Homer, Odyssey

ToposText · Homer · 2,435 sections

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§ 4.120 While he was turning this over in his mind and heart, Helen came out of her fragrant chamber looking like golden-bowed Artemis. Along with her Adreste set up a well-made couch, Alcippe brought a blanket of soft wool,
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§ 4.125 Phylo brought a silver basket, that Polybus' wife, Alcandre, who lived in Egyptian Thebes, where the most possessions lie in houses, had given Helen. Polybus gave Menelaus two silver bathtubs, two tripods, and ten talents of gold.
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§ 4.130 Besides this, his wife in turn gave beautiful gifts to Helen. She sent with her a golden distaff and a basket with wheels underneath, a silver one finished on its edges with gold. Her handmaid Phylo brought it and placed it beside her, stuffed with artfully fashioned yarn. The distaff,
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§ 4.135 holding violet-dark wool, was laid out upon it. She sat on the couch and a footstool was under her feet. At once she asked her husband about every thing: “Do we know, Zeus -nurtured Menelaus, who these men who've come to our house claim to be?
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§ 4.140 Will I speak wrong, or will I speak the truth? But my heart bids me speak, for I don't think I've ever seen one who seems so alike, neither a man nor a woman, and wonder holds me as I behold him, as this one seems like the son of great-hearted Odysseus, Telemachus, whom that man left newborn in his home,
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§ 4.145 when you Achaeans, for the sake of dog -eyed me, came under Troy, pondering brash war.” Blond Menelaus said to her in reply: “I notice it now too, wife, the same resemblance you see, for such were that one's feet, such his hands,
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§ 4.150 and the glances of his eyes, and his head and hair above it. Yes, just now I spoke about Odysseus as I remembered him, all that that one suffered and toiled at for my sake, then this one shed thick tears from under his eyebrows and held up his purple robe in front of his eyes.”
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§ 4.155 Peisistratus Nestorides said back to him in turn: “ Atreides Menelaus, Zeus -nurtured leader of men, it's true, this one is indeed the son of that one, as you say, but he's discreet, and rejects as improper, coming here for the first time, displaying words uninvited
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§ 4.160 in front of you, whose voice we delight in as in a god's. But Gerenian horseman Nestor sent me to go with him as a guide, since he wished to see you so you might suggest to him some word or deed. For a son of an absent father has many sorrows
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§ 4.165 in his palace, when he has no other helpers, as now Telemachus has one who's gone and has no others who might ward off evil throughout the kingdom.” Blond Menelaus said to him in reply: “Ah, yes, the son of a very, very dear man has come to my house,
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§ 4.170 a man who suffered many trials on my account, and whom I thought I'd welcome beyond other Argives when he came, if the Olympian, far-seeing Zeus, granted there be a return home for both of us in swift ships over the sea. And I'd have established a city and built a house for him,
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§ 4.175 brought him from Ithaca with his possessions, his son, and his people, clearing out one of the cities that stand about here and are ruled by me. And being here, we'd have visited often, and nothing else would have separated us in our friendship and enjoyment,
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§ 4.180 until at last death's black cloud covered us. But a god himself, I guess, must have begrudged him this, who made that wretched one alone without homecoming.” So said he, and roused in all the desire to weep. Argive Helen, born of Zeus, wept.
