
wife, and thy sire who cherished thee when as yet thou wert
a little one, and Telemachus, whom thou didst leave in thy
halls alone ; forasmuch as I know that on thy way hence from
out the dwelling of Hades, thou wilt stay thy well-wrought
154 HOMER
ship at the isle Aeaean, even then, my lord, T charge thee
to think on me. Leave me not unwept and unburied as thou
goest hence, nor turn thy back upon me, lest haply I bring
on thee the anger of the gods. Nay, burn me there with
mine armour, all that is mine, and pile me a barrow on the
shore of the grey sea, the grave of a luckless man, that even
men unborn may hear my story. Fulfil me this and plant
upon the barrow mine oar, wherewith I rowed in the days
of my life, while yet I was among my fellows."
' Even so he spake, and I answered him saying : " All this,
luckless man, will I perform for thee and do."
' Even so we twain were sitting holding sad discourse, I
on the one side, stretching forth my sword over the blood,
while on the other side the ghost of my friend told all his
tale.
' Anon came up the soul of my mother dead, Anticleia,
the daughter of Autolycus the great hearted, whom I left
alive when I departed for sacred Ilios. At the sight of her
I wept, and was moved with compassion, yet even so, for all
my sore grief, I suffered her not to draw nigh to the blood,
ere I had word of Teiresias.
1 Anon came the soul of Theban Teiresias, with a golden
sceptre in his hand, and he knew me and spake unto me:
" Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, what seekest thou now, wretched man, wherefore
hast thou left the sunlight and come hither to behold the
dead and a land desolate of joy? Nay, hold off from the
ditch and draw back thy sharp sword, that I may drink of
the blood and tell thee sooth."
' So spake he and I put up my silver-studded sword into
the sheath, and when he had drunk the dark blood, even
then did the noble seer speak unto me saying : " Thou art
asking of thy sweet returning, great Odysseus, but that will
the god make hard for thee ; for methinks thou shalt not pass
unheeded by the Shaker of the Earth, who hath laid up
wrath in his heart against thee, for rage at the blinding of
his dear son. Yet even so, through many troubles, ye may
come home, if thou wilt restrain thy spirit and the spirit
of thy men so soon as thou shalt bring thy well-wrought ship
nigh to the isle Thrinacia, fleeing the sea of violet blue,
THE ODYSSEY 155
when ye find the herds of Helios grazing and his brave
flocks, of Helios who overseeth all and overheareth all
things. If thou doest these no hurt, being heedful of thy
return, so may ye yet reach Ithaca, albeit in evil case. But
if thou hurtest them, I foreshow ruin for thy ship and for
thy men, and even though thou shalt thyself escape, late
shalt thou return in evil plight, with the loss of all thy com-
pany, on board the ship of strangers, and thou shalt find
sorrows in thy house, even proud men that devour thy living,
while they woo thy godlike wife and offer the gifts of
wooing. Yet I tell thee, on thy coming thou shalt avenge
their violence. But when thou hast slain the wooers in thy
halls, whether by guile, or openly with the edge of the
sword, thereafter go thy way, taking with thee a shapen oar,
till thou shalt come to such men as know not the sea, neither
eat meat savoured with salt; yea, nor have they knowledge
of ships of purple cheek, nor shapen oars which serve for
wings to ships. And I will give thee a most manifest token,
which cannot escape thee. In the day when another way-
farer shall meet thee and say that thou hast a winnowing fan
on thy stout shoulder, even then make fast thy shapen oar
in the earth and do goodly sacrifice to the lord Poseidon,
even with a ram and a bull and a boar, the mate of swine,
and depart for home and offer holy hecatombs to the death-
less gods that keep the wide heaven, to each in order due.
And from the ?ea shall thine own death come, the gentlest
death that may be, which shall end thee foredone with
smooth old age, and the folk shall dwell happily around
thee. This that I say is sooth."
4 So spake he, and I answered him, saying: "Teiresias,
all these threads, methinks, the gods themselves have spun.
But come, declare me this and plainly tell me all. I see
here the spirit of my mother dead; lo, she sits in silence
near the blood, nor deigns to look her son in the face nor
speak to him! Tell me, prince, how may she know me
again that I am he?"
1 So spake I, and anon he answered me, and said : " I will
tell thee an easy saying, and will put it in thy heart.
Whomsoever of the dead that be departed thou shalt suffer
to draw nigh to the blood, he shall tell thee sooth; but if
156 HOMER
thou shalt grudge any, that one shall go to his own place
again." Therewith the spirit of the prince Teiresias went
back within the house of Hades, when he had told all his
oracles. But I abode there steadfastly, till my mother drew
nigh and drank the dark blood; and at once she knew me,
and bewailing herself spake to me winged words:
1 " Dear child, how didst thou come beneath the darkness
and the shadow, thou that art a living man? Grievous is
the sight of these things to the living, for between us and
you are great rivers and dreadful streams; first, Oceanus,
which can no wise be crossed on foot, but only if one have
a well-wrought ship. Art thou but now come hither with
thy ship and thy company in thy long wanderings from
Troy? and hast thou not yet reached Ithaca, nor seen thy
wife in thy halls? "
1 Even so she spake, and I answered her, and said : " O
my mother, necessity was on me to come down to the house
of Hades to seek to the spirit of Theban Teiresias. For not
yet have I drawn near to the Achaean shore, nor yet have I
set foot on mine own country, but have been wandering ever-
more in affliction, from the day that first I went with goodly
Agamemnon to Ilios of the fair steeds, to do battle with the
Trojans. But come, declare me this and plainly tell it all.
What doom overcame thee of death that lays men at their
length? Was it a slow disease, or did Artemis the archer
slay thee with the visitation of her gentle shafts? And tell
me of my father and my son, that I left behind me; doth
my honour yet abide with them, or hath another already
taken it, while they say that I shall come home no more?
And tell me of my wedded wife, of her counsel and her
purpose, doth she abide with her son and keep all secure,
or hath she already wedded the best of the Achaeans?"
1 Even so I spake, and anon my lady mother answered
me : " Yea verily, she abideth with steadfast spirit in thy
halls ; and wearily for her the nights wane always and
the days in shedding of tears. But the fair honour that is
thine no man hath yet taken ; but Telemachus sits at peace
on his demesne, and feasts at equal banquets whereof it is
meet that a judge partake, for all men bid him to their
house. And thy father abides there in the field, and goes
THE ODYSSEY 157
not down to the town, nor lies he on bedding or rugs or
shining blankets, but all the winter he sleeps, where
sleep the thralls in the house, in the ashes by the fire, and is
clad in sorry raiment. But when the summer comes and
the rich harvest-tide, his beds of fallen leaves are strewn
lowly all about the knoll of his vineyard plot. There he
lies sorrowing and nurses his mighty grief, for long desire
of thy return, and old age withal comes heavy upon him.
Yea and even so did I too perish and meet my doom. It
was not the archer goddess of the keen sight, who slew me in
my halls with the visitation of her gentle shafts, nor did
any sickness come upon me, such as chiefly with a sad
wasting draws the spirit from the limbs ; nay, it was my sore
longing for thee, and for thy counsels, great Odysseus, and
for thy loving kindness, that reft me of sweet life."
1 So spake she, and I mused in my heart and would fain
have embraced the spirit of my mother dead. Thrice I
sprang towards her, and was minded to embrace her; thrice
she flitted from my hands as a shadow or even as a
dream, and sharp grief arose ever in my heart. And utter-
ing my voice I spake to her winged words :
' " Mother mine, wherefore dost thou not abide me who
am eager to clasp thee, that even in Hades we twain may
cast our arms each about the other, and have our fill of chill
lament? Is this but a phantom that the high goddess Per-
sephone hath sent me, to the end that I may groan for
more exceeding sorrow ? "
' So spake I, and my lady mother answered me anon : " Ah
me, my child, of all men most ill-fated, Persephone, the
daughter of Zeus, doth in no wise deceive thee, but even on
this wise it is with mortals when they die. For the sinews
no more bind together the flesh and the bones, but the great
force of burning fire abolishes these, so soon as the life hath
left the white bones, and the spirit like a dream flies forth
and hovers near. But haste with all thine heart toward the
sunlight, and mark all this, that even hereafter thou mayest
tell it to thy wife."
1 Thus we twain held discourse together ; and lo, the wo-
men came up, for the high goddess Persephone sent them
forth, all they that had been the wives and daughters of
158 HOMER
mighty men. And they gathered and flocked about the
black blood, and I took counsel how I might question them
each one. And this was the counsel that showed best in
my sight. I drew my long hanger from my stalwart thigh,
and suffered them not all at one time to drink of the
dark blood. So they drew nigh one by one, and each de-
clared her lineage, and I made question of all.
' Then verily did I first see Tyro, sprung of a noble sire,
who said that she was the child of noble Salmoneus, and
declared herself the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus. She
loved a river, the divine Enipeus, far the fairest of the
floods that run upon the earth, and she would resort to the
fair streams of Enipeus. And it came to pass that the
girdler of the world, the Earth-shaker, put on the shape of
the god, and lay by the lady at the mouths of the whirling
stream. Then the dark wave stood around them like a
hill-side bowed, and hid the god and the mortal woman.
And he undid her maiden girdle, and shed a slumber over her.
Now when the god had done the work of love, he clasped
her hand and spake and hailed her:
' " Woman, be glad in our love, and when the year comes
round thou shalt give birth to glorious children, —
for not weak are the embraces of the gods, — and do thou keep
and cherish them. And now go home and hold thy peace,
and tell it not: but behold, I am Poseidon, shaker of the
earth."
' Therewith he plunged beneath the heaving deep. And
she conceived and bare Pelias and Neleus, who both grew
to be mighty men, servants of Zeus. Pelias dwelt in wide
Iolcos, and was rich in flocks; and that other abode in
sandy Pylos. And the queen of women bare yet other sons
to Cretheus, even Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon, whose
joy was in chariots.
' And after her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus, and her
boast was that she had slept even in the arms of Zeus, and
she bare two sons, Amphion and Zethus, who founded first
the place of seven-gated Thebes, and they made of it a
fenced city, for they might not dwell in spacious Thebes
un fenced, for all their valiancy.
* Next to her I saw Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon, who lay
THE ODYSSEY 159
in the arms of mighty Zeus, and bare Heracles of the lion-
heart, steadfast in the fight. And I saw Megara, daughter of
Creon, haughty of heart, whom the strong and tireless son
of Amphitryon had to wife.
1 And I saw the mother of Oedipodes, fair Epicaste, who
wrought a dread deed unwittingly, being wedded to her own
son, and he that had slain his own father wedded her, and
straightway the gods made these things known to men. Yet
he abode in pain in pleasant Thebes, ruling the Cadmaeans,
by reason of the deadly counsels of the gods. But she went
down to the house of Hades, the mighty warder; yea, she
tied a noose from the high beam aloft, being fast holden
in sorrow; while for him she left pains behind full many,
even all that the Avengers of a mother bring to pass.
1 And I saw lovely Chloris, whom Neleus wedded on a
time for her beauty, and brought gifts of wooing past number.
She was the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus,
who once ruled mightily in Minyan Orchomenus. And she
was queen of Pylos, and bare glorious children to her lord,
Nestor and Chromius, and princely Periclymenus, and stately
Pero too, the wonder of all men. All that dwelt around
were her wooers ; but Neleus would not give her, save to him
who should drive off from Phylace the kine of mighty
Iphicles, with shambling gait and broad of brow, hard cattle
to drive. And none but the noble seer 1 took in hand to
drive them; but a grievous fate from the gods fettered him,
even hard bonds and the herdsmen of the wild. But when
at length the months and days were being fulfilled, as the
year returned upon his course, and the seasons came round,
then did mighty Iphicles set him free, when he had spoken
out all the oracles; and herein was the counsel of Zeus
being accomplished.
' And I saw Lede, the famous bed-fellow of Tyndareus,
who bare to Tyndareus two sons, hardy of heart, Castor
tamer of steeds, and Polydeuces the boxer. These twain
yet live, but the quickening earth is over them; and even
in the nether world they have honour at the hand of Zeus.
And they possess their life in turn, living one day and dying
the next, and they have gotten worship even as the gods.
1 Melampui.
160 HOMER
' And after her I beheld Iphimedeia, bed- fellow of Aloeus,
who said that she had lain with Poseidon, and she bare
children twain, but short of life were they, godlike Otus and
far-famed Ephialtes. Now these were the tallest men that
earth, the graingiver, ever reared, and far the goodliest after
the renowned Orion. At nine seasons old they were of
breadth nine cubits, and nine fathoms in height. They it
was who threatened to raise even against the immortals in
Olympus the din of stormy war. They strove to pile Ossa
on Olympus, and on Ossa Pelion with the trembling forest
leaves, that there might be a pathway to the sky. Yea,
and they would have accomplished it, had they reached the
full measure of manhood. But the son of Zeus, whom Leto
of the fair locks bare, destroyed the twain, ere the down
had bloomed beneath their temples, and darkened their chins
with the blossom of youth.
' And Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne, the
daughter of wizard Minos, whom Theseus on a time was
bearing from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens, yet had
he no joy of her; for Artemis slew her ere that in sea-girt
Dia, by reason of the witness of Dionysus.
1 And Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle,
who took fine gold for the price of her dear lord's life.
But I cannot tell or name all the wives and daughters of
the heroes that I saw; ere that, the immortal night would
wane. Nay, it is even now time to sleep, whether I go to
the swift ship to my company or abide here: and for my
convoy you and the gods will care/
So spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were
spell-bound throughout the shadowy halls. Then Arete of the
white arms first spake among them: ' Phaeacians, what think
you of this man for comeliness and stature, and within for
wisdom of heart? Moreover he is my guest, though every
one of you hath his share in this honour. Wherefore haste
not to send him hence, and stint not these your gifts for
one that stands in such sore need of them; for ye have
much treasure stored in your halls by the grace of the
gods/
Then too spake among them the old man, lord Echeneus,
that was an elder among the Phaeacians : * Friends, behold,
THE ODYSSEY 161
the speech of our wise queen is not wide of the mark, nor far
from our deeming, so hearken ye thereto. But on Alcinous
here both word and work depend.'
Then Alcinous made answer, and spake unto him: 'Yea,
the word that she hath spoken shall hold, if indeed I am
yet to live and bear rule among the Phaeacians, masters of
the oar. Howbeit let the stranger, for all his craving to
return, nevertheless endure to abide until the morrow, till I
make up the full measure of the gift; and men shall care for
his convoy, all men, but I in chief, for mine is the lordship
in the land.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:
' My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, if ye
bade me tarry here even for a year, and would speed my
convoy and give me splendid gifts, even that I would choose;
and better would it be for me to come with a fuller hand
to mine own dear country, so should I get more love and
worship in the eyes of all men, whoso should see me after
I was returned to Ithaca/
And Alcinous answered him, saying : ' Odysseus, in no
wise do we deem thee, we that look on thee, to be a knave or
a cheat, even as the dark earth rears many such broadcast,
fashioning lies whence none can even see his way therein.
But beauty crowns thy words, and wisdom is within thee ; and
thy tale, as when a minstrel sings, thou hast told with skill,
the weary woes of all the Argives and of thine own self. But
come, declare me this and plainly tell it all. Didst thou see
any of thy godlike company who went up at the same time
with thee to Ilios and there met their doom? Behold, the
night is of great length, unspeakable, and the time for sleep
in the hall is not yet; tell me therefore of those wondrous
deeds. I could abide even till the bright dawn, so long as
thou couldst endure to rehearse me these woes of thine in
the hall/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:
1 My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, there is a
time for many words and there is a time for sleep. But if
thou art eager still to listen, I would not for my part grudge
to tell thee of other things more pitiful still, even the woes of
my comrades, those that perished afterward, for they had es-
F — Vol. 22 HC
162 HOMER
caped with their lives from the dread war-cry of the Trojans,
but perished in returning by the will of an evil woman.
' Now when holy Persephone had scattered this way and
that the spirits of the women folk, thereafter came the soul
of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sorrowing; and round him
others were gathered, the ghosts of them who had died with
him in the house of Aegisthus and met their doom. And he
knew me straightway when he had drunk the dark blood,
yea, and he wept aloud, and shed big tears as he stretched
forth his hands in his longing to reach me. But it might
not be, for he had now no steadfast strength nor power
at all in moving, such as was aforetime in his supple
limbs.
' At the sight of him I wept and was moved with com-
passion, and uttering my voice, spake to him winged words:
Most renowned son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men,
say what doom overcame thee of death that lays men at
their length? Did Poseidon smite thee in thy ships, raising
the dolorous blast of contrary winds, or did unfriendly men
do thee hurt upon the land, whilst thou wert cutting off their
oxen and fair flocks of sheep, or fighting to win a city and
the women thereof? "
' So spake I, and straightway he answered, and said unto
me: " Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, it was not Poseidon that smote me in my ships, and
raised the dolorous blast of contrary winds, nor did unfriendly
men do me hurt upon the land, but Aegisthus it was that
wrought me death and doom and slew me, with the aid of
my accursed wife, as one slays an ox at the stall, after he had
bidden me to his house, and entertained me at a feast. Even
so I died by a death most pitiful, and round me my company
likewise were slain without ceasing, like swine with glittering
tusks which are slaughtered in the house of a rich and mighty
man, whether at a wedding banquet or a joint-feast or a rich
clan-drinking. Ere now hast thou been at the slaying of
many a man, killed in single fight or in strong battle, yet
thou wouldst have sorrowed the most at this sight, how we
lay in the hall round the mixing-bowl and the laden boards,
and the floor all ran with blood. And most pitiful of all that
I heard was the voice of the daughter of Priam, of Cassandra,
THE ODYSSEY 163
whom hard by me the crafty Clytemnestra slew. Then I
istrove to raise my hands as I was dying upon the sword, but
to earth they fell. And that shameless one turned her back
upon me, and had not the heart to draw down my eyelids with
her fingers nor to close my mouth. So surely is there nought
more terrible and shameless than a woman who imagines such
evil in her heart, even as she too planned a foul deed, fash-
ioning death for her wedded lord. Verily I had thought to
come home most welcome to my children and my thralls ; but
she, out of the depth of her evil knowledge, hath shed shame
on herself and on all womankind, which shall be for ever,
even on the upright."
1 Even so he spake, but I answered him, saying : " Lo
now, in very sooth, hath Zeus of the far-borne voice wreaked
wondrous hatred on the seed of Atreus through the counsels
of woman from of old. For Helen's sake so many of us
perished, and now Clytemnestra hath practised treason
against thee, while yet thou wast afar off."
1 Even so I spake, and anon he answered me, saying :
" Wherefore do thou too, never henceforth be soft even to
thy wife, neither show her all the counsel that thou knowest,
but a part declare and let part be hid. Yet shalt not thou,
Odysseus, find death at the hand of thy wife, for she is very
discreet and prudent in all her ways, the wise Penelope,
daughter of Icarius. Verily we left her a bride new wed
when we went to the war, and a child was at her breast, who
now, methinks, sits in the ranks of men, happy in his lot, for
his dear father shall behold him on his coming, and he shall
embrace his sire as is meet. But as for my wife, she suffered
me not so much as to have my fill of gazing on my son ; ere
that she slew me, even her lord. And yet another thing will
I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy heart. Put thy ship
to land in secret, and not openly, on the shore of thy dear
country; for there is no more faith in woman. But come,
declare me this and plainly tell it all, if haply ye hear of my
son as yet living, either, it may be, in Orchomenus or in
sandy Pylos, or perchance with Menelaus in wide Sparta, for
goodly Orestes hath not yet perished on the earth."
' Even so he spake, but I answered him, saying : " Son
of Atreus> wherefore dost thou ask me straitly of these
164 HOMER
things? Nay I know not at all, whether he be alive or
dead; it is ill to speak words light as wind."
1 Thus we twain stood sorrowing, holding sad discourse,
while the big tears fell fast : and therewithal came the soul of
Achilles, son of Peleus, and of Patroclus and of noble Anti-
lochus and of Aias, who in face and form was goodliest of
all the Danaans, after the noble son of Peleus. And the
spirit of the son of Aeacus, fleet of foot, knew me again,
and making lament spake to me winged words:
' " Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, man overbold, what new deed and hardier than this
wilt thou devise in thy heart? How durst thou come down
to the house of Hades, where dwell the senseless dead, the
phantoms of men outworn ? "
* So he spake, but I answered him : " Achilles, son of
Peleus, mightiest far of the Achaeans, I am come hither to
seek to Teiresias, if he may tell me any counsel, how I may
come to rugged Ithaca. For not yet have I come nigh the
Achaean land, nor set foot on mine own soil, but am still in
evil case; while as for thee, Achilles, none other than thou
wast heretofore the most blessed of men, nor shall any be
hereafter. For of old, in the days of thy life, we Argives
gave thee one honour with the gods, and now thou art a
great prince here among the dead. Wherefore let not thy
death be any grief to thee, Achilles."
' Even so I spake, and he straightway answered me, and
said: "Nay, speak not comfortably to me of death, oh great
Odysseus. Rather would I live on ground 2 as the hireling
of another, with a landless man who had no great livelihood,
than bear sway among all the dead that be departed. But
come, tell me tidings of that lordly son of mine — did he fol-
low to the war to be a leader or not? And tell me of noble
Peleus, if thou hast heard aught, — is he yet held in worship
among the Myrmidons, or do they dishonour him from Hellas
to Phthia, for that old age binds him hand and foot? For I
am no longer his champion under the sun, so mighty a man as
once I was, when in wide Troy I slew the best of the host,
and succoured the Argives. Ah ! could I but come for an
* inapovpos seems to mean ' upon the earth,' * above ground,' as opposed
to the dead who are below, rather than ' bound to the soil,' in which sense
most commentators take it.
THE ODYSSEY 165
hour to my father's house as then I was, so would I make my
might and hands invincible, to be hateful to many an one of
those who do him despite and keep him from his honour."
' Even so he spake, but I answered him, saying : " As for
noble Peleus, verily I have heard nought of him; but con-
cerning thy dear son Neoptolemus, I will tell thee all the truth,
according to thy word. It was I that led him up out of Scyros
in my good hollow ship, in the wake of the goodly-greaved
Achaeans. Now oft as we took counsel around Troy town,
he was ever the first to speak, and no word missed the mark ;
the godlike Nestor and I alone surpassed him. But when-
soever we Achaeans did battle on the plain of Troy, he
never tarried behind in the throng or the press of men, but
ran out far before us all, yielding to none in that might of
his. And many men he slew in warfare dread; but I could
not tell of all or name their names, even all the host he slew
in succouring the Argives; but, ah, how he smote with the
sword that son of Telephus, the hero Eurypylus, and many
Ceteians 3 of his company were slain around him, by reason
of a woman's bribe. He truly was the comeliest man that
ever I saw, next to goodly Memnon. And again when we, the
best of the Argives, were about to go down into the horse
which Epeus wrought, and the charge of all was laid on me,
both to open the door of our good ambush and to shut the
same, then did the other princes and counsellors of the
Danaans wipe away the tears, and the limbs of each one
trembled beneath him, but never once did I see thy son's fair
face wax pale, nor did he wipe the tears from his cheeks : but
he besought me often to let him go forth from the horse,
and kept handling his sword-hilt, and his heavy bronze-shod
spear, and he was set on mischief against the Trojans. But
after we had sacked the steep city of Priam, he embarked
unscathed with his share of the spoil, and with a noble prize ;
he was not smitten with the sharp spear, and got no wound
in close fight: and many such chances there be in war, for
Ares rageth confusedly."
' So I spake, and the spirit of the son of Aeacus, fleet of
foot, passed with great strides along the mead of asphodel,
rejoicing in that I had told him of his son's renown.
8 See Lenormant, Premieres Civilisations, vol. i. p. 289.
166 HOMER
' But lo, other spirits of the dead that be departed stood
sorrowing, and each one asked of those that were dear to
them. The soul of Aias, son of Telamon, alone stood
apart being still angry for the victory wherein I prevailed
against him, in the suit by the ships concerning the arms of
Achilles, that his lady mother had set for a prize; and the
sons of the Trojans made award and Pallas Athene. Would
that I had never prevailed and won such a prize ! So goodly
a head hath the earth closed over, for the sake of those arms,
even over Aias, who in beauty and in feats of war was of a
mould above all the other Danaans, next to the noble son of
Peleus. To him then I spake softly, saying:
' " Aias, son of noble Telamon, so art thou not even in
death to forget thy wrath against me, by reason of those arms
accursed, which the gods set to be the bane of the Argives?
What a tower of strength fell in thy fall, and we Achaeans
cease not to sorrow for thee, even as for the life of Achilles,
son of Peleus ! Nay, there is none other to blame, but Zeus,
who hath borne wondrous hate to the army of the Danaan
spearsmen, and laid on thee thy doom. Nay, come hither,
my lord, that thou mayest hear my word and my speech;
master thy wrath and thy proud spirit."
' So I spake, but he answered me not a word and passed
to Erebus after the other spirits of the dead that be de-
parted. Even then, despite his anger, would he have spoken
to me or I to him, but my heart within me was minded
to see the spirits of those others that were departed.
* There then I saw Minos, glorious son of Zeus, wielding
a golden sceptre, giving sentence from his throne to the dead,
while they sat and stood around the prince, asking his dooms
through the wide-gated house of Hades.
1 And after him I marked the mighty Orion driving the
wild beasts together over the mead of asphodel, the very
beasts that himself had slain on the lonely hills, with a
strong mace all of bronze in his hands*, that is ever un-
broken.
'And I saw Tityos, son of renowned Earth, lying on a
levelled ground, and he covered nine roods as he lay, and
exov in strict grammar agrees with aurb? in 574, but this merely by
attraction, for in sense it refers not to the living man, but to his phantom.
THE ODYSSEY 167
vultures twain beset him one on either side, and gnawed
at his liver, piercing even to the caul, but he drave them not
away with his hands. For he had dealt violently with Leto,
the famous bedfellow of Zeus, as she went up to Pytho
through the fair lawns of Panopeus.
' Moreover I beheld Tantalus in grievous torment, stand-
ing in a mere and the water came nigh unto his chin. And
he stood straining as one athirst, but he might not attain to
the water to drink of it. For often as that old man stooped
down in his eagerness to drink, so often the water was
swallowed up and it vanished away, and the black earth still
showed at his feet, for some god parched it evermore. And
tall trees flowering shed their fruit overhead, pears and
pomegranates and apple trees with bright fruit, and sweet
figs and olives in their bloom, whereat when that old man
reached out his hands to clutch them, the wind would toss
them to the shadowy clouds.
1 Yea and I beheld Sisyphus in strong torment, grasping
a monstrous stone with both his hands. He was pressing
thereat with hands and feet, and trying to roll the stone up-
ward toward the brow of the hill. But oft as he was about
to hurl it over the top, the weight would drive him back, so
once again to the plain rolled the stone, the shameless thing.
And he once more kept heaving and straining, and the sweat
the while was pouring down his limbs, and the dust rose
upwards from his head.
'And after him I descried the mighty Heracles, his phan-
tom, I say; but as for himself he hath joy at the banquet
among the deathless gods, and hath to wife Hebe of the fair
ankles, child of great Zeus, and of Here of the golden san-
dals. And all about him there was a clamour of the dead,
as it were fowls flying every way in fear, and he like black
Night, with bow uncased, and shaft upon the string, fiercely
glancing around, like one in the act to shoot. And about his
breast was an awful belt, a baldric of gold, whereon won-
drous things were wrought, bears and wild boars and lions
with flashing eyes, and strife and battles and slaughters and
murders of men. Nay, now that he hath fashioned this,
never another may he fashion, whoso stored in his craft
the device of that belt! And anon he knew me when his
168
HOMER
eyes beheld me, and making lament he spake unto me winged
words :
' " Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices: ah! wretched one, dost thou too lead such a life of
evil doom, as I endured beneath the rays of the sun ? I was
the son of Zeus Cronion, yet had I trouble beyond measure,
for I was subdued unto a man far worse than I. And he
enjoined on me hard adventures, yea and on a time he sent
me hither to bring back the hound of hell ; for he devised no
harder task for me than this. I lifted the hound and brought
him forth from out of the house of Hades; and Hermes
sped me on my way and the grey-eyed Athene."
* Therewith he departed again into the house of Hades,
but I abode there still, if perchance some one of the hero
folk besides might come, who died in old time. Yea and I
should have seen the men of old, whom I was fain to look
on, Theseus and Peirithous, renowned children of the gods.
But ere that might be the myriad tribes of the dead thronged
up together with wondrous clamour: and pale fear gat hold
of me, lest the high goddess Persephone should send me the
head of the Gorgon, that dread monster, from out of Hades.
* Straightway then I went to the ship, and bade my men
mount the vessel, and loose the hawsers. So speedily they
went on board, and sat upon the benches. And the wave of
the flood bore the barque down the stream of Oceanus, we
rowing first, and afterwards the fair wind was our convoy.
BOOK XII
Odysseus, his passage by the Sirens, and by Scylla and Charybdis.
The sacrilege committed by his men in the isle Thrinacia. The de-
struction of his ships and men. How he swam on a plank nine days
together, and came to Ogygia, where he stayed seven years with
Calypso.
*TW "TOW after the ship had left the stream of the river
^U Oceanus, and was come to the wave of the wide sea,
-i- ^ and the isle Aeaean, where is the dwelling place of
early Dawn and her dancing grounds, and the land of sun-
rising, upon our coming thither we beached the ship in the
sand, and ourselves too stept ashore on the sea beach. There
we fell on sound sleep and awaited the bright Dawn.
' So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, I
sent forth my fellows to the house of Circe to fetch the body
of the dead Elpenor. And speedily we cut billets of wood
and sadly we buried him, where the furthest headland runs
out into the sea, shedding big tears. But when the dead
man was burned and the arms of the dead, we piled a barrow
and dragged up thereon a pillar, and on the topmost mound
we set the shapen oar.
1 Now all that task we finished, and our coming from out
of Hades was not unknown to Circe, but she arrayed her-
self and speedily drew nigh, and her handmaids with her
bare flesh and bread in plenty and dark red wine. And the
fair goddess stood in the midst and spake in our ears,
saying :
* " Men overbold, who have gone alive into the house of
Hades, to know death twice, while all men else die once for
all. Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine here all day
long; and with the breaking of the day ye shall set sail, and
myself I will show you the path and declare each thing, that
ye may not suffer pain or hurt through any grievous ill-
contrivance by sea or on the land."
169
170 HOMER
' So spake she, and our lordly souls consented thereto.
Thus for that time we sat the livelong day, until the going
down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and on sweet
wine. Now when the sun sank and darkness came on, my
company laid them to rest by the hawsers of the ship. Then
she took me by the hand and led me apart from my dear
company, and made me to sit down and laid herself at my
feet, and asked all my tale. And I told her all in order duly.
Then at the last the lady Circe spake unto me, saying:
' " Even so, now all these things have an end; do thou
then hearken even as I tell thee, and the god himself shall
bring it back to thy mind. To the Sirens first shalt thou
come, who bewitch all men, whosoever shall come to them.
Whoso draws nigh them unwittingly and hears the sound of
the Sirens' voice, never doth he see wife or babes stand by
him on his return, nor have they joy at his coming; but
the Sirens enchant him with their clear song, sitting in the
meadow, and all about is a great heap of bones of men, cor-
rupt in death, and round the bones the skin is wasting. But
do thou drive thy ship past, and knead honey-sweet wax,
and anoint therewith the ears of thy company, lest any
of the rest hear the song; but if thou thyself art minded
to hear, let them bind thee in the swift ship hand and foot,
upright in the mast-stead, and from the mast let rope-ends
be tied, that with delight thou mayest hear the voice of
the Sirens. And if thou shalt beseech thy company and
bid them to loose thee, then let them bind thee with yet
more bonds. But when thy friends have driven thy ship
past these, I will not tell thee fully which path shall thence-
forth be thine, but do thou thyself consider it, and I will
speak to thee of either way. On the one side there are
beetling rocks, and against them the great wave roars of
dark-eyed Amphitrite. These, ye must know, are they the
blessed gods call the Rocks Wandering. By this way even
winged things may never pass, nay, not even the cowering
doves that bear ambrosia to Father Zeus, but the sheer
rock evermore takes away one even of these, and the
Father sends in another to make up the tale. Thereby no
ship of men ever escapes that comes thither, but the planks
of ships and the bodies of men confusedly are tossed by the
THE ODYSSEY 171
waves of the sea and the storms of ruinous fire. One ship
only of all that fare by sea hath passed that way, even Argo,
that is in all men's minds, on her voyage from Aeetes. And
even her the wave would lightly have cast there upon the
mighty rocks, but Here sent her by for love of Jason.
' " On the other part are two rocks, whereof the one
reaches with sharp peak to the wide heaven, and a dark
cloud encompasses it; this never streams away, and there is
no clear air about the peak neither in summer nor in harvest
tide. No mortal man may scale it or set foot thereon, not
though he had twenty hands and feet. For the rock is
smooth, and sheer, as it were polished. And in the midst
of the cliff is a dim cave turned to Erebus, towards the
place of darkness, whereby ye shall even steer your hollow
ship, noble Odysseus. Not with an arrow from a bow
might a man in his strength reach from his hollow ship into
that deep cave. And therein dwelleth Scylla, yelping ter-
ribly. Her voice indeed is no greater than the voice of
a new-born whelp, but a dreadful monster is she, nor would
any look on her gladly, not if it were a god that met her.
Verily she hath twelve feet all dangling down ; and six necks
exceeding long, and on each a hideous head, and therein
three rows of teeth set thick and close, full of black death.
Up to her middle is she sunk far down in the hollow cave,
but forth she holds her heads from the dreadful gulf, and
there she fishes, swooping round the rock, for dolphins or
sea-dogs, or whatso greater beast she may anywhere take,
whereof the deep-voiced Amphitrite feeds countless flocks.
Thereby no sailors boast that they have fled scatheless ever
with their ship, for with each head she carries off a man,
whom she hath snatched from out the dark-prowed ship.
' " But that other cliff, Odysseus, thou shalt note, lying
lower, hard by the first : thou couldest send an arrow across.
And thereon is a great fig-tree growing, in fullest leaf, and
beneath it mighty Charybdis sucks down black water, for
thrice a day she spouts it forth, and thrice a day she sucks
it down in terrible wise. Never mayest thou be there when
she sucks the water, for none might save thee then from
thy bane, not even the Earth-Shaker! But take heed and
swiftly drawing nigh to Scylla's rock drive the ship past,
172 HOMER
since of a truth it is far better to mourn six of thy company
in the ship, than all in the selfsame hour."
1 So spake she, but I answered, and said unto her : " Come
I pray thee herein, goddess, tell me true, if there be any
means whereby I might escape from the deadly Charybdis
and avenge me on that other, when she would prey upon
my company."
' So spake I, and that fair goddess answered me : " Man
overbold, lo, now again the deeds of war are in thy mind
and the travail thereof. Wilt thou not yield thee even to
the deathless gods? As for her, she is no mortal, but an
immortal plague, dread, grievous, and fierce, and not to
be fought with; and against her there is no defence; flight
is the bravest way. For if thou tarry to do on thine armour
by the cliff, I fear lest once again she sally forth and catch
at thee with so many heads, and seize as many men as be-
fore. So drive past with all thy force, and call on Cratais,
mother of Scylla, which bore her for a bane to mortals.
And she will then let her from darting forth thereafter.
' " Then thou shalt come unto the isle Thrinacia ; there are
the many kine of Helios and his brave flocks feeding, seven
herds of kine and as many goodly flocks of sheep, and fifty
in each flock. They have no part in birth or in corruption,
and there are goddesses to shepherd them, nymphs with fair
tresses, Phaethusa and Lampetie whom bright Neaera bare
to Helios Hyperion. Now when the lady their mother had
borne and nursed them, she carried them to the isle Thrin-
acia to dwell afar, that they should guard their father's
flocks and his kine with shambling gait. If thou doest these
no hurt, being heedful of thy return, truly ye may even yet
reach Ithaca, albeit in evil case. But if thou hurtest them,
I foreshow ruin for thy ship and for thy men, and even
though thou shouldest thyself escape, late shalt thou return
in evil plight with the loss of all thy company."
1 So spake she, and anon came the golden-throned Dawn.
Then the fair goddess took her way up the island. But I
departed to my ship and roused my men themselves to mount
the vessel and loose the hawsers. And speedily they went
aboard and sat upon the benches, and sitting orderly smote
the grey sea water with their oars. And in the wake
THE ODYSSEY 173
oi our dark-prowed ship she sent a favouring wind that
filhd the sails, a kindly escort, — even Circe of the braided
tresses, a dread goddess of human speech. And straightway
we &et in order the gear throughout the ship and sat us
down, and the wind and the helmsman guided our barque.
' Then I spake among my company with a heavy heart :
" Friends, forasmuch as it is not well that one or two alone
should know of the oracles that Circe, the fair goddess,
spake unto me, therefore will I declare them, that with fore-
knowledge we may die, or haply shunning death and destiny
escape. First she bade us avoid the sound of the voice of
the wondrous Sirens, and their field of flowers, and me only
she bade listen to their voices. So bind ye me in a hard
bond, that I may abide unmoved in my place, upright in the
mast-stead, and from the mast let rope-ends be tied, and if
I beseech and bid you to set me free, then do ye straiten me
with yet more bonds."
' Thus I rehearsed these things one and all, and declared
them to my company. Meanwhile our good ship quickly
came to the island of the Sirens twain, for a gentle breeze
sped her on her way. Then straightway the wind ceased,
and lo, there was a windless calm, and some god lulled the
waves. Then my company rose up and drew in the ship's
sails, and stowed them in the hold of the ship, while they sat
at the oars and whitened the water with their polished pine
blades. But I with my sharp sword cleft in pieces a great
circle of wax, and with my strong hands kneaded it. And
soon the wax grew warm, for that my great might con-
strained it, and the beam of the lord Helios, son of Hyperion.
And I anointed therewith the ears of all my men in their
order, and in the ship they bound me hand and foot upright
in the mast-stead, and from the mast they fastened rope-ends
and themselves sat down, and smote the grey sea water with
their oars. But when the ship was within the sound of a
man's shout from the land, we fleeing swiftly on our way,
the Sirens espied the swift ship speeding toward them, and
they raised their clear-toned song:
1 " Hither, come hither, renowned Odysseus, great glory
of the Achaeans, here stay thy barque, that thou mayest
listen to the voice of us twain. For none hath ever driven
174 HOMER
by this way in his black ship, till he hath heard from our
lips the voice sweet as the honeycomb, and hath had joy
thereof and gone on his way the wiser. For lo, we know all
things, all the travail that in wide Troy-land the Argives and
Trojans bare by the gods' designs, yea, and we know all that
shall hereafter be upon the fruitful earth."
* So spake they uttering a sweet voice, and my heart was
fain to listen, and I bade my company unbind me, nodding
at them with a frown, but they bent to their oars and rowed
on. Then straight uprose Perimedes and Eurylochus and
bound me with more cords and straitened me yet the more.
Now when we had driven past them, nor heard we any
longer the sound of the Sirens or their song, forthwith my
dear company took away the wax wherewith I had anointed
their ears and loosed me from my bonds.
1 But so soon as we left that isle, thereafter presently I saw
smoke and a great wave, and heard the sea roaring. Then
for very fear the oars flew from their hands, and down the
stream they all splashed, and the ship was holden there, for
my company no longer plied with their hands the tapering
oars. But I paced the ship and cheered on my men, as I
stood by each one and spake smooth words:
' " Friends, forasmuch as in sorrow we are not all un*-
learned, truly this is no greater woe that is upon us, 1 than
when the Cyclops penned us by main might in his hollow
cave; yet even thence we made escape by my manfulness,
even by my counsel and my wit, and some day I think that
this adventure too we shall remember. Come now, there-
fore, let us all give ear to do according to my word. Do ye
smite the deep surf of the sea with your oars, as ye sit on the
benches, if peradventure Zeus may grant us to escape from
and shun this death. And as for thee, helmsman, thus I
charge thee, and ponder it in thine heart seeing that thou
wieldest the helm of the hollow ship. Keep the ship well
away from this smoke and from the wave and hug the
rocks, lest the ship, ere thou art aware, start from her course
to the other side, and so thou hurl us into ruin."
' So I spake, and quickly they hearkened to my words.
But of Scylla I told them nothing more, a bane none might
1 Reading e7rl, not «r« with La Roche.
THE ODYSSEY 175
deal with, lest haply my company should cease from rowing
for fear, and hide them in the hold. In that same hour I
suffered myself to forget the hard behest of Circe, in that
she bade me in nowise be armed; but I did on my glorious
harness and caught up two long lances in my hands, and
went on to the decking of the prow, for thence methought
that Scylla of the rock would first be seen, who was to
bring woe on my company. Yet could I not spy her any-
where, and my eyes waxed weary for gazing all about
toward the darkness of the rock.
i Next we began to sail up the narrow strait lamenting.
For on the one hand lay Scylla, and on the other mighty
Charybdis in terrible wise sucked down the salt sea water.
As often as she belched it forth, like a cauldron on a great
fire she would seethe up through all her troubled deeps, and
overhead the spray fell on the tops of either cliff. But oft
as she gulped down the salt sea water, within she was all
plain to see through her troubled deeps, and the rock around
roared horribly and beneath the earth was manifest swart
with sand, and pale fear gat hold on my men. Toward her,
then, we looked fearing destruction; but Scylla meanwhile
caught from out my hollow ship six of my company, the
hardiest of their hands and the chief in might. And looking
into the swift ship to find my men, even then I marked their
feet and hands as they were lifted on high, and they cried
aloud in their agony, and called me by my name for that last
time of all. Even as when a fisher on some headland lets
down with a long rod his baits for a snare to the little fishes
below, casting into the deep the horn of an ox of the home-
stead, and as he catches each flings it writhing ashore, so
writhing were they borne upward to the cliff. And there
she devoured them shrieking in her gates, they stretching
forth their hands to me in the dread death-struggle. And
the most pitiful thing was this that mine eyes have seen of
all my travail in searching out the paths of the sea.
1 Now when we had escaped the Rocks and dread Charyb-
dis and Scylla, thereafter we soon came to the fair island
of the god; where were the goodly kine, broad of brow, and
the many brave flocks of Helios Hyperion. Then while as
yet I was in my black ship upon the deep, I heard the lowing
176 HOMER
of the cattle being stalled and the bleating of the sheep, and
on my mind there fell the saying of the blind seer, Theban
Teiresias, and of Circe of Aia, who charged me very straitly
to shnn the isle of Helios, the gladdener of the world. Then
I spake out among my company in sorrow of heart:
' " Hear my words, my men, albeit in evil plight, that I
may declare unto you the oracles of Teiresias and of Circe
of Aia, who very straitly charged me to shun the isle of
Helios, the gladdener of the world. For there she said the
most dreadful mischief would befall us. Nay, drive ye then
the black ship beyond and past that isle."
' So spake I, and their heart was broken within them.
And Eurylochus straightway answered me sadly, saying:
' " Hardy art thou, Odysseus, of might beyond measure,
and thy limbs are never weary ; verily thou art fashioned all
of iron, that sufferest not thy fellows, foredone with toil and
drowsiness, to set foot on shore, where we might presently
prepare us a good supper in this sea-girt island. But even
as we are thou biddest us fare blindly through the sudden
night, and from the isle go wandering on the misty deep.
And strong winds, the bane of ships, are born of the night.
How could a man escape from utter doom, if there chanced
to come a sudden blast of the South Wind, or of the bois-
terous West, which mainly wreck ships, beyond the will
of the gods, the lords of all? Howbeit for this present let
us yield to the black night, and we will make ready our
supper abiding by the swift ship, and in the morning we will
climb on board, and put out into the broad deep."
