# The Odyssey, Book 11: The Book of the Dead: Odysseus Among the Shades

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Wanderings

Odysseus sails to the edge of the world and calls up the dead: Tiresias, his mother, Agamemnon, Achilles, and the great sinners at their punishments.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/11. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/11.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,  
But when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
> Aorist of κατέρχομαι: An aorist indicative with the augment, marking the completed past action of going down. Homer often opens a scene with such an aorist.

**2** νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,  
first of all we dragged the ship down into the bright sea,

**3** ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,  
and set the mast and sails in the black ship,
> Black ship: A standing Homeric epithet for ships, referring to the dark pitch that waterproofed the hull.

**4** ἐν δὲ τὰ μῆλα λαβόντες ἐβήσαμεν, ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ  
and took the sheep and put them aboard, and ourselves too

**5** βαίνομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.  
embarked, grieving and shedding swelling tears.
> Participles of manner: Two present participles describe how the men board: grieving and weeping. They agree with the subject of the main verb.

**6** ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο  
And for us, behind the dark-prowed ship,

**7** ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,  
a fair following wind that filled the sail, a good companion,

**8** Κίρκη εὐπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.  
was sent by fair-haired Circe, dread goddess with a human voice.

**9** ἡμεῖς δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα  
And we, when we had seen to each piece of tackle throughout the ship,

**10** ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.  
sat still; and the wind and the helmsman kept her straight.

**11** τῆς δὲ πανημερίης τέταθʼ ἱστία ποντοπορούσης·  
All day long her sails were stretched as she crossed the deep;

**12** δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.  
then the sun set and all the ways grew dark.

**13** ἡ δʼ ἐς πείραθʼ ἵκανε βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.  
She came to the bounds of deep-flowing Okeanos,

**14** ἔνθα δὲ Κιμμερίων ἀνδρῶν δῆμός τε πόλις τε,  
where lie the land and the city of the Cimmerian men,

**15** ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμένοι· οὐδέ ποτʼ αὐτοὺς  
wrapped in mist and cloud; never upon them

**16** ἠέλιος φαέθων καταδέρκεται ἀκτίνεσσιν,  
does the shining sun look down with his rays,

**17** οὔθʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν στείχῃσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,  
neither when he climbs toward the starry heaven,
> Subjunctive in a general clause: The subjunctive with ἄν after ὁπότε expresses a general, repeated occurrence: "whenever he climbs."

**18** οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτράπηται,  
nor when he turns back to earth from heaven,

**19** ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νὺξ ὀλοὴ τέταται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι.  
but deadly night is stretched over those wretched mortals.

**20** νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν, ἐκ δὲ τὰ μῆλα  
Coming there, we beached the ship, and the sheep

**21** εἱλόμεθʼ· αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτε παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο  
we took out; then we ourselves went along the stream of Okeanos

**22** ᾔομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐς χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ὃν φράσε Κίρκη.  
until we reached the place that Circe had told us of.

**23** ἔνθʼ ἱερήια μὲν Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε  
There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims,

**24** ἔσχον· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ  
while I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
> Middle participle: The aorist middle participle shows Odysseus drawing the sword for himself, the middle voice marking the action as done in his own interest.

**25** βόθρον ὄρυξʼ ὅσσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
and dug a pit, about a cubit each way,

**26** ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεόμην πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,  
and around it I poured a drink-offering to all the dead,

**27** πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,  
first with mixed honey and milk, then with sweet wine,

**28** τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνον.  
and a third time with water; and over it I sprinkled white barley meal.

**29** πολλὰ δὲ γουνούμην νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,  
And earnestly I prayed to the strengthless heads of the dead,
> Strengthless heads: A vivid kenning for the dead: "the strengthless heads," picturing the shades as drained of force.

**30** ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,  
vowing that, when I came to Ithaca, a barren cow, the best I had,

**31** ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,  
I would sacrifice in my halls and heap the pyre with good things,

**32** Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ  
and that to Teiresias apart I would offer a sheep, one alone,

**33** παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ἡμετέροισι.  
all black, the finest among my flocks.

**34** τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ εὐχωλῇσι λιτῇσί τε, ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,  
When with prayers and entreaties I had besought the tribes of the dead,

**35** ἐλλισάμην, τὰ δὲ μῆλα λαβὼν ἀπεδειροτόμησα  
I took the sheep and cut their throats

**36** ἐς βόθρον, ῥέε δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· αἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο  
over the pit, and the dark blood flowed; and there gathered
> Dark as a cloud: The blood is "dark-clouded," a compound epithet stressing its blackness as it pools in the pit.