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§ 4.185 Telemachus wept, and Atreides Menelaus, and Nestor's son did not have tearless eyes, for he remembered in his heart noble Antilochus, whom the splendid son of shining Dawn had slain. He spoke winged words as he thought of him:
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§ 4.190 “ Atreides, that you're astute beyond other mortals the old man, Nestor, used to say, when we spoke of you in his palace and questioned each other. And now, if it's at all possibly possible, oblige me, for I at least, don't enjoy weeping after dinner. For that, the dawn
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§ 4.195 will be early-born instead. I find nothing wrong with crying for a mortal who's died and met his fate. Indeed, this is the only prize at all for wretched mortals, to cut one's hair and let tears fall from one's cheeks. For my brother too has died, not at all the meanest
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§ 4.200 of Achaeans. You probably knew him. As for me, I never met or saw him, but they say Antilochus surpassed others, surpassed them in running fast and as a warrior.” Blond Menelaus said to him in reply: “My friend, since you've said all that an astute man
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§ 4.205 would say and do, even one who's older, for you're from such a father also, so you speak astutely too. Easily recognized is the line of a man to whom Cronion spins happiness when he's born and when he marries, as he's given Nestor now continuously all his days,
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§ 4.210 that he himself grow old gently in his palace, that his sons in turn are sensible and the best with spears. Let's put aside the weeping that occurred before and let's think again of supper and have them pour water on our hands. There'll be stories too, from daybreak on,
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§ 4.215 for Telemachus and me to tell completely to each other.” So said he, and Asphalion, deft cohort of gloried Menelaus, poured water on their hands. They threw their hands on the good things laid ready before them. Then Helen, born of Zeus, thought of another thing
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§ 4.220 and immediately threw a drug into the wine which they were drinking, a drug that relieves pain, calms anger, and makes one forget all evils. He who swallowed it, once it was mixed in the mixing bowl, would not throughout the day let tears fall from his cheeks, not if his mother and his father died,
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§ 4.225 not if in front of him they cleaved with bronze his brother or beloved son and he saw it with his eyes. Zeus's daughter had such helpful drugs, good ones that an Egyptian, Thonus' wife Polydamna, gave her. There grain-giving farmland bears drugs greatest in number,
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§ 4.230 many good, when mixed; many others, maleficent. Each Egyptian is a healer, surpassing all mankind in knowledge, for they're of Paeeon's race. Then after she threw it in and bid them pour the wine, she said back to them in answer:
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§ 4.235 “ Zeus -born Atreides Menelaus, and you here, good men's sons, since god Zeus at one time or another gives both good and bad, for he can do everything, sit now and dine in our palace and enjoy my stories, for I'll tell ones suitable for you.
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§ 4.240 I couldn't name and tell them all, so many are the trials of steadfast Odysseus, but what a thing this was the mighty man dared and did in the Trojan kingdom where you Achaeans suffered sorrows! He disfigured himself with grievous blows,
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§ 4.245 threw a cloth around his shoulders, and disguised as a servant entered the broad-streeted city of the enemy men, then concealed himself as a different man, and pretended to be a beggar, he who was no such thing at the Achaean ships. He entered the Trojan city like that, and everyone ignored him.
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§ 4.250 I alone recognized him, such as he was, and I questioned him, but he eluded me with cunning. But when at last I'd bathed him and anointed him with olive oil, dressed clothing about him, and swore a great oath not to make him known among the Trojans as Odysseus
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§ 4.255 before he reached his huts and swift ships, right then he told me in detail the Achaeans' intent. He then killed many of the Trojans with sharp bronze, went back among the Argives, and brought back much information. Then the rest of the Trojan women shrieked loudly, but my heart
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§ 4.260 rejoiced, since by now my heart had changed about going back home and I regretted my mad blindness, that Aphrodite gave me, when she led me there from my beloved fatherland, and I deserted my daughter, my bedroom, and my husband, who lacked nothing in either looks or wits.”
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§ 4.265 Blond Menelaus said to her in reply: “Yes, wife, you've said all these things duly. By now I've learned the mind and will of many hero men and traversed much of the earth, but with my eyes I've never seen such a one
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§ 4.270 as was the dear heart of steadfast Odysseus. What a thing this was, that a mighty man dared to do and did inside the polished horse, where we, all the best of the Argives, sat bearing death and doom for Trojans. Then you came there. A divinity, who planned to grant glory
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§ 4.275 to the Trojans, must have urged you on, and godlike Deiphobus went with when you came. Three times you walked around and felt about the hollow ambush, and called out to the best of the Danaans by their names, making your voice like the voices of the wives of all the Argives.
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§ 4.280 Then divine Odysseus, Tydeides, and I, sitting in the middle, heard you as you shouted. We were both eager, and set out to either get out or immediately answer from inside, but Odysseus restrained and checked us despite our eagerness.