1 So spake Eurylochus, and the rest of my company con-
sented thereto. Then at the last I knew that some god was
indeed imagining evil, and I uttered my voice and spake
unto him winged words :
' " Eurylochus, verily ye put force upon me, being but one
among you all. But come, swear me now a mighty oath,
one and all, to the intent that if we light on a herd of kine
or a great flock of sheep, none in the evil folly of his heart
may slay any sheep or ox; but in quiet eat ye the meat
which the deathless Circe gave."
' So I spake, and straightway they swore to refrain as I
commanded them. Now after they had sworn and done that
THE ODYSSEY 177
oa\h, we stayed our well-builded ship in the hollow harbour
near to a well of sweet water, and my company went forth
from out the ship and deftly got ready supper. But when
they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, there-
after they fell a weeping as they thought upon their dear
companions whom Scylla had snatched from out the hollow
ship a^id so devoured. And deep sleep came upon them
amid their weeping. And when it was the third watch of the
night, and the stars had crossed the zenith, Zeus the cloud-
gatherer roused against them an angry wind with wondrous
tempest, and shrouded in clouds land and sea alike, and from
heaven sped down the night. Now when early Dawn shone
forth, the rosy-fingered, we beached the ship, and dragged
it up within a hollow cave, where were the fair dancing
grounds of the nymphs and the places of their session.
Thereupon I ordered a gathering of my men and spake in
their midst, saying:
* " Friends, forasmuch as there is yet meat and drink in
the swift ship, let us keep our hands off those kine, lest some
evil thing befall us. For these are the kine and the brave
flocks of a dread god, even of Helios, who overseeth all
and overheareth all things."
' So I spake, and their lordly spirit hearkened thereto. Then
for a whole month the South Wind blew without ceasing,
and no other wind arose, save only the East and the South.
1 Now so long as my company still had corn and red wine,
they refrained them from the kine, for they were fain of
life. But when the corn was now all spent from out the ship,
and they went wandering with barbed hooks in quest of
game, as needs they must, fishes and fowls, whatsoever
might come to their hand, for hunger gnawed at their belly,
then at last I departed up the isle, that I might pray to the
gods, if perchance some one of them might show me a way
of returning. And now when I had avoided my company on
my way through the island, I laved my hands where was a
shelter from the wind, and prayed to all the gods that hold
Olympus. But they shed sweet sleep upon my eyelids.
And Eurylochus the while set forth an evil counsel to my
company :
' u Hear my words, my friends, though ye be in evil case.
178 HOMER
Truly every shape of death is hateful to wretched mortals,
but to die of hunger and so meet doom is most pitiful of
all. Nay come, we will drive off the best of the kine of
Helios and will do sacrifice to the deathless gods who keep
wide heaven. And if we may yet reach Ithaca, our own
country, forthwith will we rear a rich shrine to Helios Hype-
rion, and therein would we set many a choice offering. But
if he be somewhat wroth for his cattle with straight horns,
and is fain to wreck our ship, and the other gods follow
his desire, rather with one gulp at the wave would I cast my
life away, than be slowly straitened to death in a desert isle."
1 So spake Eurylochus, and the rest of the company con-
sented thereto. Forthwith they drave off the best of the
kine of Helios that were nigh at hand, for the fair kine
of shambling gait and broad of brow were feeding no great
way from the dark-prowed ship. Then they stood around
the cattle and prayed to the gods, plucking the fresh leaves
from an oak of lofty boughs, for they had no white barley
on board the decked ship. Now after they had prayed and
cut the throats of the kine and flayed them, they cut out
slices of the thighs and wrapped them in the fat, making
a double fold, and thereon they laid raw flesh. Yet had they
no pure wine to pour over the flaming sacrifices, but they
made libation with water and roasted the entrails over the
fire. Now after the thighs were quite consumed and they
had tasted the inner parts, they cut the rest up small and
spitted it on spits. In the same hour deep sleep sped from
my eyelids and I sallied forth to the swift ship and the sea-
banks. But on my way as I drew near to the curved ship,
the sweet savour of the fat came all about me; and I groaned
and spake out before the deathless gods :
1 " Father Zeus, and all ye other blessed gods that live
for ever, verily to my undoing ye have lulled me with a ruth-
less sleep, and my company abiding behind have imagined a
monstrous deed."
' Then swiftly to Helios Hyperion came Lampetie of the
long robes, with the tidings that we had slain his kine. And
straight he spake with angry heart amid the Immortals:
' " Father Zeus, and all ye other blessed gods that live for
ever, take vengeance I pray you on the company of Odysseus,
THE ODYSSEY 179
son of Laertes, that have insolently slain my cattle, wherein
I was wont to be glad as I went toward the starry heaven,
and when I again turned earthward from the firmament.
And if they pay me not full atonement for the cattle, I will
go down to Hades and shine among the dead."
1 And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him, saying :
" Helios, do thou, I say, shine on amidst the deathless gods,
and amid mortal men upon the earth, the grain-giver. But
as for me, I will soon smite their swift ship with my white
bolt, and cleave it in pieces in the midst of the wine-dark
deep."
' This I heard from Calypso of the fair hair ; and she said
that she herself had heard it from Hermes the Messenger.
' But when I had come down to the ship and to the sea,
I went up to my companions and rebuked them one by one;
but we could find no remedy, the cattle were dead and
gone. And soon thereafter the gods showed forth signs
and wonders to my company. The skins were creeping,
and the flesh bellowing upon the spits, both the roast and
raw, and there was a sound as the voice of kine.
1 Then for six days my dear company feasted on the best
of the kine of Helios, which they had driven off. But when
Zeus, son of Cronos, had added the seventh day thereto,
thereafter the wind ceased to blow with a rushing storm,
and at once we climbed the ship and launched into the broad
deep, when we had set up the mast and hoisted the white
sails.
* But now when we left that isle nor any other land ap-
peared, but sky and sea only, even then the son of Cronos
stayed a dark cloud above the hollow ship, and beneath it
the deep darkened. And the ship ran on her way for no
long while, for of a sudden came the shrilling West, witlj the
rushing of a great tempest, and the blast of wind snapped
the two forestays of the mast, and the mast fell backward
and all the gear dropped into the bilge. And behold, on the
hind part of the ship the mast struck the head of the pilot
and brake all the bones of his skull together, and like a
diver he dropped down from the deck, and his brave spirit
left his bones. In that same hour Zeus thundered and cast
his bolt upon the ship, and she reeled all over being stricken
180 HOMER
by the bolt of Zeus, and was filled with sulphur, and lo, my
company fell from out the vessel. Like sea-gulls they were
borne round the black ship upon the billows, and the god
reft them of returning.
' But I kept pacing through my ship, till the surge loos-
ened the sides from the keel, and the wave swept her along
stript of her tackling, and brake her mast clean off at the
keel. Now the backstay fashioned of an oxhide had been
flung thereon; therewith I lashed together both keel and
mast, and sitting thereon I was borne by the ruinous winds.
' Then verily the West Wind ceased to blow with a rush-
ing storm, and swiftly withal the South Wind came, bring-
ing sorrow to my soul, that so I might again measure back
that space of sea, the way to deadly Charybdis. All the
night was I borne, but with the rising of the sun I came to
the rock of Scylla, and to dread Charybdis. Now she had
sucked down her salt sea water, when I was swung up on
high to the tall fig-tree whereto I clung like a bat, and could
find no sure rest for my feet nor place to stand, for the
roots spread far below and the branches hung aloft out of
reach, long and large, and overshadowed Charybdis. Stead-
fast I clung till she should spew forth mast and keel again;
and late they came to my desire. At the hour when a
man rises up from the assembly and goes to supper, one
who judges the many quarrels of the young men that seek to
him for law, at that same hour those timbers came forth to
view from out Charybdis. And I let myself drop down hands
and feet, and plunged heavily in the midst of the waters
beyond the long timbers, and sitting on these I rowed hard
with my hands. But the father of gods and of men suffered
me no more to behold Scylla, else I should never have
escaped from utter doom.
1 Thence for nine days was I borne, and on the tenth
night the gods brought me nigh to the isle of Ogygia, where
dwells Calypso of the braided tresses, an awful goddess of
mortal speech, who took me in and entreated me kindly.
But why rehearse all this tale? For even yesterday I told it
to thee and to thy noble wife in thy house; and it liketh
me not twice to tell a plain-told tale/
BOOK XIII
Odysseus, sleeping, is set ashore at Ithaca by the Phaeacians, and
waking knows it not. Pallas, in the form of a shepherd, helps to
hide his treasure. The ship that conveyed him is turned into a rock,
and Odysseus by Pallas is instructed what to do, and transformed
into an old beggarman.
SO spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were
spell-bound throughout the shadowy halls. Thereupon
Alcinous answered him, and spake, saying:
1 Odysseus, now that thou hast come to my high house
with floor of bronze, never, methinks, shalt thou be driven
from thy way ere thou returnest, though thou hast been sore
afflicted. And for each man among you, that in these halls
of mine drink evermore the dark wine of the elders, and
hearken to the minstrel, this is my word and command. Gar-
ments for the stranger are already laid up in a polished cof-
fer, with gold curiously wrought, and all other such gifts as
the counsellors of the Phaeacians bare hither. Come now,
let us each of us give him a great tripod and a cauldron, and
we in turn will gather goods among the people and get us
recompense; for it were hard that one man should give
without repayment/ —
So spake Alcinous, and the saying pleased them well.
Then they went each one to his house to lay him down
to rest; but so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-
fingered, they hasted to the ship and bare the bronze, the
joy of men. And the mighty king Alcinous himself went
about the ship and diligently bestowed the gifts beneath the
benches, that they might not hinder any of the crew in
their rowing, when they laboured at their oars. Then they
betook them to the house of Alcinous and fell to feasting.
And the mighty king Alcinous sacrificed before them an ox
to Zeus, the son of Cronos, that dwells in the dark clouds,
who is lord of all. And when they had burnt the pieces of
181
182 HOMER
the thighs, they shared the glorious feast and made merry,
and among them harped the divine minstrel Demodocus,
whom the people honoured. But Odysseus would ever turn
his head toward the splendour of the sun, as one fain to
hasten his setting: for verily he was most eager to return.
And as when a man longs for his supper, for whom all day
long two dark oxen drag through the fallow field the jointed
plough, yea and welcome to such an one the sunlight sinketh,
that so he may get him to supper, for his knees wax faint by
the way, even so welcome was the sinking of the sunlight
to Odysseus. Then straight he spake among the Phaea-
cians, masters of the oar, and to Alcinous in chief he made
known his word, saying :
1 My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, pour
ye the drink offering, and send me safe upon my way, and
as for you, fare ye well. For now have I all that my heart
desired, an escort and loving gifts. May the gods of heaven
give me good fortune with them, and may I find my noble
wife in my home with my friends unharmed, while ye, for
your part, abide here and make glad your wedded wives and
children; and may the gods vouchsafe all manner of good,
and may no evil come nigh the people ! '
So spake he, and they all consented thereto and bade
send the stranger on his way, in that he had spoken aright.
Then the mighty Alcinous spake to the henchman : ' Pon-
tonous, mix the bowl and serve out the wine to all in
the hall, that we may pray to Father Zeus, and send the
stranger on his way to his own country.'
So spake he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,
and served it to all in turn. And they poured forth before
the blessed gods that keep wide heaven, even there as they
sat. Then goodly Odysseus uprose, and placed in Arete's
hand the two-handled cup, and uttering his voice spake to
her winged words:
1 Fare thee well, O queen, all the days of thy life, till old
age come and death, that visit all mankind. But I go home-
ward, and do thou in this thy house rejoice in thy children
and thy people and Alcinous the king/
Therewith goodly Odysseus stept over the threshold. And
with him the mighty Alcinous sent forth a henchman to
THE ODYSSEY 183
guide him to the swift ship and the sea-banks. And Arete
sent in his train certain maidens of her household, one bear-
ing a fresh robe and a doublet, and another she joined to
them to carry the strong coffer, and yet another bare bread
and red wine. Now when they had come down to the ship
and to the sea, straightway the good men of the escort took
these things and laid them by in the hollow ship, even all
the meat and drink. Then they strewed for Odysseus a rug
and a sheet of linen, on the decks of the hollow ship, in the
hinder part thereof, that he might sleep sound. Then he too
climbed aboard and laid him down in silence, while they sat
upon the benches, every man in order, and unbound the
hawser from the pierced stone. So soon as they leant back-
wards and tossed the sea water with the oar blade, a deep
sleep fell upon his eyelids, a sound sleep, very sweet, and
next akin to death. And even as on a plain a yoke of four
stallions comes springing all together beneath the lash, leap-
ing high and speedily accomplishing the way, so leaped the
stern of that ship, and the dark waves of the sounding sea
rushed mightily in the wake, and she ran ever surely on her
way, nor could a circling hawk keep pace with her, of winged
things the swiftest. Even thus she lightly sped and cleft
the waves of the sea, bearing a man whose counsel was as
the counsel of the gods, one that erewhile had suffered
much sorrow of heart, in passing through the wars of men,
and the grievous waves ; but for that time he slept in peace,
forgetful of all that he had suffered.
So when the star came up, that is brightest of all, and
goes ever heralding the light of early Dawn, even then did
the sea-faring ship draw nigh the island. There is in the
land of Ithaca a certain haven of Phorcys, the ancient one
of the sea, and thereby are two headlands of sheer cliff,
which slope to the sea on the haven's side and break the
mighty wave that ill winds roll without, but within, the
decked ships ride unmoored when once they have reached
the place of anchorage. Now at the harbour's head is a
long-leaved olive tree, and hard by is a pleasant cave and
shadowy, sacred to the nymphs, that are called the Naiads.
And therein are mixing bowls and jars of stone, and there
moreover do bees hive. And there are great looms of stone,
184 HOMER
whereon the nymphs weave raiment of purple stain, a marvel
to behold, and therein are waters welling evermore. Two
gates there are to the cave, the one set toward the North
Wind whereby men may go down, but the portals toward
the South pertain rather to the gods, whereby men may not
enter : it is the way of the immortals.
Thither they, as having knowledge of that place, let drive
their ship; and now the vessel in full course ran ashore,
half her keel's length high; so well was she sped by the
hands of the oarsmen. Then they alighted from the benched
ship upon the land, and first they lifted Odysseus from out
the hollow ship, all as he was in the sheet of linen and the
bright rug, and laid him yet heavy with slumber on the sand.
And they took forth the goods which the lordly Phaeacians
had given him on his homeward way by grace of the great-
hearted Athene. These they set in a heap by the trunk of
the olive tree, a little aside from the road, lest some way-
faring man, before Odysseus awakened, should come and
spoil them. Then themselves departed homeward again.
But the shaker of the earth forgat not the threats, wherewith
at the first he had threatened godlike Odysseus, and he
inquired into the counsel of Zeus, saying:
' Father Zeus, I for one shall no longer be of worship
among the deathless gods, when mortal men hold me in no
regard, even Phaeacians, who moreover are of mine own
lineage. Lo, now I said that after much affliction Odysseus
should come home, for I had no mind to rob him utterly
of his return, when once thou hadst promised it and given
assent; but behold, in his sleep they have borne him in a
swift ship over the sea, and set him down in Ithaca, and
given him gifts out of measure, bronze and gold in plenty
and woven raiment, much store, such as never would Odys-
seus have won for himself out of Troy; yea, though he
had returned unhurt with the share of the spoil that fell
to him.'
And Zeus, the cloud gatherer, answered him saying : ' Lo
now, shaker of the earth, of widest power, what a word hast
thou spoken ! The gods nowise dishonour thee ; hard would
it be to assail with dishonour our eldest and our best. But if
any man, giving place to his own hardihood and strength,
THE ODYSSEY 185
holds thee not in worship, thou hast always thy revenge for
the same, even in the time to come. Do thou as thou wilt,
and as seems thee good/
Then Poseidon, shaker of the earth, answered him:
Straightway would I do even as thou say est, O god of the
dark clouds; but thy wrath I always hold in awe and avoid.
Howbeit, now I fain would smite a fair ship of the Phaea-
cians, as she comes home from a convoy on the misty deep,
that thereby they may learn to hold their hands, and cease
from giving escort to men; and I would overshadow their
city with a great mountain/
And Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, answered him, say-
ing : * Friend, learn now what seems best in my sight. At
an hour when the folk are all looking forth from the city at
the ship upon her way, smite her into a stone hard by the
land; a stone in the likeness of a swift ship, that all mankind
may marvel, and do thou overshadow their city with a great
mountain.'
Now when Poseidon, shaker of the earth, heard this saying,
he went on his way to Scheria, where the Phaeacians dwell.
There he abode awhile; and lo, she drew near, the sea-
faring ship, lightly sped upon her way. Then nigh her came
the shaker of the earth, and he smote her into a stone, and
rooted her far below with the down-stroke of his hand; and
he departed thence again.
Then one to the other they spake winged words, the
Phaeacians of the long oars, mariners renowned. And thus
would they speak, looking each man to his neighbour:
'Ah me ! who is this that fettered our swift ship on the
deep as she drave homewards? Even now she stood full in
sight/
Even so they would speak; but they knew not how these
things were ordained. And Alcinous made harangue and
spake among them :
' Lo now, in very truth the ancient oracles of my father
have come home to me. He was wont to say that Poseidon
was jealous of us, for that we give safe escort to all men.
He said that the day would come when the god would smite
a fair ship of the Phaeacians, as she came home from a
convoy on the misty deep, and overshadow our city with a
186 HOMER
great mountain. Thus that ancient one would speak; and
lo, all these things now have an end. But come, let us all
give ear and do according to my word. Cease ye from the
convoy of mortals, whensoever any shall come unto our
town, and let us sacrifice to Poseidon twelve choice bulls, if
perchance he may take pity, neither overshadow our city
with a great mountain.'
So spake he, and they were dismayed and got ready the
bulls. Thus were they praying to the lord Poseidon, the
princes and counsellors of the land of the Phaeacians, as
they stood about the altar.
Even then the goodly Odysseus awoke where he slept on
his native land; nor knew he the same again, having now
been long afar, for around him the goddess had shed a mist,
even Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, to the end that she
might make him undiscovered for that he was, and might
expound to him all things, that so his wife should not know
him neither his townsmen and kinsfolk, ere the wooers had
paid for all their transgressions. Wherefore each thing
showed strange to the lord of the land, the long paths and
the sheltering havens and the steep rocks and the trees in
their bloom. So he started up, and stood and looked upon
his native land, and then he made moan withal, and smote
on both his thighs with the down-stroke of his hands, and
making lament, he spake, saying:
1 Oh, woe is me, unto what mortals' land am I now come ?
Say, are they froward, and wild, and unjust, or hospitable and
of a god-fearing mind? Whither do I bear all this treasure?
Yea, where am I wandering myself? Oh that the treasure
had remained with the Phaeacians where it was, so had
I come to some other of the mighty princes, who would
have entreated me kindly and sent me on my way. But now
I know not where to bestow these things, nor yet will I
leave them here behind, lest haply other men make spoil of
them. Ah then, they are not wholly wise or just, the princes
and counsellors of the Phaeacians, who carried me to a
strange land. Verily they promised to bring me to clear-
seen Ithaca, but they performed it not. May Zeus requite
them, the god of suppliants, seeing that he watches over all
men and punishes the transgressor ! But come, I will reckon
THE ODYSSEY 187
up these goods and look to them, lest the men be gone, and
have taken ought away upon their hollow ship.'
Therewith he set to number the fair tripods and the
cauldrons and the gold and the goodly woven raiment; and
of all these he lacked not aught, but he bewailed him for his
own country, as he walked downcast by the shore of the
sounding sea, and made sore lament. Then Athene came
nigh him in the guise of a young man, the herdsman of a
flock, a young man most delicate, such as are the sons of
kings. And she had a well-wrought mantle that fell in two
folds about her shoulders, and beneath her smooth feet she
had sandals bound, and a javelin in her hands. And
Odysseus rejoiced as he saw her, and came over against
her, and uttering his voice spake to her winged words:
1 Friend, since thou art the first I have chanced on in this
land, hail to thee, and with no ill-will mayest thou meet
me ! Nay, save this my substance and save me too, for to
thee as to a god I make prayer, and to thy dear knees have
I come. And herein tell me true, that I may surely know.
What land, what people is this? what men dwell therein?
Surely, methinks, it is some clear seen isle, or a shore of the
rich mainland that lies and leans upon the deep/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:
' Thou art witless, stranger, or thou art come from afar, if
indeed thou askest of this land; nay, it is not so very name-
less but that many men know it, both all those who dwell
toward the dawning and the sun, and they that abide over
against the light toward the shadowy west. Verily it is
rough and not fit for the driving of horses, yet is it not a
very sorry isle, though narrow withal. For herein is corn
past telling, and herein too wine is found, and the rain is
on it evermore, and the fresh dew. And it is good for feed-
ing goats and feeding kine; all manner of wood is here,
and watering-places unfailing are herein. Wherefore,
stranger, the name of Ithaca hath reached even unto Troy-
land, which men say is far from this Achaean shore.'
So spake she, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad,
and had joy in his own country, according to the word of
Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis. And he
uttered his voice and spake unto her winged words; yet he
188 HOMER
did not speak the truth, but took back the word that was on
his lips, for quick and crafty was his wit within his breast.
1 Of Ithaca have I heard tell, even in broad Crete, far over
the seas; and now have I come hither myself with these my
goods. And I left as much again to my children, when I
turned outlaw for the slaying of the dear son of Idomeneus,
Orsilochus, swift of foot, who in wide Crete was the swiftest
of all men that live by bread. Now he would have despoiled
me of all that booty of Troy, for the which I had endured
pain of heart, in passing through the wars of men, and the
grievous waves of the sea, for this cause that I would not do
a favour to his father, and make me his squire in the land of
the Trojans, but commanded other fellowship of mine own.
So I smote him with a bronze-shod spear as he came home
from the field, lying in ambush for him by the wayside, with
one of my companions. And dark midnight held the heavens,
and no man marked us, but privily I took his life away.
Now after I had slain him with the sharp spear, straightway
I went to a ship and besought the lordly Phaeacians, and
gave them spoil to their hearts' desire. I charged them to
take me on board, and land me at Pylos or at goodly Elis
where the Epeans bear rule. Howbeit of a truth, the might
of the wind drave them out of their course, sore against
their will, nor did they wilfully play me false. Thence we
were driven wandering, and came hither by night. And with
much ado we rowed onward into harbour, nor took we any
thought of supper, though we stood sore in need thereof,
but even as we were we stept ashore and all lay down. Then
over me there came sweet slumber in my weariness, but they
took forth my goods from the hollow ship, and set them by me
where I myself lay upon the sands. Then they went on
board, and departed for the fair-lying land of Sidon; while
as for me I was left stricken at heart.'
So spake he and the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, smiled,
and caressed him with her hand ; and straightway she changed
to the semblance of a woman, fair and tall, and skilled in
splendid handiwork. And uttering her voice she spake unto
him winged words:
1 Crafty must he be, and knavish, who would outdo thee
in all manner of guile, even if it were a god encountered
THE ODYSSEY 189
thee. Hardy man, subtle of wit, of guile insatiate, so thou
wast not even in thine own country to cease from thy
sleights and knavish words, which thou lovest from the
bottom of thine heart! But come, no more let us tell of
these things, being both of us practised in deceits, for that
thou art of all men far the first in counsel and in discourse,
and I in the company of all the gods win renown for my wit
and wile. Yet thou knewest not me, Pallas Athene, daughter
of Zeus, who am always by thee and guard thee in all ad-
ventures. Yea, and I made thee to be beloved of all the
Phaeacians. And now am I come hither to contrive a plot
with thee and to hide away the goods, that by my counsel
and design the noble Phaeacians gave thee on thy home-
ward way. And I would tell thee how great a measure of
trouble thou art ordained to fulfil within thy well-builded
house. But do thou harden thy heart, for so it must be,
and tell none neither man nor woman of all the folk, that
thou hast indeed returned from wandering, but in silence
endure much sorrow, submitting thee to the despite of men.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
' Hard is it, goddess, for a mortal man that meets thee to
discern thee, howsoever wise he be; for thou takest upon
thee every shape. But this I know well, that of old thou
wast kindly to me, so long as we sons of the Achaeans
made war in Troy. But so soon as we had sacked the steep
city of Priam and had gone on board our ships, and the
god had scattered the Achaeans, thereafter I have never be-
held thee, daughter of Zeus, nor seen thee coming on board
my ship, to ward off sorrow from me — but I wandered ever-
more with a stricken heart, till the gods delivered me from
my evil case — even till the day when, within the fat land
of the men of Phaeacia, thou didst comfort me with thy
words, and thyself didst lead me to their city. And now
I beseech thee in thy father's name to tell me: for I deem
not that I am come to clear-seen Ithaca, but I roam over
some other land, and methinks that thou speakest thus to
mock me and beguile my mind. Tell me whether in very
deed I am come to mine own dear country.'
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him:
' Yea., such a thought as this is ever in thy breast. Where-
190 HOMER
fore I may in no wise leave thee in thy grief, so courteous
art thou, so ready of wit and so prudent. Right gladly would
any other man on his return from wandering have hasted to
behold his children and his wife in his halls; but thou hast
no will to learn or to hear aught, till thou hast furthermore
made trial of thy wife, who sits as ever in her halls, and
wearily for her the nights wane always and the days, in
shedding of tears. But of this I never doubted, but ever
knew it in my heart that thou wouldest come home with the
loss of all thy company. Yet, I tell thee, I had no mind to
be at strife with Poseidon, my own father's brother, who laid
up wrath in his heart against thee, being angered at the
blinding of his dear son. But come, and I will show thee the
place of the dwelling of Ithaca, that thou mayst be assured.
Lo, here is the haven of Phorcys, the ancient one of the
sea, and here at the haven's head is the olive tree with
spreading leaves, and hard by it is the pleasant cave and
shadowy, sacred to the nymphs that are called the Naiads.
Yonder, behold, is the roofed cavern, where thou offeredst
many an acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs to the nymphs;
and lo, this hill is Neriton, all clothed in forest.'
Therewith the goddess scattered the mist, and the land
appeared. Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad
rejoicing in his own land, and he kissed the earth, the grain-
giver. And anon he prayed to the nymphs, and lifted up his
hands, saying:
' Ye Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I think
to look on you again, but now be ye greeted in my loving
prayers: yea, and gifts as aforetime I will give, if the
daughter of Zeus, driver of the spoil, suffer me of her grace
myself to live, and bring my dear son to manhood/
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:
' Be of good courage, and let not thy heart be careful about
these things. But come, let us straightway set thy goods
in the secret place of the wondrous cave, that there they
may abide for thee safe. And let us for ourselves advise us
how all may be for the very best.'
Therewith the goddess plunged into the shadowy cave,
searching out the chambers of the cavern. Meanwhile
Odysseus brought up his treasure, the gold and the unyielding
THE ODYSSEY 191
bronze and fair woven raiment, which the Phaeacians gave
him. And these things he laid by with care, and Pallas
Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis, set a stone
against the door of the cave. Then they twain sat down
by the trunk of the sacred olive tree, and devised death for
the froward wooers. And the goddess, grey-eyed Athene,
spake first, saying :
* Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, advise thee how thou mayest stretch forth thine
hands upon the shameless wooers, who now these three
years lord it through thy halls, as they woo thy godlike
wife and proffer the gifts of wooing. And she, that is ever
bewailing her for thy return, gives hope to all and makes
promises to every man and sends them messages, but her
mind is set on other things.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying:
' Lo now, in very truth I was like to have perished in my
halls by the evil doom of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, hadst
not thou, goddess, declared me each thing aright. Come
then, weave some counsel whereby I may requite them; and
thyself stand by me, and put great boldness of spirit within
me, even as in the day when we loosed the shining coronal
of Troy. If but thou wouldest stand by me with such eager-
ness, thou grey-eyed goddess, I would war even with three
hundred men, with thee my lady and goddess, if thou of thy
grace didst succour me the while.'
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him : ' Yea,
verily I will be near thee nor will I forget thee, whensoever
we come to this toil: and methinks that certain of the
wooers that devour thy livelihood shall bespatter the bound-
less earth with blood and brains. But come, I will make
thee such-like that no man shall know thee. Thy fair skin I
will wither on thy supple limbs, and make waste thy yellow
hair from off thy head, and wrap thee in a foul garment,
such that one would shudder to see a man therein. 1 And I
will dim thy two eyes, erewhile so fair, in such wise that
thou mayest be unseemly in the sight of all the wooers and
of thy wife and son, whom thou didst leave in thy halls.
And do thou thyself first of all go unto the swineherd, who
heading avOptanov^ not av6pairot.
192 HOMER
tends thy swine, loyal and at one with thee, and loves thy son
and constant Penelope. Him shalt thou find sitting by the
swine, as they are feeding near the rock of Corax and
the spring Arethusa, and there they eat abundance of acorns
and drink the black water, things whereby swine grow fat
and well-liking. There do thou abide and sit by the swine,
and find out all, till I have gone to Sparta, the land of fair
women, to call Telemachus thy dear son, Odysseus, who hath
betaken himself to spacious Lacedaemon, to the house of
Menelaus to seek tidings of thee, whether haply thou are
yet alive/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
1 Nay, wherefore then didst thou not tell him, seeing thou
hast knowledge of all? Was it, perchance, that he too may
wander in sorrow over the unharvested seas, and that others
may consume his livelihood ? '
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him : ' Nay,
let him not be heavy on thy heart. I myself was his guide,
that by going thither he might win a good report. Lo, he
knows no toil, but he sits in peace in the palace of the son
of Atreus, and has boundless store about him. Truly the
young men with their black ship they lie in wait, and are
eager to slay him ere he come to his own country. But
this, methinks, shall never be. Yea, sooner shall the earth
close over certain of the wooers that devour thy livelihood/
Therewith Athene touched him with her wand. His fair
flesh she withered on his supple limbs, and made waste his
yellow hair from off his head, and over all his limbs she cast
the skin of an old man, and dimmed his two eyes, erewhile
so fair. And she changed his raiment to a vile wrap and a
doublet, torn garments and filthy, stained with foul smoke.
And over all she clad him with the great bald hide of a swift
stag, and she gave him a staff and a mean tattered scrip,
and a cord therewith to hang it.
And after they twain had taken this counsel together, they
parted; and she now went to goodly Lacedaemon to fetch
the son of Odysseus.
BOOK XIV
Odysseus, in the form of a beggar, goes to Eumaeus, the master of
his swine, where he is well used and tells a feigned story, and in-
forms himself of the behaviour of the wooers.
BUT Odysseus fared forth from the haven by the rough
track, up the wooded country and through the heights,
where Athene had showed him that he should find
the goodly swineherd, who cared most for his substance of all
the thralls that goodly Odysseus had gotten.
Now he found him sitting at the vestibule of the house,
where his courtyard was builded high, in a place with wide
prospect; a great court it was and a fair, with free range
round it. This the swineherd had builded by himself for
the swine of his lord who was afar, and his mistress and
the old man Laertes knew not of it. With stones from the
quarry had he builded it, and coped it with a fence of white
thorn, and he had split an oak to the dark core, and without
he had driven stakes the whole length thereof on either side,
set thick and close; and within the courtyard he made
twelve styes hard by one another to be beds for the swine,
and in each stye fifty grovelling swine were penned, brood
swine; but the boars slept without. Now these were far
fewer in number, the godlike wooers minishing them at their
feasts, for the swineherd ever sent in the best of all the
fatter hogs. And their tale was three hundred and three-
score. And by them always slept four dogs, as fierce as wild
beasts, which the swineherd had bred, a master of men. Now
he was fitting sandals to his feet, cutting a good brown
oxhide, while the rest of his fellows, three in all, were abroad
this way and that, with the droves of swine ; while the fourth
he had sent to the city to take a boar to the proud wooers,
as needs he must, that they might sacrifice it and satisfy their
soul with flesh.
And of a sudden the baying dogs saw Odysseus, and they
G— Vol. 22 193 HC
194 HOMER
ran at him yelping, but Odysseus in his wariness sat him
down, and let the staff fall from his hand. There by his
own homestead would he have suffered foul hurt, but the
swineherd with quick feet hasted after them, and sped
through the outer door, and let the skin fall from his hand.
And the hounds he chid and drave them this way and that,
with a shower of stones, and he spake unto his lord, saying:
1 Old man, truly the dogs went nigh to be the death of
thee all of a sudden, so shouldest thou have brought shame
on me. Yea, and the gods have given me other pains and
griefs enough. Here I sit, mourning and sorrowing for my
godlike lord, and foster the fat swine for others to eat,
while he craving, perchance, for food, wanders over some
land and city of men of a strange speech, if haply he yet
lives and beholds the sunlight. But come with me, let us to
the inner steading, old man, that when thy heart is satisfied
with bread and wine, thou too mayest tell thy tale and
declare whence thou art, and how many woes thou hast
endured.'
Therewith the goodly swineherd led him to the steading,
and took him in and set him down, and strewed beneath
him thick brushwood, and spread thereon the hide of a
shaggy wild goat, wide and soft, which served himself for a
mattress. And Odysseus rejoiced that he had given him
such welcome, and spake and hailed him:
1 May Zeus, O stranger, and all the other deathless gods
grant thee thy dearest wish, since thou hast received me
heartily ! '
Then, O swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou answer him, say-
ing : ' Guest of mine, it were an impious thing for me to
slight a stranger, even if there came a meaner man than thou ;
for from Zeus are all strangers and beggars; and a little
gift from such as we, is dear; for this is the way with
thralls, who are ever in fear when young lords like ours
bear rule over them. For surely the gods have stayed the
returning of my master, who would have loved me diligently,
and given me somewhat of my own, a house and a parcel
of ground, and a comely 1 wife, such as a kind lord gives to
his man, who hath laboured much for him and the work of
1 Reading ivfiop4>6v.
THE ODYSSEY 195
whose hands God hath likewise increased, even as he in-
creaseth this work of mine whereat I abide. Therefore would
my lord have rewarded me greatly, had he grown old at
home. But he hath perished, as I would that all the stock
of Helen had perished utterly, forasmuch as she hath
caused the loosening of many a man's knees. For he too
departed to Ilios of the goodly steeds, to get atonement for
Agamemnon, that so he might war with the Trojans.'
Therewith he quickly bound up his doublet with his girdle,
and went his way to the styes, where the tribes of the swine
were penned. Thence he took and brought forth two, and
sacrificed them both, and singed them and cut them small,
and spitted them. And when he had roasted all, he bare
and set it by Odysseus, all hot as it was upon the spits, and
he sprinkled thereupon white barley-meal. Then in a bowl
of ivywood he mixed the honey-sweet wine, and himself sat
over against him and bade him fall to :
' Eat now, stranger, such fare as thralls have to hand, even
flesh of sucking pigs ; but the fatted hogs the wooers devour,
for they know not the wrath of the gods nor any pity.
Verily the blessed gods love not froward deeds, but they
reverence justice and the righteous acts of men. Yet even
foes and men unfriendly, that land on a strange coast, and
Zeus grants them a prey, and they have laden their ships and
depart for home; yea, even on their hearts falls strong fear
of the wrath of the gods. But lo you, these men know some-
what, — for they have heard an utterance of a god — , even
the tidings of our lord's evil end, seeing that they are not
minded justly to woo, nor to go back to their own, but at ease
they devour our wealth with insolence, and now there is no
sparing. For every day and every night that comes from
Zeus, they make sacrifice not of one victim only, nor of two,
and wine they draw and waste it riotously. For surely his
livelihood was great past telling, no lord in the dark main-
land had so much, nor any in Ithaca itself; nay, not twenty
men together have wealth so great, and I will tell thee the
sum thereof. Twelve herds of kine upon the mainland, as
many flocks of sheep, as many droves of swine, as many
ranging herds of goats, that his own shepherds and strangers
pasture. And ranging herds of goats, eleven in all, graze
196 HOMER
here by the extremity of the island with trusty men to watch
them. And day by day each man of these ever drives one of
the flock to the wooers, whichsoever seems the best of the
fatted goats. But as for me I guard and keep these swine
and I choose out for them, as well as I may, the best of the
swine and send it hence.'
So spake he, but Odysseus ceased not to eat flesh and
drink wine right eagerly and in silence, and the while was
sowing the seeds of evil for the wooers. Now when he had
well eaten and comforted his heart with food, then the herds-
man filled him the bowl out of which he was wont himself
to drink, and he gave it him brimming with wine, and he
took it and was glad at heart, and uttering his voice spake
to him winged words:
1 My friend, who was it then that bought thee with his
wealth, a man so exceedingly rich and mighty as thou de-
clarest? Thou saidest that he perished to get atonement for
Agamemnon; tell me, if perchance I may know him, being
such an one as thou sayest. For Zeus, methinks, and the
other deathless gods know whether I may bring tidings of
having seen him; for I have wandered far.'
Then the swineherd, a master of men, answered him : ' Old
man, no wanderer who may come hither and bring tidings
of him can win the ear of his wife and his dear son; but
lightly do vagrants lie when they need entertainment, and
care not to tell truth. Whosoever comes straying to the
land of Ithaca, goes to my mistress and speaks words of
guile. And she receives him kindly and lovingly and inquires
of all things, and the tears fall from her eyelids for weeping,
as is meet for a woman when her lord hath died afar. And
quickly enough wouldst thou too, old man, forge a tale, if
any would but give thee a mantle and a doublet for raiment.
But as for him, dogs and swift fowls are like already to
have torn his skin from the bones, and his spirit hath left
him. Or the fishes have eaten him in the deep, and there
lie his bones swathed in sand-drift on the shore. Yonder
then hath he perished, but for his friends nought is ordained
but care, for all, but for me in chief. For never again shall
I find a lord so gentle, how far soever I may go, not though
again I attain unto the house of my father and my mother,
THE ODYSSEY 197
where at first I was born, and they nourished me themselves
and with their own hands they reared me. Nor henceforth
it is not for these that I sorrow so much, though I long to
behold them with mine eyes in mine own country, but desire
comes over me for Odysseus who is afar. His name,
stranger, even though he is not here, it shameth me to speak,
for he loved me exceedingly, and cared for me at heart;
nay, I call him " worshipful," albeit he is far hence.'
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus spake to him again:
' My friend, forasmuch as thou gainsayest utterly, and sayest
that henceforth he will not come again, and thine heart is
ever slow to believe, therefore will I tell thee not lightly
but with an oath, that Odysseus shall return. And let me
have the wages of good tidings as soon as ever he in his
journeying shall come hither to his home. Then clothe me
in a mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment. But ere that,
albeit I am sore in need I will not take aught, for hateful to
me even as the gates of hell, is that man, who under stress
of poverty speaks words of guile. Now be Zeus my wit-
ness before any god, and the hospitable board and the hearth
of noble Odysseus whereunto I am come, that all these
things shall surely be accomplished even as I tell thee. In
this same year Odysseus shall come hither; as the old moon
wanes and the new is born shall he return to his home, and
shall take vengeance on all who here dishonour his wife
and noble son/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : ' Old
man, it is not I then, that shall ever pay thee these wages of
good tidings, nor henceforth shall Odysseus ever come to
his home. Nay drink in peace, and let us turn our thoughts
to other matters, and bring not these to my remembrance,
for surely my heart within me is sorrowful whenever any
man puts me in mind of my true lord. But as for thine oath,
we will let it go by ; yet, oh that Odysseus may come accord-
ing to my desire, and the desire of Penelope and of that
old man Laertes and godlike Telemachus ! But now I make
a comfortless lament for the boy begotten of Odysseus, even
for Telemachus. When the gods had reared him like a
young sapling, and I thought that he would be no worse
among men than his dear father, glorious in form and face,
198 HOMER
some god or some man marred his good wits within him,
and he went to fair Pylos after tidings of his sire. And now
the lordly wooers lie in wait for him on his way home, that
the race of godlike Arceisius may perish nameless out of
Ithaca. Howbeit, no more of him now, whether he shall be
taken or whether he shall escape, and Cronion stretch out
his hand to shield him. But come, old man, do thou tell me
of thine own troubles. And herein tell me true, that I may
surely know. Who art thou of the sons of men, and
whence ? Where is thy city, where are they that begat thee ?
Say on what manner of ship didst thou come, and how did
sailors bring thee to Ithaca, and who did they avow them to
be? For in nowise do I deem that thou earnest hither by
land/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
'Yea now, I will tell thee all most plainly. Might we have
food and sweet wine enough to last for long, while we
abide within thy hut to feast thereon in quiet, and others be-
take them to their work; then could I easily speak for a
whole year, nor yet make a full end of telling all the
troubles of my spirit, all the travail I have wrought by the
will of the gods.
* I avow that I come by lineage from wide Crete, and am
the son of a wealthy man. And many other sons he had
born and bred in the halls, lawful-born of a wedded wife;
but the mother that bare me was a concubine bought with a
price. Yet Castor son of Hylax, of whose blood I avow
me to be, gave me no less honour than his lawful sons. Now
he at that time got worship even as a god from the Cretans
in the land, for wealth and riches and sons renowned. How-
beit the fates of death bare him away to the house of Hades,
and his gallant sons divided among them his living and cast
lots for it. But to me they gave a very small gift and as-
signed me a dwelling, and I took unto me a wife, the daugh-
ter of men that had wide lands, by reason of my valour, for
that I was no weakling nor a dastard ; but now all my might
has failed me, yet even so I deem that thou mightest guess
from seeing the stubble what the grain has been, for of
trouble I have plenty and to spare. But then verily did
Ares and Athene give me boldness and courage to hurl
THE ODYSSEY 199
through the press of men, whensoever I chose the best war-
riors for an ambush, sowing the seeds of evil for my foes;
no boding of death was ever in my lordly heart, but I would
leap out the foremost and slay with the spear whoso of my
foes was less fleet of foot than I. Such an one was I in
war, but the labour of the field I never loved, nor home-
keeping thrift, that breeds brave children, but galleys with
their oars were dear to me, and wars and polished shafts
and darts — baneful things whereat others use to shudder.
But that, methinks, was dear to me which the god put in
my heart, for divers men take delight in divers deeds. For
ere ever the sons of the Achaeans had set foot on the land of
Troy, I had nine times been a leader of men and of swift-
faring ships against a strange people, and wealth fell ever
to my hands. Of the booty I would choose out for me all
that I craved, and much thereafter I won by lot. So my
house got increase speedily, and thus I waxed dread and
honourable among the Cretans. But when Zeus, of the far-
borne voice, devised at the last that hateful path which
loosened the knees of many a man in death, then the people
called on me and on renowned Idomeneus to lead the ships
to Ilios, nor was there any way whereby to refuse, for the
people's voice bore hard upon us. There we sons of the
Achaeans warred for nine whole years, and then in the
tenth year we sacked the city of Priam, and departed home-
ward with our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans.