**37** ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ Ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.  
the souls of the dead and departed, up out of Erebus.

**38** νύμφαι τʼ ἠίθεοί τε πολύτλητοί τε γέροντες  
Brides and unwed young men and toil-worn old men,

**39** παρθενικαί τʼ ἀταλαὶ νεοπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαι,  
and tender maidens with grief fresh in their hearts,

**40** πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάμενοι χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν,  
and many pierced by bronze-tipped spears,

**41** ἄνδρες ἀρηίφατοι βεβροτωμένα τεύχεʼ ἔχοντες·  
men slain in war, wearing armor stained with blood;

**42** οἳ πολλοὶ περὶ βόθρον ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος  
in throngs they flocked about the pit from every side,

**43** θεσπεσίῃ ἰαχῇ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.  
with an eerie cry; and pale fear seized me.
> Pale fear: Literally "green/pale fear," the color-word χλωρός conveying the blanching of the face in terror.

**44** δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα  
Then at once I urged my companions and ordered them

**45** μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατέκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,  
to take the sheep that lay there, slaughtered by the pitiless bronze,

**46** δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,  
and flay them and burn them, and to pray to the gods,

**47** ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·  
to mighty Hades and dread Persephone;

**48** αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ  
and I myself, drawing the sharp sword from beside my thigh,

**49** ἥμην, οὐδʼ εἴων νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα  
sat there, and would not let the strengthless heads of the dead

**50** αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.  
come near the blood before I had questioned Teiresias.
> πρίν with the infinitive: After a negative main clause, πρίν takes the infinitive to mean "before questioning," marking the limit on the action.

**51** πρώτη δὲ ψυχὴ Ἐλπήνορος ἦλθεν ἑταίρου·  
First came the soul of my companion Elpenor,

**52** οὐ γάρ πω ἐτέθαπτο ὑπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης·  
for he had not yet been buried beneath the wide-wayed earth;

**53** σῶμα γὰρ ἐν Κίρκης μεγάρῳ κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς  
his body we had left behind in Circe's hall,

**54** ἄκλαυτον καὶ ἄθαπτον, ἐπεὶ πόνος ἄλλος ἔπειγε.  
unwept and unburied, since another task was pressing us.

**55** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,  
When I saw him I wept and pitied him in my heart,

**56** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·  
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
> Winged words: The most famous Homeric formula for speech: words that fly from the speaker to the hearer.

**57** Ἐλπῆνορ, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα;  
"Elpenor, how did you come beneath the murky gloom?

**58** ἔφθης πεζὸς ἰὼν ἢ ἐγὼ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.  
You have come on foot quicker than I in my black ship."

**59** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·  
So I spoke, and he with a groan answered me:

**60** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
> Resourceful Odysseus: A standing epithet, "of many devices," naming the hero's defining cleverness. Keep it as a formulaic title.

**61** ἆσέ με δαίμονος αἶσα κακὴ καὶ ἀθέσφατος οἶνος.  
an evil doom from some god undid me, and measureless wine.

**62** Κίρκης δʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ καταλέγμενος οὐκ ἐνόησα  
Lying down in Circe's hall, I did not think

**63** ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,  
to go back down again by the long ladder,

**64** ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσον· ἐκ δέ μοι αὐχὴν  
but fell straight from the roof; and my neck

**65** ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθε.  
was broken at the joint, and my soul went down to Hades.

**66** νῦν δέ σε τῶν ὄπιθεν γουνάζομαι, οὐ παρεόντων,  
Now I beseech you by those left behind, who are not here,
> Middle voice of supplication: The verb "I beseech" is middle in form, fitting the personal, self-interested act of clasping the knees in entreaty.

**67** πρός τʼ ἀλόχου καὶ πατρός, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,  
by your wife and your father, who reared you when you were little,

**68** Τηλεμάχου θʼ, ὃν μοῦνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες·  
and by Telemachus, the only son you left in your halls:

**69** οἶδα γὰρ ὡς ἐνθένδε κιὼν δόμου ἐξ Ἀίδαο  
for I know that, when you leave this house of Hades,

**70** νῆσον ἐς Αἰαίην σχήσεις ἐυεργέα νῆα·  
you will bring your well-built ship to the island of Aeaea.

**71** ἔνθα σʼ ἔπειτα, ἄναξ, κέλομαι μνήσασθαι ἐμεῖο.  
There then, my lord, I beg you to remember me.

**72** μή μʼ ἄκλαυτον ἄθαπτον ἰὼν ὄπιθεν καταλείπειν  
Do not, when you leave, go away and abandon me

**73** νοσφισθείς, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι,  
turning aside from me, lest I become a cause of the gods' wrath against you,