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§ 4.285 Then the rest of the sons of the Achaeans were silent. Anticlus was the only one who wanted to answer, but Odysseus pressed on his mouth continuously with his mighty hands and saved all the Achaeans. He held him until Pallas Athena led you off far away.”
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§ 4.290 Astute Telemachus said back to him in turn: “ Zeus -nurtured Atreides, Menelaus, leader of men, it's worse, for this in no way kept sad destruction from him, nor would it, even if he had a heart of iron inside him. But come, turn us toward bed, so we can right now
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§ 4.295 take our pleasure and be lulled to sleep by sweet sleep.” So said he, then Argive Helen bid the slave women set beds beneath the portico, throw fine purple cloths upon them, spread blankets on top of them, and put woolen cloaks on top to wrap in.
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§ 4.300 They came out of the hall holding torches in their hands and spread the beds. A herald led the guests out. They went to bed right there in the doorway of the house, the hero Telemachus and Nestor's splendid son. Atreides slept in an inner part of his lofty house,
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§ 4.305 and a woman divine, long-robed Helen, lay beside him. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, battle-cry-brave Menelaus arose from bed, put on his clothes, slung a sharp sword around his shoulder, tied fine sandals beneath sleek feet,
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§ 4.310 and made his way from the bedroom looking like a god. He sat beside Telemachus, spoke his name, and said: “What need brought you here, hero Telemachus, to divine Lacedaemon, upon the broad back of the sea, the kingdom's or your own? Tell me this infallibly.”
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§ 4.315 Astute Telemachus said back to him in turn: “ Atreides Menelaus, Zeus -nurtured leader of men, I came in hope you'd tell me some tidings of my father. My house is being eaten, my rich fields destroyed. My home is full of hostile men, who are always slaughtering
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§ 4.320 my thick-thronging sheep and lumbering curved-horned cattle, suitors of my mother, with their arrogant wantonness. I've come to your knees because of this, in hope you'd be willing to tell of his wretched destruction, if perhaps you saw it with your eyes, or heard a story from another
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§ 4.325 of his wandering, for his mother bore him to be unhappy beyond others. Don't out of respect soften your words in any way and don't pity me, but tell me well how you got sight of him. I beg you, if ever my father, good Odysseus, promised and fulfilled either any word or deed
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§ 4.330 in the Trojan kingdom, where you Achaeans suffered sorrows, recall them for me now and tell me infallibly.” Vexed greatly, blond Menelaus said to him: “Damn it! Yes indeed, in the bed of a strong-minded man they wished to sleep, though they themselves are weaklings.
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§ 4.335 As when a deer puts her newborn suckling fawns to sleep in a mighty lion's woody lair and forages the foothills and grassy glens to graze, and afterwards the lion goes into his den and sends disgraceful doom against both of them,
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§ 4.340 so Odysseus will send disgraceful doom against those men. For I wish, father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that just as he was in well-founded Lesbos once upon a time when on a dare he stood up and wrestled Philomeides and threw him mightily, and all Achaeans were delighted,
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§ 4.345 such an Odysseus would engage the suitors. All would be bitterly betrothed and swiftly doomed. About these things that you ask and entreat me, I won't speak off point of other things besides them nor will I deceive you, but of what the infallible old man of the sea told me
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§ 4.350 I'll hide nothing from you and won't conceal a word. “The gods kept me yet in Egypt, though I yearned to come here, since I hadn't offered perfect hecatombs to them. Gods always want their behests to be remembered. Now there's an island in the much-surging sea
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§ 4.355 in front of Egypt, and they call it Pharos, as far off as a hollow ship goes in a whole day when a whistling fair wind blows behind it. On it is a harbor with good mooring, from which they send balanced ships off into the sea, once they've drawn black water.
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§ 4.360 The gods kept me twenty days there, and fair winds never appeared or blew over the sea, the ones that are ships' escorts on the broad back of the sea. And indeed all my provisions and men's strength would have been spent had not some god taken pity on me and been merciful to me,
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§ 4.365 Eidothea, the daughter of mighty Proteus, the old man of the sea, for I'd moved her heart most of all, who met me wandering alone apart from my comrades, for they always roamed around the island fishing with curved fishhooks and hunger afflicted their bellies.