But Zeus, the counsellor, devised mischief against me,
wretched man that I was ! For one month only I abode
and had joy in my children and my wedded wife, and all
that I had; and thereafter my spirit bade me fit out ships
in the best manner and sail to Egypt with my godlike com-
pany. Nine ships I fitted out and the host was gathered
quickly; and then for six days my dear company feasted,
and I gave them many victims that they might sacrifice to
the gods and prepare a feast for themselves. But on the
seventh day we set sail from wide Crete, with a North Wind
fresh and fair, and lightly we ran as it were down stream,
yea, and no harm came to any ship of mine, but we sat
safe and hale, while the wind and the pilots guided the
barques. And on the fifth day we came to the fair-flowing
200 HOMER
Aegyptus, and in the river Aegyptus I stayed my curved
ships. Then verily I bade my dear companions to abide
there by the ships and to guard them, and I sent forth scouts
to range the points of outlook. But my men gave place to
wantonness, being the fools of their own force, and soon
they fell to wasting the fields of the Egyptians, exceeding
fair, and led away their wives and infant children and slew
the men. And the cry came quickly to the city, and the
people hearing the shout came forth at the breaking of the
day, and all the plain was filled with footmen and chariots
and with the glitter of bronze. And Zeus, whose joy is in
the thunder, sent an evil panic upon my company, and none
durst stand and face the foe, for danger encompassed us
on every side. There they slew many of us with the edge
of the sword, and others they led up with them alive to
work for them perforce. But * - for me, Zeus himself put
a thought into my heart; would to God that I had rather
died, and met my fate there in Egypt, for sorrow was still
mine host! Straightway I put off my well-wrought helmet
from my head, and the shield from off my shoulders, and I
cast away my spear from my hand, and I came over against
the chariots of the king, and clasped and kissed his knees, and
he saved me and delivered me, and setting me on his own
chariot took me weeping to his home. Truly many an one
made at me with their ashen spears, eager to slay me, for
verily they were sore angered. But the king kept them off
and had respect unto the wrath of Zeus, the god of
strangers, who chiefly hath displeasure at evil deeds. So
for seven whole years I abode with their king, and gathered
much substance among the Egyptians, for they all gave me
gifts. But when the eighth year came in due season, there
arrived a Phoenician practised in deceit, a greedy knave,
who had already done much mischief among men. He
wrought on me with his cunning, and took me with him
until he came to Phoenicia, where was his house and where
his treasures lay. There I abode with him for the space of
a full year. But when now the months and days were ful-
filled, as the year came round and the seasons returned, he
set me aboard a seafaring ship for Libya, under colour as
though I was to convey a cargo thither with him, but his
THE ODYSSEY 201
purpose was to sell me in Libya, and get a great price. So
I went with him on board, perforce, yet boding evil. And
the ship ran before a North Wind fresh and fair, through
the mid sea over above Crete, and Zeus contrived the de-
struction of the crew. But when we left Crete, and no land
showed in sight but sky and sea only, even then the son of
Cronos stayed a dark cloud over the hollow ship, and the
deep grew dark beneath it. And in the same moment Zeus
thundered and smote his bolt into the ship, and she reeled
all over being stricken by the bolt of Zeus, and was filled
with fire and brimstone, and all the crew fell overboard.
And like sea-gulls they were borne hither and thither on the
waves about the black ship, and the god cut off their return.
But in this hour of my affliction Zeus himself put into my
Rands the huge mast of the dark-prowed ship, that even yet
I might escape from harm. So I clung round the mast and
was borne by the ruinous winds. For nine days was I borne,
and on the tenth black night the great rolling wave brought
me nigh to the land of the Thesprotians. There the king of
the Thesprotians, the lord Pheidon, took me in freely, for his
dear son lighted on me and raised me by the hand and led
me to his house, foredone with toil and the keen air, till he
came to his father's palace. And he clothed me in a mantle
and a doublet for raiment.
There I heard tidings of Odysseus, for the king told me
that he had entertained him, and kindly entreated him on his
way to his own country; and he showed me all the wealth
that Odysseus had gathered, bronze and gold and well-
wrought iron ; yea it would suffice for his children after him
even to the tenth generation, so great were the treasures
he had stored in the chambers of the king. He had gone,
he said, to Dodona to hear the counsel of Zeus, from the
high leafy oak tree of the god, how he should return to the
fat land of Ithaca after long absence, whether openly or by
stealth. Moreover, he sware, in mine own presence, as he
poured the drink offering in his house, that the ship was
drawn down to the sea and his company were ready, who
were to convey him to his own dear country. But ere that,
he sent me off, for it chanced that a ship of the Thespro-
tians was starting for Dulichium, a land rich in grain.
202 HOMER
Thither he bade them bring me with all diligence to the
king Acastus. But an evil counsel concerning me found
favour in their sight, that even yet I might reach the ex-
tremity of sorrow. When the seafaring ship had sailed a
great way from the land, anon they sought how they might
compass for me the day of slavery. They stript me of my
garments, my mantle and a doublet, and changed my raiment
to a vile wrap and doublet, tattered garments, even those
thou seest now before thee ; and in the evening they reached
the fields of clear-seen Ithaca. There in the decked ship
they bound me closely with a twisted rope, and themselves
went ashore, and hasted to take supper by the sea-banks.
Meanwhile the gods themselves lightly unclasped my bands,
and muffling my head with the wrap I slid down the smooth
lading-plank, and set my breast to the sea and rowed hard
with both hands as I swam, and very soon I was out of the
water and beyond their reach. Then I went up where there
was a thicket, a wood in full leaf, and lay there crouching.
And they went hither and thither, making great moan;
but when now it seemed to them little avail to go further
on their quest, they departed back again aboard their hollow
ship. And the gods themselves hid me easily and brought
me nigh to the homestead of a wise man ; for still, methinks,
I am ordained to live on/
Then didst thou make answer to him, swineherd Eumaeus :
- Ah ! wretched guest, verily thou hast stirred my heart with
the tale of all these things, of thy sufferings and thy wan-
derings. Yet herein, methinks, thou speakest not aright,
and never shalt thou persuade me with the tale about
Odysseus ; why should one in thy plight lie vainly ? Well
I know of mine own self, as touching my lord's return, that
he was utterly hated by all the gods, in that they smote him
not among the Trojans nor in the arms of his friends, when
he had wound up the clew of war. So should the whole
Achaean host have builded him a barrow; yea and for his
son would he have won great glory in the after days; but
now all ingloriously the spirits of the storm have snatched
him away. But as for me I dwell apart by the swine and
go not to the city, unless perchance wise Penelope summons
me thither, when tidings of my master are brought I know
THE ODYSSEY 203
not whence. Now all the people sit round and straitly
question the news-bearer, both such as grieve for their lord
that is long gone, and such as rejoice in devouring his
living without atonement. But I have no care to ask or
to inquire, since the day that an Aetolian cheated me with
his story, one who had slain his man and wandered over
wide lands and came to my steading, and I dealt lovingly
with him. He said that he had seen my master among the
Cretans at the house of Idomeneus, mending his ships which
the storms had broken. And he said that he would come
home either by the summer or the harvest-tide, bringing
much wealth with the godlike men of his company. And
thou too, old man of many sorrows, seeing that some god
hath brought thee to me, seek not my grace with lies, nor
give me any such comfort; not for this will I have respect
to thee or hold thee dear, but only for the fear of Zeus,
the god of strangers, and for pity of thyself.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
1 Verily thy heart within thee is slow to believe, seeing that
even with an oath I have not won thee, nor find credence
with thee. But come now, let us make a covenant; and we
will each one have for witnesses the gods above, who hold
Olympus. If thy lord shall return to this house, put on me
a mantle and doublet for raiment, and send me on my way
to Dulichium, whither I had a desire to go. But if thy lord
return not according to my word, set thy thralls upon me,
and cast me down from a mighty rock, that another beggar
in his turn may beware of deceiving.'
And the goodly swineherd answered him, saying : ' Yea
stranger, even so should I get much honour and good luck
among men both now and ever hereafter, if after bringing
thee to my hut and giving thee a stranger's cheer, I should
turn again and slay thee and take away thy dear life. Eager
indeed thereafter should I be to make a prayer to Zeus the
son of Cronos ! But now it is supper-time, and would that
my fellows may speedily be at home, that we may make
ready a dainty supper within the hut.'
Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, the swine
and the swineherds drew nigh. And the swine they shut up
to sleep in their lairs, and a mighty din arose as the swine
204 HOMER
were being stalled. Then the goodly swineherd called to his
fellows, saying:
' Bring the best of the swine, that I may sacrifice it for a
guest of mine from a far land: and we too will have good
cheer therewith, for we have long suffered and toiled by
reason of the white-tusked swine, while others devour the
fruit of our labour without atonement/
Therewithal he cleft logs with the pitiless axe, and the
others brought in a well-fatted boar of five years old; and
they set him by the hearth nor did the swineherd forget the
deathless gods, for he was of an understanding heart. But
for a beginning of sacrifice he cast bristles from the head
of the white-tusked boar upon the fire, and prayed to all the
gods that wise Odysseus might return to his own house.
Then he stood erect, and smote the boar with a billet of
oak which he had left in the cleaving, and the boar yielded
up his life. Then they cut the throat and singed the carcase
and quickly cut it up, and the swineherd took a first portion
from all the limbs, and laid the raw flesh on the rich fat.
And some pieces he cast into the fire after sprinkling them
with bruised barley-meal, and they cut the rest up small,
and pierced it, and spitted and roasted it carefully, and drew
it all off from the spits, and put the whole mess together on
trenchers. Then the swineherd stood up to carve, for well
he knew what was fair, and he cut up the whole and divided
it into seven portions. One, when he had prayed, he set
aside for the nymphs and for Hermes son of Maia, and the
rest he distributed to each. And he gave Odysseus the por-
tion of honour, the long back of the white-tusked boar, and
the soul of his lord rejoiced at this renown, and Odysseus
of many counsels hailed him saying:
' Eumaeus, oh that thou mayest so surely be dear to
father Zeus, as thou art to me, seeing that thou honourest
me with a good portion, such an one as I am ! '
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus :
1 Eat, luckless stranger, and make merry with such fare
as is here. And one thing the god will give and another
withhold, even as he will, for with him all things are
possible.'
So he spake, and made burnt offering of the hallowed
THE ODYSSEY 205
parts to the everlasting gods, and poured the dark wine for
a drink offering, and set the cup in the hands of Odysseus,
the waster of cities, and sat down by his own mess. And
Mesaulius bare them wheaten bread, a thrall that the swine-
herd had gotten all alone, while his lord was away, without
the knowledge of his mistress and the old Laertes: yea he
had bought him of the Taphians with his own substance.
So they stretched forth their hands upon the good cheer
spread before them. Now after they had put from
them the desire of meat and drink, Mesaulius cleared away
the bread, and they, now that they had eaten enough of
bread and flesh, were moved to go to rest.
Now it was so that night came on foul with a blind moon,
and Zeus rained the whole night through, and still the great
West Wind, the rainy wind, was blowing. Then Odysseus
spake among them that he might make trial of the swine-
herd, and see whether he would take off his own mantle and
give it to him or bid one of his company strip, since he
cared for him so greatly:
* Listen now, Eumaeus, and all of you his companions,
with a prayer will I utter my word ; so bids me witless wine,
which drives even the wisest to sing and to laugh softly,
and rouses him to dance, yea and makes him to speak out a
word which were better unspoken. Howbeit, now that I
have broken into speech, I will not hide aught. Oh that I
were young, and my might were steadfast, as in the day
when we arrayed our ambush and led it beneath Troy town !
And Odysseus, and Menelaus son of Atreus, were leaders
and with them I was a third in command; for so they bade
me. Now when we had come to the city and the steep
wall, we lay about the citadel in the thick brushwood,
crouching under our arms among the reeds and the marsh
land, and behold, the night came on foul, with frost, as the
North Wind went down, while the snow fell from above,
and crusted like rime, bitter cold, and the ice set thick about
our shields. Now the others all had mantles and doublets,
and slept in peace with their shields buckled close about
their shoulders; but I as I went forth had left my mantle
behind with my men, in my folly, thinking that even so I
should not be cold: so I came with only my shield and
206 HOMER
bright leathern apron. But when it was now the third
watch of the night and the stars had passed the zenith, in
that hour I spake unto Odysseus who was nigh me, and
thrust him with my elbow, and he listened straightway :
' " Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, verily I shall cease from among living men, for this
wintry cold is slaying me, seeing that I have no mantle.
Some god beguiled me to wear a doublet only, and hence-
forth is no way of escape."
' So I spake, and he apprehended a thought in his heart,
such an one as he was in counsel and in fight. So he whis-
pered and spake to me, saying:
1 " Be silent now, lest some other Achaeans hear thee."
Therewith he raised his head upon his elbow, and spake,
saying: "Listen, friends, a vision from a god came to me
in my sleep. Lo, we have come very far from the ships; I
would there were one to tell it to Agamemnon, son of
Atreus, shepherd of the host, if perchance he may send us
hither a greater company from the ships."
' So spake he, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, rose up
quickly and cast off his purple mantle. And he started to
run unto the ships, but I lay gladly in his garment, and the
golden-throned Dawn showed her light. Oh ! that I were
young as then and my might steadfast ! Then should some
of the swineherds in the homestead give me a mantle, alike
for love's sake and for pity of a good warrior. But now
they scorn me for that sorry raiment is about my body.'
Then didst thou make answer, O swineherd Eumaeus:
' Old man, the tale that thou hast told in his praise is very
good, and so far thou hast not misspoken aught, nor uttered
a word unprofitably. Wherefore for this night thou shalt
lack neither raiment nor aught else that is the due of a
hapless suppliant, when he has met them that can befriend
him. But in the morning thou shalt go shuffling in thine
own rags, for there are not many mantles here or changes
of doublet; for each man hath but one coat. But when the
dear son of Odysseus comes, he himself will give thee a
mantle and doublet for raiment, and send thee whithersoever
thy heart and spirit bid/
With that he sprang up and set a bed for Odysseus near
\ THE ODYSSEY 207
the fire, and thereon he cast skins of sheep and goats.
There Odysseus laid him down and Eumaeus cast a great
thick man\le over him, which he had ever by him for a
change of covering, when any terrible storm should arise.
So there Odysseus slept, and the young men slept beside
him. But the swineherd had no mind to lie there in a bed
away from the boars. So he made him ready to go forth
and Odysseus was glad, because he had a great care for his
master's substance while he was afar. First he cast his
sharp sword about his strong shoulders, then he clad him
in a very thick mantle, to keep the wind away ; and he caught
up the fleece of a great and well-fed goat, and seized his
sharp javelin, to defend him against dogs and men. Then
he went to lay him down even where the white-tusked boars
were sleeping, beneath the hollow of the rock, in a place of
shelter from the North Wind.
BOOK XV
Pallas sends home Telemachus from Lacedaemoii with the pres-
ents given him by Menelaus. Telemachus landed, goes first to
Humaeus.
NOW Pallas Athene went to the wide land of Lace-
daemon, to put the noble son of the great-hearted
Odysseus in mind of his return, and to make him
hasten his coming. And she found Telemachus, and the
glorious son of Nestor, couched at the vestibule of the
house of famous Menelaus. The son of Nestor truly was
overcome with soft sleep, but sweet sleep gat not hold of
Telemachus, but, through the night divine, careful thoughts
for his father kept him wakeful. And grey-eyed Athene
stood nigh him and spake to him, saying:
'Telemachus, it is no longer meet that thou shouldest
wander far from thy home, leaving thy substance behind
thee, and men in thy house so wanton, lest they divide and
utterly devour all thy wealth, and thou shalt have gone on a
vain journey. But come, rouse with all haste Menelaus, of
the loud war-cry, to send thee on thy way, that thou mayest
even yet find thy noble mother in her home. For even now
her father and her brethren bid her wed Eurymachus, for
he outdoes all the wooers in his presents, and hath been
greatly increasing his gifts of wooing. So shall she take no
treasure from thy house despite thy will. Thou knowest of
what sort is the heart of a woman within her; all her de-
sire is to increase the house of the man who takes her to
wife, but of her former children and of her own dear lord
she has no more memory once he is dead, and she asks con-
cerning him no more. Go then, and thyself place all thy
substance in the care of the handmaid who seems to thee
the best, till the day when the gods shall show thee a glorious
bride. Now another word will I tell thee, and do thou
lay it up in thine heart. The noblest of the wooers lie in
208
THE ODYSSEY 209
wait for thee of purpose, in the strait between Ithaca and
rugged Sanios, eager to slay thee before thou come to thine
own country. But this, methinks, will never be; yea, sooner
shall the earth close over certain of the wooers that devour
thy livelihood. Nay, keep thy well-wrought ship far from
those isles, and sail by night as well as day, and he of the
immortals who hath thee in his keeping and protection will
send thee a fair breeze in thy wake. But when thou hast
touched the nearest shore of Ithaca, send thy ship and all
thy company forward to the city, but for thy part seek first
the swineherd who keeps thy swine, loyal and at one with
thee. There do thou rest the night, and bid him go to the
city to bear tidings of thy coming to the wise Penelope,
how that she hath got thee safe, and thou art come up out
of Pylos/
Therewith she departed to high Olympus. But Telema-
chus woke the son of Nestor out of sweet sleep, touching
him with his heel, and spake to him, saying:
* Awake, Peisistratus, son of Nestor, bring up thy horses
of solid hoof, and yoke them beneath the car, that we may
get forward on the road/
Then Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him, saying:
'Telemachus, we may in no wise drive through the dark
night, how eager soever to be gone; nay, soon it will be
dawn. Tarry then, till the hero, the son of Atreus, spear-
famed Menelaus, brings gifts, and sets them on the car, and
bespeaks thee kindly, and sends thee on thy way. For of
him a guest is mindful all the days of his life, even of the
host that shows him loving-kindness/
So spake he, and anon came the golden-throned Dawn.
And Menelaus, of the loud war cry, drew nigh to them, new
risen from his bed, by fair-haired Helen. Now when the
dear son of Odysseus marked him, he made haste and girt
his shining doublet about him, and the hero cast a great
mantle over his mighty shoulders, and went forth at the
door, and Telemachus, dear son of divine Odysseus, came
up and spake to Menelaus, saying:
' Menelaus, son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the
people, even now do thou speed me hence, to mine own dear
country j for even now my heart is fain to come home again/
210 HOMER
Then Menelaus, of the loud war cry, answered him:
' Telemachus, as for me, I will not hold thee a long time
here, that art eager to return; nay, I think it shame even
in another host, who loves overmuch or hates overmuch.
Measure is best in all things. He does equal wrong who
speeds a guest that would fain abide, and stays one who
is in haste to be gone. Men should lovingly entreat the
present guest and speed the parting. But abide till I bring
fair gifts and set them on the car and thine own eyes be-
hold them, and I bid the women to prepare the midday meal
in the halls, out of the good store they have within. Honour
and glory it is for us, and gain withal for thee, that ye
should have eaten well ere ye go on your way, over vast
and limitless lands. What and if thou art minded to pass
through Hellas and mid Argos? So shall I too go with
thee, and yoke thee horses and lead thee to the towns of
men, and none shall send us empty away, but will give
us some one thing to take with us, either a tripod of goodly
bronze or a cauldron, or two mules or a golden chalice.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him saying : ' Menelaus,
son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the people, rather
would I return even now to mine own land, for I left none
behind to watch over my goods when I departed. I would
not that I myself should perish on the quest of my god-
like father, nor that any good heir-loom should be lost from
my halls/
Now when Menelaus, of the loud war cry, heard this say-
ing, straightway he bade his wife and maids to prepare the
midday meal in the halls, out of the good store they had by
them. Then Eteoneus, son of Boethous, came nigh him, just
risen from his bed, for he abode not far from him. Him
Menelaus of the loud war cry bade kindle the fire and
roast of the flesh; and he hearkened and obeyed. Then the
prince went down into the fragrant treasure chamber, not
alone, for Helen went with him, and Megapenthes. Now,
when they came to the place where the treasures were
stored, then Atrides took a two-handled cup, and bade his
son Megapenthes to bear a mixing bowl of silver. And
Helen stood by the coffers, wherein were her robes of
curious needlework which she herself had wrought. Then
THE ODYSSEY 211
Helen, tKe 'fair lady, lifted one and brought it out, the widest
and most beautifully embroidered of all, and it shone like
a star, and lay far beneath the rest.
Then they went forth through the house till they came to
Telemachus; and Menelaus, of the fair hair, spake to Him
saying :
' Telemachus, may Zeus the thunderer, and the lord of
Here, in very truth bring about thy return according to the
desire of thy heart. And of the gifts, such as are treasures
stored in my house, I will give thee the goodliest and
greatest of price. I will give thee a mixing bowl beautifully
wrought; it is all of silver and the lips thereof are finished
with gold, the work of Hephaestus; and the hero Phaedi-
mus the king of tfie Sidonians, gave it to me when his house
sheltered me, on my coming thither. This cup I would give
to thee.'
Therewith the hero Atrides set the two-handled cup in his
hands. And the strong Megapenthes bare the shining silver
bowl and set it before him. And Helen came up, beautiful
Helen, with the robe in her hands, and spake and hailed
him:
' Lo ! I too give this gift, dear child, a memorial of the
hands of Helen, against the day of thy desire, even of thy
bridal, for thy bride to wear it. But meanwhile let it lie
by thy dear mother in her chamber. And may joy go with
thee to thy well-builded house, and thine own country/
With that she put it into his hands, and he took it and
was glad. And the hero Peisistratus took the gifts and
laid them in the chest of the car, and gazed on all and
wondered. Then Menelaus of the fair hair led them to the
house. Then they twain sat them down on chairs and high
seats, and a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly
golden ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to wash
withal, and drew to their side a polished table. And a grave
dame bare wheaten bread and set it by them, and laid on the
board many dainties, giving freely of such things as she had
by her. And the son of Boethous carved by the board and
divided the messes, and the son of renowned Menelaus
poured forth the wine. So they stretched forth their hands
upon the good cheer set before them. Now when they had
212 HOMER
put from them the desire of meat and drink, then did Telem-
achus and the glorious son of Nestor yoke the horses and
climb into the inlaid car. And they drave forth from the
gateway and the echoing gallery. After these Menelaus, of
the fair hair, the son of Atreus, went forth bearing in his
right hand a golden cup of honey -hearted wine, that they
might pour a drink-offering ere they departed. And he
stood before the horses and spake his greeting:
* Farewell, knightly youths, and salute in my name Nestor,
the shepherd of the people; for truly he was gentle to me
as a father, while we sons of the Achaeans warred in the
land of Troy/
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Yea verily, O
fosterling of Zeus, we will tell him all on our coming even as
thou sayest. Would God that when I return to Ithaca I may
find Odysseus in his home and tell him all, so surely as now
I go on my way having met with all loving-kindness at thy
hands, and take with me treasures many and goodly ! '
And even as he spake a bird flew forth at his right hand,
an eagle that bare in his claws a great white goose, a tame
fowl from the yard, and men and women followed shouting.
But the bird drew near them and flew off to the right, across
the horses, and they that saw it were glad, and their hearts
were all comforted with them. And Peisistratus, son of
Nestor, first spake among them:
1 Consider, Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the
people, whether god hath showed forth this sign for us
twain, or for thee thyself.'
So spake he, and the warrior Menelaus pondered there-
upon, how he should take heed to answer, and interpret it
aright.
And long-robed Helen took the word and spake, saying:
' Hear me, and I will prophesy as the immortals put it into
my heart, and as I deem it will be accomplished. Even as
yonder eagle came down from the hill, the place of his
birth and kin, and snatched away the goose that was fostered
in the house, even so shall Odysseus return home after much
trial and long wanderings and take vengeance; yea, or even
now is he at home and sowing the seeds of evil for all
the wooers.'
THE ODYSSEY 213
Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'Now may
Zeus ordain it so, Zeus the thunderer and the lord of Here.
Then would I do thee worship, as to a god, even in my
home afar.'
He spake and smote the horses with the lash, and they
sped quickly towards the plain, in eager course through the
city. So all day long they swayed the yoke they bore upon
their necks. And the sun sank, and all the ways were dark-
ened. And they came to Pherae, to the house of Diodes,
son of Orsilochus, the child begotten of Alpheus. There
they rested for the night, and by them he set the enter-
tainment of strangers.
Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fin-
gered, they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid car.
And forth they drave from the gateway and the echoing
gallery. And he touched the horses with the whip to start
them, and the pair flew onward nothing loth. And soon
thereafter they reached the steep hold of Pylos. Then
Telemachus spake unto the son of Nestor, saying:
1 Son of Nestor, in what wise mightest thou make me a
promise and fulfil my bidding? For we claim to be friends
by reason of our fathers' friendship from of old. Moreover,
we are equals in age, and this journey shall turn to our
greater love. Take me not hence past my ship, O fosterling
of Zeus, but leave me there, lest that old man keep me ill
his house in my despite, out of his eager kindness, for I must
go right quickly home/
So spake he, and the son of Nestor communed with his
own heart how he might make promise, and duly fulfil the
same. So as he thought thereon, in this wise it seemed
to him best. He turned back his horses toward the swift
ship and the sea-banks, and took forth the fair gifts and set
them in the hinder part of the ship, the raiment and the gold
which Menelaus gave him. And he called to Telemachus
and spake to him winged words:
* Now climb the ship with all haste, and bid all thy com-
pany do likewise, ere I reach home and bring the old man
word. For well I know in my mind and heart that, being so
wilful of heart, he will not let thee go, but he himself will
come hither to bid thee to his house, and methinks that he
214 HOMER
will not go back without thee; for very wroth will he be
despite thine excuse.'
Thus he spake, and drave the horses with the flowing
manes back to the town of the Pylians, and came quickly to
the halls. And Telemachus called to his companions and
commanded them, saying:
1 Set ye the gear in order, my friends, in the black ship,
and let us climb aboard that we may make way upon our
course.'
So spake he, and they gave good heed and hearkened.
Then straightway they embarked and sat upon the benches.
Thus was he busy hereat and praying and making burnt-
offering to Athene, by the stern of the ship, when there
drew nigh him one from a far country, that had slain his
man and was fleeing from out of Argos. He was a sooth-
sayer and by his lineage he came of Melampus, who of
old time abode in Pylos, mother of flocks, a rich man and
one that had an exceedingly goodly house among the Pylians,
but afterward he had come to the land of strangers, fleeing
from his country and from Neleus, the great-hearted, the
proudest of living men, who kept all his goods for a full year
by force. All that time Melampus lay bound with hard
bonds in the halls of Phylacus, suffering strong pains for
the sake of the daughter of Neleus, and for the dread blind-
ness of soul which the goddess, the Erinnys of the dolorous
stroke, had laid on him. Howsoever, he escaped his fate,
and drave away the lowing kine from Phylace to Pylos, and
avenged the foul deed upon godlike Neleus, and brought the
maiden home to his own brother to wife. As for him, he
went to a country of other men, to Argos, the pastureland
of horses; for there truly it was ordained that he should
dwell, bearing rule over many of the Argives. There he
wedded a wife, and builded him a lofty house, and begat
Antiphates and Mantius, two mighty sons. Now Antiphates
begat Oicles the great-hearted, and Oicles Amphiaraus, the
rouser of the host, whom Zeus, lord of the aegis, and Apollo
loved with all manner of love. Yet he reached not the
threshold of old age, but died in Thebes by reason of a
woman's gifts. And the sons born to him were Alcmaeon
and Amphilochus. But Mantius begat Polypheides and
THE ODYSSEY 215
Cleitus; but it came to pass that the golden-throned Dawn
snatched away Cleitus for his very beauty's sake, that he
might dwell with the Immortals.
And Apollo made the high-souled Polypheides a seer, far
the chief of human kind, Amphiaraus being now dead. He
removed his dwelling to Hypheresia, being angered with his
father, and here he abode and prophesied to all men.
This man's son it was, Theoclymenus by name, that now
drew nigh and stood by Telemachus. And he found him
pouring a drink-offering and praying by the swift black
ship, and uttering his voice he spake to him winged words :
1 Friend, since I find thee making burnt-offering in this
place, I pray thee, by thine offerings and by the god, and
thereafter by thine own head, and in the name of the men
of thy company answer my question truly and hide it not.
Who art thou of the sons of men and whence? Where is
thy city, where are they that begat thee ? '
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Yea now,
stranger, I will plainly tell thee all. Of Ithaca am I by
lineage, and my father is Odysseus, if ever such an one there
was, but now hath he perished by an evil fate. Wherefore
I have taken my company and a black ship, and have gone
forth to hear word of my father that has been long afar/
Then godlike Theoclymenus spake to him again : ' Even
so I too have fled from my country, for the manslaying of
one of mine own kin. And many brethren and kinsmen of
the slain are in Argos, the pastureland of horses, and rule
mightily over the Achaeans. Wherefore now am I an exile
to shun death and black fate at their hands, for it is my
doom yet to wander among men. Now set me on board
ship, since I supplicate thee in my flight, lest they slay me
utterly; for methinks they follow hard after me/
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Surely I
will not drive thee away from our good ship, if thou art
fain to come. Follow thou with us then, and in Ithaca thou
shalt be welcome to such things as we have/
Therewith he took from him his spear of bronze, and laid
it along the deck of the curved ship, and himself too climbed
the seafaring ship. Then he sat down in the stern and
made Theoclymenus to sit beside him; and his company
216 HOMER
loosed the hawsers. Then Telemachus called unto his com-
pany, and bade them lay hands on the tackling, and speedily
they hearkened to his call. So they raised the mast of pine
tree, and set it in the hole of the cross plank and made it
fast with forestays, and hauled up the white sails with
twisted ropes of ox-hide. And grey-eyed Athene sent them
a favouring breeze, rushing violently through the clear sky
that the ship might speedily finish her course over the salt
water of the sea. So they passed by Crouni and Chalcis, a
land of fair streams.
And the sun set and all the ways were darkened. And the
vessel drew nigh to Pheae, being sped before the breeze
of Zeus, and then passed goodly Elis where the Epeans bear
rule. From thence he drave on again to the Pointed Isles,
pondering whether he should escape death or be cut off.
Now Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were supping in
the hut, and the other men sat at meat with them. So
when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink,
Odysseus spake among them, to prove the swineherd,
whether he would still entertain him diligently, and bid him
abide there in the steading or send him forward to the city :
' Listen now, Eumaeus, and all the others of the com-
pany. In the morning I would fain be gone to the town to
go a begging, that I be not ruinous to thyself and thy fel-
lows. Now advise me well, and lend me a good guide by
the way to lead me thither; and through the city will I
wander alone as needs I must, if perchance one may give
me a cup of water and a morsel of bread. Moreover I
would go to the house of divine Odysseus and bear tidings
to the wise Penelope, and consort with the wanton wooers,
if haply they might grant me a meal out of the boundless
store that they have by them. Lightly might I do good
service among them, even all that they would. For lo! I
will tell thee and do thou mark and listen. By the favour
of Hermes, the messenger, who gives grace and glory to
all men's work, no mortal may vie with me in the business
of a serving-man, in piling well a fire, in cleaving dry
faggots, and in carving and roasting flesh and in pouring
of wine, those offices wherein meaner men serve their
betters/
THE ODYSSEY 217
Then didst thou speak to him in heaviness of heart, swine-
herd Eumaeus : ' Ah ! wherefore, stranger, hath such a
thought arisen in thine heart? Surely thou art set on per-
ishing utterly there, if thou wouldest indeed go into the
throng of the wooers, whose outrage and violence reacheth
even to the iron heaven ! Not such as thou are their ser-
vants; they that minister to them are young and gaily clad
in mantles and in doublets, and their heads are anointed
with oil and they are fair of face, and the polished boards
are laden with bread and flesh and wine. Nay, abide here,
for none is vexed by thy presence, neither I nor any of my
fellows that are with me. But when the dear son of
Odysseus comes, he himself will give thee a mantle and a
doublet for raiment, and will send thee whithersoever thy
heart and spirit bid thee go.'
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him : ' Oh,
that thou mayst so surely be dear to father Zeus as thou art
to me, in that thou didst make me to cease from wandering
and dread woe ! For there is no other thing more mis-
chievous to men than roaming; yet for their cursed belly's
need men endure sore distress, to whom come wandering
and tribulation and pain. But behold now, since thou stayest
me here, and biddest me wait his coming, tell me of the
mother of divine Odysseus, and of the father whom at his
departure he left behind him on the threshold of old age;
are they, it may be, yet alive beneath the sunlight, or already
dead and within the house of Hades ? '
Then spake to him the swineherd, a master of men : ' Yea
now, stranger, I will plainly tell thee all. Laertes yet lives,
and prays evermore to Zeus that his life may waste from out
his limbs within his halls. For he has wondrous sorrow for
his son that is far away, and for the wedded lady his wise
wife, whose death afflicted him in chief and brought him to
old age before his day. Now she died of very grief for her
son renowned, by an evil death, so may no man perish who
dwells here and is a friend to me in word and deed ! So
long as she was on earth, though in much sorrow, I was glad
to ask and enquire concerning her, for that she herself
had reared me along with long-robed Ctimene, her noble
daughter, the youngest of her children. With her I was
218 HOMER
reared, and she honoured me little less than her own. But
when we both came to the time of our desire, to the flower
of age, thereupon they sent her to Same, and got a great
bride-price; but my lady clad me in a mantle and a doublet,
raiment very fair, and gave me sandals for my feet and sent
me forth to the field, and right dear at heart she held me.
But of these things now at last am I lacking; yet the blessed
gods prosper the work of mine own hands, whereat I abide.
Of this my substance I have eaten and drunken and given
to reverend strangers. But from my lady I may hear nought
pleasant, neither word nor deed, for evil hath fallen on her
house, a plague of froward men; yet thralls have a great
desire to speak before their mistress and find out all and
eat and drink, and moreover to carry off somewhat with
them to the field, such things as ever comfort the heart
of a thrall.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
c Ah, Eumaeus, how far then didst thou wander from thine
own country and thy parents while as yet thou wast but a
child ! But come, declare me this and plainly tell it all. Was
a wide-wayed town of men taken and sacked, wherein dwelt
thy father and thy lady mother, or did unfriendly men find
thee lonely, tending sheep or cattle, and shipped thee thence,
and sold thee into the house of thy master here, who paid
for thee a goodly price?'
Then spake to him the swineherd, a master of men:
' Stranger, since thou askest and questionest me hereof, give
heed now in silence and make merry, and abide here drink-
ing wine. Lo, the nights now are of length untold. Time
is there to sleep, and time to listen and be glad; thou
needest not turn to bed before the hour; even too much
sleep is vexation of spirit. But for the rest, let him whose
heart and mind bid him, go forth and slumber, and at the
dawning of the day let him break his fast, and follow our
master's swine. But let us twain drink and feast within
the steading, and each in his neighbour's sorrows take de-
light recalling them, for even the memory of griefs is a
joy to a man who hath been sore tried and wandered far.
Wherefore I will tell thee that whereof thou askest and dost
question me.
THE ODYSSEY 219
'There is a certain isle called Syria, if haply thou hast
heard tell of it, over above Ortygia, and there are the turn-
ing-places of the sun. It is not very great in compass,
though a goodly isle, rich in herds, rich in flocks, with plenty
of corn and wine. Dearth never enters the land, and no
hateful sickness falls on wretched mortals. But when the
tribes of men grow old in that city, then comes Apollo of
the silver bow, with Artemis, and slays them with the visi-
tation of his gentle shafts. In that isle are two cities, and
the whole land is divided between them, and my father was
king over the twain, Ctesius son of Ormenus, a man like to
the Immortals.
* Thither came the Phoenicians, mariners renowned,
greedy merchant men, with countless gauds in a black ship.
Now in my father's house was a Phoenician woman, tall
and fair and skilled in bright handiwork; this woman the
Phoenicians with their sleights beguiled. First as she was
washing clothes, one of them lay with her in love by the
hollow ship, for love beguiles the minds of womankind, even
of the upright. Then he asked her who she was and whence
she came, and straightway she showed him the lofty home
of my father, saying:
* " From out of Sidon I avow that I come, a land rich in
bronze, and I am the daughter of Arybas, the deeply
wealthy. But Taphians, who were sea-robbers, laid hands
on me and snatched me away as I came in from the fields,
and brought me hither and sold me into the house of my
master, who paid for me a goodly price."
' Then the man who had lain with her privily, answered:
f Say, wouldst thou now return home with us, that thou
mayst look again on the lofty house of thy father and mother
and on their faces? For truly they yet live, and have a
name for wealth."
1 Then the woman answered him and spake, saying :
" Even this may well be, if ye sailors will pledge me an
oath to bring me home in safety."
1 So spake she, and they all swore thereto as she bade
them. Now when they had sworn and done that oath, again
the woman spake among them and answered, saying:
* " Hold your peace now, and let none of your fellows
220 HOMER
speak to me and greet me, if they meet me in the street,
or even at the well, lest one go and tell it to the old man at
home, and he suspect somewhat and bind me in hard bonds
and devise death for all of you. But keep ye the matter in
mind, and speed the purchase of your homeward freight.
And when your ship is freighted with stores, let a message
come quickly to me at the house; for I will likewise bring
gold, all that comes under my hand. Yea and there is
another thing that I would gladly give for my fare. I am
nurse to the child of my lord in the halls, a most cunning
little boy, that runs out and abroad with me. Him would I
bring on board ship, and he should fetch you a great price,
wheresoever ye take him for sale among men of strange
speech."
'Therewith she went her way to the fair halls. But they
abode among us a whole year, and got together much wealth
in their hollow ship. And when their hollow ship was now
laden to depart, they sent a messenger to tell the tidings to
the woman. There came a man versed in craft to my
father's house, with a golden chain strung here and there
with amber beads. Now the maidens in the hall and my lady
mother were handling the chain and gazing on it, and offer-
ing him their price ; but he had signed silently to the woman,
and therewithal gat him away to the hollow ship. Then she
took me by the hand and led me forth from the house. And
at the vestibule of the house she found the cups and the
tables of the guests that had been feasting, who were in
waiting on my father. They had gone forth to the session
and the place of parley of the people. And she straightway
hid three goblets in her bosom, and bare them away, and I
followed in my innocence. Then the sun sank and all the
ways were darkened. And we went quickly and came to
the good haven, where was the swift ship of the Phoenicians.
So they climbed on board and took us up with them, and
sailed over the wet ways, and Zeus sent us a favouring
wind.
1 For six days we sailed by day and night continually ;
but when Zeus, son of Cronos, added the seventh day thereto,
then Artemis, the archer, smote the woman that she fell, as
a sea-swallow falls, with a plunge into the hold. And they
THE ODYSSEY 2^1
cast her forth to be the prey of seals and fishes, but I was
left stricken at heart. And wind and water bare them and
brought them to Ithaca, where Laertes bought me with his
possessions. And thus it chanced that mine eyes beheld
this land/
Then Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, answered him,
saying :
1 Eumaeus, verily thou hast stirred my heart within me
with the tale of all these things, of all the sorrow of heart
thou hast endured. Yet surely Zeus hath given thee good as
well as evil, since after all these adventures thou hast
come to the house of a kindly man, who is careful to
give thee meat and drink and right well thou livest. But I
have come hither still wandering through the many towns
of men/
Thus they spake one with the other. Then they laid
them down to sleep for no long while, but for a little space,
for soon came the throned Dawn. But on the shore the
company of Telemachus were striking their sails, and took
down the mast quickly and rowed the ship on to anchorage.
And they cast anchors and made fast the hawsers, and
themselves too stept forth upon the strand of the sea, and
made ready the midday meal, and mixed the dark wine.
Now when they had put from them the desire of meat and
drink, wise Telemachus first spake among them:
' Do ye now drive the black ship to the city, while I will
go to the fields and to the herdsmen, and at even I will
return to the city, when I have seen my lands. And in the
morning I will set by you the wages of the voyage, a good
feast of flesh and of sweet wine/
Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him : ' And whither
shall I go, dear child? To what man's house shall I betake
me, of such as are lords in rocky Ithaca? Shall I get me
straight to thy mother and to thy home ? '
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' In other
case I would bid thee go even to our own house; for there
is no lack of cheer for strangers, but now would it be worse
for thyself, forasmuch as I shall be away nor would my
mother see thee. For she comes not often in sight of the
wooers in the house, but abides apart from them in her
222 HOMER
upper chamber, and weaves at her web. Yet there is one
whom I will tell thee of, to whom thou mayst go, Eurym-
achus, the glorious son of wise Polybus, whom now the
men of Ithaca look upon, even as if he were a god. For
he is far the best man of them all, and is most eager to wed
my mother and to have the sovereignty of Odysseus. How-
beit, Olympian Zeus, that dwells in the clear sky, knows
hereof, whether or no he will fulfil for them the evil day
before their marriage.'
Now even as he spake, a bird flew out on the right, a
hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo. In his talons he held
a dove and plucked her, and shed the feathers down to the
earth, midway between the ship and Telemachus himself.
Then Theoclymenus called him apart from his fellows, and
clasped his hand and spake and hailed him:
' Telemachus, surely not without the god's will hath the
bird flown out on the right, for I knew when I saw him that
he was a bird of omen. There is no other house more kingly
than yours in the land of Ithaca; nay, ye have ever the
mastery.'
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Ah,
stranger, would that this word may be accomplished ! Soon
shouldeet thou be aware of kindness and many a gift at
my hands, so that whoso met with thee would call thee
blessed.'
Then he spake to Piraeus, his trusty companion : ' Piraeus,
son of Clytius, thou that at other seasons hearkenest to me
above all my company who went with me to Pylos, even
now, I pray, lead this stranger home with thee, and give
heed to treat him lovingly and with worship in thy house
till I come.'
Then Piraeus, spearsman renowned, answered him say-
ing : ' Telemachus, why, even if thou shouldest tarry here
long, yet will I entertain this man, and he shall have no lack
of stranger's cheer.'
Therewith he went on board, and bade his men themselves
to mount and loose the hawsers. And quickly they em-
barked and sat upon the benches. And Telemachus bound
his goodly sandals beneath his feet, and seized a mighty
spear, shod with sharp bronze, from the deck of the ship
THE ODYSSEY 223
and his men loosed the hawsers. So they thrust off and
sailed to the city, as Telemachus bade them, the dear son of
divine Odysseus. But swiftly his feet bore him on his
forward way, till he came to the court, where were his
swine out of number; and among them the good swineherd
slept, a man loyal to his lords.
BOOK XVI
Telemachus sends Euraaeus to the city to tell his mother of his
return. And how, in the meantime, Odysseus discovers himself to
his son.
NOW these twain, Odysseus and the goodly swineherd,
within the hut had kindled a fire, and were making
ready breakfast at the dawn, and had sent forth the
herdsmen with the droves of swine. And round Telemachus
the hounds, that love to bark, fawned and barked not, as he
drew nigh. And goodly Odysseus took note of the fawning
of the dogs, and the noise of footsteps fell upon his ears.
Then straight he spake to Eumaeus winged words :
' Eumaeus, verily some friend or some other of thy
familiars will soon be here, for the dogs do not bark but
fawn around, and I catch the sound of footsteps/
While the word was yet on his lips, his own dear son
stood at the entering in of the gate. Then the swineherd
sprang up in amazement, and out of his hands fell the
vessels wherewith he was busied in mingling the dark wine.
And he came over against his master and kissed his head
and both his beautiful eyes and both his hands, and he let a
great tear fall. And even as a loving father welcomes his
son that has come in the tenth year from a far country, his
only son and well-beloved, for whose sake he has had great
sorrow and travail, even so did the goodly swineherd fall
upon the neck of godlike Telemachus, and kiss him all over
as one escaped from death, and he wept aloud and spake to
him winged words:
' Thou are come, Telemachus, a sweet light in the dark ;
methought I should see thee never again, after thou hadst
gone in thy ship to Pylos. Nay now enter, dear child, that
my heart may be glad at the sight of thee in mine house,
who hast newly come from afar. For thou dost not often
visit the field and the herdsmen, but abidest in the town ; so
224
THE ODYSSEY 225
it seems has thy good pleasure been, to look on the ruinous
throng of the wooers.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: * So be it,
father, as thou sayest; and for thy sake am I come hither to
see thee with mine eyes, and to hear from thy lips whether
my mother yet abides in the halls or another has already
wedded her, and the couch of Odysseus, perchance, lies in
lack of bedding and deep in foul spider-webs/
Then the swineherd, a master of men, answered him:
* Yea, verily, she abides with patient spirit in thy halls, and
wearily for her the nights wane always and the days, in
shedding of tears/
So he spake and took from him the spear of bronze.