**74** ἀλλά με κακκῆαι σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἅσσα μοι ἔστιν,  
but burn me with whatever armor is mine,

**75** σῆμά τέ μοι χεῦαι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,  
and heap up a tomb for me on the shore of the gray sea,

**76** ἀνδρὸς δυστήνοιο καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.  
the grave of an unlucky man, for those yet to come to learn of.
> Future participle as substantive: The future participle "those who will be" stands for "men of later times," the dative naming for whom the tomb is made.

**77** ταῦτά τέ μοι τελέσαι πῆξαί τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἐρετμόν,  
Do these things for me, and fix on the mound the oar

**78** τῷ καὶ ζωὸς ἔρεσσον ἐὼν μετʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν.  
with which I rowed in life among my companions."

**79** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:

**80** ταῦτά τοι, ὦ δύστηνε, τελευτήσω τε καὶ ἔρξω.  
"These things, unhappy man, I will fulfill and do for you."

**81** νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν  
So we two sat exchanging grievous words,
> Dual forms: The pronoun "we two" and the participle are dual, a number Homer uses for exactly two, here Odysseus and Elpenor.

**82** ἥμεθʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄνευθεν ἐφʼ αἵματι φάσγανον ἴσχων,  
I on the one side holding my sword over the blood,

**83** εἴδωλον δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἑταίρου πόλλʼ ἀγόρευεν·  
while the phantom of my companion spoke much from the other side.

**84** ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ μητρὸς κατατεθνηυίης,  
Then came up the soul of my dead mother,

**85** Αὐτολύκου θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀντίκλεια,  
Anticleia, daughter of great-hearted Autolycus,

**86** τὴν ζωὴν κατέλειπον ἰὼν εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.  
whom I had left alive when I went to sacred Ilion.

**87** τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ·  
When I saw her I wept and pitied her in my heart,

**88** ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς εἴων προτέρην, πυκινόν περ ἀχεύων,  
but even so, though I grieved sorely, I would not let her come first

**89** αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.  
near the blood before I had questioned Teiresias.

**90** ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο  
Then came up the soul of Theban Teiresias,

**91** χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔγνω καὶ προσέειπεν·  
holding a golden staff; and he knew me and spoke:

**92** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

**93** τίπτʼ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, λιπὼν φάος ἠελίοιο  
why now, unhappy man, leaving the light of the sun,

**94** ἤλυθες, ὄφρα ἴδῃ νέκυας καὶ ἀτερπέα χῶρον;  
have you come to see the dead and this joyless place?

**95** ἀλλʼ ἀποχάζεο βόθρου, ἄπισχε δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,  
Stand back from the pit and hold off your sharp sword,
> Imperatives: Teiresias issues two commands in the imperative: "stand back" and "hold off," directing Odysseus so he can drink the blood.

**96** αἵματος ὄφρα πίω καί τοι νημερτέα εἴπω.  
that I may drink of the blood and tell you the truth."

**97** ὣς φάτʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἀναχασσάμενος ξίφος
                     ἀργυρόηλον  
So he spoke, and I drew back and the silver-studded sword

**98** κουλεῷ ἐγκατέπηξʼ. ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν,  
thrust into its sheath. And when he had drunk the dark blood,

**99** καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μάντις ἀμύμων·  
then at last the noble seer spoke to me with words:

**100** νόστον δίζηαι μελιηδέα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·  
"You seek a honey-sweet homecoming, glorious Odysseus,

**101** τὸν δέ τοι ἀργαλέον θήσει θεός· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω  
but a god will make it hard for you; for I do not think

**102** λήσειν ἐννοσίγαιον, ὅ τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ  
you will escape the Earth-shaker, who has set anger in his heart against you,
> Earth-shaker: A title of Poseidon, "shaker of the earth," marking his power over earthquakes and the sea.

**103** χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.  
enraged because you blinded his dear son.

**104** ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν κε καὶ ὣς κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε,  
Yet even so, though suffering hardships, you may still reach home,
> Optative of possibility: The optative with κε expresses a possible future outcome: "you may reach." Homer often uses it for cautious prediction.