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§ 4.370 She stood near me, spoke a word, and said:'Are you a fool, stranger, and such a very slack-minded one, or did you give up of your free will and enjoy suffering sorrows? You've been held back on the island so long now and can't find any end to it, as your comrades' heart grows smaller.'
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§ 4.375 So said she, then I said to her in answer:'I'll speak out and tell you, whatever goddess you are, that I'm not held back at all by my free will, instead I surely must have sinned against the immortals who hold wide heaven. But you tell me, since gods know everything,
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§ 4.380 what immortal binds me and kept me from my journey, and of my return home, how I'll go upon the fishy sea.' So said I, and the goddess divine immediately answered:'Well then, stranger, I'll speak to you very exactly. An infallible old man of the sea comes here often,
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§ 4.385 immortal Proteus, the Egyptian, Poseidon's underling, who knows the depths of every sea. They say that he's my father and begot me. If you can somehow capture him in ambush, he'll tell you the way and stages of your journey,
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§ 4.390 and of your return home, how you'll go upon the fishy sea. And he'd tell you, Zeus -nurtured one, if you wanted, what good and evil has been done in your palace while you've been on your long and grievous journey.' So said she, then I said to her in answer:
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§ 4.395 You yourself devise now the divine old man's ambush, lest he somehow see or learn beforehand and elude me, for a god is difficult for a mortal man to tame.' So said I, and the goddess divine immediately answered:'Well then, I'll speak these things to you very exactly.
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§ 4.400 When the sun straddles the midst of heaven, then the infallible old man of the sea comes out of the sea under West Wind's breath, hidden by a black ripple, and when he comes out he sleeps beneath the hollow caves, and seals, young ones of beautiful Halosydne,
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§ 4.405 come up out of the sea and sleep huddled around him, breathing out the very deep sea's pungent stench. I'll take you there at the same time dawn appears and set you in orderly ambush, and, you, choose three comrades carefully, who are the best beside your well-benched ships.
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§ 4.410 I'll tell you all the wiles of that old man. First he'll go to the seals and count them, then after he's seen them all and counted them by fives, he'll lie in their midst like a herdsman with flocks of sheep. As soon as you see he's lain down to rest,
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§ 4.415 right then thereafter you must be careful of his might and power and hold him right where he is, though he strives and rushes to escape. He'll test you, becoming all things, all there are that move upon the ground, and water, and wondrous fire, then you must hold him firmly and squeeze harder.
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§ 4.420 But when at last he speaks to you with words, as himself, when he's like you saw him when he was lying down, right then, hero, stop, and free the old man from your power, then ask him what god oppresses you, and of your return home, how you'll go upon the fishy sea.'
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§ 4.425 So saying, she plunged under the billowing sea. Then I went to the ships, where they stood on the sands, and my heart was much troubled on my way. Then after I came down to the ship and sea, we made supper and ambrosial night came upon us.
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§ 4.430 We laid down then to sleep at the edge of sea's surf. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, right then I went along the shore of the wide-wayed sea and prayed hard to the gods. Then I brought the three comrades I'd trusted most in every enterprise.
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§ 4.435 Meanwhile, she'd plunged beneath the wide bosom of the sea and out of the sea brought four seal skins, and all were newly flayed. She was devising a trap for her father. She scooped out beds in the sea sand and sat waiting. We now came very close to her,
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§ 4.440 and she bedded us in a row then threw a skin on each of us. Then our ambush would have been most terrible, for the baneful stench of the sea-bred seals oppressed us terribly. For who would be laid beside a monster of the sea? But she devised a great help and saved us.
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§ 4.445 She brought ambrosia, put the very sweetly smelling stuff under each one's nose, and destroyed the monster's stench. With resolute hearts we waited there all morning. The seals came in a herd out of the water, then bedded in a row beside the edge of sea's surf.