Then Telemachus passed within and crossed the threshold
of stone. As he came near, his father Odysseus arose from
his seat to give him place; but Telemachus, on his part,
stayed him and spake saying:
1 Be seated, stranger, and we will find a seat some other
where in our steading, and there is a man here to set it
for us/
So he spake, and Odysseus went back and sat him down
again. And the swineherd strewed for Telemachus green
brushwood below, and a fleece thereupon, and there presently
the dear son of Odysseus sat him down. Next the swine-
herd set by them platters of roast flesh, the fragments that
were left from the meal of yesterday. And wheaten bread
he briskly heaped up in baskets, and mixed the honey-sweet
wine in a goblet of ivy wood, and himself sat down over
against divine Odysseus. So they stretched forth their
hands upon the good cheer set before them. Now when
they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, Telema-
chus spake to the goodly swineherd, saying :
' Father, whence came this stranger to thee ? How did
6ailors bring him to Ithaca ? and who did they avow them to
be? For in no wise, I deem, did he come hither by land/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : * Yea
now, my son, I will tell thee all the truth. Of wide Crete he
avows him to be by lineage, and he says that round many
cities of mortals he has wandered at adventure; even so has
some god spun for him the thread of fate. But now, as a
H— Vol. 22 HC
226 HOMER
runaway from a ship of the Thesprotians, has he come to my
steading, and I will give him to thee for thy man; do with
him as thou wilt ; he avows him for thy suppliant/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Eumaeus,
verily a bitter word is this that thou speakest. How indeed
shall I receive this guest in my house? Myself I am young,
and trust not yet to my strength of hands to defend me
against the man who does violence without a cause. And my
mother has divisions of heart, whether to abide here with me
and keep the house, respecting the bed of her lord and the
voice of the people, or straightway to go with whomsoever
of the Achaeans that woo her in the halls is the best man,
and gives most bridal gifts. But behold, as for this guest of
thine, now that he has come to thy house, I will clothe him
in a mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment, and I will give
him a two-edged sword, and shoes for his feet, and send him
on his way, whithersoever his heart and his spirit bid him go.
Or, if thou wilt, hold him here in the steading and take care
of him, and raiment I will send hither, and all manner of
food to eat, that he be not ruinous to thee and to thy fellows.
But thither into the company of the wooers would I not
suffer him to go, for they are exceeding full of infatuate
insolence, lest they mock at him, and that would be a sore
grief to me. And hard it is for one man, how valiant soever,
to achieve aught among a multitude, for verily they are far
the stronger/
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him : ' My
friend, since it is indeed my right to answer thee withal, of a
truth my heart is rent as I hear your words, such infatuate
deeds ye say the wooers devise in the halls, in despite of
thee, a man so noble. Say, dost thou willingly submit thee
to oppression, or do the people through the township hate
thee, obedient to the voice of a god? Or hast thou cause to
blame thy brethren, in whose battle a man puts trust, even if
a great feud arise? Ah, would that I had the youth, as
now I have the spirit, and were either the son of noble
Odysseus or Odysseus' very self, 1 straightway then might
a stranger sever my head from off my neck, if I went not to
1 We omit line 101, which spoils the sense of the passage, and was
rejected by antiquity.
THE ODYSSEY 227
the halls of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and made myself the
bane of every man among them ! But if they should over-
come me by numbers, being but one man against so many,
far rather would I die slain in mine own halls, than witness
for ever these unseemly deeds, strangers shamefully en-
treated, and men haling the handmaidens in foul wise through
the fair house and wine drawn wastefully and the wooers
devouring food all recklessly without avail, at a work that
knows no ending.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Yea now,
stranger, I will plainly tell thee all. There is no grudge and
hatred borne me by the whole people, neither have I cause
to blame my brethren, in whose battle a man puts trust, even
if a great feud arise. For thus, as thou seest, Cronion has
made us a house of but one heir. Arceisius got him one
only son Laertes, and one only son Odysseus was be-
gotten of his father, and Odysseus left me the only child of
his getting in these halls, and had no joy of me; wherefore
now are foemen innumerable in the house. For all the no-
blest that are princes in the islands, in Dulichium and Same
and wooded Zacynthus, and as many as lord it in rocky
Ithaca, all these woo my mother and waste my house. But
as for her she neither refuseth the hated bridal, nor hath the
heart to make an end ; so they devour and minish my house ;
and ere long will they make havoc likewise of myself. How-
beit these things surely lie on the knees of the gods. Nay,
father, but do thou go with haste and tell the constant
Penelope that she hath got me safe and that I am come up
out of Pylos. As for me, I will tarry here, and do thou
return hither when thou hast told the tidings to her alone;
but of the other Achaeans let no man learn it, for there be
many that devise mischief against me/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : ' I
mark, I heed, all this thou speakest to one with under-
standing. But come, declare me this and tell it plainly;
whether or no I shall go the same road with tidings to
Laertes, that hapless man, who till lately, despite his great
sorrow for Odysseus' sake, yet had oversight of the tillage,
and did eat and drink with the thralls in his house, as often
as his heart within him bade him. But now, from the day
228 HOMER
that thou wentest in thy ship to Pylos, never to this hour,
they say, hath he so much as eaten and drunken, nor looked
to the labours of the field, but with groaning and lamenta-
tion he sits sorrowing, and the flesh wastes away about his
bones/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'All the
more grievous it is ! yet will we let him be, though we sor-
row thereat. For if men might in any wise have all their
will, we should before aught else choose the day of my
father's returning. But do thou when thou hast told the
tidings come straight back, and go not wandering through
the fields after Laertes. But speak to my mother that with
all speed she send forth the house-dame her handmaid,
secretly, for she might bear tidings to the old man/
With that word he roused the swineherd, who took his
sandals in his hands and bound them beneath his feet and
departed for the city. Now Athene noted Eumaeus the
swineherd pass from the steading, and she drew nigh in the
semblance of a woman fair and tall, and skilled in splendid
handiwork. And she stood in presence manifest to Odysseus
over against the doorway of the hut; but it was so that
Telemachus saw her not before him and marked her not;
for the gods in no wise appear visibly to all. But Odysseus
was ware of her and the dogs likewise, which barked not,
but with a low whine shrank cowering to the far side of the
steading. Then she nodded at him with bent brows, and
goodly Odysseus perceived it, and came forth from the
room, past the great wall of the yard, and stood before her,
and Athene spake to him, saying:
' Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, now is the hour to reveal thy word to thy son, and
hide it not, that ye twain having framed death and doom
for the wooers, may fare to the famous town. Nor will I,
even I, be long away from you, being right eager for battle/
Therewith Athene touched him with her golden wand.
First she cast about his breast a fresh linen robe and a
doublet, and she increased his bulk and bloom. Dark his
colour grew again, and his cheeks filled out, and the black
beard spread thick around his chin.
Now she, when she had so wrought, withdrew again, but
THE ODYSSEY 229
Odysseus went into the hut, and his dear son marvelled at
him and looked away for very fear lest it should be a god,
and he uttered his voice and spake to him winged words:
* Even now, stranger, thou art other in my sight than that
thou wert a moment since, and other garments thou hast,
and the colour of thy skin is no longer the same. Surely
thou art a god of those that keep the wide heaven. Nay
then, be gracious, that we may offer to thee well-pleasing
sacrifices and golden gifts, beautifully wrought; and spare
us I pray thee/
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, say-
ing : ' Behold, no god am I ; why likenest thou me to the im-
mortals? nay, thy father am I, for whose sake thou sufferest
many pains and groanest sore, and submittest thee to the
despite of men/
At the word he kissed his son, and from his cheeks let a
tear fall to earth : before, he had stayed the tears continually.
But Telemachus (for as yet he believed not that it was his
father) answered in turn and spake, saying:
1 Thou art not Odysseus my father, but some god be-
guiles me, that I may groan for more exceeding sorrow.
For it cannot be that a mortal man should contrive this by
the aid of his own wit, unless a god were himself to visit
him, and lightly of his own will to make him young or
old. For truly, but a moment gone, thou wert old and
foully clad, but now thou art like the gods who keep the
wide heaven/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
1 Telemachus, it fits thee not to marvel overmuch that thy
father is come home, or to be amazed. Nay, for thou shalt
find no other Odysseus come hither any more; but lo, I, all
as I am, after sufferings and much wandering have come in
the twentieth year to mine own country. Behold, this is the
work of Athene, driver of the spoil, who makes me such
manner of man as she will, — for with her it is possible, —
now like a beggar, and now again like a young man, and
one clad about in rich raiment. Easy it is for the gods who
keep the wide heaven to glorify or to abase a mortal man/
With this word then he sat down again; but Telemachus,
flinging himself upon his noble father's neck, mourned and
230 HOMER
shed tears, and in both their hearts arose the desire of
lamentation. And they wailed aloud, more carelessly than
birds, sea-eagles or vultures of crooked claws, whose young-
lings the country folk have taken from the nest, ere yet they
are fledged. Even so pitifully fell the tears beneath their
brows. And now would the sunlight have gone down upon
their sorrowing, had not Telemachus spoken to his father
suddenly :
* And in what manner of ship, father dear, did sailors at
length bring thee hither to Ithaca? and who did they avow
them to be ? For in no wise, I deem, didst thou come hither
by land/
And the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him : ' Yea
now, my child, I will tell thee all the truth. The Phaeacians
brought me hither, mariners renowned, who speed other men
too upon their way, whosoever comes to them. Asleep in
the swift ship they bore me over the seas and set me down
in Ithaca, and gave me splendid gifts, bronze and gold in
plenty and woven raiment. And these treasures are lying by
the gods' grace in the caves. But now I am come hither by
the promptings of Athene, that we may take counsel for the
slaughter of the foemen. But come, tell me all the tale of
the wooers and their number, that I may know how many
and what men they be, and that so I may commune with my
good heart and advise me, whether we twain shall be able
alone to make head against them without aid, or whether we
should even seek succour of others/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : * Verily,
father, I have ever heard of thy great fame, for a warrior
hardy of thy hands, and sage in counsel. But this is a hard
saying of thine: awe comes over me; for it may not be that
two men should do battle with many men and stalwart. For
of the wooers there are not barely ten nor twice ten only, but
many a decad more : and straight shalt thou learn the tale of
them ere we part. From Dulichium there be two and fifty
chosen lords, and six serving men go with them; and out of
Same four and twenty men; and from Zacynthus there are
twenty lords of the Achaeans; and from Ithaca itself full
twelve men of the best, and with them Medon the henchman,
and the divine minstrel, and two squires skilled in carving
THE ODYSSEY 231
viands. If we shall encounter all these within the halls, see
thou to it, lest bitter and baneful for us be the vengeance thou
takest on their violence at thy coming. But do thou, if thou
canst think of some champion, advise thee of any that may
help us with all his heart/
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him,
saying :
'Yea now, I will tell thee, and do thou mark and listen
to me, and consider whether Athene with Father Zeus will
suffice for us twain, or whether I shall cast about for some
other champion/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Valiant
helpers, in sooth, are these two thou namest, whose seat is
aloft in the clouds, and they rule among all men and among
the deathless gods ! '
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him : ' Yet
will the twain not long keep aloof from the strong tumult of
war, when between the wooers and us in my halls is held
the trial of the might of Ares. But as now, do thou go
homeward at the breaking of the day, and consort with the
proud wooers. As for me, the swineherd will lead me to
the town later in the day, in the likeness of a beggar, a
wretched man and an old. And if they shall evil entreat me
in the house, let thy heart harden itself to endure while I am
shamefully handled, yea even if they drag me by the feet
through the house to the doors, or cast at me and smite me :
still do thou bear the sight. Howbeit thou shalt surely bid
them cease from their folly, exhorting them, with smooth
words; yet no whit will they hearken, nay for the day of
their doom is at hand. Yet another thing will I tell thee,
and do thou ponder it in thy heart. When Athene, of deep
counsel, shall put it into my heart, I will nod to thee
with my head and do thou note it, and carry away all thy
weapons of war that lie in the halls, and lay them down
every one in the secret place of the lofty chamber. And
when the wooers miss them and ask thee concerning them,
thou shalt beguile them with soft words, saying :
• " Out of the smoke I laid them by, since they were no
longer like those that Odysseus left behind him of old when
he went to Troy, but they are wholly marred : so mightily
232 HOMER
hath passed upon them the vapour of fire. Moreover,
Cronion hath put into my heart this other and greater care,
that perchance, when ye are heated with wine, ye set a
quarrel between you and wound one the other and thereby
shame the feast and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a
man thereto." But for us twain alone leave two swords and
two spears and two shields of oxhide to grasp, that we may
rush upon the arms and seize them; and then shall Pallas
Athene and Zeus the counsellor enchant the wooers to their
ruin. Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder
it in thy heart. If in very truth thou art my son and of
our blood, then let no man hear that Odysseus is come home;
neither let Laertes know it, nor the swineherd nor any of
the household nor Penelope herself, but let me and thee
alone discover the intent of the women. Yea, and we would
moreover make trial of certain of the men among the thralls,
and learn who* of them chances to honour us and to fear us
heartily, and who regards us not at all and holds even thee
in no esteem, so noble a man as thou art/
Then his renowned son answered him, and said : ' O my
father, of a truth thou shalt learn, methinks, even hereafter
what spirit I am of, for no whit doth folly possess me. But
I deem not that this device of thine will be gainful to us
twain, so I bid thee to give heed. For thou shalt be long
time on thy road to little purpose, making trial of each man,
while thou visitest the farm lands ; but at ease in thy halls
the wooers devour thy goods with insolence, and now there
is no sparing. Howbeit I would have thee take knowledge
of the women, who they be that dishonour thee, and who
are guiltless. But of the men I would not that we should
make trial in the steadings, but that we should see to this
task afterwards, if indeed thou knowest some sign from
Zeus, lord of the aegis/
Thus they spake one to the other. And now the well-
builded ship was being brought to land at Ithaca, the ship
that bare Telemachus from Pylos with all his company.
When they were now come within the deep harbour, the men
drew up the black ship on the shore, while squires, haughty
of heart, bare away their weapons, and straightway carried
8 Reading o »o« «$.
THE ODYSSEY 233
the glorious gifts to the house of Clytius. Anon they sent
forward a herald to the house of Odysseus to bear the
tidings to prudent Penelope, namely, how Telemachus was
in the field, and had bidden the ship sail to the city, lest the
noble queen should be afraid, and let the round tears fall.
So these two met, the herald and the goodly swineherd,
come on the same errand to tell all to the lady. Now when
they were got to the house of the divine king, the herald
spake out among all the handmaids saying:
1 Verily, O queen, thy son hath come out of Pylos/
But the swineherd went up to Penelope, and told her all
that her dear son had bidden him say. So, when he had
declared all that had been enjoined him, he went on his way
to the swine and left the enclosure and the hall.
Now the wooers were troubled and downcast in spirit, and
forth they went from the hall past the great wall of the
court, and there in front of the gates they held their session.
And Eurymachus son of Polybus first spake among them
saying :
1 Verily, friends, a proud deed hath Telemachus accom-
plished with a high hand, even this journey, and we said that
he should never bring it to pass. But come, launch we a
black ship, the best there is, and let us get together oarsmen
of the sea, who shall straightway bear word to our friends to
return home with speed.'
The word was yet on his lips, when Amphinomus turned
in his place and saw the ship within the deep harbour, and
the men lowering the sails and with the oars in their hands.
Then sweetly he laughed out and spake among his fellows:
' Nay, let us now send no message any more, for lo, they
are come home. Either some god has told them all or they
themselves have seen the ship of Telemachus go by, and
have not been able to catch her/
Thus he spake, and they arose and went to the sea-
banks. Swiftly the men drew up the black ship on the
shore, and squires, haughty of heart, bare away their
weapons. And the wooers all together went to the assem-
bly-place, and suffered none other to sit with them, either
of the young men or of the elders. Then Antinous spake
among them, the son of Eupeithes:
234 HOMER
* Lo now, how the gods have delivered this man from his
evil case ! All day long did scouts sit along the windy-
headlands, ever in quick succession, and at the going down
of the sun we never rested for a night upon the shore, but
sailing with our swift ship on the high seas we awaited the
bright Dawn, as we lay in wait for Telemachus, that we
might take and slay the man himself; but meanwhile some
god has brought him home. But even here let us devise an
evil end for him, even for Telemachus, and let him not escape
out of our hands, for methinks that while he lives we shall
never achieve this task of ours. For he himself has under-
standing in counsel and wisdom, and the people no longer
show us favour in all things. Nay come, before he assembles
all the Ac'iaeans to the gathering; for methinks that he will
in nowise be slack, but will be exceeding wroth, and will
stand up and speak out among them all, and tell how we
plotted against him sheer destruction but did not overtake
him. Then will they not approve us, when they hear these
evil deeds. Beware then lest they do us a harm, and drive
us forth from our country, and we come to the land of
strangers. Nay, but let us be beforehand and take him in
the field far from the city, or by the way; and let us our-
selves keep his livelihood and his possessions, making fair
division among us, but the house we would give to his
mother to keep and to whomsoever marries her. But if this
saying likes you not, but ye chose rather that he should live
and keep the heritage of his father, no longer then let us
gather here and eat all his store of pleasant substance, but
let each one from his own hall woo her with his bridal gifts
and seek to win her; so should she wed the man that gives
the most and comes as the chosen of fate/
So he spake, and they all held their peace. Then Amphin-
omus made harangue and spake out among them; he was
the famous son of Nisus the prince, the son of Aretias, and
he led the wooers that came from out Dulichium, a land rich
in wheat and grass, and more than all the rest his words
were pleasing to Penelope, for he was of an understanding
mind. And now of his good-will he made harangue, and
spake among them:
'Friends, I for one would not choose to kill Telemachus;
THE ODYSSEY 235
it is a fearful thing to slay one of the stock of kings ! Nay,
first let us seek to the counsel of the gods, and if the oracles
of great Zeus approve, myself I will slay him and bid all the
rest to aid. But if the gods are disposed to avert it, I bid
you to refrain.'
So spake Amphinomus, and his saying pleased them well.
Then straightway they arose and went to the house of
Odysseus, and entering in sat down on the polished seats.
Then the wise Penelope had a new thought, namely, to
show herself to the wooers, so despiteful in their insolence;
for she had heard of the death of her son that was to be
in the halls, seeing that Medon the henchman had told her of
it, who heard their counsels. So she went on her way to the
hall, with the women her handmaids. Now when that fair
lady had come unto the wooers, she stood by the pillar of the
well-builded roof, holding up her glistening tire before her
face, and rebuked Antinous and spake and hailed him :
'Antinous, full of all insolence, deviser of mischief! and
yet they say that in the land of Ithaca thou art chief est
among thy peers in counsel and in speech. Nay, no such man
dost thou show thyself. Fool ! why indeed dost thou contrive
death and doom for Telemachus, and hast no regard unto sup-
pliants who have Zeus to witness? Nay but it is an impious
thing to contrive evil one against another. What ! knowest
thou not of the day when thy father fled to this house in fear
of the people, for verily they were exceedingly wroth against
him, because he had followed with Taphian sea robbers and
harried the Thesprotians, who were at peace with us. So they
wished to destroy thy father and wrest from him his dear
life, and utterly to devour all his great and abundant liveli-
hood; but Odysseus stayed and withheld them, for all their
desire. His house thou now consumest without atonement,
and his wife thou wooest, and wouldst slay his son, and
dost greatly grieve me. But I bid thee cease, and com-
mand the others to do likewise/
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her saying:
'Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, take courage, and let
not thy heart be careful for these things. The man is not,
nor shall be, nor ever shall be born, that shall stretch forth
his hands against Telemachus, thy son, while I live and am
236 HOMER
on earth and see the light. For thus will I declare to thee,
and it shall surely come to pass. Right quickly shall the black
blood of such an one flow about our spear; for Odysseus,
waster of cities, of a truth did many a time set me too upon
his knees, and gave me roasted flesh into my hand, and held
the red wine to my lips. Wherefore Telemachus is far the
dearest of all men to me, and I bid him have no fear of
death, not from the wooers' hands; but from the gods none
may avoid it/
Thus he spake comforting her, but was himself the while
framing death for her son.
Now she ascended to her shining upper chamber, and
then was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till grey-eyed
Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
And in the evening the goodly swineherd came back to
Odysseus and his son, and they made ready and served
the supper, when they had sacrificed a swine of a year old.
Then Athene drew near Odysseus, son of Laertes, and smote
him with her wand, and made him into an old man again.
In sorry raiment she clad him about his body, lest the swine-
herd should look on him and know him, and depart to tell
the constant Penelope, and not keep the matter in his heart.
Then Telemachus spake first to the swineherd, saying:
1 Thou hast come, goodly Eumaeus. What news is there
in the town ? Are the lordly wooers now come in from their
ambush, or do they still watch for me as before on my
homeward way ? '
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : ' I had
no mind to go down the city asking and inquiring hereof;
my heart bade me get me home again, as quick as might be,
when once I had told the tidings. And the swift messen-
ger from thy company joined himself unto me, the hench-
man, who was the first to tell the news to thy mother. Yet
this, too, I know, if thou wouldest hear; for I beheld it with
mine eyes. Already had I come in my faring above the city,
where is the hill Hermaean, when I marked a swift ship
entering our haven, and many men there were in her, and
she was laden with shields and two-headed spears, and
methought they were the wooers, but I know not at all/
So spake he, and the mighty prince Telemachus smiled,
THE ODYSSEY 237
and glanced at his father, while he shunned the eye of the
swineherd.
Now when they had ceased from the work and got supper
ready, they fell to feasting, and their hearts lacked not ought
of the equal banquet. But when they had put from them
the desire of meat and drink, they bethought them of rest,
and took the boon of sleeg.
BOOK XVII
Telemachus relates to his mother what he had heard of Pylos
and Sparta
SO SOON as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
then Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
bound beneath his feet his goodly sandals, and took up
his mighty spear that fitted his grasp, to make for the city;
and he spake to his swineherd, saying:
'Verily, father, I am bound for the city, that my mother
may see me, for methinks that she will not cease from griev-
ous wailing, and tearful lament, until she beholds my very
face. But this command I give thee: Lead this stranger,
the hapless one, to the city, that there he may beg his meat,
and whoso chooses will give him a morsel of bread and a
cup of water. As for myself, I can in no wise suffer every
guest who comes to me, so afflicted am I in spirit. But if
the stranger be sore angered hereat, the more grievous will
it be for himself; howbeit I for one love to speak the truth/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'I
too, my friend, have no great liking to be left behind here.
It is better that a beggar should beg his meat in the town
than in the fields, and whoso chooses will give it me. For I
am not now of an age to abide at the steading, and to obey in
all things the word of the master. Nay go, and this man
that thou biddest will lead me, so soon as I shall be warmed
with the fire, and the sun waxes hot. For woefully poor are
these garments of mine, and I fear lest the hoar frost of
the dawn overcome me; moreover ye say the city is far
away.'
So he spake, and Telemachus passed out through the stead-
ing, stepping forth at a quick pace, and was sowing seeds
of evil for the wooers. Now when he was come to the
fair-lying house, he set his spear against the tall pillar and
238
THE ODYSSEY 239
leaded it there, and himself went in and crossed the thresh-
old pf stone.
And the nurse Eurycleia saw him far before the rest, as
she was strewing skin coverlets upon the carven chairs, and
straightway she drew near him, weeping, and all the other
maidens of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, were gathered about
him, and kissed him lovingly on the head and shoulders. Now
wise Penelope came forth from her chamber, like Artemis or
golden Aphrodite, and cast her arms about her dear son, and
fell a weeping, and kissed his face and both his beautiful
eyes, and wept aloud, and spake to him winged words:
' Thou art come, Telemachus, a sweet light in the dark ;
methought I should see thee never again, after thou hadst
gone in thy ship to Pylos, secretly and without my will, to
seek tidings of thy dear father. Come now, tell me, what
sight thou didst get of him ? '
And wise Telemachus answered her, saying : ' Mother
mine, wake not wailing in my soul, nor stir the heart within
the breast of me, that have but now fled from utter death.
Nay, but wash thee in water, and take to thee fresh raiment,
and go aloft to thine upper chamber with the women thy
handmaids, and vow to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice
of hecatombs, if haply Zeus may grant that deeds of requital
be made. But I will go to the assembly-place to bid a
stranger to our house, one that accompanied me as I came
hither from Pylos. I sent him forward with my godlike com-
pany, and commanded Piraeus to lead him home, and to take
heed to treat him lovingly and with worship till I should
come.'
Thus he spake, and wingless her speech remained. And
she washed her in water, and took to her fresh raiment, and
vowed to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs,
if haply Zeus might grant that deeds of requital should be
made.
Now Telemachus went out through the hall with the spear
in his hand : and two swift hounds bare him company. And
Athene shed on him a wondrous grace, and all the people
marvelled at him as he came. And the lordly wooers gath-
ered about him with fair words on their lips, but brooding
evil in the deep of their heart. Then he avoided the great
240 HOMER
press of the wooers, but where Mentor sat, and Antip^us,
and Halitherses, who were friends of his house from of old,
there he went and sat down; and they asked him of sll his
adventures. Then Piraeus, the famed spearsman, drew nigh,
leading the stranger to the assembly-place by the way of
the town ; and Telemachus kept not aloof from him long, but
went up to him.
Then Piraeus first spake to him, saying: 'Bestir the
women straightway to go to my house, that I may send thee
the gifts that Menelaus gave thee.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Piraeus,
we know not how these matters will fall out. If the lordly
wooers shall slay me by guile in the halls, and divide among
them the heritage of my father, then I should wish thee to
keep and enjoy the gifts thyself, rather than any of these.
But if I shall sow the seeds of death and fate for the wooers,
then gladly bring me to the house the gifts that I will gladly
take/
Therewith he led the travel-worn stranger to the house.
Now when they came to the fair-lying palace, they laid
aside their mantles on the chairs and high seats, and went
to the polished baths and bathed them. So when the maidens
had bathed them and anointed them with olive oil, and cast
about them thick mantles and doublets, they came forth from
the baths, and sat upon the seats. Then the handmaid bare
water for the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it
forth over a silver basin to wash withal, and drew to their
side a polished table. And the grave dame bare wheaten
bread, and set it by them, and laid on the board many
dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by her. And
the mother of Telemachus sat over against him by the pillar
of the hall, leaning against a chair, and spinning the slender
threads from the yarn. And they stretched forth their hands
upon the good cheer set before them. Now when they had
put from them the desire of meat and drink, the wise Pe-
nelope first spake among them:
' Telemachus, verily I will go up to my upper chamber,
and lay me in my bed, the place of my groanings, that is ever
watered by my tears since the day that Odysseus departed
with the sons of Atreus for Ilios. Yet thou hadst no care
THE ODYSSEY 241
to teH me clearly, before the lordly wooers came to this
house, concerning the returning of thy father, if haply thou
hast heard thereof/
And wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'Yea now,
mother, I will tell thee all the truth. We went to Pylos and
to Nestor, the shepherd of the people, and he received me in
his lofty house, and was diligent to entreat me lovingly, as
a father might his son that had but newly come from strange
lands after many years; even so diligently he cared for me
with his renowned sons. Yet he said that he had heard no
word from any man on earth concerning Odysseus, of the
hardy heart, whether alive or dead. But he sent me forward
on my way with horses and a chariot, well compact, to Mene-
laus, son of Atreus, spearman renowned. There I saw Argive
Helen, for whose sake the Argives and Trojans bore much
travail by the gods' designs. Then straightway Menelaus, of
the loud war-cry, asked me on what quest I had come to
goodly Lacedaemon. And I told him all the truth. Then he
made answer, and spake, saying:
' "Out upon them, for truly in the bed of a brave-hearted
man were they minded to lie, very cravens as they are ! Even
as when a hind hath couched her newborn fawns unweaned
in a strong lion's lair, and searcheth out the mountain-knees
and grassy hollows, seeking pasture ; and afterward the lion
cometh back to his bed, and sendeth forth unsightly death
upon that pair, even so shall Odysseus send forth unsightly
death upon the wooers. Would to our father Zeus, and
Athene and Apollo, would that in such might as when of old
in stablished Lesbos he rose up in strife and wrestled with
Philomeleides, and threw him mightily, and all the Achaeans
rejoiced; would that in such strength Odysseus might con-
sort with the wooers ; then should they all have swift fate and
bitter wedlock! But for that whereof thou askest and en-
treatest me, be sure I will not swerve from the truth in aught
that I say, nor deceive thee; but of all that the ancient one
of the sea, whose speech is sooth, declareth to me, not a
word will I hide or keep from thee. He said that he saw
Odysseus in an island, suffering strong pains in the halls of
the nymph Calypso, who holds him there perforce ; so that he
may not come to his own country, for he has by him no ships
242 HOMER
with oars, and no companions to send him on his way over
the broad back of the sea." So spake Menelaus, son of
Atreus, spearsman renowned. Then having fulfilled all, I set
out for home, and the deathless gods gave me a fair wind,
and brought me swiftly to mine own dear country.'
So he spake, and stirred her heart within her breast. And
next the godlike Theoclymenus spake among them:
1 O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, verily he
hath no clear knowledge; but my word do thou mark, for I
will prophesy to thee most truly and hide nought. Now
Zeus be witness before any god, and this hospitable board
and this hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come,
that Odysseus is even now of a surety in his own country,
resting or faring, learning of these evil deeds, and sowing
the seeds of evil for all the wooers. So clear was the omen
of the bird that I saw as I sat on the decked ship, and I
proclaimed it to Telemachus.'
Then wise Penelope answered him, saying : ' Ah, stranger,
would that this thy word may be accomplished ! Soon
shouldest thou be aware of kindness and of many a gift at
my hands, so that whoso met with thee would call thee
blessed.'
Thus they spake one to the other. But the wooers mean-
time were before the palace of Odysseus, taking their
pleasure in casting of weights and of spears on a levelled
place, as heretofore, in their insolence. But when it was
now the hour for supper, and the flocks came home from
the fields all around, and the men led them whose custom
it was, then Medon, who of all the henchmen was most to
their mind, and was ever with them at the feast, spake to
them, saying:
' Noble youths, now that ye have had sport to your hearts'
content, get you into the house, that we may make ready a
feast; for truly it is no bad thing to take meat in season.'
Even so he spake, and they rose up and departed, and
were obedient to his word. Now when they were come into
the fair-lying house, they laid aside their mantles on the
chairs and high seats, and they sacrificed great sheep and
stout goats, yea, and the fatlings of the boars and an heifer
of the herd, and got ready the feast.
THE ODYSSEY 243
Now all this while Odysseus and the goodly swineherd
were bestirring them to go from the field to the city; and
the swineherd, a master of men, spake first saying:
1 Well, my friend, forasmuch as I see thou art eager to be
going to the city to-day, even as my master gave command;
— though myself I would well that thou shouldest be left
here to keep the steading, but I hold him in reverence and
fear, lest he chide me afterwards, and grievous are the re-
bukes of masters — come then, let us go on our way, for lo,
the day is far spent, and soon wilt thou find it colder toward
evening/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
'I mark, I heed: all this thou speakest to one with under-
standing. But let us be going, and be thou my guide withal
to the end. And if thou hast anywhere a staff ready cut,
give it me to lean upon, for truly ye said that slippery was
the way/
Therewith he cast about his shoulders a mean scrip, all
tattered, and a cord withal to hang it, and Eumaeus gave
him a staff to his mind. So these twain went on their way,
and the dogs and the herdsmen stayed behind to guard the
steading. And the swineherd led his lord to the city in the
guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on a
staff; and sorry was the raiment wherewith he was clothed
upon. But as they fared along the rugged path they drew
near to the town, and came to the fair flowing spring, with
a basin fashioned, whence the people of the city drew water.
This well Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor had builded.
And around it was a thicket of alders that grow by the
waters, all circlewise, and down the cold stream fell from a
rock on high, and above was reared an altar to the Nymphs,
whereat all wayfarers made offering. In that place Melan-
thius, son of Dolius, met them, leading his goats to feast
the wooers, the best goats that were in all the herds; and
two herdsmen bare him company. Now when he saw them
he reviled them, and spake and hailed them, in terrible and
evil fashion, and stirred the heart of Odysseus, saying:
' Now in very truth the vile is leading the vile, for god
brings ever like to like ! Say, whither art thou leading this
glutton, — thou wretched swineherd, — this plaguy beggar, a
244 HOMER
kill-joy of the feast? He is one to stand about and rub his
shoulders against many doorposts, begging for scraps of
meat, not for swords or cauldrons. If thou wouldst give me
the fellow to watch my steading and sweep out the stalls,
and carry fresh fodder to the kids, then he might drink whey
and get him a stout thigh. Howbeit, since he is practised
only in evil, he will not care to betake him to the labour of
the farm, but rather chooses to go louting through the land
asking alms to fill his insatiate belly. But now I will speak
out and my word shall surely be accomplished. If ever he
fares to the house of divine Odysseus, many a stool that
men's hands hurl shall fly about his head, and break upon
his ribs, 1 as they pelt him through the house.'
Therewith, as he went past, he kicked Odysseus on the
hip, in his witlessness, yet he drave him not from the path,
but he abode steadfast. And Odysseus pondered whether
he should rush upon him and take away his life with the
staff, or lift him in his grasp 2 and smite his head to the
earth. Yet he hardened his heart to endure and refrained
himself. And the swineherd looked at the other and re-
buked him, and lifting up his hands prayed aloud:
' Nymphs of the well-water, daughters of Zeus, if ever
Odysseus burned on your altars pieces of the thighs of rams
or kids, in their covering of rich fat, fulfil for me this wish :
— oh that he, even he, may come home, and that some god
may bring him ! Then would he scatter all thy bravery,
which now thou flauntest insolently, wandering ever about
the city, while evil shepherds destroy the flock/
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, answered : * Lo now, "what
a word has this evil-witted dog been saying ! Some day I
will take him in a black decked ship far from Ithaca, that
he may bring me in much livelihood. Would God that
Apollo, of the silver bow, might smite Telemachus to-day
in the halls, or that he might fall before the wooers, so surely
as for Odysseus the day of returning has in a far land
gone by ! '
1 Reading nkevpai.
2 a^ouSis is perhaps best taken as an adverb in -Sis formed from «xm^>
though some letters of the word are still left obscure. Most modern com-
mentators, however, derive it from aMf>i and av&as, ' near the ground ' ;
hence, in this context, ' lift him by the feet.'
THE ODYSSEY 245
So he spake and left them there as they walked slowly on.
But Melanthius stepped forth, and came very speedily to
the house of the prince, and straightway he went in and sat
down among the wooers, over against Eurymachus, who
chiefly showed him kindness. And they that ministered set
by him a portion of flesh, and the grave dame brought
wheaten bread and set it by him to eat. Now Odysseus
and the goodly swineherd drew near and stood by, and the
sound of the hollow lyre rang around them, for Phemius
was lifting up his voice amid the company in song, and
Odysseus caught the swineherd by the hand, and spake,
saying :
' Eumaeus, verily this is the fair house of Odysseus, and
right easily might it be known and marked even among
many. There is building beyond building, and the court of
the house is cunningly wrought with a wall and battlements,
and well-fenced are the folding doors; no man may hold
it in disdain. And I see that many men keep revel within,
for the savour of the fat rises upward, 3 and the voice of the
lyre is heard there, which the gods have made to be the
mate of the feast/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus:
' Easily thou knowest it, for indeed thou never lackest un-
derstanding. But come, let us advise us, how things shall
fall out here. Either do thou go first within the fair-lying
halls, and join the company of the wooers, so will I remain
here, or if thou wilt, abide here, and I will go before thy
face, and tarry not long, lest one see thee without, and hurl
at thee or strike thee. Look well to this, I bid thee/
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, say-
ing : ' I mark, I heed, all this thou speakest to one with
understanding. Do thou then go before me, and I will re-
main here, for well I know what it is to be smitten
and hurled at. My heart is full of hardiness, for much
evil have I suffered in perils of waves and war; let
this be added to the tale of those. But a ravening belly may
none conceal, a thing accursed, that works much ill for
men. For this cause too the benched ships are furnished,
that bear mischief to foemen over the unharvested seas/
3 Reading avrivofav.
246 HOMER
Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, a hound raised
up his head and pricked his ears, even where he lay, Argos,
the hound of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, which of old
himself had bred, but had got no joy of him, for ere that,
he went to sacred Ilios. Now in time past the young men
used to lead the hound against wild goats and deer and
hares; but as then, despised he lay (his master being afar)
in the deep dung of mules and kine, whereof an ample bed
was spread before the doors, till the thralls of Odysseus
should carry it away to dung therewith his wide demesne.
There lay the dog Argos, full of vermin. Yet even now
when he was ware of Odysseus standing by, he wagged his
tail and dropped both his ears, but nearer to his master he
had not now the strength to draw. But Odysseus looked
aside and wiped away a tear that he easily hid from Eu-
maeus, and straightway he asked him, saying:
1 Eumaeus, verily this is a great marvel, this hound lying
here in the dung. Truly he is goodly of growth, but I
know not certainly if he have speed with this beauty, or if
he be comely only, like as are men's trencher dogs that their
lords keep for the pleasure of the eye/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : ' In
very truth this is the dog of a man that has died in a far
land. If he were what once he was in limb and in the feats
of the chase, when Odysseus left him to go to Troy, soon
wouldst thou marvel at the sight of his swiftness and his
strength. There was no beast that could flee from him
in the deep places of the wood, when he was in pursuit ; for
even on a track he was the keenest hound. But now he is
holden in an evil case, and his lord hath perished far from
his own country, and the careless women take no charge of
him. Nay, thralls are no more inclined to honest service
when their masters have lost the dominion, for Zeus, of the
far-borne voice, takes away the half of a man's virtue, when
the day of slavery comes upon him/
Therewith he passed within the fair-lying house, and went
straight to the hall, to the company of the proud wooers.
But upon Argos came the fate of black death even in the
hour that he beheld Odysseus again, in the twentieth year.
Now godlike Telemachus was far the first to behold the
THE ODYSSEY 247
swineherd as he came into the hall, and straightway then
he beckoned and called him to his side. So Eumaeus looked
about and took a settle that lay by him, where the carver
was wont to sit dividing much flesh among the wooers that
were feasting in the house. This seat he carried and set by
the table of Telemachus over against him, and there sat
down himself. And the henchman took a mess and served
it him, and wheaten bread out of the basket.
And close behind him Odysseus entered the house in the
guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on
his staff, and clothed on with sorry raiment. And he sat
down on the ashen threshold within the doorway, leaning
against a pillar of cypress wood, which the carpenter on a
time had deftly planed, and thereon made straight the line.
And Telemachus called the swineherd to him, and took a
whole loaf out of the fair basket, and of flesh so much as
his hands could hold in their grasp, saying:
' Take and give this to the stranger, and bid him go
about and beg himself of all the wooers in their turn, for
shame is an ill mate of a needy man.'
So he spake, and the swineherd went when he heard that
saying, and stood by and spake to him winged words:
4 Stranger, Telemachus gives thee these and bids thee go
about and beg of all the wooers in their turn, for, he says,
" shame ill becomes a beggar man." '
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said:
4 King Zeus, grant me that Telemachus may be happy among
men, and may he have all his heart's desire ! '
Therewith he took the gift in both hands, and set it there
before his feet on his unsightly scrip. Then he ate meat so
long as the minstrel was singing in the halls. When he had
done supper, and the divine minstrel was ending his song,
then the wooers raised a clamour through the halls; but
Athene stood by Odysseus, son of Laertes, and moved him
to go gathering morsels of bread among the wooers, and
learn which were righteous and which unjust. Yet not even
so was she fated to redeem one man of them from an evil
doom. So he set out, beginning on the right, to ask of each
man, stretching out his hand on every side, as though he
were a beggar from of old. And they in pity gave him
248 HOMER
somewhat, and were amazed at the man, asking one another
who he was and whence he came ?
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spake among them :
'Listen, ye wooers of the renowned queen, concerning this
stranger, for verily I have seen him before. The swineherd
truly was his guide hither, but of him I have no certain
knowledge, whence he avows him to be born. 1
So spake he, but Antinous rebuked the swineherd, saying:
'Oh notorious swineherd, wherefore, I pray thee, didst thou
bring this man to the city? Have we not vagrants enough
besides, plaguy beggars, kill-joys of the feast? Dost thou
count it a light thing that they assemble here and devour the
living of thy master, but thou must needs 4 call in this
man too?'
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'An-
tinous, no fair words are these of thine, noble though thou
art. For who ever himself seeks out and bids to the feast
a stranger from afar, save only one of those that are crafts-
men of the people, a prophet or a healer of ills, or a ship-
wright or even a godlike minstrel, who can delight all with
his song? Nay, these are the men that are welcome over
all the wide earth. But none would call a beggar to the
banquet, to waste his substance. But thou art ever hard
above all the other wooers to the servants of Odysseus, and,
beyond all, to me; but behold, I care not, so long as my
mistress, the constant Penelope, lives in the halls and god-
like Telemachus/
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Be silent,
answer him not, I pray thee, with many words, for Antinous
is wont ever to chide us shamefully with bitter speech, yea,
and urges the others thereto.'
Therewithal he spake winged words to Antinous: 'An-
tinous, verily thou hast a good care for me, as it were a
father for his son, thou that biddest me drive our guest
from the hall with a harsh command. God forbid that such
a thing should be ! Take somewhat and give it him : lo, I
grudge it not; nay, I charge thee to do it. And herein
regard not my mother, nor any of the thralls that are in the
*ir60i can hardly have a local meaning here. If retained, it must be
nearly equivalent to »roii, 'it seems,' with a touch of irony. Cf, i, 348.
The v. 1. irpori = 7rp6s is a simpler reading, but by no means certain.
THE ODYSSEY 249
house of divine Odysseus. Nay, but thou hast no such
thought in thy heart, for thou art far more fain to eat thy-
self than to give to another/
Then Antinous answered him and spake, saying: 'Tele-
machus, proud of speech, and unrestrained in fury, what
word hast thou spoken? If all the wooers should vouchsafe
him as much as I, this house would keep him far enough
aloof even for three months' space.'
So he spake, and seized the footstool whereon he rested
his sleek feet as he sat at the feast, and showed it from
beneath the table where it lay. But all the others gave
somewhat and filled the wallet with bread and flesh; yea,
and even now, Odysseus as he returned to the threshold, was
like to escape scot free, making trial of the Achaeans, but he
halted by Antinous, and spake to him, saying :
'Friend, give me somewhat; for methinks thou art not
the basest of the Achaeans, but the best man of them all,
for thou art like a king. Wherefore thou shouldest give me
a portion of bread, and that a better than the others; so
would I make thee renowned over all the wide earth. For I
too, once had a house of mine own among men, a rich man
with a wealthy house, and many a time would I give to a
wanderer, what manner of man soever he might be, and in
whatsoever need he came. And I had thralls out of number,
and all else in plenty, wherewith folk live well and have a
name for riches. But Zeus, the son of Cronos, made me
desolate of all, — for surely it was his will, — who sent me
with wandering sea-robbers to go to Egypt, a far road, to
my ruin. And in the river Aegyptus I stayed my curved
ships. Then verily I bade my loved companions to abide
there by the ships, and to guard the ship, and I sent forth
scouts to range the points of outlook. Now they gave place
to wantonness, being the fools of their own force, and soon
they fell to wasting the fields of the Egyptians, exceeding
fair, and carried away their wives and infant children, and
slew the men. And the cry came quickly to the city, and
the people heard the shout and came forth at the breaking
of the day; and all the plain was filled with footmen and
horsemen and with the glitter of bronze. And Zeus, whose
joy is in the thunder, sent an evil panic upon my company,
250 HOMER
and none durst stand and face the foe: for danger en-
compassed us on every side. There they slew many of us
with the edge of the sword, and others they led up with
them alive to work for them perforce. But they gave me
to a friend who met them, to take to Cyprus, even to
Dmetor son of Iasus, who ruled mightily over Cyprus; and
thence, behold, am I now come hither in sore distress/
Then Antinous answered, and spake, saying: 'What god
hath brought this plague hither to trouble the feast? Stand
forth thus in the midst, away from my table, lest thou come
soon to a bitter Egypt and a sad Cyprus; for a bold beggar
art thou and a shameless. Thou standest by all in turn and
recklessly they give to thee, for they hold not their hand
nor feel any ruth in giving freely of others' goods, for that
each man has plenty by him/
Then Odysseus of many counsels drew back and answered
him : 'Lo now, I see thou hast not wisdom with thy beauty !
From out of thine own house thou wouldest not give even so
much as a grain of salt to thy suppliant, thou who now even
at another's board dost sit, and canst not find it in thy heart
to take of the bread and give it me, where there is plenty
to thy hand/
He spake, and Antinous was mightily angered at heart,
and looked fiercely on him and spake winged words:
'Henceforth, methinks, thou shalt not get thee out with
honour from the hall, seeing thou dost even rail upon me/
Therewith he caught up the foot-stool and smote Odysseus
at the base of the right shoulder by the back. But he
stood firm as a rock, nor reeled he beneath the blow of
Antinous, but shook his head in silence, brooding evil in the
deep of his heart. Then he went back to the threshold, and
sat him there, and laid down his well-filled scrip, and spake
among the wooers:
'Hear me, ye wooers of the renowned queen, and I will
say what my spirit within me bids me. Verily there is
neither pain nor grief of heart, when a man is smitten in
battle fighting for his own possessions, whether cattle or
white sheep. But now Antinou" hath stricken me for my
wretched belly's sake, a thing accursed, that works much ill
for men. Ah, if indeed there be gods and Avengers of
THE ODYSSEY 251
beggars, may the issues of death come upon Antinous before
his wedding ! '
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him : ' Sit and
eat thy meat in quiet, stranger, or get thee elsewhere, lest
the young men drag thee by hand or foot through the house
for thy evil words, and strip all thy flesh from off thee/
Even so he spake, and they were all exceeding wroth at
his word. And on this wise would one of the lordly young
men speak:
* Antinous, thou didst ill to strike the hapless wanderer,
doomed man that thou art, — if indeed there be a god in
heaven. Yea and the gods, in the likeness of strangers
from far countries, put on all manner of shapes, and wander
through the cities, beholding the violence and the righteous-
ness of men/
So the wooers spake, but he heeded not their words.
Now Telemachus nursed in his heart a mighty grief at the
smiting of Odysseus, yet he let no tear fall from his eyelids
to the ground, but shook his head in silence, brooding evil
in the deep of his heart.
Now when wise Penelope heard of the stranger being
smitten in the halls, she spake among her maidens, saying :
'Oh that Apollo, the famed archer, may so smite thee thy-
self, Antinous ! ■
And the house-dame, Eurynome, answered her, saying:
* Oh that we might win fulfilment of our prayers ! So should
not one of these men come to the fair-throned Dawn/
And wise Penelope answered her : * Nurse, they are all
enemies, for they all devise evil continually, but of them all
Antinous is the most like to black fate. Some hapless
stranger is roaming about the house, begging alms of the
men, as his need bids him ; and all the others filled his wallet
and gave him somewhat, but Antinous smote him at the base
of the right shoulder with a stool/
So she spake among her maidens, sitting in her chamber,
while goodly Odysseus was at meat. Then she called to her
the goodly swineherd and spake, saying:
* Go thy way, goodly Eumaeus, and bid the stranger come
hither, that I may speak him a word of greeting, and ask
him if haply he has heard tidings of Odysseus of the hardy-
252 HOMER
heart, or seen him with his eyes ; for he seems like one that
has wandered far.'
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus:
' Queen, oh that the Achaeans would hold their peace ! so
would he charm thy very heart, such things doth he say.
For I kept him three nights and three days I held him in
the steading, for to me he came first when he fled from the
ship, yet he had not made an end of the tale of his affliction.
Even as when a man gazes on a singer, whom the gods have
taught to sing words of yearning joy to mortals, and they
have a ceaseless desire to hear him, so long as he will sing;
even so he charmed me, sitting by me in the halls. He says
that he is a friend of Odysseus and of his house, one that
dwells in Crete, where is the race of Minos. Thence he has
come hither even now, with sorrow by the way, onward and
yet onward wandering ; and he stands to it that he has heard
tidings of Odysseus nigh at hand and yet alive in the fat
land of the men of Thesprotia; and he is bringing many
treasures to his home.'
Then wise Penelope answered him, saying : ' Go, call him
hither, that he may speak to me face to face. But let these
men sit in the doorway and take their pleasure, or even here
in the house, since their heart is glad. For their own wealth
lies unspoiled at home, bread and sweet wine, and thereon
do their servants feed. But they resorting to our house day
by day sacrifice oxen and sheep and fat goats, and keep revel
and drink the dark wine recklessly ; and, lo, our great wealth
is wasted, for there is no man now alive, such as Odysseus
was, to keep ruin from the house. Oh, if Odysseus might
come again to his own country; soon would he and his son
avenge the violence of these men ! '
Even so she spake, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and
around the roof rang wondrously. And Penelope laughed,
and straightway spake to Eumaeus winged words:
1 Go, call me the stranger, even so, into my presence.
Dost thou not mark how my son has sneezed a blessing on
all my words? Wherefore no half- wrought doom shall befal
the wooers every one, nor shall any avoid death and the
fates. Yet another thing will I say, and do thou ponder
it in thy heart. If I shall find that he himself speaks nought
THE ODYSSEY 253
but truth, I will clothe him with a mantle and a doublet,
goodly raiment/
So she spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard that
saying, and stood by the stranger and spake winged words :
1 Father and stranger, wise Penelope, the mother of Telem-
achus, is calling for thee, and her mind bids her inquire as
touching her lord, albeit she has sorrowed much already.
And if she shall find that thou dost speak nought but truth,
she will clothe thee in a mantle and a doublet, whereof thou
standest most in need. Moreover thou shalt beg thy bread
through the land and shalt fill thy belly, and whosoever will,
shall give to thee/
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying :
' Eumaeus, soon would I tell all the truth to the daughter of
Icarius, wise Penelope, for well I know his story, and we
have borne our travail together. But I tremble before the
throng of the froward wooers, whose outrage and violence
reach even to the iron heaven. For even now, as I was
going through the house, when this man struck and pained
me sore, and that for no ill deed, neither Telemachus nor
any other kept off the blow. Wherefore now, bid Penelope
tarry in the chambers, for all her eagerness, till the going
down of the sun, and then let her ask me concerning her
lord, as touching the day of his returning, and let her give
me a seat yet nearer to the fire, for behold, I have sorry
raiment, and thou knowest it thyself, since I made my
supplication first to thee/
Even so he spake, and the swineherd departed when he
heard that saying. And as he crossed the threshold Penel-
ope spake to him:
1 Thou bringest him not, Eumaeus : what means the
wanderer hereby? Can it be that he fears some one out of
measure, or is he even ashamed of tarrying in the house?
A shamefaced man makes a bad beggar/
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus : ' He
speaks aright, and but as another would deem, in that he
shuns the outrage of overweening men. Rather would he
have thee wait till the going down of the sun. Vea, and it
is far meeter for thyself, O queen, to utter thy word to
the stranger alone, and to listen to his speech/
254 HOMER
Then the wise Penelope answered: 'Not witless is the
stranger; even as he deems, so it well may be 6 . For there
are no mortal men, methinks, so wanton as these, and none
that devise such infatuate deeds/
So she spake, and the goodly swineherd departed into
the throng of the wooers, when he had showed her all his
message. And straightway he spake to Telemachus winged
words, holding his head close to him, that the others might
not hear:
' Friend, I am going hence to look after thy swine and
the things of the farm, thy livelihood and mine; but do
thou take charge of all that is here. Yet first look to
thyself and take heed that no evil comes nigh thee, for
many of the Achaeans have ill will against us, whom may
Zeus confound before their mischief falls on us!'
And wise Telemachus answered him, and said : ' Even
so shall it be, father; and do thou get thee on thy way,
when thou hast supped. And in the morning come again,
and bring fair victims for sacrifice. And all these matters
will be a care to me and to the deathless gods/
Thus he spake, and the other sat down again on the
polished settle; and when he had satisfied his heart with meat
and drink, he went on his way to the swine, leaving the courts
and the hall full of feasters; and they were making merry
with dance and song, for already it was close on eventide.
* Placing a colon at £«ivo?, and reading «s wep &v cm)* (cf. xix. 3x2).
BOOK XVIII
The fighting at fists of Odysseus with Irus. His admonitions to
Amphinomus. Penelope appears before the wooers, and draws
presents from them.
THEN up came a common beggar, who was wont to
beg through the town of Ithaca, one that was known
among all men for ravening greed, for his endless
eating and drinking, yet he had no force or might, though
he was bulky enough to look on. Arnaeus was his name,
for so had his good mother given it him at his birth, but all
the young men called him Irus, because he ran on errands,
whensoever any might bid him. So now he came, and
would have driven Odysseus from his own house, and began
reviling him, and spake winged words :
'Get thee hence, old man, from the doorway, lest thou
be even haled out soon by the foot. Seest thou not that
all are now giving me the wink, and bidding me drag thee
forth? Nevertheless, I feel shame of the task. Nay get
thee up, lest our quarrel soon pass even to blows/
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him,
and spake saying: ' Sir, neither in deed nor word do I harm
thee, nor do I grudge that any should give to thee, yea
though it were a good handful. But this threshold will hold
us both, and thou hast no need to be jealous for the sake
of other men's goods. Thou seemest to me to be a wan-
derer, even as I am, and the gods it is that are like to give
us gain. Only provoke me not overmuch to buffeting, lest
thou anger me, and old though I be I defile thy breast and
lips with blood. Thereby should I have the greater quiet
to-morrow, for methinks that thou shalt never again come
to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes/
Then the beggar Irus spake unto him in anger: 'Lo
now, how trippingly and like an old cinder-wife this glutton
speaks, on whom I will work my evil will, and smite him
255
256 HOMER
right and left, and drive all the teeth from his jaws to
the ground, like the tusks of a swine that spoils the corn.
Gird thyself now, that even these men all may know our
mettle in fight. Nay, how shouldst thou do battle with a
younger man than thou?'
, Thus did they whet each the other's rage right manfully
before the lofty doors upon the polished threshold. And
the mighty prince Antinous heard the twain, and sweetly he
laughed out, and spake among the wooers:
'Friends, never before has there been such a thing; such
goodly game has a god brought to this house. The stranger
yonder and Irus are bidding each other to buffets. Quick,
let us match them one against the other/
Then all at the word leaped up laughing, and gathered
round the ragged beggars, and Antinous, son of Eupeithes,
spake among them saying : ' Hear me, ye lordly wooers,
and I will say somewhat. Here are goats' bellies lying at
the fire, that we laid by at supper-time and filled with fat
and blood. Now whichsoever of the twain wins, and shows
himself the better man, let him stand up and take his choice
of these puddings. And further, he shall always eat at our
feasts, nor will we suffer any other beggar to come among
us and ask for alms/
So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.
Then Odysseus of many counsels spake among them
craftily :
' Friends, an old man and foredone with travail may in
no wise fight with a younger. But my belly's call is urgent
on me, that evil-worker, to the end that I may be subdued
with stripes. But come now, swear me all of you a strong
oath, so that none, for the sake of shewing a favour to Irus,
may strike me a foul blow with heavy hand and subdue me
by violence to my foe/
So he spake, and they all swore not to strike him, as he
bade them. Now when they had sworn and done that oath,
the mighty prince Telemachus once more spake among
them:
1 Stranger, if thy heart and lordly spirit urge thee to rid
thee of this fellow, then fear not any other of the
Achaeans, for whoso strikes thee shall have to fight with
THE ODYSSEY 257
many. Thy host am I, and the princes consent with me,
Antinous and Eurymachus, men of wisdom both/
So spake he and they all consented thereto. Then Odys-
seus girt his rags about his loins, and let his thighs be seen,
goodly and great, and his broad shoulders and breast and
mighty arms were manifest. And Athene came nigh and
made greater the limbs of the shepherd of the people. Then
the wooers were exceedingly amazed, and thus would one
speak looking to his neighbour:
' Right soon will Irus, un-Irused, have a bane of his own
bringing, such a thigh as that old man shows from out his
rags ! '
So they spake, and the mind of Irus was pitifully stirred;
but even so the servants girded him and led him out per-
force in great fear, his flesh trembling on his limbs. Then
Antinous chid him, and spake and hailed him :
' Thou lubber, better for thee that thou wert not now,
nor ever hadst been born, if indeed thou tremblest before
this man, and art so terribly afraid; an old man too he is,
and foredone with the travail that is come upon him. But I
will tell thee plainly, and it shall surely be accomplished. If
this man prevail against thee and prove thy master, I will
cast thee into a black ship, and send thee to the mainland
to Echetus the king, the maimer of all mankind, who will
cut off thy nose and ears with the pitiless steel and draw out
thy vitals and give them raw to dogs to rend/
So he spake, and yet greater trembling gat hold of the
limbs of Irus, and they led him into the ring, and the twain
put up their hands. Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus
mused in himself whether he should smite him in such wise
that his life should leave his body, even there where he fell,
or whether he should strike him lightly, and stretch him
on the earth. And as he thought thereon, this seemed to
him the better way, to strike lightly, that the Achaeans
might not take note of him, who he was. Then the twain put
up their hands, and Irus struck at the right shoulder, but the
other smote him on his neck beneath the ear, and crushed in
the bones, and straightway the red blood gushed up through
his mouth, and with a moan he fell in the dust, and drave
together his teeth as he kicked the ground. But the proud
I— Vol. 22 HC
258 HOMER
wooers threw up their hands, and died outright for laugh-
ter. Then Odysseus seized him by the foot, and dragged
him forth through the doorway, till he came to the court-
yard and the gates of the gallery, and he set him down and
rested him against the courtyard wall, and put his staff in
his hands, and uttering his voice spake to him winged
words :
1 Sit thou there now, and scare off swine and dogs, and let
not such an one as thou be lord over strangers and beggars,
pitiful as thou art, lest haply some worse thing befal thee/
Thus he spake, and cast about his shoulders his mean
scrip all tattered, and the cord therewith to hang it, and he
gat him back to the threshold, and sat him down there
again. Now the wooers went within laughing sweetly, and
greeted him, saying:
* May Zeus, stranger, and all the other deathless gods
give thee thy dearest wish, even all thy heart's desire, seeing
that thou hast made that insatiate one to cease from his
begging in the land ! Soon will we take him over to the
mainland, to Echetus the king, the maimer of all mankind/
So they spake, and goodly Odysseus rejoiced in the omen
of the words. And Antinous set by him the great pudding,
stuffed with fat and blood, and Amphinomus took up two
loaves from the basket, and set them by him and pledged
him in a golden cup, and spake saying:
* Father and stranger, hail ! may happiness be thine in
the time to come, but as now, thou art fast holden in many
sorrows/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
'Amphinomus, verily thou seemest to me a prudent man
enough; for such too was the father of whom thou art
sprung, for I have heard the fair fame of him, how that
Nisus of Dulichium was a good man and a rich, and his
son they say thou art, and thou seemest a man of under-
standing. Wherefore I will tell thee, and do thou mark
and listen to me. Nought feebler doth the earth nurture
than man, of all the creatures that breathe and move upon
the face of the earth. Lo, he thinks that he shall never
suffer evil in time to come, while the gods give him happi-
ness, and his limbs move lightly. But when again the
THE ODYSSEY 259
blessed gods have wrought for him sorrow, even so he bears
it, as he must, with a steadfast heart. For the spirit of
men upon the earth is even as their day, that comes upon
them from the father of gods and men. Yea, and I too
once was like to have been prosperous among men, but
many an infatuate deed I did, giving place to mine own
hardihood and strength, and trusting to my father and my
brethren. Wherefore let no man for ever be lawless any
more, but keep quietly the gifts of the gods, whatsoever they
may give. Such infatuate deeds do I see the wooers devis-
ing, as they waste the wealth, and hold in no regard the
wife of a man, who, methinks, will not much longer be far
from his friends and his own land; nay he is very near.
But for thee, may some god withdraw thee hence to thy
home, and mayst thou not meet him in the day when he
returns to his own dear country ! For not without blood,
as I deem, will th^y be sundered, the wooers and Odysseus,
when once he shall have come beneath his own roof.'
Thus he spake, and poured an offering and then drank of
the honey-sweet wine, and again set the cup in the hands
of the arrayer of the people. But the other went back
through the hall, sad at heart and bowing his head; for
verily his soul boded evil. Yet even so he avoided not his
fate, for Athene had bound him likewise to be slain out-
right at the hands and by the spear of Telemachus. So he
sat down again on the high seat whence he had arisen.
Now the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put it into the heart
of the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, to show herself
to the wooers, that she might make their heart all flutter
with hope, and that she might win yet more worship from
her lord and her son than heretofore. So she laughed an idle
laugh, and spake to the nurse, and hailed her, saying:
4 Eurynome, my heart yearns, though before I had no such
desire, to show myself to the wooers, hateful as they are. I
would also say a word to my son, tlaat will be for his weal,
namely, that he should not for ever consort with the proud
wooers, who speak friendly with their lips, but imagine evil
in the latter end.'
Then the housewife, Eurynome, spake to her saying:
'Yea my child, all this thou hast spoken as is meet. Go
260 HOMER
then, and declare thy word to thy son and hide it not, but
first wash thee and anoint thy face, and go not as thou art
with thy cheeks all stained with tears. Go, for it is little
good to sorrow always, and never cease. And lo, thy son
is now of an age to hear thee, he whom thou hast above all
things prayed the gods that thou mightest see with a beard
upon his chin/
Then wise Penelope answered her, saying : ' Eurynome,
speak not thus comfortably to me, for all thy love, bidding me
to wash and be anointed with ointment. For the gods that
keep Olympus destroyed my bloom, since the day that he
departed in the hollow ships. But bid Autonoe and Hip-
podameia come to me, to stand by my side in the halls.
Alone I will not go among men, for I am ashamed/
So she spake, and the old woman passed through the
chamber to tell the maidens, and hasten their coming.
Thereon the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, had another
thought. She shed a sweet slumber over the daughter of
Icarius, who sank back in sleep, and all her joints were
loosened as she lay in the chair, and the fair goddess the
while was giving her gifts immortal, that all the Achaeans
might marvel at her. Her fair face first she steeped with
beauty imperishable, such as that wherewith the crowned
Cytherea is anointed, when she goes to the lovely dances of
the Graces. And she made her taller and greater to behold,
and made her whiter than new-sawn ivory. Now when she
had wrought thus, that fair goddess departed, and the white-
armed handmaidens came forth from the chamber and drew
nigh with a sound of voices. Then sweet sleep left hold of
Penelope, and she rubbed her cheeks with her hands, and
said:
1 Surely soft slumber wrapped me round, most wretched
though I be. Oh ! that pure Artemis would give me so
soft a death even now, that I might no more waste my life
in sorrow of heart, and longing for the manifold excellence
of my dear lord, for that he was foremost of the Achaeans/
With this word she went down from the shining upper
chamber, not alone, for two handmaidens likewise bare her
company. But when the fair lady had now come to the
wooers, she stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof,
THE ODYSSEY 261
holding her glistening tire before her face, and on either
side of her stood a faithful handmaid. And straightway the
knees of the wooers were loosened, and their hearts were
enchanted with love, and each one uttered a prayer that he
might be her bed-fellow. But she spake to Telemachus,
her dear son:
' Telemachus, thy mind and thy thoughts are no longer
stable as they were. While thou wast still a child, thou
hadst a yet quicker and more crafty wit, but now that thou
art great of growth, and art come to the measure of man-
hood, and a stranger looking to thy stature and thy beauty
might say that thou must be some rich man's son, thy mind
and thy thoughts are no longer right as of old. For lo,
what manner of deed has been done in these halls, in that
thou has suffered thy guest to be thus shamefully dealt
with ! How would it be now, if the stranger sitting thus in
our house, were to come to some harm all through this evil
handling? Shame and disgrace would be thine henceforth
among men/
Then wise Telemachus answered her : ' Mother mine, as
to this matter I count it no blame that thou art angered.
Yet have I knowledge and understanding of each thing, of
the good and of the evil, but heretofore I was a child. How-
beit I cannot devise all things according to wisdom, for
these men in their evil counsel drive me from my wits, on
this side and on that, and there is none to aid me. How-
soever this battle between Irus and the stranger did not fall
out as the wooers would have had it, but the stranger proved
the better man. Would to Father Zeus and Athene and
Apollo, that the wooers in our halls were even now thus
vanquished, and wagging their heads, some in the court,
and some within the house, and that the limbs of each man
were loosened in such fashion as Irus yonder sits now, by
the courtyard gates wagging his head, like a drunken man,
and cannot stand upright on his feet, nor yet get him
home to his own place, seeing that his limbs are loosened ! '
Thus they spake one to another. But Eurymachus spake
to Penelope, saying:
' Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, if all the Achaeans in
Iasian Argos could behold thee, even a greater press of
262 HOMER
wooers would feast in your halls from to-morrow's dawn,
since thou dost surpass all women in beauty and stature, and
within in wisdom of mind.'
Then wise Penelope answered him : ' Eurymachus, surely
my excellence, both of face and form, the gods destroyed
in the day when the Argives embarked for Ilios, and with
them went my lord Odysseus. If but he might come and
watch over this my life, greater thus would be my fame
and fairer! But now am I in sorrow; such a host of ills
some god has sent against me. Ah, well do I remember,
when he set forth and left his own country, how he took me
by the right hand at the wrist and spake, saying :
'"Lady, methinks that all the goodly -greaved Achaeans will
not win a safe return from Troy; for the Trojans too,
they say, are good men at arms, as spearsmen, and bowmen,
and drivers of fleet horses, such as ever most swiftly deter-
mine the great strife of equal battle. Wherefore I know
not if the gods will suffer me to return or whether I shall be
cut off there in Troy; so do thou have a care for all these
things. Be mindful of my father and my mother in the
halls, even as now thou art, or yet more than now, while I
am far away. But when thou seest thy son a bearded man,
marry whom thou wilt and leave thine own house."
' Even so did he speak, and now all these things have an
end. The night shall come when a hateful marriage shall
find me out, me most luckless, whose good hap Zeus has
taken away. But furthermore this sore trouble has come on
my heart and soul ; for this was not the manner of wooers in
time past. Whoso wish to woo a good lady and the daughter
of a rich man, and vie one with another, themselves bring
with them oxen of their own and goodly flocks, a banquet for
the friends of the bride, and they give the lady splendid gifts,
but do not devour another's livelihood without atonement.'
Thus she spake, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced
because she drew from them gifts, and beguiled their souls
with soothing words, while her heart was set on other things.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered her again:
1 Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, the gifts which any of
the Achaeans may choose to bring hither, do thou take ; for
it were ill to withhold a gift. But we for our part will
THE ODYSSEY 263
neither go to our lands nor otherwhere, before thou art wed-
ded to the best man of the Achaeans.'
So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well, and
each man sent a henchman to bring his gifts. For Antinous
his henchman bare a broidered robe, great and very fair,
wherein were golden brooches, twelve in all, fitted with well
bent clasps. And the henchman straightway bare Euryma-
chus a golden chain of curious work, strung with amber
beads, shining like the sun. And his squires bare for Eury-
damas a pair of ear-rings, with three drops well wrought, and
much grace shone from them. And out of the house of Pei-
sander the prince, the son of Polyctor, the squire brought a
necklet, a very lovely jewel. And likewise the Achaeans
brought each one some other beautiful gift.
Then the fair lady went aloft to her upper chamber, and
her attendant maidens bare for her the lovely gifts, while the
wooers turned to dancing and the delight of song, and
therein took their pleasure, and awaited the coming of even-
tide. And dark evening came on them at their pastime.
Anon they set up three braziers in the halls, to give them
light; and on these they laid firewood all around, faggots
seasoned long since and sere, and new split with the axe.
And midway by the braziers they placed torches, and the
maids of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, held up the lights in
turn. Then the prince Odysseus of many counsels himself
spake among them saying:
1 Ye maidens of Odysseus, the lord so long afar, get ye
into the chambers where the honoured queen abides, and
twist the yarn at her side, and gladden her heart as ye sit
in the chamber, or card the wools with your hands; but I
will minister light to all these that are here. For even if
they are minded to wait the throned Dawn, they shall not
outstay me, so long enduring am L'
So he spake, but they laughed and looked one at the other.
And the fair Melantho chid him shamefully, Melantho that
Dolius begat, but Penelope reared, and entreated her tenderly
as she had been her own child, and gave her playthings to
her heart's desire. Yet, for all that, sorrow for Penelope
touched not her heart, but she loved Eurymachus and was
his paramour. Now she chid Odysseus with railing words :
264 HOMER
' Wretched guest, surely thou art some brain-struck man,
seeing that thou dost not choose to go and sleep at a
smithy, or at some place of common resort, but here thou
pratest much and boldly among many lords and hast no fear at
heart. Verily wine has got about thy wits, or perchance
thou art always of this mind, and so thou dost babble idly.
Art thou beside thyself for joy, because thou hast beaten the
beggar Irus? Take heed lest a better man than Irus rise up
presently against thee, to lay his mighty hands about thy
head and bedabble thee with blood, and send thee hence
from the house.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on her,
and said : ' Yea, straight will I go yonder and tell Telem-
achus hereof, thou shameless thing, for this thy speech, that
forthwith he may cut thee limb from limb/
So he spake, and with his saying scared away the women,
who fled through the hall, and the knees of each were
loosened for fear, for they deemed that his words were true.
But Odysseus took his stand by the burning braziers, tending
the lights, and gazed on all the men; but far other matters
he pondered in his heart, things not to be unfulfilled.
Now Athene would in no wise suffer the lordly wooers to
abstain from biting scorn, that the pain might sink yet the
deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes. So Eurym-
achus, son of Polybus, began to speak among them, girding
at Odysseus, and so made mirth for his friends :
' Hear me ye wooers of the queen renowned, that I may
say that which my spirit within me bids me. Not without
the gods' will has this man come to the house of Odysseus;
methinks at least that the torchlight flares forth from 1 that
head of his, for there are no hairs on it, nay never so thin.'
He spake and withal addressed Odysseus, waster of cities :
' Stranger, wouldest thou indeed be my hireling, if I would
take thee for my man, at an upland farm, and thy wages
shall be assured thee, and there shalt thou gather stones for
walls and plant tall trees? There would I provide thee
bread continual, and clothe thee with raiment, and give thee
shoes for thy feet. Howbeit, since thou art practised only
in evil, thou wilt not care to go to the labours of the field,
1 Accepting the conjecture kuk, = Kara, for the MSS. *ai.
THE ODYSSEY 265
but wilt choose rather to go touting through the land, that
thou mayst have wherewithal to feed thine insatiate belly/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said:
' Eurymachus, would that there might be a trial of labour be-
tween us twain, in the season of spring, when the long days
begin ! In the deep grass might it be, and I should have a
crooked scythe, and the;: another like it, that we might try
each the other in the matter of labour, fasting till late even-
tide, and grass there should be in plenty. Or would again,
that there were oxen to drive, the best there may be, large and
tawny, both well filled with fodder, of equal age and force
to bear the yoke and of strength untiring ! And it should be
a field of four ploughgates, and the clod should yield before
the ploughshare. Then shouldest thou see me, whether or no
I would cut a clean furrow unbroken before me. Or would
that this very day Cronion might waken war whence he
would, and that I had a shield and two spears, and a helmet
all of bronze, close fitting on my temples ! Then shouldest
thou see me mingling in the forefront of the battle, nor speak
and taunt me with this my belly. Nay, thou art exceeding
wanton and thy heart is hard, and thou thinkest thyself
some great one and mighty, because thou consortest with
few men and feeble. Ah, if Odysseus might but return and
come to his own country, right soon would yonder doors
full wide as they are, prove all too strait for thee in thy flight
through the doorway ! '
Thus he spake, and Eurymachus waxed yet the more
wroth at heart, and looking fiercely on him spake to him
winged words :
' Ah, wretch that thou art, right soon will I work thee
mischief, so boldly thou pratest among many lords, and hast
no fear at heart. Verily wine has got about thy wits, or per-
chance thou art always of this mind, and so thou dost babble
idly. Art thou beside thyself for joy, because thou hast
beaten the beggar Irus?'
Therewith he caught up a footstool, but Odysseus sat him
down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium, in dread of
Eurymachus. And Eurymachus cast and smote the cup-
bearer on the right hand, and the ladle cup dropped to the
ground with a clang, while the young man groaned and fell
266 HOMER
backwards in the dust. Then the wooers clamoured through
the shadowy halls, and thus one would say looking to his
neighbour :
1 Would that our wandering guest had perished otherwhere,
or ever he came hither; so should he never have made all
this tumult in our midst ! But now we are all at strife about
beggars, and there will be no more joy of the good feast, for
worse things have their way.'
Then the mighty prince Telemachus spake among them:
* Sirs, ye are mad ; now doth your mood betray that ye
have eaten and drunken ; some one of the gods is surely
moving you. Nay, now that ye have feasted well, go home
and lay you to rest, since your spirit so bids ; for as for me,
I drive no man hence.'
Thus he spake, and they all bit their lips and marvelled at
Telemachus, in that he spake boldly. Then Amphinomus
made harangue, and spake among them, Amphinomus, the
famous son of Nisus the prince, the son of Aretias:
' Friends, when a righteous word has been spoken, none
surely would rebuke another with hard speech and be angry.
Misuse ye not this stranger, neither any of the thralls that
are in the house of godlike Odysseus. But come, let the
wine-bearer pour for libation into each cup in turn, that after
the drink-offering we may get us home to bed. But the
stranger let us leave in the halls of Odysseus for a charge
to Telemachus : for to his home has he come/
Thus he spake, and his word was well-pleasing to them
all. Then the lord Mulius mixed for them the bowl, the
henchman out of Dulichium, who was squire of Amphinomus.
And he stood by all and served it to them in their turn;
and they poured forth before the blessed gods, and drank
the honey-sweet wine. Now when they had poured forth and
had drunken to their hearts' content, they departed to lie
down, each one to his own house
BOOK XIX
Telemachus removes the arms out of the hall. Odysseus dis-
courseth with Penelope. And is known by his nurse, but concealed.
And the hunting of the boar upon that occasion related.
NOW the goodly Odysseus was left behind in the
hall, devising with Athene's aid the slaying of
the wooers, and straightway he spake winged words
to Telemachus:
' Telemachus, we must needs lay by the weapons of war
within, every one; and when the wooers miss them and ask
thee concerning them, thou shalt beguile them with soft
words, saying:
• Out of the smoke I laid them by, since they were no
longer like those that Odysseus left behind him of old, when
he went to Troy, but they are wholly marred, so mightily hath
passed upon them the vapour of fire. Moreover some god
hath put into my heart this other and greater care, that per-
chance when ye are heated with wine, ye set a quarrel be-
tween you and wound one the other, and thereby shame the
feast and the wooing ; for iron of itself draws a man thereto. ,
Thus he spake, and Telemachus hearkened to his dear
father, and called forth to him the nurse Eurycleia and
spake to her, saying:
' Nurse, come now I pray thee, shut up the women in
their chambers till I shall have laid by in the armoury the
goodly weapons of my father, which all uncared for the
smoke dims in the hall, since my father went hence, and
I was still but a child. Now I wish to lay them by where
the vapour of the fire will not reach them.'
Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered him, saying:
' Ah, my child, if ever thou wouldest but take careful thought
in such wise as to mind the house, and guard all this wealth !
But come, who shall fetch the light and bear it, if thou
267
268 HOMER
hast thy way, since thou wouldest not that the maidens, who
might have given light, should go before thee ? '
Then wise Telemachus made answer to her : ' This stranger
here, for I will keep no man in idleness who eats of my
bread, even if he have come from afar.'
Thus he spake, and wingless her speech remained, and
she closed the doors of the fair-lying chambers. Then
they twain sprang up, Odysseus and his renowned son, and
set to carry within the helmets and the bossy shields, and
the sharp-pointed spears; and before them Pallas Athene
bare a golden cresset and cast a most lovely light. Thereon
Telemachus spake to his father suddenly:
* Father, surely a great marvel is this that I behold with
mine eyes; meseems, at least, that the walls of the hall and
the fair main-beams of the roof and the cross-beams of pine,
and the pillars that run aloft, are bright as it were with
flaming fire. Verily some god is within, of those that hold
the wide heaven/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said:
' Hold thy peace and keep thy thoughts in check and ask not
hereof. Lo, this is the wont of the gods that hold Olympus.
But do thou go and lay thee down, and I will abide here,
that I may yet further provoke the maids and thy mother to
answer; and she in her sorrow will ask me concerning each
thing, one by one/
So he spake, and Telemachus passed out through the
hall to his chamber to lie down, by the light of the flaming
torches, even to the chamber where of old he took his rest,
when sweet sleep came over him. There now too he lay
down and awaited the bright Dawn. But goodly Odysseus
was left behind in the hall, devising with Athene's aid the
slaying of the wooers.
Now forth from her chamber came the wise Penelope,
like Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and they set a chair for
her hard by before the fire, where she was wont to sit, a
chair well-wrought and inlaid with ivory and silver, which
on a time the craftsman Icmalius had fashioned, and had
joined thereto a footstool, that was part of the chair, whereon
a great fleece was used to be laid. Here then, the wise Pe-
nelope sat her down, and next came white-armed handmaids
fTHE ODYSSEY 269
from the women's chamber, and began to take away the
many fragments of food, and the tables and the cups whence
the proud lords had been drinking, and they raked out the
fire from the braziers on to the floor, and piled many fresh
logs upon them, to give light and warmth.
Then Melantho began to revile Odysseus yet a second
time, saying : ' Stranger, wilt thou still be a plague to us
here, circling round the house in the night, and spying the
women? Nay, get thee forth, thou wretched thing, and be
thankful for thy supper, or straightway shalt thou even be
smitten with a torch and so fare out of the doors.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on her,
and said: ' Good woman, what possesses thee to assail me
thus out of an angry heart? Is it because I go filthy and
am clothed about in sorry raiment, and beg through the land,
for necessity is laid on me? This is the manner of beggars
and of wandering men. For I too once had a house of mine
own among men, a rich man with a wealthy house, and
many a time would I give to a wanderer, what manner of
man soever he might be, and in whatsoever need he came.
And I had countless thralls, and all else in plenty, whereby
folk live well and have a name for riches. But Zeus, the
son of Cronos, made me desolate of all, for surely it was his
will. Wherefore, woman, see lest some day thou too lose all
thy fine show wherein thou now excellest among the hand-
maids, as well may chance, if thy mistress be provoked to
anger with thee, or if Odysseus come home, for there is yet
a place for hope. And even if he hath perished as ye deem,
and is never more to return, yet by Apollo's grace he hath a
son like him, Telemachus, and none of the women works
wantonness in his halls without his knowledge, for he is no
longer of an age not to mark it/
Thus he spake, and the wise Penelope heard him, and
rebuked the handmaid, and spake and hailed her:
1 Thou reckless thing and unabashed, be sure thy great sin
is not hidden from me, and thy blood shall be on thine own
head for the same! For thou knewest right well, in that
thou hadst heard it from my lips, how that I was minded
to ask the stranger in my halls for tidings of my lord; for
I am grievously afflicted/
270 HOMER
Therewith she spake likewise to the housedame, Eurynome
saying :
' Eurynome, bring hither a settle with a fleece thereon,
that the stranger may sit and speak with me and hear my
words, for I would ask him all his story.'
So she spake, and the nurse made haste and brought a
polished settle, and cast a fleece thereon; and then the
steadfast goodly Odysseus sat him down there, and the wise
Penelope spake first, saying:
* Stranger, I will make bold first to ask thee this : who
art thou of the sons of men, and whence? Where is thy
city, and where are they that begat thee?'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:
' Lady, no one of mortal men in the wide world could find
fault with thee, for lo, thy fame goes up to the wide heaven,
as doth the fame of a blameless king, one that fears the
gods and reigns among many men and mighty, maintaining
right, and the black earth bears wheat and barley, and the
trees are laden with fruit, and the sheep bring forth and fail
not, and the sea gives store of fish, and all out of his good
guidance, and the people prosper under him. Wherefore do
thou ask me now in thy house all else that thou wilt, but
inquire not concerning my race and mine own country, lest
as I think thereupon thou fill my heart the more with pains,
for I am a man of many sorrows. Moreover it beseems
me not to sit weeping and wailing in another's house, for
it is little good to mourn always without ceasing, lest per-
chance one of the maidens, or even thyself, be angry with
me and say that I swim in tears, as one that is heavy
with wine.'
Then wise Penelope answered him, and said : ' Stranger,
surely my excellence, both of face and form, the gods de-
stroyed, in the day when the Argives embarked for Ilios, and
with them went my lord Odysseus. If but he might come
and watch over this my life, greater and fairer thus would
be my fame 1 But now am I in sorrow, such a host of
ills some god has sent against me. For all the noblest that
are princes in the isles, in Dulichium and Same and wooded
Zacynthus, and they that dwell around even in clear-seen
Ithaca, these are wooing me against my will, and devour-
THE ODYSSEY 271
ing the house. Wherefore I take no heed of strangers,
nor suppliants, nor at all of heralds, the craftsmen of the
people. But I waste my heart away in longing for Odysseus ;
so they speed on my marriage and I weave a web of wiles.
First some god put it into my heart to set up a great web in
the halls, and thereat to weave a robe fine of woof and very
wide: and anon I spake among them, saying: "Ye princely
youths, my wooers, now that goodly Odysseus is dead, do ye
abide patiently, how eager soever to speed on this marriage
of mine, till I finish the robe. I would not that the threads
perish to no avail, even this shroud for the hero Laertes,
against the day when the ruinous doom shall bring him low,
of death that lays men at their length. So shall none of the
Achaean women in the land count it blame in me, as well
might be, were he to lie without a winding sheet, a man that
had gotten great possessions."
'So spake I, and their high hearts consented thereto. So
then in the daytime I would weave the mighty web, and in
the night unravel the same, when I had let place the torches
by me. Thus for the space of three years I hid the thing
by craft and beguiled the minds of the Achaeans. But when
the fourth year arrived, and the seasons came round as the
months waned, and many days were accomplished, then it
was that by help of the handmaids, shameless things and
reckless, the wooers came and trapped me, and chid me
loudly. Thus did I finish the web by no will of mine, for
so I must. And now I can neither escape the marriage nor
devise any further counsel, and my parents are instant with
me to marry, and my son chafes that these men devour his
livelihood, as he takes note of all; for by this time he has
come to man's estate, and is full able to care for a house-
hold, for one to which Zeus vouchsafes honour. But even
so tell me of thine own stock, whence thou art, for thou
art not sprung of oak or rock, whereof old tales tell.*
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said :
'O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, wilt thou
never have done asking me about mine own race? Nay,
but 1 will tell thee; yet surely thou wilt give me over to
sorrows yet more than those wherein I am holden, for so it
ever is when a man has been afar from his own country, so
272 HOMER
long as now I am, wandering in sore pain to many cities of
mortals. Yet even so I will tell thee what thou askest and
inquirest. There is a land called Crete in the midst of the
wine-dark sea, a fair land and a rich, begirt with water, and
therein are many men innumerable, and ninety cities. And
all have not the same speech, but there is confusion of
tongues; there dwell Achaeans and there too Cretans of
Crete, high of heart, and Cydonians there and Dorians of
waving plumes and goodly Pelasgians. And among these
cities is the mighty city Cnosus, wherein Minos when he
was nine years old began to rule, he who held converse
with great Zeus, and was the father of my father, even of
Deucalion, high of heart. Now Deucalion begat me and
Idomeneus the prince. Howbeit, he had gone in his beaked
ships up into Ilios, with the son of Atreus; but my famed
name is Aethon, being the younger of the twain and he was
the first born and the better man. There I saw Odysseus,
and gave him guest-gifts, for the might of the wind bare
him too to Crete, as he was making for Troy land, and had
driven him wandering past Malea. So he stayed his ships in
Amnisus, whereby is the cave of Eilithyia, in havens hard
to win, and scarce he escaped the tempest. Anon he came
up to the city and asked for Idomeneus, saying that he was
his friend and held by him in love and honour. But it was
now the tenth or the eleventh dawn since Idomeneus had
gone in his beaked ships up into Ilios. Then I led him to
the house, and gave him good entertainment with all loving-
kindness out of the plenty in my house, and for him and
for the rest of his company, that went with him, I gathered
and gave barley meal and dark wine out of the public store,
and oxen to sacrifice to his heart's desire. There the goodly
Achaeans abode twelve days, for the strong North Wind
penned them there, and suffered them not to stay upon the
coast, for some angry god had roused it. On the thirteenth
day the wind fell, and then they lifted anchor.'
So he told many a false tale in the likeness of truth, and
her tears flowed as she listened, and her flesh melted. And
even as the snow melts in the high places of the hills, the
snow that the South-East wind has thawed, when the West
had scattered it abroad, and as it wastes the river streams
THE ODYSSEY 273
rim full, even so her fair cheeks melted beneath her tears, as
she wept her own lord, who even then was sitting by her.
Now Odysseus had compassion of heart upon his wife in her
lamenting, but his eyes kept steadfast between his eyelids as
it were horn or iron, and craftily he hid his tears. But she,
when she had taken her fill of tearful lamentation, answered
him in turn and spake, saying:
* Friend as thou art, even now I think to make trial of
thee, and learn whether in very truth thou didst entertain my
lord there in thy halls with his godlike company, as thou
sayest. Tell me what manner of raiment he was clothed in
about his body, and what manner of man he was himself,
and tell me of his fellows that went with him.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying:
1 Lady, it is hard for one so long parted from him to tell
thee all this, for it is now the twentieth year since he went
thither and left my country. Yet even so I will tell thee
as I see him in spirit. Goodly Odysseus wore a thick purple
mantle, twofold, which had a brooch fashioned in gold, with
two sheathes for the pins, and on the face of it was a curi-
ous device: a hound in his forepaws held a dappled fawn
and gazed on it as it writhed. And all men marvelled at
the workmanship, how, wrought as they were in gold, the
hound was gazing on the fawn and strangling it, and the
fawn was writhing with his feet and striving to flee. More-
over, I marked the shining doublet about his body, like the
gleam over the skin of a dried onion, so smooth it was, and
glistering as the sun ; truly many women looked thereon and
wondered. Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou
ponder it in thy heart. I know not if Odysseus was thus
clothed upon at home, or if one of his fellows gave him the
raiment as he went on board the swift ship, or even it may
be some stranger, seeing that to many men was Odysseus
dear, for few of the Achaeans were his peers. I, too, gave
him a sword of bronze, and a fair purple mantle with double
fold, and a tasseled doublet, and I sent him away with all
honour on his decked ship. Moreover, a henchman bare him
company, somewhat older than he, and I will tell thee of him
too, what manner of man he was. He was round-shouldered,
black-skinned, and curly-headed, his name Eurybates; and
274 HOMER
Odysseus honoured him above all his company, because in
all things he was like-minded with himself.'
So he spake, and in her heart he stirred yet more the
desire of weeping, as she knew the certain tokens that Odys-
seus showed her. So when she had taken her fill of tearful
lament, then she answered him, and spake, saying:
'Now verily, stranger, thou that even before wert held in
pity, shalt be dear and honourable in my halls, for it was I
who gave him these garments, as judging from thy words,
and folded them myself, and brought them from the cham-
ber, and added besides the shining brooch to be his jewel.