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§ 4.450 At noon the old man came out of the sea, found his well-fed seals, went to them all, and counted their number. He counted us first among the monsters and didn't at heart think it was a trap. Then he laid himself down too. We rushed at him with a shout and threw our arms
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§ 4.455 around him, but the old man didn't forget his crafty art, instead he first of all became a well-bearded lion, then after that a serpent, a leopard, and a great boar, then he became fluid water and a lofty, leafy tree. But we held him firmly with resolute hearts.
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§ 4.460 But when at last the old man, endowed with wily ways, grew weary, right then he spoke to me and questioned me:'What god took counsel with you, son of Atreus, so you could seize me against my will in ambush? What do you need?' So said he, then I said to him in answer:
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§ 4.465'You know, old man. Why speak of this misleadingly? I've been held back on the island so long now and can't find any end to it as my heart grows smaller inside me.' But you tell me, since gods know everything, what immortal binds me and kept me from my journey,
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§ 4.470 and of my return home, how I'll go upon the fishy sea.' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer:'Well, you really ought to have gone aboard after offering fine victims to Zeus and other gods, so you'd soonest reach your fatherland as you sailed the wine-dark sea.
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§ 4.475 But it's not your lot to see your loved ones and reach your well-built house and your fatherland before you go back to the water of Egypt, the Zeus -fallen river, and offer sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold wide heaven.
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§ 4.480 Right then the gods will grant you the journey you desire. So said he. Then my dear heart was broken, because he'd bid me go again upon the misty sea to Egypt, a long and grievous journey. But even so, I said to him in answer:
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§ 4.485 I'll do these things in this way, old man, as you bid, but come, tell me this and recount it exactly, whether all came unharmed with their ships, the Achaeans whom Nestor and I left when we left Troy, or did any perish in cruel destruction upon his ship
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§ 4.490 or in the hands of loved ones after he wound up the war?' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer:' Atreides, why ask me about this? There's no need at all to know it or to learn my mind and I don't think you'll be tearless for long after you've heard it all well.
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§ 4.495 For while many were tamed, many others were left. Only two of the leaders of the bronze-clad Achaeans perished on their return home, and you too were at the battle. One, still alive somewhere, is detained on the wide sea. Ajax was tamed among his long-oared ships.
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§ 4.500 First Poseidon drove him against the great rocks of Gyrae and saved him from the sea, and he'd indeed have escaped doom, though hateful to Athena, if he hadn't been made mighty mindless and thrown out a haughty word. He said he'd escaped, against gods' will, the great gulf of the sea.
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§ 4.505 Poseidon heard him speaking loudly, then at once took his trident in his well-knit hands, drove it against the Gyraean rock and split it. And one piece stayed where it was while the other fell into the sea, the one on which Ajax first sat when he was made mighty mindless,
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§ 4.510 and it bore him down into the boundless billowing sea. So there he perished after he drank the briny water. Your brother fled death's agents and escaped in his hollow ships and lady Hera saved him. But, as he was just about to reach the sheer mount
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§ 4.515 of the Maleians, a windstorm snatched him up then and bore him, groaning heavily, upon the fishy deep to the border of the land where Thyestes had a home before, but Aegisthus Thyestiades lived then. But when at last even from there a safe return appeared,
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§ 4.520 and the gods turned back a fair wind, and they reached home, yes indeed, he set foot upon his fatherland with joy and he took hold of his fatherland and kissed it. Many hot tears poured from him when he saw his welcome land. A lookout saw him from a lookout, whom cunning Aegisthus
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§ 4.525 brought and posted and promised two talents of gold as pay. He'd been watching for a year, lest he miss him passing by and Agamemnon remember his impetuous prowess. He made his way to the palace to report to the shepherd of men. Aegisthus at once contrived a cunning design.
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§ 4.530 He chose twenty of the best men throughout the kingdom and set an ambush, then bid a feast be prepared elsewhere. Then he went to summon the shepherd of people Agamemnon with horses and a chariot, pondering shameless things. He led him, unaware of destruction, made him dinner,
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§ 4.535 and killed him, as one kills an ox at a trough. Neither any of Atreides' comrades who were with him were left nor any of Aegisthus', but they were killed in the palace.' So said he. Then my dear heart was broken, and I sat weeping on the sand, and truly my heart
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§ 4.540 no longer wished to live and see sun's light. Then after I'd had enough of weeping and writhing, right then the infallible old man of the sea said to me:'No longer, son of Atreus, weep a long time unrelentingly this way, since we find that no accomplishment. But try
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§ 4.545 very soon to reach your fatherland at last. For either you'll find him alive or Orestes got to him before you and killed him, and you might be present at his funeral.' So said he, and my heart and manly spirit again warmed in my chest even though I grieved.