But him I shall never welcome back, returned home to his
own dear country. Wherefore with an evil fate it was that
Odysseus went hence in the hollow ship to see that evil
Ilios, never to be named/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
'Wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, destroy not now
thy fair flesh any more, nor waste thy heart with weeping
for thy lord ; — not that I count it any blame in thee, for many
a woman weeps that has lost her wedded lord, to whom she
has borne children in her love, — albeit a far other man than
Odysseus, who, they say, is like the gods. Nay, cease from
thy lamenting, and lay up my word in thy heart; for I will
tell thee without fail, and will hide nought, how but lately
I heard tell of the return of Odysseus, that he is nigh at hand,
and yet alive in the fat land of the men of Thesprotia, and
is bringing with him many choice treasures, as he begs
through the land. But he has lost his dear companions and
his hollow ship on the wine-dark sea, on his way from the
isle Thrinacia: for Zeus and Helios had a grudge against
him, because his company had slain the kine of Helios. They
for their part all perished in the wash of the sea, but the
wave cast him on the keel of the ship out upon the coast,
on the land of the Phaeacians that are near of kin to the
gods, and they did him all honour heartily as unto a god,
and gave him many gifts, and themselves would fain have
sent him scathless home. Yea and Odysseus would have
been here long since, but he thought it more profitable to
gather wealth, as he journeyed over wide lands; so truly is
Odysseus skilled in gainful arts above all men upon earth,
THE ODYSSEY 275
nor may any mortal men contend with him. So Pheidon
king of the Thesprotians told me. Moreover he sware, in
mine own presence, as he poured the drink-offering in his
house, that the ship was drawn down to the sea and his com-
pany were ready, who were to convey him to his own dear
country. But me he first sent off, for it chanced that a
ship of the Thesprotians was on her way to Dulichium, a
land rich in grain. And he showed me all the wealth that
Odysseus had gathered, yea it would suffice for his children
after him, even to the tenth generation, so great were the
treasures he had stored in the chambers of the king. As for
him he had gone, he said, to Dodona to hear the counsel of
Zeus, from the high leafy oak tree of the god, how he should
return to his own dear country, having now been long afar,
whether openly or by stealth.
1 In this wise, as I tell thee, he is safe and will come
shortly, and very near he is and will not much longer be far
from his friends and his own country; yet withal I will
give thee my oath on it. Zeus be my witness first, of gods
the highest and best, and the hearth of noble Odysseus where-
unto I am come, that all these things shall surely be ac-
complished even as I tell thee. In this same year Odysseus
shall come hither, as the old moon wanes and the new is
born/
Then wise Penelope answered him : ' Ah ! stranger would
that this word may be accomplished. Soon shouldst thou
be aware of kindness and many a gift at my hands, so
that whoso met with thee would call thee blessed. But on
this wise my heart has a boding, and so it shall be. Neither
shall Odysseus come home any more, nor shalt thou gain an
escort hence, since there are not now such masters in the
house as Odysseus was among men, — if ever such an one
there was, — to welcome guests revered and speed them on
their way. But do ye, my handmaids, wash this man's feet
and strew a couch for him, bedding and mantles and shining
blankets, that well and warmly he may come to the time of
golden-throned Dawn. And very early in the morning bathe
him and anoint him, that within the house beside Telemachus
he may eat meat, sitting quietly in the hall. And it shall be
the worse for any hurtful man of the wooers, that vexes
276 HOMER
the stranger, yea he shall not henceforth profit himself here,
for all his sore anger. For how shalt thou learn concerning
me, stranger, whether indeed I excel all women in wit and
thrifty device, if all unkempt and evil clad thou sittest at
supper in my halls? Man's life is brief enough! And if
any be a hard man and hard at heart, all men cry evil on
him for the time to come, while yet he lives, and all men mock
him when he is dead. But if any be a blameless man and
blameless of heart, his guests spread abroad his fame over
the whole earth and many people call him noble/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:
' O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, mantles verily
and shining blankets are hateful to me, since first I left be-
hind me the snowy hills of Crete, voyaging in the long-oared
galley; nay, I will lie as in time past I was used to rest
through the sleepless nights. For full many a night I have
lain on an unsightly bed, and awaited the bright throned
Dawn. And baths for the feet are no longer my delight,
nor shall any women of those who are serving maidens in
thy house touch my foot, unless there chance to be some old
wife, true of heart, one that has borne as much trouble as
myself; I would not grudge such an one to touch my
feet/
Then wise Penelope answered him : 'Dear stranger, for
never yet has there come to my house, of strangers from afar,
a dearer man or so discreet as thou, uttering so needfully
the words of wisdom. I have an ancient woman of an
understanding heart, that diligently nursed and tended that
hapless man my lord, she took him in her arms in the
hour when his mother bare him. She will wash thy feet,
albeit her strength is frail. Up now, wise Eurycleia, and
wash this man, whose years are the same as thy master's.
Yea and perchance such even now are the feet of Odysseus,
and such too his hands, for quickly men age in misery/
So she spake, and the old woman covered her face with
her hands and shed hot tears, and spake a word of lamen-
tation, saying:
' Ah, woe is me, child, for thy sake, all helpless that I am !
Surely Zeus hated thee above all men, though thou hadst a
god-fearing spirit! For never yet did any mortal burn so
THE ODYSSEY 277
many fat pieces of the thigh and so many choice hecatombs
to Zeus, whose joy is in the thunder, as thou didst give to
him, praying that so thou mightest grow to a smooth old
age and rear thy renowned son. But now from thee alone
hath Zeus wholly cut off the day of thy returning. Haply
at him too did the women mock in a strange land afar,
whensoever he came to the famous palace of any lord,
even as here these shameless ones all mock at thee. To
shun their insults and many taunts it is that thou sufferest
them not to wash thy feet, but the daughter of Icarius, wise
Penelope, hath bidden me that am right willing to this task.
Wherefore I will wash thy feet, both for Penelope's sake and
for thine own, for that my heart within me is moved and
troubled. But come, mark the word that I shall speak.
Many strangers travel-worn have ere now come hither, but
I say that I have never seen any so like another, as thou art
like Odysseus, in fashion, in voice and in feet/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
* Old wife, even so all men declare, that have beheld us
twain, that we favour each other exceedingly, even as thou
dost mark and say/
Thereupon the crone took the shining cauldron, where-
from 1 she set to wash his feet, and poured in much cold
water and next mingled therewith the warm. Now Odysseus
sat aloof from the hearth, and of a sudden he turned his
face to the darkness, for anon he had a misgiving of heart
lest when she handled him she might know the scar again,
and all should be revealed. Now she drew near her lord
to wash him, and straightway she knew the scar of the wound,
that the boar had dealt him with his white tusk long ago,
when Odysseus went to Parnassus to see Autolycus, and the
sons of Autolycus, his mother's noble father, who outdid all
men in thievery and skill in swearing. This skill was the
gift of the god himself, even Hermes; for that he burned to
him the well-pleasing sacrifice of the thighs of lambs and
kids ; wherefore Hermes abetted him gladly. Now Autolycus
once had gone to the rich land of Ithaca, and found his
daughter's son a child new-born, and when he was making
an end of supper, behold, Eurycleia set the babe on his knees,
1 Reading tov.
278 HOMER
and spake and hailed him : ' Autolycus, find now a name thy-
self to give thy child's own son; for lo, he is a child of
many prayers/
Then Autolycus made answer and spake : ' My daughter
and my daughter's lord, give ye him whatsoever name I
tell you. Forasmuch as I am come hither in wrath against
many a one, both man and woman, over the fruitful earth,
wherefore let the child's name be " a man of wrath," Odys-
seus. But when the child reaches his full growth, and
comes to the great house of his mother's kin at Parnassus,
whereby are my possessions, I will give him a gift out of
these and send him on his way rejoicing/
Therefore it was that Odysseus went to receive the splen-
did gifts. And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus grasped
his hands and greeted him with gentle words, and Amphithea,
his mother's mother, clasped him in her arms and kissed
his face and both his fair eyes. Then Autolycus called
to his renowned sons to get ready the meal, and they
hearkened to the call. So presently they led in a five-year-
old bull, which they flayed and busily prepared, and cut up
all the limbs and deftly chopped them small, and pierced them
with spits and roasted them cunningly, dividing the messes.
So for that livelong day they feasted till the going down of
the sun, and their soul lacked not ought of the equal banquet.
But when the sun sank and darkness came on, then they laid
them to rest and took the boon of sleep.
Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
they all went forth to the chase, the hounds and the sons of
Autolycus, and with them went the goodly Odysseus. So
they fared up the steep hill of wood-clad Parnassus, and
quickly they came to the windy hollows. Now the sun was
but just striking on the fields, and was come forth from the
soft 6owing stream of deep Oceanus. Then the beaters
reached a glade of the woodland, and before them went
the hounds tracking a scent, but behind came the sons of
Autolycus, and among them goodly Odysseus followed close
on the hounds, swaying a long spear. Thereby in a thick
lair was a great boar lying, and through the coppice the
force of the wet winds blew never, neither did the bright
sun light on it with his rays, nor could the rain pierce
THE ODYSSEY 279
through, so thick it was, and of fallen leaves there was great
plenty therein. Then the tramp of the men's feet and
of the dogs' came upon the boar, as they pressed on in the
chase, and forth from his laii he sprang towards them with
crest well bristled and fire shining in his eyes, and stood
at bay before them all. Then Odysseus was the first to rush
in, holding his spear aloft in his strong hand, most eager
to stab him; but the boar was too quick and drave a gash
above the knee, ripping deep into the flesh with his tusk
as he charged sideways, but he reached not to the bone
of the man. Then Odysseus aimed well and smote him on
his right shoulder, so that the point of the bright spear went
clean through, and the boar fell in the dust with a cry, and
his life passed from him. Then the dear sons of Autolycus
began to busy them with the carcase, and as for the wound
of the noble godlike Odysseus, they bound it up skilfully, and
stayed the black blood with a song of healing, and straight-
way returned to the house of their dear father. Then Autol-
ycus and the sons of Autolycus got him well healed of his
hurt, and gave him splendid gifts, and quickly sent him
with all love to Ithaca, gladly speeding a glad guest. There
his father and lady mother were glad of his returning, and
asked him of all his adventures, and of his wound how he
came by it, and duly he told them all, namely how the boar
gashed him with his white tusk in the chase, when he had
gone to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus.
Now the old woman took the scarred limb and passed her
hands down it, and knew it by the touch and let the foot
drop suddenly, so that the knee fell into the bath, and the
brazen vessel rang, being turned over on the other side, and
behold, the water was spilled on the ground. Then joy and
anguish came on her in one moment, and both her eyes filled
up with tears, and the voice of her utterance was stayed, and
touching the chin of Odysseus she spake to him, saying:
* Yea verily, thou art Odysseus, my dear child, and I knew
thee not before, till I had handled all the body of my lord.'
Therewithal she looked towards Penelope, as minded to
make a sign that her husband was now home. But Penelope
could not meet her eyes nor take note of her, for Athene
had bent her thoughts to other things. But Odysseus feeling
280 HOMER
for the old woman's throat gript it with his right hand and
with the other drew her closer to him and spake, saying :
' Woman, why wouldest thou indeed destroy me ? It was
thou that didst nurse me there at thine own breast, and now
after travail and much pain I am come in the twentieth
year to mine own country. But since thou art ware of me,
and the god has put this in thy heart, be silent, lest another
learn the matter in the halls. For on this wise I will de-
clare it, and it shall surely be accomplished: — if the gods
subdue the lordly wooers unto me, I will not hold my hand
from thee, my nurse though thou art, when I slay the other
handmaids in my halls/
Then wise Eurycleia answered, saying : ' My child, what
word hath escaped the door of thy lips? Thou knowest how
firm is my spirit and unyielding, and I will keep me fast as
stubborn stone or iron. Yet another thing will I tell chee,
and do thou ponder it in thine heart. If the gods subdue the
lordly wooers to thy hand, then will I tell thee all the tale of
the women in the halls, which of them dishonour thee and
which be guiltless/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
'Nurse, wherefore I pray thee wilt thou speak of these?
Thou needest not, for even I myself will mark them well and
take knowledge of each. Nay, do thou keep thy saying to
thyself, and leave the rest to the gods/
Even so he spake, and the old woman passed forth from
the hall to bring water for his feet, for that first water was
all spilled. So when she had washed him and anointed him
well with olive-oil, Odysseus again drew up his settle nearer
to the fire to warm himself, and covered up the scar with his
rags. Then the wise Penelope spake first, saying:
' Stranger, there is yet a little thing I will make bold to ask
thee, for soon will it be the hour for pleasant rest, for him on
whomsoever sweet sleep falls, though he be heavy with care.
But to me has the god given sorrow, yea sorrow measureless,
for all the day I have my fill of wailing and lamenting, as I
look to mine own housewiferies and to the tasks of the
maidens in the house. But when night comes and sleep
takes hold of all, I lie on my couch, and shrewd cares, thick
thronging about my inmost heart, disquiet me in my sorrow-
THE ODYSSEY 281
ing. Even as when the daughter of Pandareus, the nightin-
gale of the greenwood, sings sweet in the first season of the
spring, from her place in the thick leafage of the trees, and
with many a turn and trill she pours forth her full-voiced
music bewailing her child, dear Itylus, whom on a time she
slew with the sword unwitting, Itylus the son of Zethus the
prince ; even as her song, my troubled soul sways to and fro.
Shall I abide with my son, and keep all secure, all the things
of my getting, my thralls and great high-roofed home, having
respect unto the bed of my lord and the voice of the people,
or even now follow with the best of the Achaeans that woos
me in the halls, and gives a bride-price beyond reckoning?
Now my son, so long as he was a child and light of heart,
suffered me not to marry and leave the house of my hus-
band; but now that he is great of growth, and is come to
the full measure of manhood, lo now he prays me to go
back home from these walls, being vexed for his possessions
that the Achaeans devour before his eyes. But come now,
hear a dream of mine and tell me the interpretation thereof.
Twenty geese I have in the house, that eat wheat, coming
forth from the water, and I am gladdened at the sight. Now
a great eagle of crooked beak swooped from the mountain,
and brake all their necks and slew them; and they lay
strewn in a heap in the halls, while he was borne aloft
to the bright air. Thereon I wept and wailed, in a dream
though it was, and around me were gathered the fair-tressed
Achaean women as I made piteous lament, for that the eagle
had slain my geese. But he came back and sat him down
on a jutting point of the roof-beam, and with the voice of
a man he spake, and stayed my weeping:
' " Take heart, O daughter of renowned Icarius ; this is
no dream but a true vision, that shall be accomplished for
thee. The geese are the wooers, and I that before was the
eagle am now thy husband come again, who will let slip
unsightly death upon all the wooers." With that word sweet
slumber let me go, and I looked about, and beheld the geese
in the court pecking their wheat at the trough, where they
were wont before/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said :
1 Lady, none may turn aside the dream to interpret it other-
282 HOMER
wise, seeing that Odysseus himself hath showed thee how he
will fulfil it. For the wooers destruction is clearly boded, for
all and every one ; not a man shall avoid death and the fates/
Then wise Penelope answered him : * Stranger, verily
dreams are hard, and hard to be discerned ; nor are all things
therein fulfilled for men. Twain are the gates of shadowy
dreams, the one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory.
Such dreams as pass through the portals of sawn ivory are
deceitful, and bear tidings that are unfulfilled. But the
dreams that come forth through the gates of polished horn
bring a true issue, whosoever of mortals beholds them. Yet
methinks my strange dream came not thence; of a truth
that would be most welcome to me and to my son. But
another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy
heart. Lo, even now draws nigh the morn of evil name,
that is to sever me from the house of Odysseus, for now
I am about to ordain for a trial those axes that he would
set up in a row in his halls, like stays of oak in ship-
building, twelve in all, and he would stand far apart and
shoot his arrow through them all. And now I will offer this
contest to the wooers; whoso shall most easily string the
bow in his hands, and shoot through all twelve axes, with
him will I go and forsake this house, this house of my wed-
lock, so fair and filled with all livelihood, which methinks
I shall yet remember, aye, in a dream/
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:
* Wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, no longer delay
this contest in thy halls ; for, lo, Odysseus of many counsels
will be here, before these men, for all their handling of this
polished bow, shall have strung it, and shot the arrow
through the iron/
Then the wise Penelope answered him : ' Stranger, if only
thou wert willing still to sit beside me in the halls and to
delight me, not upon my eyelids would sleep be shed. But
men may in no wise abide sleepless ever, for the immortals
have made a time for all things for mortals on the grain-
giving earth. Howbeit I will go aloft to my upper chamber,
and lay me on my bed, the place of my groanings, that is
ever watered by my tears, since the day that Odysseus went
to see that evil Ilios, never to be named. There will I lay
THE ODYSSEY 283
me down, but do thou live in this house; either strew thee
somewhat on the floor, or let them lay bedding for thee/
Therewith she ascended to her shining upper chamber,
not alone, for with her likewise went her handmaids. So she
went aloft to her upper chamber with the women her hand-
maids, and there was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till
grey-eyed Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
;book xx
Pallas and Odysseus consult of the killing of the wooers.
BUT the goodly Odysseus laid him down to sleep in the
vestibule of the house. He spread an undressed
bull's hide on the ground and above it many fleeces
of sheep, that the Achaeans were wont to slay in sacrifice,
and Eurynome threw a mantle over him where he lay.
There Odysseus lay wakeful, with evil thoughts against the
wooers in his heart. And the women came forth from their
chamber, that aforetime were wont to lie with the wooers,
making laughter and mirth among themselves. Then the
heart of Odysseus was stirred within his breast, and much
he communed with his mind and soul, whether he should
leap forth upon them and deal death to each, or suffer them
to lie with the proud wooers, now for the last and latest
time. And his heart growled sullenly within him. And even
as a bitch stands over her tender whelps growling, when she
spies a man she knows not, and she is eager to assail him,
so growled his heart within him in his wrath at their evil
deeds. Then he smote upon his breast and rebuked his own
heart, saying:
' Endure, my heart ; yea, a baser thing thou once didst
bear, on that day when the Cyclops, unrestrained in fury,
devoured the mighty men of my company; but still thou
didst endure till thy craft found a way for thee forth from
out the cave, where thou thoughtest to die/
So spake he, chiding his own spirit within him, and his
heart verily abode steadfast in obedience to his word. But
Odysseus himself lay tossing this way and that. And as
when a man by a great fire burning takes a paunch full
of fat and blood, and turns it this way and that and longs
to have it roasted most speedily, so Odysseus tossed from
side to side, musing how he might stretch forth his hands
284
THE ODYSSEY 285
upon the shameless wooers, being but one man against so
many. Then down from heaven came Athene and drew
nigh him, fashioned in the likeness of a woman. And she
stood over his head and spake to him, saying:
'Lo now again, wherefore art thou watching, most luck-
less of all men living? Is not this thy house and is not
thy wife there within and thy child, such a son as men wish
to have for their own ? '
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
' Yea, goddess, all this thou hast spoken as is meet. But
my heart within me muses in some measure upon this, how
I may stretch forth my hands upon the shameless wooers,
being but one man, while they abide ever in their com-
panies within. Moreover, this other and harder matter I
ponder in my heart: even if I were to slay them by thy
will and the will of Zeus, whither should I flee from the
avengers? Look well to this, I pray thee/
Then answered the goddess, grey-eyed Athene : ' O hard
of belief! yea, many there be that trust even in a weaker
friend than I am, in one that is a mortal and knows not such
craft as mine ; but I am a god, that preserve thee to the end,
in all manner of toils. And now I will tell thee plainly; even
should fifty companies of mortal men compass us about
eager to slay us in battle, even their kine shouldst thou
drive off and their brave flocks. But let sleep in turn come
over thee ; to wake and to watch all night, this too is vexa-
tion of spirit; and soon shalt thou rise from out of thy
troubles/
So she spake and poured slumber upon his eyelids, but
for her part the fair goddess went back to Olympus.
While sleep laid hold of him loosening the cares of his
soul, sleep that loosens the limbs of men, his good wife
awoke and wept as she sat on her soft bed. But when she
had taken her fill of weeping, to Artemis first the fair lady
made her prayer:
' Artemis, lady and goddess, daughter of Zeus, would that
even now thou wouldst plant thy shaft within my breast and
take my life away, even in this hour ! Or else, would that
the stormwind might snatch me up, and bear me hence down
the dusky ways, and cast me forth where the back-flowing
286 HOMER
Oceanus mingles with the sea. It should be even as when the
stormwinds bare away the daughters of Pandareus. Their
father and their mother the gods had slain, and the maidens
were left orphans in the .halls, and fair Aphrodite cherished
them with curds and sweet honey and delicious wine. And
Here gave them beauty and wisdom beyond the lot of women,
and holy Artemis dowered them with stature, and Athene
taught them skill in all famous handiwork. Now while fair
Aphrodite was wending to high Olympus, to pray that a glad
marriage might be accomplished for the maidens, — and to
Zeus she went whose joy is in the thunder, for he knows all
things well, what the fates give and deny to mortal men —
in the meanwhile the spirits of the storm snatched away
these maidens, and gave them to be handmaids to the hateful
Erinyes. Would that in such wise they that hold the man-
sions of Olympus would take me from the sight of men, or
that fair-tressed Artemis would strike me, that so with a
vision of Odysseus before mine eyes I might even pass be-
neath the dreadful earth, nor ever make a baser man's de-
light ! But herein is an evil that may well be borne, namely,
when a man weeps all the day long in great sorrow of heart,
but sleep takes him in the night, for sleep makes him forget-
ful of all things, of good and evil, when once it has over-
shadowed his eyelids. But as for me, even the dreams that
the gods send upon me are evil. For furthermore, this very
night one seemed to lie by my side, in the likeness of my lord,
as he was when he went with the host, and then was my
heart glad, since methought it was no vain dream but a clear
vision at the last.'
So she spake, and anon came the golden-throned Dawn.
Now goodly Odysseus caught the voice of her weeping, and
then he fell a musing, and it seemed to him that even now
she knew him and was standing by his head. So he took
up the mantle and the fleeces whereon he was lying, and set
them on a high seat in the hall, and bare out the bull's hide
out of doors and laid it there, and lifting up his hands he
prayed to Zeus:
* Father Zeus, if ye gods of your good will have led me
over wet and dry, to mine own country, after ye had plagued
me sore, let some one I pray of the folk that are waking
THE ODYSSEY 287
show me a word of good omen within, and without let some
sign also be revealed to me from Zeus/
So he spake in prayer, and Zeus, the counsellor, heard
him. Straightway he thundered from shining Olympus,
from on high from the place of clouds ; and goodly Odysseus
was glad. Moreover, a woman, a grinder at the mill, uttered
a voice of omen from within the house hard by, where stood
the mills of the shepherd of the people. At these handmills
twelve women in all plied their task, making meal of barley
and of wheat, the marrow of men. Now all the others were
asleep, for they had ground out their task of grain, but one
alone rested not yet, being the weakest of all. She now
stayed her quern and spake a word, a sign to her lord :
' Father Zeus, who rulest over gods and men, loudly hast
thou thundered from the starry sky, yet nowhere is there a
cloud to be seen : this surely is a portent thou art showing to
some mortal. Fulfil now, I pray thee, even to miserable me,
the word that I shall speak. May the wooers, on this day,
for the last and latest time make their sweet feasting in the
halls of Odysseus ! They that have loosened my knees with
cruel toil to grind their barley meal, may they now sup their
last ! ■
Thus she spake, and goodly Odysseus was glad in the
omen of the voice and in the thunder of Zeus; for he
thought that he had gotten his vengeance on the guilty.
Now the other maidens in the fair halls of Odysseus had
gathered, and were kindling on the hearth the never-resting
fire. And Telemachus rose from his bed, a godlike man,
and put on his raiment, and slung a sharp sword about
his shoulders, and beneath his shining feet he bound his
goodly sandals. And he caught up his mighty spear shod
with sharp bronze, and went and stood by the threshold, and
spake to Eurycleia:
' Dear nurse, have ye honoured our guest in the house
with food and couch, or does he lie uncared for, as he may?
For this is my mother's way, wise as she is: blindly she
honours one of mortal men, even the worse, but the better
she sends without honour away.'
Then the prudent Eurycleia answered : ' Nay, my child,
thou shouldst not now blame her where no blame is. For
288 HOMER
the stranger sat and drank wine, so long as he would,
and of food he said he was no longer fain, for thy mother
asked him. Moreover, against the hour when he should
bethink him of rest and sleep, she bade the maidens strew
for him a bed. But he, as one utterly wretched and ill-fated,
refused to lie on a couch and under blankets, but on an
undressed hide and on the fleeces of sheep he slept in the
vestibule, and we cast a mantle over him.'
So she spake, and Telemachus passed out through the
hall with his lance in his hand, and two fleet dogs bare him
company. He went on his way to the assembly-place to join
the goodly-greaved Achaeans. But the good lady Eurycleia,
daughter of Ops son of Peisenor, called aloud to her
maidens :
' Come hither, let some of you go busily and sweep the
hall, and sprinkle it, and on the fair-fashioned seats throw
purple coverlets, and others with sponges wipe all the tables
clean, and cleanse the mixing bowls and well-wrought double
beakers, and others again go for water to the well, and re-
turn with it right speedily. For the wooers will not long be
out of the hall but will return very early, for it is a feast
day, yea for all the people/
So she spake, and they all gave ready ear and hearkened.
Twenty of them went to the well of dark water, and the
others there in the halls were busy with skilful hands.
Then in came the serving-men of the Achaeans. Thereon
they cleft the faggots well and cunningly, while, behold, the
women came back from the well. Then the swineherd
joined them leading three fatted boars, the best in all the
flock. These he left to feed at large in the fair courts, but
as for him he spake to Odysseus gently, saying:
' Tell me, stranger, do the Achaeans at all look on thee
with more regard, or do they dishonour thee in the halls, as
heretofore ?'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
' Oh, that the gods, Eumaeus, may avenge the scorn where-
with these men deal insolently, and devise infatuate deeds in
another's house, and have no place for shame ! '
On such wise they spake one to another. And Melanthius
drew near them, the goatherd, leading the goats that were
THE ODYSSEY 289
most excellent in all the herds to be a dinner for the wooers,
and two shepherds bare him company. So he tethered the
goats beneath the echoing gallery, and himself spake to
Odysseus and taunted him, saying:
1 Stranger, wilt thou still be a plague to us here in the
hall, with thy begging of men, and wilt not get thee gone?
In no wise do I think we twain will be sundered, till we taste
each the other's fists, for thy begging is out of all order.
Also there are elsewhere other feasts of the Achaeans/
So he spake, but Odysseus of many counsels answered him
not a word, but in silence he shook his head, brooding evil
in the deep of his heart.
Moreover a third man came up, Philoetius, a master of
men, leading a barren heifer for the wooers and fatted goats.
Now ferrymen had brought them over from the mainland,
boatmen who send even other folks on their way, whosoever
comes to them. The cattle he tethered carefully beneath
the echoing gallery, and himself drew close to the swine-
herd, and began to question him:
* Swineherd, who is this stranger but newly come to our
house? From what men does he claim his birth? Where are
his kin and his native fields? Hapless is he, yet in fashion
he is like a royal lord; but the gods mar the goodliness of
wandering men, when even for kings they have woven the
web of trouble.'
So he spake, and came close to him offering his right
hand in welcome, and uttering his voice spake to him
winged words :
' Father and stranger, hail ! may happiness be thine in the
time to come; but as now, thou art fast holden in many
sorrows ! Father Zeus, none other god is more baneful than
thou; thou hast no compassion on men, that are of thine
own begetting, but makest them to have fellowship with evil
and with bitter pains. The sweat brake out on me when I
beheld him, and mine eyes stand full of tears for memory of
Odysseus, for he too, methinks, is clad in such vile raiment as
this, and is wandering among men, if haply he yet lives and
sees the sunlight. But if he be dead already and in the
house of Hades, then woe is me for the noble Odysseus, who
set me over his cattle while I was but a lad in the land of the
J— Vol. 22 hc
290 HOMER
Cephallenians. And now these wax numberless ; in no better
wise could the breed of broad-browed cattle of any mortal
increase, even as the ears of corn. But strangers command
me to be ever driving these for themselves to devour, and
they care nothing for the heir in the house, nor tremble at
the vengeance of the gods, for they are eager even now to
divide among themselves the possessions of our lord who is
long afar. Now my heart within my breast often revolves
this thing. Truly it were an evil deed, while a son of the
master is yet alive, to get me away to the land of strangers,
and go off, with cattle and all, to alien men. But this is more
grievous still, to abide here in affliction watching over the
herds of other men. Yea, long ago I would have fled and
gone forth to some other of the proud kings, for things are
now past sufferance; but still my thought is of that hap-
less one, if he might come I know not whence, and make a
scattering of the wooers in the halls.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
1 Neatherd, seeing thou art not like to an evil man or a
foolish, and of myself I mark how that thou hast gotten
understanding of heart, therefore I will tell thee somewhat,
and swear a great oath to confirm it. Be Zeus now my
witness before any god, and the hospitable board and the
hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come, that while
thou art still in this place Odysseus shall come home, and
thou shalt see with thine eyes, if thou wilt, the slaying of the
wooers who lord it here.'
Then the neatherd made answer, saying:
* Ah, would, stranger, that Cronion may accomplish this
word ! So shouldst thou know what my might is, and how
my hands follow to obey.'
In like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods, that wise
Odysseus might return to his own home.
On such wise they spake one to the other, but the wooers
at that time were framing death and doom for Telemachus.
Even so there came by them a bird on their left, an eagle
of lofty flight, with a cowering dove in his clutch. Then
Amphinomus made harangue and spake among them:
' Friends, this counsel of ours will not go well, namely, the
slaying of Telemachus ; rather let us bethink us of the feast/
THE ODYSSEY 291
So spake Amphinomus, and his saying pleased them well.
They passed into the halls of godlike Odysseus and laid by
their mantles on the chairs and high seats, and sacrificed
great sheep and stout goats and the fatlings of the boars and
the heifer of the herd; then they roasted the entrails and
served them round and mixed wine in the bowl, and the
swineherd set a cup by each man. And Philoetius, a master
of men, handed them wheaten bread in beautiful baskets,
and Melanthius poured out the wine. So they put forth
their hands on the good cheer set before them.
Now Telemachus, in his crafty purpose, made Odysseus
to sit down within the stablished hall by the threshold of
stone, and placed for him a mean settle and a little table.
He set by him his mess of the entrails, and poured wine into
a golden cup and spake to him, saying:
' There, sit thee down, drinking thy wine among the lords,
and the taunts and buffets of all the wooers I myself will
ward off from thee, for this is no house of public resort,
but the very house of Odysseus, and for me he won it.
But, ye wooers, refrain your minds from rebukes and your
hands from buffets, that no strife and feud may arise.'
So he said, and they all bit their lips and marvelled at
Telemachus, in that he spake boldly. Then Antinous, son
of Eupeithes, spake among them, saying:
1 Hard though the word be, let us accept it, Achaeans, even
the word of Telemachus, though mightily he threatens us
in his speech. For Zeus Cronion hath hindered us of our
purpose, else would we have silenced him in our halls, shrill
orator as he is/
So spake Antinous, but Telemachus took no heed of his
words. Now the henchmen were leading through the town
the holy hecatomb of the gods, and lo, the long-haired
Achaeans were gathered beneath the shady grove of Apollo,
the prince of archery.
Now when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it
off the spits, they divided the messes and shared the glorious
feast. And beside Odysseus they that waited set an equal
share, the same as that which fell to themselves, for so
Telemachus commanded, the dear son of divine Odysseus.
Now Athene would in nowise suffer the lordly wooers to
292 HOMER
abstain from biting scorn, that the pain might sink yet the
deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes. There
was among the wooers a man of a lawless heart, Ctesippus
was his name and in Same was his home, who trusting,
forsooth, to his vast possessions, was wooing the wife of
Odysseus the lord long afar. And now he spake among
the proud wooers:
* Hear me, ye lordly wooers, and I will say somewhat.
The stranger verily has long had his due portion, as is meet,
an equal share; for it is not fair nor just to rob the guests
of Telemachus of their right, whosoever they may be that
come to this house. Go to then, I also will bestow on him
a stranger's gift, that he in turn may give a present either
to the bath-woman, or to any other of the thralls within the
house of godlike Odysseus.'
Therewith he caught up an ox's foot from the dish, where
it lay, and hurled it with strong hand. But Odysseus lightly
avoided it with a turn of his head, and smiled right grimly
in his heart, and the ox's foot smote the well-builded wall.
Then Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus, saying:
' Verily, Ctesippus, it has turned out happier for thy heart's
pleasure as it is ! Thou didst not smite the stranger, for he
himself avoided that which was cast at him, else surely would
I have struck thee through the midst with the sharp spear,
and in place of wedding banquet thy father would have had
to busy him about a funeral feast in this place. Wherefore
let no man make show of unseemly deeds in this my house,
for now I have understanding to discern both good and
evil, but in time past I was yet a child. But as needs we
must, we still endure to see these deeds, while sheep are
slaughtered and wine drunken and bread devoured, for hard
it is for one man to restrain many. But come, no longer
work me harm out of an evil heart; but if ye be set on
slaying me, even me, with the sword, even that would I
rather endure, and far better would it be to die than to wit-
ness for ever these unseemly deeds — strangers shamefully
entreated, and men haling the handmaidens in foul wise
through the fair house/
So he spake, and they were all hushed in silence. And
late and at last spake among them Agelaus, son of Damastor :
THE ODYSSEY 293
'Friends, when a righteous word has been spoken, none
surely would rebuke another with hard speech and be angry.
Misuse ye not this stranger, nor any of the thralls that are
in the house of godlike Odysseus. But to Telemachus
himself I would speak a soft word and to his mother, if
perchance it may find favour with the mind of those twain.
So long as your hearts within you had hope of the wise
Odysseus returning to his own house, so long none could
be wroth that ye waited and held back the wooers in the halls,
for so had it been better, if Odysseus had returned and come
back to his own home. But now the event is plain, that he
will return no more. Go then, sit by thy mother and tell
her all, namely, that she must wed the best man that wooes
her, and whoso gives most gifts; so shalt thou with gladness
live on the heritage of thy father, eating and drinking, while
she cares for another's house/
Then wise Telemachus answered, and said : ' Nay by
Zeus, Agelaus, and by the griefs of my father, who far away
methinks from Ithaca has perished or goes wandering, in
nowise do I delay my mother's marriage; nay, I bid her be
married to what man she will, and withal I offer gifts with-
out number. But I do indeed feel shame to drive her forth
from the hall, despite her will, by a word of compulsion ; God
forbid that ever this should be.'
So spake Telemachus, but among the wooers Pallas Athene
roused laughter unquenchable, and drave their wits wander-
ing. And now they were laughing with alien lips, and
blood-bedabbled was the flesh they ate, and their eyes
were filled with tears and their soul was fain of lamenta-
tion. Then the godlike Theoclymenus spake among them:
' Ah, wretched men, what woe is this ye suffer ? Shrouded
in night are your heads and your faces and your knees, and
kindled is the voice of wailing, and all cheeks are wet with
tears, and the walls and the fair main-beams of the roof
are sprinkled with blood. And the porch is full, and full
is the court, of ghosts that hasten hellwards beneath the
gloom, and the sun has perished out of heaven, and an evil
mist has overspread the world.'
So spake he, and they all laughed sweetly at him. Then
Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak to them, saying:
294 HOMER
' The guest that is newly come from a strange land is
beside himself. Quick, ye young men, and convey him
forth out of doors, that he may go to the place of the
gathering, since here he finds it dark as night/
Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him : ' Eurymachus,
in nowise do I seek guides of thee to send me on my way.
Eyes have I, and ears, and both my feet, and a stable mind
in my breast of no mean fashioning. With these I will go
forth, for I see evil coming on you, which not one man of
the wooers may avoid or shun, of all you who in the house
of divine Odysseus deal insolently with men and devise
infatuate deeds/
Therewith he went forth from out of the fair-lying halls,
and came to Peiraeus who received him gladly. Then all the
wooers, looking one at the other, provoked Telemachus to
anger, laughing at his guests. And thus some one of the
haughty youths would speak:
* Telemachus, no man is more luckless than thou in his
guests, seeing thou keepest such a filthy wanderer, whosoever
he be, always longing for bread and wine, and skilled in no
peaceful work nor any deed of war, but a mere burden of
the earth. And this other fellow again must stand up to
play the seer ! Nay, but if thou wouldest listen to me, much
better it were. Let us cast these strangers on board a
benched ship, and send them to the Sicilians, whence they
would fetch thee their price.' *
So spake the wooers, but he heeded not their words;
in silence he looked towards his father, expecting evermore
the hour when he should stretch forth his hands upon the
shameless wooers.
Now the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, had set her
fair chair over against them, and heard the words of each
one of the men in the halls. For in the midst of laughter
they had got ready the midday meal, a sweet meal and abun-
dant, for they had sacrificed many cattle. But never could
there be a banquet less gracious than that supper, such an
one as the goddess and the brave man were soon to spread
for them; for that they had begun the devices of shame.
1 Reading aA^ou*, which is a correction. Or, keeping the MSS. aA£ot,
' and this should bring thee in a goodly price,' the subject to aA^oi being,
probably, the sale, which is suggested by the context.
BOOK XXI
Penelope bringeth forth her husband's bow, which the suitors could
not bend, but was bent by Odysseus.
NOW the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put it into the
heart of the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, to
set the bow and the axes of grey iron, for the
wooers in the halls of Odysseus, to be the weapons of the
contest, and the beginning of death. So she descended the
tall staircase of her chamber, and took the well-bent key
in her strong hand, a goodly key of bronze, whereon was a
handle of ivory. And she betook her, with her handmaid-
ens, to the treasure-chamber in the uttermost part of the
house, where lay the treasures of her lord, bronze and gold
and well-wrought iron. And there lay the back-bent bow
and the quiver for the arrows, and many shafts were therein,
winged for death, gifts of a friend of Odysseus, that met
with him in Lacedaemon, Iphitus son of Eurytus, a man
like to the gods. These twain fell in with one another in
Messene, in the house of wise Ortilochus. Now Odysseus
had gone thither to recover somewhat that was owing to
him from all the people, for the men of Messene had lifted
three hundred sheep in benched ships from out of Ithaca,
with the shepherds of the flock. In quest of these it was
that Odysseus went on a far embassy, being yet a lad; for
his father and the other elders sent him forth. Moreover,
Iphitus came thither in his search for twelve brood mares,
which he had lost, with sturdy mules at the teat. These
same it was that brought him death and destiny in the latter
end, when he came to the child of Zeus, hardy of heart, the
man Heracles, that had knowledge of great adventures,
who smote Iphitus though his guest in his house, in his
frowardness, and had no regard for the vengeance of the
gods, nor for the table which he spread before him; for
after the meal he slew him, his guest though he was, and
295
296 HOMER
kept for himself in the halls the horses strong of hoof.
After these was Iphitus asking, when he met with Odysseus,
and he gave him the bow, which of old great Eurytus bare
and had left at his death to his son in his lofty house. And
Odysseus gave Iphitus a sharp sword and a mighty spear,
for the beginning of a loving friendship; but never had
they acquaintance one of another at the board; ere that
might be, the son of Zeus slew Iphitus son of Eurytus, a
man like to the immortals, the same that gave Odysseus the
bow. But goodly Odysseus would never take it with him
on the black ships, as he went to the wars, but the bow was
laid by at home in the halls as a memorial of a dear guest,
and he carried it on his own land.
Now when the fair lady had come even to the treasure-
chamber, and had stept upon the threshold of oak, which the
carpenter had on a time planed cunningly, and over it had
made straight the line, — doorposts also had he fitted thereby,
whereon he set shining doors, — anon she quickly loosed
the strap from the handle of the door, and thrust in the key,
and with a straight aim shot back the bolts. And even
as a bull roars that is grazing in a meadow, so mightily
roared the fair doors smitten by the key; and speedily they
flew open before her. Then she stept on to the high floor,
where the coffers stood, wherein the fragrant raiment was
stored. Thence she stretched forth her hand, and took the
bow from off the pin, all in the bright case which sheathed
it around. And there she sat down, and set the case upon
her knees, and cried aloud and wept, and took out the bow of
her lord. Now when she had her fill of tearful lament, she
set forth to go to the hall to the company of the proud
wooers, with the back-bent bow in her hands, and the quiver
for the arrows, and many shafts were therein winged for
death. And her maidens along with her bare a chest,
wherein lay much store of iron and bronze, the gear of com-
bat of their lord. Now when the fair lady had come unto
the wooers, she stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof,
holding up her glistening tire before her face ; and a faith-
ful maiden stood on either side of her, and straightway
she spake out among the wooers and declared her word,
saying :
THE ODYSSEY 297
'Hear me, ye lordly wooers, who have vexed this house,
that ye might eat and drink here evermore, forasmuch as
the master is long gone, nor could ye find any other mark 1
for your speech, but all your desire was to wed me and take
me to wife. Nay come now, ye wooers, seeing that this is
the prize that is put before you. I will set forth for you the
great bow of divine Odysseus, and whoso shall most easily
string the bow in his hands, and shoot through all twelve
axes, with him will I go and forsake this house, this house of
my wedlock, so fair and filled with all livelihood, which me-
thinks I shall yet remember, aye, in a dream/
So spake she, and commanded Eumaeus, the goodly swine-
herd, to set the bows for the wooers and the axes of grey
iron. And Eumaeus took them with tears, and laid them
down; and otherwhere the neatherd wept, when he beheld
the bow of his lord. Then Antinous rebuked them, and
spake and hailed them:
'Foolish boors, whose thoughts look not beyond the day,
ah, wretched pair, wherefore now do ye shed tears, and stir
the soul of the lady within her, when her heart already lies
low in pain, for that she has lost her dear lord? Nay sit,
and feast in silence, or else get ye forth and weep, and leave
the bow here behind, to be a terrible contest for the wooers,
for methinks that this polished bow does not lightly yield
itself to be strung. For there is no man among all these
present such as Odysseus was, and I myself saw him, yea I
remember it well, though I was still but a child/
So spake he, but his heart within him hoped that he
would string the bow, and shoot through the iron. Yet
verily, he was to be the first that should taste the arrow
at the hands of the noble Odysseus, whom but late he was
dishonouring as he sat in the halls, and was inciting all his
fellows to do likewise.
Then the mighty prince Telemachus spake among them,
saying: 'Lo now, in very truth, Cronion has robbed me of
my wits ! My dear mother, wise as she is, declares that she
!The accepted interpretation of eirurxevLi) (a word which occurs only
here) is 'pretext'; but this does not agree with any of ^the meanings of the
verb from which the noun is derived. The usage of tire^ia inOd. xix. 71,
xxii. 7S, of eniaxew in II. xvii. 46s, and of inLrx°V- ev °s n^Od. xxu. iSt
suggests rather for eiriaxeo-crj the idea of ' aiming at a mark.
298 HOMER
will go with a stranger and forsake this house; yet I laugh
and in my silly heart I am glad. Nay come now, ye wooers,
seeing that this is the prize which is set before you, a lady,
the like of whom there is not now in the Achaean land,
neither in sacred Pylos, nor in Argos, nor in Mycenae, nor
yet in Ithaca, nor in the dark mainland. Nay but ye know
all this yourselves, — why need I praise my mother? Come
therefore, delay not the issue with excuses, nor hold much
longer aloof from the drawing of the bow, that we may
see the thing that is to be. Yea and I myself would make
trial of this bow. If I shall string it, and shoot through the
iron, then should I not sorrow if my lady mother were to
quit these halls and go with a stranger, seeing that I should
be left behind, well able now to lift my father's goodly gear
of combat/
Therewith he cast from off his neck his cloak of scarlet,
and sprang to his full height, and put away the sword from
his shoulders. First he dug a good trench and set up the
axes, one long trench for them all, and over it he made
straight the line and round about stamped in the earth.
And amazement fell on all that beheld how orderly he set
the axes, though never before had he seen it so. Then he
went and stood by the threshold and began to prove the
bow* Thrice he made it to tremble in his great desire to
draw it, and thrice he rested from his effort, though still
he hoped in his heart to string the bow, and shoot
through the iron. And now at last he might have strung
it, mightily straining thereat for the fourth time, but
Odysseus nodded frowning and stayed him, for all his
eagerness. Then the strong prince Telemachus spake
among them again :
* Lo you now, even to the end of my days I shall be a
coward and a weakling, or it may be I am too young, and
have as yet no trust in my hands to defend me from such
an one as does violence without a cause. But come now,
ye who are mightier men than I, essay the bow and let us
make an end of the contest/
Therewith he put the bow from him on the ground, lean-
ing it against the smooth and well-compacted doors, and
the swift shaft he propped hard by against the fair bow-tip,
THE ODYSSEY 299
and then he sat down once more on the high seat, whence
he had risen.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake among them,
saying : ' Rise up in order, all my friends, beginning from
the left, even from the place whence the wine is poured.'
So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.
Then first stood up Leiodes, son of Oenops, who was their
soothsayer and ever sat by the fair mixing bowl at the
extremity of the hall; he alone hated their infatuate deeds
and was indignant with all the wooers. He now first took
the bow and the swift shaft, and he went and stood by the
threshold, and began to prove the bow; but he could not
bend it; or ever that might be, his hands grew weary with
the straining, his unworn delicate hands ; so he spake among
the wooers, saying:
' Friends, of a truth I cannot bend it, let some other take
it. Ah, many of our bravest shall this bow rob of spirit and
of life, since truly it is far better for us to die, than to live
on and to fail of that for which we assemble evermore in
this place, day by day expecting the prize. Many there be
even now that hope in their hearts and desire to wed Pene-
lope, the bedfellow of Odysseus: but when such an one
shall make trial of the bow and see the issue, thereafter let
him woo some other fair-robed Achaean woman with his
bridal gifts and seek to win her. So may our lady wed the
man that gives most gifts, and comes as the chosen of fate/
So he spake, and put from him the bow, leaning it against
the smooth and well-compacted doors, and the swift shaft
he propped hard by against the fair bow-tip, and then he
sat down once more on the high seat, whence he had risen.
But Antinous rebuked him, and spake and hailed him:
' Leiodes, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips ; a
hard word, and a grievous? Nay, it angers me to hear it,
and to think that a bow such as this shall rob our bravest of
spirit and of life, and all because thou canst not draw it. For
I tell thee that thy lady mother bare thee not of such might
as to draw a bow and shoot arrows: but there be others of
the proud wooers that shall draw it soon.'
So he spake, and commanded Melanthius, the goatherd,
saying : ' Up now, light a fire in the halls, Melanthius ; and
300 HOMER
place a great settle by the fire and a fleece thereon, and
bring forth a great ball of lard that is within, that we young
men may warm and anoint the bow therewith and prove it,
and make an end of the contest.'
So he spake, and Melanthius soon kindled the never-
resting fire, and drew up a settle and placed it near, and put
a fleece thereon, and he brought forth a great ball of lard
that was within. Therewith the young men warmed the
bow, and made essay, but could not string it, for they were
greatly lacking of such might. And Antinous still held to
the task and godlike Eurymachus, chief men among the
wooers, who were far the most excellent of all.
But those other twain went forth both together from
the house, the neatherd and the swineherd of godlike
Odysseus; and Odysseus passed out after them. But when
they were now gotten without the gates and the courtyard,
he uttered his voice and spake to them in gentle words :
' Neatherd and thou swineherd, shall I say somewhat or
keep it to myself ? Nay, my spirit bids me declare it. What
manner of men would ye be to help Odysseus, if he should
come thus suddenly, I know not whence, and some god were
to bring him? Would ye stand on the side of the wooers
or of Odysseus? Tell me even as your heart and spirit bid
you/
Then the neatherd answered him, saying: 'Father Zeus,
if but thou wouldst fulfil this wish: 2 — oh, that that man
might come, and some god lead him hither ! So shouldest
thou know what my might is, and how my hands follow to
obey/
In like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods that wise
Odysseus might return to his own home.
Now when he knew for a surety what spirit they were of,
once more he answered and spake to them, saying:
' Behold, home am I come, even I ; after much travail and
sore am I come in the twentieth year to mine own country.
And I know how that my coming is desired by you alone of
all my thralls, for from none besides have I heard a prayer
that I might return once more to my home. And now I
will tell you all the truth, even as it shall come to pass. If
8 Placing a colon at «A5wp.
THE ODYSSEY 301
the god shall subdue the proud wooers to my hands, I will
bring you each one a wife, and will give you a heritage of
your own and a house builded near me, and ye twain shall
be thereafter in mine eyes as the brethren and companions
of Telemachus. But behold, I will likewise show you a
most manifest token, that ye may know me well and be
certified in heart, even the wound that the boar dealt me
with his white tusk long ago, when I went to Parnassus with
the sons of Autocylus.'
Therewith he drew aside the rags from the great scar.
And when the twain had beheld it and marked it well, they
cast their arms about the wise Odysseus, and fell a weeping ;
and kissed him lovingly on head and shoulders. And in like
manner Odysseus too kissed their heads and hands. And
now would the sunlight have gone down upon their sorrow-
ing, had not Odysseus himself stayed them saying:
' Cease ye from weeping and lamentation, lest some one
come forth from the hall and see us, and tell it likewise in
the house. Nay, go ye within one by one and not both
together, I first and you following, and let this be the token
between us. All the rest, as many as are proud wooers,
will not suffer that I should be given the bow and quiver;
do thou then, goodly Eumaeus, as thou bearest the bow
through the hall, set it in my hands and speak to the women
that they bar the well-fitting doors of their chamber. And
if any of them hear the sound of groaning or the din of
men within our walls, let them not run forth but abide
where they are in silence at their work. But on thee, goodly
Philoetius, I lay this charge, to bolt and bar the outer gate
of the court and swiftly to tie the knot/
Therewith he passed within the fair-lying halls, and went
and sat upon the settle whence he had risen. And likewise
the two thralls of divine Odysseus went within.
And now Eurymachus was handling the bow, warming it
on this side and on that at the light of the fire; yet even
so he could not string it, and in his great heart he groaned
mightily; and in heaviness of spirit he spake and called
aloud, saying:
1 Lo you now, truly am I grieved for myself and for you
all! Not for the marriage do I mourn so greatly, afflicted
302 HOMER
though I be; there are many Achaean women besides, some
in sea-begirt Ithaca itself and some in other cities. Nay,
but I grieve, if indeed we are so far worse than godlike
Odysseus in might, seeing that we cannot bend the bow. It
will be a shame even for men unborn to hear thereof/
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him : ' Eurym-
achus, this shall not be so, and thou thyself too knowest it.
For to-day the feast of the archer god is held in the land, a
holy feast. Who at such a time would be bending bows?
Nay, set it quietly by; what and if we should let the axes
all stand as they are? None methinks will come to the hall
of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them away. Go to
now, let the wine-bearer pour for libation into each cup in
turn, that after the drink-offering we may set down the
curved bow. And in the morning bid Melanthius, the goat-
herd, to lead thither the very best goats in all his herds,
that we may lay pieces of the thighs on the altar of Apollo
the archer, and assay the bow and make an end of the
contest/
So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.
Then the henchmen poured water on their hands, and
pages crowned the mixing-bowls with drink, and served
out the wine to all, when they had poured for libation into
each cup in turn. But when they had poured forth and
had drunken to their hearts' desire, Odysseus of many coun-
sels spake among them out of a crafty heart, saying:
1 Hear me, ye wooers of the renowned queen, that I may
say that which my heart within me bids. And mainly to
Eurymachus I make my prayer and to the godlike Antinous,
forasmuch as he has spoken even this word aright, namely,
that for this present ye cease from your archery and leave
the issue to the gods ; and in the morning the god will give
the victory to whomsoever he will. Come, therefore, give
me the polished bow, that in your presence I may prove my
hands and strength, whether I have yet any force such as
once was in my supple limbs, or whether my wanderings and
needy fare have even now destroyed it/
So spake he and they all were exceeding wroth, for fear
lest he should string the polished bow. And Antinous re-
buked him, and spake and hailed him:
THE ODYSSEY 303
' Wretched stranger, thou hast no wit, nay never so little.
Art thou not content to feast at ease in our high company,
and to lack not thy share of the banquet, but to listen to our
speech and our discourse, while no guest and beggar beside
thee hears our speech ? Wine it is that wounds thee, honey-
sweet wine, that is the bane of others too, even of all who
take great draughts and drink out of measure. Wine it was
that darkened the mind even of the Centaur, renowned
Eurytion, in the hall of the high-hearted Peirithous, when
he went to the Lapithae ; and after that his heart was dark-
ened with wine, he wrought foul deeds in his frenzy, in the
house of Peirithous. Then wrath fell on all the heroes,
and they leaped up and dragged him forth through the
porch, when they had shorn off his ears and nostrils with
the pitiless sword, and then with darkened mind he bare
about with him the burden of his sin in foolishness of heart.
Thence was the feud begun between the Centaurs and man-
kind; but first for himself gat he hurt, being heavy with
wine. And even so I declare great mischief unto thee if
thou shalt string the bow, for thou shalt find no courtesy at
the hand of anyone in our land, and anon we will send thee
in a black ship to Echetus, the maimer of all men, and
thence thou shalt not be saved alive. Nay then, drink at
thine ease, and strive not still with men that are younger
than thou/
Then wise Penelope answered him : ' Antinous, truly it is
not fair nor just to rob the guests of Telemachus of their
due, whosoever he may be that comes to this house. Dost
thou think if yonder stranger strings the great bow of
Odysseus, in the pride of his might and of his strength of
arm, that he will lead me to his home and make me his
wife? Nay he himself, methinks, has no such hope in his
breast ; so, as for that, let not any of you fret himself while
feasting in this place; that were indeed unmeet.'
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her, saying:
' Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, it is not that we deem
that he will lead thee to his home, — far be such a thought
from us, — but we dread the speech of men and women, lest
some day one of the baser sort among the Achaeans say:
" Truly men far too mean are wooing the wife of one that
304 HOMER
is noble, nor can they string the polished bow. But a
stranger and a beggar came in his wanderings, and lightly
strung the bow, and shot through the iron." Thus will they
speak, and this will turn to our reproach/
Then wise Penelope answered him : ' Eurymachus, never
can there be fair fame in the land for those that devour
and dishonour the house of a prince, but why make ye this
thing into a reproach? But, behold, our guest is great of
growth and well-knit, and avows him to be born the son of
a good father. Come then, give ye him the polished bow,
that we may see that which is to be. For thus will I declare
my saying, and it shall surely come to pass. If he shall
string the bow and Apollo grant him renown, I will clothe
him in a mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment, and I will
give him a sharp javelin to defend him against dogs and
men, and a two-edged sword and sandals to bind beneath
his feet, and I will send him whithersoever his heart and
spirit bid him go/
Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying: l My mother,
as for the bow, no Achaean is mightier than I to give or to
deny it to whomso I will, neither as many as are lords in
rocky Ithaca nor in the isles on the side of Elis, the pasture-
land of horses. Not one of these shall force me in mine
own despite, if I choose to give this bow, yea once and for
all, to the stranger to bear away with him. But do thou
go to thine own chamber and mind thine own housewiferies,
the loom and distaff, and bid thine handmaids ply their
tasks. But the bow shall be for men, for all, but for me in
chief, for mine is the lordship in the house/
Then in amaze she went back to her chamber, for she
laid up the wise saying of her son in her heart. She
ascended to her upper chamber with the women her hand-
maids, and then was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till
grey-eyed Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
Now the goodly swineherd had taken the curved bow, and
was bearing it, when the wooers all cried out upon him in
the halls. And thus some one of the haughty youths would
speak: 'Whither now art thou bearing the curved bow,
thou wretched swineherd, crazed in thy wits ? Lo, soon shall
the swift hounds of thine own breeding eat thee hard by th^
THE ODYSSEY 305
swine, alone and away from men, if Apollo will be gracious
to us and the other deathless gods.'
Even so they spake, and he took and set down the bow
in that very place, being affrighted because many cried out
on him in the halls. Then Telemachus from the other side
spake threateningly, and called aloud:
' Father, bring hither the bow, soon shalt thou rue it that
thou servest many masters. Take heed, lest I that am
younger than thou pursue thee to the field, and pelt thee with
stones, for in might I am the better. If only I were so much
mightier in strength of arm than all the wooers that are in
the halls, soon would I send many an one forth on a woe-
ful way from out our house, for they imagine mischief
against us/
So he spake, and all the wooers laughed sweetly at him,
and ceased now from their cruel anger toward Telemachus.
Then the swineherd bare the bow through the hall, and went
up to wise Odysseus, and set it in his hands. And he called
forth the nurse Eurycleia from the chamber and spake to
her:
"Wise Eurycleia, Telemachus bids thee bar the well-
fitting doors of thy chamber, and if any of the women hear
the sound of groaning or the din of men within our walls,
let them not go forth, but abide where they are in silence at
their work/
So he spake, and wingless her speech remained, and she
barred the doors of the fair-lying chambers.
Then Philoetius hasted forth silently from the house, and
barred the outer gates of the fenced court. Now there lay
beneath the gallery the cable of a curved ship, fashioned of
the byblus plant, wherewith he made fast the gates, and then
himself passed within. Then he went and sat in the settle
whence he had risen, and gazed upon Odysseus. He already
was handling the bow, turning it every way about, and prov-
ing it on this side and on that, lest the worms might have
eaten the horns when the lord of the bow was away. And
thus men spake looking each one to his neighbour :
1 Verily he has a good eye, and a shrewd turn for a bow !
Either, methinks, he himself has such a bow lying by at
home or else he is set on making one, in such wise does
306 HOMER
he turn it hither and thither in his hands, this evil-witted
beggar/
And another again of the haughty youths would say:
' Would that the fellow may have profit thereof, just so
surely as he shall ever prevail to bend this bow ! '
So spake the wooers, but Odysseus of many counsels had
lifted the great bow and viewed it on every side, and even
as when a man that is skilled in the lyre and in minstrelsy,
easily stretches a cord about a new peg, after tying at either
end the twisted sheep-gut, even so Odysseus straightway
bent the great bow, all without effort, and took it in his
right hand and proved the bow-string, which rang sweetly
at the touch, in tone like a swallow. Then great grief came
upon the wooers, and the colour of their countenance was
changed, and Zeus thundered loud showing forth his tokens.
end the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad thereat, in that
e son of deep-counselling Cronos had sent him a sign.
Then he caught up a swift arrow which lay by his table,
bare, but the other shafts were stored within the hollow
quiver, those whereof the Achaeans were soon to taste. He
took and laid it on the bridge of the bow, and held the
notch and drew the string, even from the settle whereon he
sat, and with straight aim shot the shaft and missed not one
of the axes, beginning from the first axe-handle, and the
bronze-weighted shaft passed clean through and out at the
last. Then he spake to Telemachus, saying:
' Telemachus, thy guest that sits in the halls does thee no
shame. In nowise did I miss my mark, nor was I wearied
with long bending of the bow. Still is my might steadfast —
not as the wooers say scornfully to slight me. But now is
it time that supper too be got ready for the Achaeans, while
it is yet light, and thereafter must we make other sport
with the dance and the lyre, for these are the crown of the
feast/
Therewith he nodded with bent brows, and Telemachus,
the dear son of divine Odysseus, girt his sharp sword about
him and took the spear in his grasp, and stood by his high
seat at his father's side, armed with the gleaming bronze.
BOOK XXII
The killing of the wooers.
THEN Odysseus of many counsels stripped him of his
rags and leaped on to the great threshold with his
bow and quiver full of arrows, and poured forth
all the swift shafts there before his feet, and spake among
the wooers:
1 Lo, now is this terrible trial ended at last ; and now will
I know of another mark, which never yet man has smitten,
if perchance I may hit it and Apollo grant me renown.'
With that he pointed the bitter arrow at Antinous. Now
he was about raising to his lips a fair twy-eared chalice of
gold, and behold, he was handling it to drink of the wine,
and death was far from his thoughts. For who among men
at feast would deem that one man amongst so many, how
hardy soever he were, would bring on him foul death and
black fate? But Odysseus aimed and smote him with the
arrow in the throat, and the point passed clean out through
his delicate neck, and he fell sidelong and the cup dropped
from his hand as he was smitten, and at once through his
nostrils there came up a thick jet of slain man's blood, and
quickly he spurned the table from him with his foot, and
spilt the food on the ground, and the bread and the roast
flesh were denied. Then the wooers raised a clamour
through the halls when they saw the man fallen, and they
leaped from their high seats, as men stirred by fear, all
through the hall, peering everywhere along the well-builded
walls, and nowhere was there a shield or a mighty spear to
lay hold on. Then they reviled Odysseus with angry
words :
1 Stranger, thou shootest at men to thy hurt. Never again
shalt thou enter other lists, now is utter doom assured thee.
Yea, for now hast thou slain the man that was far the best
307
308 HOMER
of all the noble youths in Ithaca; wherefore vultures shall
devour thee here.'
So each one spake, for indeed they thought that Odysseus
had not slain him wilfully; but they knew not in their folly
that on their own heads, each and all of them, the bands of
death had been made fast. Then Odysseus of many coun-
sels looked fiercely on them, and spake:
1 Ye dogs, ye said in your hearts that I should never more
come home from the land of the Trojans, in that ye wasted
my house and lay with the maidservants by force, and trai-
torously wooed my wife while I was yet alive, and ye had
no fear of the gods, that hold the wide heaven, nor of the
indignation of men hereafter. But now the bands of death
have been made fast upon you one and all.'
Even so he spake, and pale fear gat hold on the limbs of
all, and each man looked about, where he might shun utter
doom.
And Eurymachus alone answered him, and spake: 'If
thou art indeed Odysseus of Ithaca, come home again,
with right thou speakest thus, of all that the Achaeans have
wrought, many infatuate deeds in thy halls and many in the
field. Howbeit, he now lies dead that is to blame for all,
Antinous; for he brought all these things upon us, not as
longing very greatly for the marriage nor needing it sore,
but with another purpose, that Cronion has not fulfilled for
him, namely, that he might himself be king over all the land
of stablished Ithaca, and he was to have lain in wait for thy
son and killed him. But now he is slain after his deserving,
and do thou spare thy people, even thine own ; and we will
hereafter go about the township and yield thee amends for
all that has been eaten and drunken in thy halls, each for
himself bringing atonement of twenty oxen worth, and re-
quiting thee in gold and bronze till thy heart is softened,
but till then none may blame thee that thou art angry.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him,
and said: 'Eurymachus, not even if ye gave me all your
heritage, all that ye now have, and whatsoever else ye might
in any wise add thereto, not even so would I henceforth hold
my hands from slaying, ere the wooers had paid for all their
transgressions. And now the choice lies before you, whether
THE ODYSSEY 309
to fight in fair battle or to fly, if any may avoid death and
the fates. But there be some, methinks, that shall not escape
from utter doom/
He spake, and their knees were straightway loosened and
their hearts melted within them. And Eurymachus spake
among them yet again :
1 Friends, it is plain that this man will not hold his un-
conquerable hands, but now that he has caught up the
polished bow and quiver, he will shoot from the smooth
threshold till he has slain us all ; wherefore let us take thought
for the delight of battle. Draw your blades, and hold up
the tables to ward off the arrows of swift death, and let us
all have at him with one accord, and drive him, if it may be,
from the threshold and the doorway and then go through
the city, and quickly would the cry be raised. Thereby
should this man soon have shot his latest bolt/
Therewith he drew his sharp two-edged sword of bronze,
and leapt on Odysseus with a terrible cry, but in the same
moment goodly Odysseus shot the arrow forth and struck
him on the breast by the pap, and drave the swift shaft into
his liver. So he let the sword fall from his hand, and
grovelling over the table he bowed and fell, and spilt the
food and the two-handled cup on the floor. And in his
agony he smote the ground with his brow, and spurning with
both his feet he overthrew the high seat, and the mist of
death was shed upon his eyes.
Then Amphinomus made at renowned Odysseus, setting
straight at him, and drew his sharp sword, if perchance he
might make him give ground from the door. But Telem-
achus was beforehand with him, and cast and smote him
from behind with a bronze-shod spear between the shoul-
ders, and drave it out through the breast, and he fell with a
crash and struck the ground full with his forehead. Then
Telemachus sprang away, leaving the long spear fixed in
Amphinomus, for he greatly dreaded lest one of the
Achaeans might run upon him with his blade, and stab him
as he drew forth the spear, or smite him with a down
stroke 1 of the sword. So he started and ran and came quickly
to his father, and stood by him, and spake winged words:
1 Or, reading npoirprjvea, smite him as he stooped over the corpse.
310 HOMER
* Father, lo, now I will bring thee a shield and two spears
and a helmet all of bronze, close fitting on the temples, and
when I return I will arm myself, and likewise give arms to
the swineherd and the neatherd yonder: for it is better to
be clad in full armour.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
1 Run and bring them while I have arrows to defend me,
lest they thrust me from the doorway, one man against
them all/
So he spake, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father, and
went forth to the chamber, where his famous weapons were
lying. Thence he took out four shields and eight spears,
and four helmets of bronze, with thick plumes of horse
hair, and he started to bring them and came quickly to his
father. Now he girded the gear of bronze about his own
body first, and in like manner the two thralls did on the
goodly armour, and stood beside the wise and crafty Odys-
seus. Now he, so long as he had arrows to defend him,
kept aiming and smote the wooers one by one in his house,
and they fell thick one upon another. But when the arrows
failed the prince in his archery, he leaned his bow against
the doorpost of the stablished hall, against the shining faces
of the entrance. As for him he girt his fourfold shield
about his shoulders and bound on his mighty head a well
wrought helmet, with horse hair crest, and terribly the
plume waved aloft. And he grasped two mighty spears
tipped with bronze.
Now there was in the well-builded hall a certain postern
raised above the floor, and there by the topmost level of the
threshold of the stablished hall, was a way into an open
passage, closed by well-fitted folding doors. So Odysseus
bade the goodly swineherd stand near thereto and watch the
way, for thither there was but one approach. Then Agelaus
spake among them, and declared his word to all :
1 Friends, will not some man climb up to the postern,
and give word to the people, and a cry would be raised
straightway; so should this man soon have shot his latest
000:?'
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, answered him, saying: 'It
may in no wise be, prince Agelaus; for the fair gate of the
THE ODYSSEY 311
courtyard is terribly nigh, and perilous is the entrance to
the passage, and one man, if he were valiant, might keep
back a host. But come, let me bring you armour from the
inner chamber, that ye may be clad in hauberks, for, me-
thinks, within that room and not elsewhere did Odysseus and
his renowned son lay by the arms/
Therewith Melanthius, the goatherd, climbed up by the
clerestory of the hall to the inner chambers of Odysseus,
whence he took twelve shields and as many spears, and as
many helmets of bronze with thick plumes of horse hair, and
he came forth and brought them speedily, and gave them
to the wooers. Then the knees of Odysseus were loosened
and his heart melted within him, when he saw them girding
on the armour and brandishing the long spears in their
hands, and great, he saw, was the adventure. Quickly he
spake to Telemachus winged words :
* Telemachus, sure I am that one of the women in the
halls is stirring up an evil battle against us, or perchance it
is Melanthius/
Then wise Telemachus answered him : ' My father, it is I
that have erred herein and none other ' is to blame, for I
left the well-fitted door of the chamber open, and there has
been one of them but too quick to spy it. Go now, goodly
Eumaeus, and close the door of the chamber, and mark if
it be indeed one of the women that does this mischief, or
Melanthius, son of Dolius, as methinks it is/
Even so they spake one to the other. And Melanthius,
the goatherd, went yet again to the chamber to bring the fair
armour. But the goodly swineherd was ware thereof, and
quickly he spake to Odysseus who stood nigh him:
' Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus, of many
devices, lo, there again is that baleful man, whom we our-
selves suspect, going to the chamber; do thou tell me truly,
shall I slay him if I prove the better man, or bring him
hither to thee, that he may pay for the many transgressions
that he has devised in thy house?'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered saying:
'Verily, I and Telemachus will keep the proud wooers
within the halls, for all their fury, but do ye twain tie his
feet and arms behind his back and cast him into the cham-
312 HOMER
ber, and close the doors after you,' and make fast to his
body a twisted rope, and drag him up the lofty pillar till he
be near the roof beams, that he may hang there and live
for long, and suffer grievous torment/
So he spake, and they gave good heed and hearkened.
So they went forth to the chamber, but the goatherd who
was within knew not of their coming. Now he was seeking
for the armour in the secret place of the chamber, but they
twain stood in waiting on either side the doorposts. And
when Melanthius, the goatherd, was crossing the threshold
with a goodly helm in one hand, and in the other a wide
shield and an old, stained with rust, the shield of the hero
Laertes that he bare when he was young — but at that time it
was laid by, and the seams of the straps were loosened, —
then the twain rushed on him and caught him, and dragged
him in by the hair, and cast him on the floor in sorrowful
plight, and bound him hand and foot in a bitter bond, tightly
winding each limb behind his back, even as the son of
Laertes bade them, the steadfast goodly Odysseus. And
they made fast to his body a twisted rope, and dragged
him up the lofty pillar till he came near the roof beams.
Then didst thou speak to him and gird at him, swineherd
Eumaeus :
' Now in good truth, Melanthius, shalt thou watch all
night, lying in a soft bed as beseems thee, nor shall the
early-born Dawn escape thy ken, when she comes forth from
the streams of Oceanus, on her golden throne, in the hour
when thou art wont to drive the goats to make a meal for
the wooers in the halls/
So he was left there, stretched tight in the deadly bond.
But they twain got into their harness, and closed the shining
door, and went to Odysseus, wise and crafty chief. There
they stood breathing fury, four men by the threshold, while
those others within the halls were many and good warriors.
Then Athene, daughter of Zeus, drew nigh them, like Men-
tor in fashion and in voice, and Odysseus was glad when
he saw her and spake, saying:
1 Mentor, ward from us hurt, and remember me thy dear
2 Or, as Mr. Merry suggests in his note, ' tie boards behind him,' as a
method of torture. He compares Aristoph. Thesm. 931, 940.
THE ODYSSEY 313
companion, that befriended thee often, and thou art of like
age with me/
So he spake, deeming the while that it was Athene, sum-
moner of the host. But the wooers on the other side shouted
in the halls, and first Agelaus son of Damastor rebuked
Athene, saying:
1 Mentor, let not the speech of Odysseus beguile thee to
fight against the wooers, and to succour him. For me-
thinks that on this wise we shall work our will. When we
shall have slain these men, father and son, thereafter shalt
thou perish with them, such deeds thou art set on doing in
these halls; nay, with thine own head shalt thou pay the
price. But when with the sword we shall have overcome
your violence, we will mingle all thy possessions, all that
thou hast at home or in the field, with the wealth of Odys-
seus, and we will not suffer thy sons nor thy daughters to
dwell in the halls, nor thy good wife to gad about in the
town of Ithaca.'
So spake he, and Athene was mightily angered at heart,
and chid Odysseus in wrathful words: * Odysseus, thou hast
no more steadfast might nor any prowess, as when for nine
whole years continually thou didst battle with the Trojans
for high born Helen, of the white arms, and many men
thou slewest in terrible warfare, and by thy device the wide-
wayed city of Priam was taken. How then, now that thou
art come to thy house and thine own possessions, dost thou
bewail thee and art of feeble courage to stand before the
wooers? Nay, come hither, friend, and stand by me, and
I will show thee a thing, that thou mayest know what manner
of man is Mentor, son of Alcimus, to repay good deeds in
the ranks of foemen.'
She spake, and gave him not yet clear victory in full, but
still for a while made trial of the might and prowess of
Odysseus and his renowned son. As for her she flew up to the
roof timber of the murky hall, in such fashion as a swallow
flies, and there sat down.
Now Agelaus, son of Damastor, urged on the wooers, and
likewise Eurynomus and Amphimedon and Demoptolemus
and Peisandrus son of Polyctor, and wise Polybus, for these
were in valiancy far the best men of the wooers, that still
314 HOMER
lived and fought for their lives; for the rest had fallen
already beneath the bow and the thick rain of arrows. Then
Agelaus spake among them, and made known his word to all :
' Friends, now at last will this man hold his unconquerable
hands. Lo, now has Mentor left him and spoken but vain
boasts, and these remain alone at the entrance of the doors.
Wherefore now, throw not your long spears all together, but
come, do ye six cast first, if perchance Zeus may grant us to
smite Odysseus and win renown. Of the rest will we take
no heed, so soon as that man shall have fallen/
So he spake and they all cast their javelins, as he bade
them, eagerly ; but behold, Athene so wrought that they were
all in vain. One man smote the doorpost of the stablished
hall, and another the well-fastened door, and the ashen spear
of yet another wooer, heavy with bronze, stuck fast in the
wall. So when they had avoided all the spears of the wooers,
the steadfast goodly Odysseus began first to speak among
them:
' Friends, now my word is that we too cast and hurl into
the press of the wooers, that are mad to slay and strip us
beyond the measure of their former iniquities/
So he spake, and they all took good aim and threw their
sharp spears, and Odysseus smote Demoptolemus, and Telem-
achus Euryades, and the swineherd slew Elatus, and the
neatherd Peisandrus. Thus they all bit the wide floor with
their teeth, and the wooers fell back into the inmost part of
the hall. But the others dashed upon them, and drew forth
the shafts from the bodies of the dead.
Then once more the wooers threw their sharp spears
eagerly; but behold, Athene so wrought that many of them
were in vain. One man smote the doorpost of the stablished
hall, and another the well-fastened door, and the ashen spear
of another wooer, heavy with bronze, struck in the wall. Yet
Amphimedon hit Telemachus on the hand by the wrist
lightly, and the shaft of bronze wounded the surface of the
skin. And Ctesippus grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus with
a long spear high above the shield, and the spear flew over
and fell to the ground. Then again Odysseus, the wise and
crafty, he and his men cast their swift spears into the press
of the wooers, and now once more Odysseus, waster of cities.
THE ODYSSEY 315
smote Eurydamas, and Telemachus Amphimedon, and the
swineherd slew Polybus, and last, the neatherd struck Ctesip-
pus in the breast and boasted over him, saying:
' O son of Polytherses, thou lover of jeering, never give
place at all to folly to speak so big, but leave thy case to the
gods, since in truth they are far mightier than thou. This
gift is thy recompense for the ox-foot that thou gavest of
late to the divine Odysseus, when he went begging through
the house.'
So spake the keeper of the shambling kine. Next Odys-
seus wounded the son of Damastor in close fight with his
long spear, and Telemachus wounded Leocritus son of
Euenor, right in the flank with his lance, and drave the
bronze point clean through, that he fell prone and struck the
ground full with his forehead. Then Athene held up her
destroying aegis on high from the roof, and their minds were
scared, and they fled through the hall, like a drove of kine
that the flitting gadfly falls upon and scatters hither and
thither in spring time, when the long days begin. But the
others set on like vultures of crooked claws and curved
beak, that come forth from the mountain and dash upon
smaller birds, and these scour low in the plain, stooping in
terror from the clouds, while the vultures pounce on them
and slay them, and there is no help nor way of flight, and
men are glad at the sport; even so did the company of
Odysseus set upon the wooers and smite them right and left
through the hall ; and there rose a hideous moaning as their
heads were smitten, and the floor all ran with blood.
Now Leiodes took hold of the knees of Odysseus eagerly,
and besought him and spake winged words : * I entreat thee
by thy knees, Odysseus, and do thou show mercy on me and
have pity. For never yet, I say, have I wronged a maiden in
thy halls by froward word or deed, nay I bade the other
wooers refrain, whoso of them wrought thus. But they
hearkened not unto me to keep their hands from evil.
Wherefore they have met a shameful death through their
own infatuate deeds. Yet I, the soothsayer among them,
that have wrought no evil, shall fall even as they, for no
grace abides for good deeds done/
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked askance at him,
316 HOMER
and said: 'If indeed thou dost avow thee to be the sooth-
sayer of these men, thou art like to have often prayed in the
halls that the issue of a glad return might be far from me,
and that my dear wife should follow thee and bear thee
children; wherefore thou shalt not escape the bitterness of
death/
Therewith he caught up a sword in his strong hand, that
lay where Agelaus had let it fall to the ground when he was
slain, and drave it clean through his neck, and as he yet
spake his head fell even to the dust.
But the son of Terpes, the minstrel, still sought how he
might shun black fate, Phemius, who sang among the wooers
of necessity. He stood with the loud lyre in his hand hard
by the postern gate, and his heart was divided within him,
whether he should slip forth from the hall and sit down by
the well-wrought altar of great Zeus of the household court,
whereon Laertes and Odysseus had burnt many pieces of the
thighs of oxen, or should spring forward and beseech Odys-
seus by his knees. And as he thought thereupon this
seemed to him the better way, to embrace the knees of
Odysseus, son of Laertes. So he laid the hollow lyre on the
ground between the mixing-bowl and the high seat inlaid
with silver, and himself sprang forward and seized Odys-
seus by the knees, and besought him and spake winged
words:
1 1 entreat thee by thy knees, Odysseus, and do thou show
mercy on me and have pity. It will be a sorrow to thyself
in the aftertime if thou slayest me who am a minstrel, and
sing before gods and men. Yea none has taught me but
myself, and the god has put into my heart all manner of
lays, and methinks I sing to thee as to a god, wherefore be
not eager to cut off my head. And Telemachus will testify
of this, thine own dear son, that not by mine own will or
desire did I resort to thy house to sing to the wooers at
their feasts; but being so many and stronger than I they
led me by constraint.'
So he spake, and the mighty prince Telemachus heard
him and quickly spake to his father at his side : ' Hold
thy hand, and wound not this blameless man with the
sword; and let us save also the henchman Medon, that
THE ODYSSEY 317
ever had charge of me in our house when I was a child,
unless perchance Philoetius or the swineherd have already
slain him, or he hath met thee in thy raging through the
house/
So he spake, and Medon, wise of heart, heard him.
For he lay crouching beneath a high seat, clad about in the
new-flayed hide of an ox and shunned black fate. So he
rose up quickly from under the seat, and cast off the ox-hide,
and sprang forth and caught Telemachus by the knees, and
besought him and spake winged words:
1 Friend, here am I ; prithee stay thy hand and speak to
thy father, lest he harm me with the sharp sword in the
greatness of his strength, out of his anger for the wooers
that wasted his possessions in the halls, and in their folly
held thee in no honour.'
And Odysseus of many counsels smiled on him and said:
1 Take courage, for lo, he has saved thee and delivered
thee, that thou mayst know in thy heart, and tell it even
to another, how far more excellent are good deeds than"*'
evil. But go forth from the halls and sit down in the court
apart from the slaughter, thou and the full-voiced minstrel,
till I have accomplished all that I must needs do in the
house/
Therewith the two went forth and gat them from the hall.
So they sat down by the altar of great Zeus, peering about on
every side, still expecting death. And Odysseus peered all
through the house, to see if any man was yet alive and hiding
away to shun black fate. But he found all the sort of them
fallen in their blood in the dust, like fishes that the fishermen
have drawn forth in the meshes of the net into a hollow of
the beach from out the grey sea, and all the fish, sore longing
for the salt sea waves, are heaped upon the sand, and the sun
shines forth and takes their life away; so now the wooers lay
heaped upon each other. Then Odysseus of many counsels
spake to Telemachus :
1 Telemachus, go, call me the nurse Eurycleia, that I may
tell her a word that is on my mind.'
So he spake, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father, and
smote at the door, and spake to the nurse Eurycleia : * Up
now, aged wife, that overlookest all the women servants in
318 HOMER
our halls, come hither, my father calls thee and has some-
what to say to thee/
Even so he spake, and wingless her speech remained,
and she opened the doors of the fair-lying halls, and came
forth, and Telemachus led the way before her. So she found
Odysseus among the bodies of the dead, stained with blood
and soil of battle, like a lion that has eaten of an ox of the
homestead and goes on his way, and all his breast and his
cheeks on either side are flecked with blood, and he is ter-
rible to behold; even so was Odysseus stained, both hands
and feet. Now the nurse, when she saw the bodies of the
dead and the great gore of blood, made ready to cry aloud
for joy, beholding so great an adventure. But Odysseus
checked and held her in her eagerness, and uttering his voice
spake to her winged words:
'Within thine own heart rejoice, old nurse, and be still,
and cry not aloud; for it is an unholy thing to boast over
slain men. Now these hath the destiny of the gods over-
come, and their own cruel deeds, for they honoured none-*
of earthly men, neither the bad nor yet the good, that came
among them. Wherefore they have met a shameful death
through their own infatuate deeds. But come, tell me the
tale of the women in my halls, which of them dishonour me,
and which be guiltless.'
Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered him : ' Yea now,
my child, I will tell thee all the truth. Thou hast fifty
women-servants in thy halls, that we have taught the ways
of housewifery, how to card wool and to bear bondage. Of
these twelve in all have gone the way of shame, and hon-
our not me, nor their lady Penelope. And Telemachus
hath but newly come to his strength, and his mother suf-
fered him not to take command over the women in this
house. But now, let me go aloft to the shining upper
chamber, and tell all to thy wife, on whom some god hath
sent a sleep/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying:
'Wake her not yet, but bid the women come hither, who
in time past behaved themselves unseemly/
So he spake, and the old wife passed through the hall,
to tell the women and to hasten their coming. Then Odys-
THE ODYSSEY 319
seus called to him Telemachus, and the neatherd, and the
swineherd, and spake to them winged words :
' Begin ye now to carry out the dead, and bid the women
help you, and thereafter cleanse the fair high seats and
the tables with water and porous sponges. And when ye
have set all the house in order, lead the maidens with-
out the stablished hall, between the vaulted room and the
goodly fence of the court, and there slay them with your
long blades, till they shall have all given up the ghost and
forgotten the love that of old they had at the bidding of
the wooers, in secret dalliance/
Even so he spake, and the women came all in a crowd
together, making a terrible lament and shedding big tears.
So first they carried forth the bodies of the slain, and set
them beneath the gallery of the fenced court, and propped
them one on another; and Odysseus himself hasted the
women and directed them, and they carried forth the dead
perforce. Thereafter they cleansed the fair high seats and
the tables with water and porous sponges. And Telemachus,
and the neatherd, and the swineherd, scraped with spades
the floor of the well-builded house, and, behold, the maidens
carried all forth and laid it without the doors.
Now when they had made an end of setting the hall in
order, they led the maidens forth from the stablished hall,
and drove them up in a narrow space between the vaulted
room and the goodly fence of the court, whence none might
avoid; and wise Telemachus began to speak to his fellows,
saying : ' God forbid that I should take these women's lives
by a clean death, these that have poured dishonour on my
head and on my mother, and have lain with the wooers/
With that word he tied the cable of a dark-prowed ship to
a great pillar and flung it round the vaulted room, and fas-
tened it aloft, that none might touch the ground with her
feet. And even as when thrushes, long of wing, or doves
fall into a net that is set in a thicket, as they seek to their
roosting-place, and a loathly bed harbours them, even so the
women held their heads all in a row, and about all their
necks nooses were cast, that they might die by the most
pitiful death. And they writhed with their feet for a little
space, but for no long while.
320 HOMER
Then they led out Melanthius through the doorway and
the court, and cut off his nostrils and his ears with the piti-
less sword, and drew forth his vitals for the dogs to devour
raw, and cut off his hands and feet in their cruel anger.
Thereafter they washed their hands and feet, and went
into the house to Odysseus, and all the adventure was over.
So Odysseus called to the good nurse Eurycleia : ' Bring
sulphur, old nurse, that cleanses all pollution and bring me
fire, that I may purify the house with sulphur, and do thou
bid Penelope come here with her handmaidens, and tell all
the women to hasten into the hall.'
Then the good nurse Eurycleia made answer: 'Yea, my
child, herein thou hast spoken aright. But go to, let me
bring thee a mantle and a doublet for raiment, and stand
not thus in the halls with thy broad shoulders wrapped in
rags; it were blame in thee so to do/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying:
1 First let a fire now be made me in the hall/
So he spake, and the good nurse Eurycleia was not slow
to obey, but brought fire and brimstone; and Odysseus
thoroughly purged the women's chamber and the great hall
and the court.
Then the old wife went through the fair halls of Odysseus
to tell the women, and to hasten their coming. So they
came forth from their chamber with torches in their hands,
and fell about Odysseus, and embraced him and kissed and
clasped his head and shoulders and his hands lovingly, and
a sweet longing came on him to weeg and moan, for he
remembered them every one.
BOOK XXIII
Odysseus maketh himself known to Penelope, tells his adventures
briefly, and in the morning goes to Laertes and makes himself known
to him.
THEN the ancient woman went up into the upper
chamber laughing aloud, to tell her mistress how her
dear lord was within, and her knees moved fast for
joy, and her feet stumbled one over the other; and she
stood above the lady's head and spake to her, saying:
1 Awake, Penelope, dear child, that thou mayest see with
thine own eyes that which thou desirest day by day. Odys-
seus hath come, and hath got him to his own house, though
late hath he come, and hath slain the proud wooers that
troubled his house, and devoured his substance, and oppressed
his child/
Then wise Penelope answered her : ' Dear nurse, the
gods have made thee distraught, the gods that can make
foolish even the wisdom of the wise, and that stablish the
simple in understanding. They it is that have marred thy
reason, though heretofore thou hadst a prudent heart. Why
dost thou mock me, who have a spirit full of sorrow, to
speak these wild words, and rousest me out of sweet slumber,
that had bound me and overshadowed mine eyelids? Never
yet have I slept so sound since the day that Odysseus
went forth to see that evil Ilios, never to be named. Go
to now, get thee down and back to the women's cham-
ber, for if any other of the maids of my house had come
and brought me such tidings, and wakened me from sleep,
straightway would I have sent her back woefully to return
within the women's chamber; but this time thine old age
shall stand thee in good stead.'
Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered her: 'I mock
thee not, dear child, but in very deed Odysseus is here, and
hath come home, even as I tell thee. He is that guest on
K— Vol. 22 321 HO
322 HOMER
whom all men wrought such dishonour in the halls. But
long ago Telemachus was ware of him, that he was within
the house, yet in his prudence he hid the counsels of his
father, that he might take vengeance on the violence of the
haughty wooers.'
Thus she spake, and then was Penelope glad, and leap-
ing from her bed she fell on the old woman's neck, and
let fall the tears from her eyelids, and uttering her voice
spake to her winged words : ' Come, dear nurse, I pray thee,
tell me all truly — if indeed he hath come home as thou say-
est — how he hath laid his hands on the shameless wooers,
he being but one man, while they abode ever in their com-
panies within the house.'
Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered her : ' I saw not,
I wist not, only I heard the groaning of men slain. And
we in an inmost place of the well-builded chambers sat all
amazed, and the close-fitted doors shut in the room, till thy
son called me from the chamber, for his father sent him out
to that end. Then I found Odysseus standing among the
slain, who around him, stretched on the hard floor, lay one
upon the other; it would have comforted thy heart to see
him, all stained like a lion with blood and soil of battle.
And now are all the wooers gathered in an heap by the gates
of the court, while he is purifying his fair house with brim-
stone, and hath kindled a great fire, and hath sent me forth
to call thee. So come with me, that ye may both enter into
your heart's delight, 1 for ye have suffered much affliction.
And even now hath this thy long desire been fulfilled; thy
lord hath come alive to his own hearth, and hath found both
thee and his son in the halls; and the wooers that wrought
him evil he hath slain, every man of them, in his house.'