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§ 4.550 And voicing winged words, I said to him:'Now at last I know of them, but name the third man, who's held back by the wide sea still alive or dead, for even though I grieve, I want to hear it.' So said I, and he immediately said to me in answer:
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§ 4.555'The son of Laertes, who has a house in Ithaca, whom I saw shedding thick tears on an island, in the palace of nymph Calypso, who holds him back by force. He's unable to reach his fatherland, for he hasn't oared ships or comrades at his side
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§ 4.560 to convoy him on the broad back of the sea. But it's not ordained for you, Zeus -nurtured Menelaus, to meet your fate and die in horse-grazing Argos, but to the Elysian plain and the limits of the earth the immortals will send you, where blond Rhadamanthus is,
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§ 4.565 there where life is easiest for men, no snow, and not much winter, and never rain, but always gusts of clearly blowing West Wind Ocean sends up to cool off men, because you have Helen and are a son-in-law of Zeus to them.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.570
§ 4.570 So saying, he dove beneath the surging sea, then I went to the ships with my godlike comrades and my heart was much troubled on my way. Then after we'd gone down to the ship and sea and made dinner, and ambrosial night came on,
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.575
§ 4.575 we laid down then to sleep at the edge of sea's surf. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, we first of all hauled our ships into the divine sea, then in our balanced ships we put the masts and sails. Then they went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks,
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.580
§ 4.580 and seated in rows beat the gray sea with their oars back to Zeus -fallen river Egypt's water. I moored my ships and offered perfect hecatombs. Then after I ended the anger of the gods who are forever, I heaped a grave mound for Agamemnon, so his fame be inextinguishable.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.585
§ 4.585 When I'd done this I departed, and the immortals granted me a fair wind and sent me swiftly to my beloved fatherland. But come now, stay in my palace until the eleventh and twelfth day come to be. Right then I'll send you off well and give you splendid gifts,
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.590
§ 4.590 three horses and a well-polished chariot. Then afterward I'll give you a beautiful chalice, so you can make libation to the gods immortal and all your days remember me.” Astute Telemachus said back to him in turn: “ Atreides, don't keep me here a long time
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.595
§ 4.595 even though I'd be content to sit beside you for a year and longing for either home or parents wouldn't seize me, since I terribly enjoy hearing your stories and your words. But by now my comrades are becoming impatient in sacred Pylos, and you do keep me here a while.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.600
§ 4.600 Whatever gift you'd give me, let it be one to be treasured. I won't take the horses to Ithaca, but I'll leave them here for you yourself, as honors, for you rule over a wide plain in which is much lotus and galingale and wheat and spelt and broad-eared white barley.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.605
§ 4.605 In Ithaca are neither wide courses nor any meadowland. It's goat -grazing land and more lovely than horse-grazing, for none of the islands are for good for horses or well-meadowed, the islands that slope to the sea, Ithaca even more than all.” So said he, and battle-cry-brave Menelaus smiled,
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.610
§ 4.610 caressed him with his hand, called out his name, and said: “You're of good blood, dear child, in what you say, therefore I'll change these things for you, since I can. Of all the gifts that lie as treasures in my house, I'll give the one that's most beautiful and honored.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002:4.615
§ 4.615 I'll give you a well-crafted mixing bowl. The whole thing's silver, and the rim is finished with gold, a work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus, the Sidonian king, gave it to me when his house sheltered me there on my return, and I want to send it with you.”

Via ToposText (topostext.org), a project of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation created by Brady Kiesling. Translated by James E. Huddleston (1952-2007). Composed ca. 700 BCE. Licence: under copyright, reusable for non-commercial purposes. Source.