Then wise Penelope answered her: ' Dear nurse, boast
not yet over them with laughter. Thou knowest how wel-
come the sight of him would be in the halls to all, and to me
in chief, and to his son that we got between us. But this is
no true tale, as thou declarest it, nay but it is one of the
deathless gods that hath slain the proud wooers, in wrath
at their bitter insolence and evil deeds. For they honoured
none of earthly men, neither the good nor yet the bad, that
1 Reading rf>uiv . . . i^oripu.
THE ODYSSEY 323
came among them. Wherefore they have suffered an evil
doom through their own infatuate deeds. But Odysseus,
far away hath lost his homeward path to the Achaean land,
and himself is lost/
Then the good nurse Eurycleia made answer to her : ' My
child, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips, in that
thou saidest that thy lord, who is even now within, and by
his own hearthstone, would return no more? Nay, thy heart
is ever hard of belief. Go to now, and I will tell thee be-
sides a most manifest token, even the scar of the wound that
the boar on a time dealt him with his white tusk. This I
spied while washing his feet, and fain I would have told it
even to thee, but he laid his hand on my mouth, and in the
fulness of his wisdom suffered me not to speak. But come
with me and I will stake my life on it; and if I play thee
false, do thou slay me by a death most pitiful/
Then wise Penelope made answer to her : ' Dear nurse, it
is hard for thee, how wise soever, to observe the purposes
of the everlasting gods. None the less let us go to my child,
that I may see the wooers dead, and him that slew them/
With that word she went down from the upper chamber,
and much her heart debated, whether she should stand
apart, and question her dear lord or draw nigh, and clasp
and kiss his head and hands. But when she had come within
and had crossed the threshold of stone, she sat down over
against Odysseus, in the light of the fire, by the further
wall. Now he was sitting by the tall pillar, looking down
and waiting to know if perchance his noble wife would
speak to him, when her eyes beheld him. But she sat long
in silence, and amazement came upon her soul, and now she
would look upon him steadfastly with her eyes, and now again
she knew him not, for that he was clad in vile raiment.
And Telemachus rebuked her, and spake and hailed her:
' Mother mine, ill mother, of an ungentle heart, why
turnest thou thus away from my father, and dost not sit by
and question him and ask him all ? No other woman in the
world would harden her heart to stand thus aloof from her
lord, who after much travail and sore had come to her in
the twentieth year to his own country. But thy heart is
ever harder than stone/
324 HOMER
Then wise Penelope answered him, saying: 'Child, my
mind is amazed within me, and I have no strength to speak,
nor to ask him aught, nay nor to look on him face to face.
But if in truth this be Odysseus, and he hath indeed come
home, verily we shall be ware of each other the more surely,
for we have tokens that we twain know, even we, secret
from all others.'
So she spake, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus smiled,
and quickly he spake to Telemachus winged words : ' Telem-
achus, leave now thy mother to make trial of me within
the chambers ; so shall she soon come to a better knowledge
than heretofore. But now I go filthy, and am clad in vile
raiment, wherefore she has me in dishonour, and as yet will
not allow that I am he. Let us then advise us how all may
be for the very best. For whoso has slain but one man in
a land, even that one leaves not many behind him to take
up the feud for him, turns outlaw and leaves his kindred and
his own country ; but we have slain the very stay of the city,
the men who were far the best of all the noble youths in
Ithaca. So this I bid thee consider.'
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : ' Father,
see thou to this, for they say that thy counsel is far the best
among men, nor might any other of mortal men contend
with thee. But right eagerly will we go with thee now, and
I think we shall not lack prowess, so far as might is ours.'
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
'Yea now, I will tell on what wise methinks it is best.
First go ye to the bath and array you in your doublets, and
bid the maidens in the chambers to take to them their gar-
ments. Then let the divine minstrel, with his loud lyre in*
hand, lead off for us the measure of the mirthful dance. So
shall any man that hears the sound from without, whether
a wayfarer or one of those that dwell around, say that it
is a wedding feast. And thus the slaughter of the wooers
shall not be noised abroad through the town before we go
forth to our well-wooded farm-land. Thereafter shall we
consider what gainful counsel the Olympian may vouchsafe
for us.'
So he spake, and they gave good ear and hearkened to
him. So first they went to the bath, and arrayed them in
THE ODYSSEY 325
doublets, and the women were apparelled, and the divine
mmstrel took the hollow harp, and aroused in them the
desire of sweet song and of the happy dance. Then the
great hall rang round them with the sound of the feet of
dancing men and of fair-girdled women. And whoso heard
it from without would say:
' Surely some one has wedded the queen of many wooers.
Hard of heart was she, nor had she courage to keep the
great house of her wedded lord continually till his coming/
Even so men spake, and knew not how these things were
ordained. Meanwhile, the house-dame Eurynome had bathed
the great-hearted Odysseus within his house, and anointed
him with olive-oil, and cast about him a goodly mantle and
a doublet. Moreover Athene shed great beauty from his
head downwards, and made him greater and more mighty
to behold, and from his head caused deep curling locks to
flow, like the hyacinth flower. And as when some skilful
man overlays gold upon silver, one that Hephaestus and
Pallas Athene have taught all manner of craft, and full of
grace is his handiwork, even so did Athene shed grace about
his head and shoulders, and forth from the bath he came, in
form like to the immortals. Then he sat down again on the
high seat, whence he had arisen, over against his wife, and
spake to her, saying:
■ Strange lady, surely to thee above all womankind the
Olympians have given a heart that cannot be softened. No
other woman in the world would harden her heart to stand
thus aloof from her husband, who after much travail and
sore had come to her, in the twentieth year, to his own
country. Nay come, nurse, strew a bed for me to lie all
alone, for assuredly her spirit within her is as iron/
Then wise Penelope answered him again : ' Strange man,
I have no proud thoughts nor do I think scorn of thee, nor
am I too greatly astonied, but I know right well what man-
ner of man thou wert, when thou wentest forth out of
Ithaca, on the long-oared galley. But come, Eurycleia,
spread for him the good bedstead outside the stablished
bridal chamber that he built himself. Thither bring ye
forth the good bedstead and cast bedding thereon, even
fleeces and rugs and shining blankets/
326 HOMER
So she spake and made trial of her lord, but Odysseus in
sore displeasure spake to his true wife, saying: 'Verily a
bitter word is this, lady, that thou hast spoken. Who has
set my bed otherwhere? Hard it would be for one, how
skilled so ever, unless a god were to come that might easily
set it in another place, if so he would. But of men there is
none living, howsoever strong in his youth, that could lightly
upheave it, for a great token is wrought in the fashioning
of the bed, and it was I that made it and none other. There
was growing a bush of olive, long of leaf, and most goodly
of growth, within the inner court, and the stem as large as a
pillar. Round about this I built the chamber, till I had fin-
ished it, with stones close set, and I roofed it over well and
added thereto compacted doors fitting well. Next I sheared
off all the light wood of the long-leaved olive, and rough-
hewed the trunk upwards from the root, and smoothed it
around with the adze, well and skilfully, and made straight
the line thereto and so fashioned it into the bed-post, and I
bored it all with the auger. Beginning from this bed-post,
I wrought at the bedstead till I had finished it, and made it
fair with inlaid work of gold and of silver and of ivory.
Then I made fast therein a bright purple band of oxhide.
Even so I declare to thee this token, and I know not, lady,
if the bedstead be yet fast in his place, or if some man has
cut away the stem of the olive tree, and set the bedstead
otherwhere.'
So he spake, and at once her knees were loosened, and
her heart melted within her, as she knew the sure tokens
that Odysseus showed her. Then she fell a weeping, and ran
straight toward him and cast her hands about his neck, and
kissed his head and spake, saying:
' Be not angry with me, Odysseus, for thou wert ever at
other times the wisest of men. It is the gods that gave us
sorrow, the gods who begrudged us that we should abide
together and have joy of our youth, and come to the thresh-
old of old age. So now be not wroth with me hereat nor
full of indignation, because at the first, when I saw thee, I
did not welcome thee straightway. For always my heart
within my breast shuddered, for fear lest some man should
come and deceive me with his words, for many they be that
THE ODYSSEY 327
devise gainful schemes and evil. Nay even Argive Helen,
daughter of Zeus, would not have lain with a stranger, and
taken him for a lover, had she known that the warlike sons
of the Achaeans would bring her home again to her own
dear country. Howsoever, it was the god that set her upon
this shameful deed; nor ever, ere that, did she lay up in her
heart the thought of this folly, a bitter folly, whence on us
too first came sorrow. But now that thou hast told all the
sure tokens of our bed, which never was seen by mortal
man, save by thee and me and one maiden only, the daughter
of Actor, that my father gave me ere yet I had come hither,
she who kept the doors of our strong bridal chamber, even
now dost thou bend my soul, all ungentle as it is.'
Thus she spake, and in his heart she stirred yet a greater
longing to lament, and he wept as he embraced his beloved
wife and true. And even as when the sight of land is wel-
come to swimmers, whose well-wrought ship Poseidon hath
smitten on the deep, all driven with the wind and swelling
waves, and but a remnant hath escaped the grey sea-water
and swum to the shore, and their bodies are all crusted with
the brine, and gladly have they set foot on land and escaped
an evil end; so welcome to her was the sight of her lord,
and her white arms she would never quite let go from his
neck. And now would the rosy-fingered Dawn have risen
upon their weeping, but the goddess, grey-eyed Athene,
had other thoughts. The night she held long in the utmost
West, and on the other side she stayed the golden-throned
Dawn by the stream Oceanus, and suffered her not to har-
ness the swift-footed steeds that bear light to men, Lampus
and Phaethon, the steeds ever young, that bring the
morning.
Then at the last, Odysseus of many counsels spake to his
wife, saying : ' Lady, we have not yet come to the issue of
all our labours; but still there will be toil unmeasured, long
and difficult, that I must needs bring to a full end. Even so
the spirit of Teiresias foretold to me, on that day when I
went down into the house of Hades, to inquire after a re-
turning for myself and my company. Wherefore come,
lady, let us to bed, that forthwith we may take our joy of
rest beneath the spell of sweet sleep.'
328 HOMER
Then wise Penelope answered him : ' Thy bed verily shall
be ready whensoever thy soul desires it, forasmuch as the
gods have indeed caused thee to come back to thy stablished
home and thine own country. But now that thou hast noted
it and the god has put it into thy heart, come, tell me of this
ordeal, for methinks the day will come when I must learn
it, and timely knowledge is no hurt/
And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:
* Ah, why now art thou so instant with me to declare it?
Yet I will tell thee all and hide nought. Howbeit thy heart
shall have no joy of it, as even I myself have no pleasure
therein. For Teiresias bade me fare to many cities of men,
carrying a shapen oar in my hands, till I should come to
such men as know not the sea, neither eat meat savoured
with salt, nor have they knowledge of ships of purple cheek
nor of shapen oars, which serve for wings to ships. And
he told me this with manifest token, which I will not hide
from thee. In the day when another wayfarer should meet
me and say that I had a winnowing fan on my stout shoul-
der, even then he bade me make fast my shapen oar in the
earth, and do goodly sacrifice to the lord Poseidon, even
with a ram and a bull and a boar, the mate of swine, and
depart for home, and offer holy hecatombs to the deathless
gods, that keep the wide heaven, to each in order due. And
from the sea shall mine own death come, the gentlest death
that may be, which shall end me, foredone with smooth old
age, and the folk shall dwell happily around. All this, he
said, was to be fulfilled/
Then wise Penelope answered him saying: l If indeed the
gods will bring about for thee a happier old age at the last,
then is there hope that thou mayest yet have an escape from
evil/
Thus they spake one to the other. Meanwhile, Eurynome
and the nurse spread the bed with soft coverlets, by the
light of the torches burning. But when they had busied
them and spread the good bed, the ancient nurse went back
to her chamber to lie down, and Eurynome, the bower-
maiden, guided them on their way to the couch, with torches
in her hands, and when she had led them to the bridal-
chamber she departed. And so they came gladly to the rites
THE ODYSSEY 329
of their bed, as of old. But Telemachus, and the neatherd,
and the swineherd stayed their feet from dancing, and made
the women to cease, and themselves gat them to rest through
the shadowy halls.
Now when the twain had taken their fill of sweet love,
they had delight in the tales, which they told one to the
other. The fair lady spoke of all that she had endured in
the halls at the sight of the ruinous throng of wooers, who
for her sake slew many cattle, kine and goodly sheep; and
many a cask of wine was broached. And in turn, Odysseus,
of the seed of Zeus, recounted all the griefs he had wrought
on men, and all his own travail and sorrow, and she was
delighted with the story, and sweet sleep fell not upon her
eyelids till the tale was ended.
He began by setting forth how he overcame the Cicones,
and next arrived at the rich land of the Lotus-eaters, and all
that the Cyclops wrought, and what a price he got from him
for the good companions that he devoured, and showed no
pity. Then how he came to Aeolus, who received him
gladly and sent him on his way; but it was not yet ordained
that he should reach his own country, for the storm-wind
seized him again, and bare him over the teeming seas, mak-
ing grievous moan. Next how he came to Telepylus of the
Laestrygonians, who brake his ships and slew all his goodly-
greaved companions, and Odysseus only escaped with his
black ship. Then he told all the wiles and many contriv-
ances of Circe, and how in a benched ship he fared to the
dank house of Hades, to seek to the soul of Theban Teiresias.
There he beheld all those that had been his companions, and
his mother who bore him and nurtured him, while yet he
was a little one. Then how he heard the song of the full-
voiced Sirens, and came to the Rocks Wandering, and to
terrible Charybdis, and to Scylla, that never yet have men
avoided scatheless. Next he told how his company slew
the kine of Helios S/ and how Zeus, that thunders on high,
smote the swift slitp with the flaming bolt, and the good
crew perished all together, and he alone escaped from evil
fates. And how he came to the isle Ogygia, and to the
nymph Calypso, who kept him there in her hollow caves,
longing to have him for her lord, and nurtured him and said
330 HOMER
that she would make him never to know death or age all
his days: yet she never won his heart within his breast.
Next how with great toil he came to the Phaeacians, who
gave him all worship heartily, as to a god, and sent him
with a ship to his own dear country, with gifts of bronze,
and of gold, and raiment in plenty. This was the last word
of the tale, when sweet sleep came speedily upon him, sleep
that loosens the limbs of men, unknitting the cares of his
soul.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, turned to new
thoughts. When she deemed that Odysseus had taken his
fill of love and sleep, straightway she aroused from out
Oceanus the golden-throned Dawn, to bear light to men.
Then Odysseus gat him from his soft bed, and laid this
charge on his wife, saying:
' Lady, already have we had enough of labours, thou and
I; thou, in weeping here, and longing for my troublous
return, I, while Zeus and the other gods bound me fast in
pain, despite my yearning after home, away from mine own
country. But now that we both have come to the bed of
our desire, take thou thought for the care of my wealth
within the halls. But as for the sheep that the proud wooers
have slain, I myself will lift many more as spoil, and others
the Achaeans will give, till they fill all my folds. But now,
behold, I go to the well-wooded farm-land, to see my good
father, who for love of me has been in sorrow continually.
And this charge I lay on thee, lady, too wise though thou art
to need it. Quickly will the bruit go forth with the rising
sun, the bruit concerning the wooers, whom I slew in the
halls. Wherefore ascend with the women thy handmaids
into the upper chamber, and sit there and look on no man,
nor ask any question/
Therewith he girded on his shoulder his goodly armour,
and roused Telemachus and the neatherd and the swine-
herd, and bade them all take weapons of war in their hands.
So they were not disobedient to his word, but clad them-
selves in mail, and opened the doors and went forth, and
Odysseus led the way. And now there was light over all
the earth; but them Athene hid in night, and quickly con-
ducted out of the town.
BOOK XXIV
The Ithacans bury the wooers, and sitting in council resolve on
revenge. And coming near the house of Laertes, are met by Odys-
seus, and Laertes with Telemachus and servants, the whole number
twelve, and are overcome, and submit.
NOW Cyllenian Hermes called forth from the halls the
souls of the wooers, and he held in his hand his
wand that is fair and golden, wherewith he lulls
the eyes of men, of whomso he will, while others again he
even wakens out of sleep. Herewith he roused and led the
souls who followed gibbering. And even as bats flit gibber-
ing in the secret place of a wondrous cave, when one has
fallen down from the cluster on the rock, where they cling
each to each up aloft, even so the souls gibbered as they
fared together, and Hermes, the helper, led them down the
dank ways. Past the streams of Oceanus and the White
Rock, past the gates of the Sun they sped and the land of
dreams, and soon they came to the mead of asphodel, where
dwell the souls, the phantoms of men outworn. There they
found the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, and the souls of
Patroclus, and of noble Antilochus, and of Aias, who in
face and form was goodliest of all the Danaans after the
noble son of Peleus.
So these were flocking round Achilles, and the spirit of
Agamemnon, son of Atreus, drew nigh sorrowful; and
about him were gathered all the other shades, as many as
perished with him in the house of Aegisthus, and met their
doom. Now the soul of the son of Peleus spake to him first,
saying :
' Son of Atreus, verily we deemed that thou above all
other heroes wast evermore dear to Zeus, whose joy is in
the thunder, seeing that thou wast lord over warriors, many
and mighty men, in the land of the Trojans where we
Achaeans suffered affliction. But lo, thee too was deadly
331
332 HOMER
doom to visit early/ the doom that none avoids of all men
born. Ah, would that in the fulness of thy princely honour,
thou hadst met death and fate in the land of the Trojans!
So would all the Achaean host have builded thee a barrow,
yea and for thy son thou wouldst have won great glory in
the aftertime. But now it has been decreed for thee to
perish by a most pitiful death/
Then the soul of the son of Atreus answered, and spake:
' Happy art thou son of Peleus, godlike Achilles, that didst
die in Troy-land far from Argos, and about thee fell others,
the best of the sons of Trojans and Achaeans, fighting for
thy body; but thou in the whirl of dust layest mighty and
mightily fallen, forgetful of thy chivalry. And we strove
the livelong day, nor would we ever have ceased from the
fight, if Zeus had not stayed us with a tempest. Anon when
we had borne thee to the ships from out of the battle, we
laid thee on a bier and washed thy fair flesh clean with
warm water and unguents, and around thee the Danaans
shed many a hot tear and shore their hair. And forth from
the sea came thy mother with the deathless maidens of the
waters, when they heard the tidings ; and a wonderful wail-
ing rose over the deep, and trembling fell on the limbs of
all the Achaeans. Yea, and they would have sprung up and
departed to the hollow ships, had not one held them back
that knew much lore from of old, Nestor, whose counsel
proved heretofore the best. Out of his good-will he made
harangue, and spake among them:
1 " Hold, ye Argives, flee not, young lords of the Achaeans.
Lo, his mother from the sea is she that comes, with the
deathless maidens of the waters, to behold the face of her
dead son."
1 So he spake, and the high-hearted Achaeans ceased from
their flight. Then round thee stood the daughters of the
ancient one of the sea, holding a pitiful lament, and they
clad thee about in raiment incorruptible. And all the nine
Muses one to the other replying with sweet voices began
the dirge; there thou wouldest not have seen an Argive but
wept, so mightily rose up the clear chant. Thus for seven-
teen days and nights continually did we all bewail thee, im-
1 Reading wpwi.
THE ODYSSEY 333
mortal gods and mortal men. On the eighteenth day we gave
thy body to the flames, and many well-fatted sheep we slew
around thee, and kine of shambling gait. So thou wert
burned in the garments of the gods, and in much unguents
and in sweet honey, and many heroes of the Achaeans
moved mail-clad around the pyre when thou wast burning,
both footmen and horse, and great was the noise that arose.
But when the flame of Hephaestus had utterly abolished
thee, lo, in the morning we gathered together thy white
bones, Achilles, and bestowed them in unmixed wine and in
unguents. Thy mother gave a twy-handled golden urn, and
said that it was the gift of Dionysus, and the workmanship
of renowned Hephaestus. Therein lie thy white bones,
great Achilles, and mingled therewith the bones of Patro-
clus, son of Menoetias, that is dead, but apart is the dust of
Antilochus, whom thou didst honour above all thy other
companions, after Patroclus that was dead. Then over them
did we pile a great and goodly tomb, we the holy host of
Argive warriors, high on a jutting headland over wide
Hellespont, that it might be far seen from off the sea by
men that now are, and by those that shall be hereafter.
Then thy mother asked the gods for glorious prizes in the
games, and set them in the midst of the lists for the cham-
pions of the Achaeans. In days past thou hast been at the
funeral games of many a hero, whenso, after some king's
death, the young men gird themselves and make them ready
for the meed of victory, but couldst thou have seen these
gifts thou wouldst most have marvelled in spirit, such
glorious prizes did the goddess set there to honour thee,
even Thetis, the silver- footed ; for very dear wert thou to
the gods. Thus not even in death hast thou lost thy name,
but to thee shall be a fair renown for ever among all men,
Achilles. But what joy have I now herein, that I have
wound up the clew of war, for on my return Zeus devised
for me an evil end at the hands of Aegisthus and my wife
accursed ? '
So they spake one to the other. And nigh them came the
Messenger, the slayer of Argos, leading down the ghosts
of the wooers by Odysseus slain, and the two heroes were
amazed at the sight and went straight toward them. And
334 HOMER
the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, knew the dear son
of Melaneus, renowned Amphimedon, who had been his
host, having his dwelling in Ithaca. The soul of the son of
Atreus spake to him first, saying:
' Amphimedon, what hath befallen you, that ye have come
beneath the darkness of earth, all of you picked men and of
like age? it is even as though one should choose out and
gather together the best warriors in a city. Did Poseidon
smite you in your ships and rouse up contrary winds and the
long waves ? Or did unfriendly men, perchance, do you hurt
upon the land as ye were cutting off their oxen and fair
flocks of sheep, or while they fought to defend their city
and the women thereof? Answer and tell me, for I avow
me a friend of thy house. Rememberest thou not the day
when I came to your house in Ithaca with godlike Menelaus,
to urge Odysseus to follow with me to Ilios on the decked
ships ? And it was a full month ere we had sailed all across
the wide sea, for scarce could we win to our cause Odysseus,
waster of cities.'
Then the ghost of Amphimedon answered him, and spake :
' Most famous son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, I
remember all these things, O fosterling of Zeus, as thou
declarest them, and I in turn will tell thee all the tale well
and truly, even our death and evil end, on what wise it befell.
We wooed the wife of Odysseus that was long afar, and she
neither refused the hated bridal nor was minded to make
an end, devising for us death and black fate. Also this
other wile she contrived in her heart. She set up in her
halls a mighty web, fine of woof and very wide, whereat she
would weave, and anon she spake among us:
' " Ye princely youths, my wooers, now that goodly Odys-
seus is dead, do ye abide patiently, how eager soever to
speed on this marriage of mine, till I finish the robe. I
would not that the threads perish to no avail, even this
shroud for the hero Laertes, against the day when the ruin-
ous doom shall bring him low, of death that lays men at
their length. So shall none of the Achaean) women in the
land count it blame in me, as well might be, were he to
lie without a winding-sheet, a man that had gotten great
possessions."
THE ODYSSEY 335
' So spake she, and our high hearts consented thereto. So
then in the daytime she would weave the mighty web, and
in the night unravel the same, when she had let place the
torches by her. Thus for the space of three years she hid
the thing by guile and won the minds of the Achaeans; but
when the fourth year arrived and the seasons came round,
as the months waned and many days were accomplished,
then it was that one of her women who knew all declared it,
and we found her unravelling the splendid web. Thus she
finished it perforce and sore against her will. Now when
she brought the robe to light, after she had woven the great
web and washed it, and it shone even as sun or moon, at that
very hour some evil god led Odysseus, I know not whence, to
the upland farm, where the swineherd abode in his dwelling.
Thither too came the dear son of divine Odysseus out of
sandy Pylos, voyaging with his black ship. These twain
framed an evil death for the wooers, and came to the re-
nowned town. Odysseus verily came the later, and Telem-
achus went before and led the way. Now the swineherd
brought Odysseus clad in vile raiment, in the likeness of a
beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on a staff, and
behold, he was clad about in sorry raiment. And none of us,
not even the elders, could know him for that he was, on this
his sudden appearing, but with evil words we assailed him
and hurled things at him. Yet for a while he hardened his
heart to endure both the hurlings and the evil words in his
own halls ; but at the last, when the spirit of Zeus, lord of the
aegis, aroused him, by the help of Telemachus he took up all
the goodly weapons, and laid them by in the inner chamber
and drew the bolts. Next in his great craft he bade his wife
to offer his bow and store of grey iron to the wooers to be
the weapons of our contest, luckless that we were, and the
beginning of death. Now not one of us could stretch the
string of the strong bow; far short we fell of that might.
But when the great bow came to the hands of Odysseus, then
we all clamoured and forbade to give him the bow, how much
soever he might speak, but Telemachus alone was instant
with him and commanded him to take it. Then he took the
bow into his hands, the steadfast goodly Odysseus, and
lightly he strung it, and sent the arrow through the iron.
336 HOMER
Then srfaight he went to the threshold and there took his
stand, and poured forth the swift arrows, glancing terriblj
around, and smote the king Antinous. Thereafter on the
others he let fly his bolts, winged for death, with straight
aim, and the wooers fell thick one upon another. Then was
it known how that some god was their helper, for pressing
on as their passion drave them, they slew the men right and
left through the halls, and thence there arose a hideous
moaning, as heads were smitten and the floor all ran with
blood. So we perished, Agamemnon, and even now our
bodies lie uncared for in the halls of Odysseus, for the
friends of each one at home as yet know nought, even they
who might wash the black-clotted blood out of our wounds,
and lay out the bodies and wail the dirge, for that is the
due of the dead/
Then the ghost of the son of Atreus answered him : * Ah,
happy son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices, yea, for
a wife most excellent hast thou gotten, so good was the
wisdom of constant Penelope, daughter of Icarius, that was
duly mindful of Odysseus, her wedded lord. Wherefore the
fame of her virtue shall never perish, but the immortals
will make a gracious song in the ears of men on earth to the
fame of constant Penelope. In far other wise did the daugh-
ter of Tyndareus devise ill deeds, and slay her wedded lord,
and hateful shall the song of her be among men, and an
evil repute hath she brought upon all womankind, even on
the upright/
Even so these twain spake one to the other, standing in
the house of Hades, beneath the secret places of the earth.
Now when those others had gone down from the city,
quickly they came to the rich and well-ordered farm land of
Laertes, that he had won for himself of old, as the prize of
great toil in war. There was his house, and all about it ran
the huts wherein the thralls were wont to eat and dwell and
sleep, bondsmen that worked his will. And in the house
there was an old Sicilian woman, who diligently cared for
the old man, in the upland far from the city. There Odys-
seus spake to his thralls and to his son, saying :
' Do ye now get you within the well-builded house, and
quickly sacrifice the best of the swine for the midday meal,
THE ODYSSEY 337
but I will make trial of my father, whether he will know me
again and be aware of me when he sees me, or know me
not, so long have I been away/
Therewith he gave the thralls his weapons of war. Then
they went speedily to the house, while Odysseus drew near
to the fruitful vineyard to make trial of his father. Now he
found not Dolius there, as he went down into the great
garden, nor any of the thralls nor of their sons. It chanced
that they had all gone to gather stones for a garden fence,
and the old man at their head. So he found his father alone
in the terraced vineyard, digging about a plant. He was
clothed in a filthy doublet, patched and unseemly, with
clouted leggings of oxhide bound about his legs, against the
scratches of the thorns, and long sleeves over his hands by
reason of the brambles, and on his head he wore a goatskin
cap, and so he nursed his sorrow. Now when the steadfast
goodly Odysseus saw his father thus wasted with age and
in great grief of heart, he stood still beneath a tall pear tree
and let fall a tear. Then he communed with his heart and
soul, whether he should fall on his father's neck and kiss
him, and tell him all, how he had returned and come to his
own country, or whether he should first question him and
prove him in every word. And as he thought within himself,
this seemed to him the better way, namely, first to prove his
father and speak to him sharply. So with this intent the
goodly Odysseus went up to him. Now he was holding
his head down and kept digging about the plant, while his
renowned son stood by him and spake, saying:
1 Old man, thou hast no lack of skill in tending a garden ;
lo, thou carest well for all, 3 nor is there aught whatsoever,
either plant or fig-tree, or vine, yea, or olive, or pear, or
garden-bed in all the close, that is not well seen to. Yet an-
other thing will I tell thee and lay not up wrath thereat in
thy heart. Thyself art scarce so well cared for, but a pitiful
old age is on thee, and withal thou art withered and un-
kempt, and clad unseemly. It cannot be to punish thy sloth
that thy master cares not for thee ; there shows nothing of the
slave about thy face and stature, for thou art like a kingly
3 Supplying hpxa-rov from the preceding clause as object to *x ec * Other
constructions are possible.
338 HOMER
man, even like one who should lie soft, when he has washed
and eaten well, as is the manner of the aged. But come
declare me this and plainly tell it all. Whose thrall art thou,
and whose garden dost thou tend? Tell me moreover truly,
that I may surely know, if it be indeed to Ithaca that I am
now come, as one yonder told me who met with me but now
on the way hither. He was but of little understanding, for
he deigned not to tell me all nor to heed my saying, when I
questioned him concerning my friend, whether indeed he is
yet alive or is even now dead and within the house of Hades.
For I will declare it and do thou mark and listen : once did I
kindly entreat a man in mine own dear country, who came
to our home, and never yet has any mortal been dearer of
all the strangers that have drawn to my house from afar.
He declared him to be by lineage from out of Ithaca, and
said that his own father was Laertes son of Arceisius. So
I led him to our halls and gave him good entertainment, with
all loving-kindness, out of the plenty that was within. Such
gifts too I gave him as are the due of guests : of well wrought
gold I gave him seven talents, and a mixing bowl of flow-
ered work, all of silver, and twelve cloaks of single fold,
and as many coverlets, and as many goodly mantles and
doublets to boot, and besides all these, four women skilled
in all fair works and most comely, the women of his choice.'
Then his father answered him, weeping : ' Stranger, thou
art verily come to that country whereof thou askest, but
outrageous men and froward hold it. And these thy gifts,
thy countless gifts, thou didst bestow in vain. For if thou
hadst found that man yet living in the land of Ithaca he
would have sent thee on thy way with good return of thy
presents, and with all hospitality, as is due to the man that
begins the kindness. But come, declare me this and plainly
tell me all; how many years are passed since thou didst
entertain him, thy guest ill-fated and my child, — if ever such
an one there was, — hapless man, whom far from his friends
and his country's soil, the fishes, it may be, have devoured
in the deep sea, or on the shore he has fallen the prey of
birds and beasts. His mother wept not over him nor clad
him for burial, nor his father, we that begat him. Nor did
his bride, whom men sought with rich gifts, the constant
THE ODYSSEY 339
Penelope, bewail her lord upon the bier, as was meet, nor
closed his eyes, as is the due of the departed. Moreover,
tell me this truly, that I may surely know, who art thou and
whence of the sons of men? Where is thy city and where
are they that begat thee? Where now is thy swift ship
moored, that brought thee thither with thy godlike company ?
Hast thou come as a passenger on another's ship, while they
set thee ashore and went away?'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:
1 Yea now, I will tell thee all most plainly. From out of
Alybas I come, where I dwell in a house renowned, and am
the son of Apheidas the son of Polypemon, the prince, and
my own name is Eperitus. But some god drave me wander-
ing hither from Sicania against my will, and yonder my ship
is moored toward the upland away from the city. But for
Odysseus, this is now the fifth year since he went thence and
departed out of my country. Ill-fated was he, and yet he
had birds of good omen when he fared away, birds on the
right; wherefore I sped him gladly on his road, and gladly
he departed, and the heart of us twain hoped yet to meet in
friendship on a day and to give splendid gifts.'
So he spake, and on the old man fell a black cloud of
sorrow. With both his hands he clutched the dust and
ashes and showered them on his gray head, with ceaseless
groaning. Then the heart of Odysseus was moved, and up
through his nostrils throbbed anon the keen sting of sorrow
at the sight of his dear father. And he sprang towards
him and fell on his neck and kissed him, saying:
' Behold, I here, even I, my father, am the man of whom
thou askest; in the twentieth year am I come to mine own
country. But stay thy weeping and tearful lamentation, for
I will tell thee all clearly, though great need there is of haste.
I have slain the wooers in our halls and avenged their bitter
scorn and evil deeds.'
Then Laertes answered him and spake, saying: ' If thou
art indeed Odysseus, mine own child, that art come hither,
show me now a manifest token, that I may be assured.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
• Look first on this scar and consider it, that the boar dealt
me with his white tusk on Parnassus, whither I had gone, and
340 HOMER
thou didst send me forth, thou and my lady mother, to
Autolycus my mother's father, to get the gifts which when
he came hither he promised and covenanted to give me. But
come, and I will even tell thee the trees through all the ter-
raced garden, which thou gavest me once for mine own, and
I was begging of thee this and that, being but a little child,
and following thee through the garden. Through these very
trees we were going, and thou didst tell me the names of
each of them. Pear-trees thirteen thou gavest me and ten
apple-trees and figs two-score, and, as we went, thou didst
name the fifty rows of vines thou wouldest give me, whereof
each one ripened at divers times, with all manner of clusters
on their boughs, when the seasons of Zeus wrought mightily
on them from on high.'
So he spake, and straightway his knees were loosened, and
his heart melted within him, as he knew the sure tokens that
Odysseus showed him. About his dear son he cast his
arms, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus caught him fainting
to his breast. Now when he had got breath and his spirit
came to him again, once more he answered and spake,
saying :
' Father Zeus, verily ye gods yet bear sway on high
Olympus, if indeed the wooers have paid for their infatuate
pride ! But now my heart is terribly afraid, lest straightway
all the men of Ithaca come up against us here, and haste to
send messages everywhere to the cities of the Cephallenians.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:
' Take courage, and let not thy heart be careful about these
matters. But come, let us go to the house that lies near the
garden, for thither I sent forward Telemachus and the neat-
herd and the swineherd to get ready the meal as speedily as
may be.'
After these words the twain set out to the goodly halls.
Now when they had come to the fair-lying house, they found
Telemachus and the neatherd and the swineherd carving
much flesh, and mixing the dark wine. Meanwhile the
Sicilian handmaid bathed high-hearted Laertes in his house,
and anointed him with olive-oil, and cast a fair mantle about
him. Then Athene drew nigh, and made greater the limbs
of the shepherd of the people, taller she made him than
THE ODYSSEY 341
before and mightier to behold. Then he went forth from
the bath, and his dear son marvelled at him, beholding him
like to the deathless gods in presence. And uttering his
voice he spake to him winged words:
1 Father, surely one of the gods that are from everlasting
hath made thee goodlier and greater to behold.*
Then wise Laertes answered him, saying : ' Ah, would to
father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, that such as I was
when I took Nericus, the stablished castle on the foreland of
the continent, being then the prince of the Cephallenians,
would that in such might, and with mail about my shoulders,
I had stood to aid thee yesterday in our house, and to beat
back the wooers; so should I have loosened the knees of
many an one of them in the halls, and thou shouldest have
been gladdened in thine inmost heart ! '
So they spake each with the other. But when the others
had ceased from their task and made ready the feast, they
sat down all orderly on chairs and on high seats. Then
they began to put forth their hands on the meat, and
the old man Dolius drew nigh, and the old man's sons withal
came tired from their labour in the fields, for their mother,
the aged Sicilian woman, had gone forth and called them, she
that saw to their living and diligently cared for the old
man, now that old age had laid hold on him. So soon as
they looked on Odysseus and took knowledge of him, they
stood still in the halls in great amazement. But Odysseus
addressed them in gentle words, saying:
' Old man, sit down to meat and do ye forget your mar-
velling, for long have we been eager to put forth our hands
on the food, as we abode in the hall alway expecting your
coming/
So he spake, and Dolius ran straight toward him stretch-
ing forth both his hands, and he grasped the hand of
Odysseus and kissed it on the wrist, and uttering his voice
spake to him winged words:
' Beloved, forasmuch as thou hast come back to us who
sore desired thee, and no longer thought to see thee, and
the gods have led thee home again; — hail to thee and
welcome manifold, and may the gods give thee all good
fortune ! Moreover tell me this truly, that I may be assured,
342 HOMER
whether wise Penelope yet knows well that thou hast come
back hither, or whether we shall dispatch a messenger.'
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered saying: ' Old
man, already she knows all; what need to busy thyself
herewith ? '
Thereon the other sat him down again on his polished
settle. And in like wise the sons of Dolius gathered about
the renowned Odysseus, and greeted him well and clasped his
hands, and then sat down all orderly by Dolius their father.
So they were busy with the meal in the halls. Now
Rumour the messenger went swiftly all about the city, tell-
ing the tale of the dire death and fate of the wooers. And
the people heard it, and all at once gathered together from
every side with sighing and groaning before the house of
Odysseus. And each brought forth his dead from the halls,
and buried them; but those that came out of other cities
they placed on swift ships and sent with fisherfolk, each
to be carried to his own home. As for them they all fared
together to the assembly-place, in sorrow of heart. When
they were all gathered and come together, Eupeithes arose
and spake among them, for a comfortless grief lay heavy on
his heart for his son Antinous, the first man that goodly
Odysseus had slain. Weeping for him he made harangue
and spake among them:
* Friends, a great deed truly hath this man devised against
the Achaeans. Some with his ships he led away, many
men and noble, and his hollow ships hath he lost, and utterly
lost of his company, and others again, and those far the
best of the Cephallenians he hath slain on his coming home.
Up now, before ever he gets him swiftly either to Pylos
or to fair Elis, where the Epeians bear sway, let us go forth ;
else even hereafter shall we have shame of face for ever.
For a scorn this is even for the ears of men unborn to hear,
if we avenge not ourselves on the slayers of our sons and of
our brethren. Life would no more be sweet to me, but
rather would I die straightway and be with the departed.
Up, let us be going, lest these fellows be beforehand with
us and get them over the sea/
Thus he spake weeping, and pity fell on all the Achaeans.
Then came near to them Medon and the divine minstrel,
THE ODYSSEY 343
forth from the halls of Odysseus, for that sleep had let
them go. They stood in the midst of the gathering, and
amazement seized every man. Then Medon, wise of heart,
spake among them, saying:
1 Hearken to me now, ye men of Ithaca, for surely Odys-
seus planned not these deeds without the will of the gods.
Nay I myself beheld a god immortal, who stood hard by
Odysseus, in the perfect semblance of Mentor; now as a
deathless god was he manifest in front of Odysseus, cheering
him, and yet again scaring the wooers he stormed through
the hall, and they fell thick one on another.'
Thus he spake, and pale fear gat hold of the limbs of all.
Then the old man, the lord Halitherses, spake among them,
the son of Mastor, for he alone saw before and after. Out
of his good will he made harangue and spake among them,
saying :
' Hearken to me now, ye men of Ithaca, to the word that
I will say. Through your own cowardice, my friends, have
these deeds come to pass. For ye obeyed not me, nor Men-
tor, the shepherd of the people, to make your sons cease
from their foolish ways. A great villainy they wrought in
their evil infatuation, wasting the wealth and holding in
no regard the wife of a prince, while they deemed that he
would never more come home. And now let things be on
this wise, and obey my counsel. Let us not go forth
against him, lest haply some may find a bane of their own
bringing.'
So he spake, but they leapt up with a great cry, the more
part of them, while the rest abode there together; for his
counsel was not to the mind of the more part, but they gave
ear to Eupeithes, and swiftly thereafter they rushed for
their armour. So when they had arrayed them in shining
mail, they assembled together in front of the spacious town.
And Eupeithes led them in his witlessness, for he thought
to avenge the slaying of his son, yet himself was never to
return, but then and there to meet his doom.
Now Athene spake to Zeus, the son of Cronos, saying:
1 Father, our father Cronides, throned in the highest,
answer and tell me what is now the hidden counsel of thy
heart? Wilt thou yet further rouse up evil war and the
344 HOMER
terrible din of battle, or art thou minded to set them at one
again in friendship ? '
Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, answered her say-
ing : ' My child, why dost thou thus straitly question me; and
ask me this? Nay didst not thou thyself devise this very
thought, namely, that Odysseus should indeed take ven-
geance on these men at his coming? Do as thou wilt, but
I will tell thee of the better way. Now that goodly Odysseus
hath wreaked vengeance on the wooers, let them make a
firm covenant together with sacrifice, and let him be king
all his days, and let us bring about oblivion of the slaying
of their children and their brethren; so may both sides love
one another as of old, and let peace and wealth abundant be
their portion.'
Therewith he roused Athene to yet greater eagerness, and
from the peaks of Olympus she came glancing down.
Now when they had put from them the desire of honey-
sweet food, the steadfast goodly Odysseus began to speak
among them, saying:
' Let one go forth and see, lest the people be already
drawing near against us/
So he spake, and the son of Dolius went forth at his
bidding, and stood on the outer threshold and saw them all
close at hand. Then straightway he spake to Odysseus
winged words:
' Here they be, close upon us ! Quick, let us to arms ! '
Thereon they rose up and arrayed them in their harness,
Odysseus and his men being four, and the six sons of
Dolius, and likewise Laertes and Dolius did on their ar-
mour, grey-headed as they were, warriors through stress
of need. Now when they had clad them in shining mail,
they opened the gates and went forth and Odysseus led
them.
Then Athene, daughter of Zeus, drew near them in the
likeness of Mentor, in fashion and in voice. And the stead-
fast goodly Odysseus beheld her and was glad, and straight-
way he spake to Telemachus his dear son:
' Telemachus, soon shalt thou learn this, when thou thyself
art got to the place of the battle where the best men try the
issue, — namely, not to bring shame on thy father's house,
THE ODYSSEY 345
on us who in time past have been eminent for might and
hardihood over all the world. '
Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying : 'Thou shalt
see me, if thou wilt, dear father, in this my mood no whit
disgracing thy line, according to thy word. '
So spake he, and Laertes was glad and spake, saying:
* What a day has dawned for me, kind gods ; yea, a glad
man am I! My son and my son's son are vying with one
another in valour.'
Then grey-eyed Athene stood beside Laertes, and spake
to him: 'O son of Arceisius that art far the dearest of all
my friends, pray first to the grey-eyed maid and to father
Zeus, then swing thy long spear aloft and hurl it straight-
way.'
Therewith Pallas Athene breathed into him great strength.
Then he prayed to the daughter of mighty Zeus, and straight-
way swung his long spear aloft and hurled it, and smote
Eupeithes through his casque with the cheek-piece of bronze.
The armour kept not out the spear that went clean through,
and he fell with a crash, and his arms rattled about his
body. Then Odysseus and his renowned son fell on the
fore-fighters, and smote them with swords and two-headed
spears. And now would they have slain them all and cut
off their return, had not Athene called aloud, the daughter
of Zeus lord of the aegis, and stayed all the host of the
enemy, saying:
' Hold your hands from fierce fighting, ye men of Ithaca,
that so ye may be parted quickly, without bloodshed. '
So spake Athene, and pale fear gat hold of them all.
The arms flew from their hands in their terror and fell all
upon the ground, as the goddess uttered her voice. To the
city they turned their steps, as men fain of life, and the
steadfast goodly Odysseus with a terrible cry gathered him-
self together and hurled in on them, like an eagle of lofty
flight. Then in that hour the son of Cronos cast forth a
flaming bolt, and it fell at the feet of the grey-eyed goddess,
the daughter of the mighty Sire. Then grey-eyed Athene
spake to Odysseus, saying:
' Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many
devices, refrain thee now and stay the strife of even-handed
346 THE ODYSSEY
war, lest perchance the son of Cronos be angry with thee,
even Zeus of the far-borne voice.'
So spake Athene, and he obeyed and was glad at heart.
And thereafter Pallas Athene set a covenant between them
with sacrifice, she, the daughter of Zeus lord of the aegis,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in fashion and in voice.
Homer, thy song men liken to the sea,
With every note of music in his tone,
With tides that wash the dim dominion
Of Hades, and light waves that laugh in glee
'Around the isles enchanted: nay, to me
Thy verse seems as the River of source unknown
That glasses Egypt's temples overthrown,
In his sky-nurtur y d stream, eternally.
No wiser we than men of heretofore
To find thy mystic fountains guarded fast;
Enough — thy Hood makes green our human shore
As Nilus, Egypt, rolling down his vast,
His fertile waters, murmuring evermore
Of gods dethroned, and empires of the Past,
A, L.
347
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