**105** αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃς σὸν θυμὸν ἐρυκακέειν καὶ ἑταίρων,  
if you are willing to restrain your own heart and your companions',

**106** ὁππότε κε πρῶτον πελάσῃς ἐυεργέα νῆα  
when first you bring your well-built ship near

**107** Θρινακίῃ νήσῳ, προφυγὼν ἰοειδέα πόντον,  
to the island of Thrinacia, escaping the violet sea,

**108** βοσκομένας δʼ εὕρητε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα  
and you find grazing there the cattle and sturdy sheep

**109** Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.  
of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things.

**110** τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,  
If you leave these unharmed and keep your mind on your homecoming,

**111** καί κεν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·  
then you may still reach Ithaca, though after much suffering;

**112** εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,  
but if you harm them, then I foretell ruin for you,
> Vivid present: Teiresias uses the present tense "I foretell" to mark the prophecy as a present, certain act, heightening its force.

**113** νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις. αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,  
for your ship and your comrades. And even if you yourself escape,

**114** ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,  
you will come home late and in misery, having lost all your comrades,

**115** νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης· δήεις δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ,  
aboard another man's ship; and you will find troubles in your house,

**116** ἄνδρας ὑπερφιάλους, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσι  
arrogant men who are devouring your livelihood,

**117** μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες.  
courting your godlike wife and offering bridal gifts.

**118** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κείνων γε βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών·  
But you will surely avenge their violence when you come;
> Future middle: The future middle "you will avenge yourself" (ἀποτίσεαι) frames the revenge as something Odysseus does for his own interest, the typical sense of the middle voice.

**119** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι  
and after you have killed the suitors in your halls,

**120** κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ,  
whether by guile or openly with sharp bronze,

**121** ἔρχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,  
then you must set out, taking a well-fitted oar,

**122** εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκηαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν  
until you reach men who know nothing of the sea

**123** ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·  
and eat no food mixed with salt;

**124** οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους  
they know nothing of ships with crimson cheeks,
> Crimson-cheeked ships: Ships' prows were painted red; the compound literally means "red-cheeked," treating the bow like a face.

**125** οὐδʼ ἐυήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.  
nor of well-fitted oars, which are the wings of ships.
> Oars as wings: Calling oars the "wings" of ships is a Homeric image likening rowing to flight.

**126** σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει·  
I will tell you a very clear sign, and it will not escape you:
> Sign / token: A sêma is a sign or token to be recognized; here, the unmistakable proof that Odysseus has reached the inland people.

**127** ὁππότε κεν δή τοι συμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτης  
when another wayfarer, meeting you,

**128** φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,  
says you have a winnowing-fan on your shining shoulder,

**129** καὶ τότε δὴ γαίῃ πήξας ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,  
then plant the well-fitted oar in the earth,

**130** ῥέξας ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,  
and sacrifice fine offerings to lord Poseidon,

**131** ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,  
a ram, a bull, and a boar that mounts the sows,

**132** οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερᾶς ἑκατόμβας  
and then go home and offer sacred hecatombs

**133** ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,  
to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,

**134** πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης. θάνατος δέ τοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ  
to all in due order. And for you death will come from the sea,

**135** ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ σε πέφνῃ  
a death so gentle, that will lay you low

**136** γήραι ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ  
worn out under sleek old age; and around you your people

**137** ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται. τὰ δέ τοι νημερτέα εἴρω.  
will be prosperous. This is the truth I tell you.

**138** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So he spoke, and I answered him, saying:

**139** Τειρεσίη, τὰ μὲν ἄρ που ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ αὐτοί.  
"Teiresias, all this surely the gods themselves have spun.

**140** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·  
But come, tell me this and recount it truly:

**141** μητρὸς τήνδʼ ὁρόω ψυχὴν κατατεθνηυίης·  
I see here the ghost of my dead mother;

**142** ἡ δʼ ἀκέουσʼ ἧσται σχεδὸν αἵματος, οὐδʼ ἑὸν υἱὸν  
she sits in silence near the blood, and has not dared

**143** ἔτλη ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι.  
to look her own son in the face nor to speak to him.
> Complementary infinitives: ἔτλη ("she dared") governs the infinitives ἰδεῖν ("to look") and προτιμυθήσασθαι ("to speak to"), completing the verb's sense.

**144** εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς κέν με ἀναγνοίη τὸν ἐόντα;  
Tell me, lord, how can she know me for who I am?"

**145** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπεν·  
So I spoke, and he at once answered me, saying:

**146** ῥηΐδιόν τοι ἔπος ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θήσω.  
"Easy is the word I will tell you and set in your mind.

**147** ὅν τινα μέν κεν ἐᾷς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων  
Whichever of the dead departed you allow

**148** αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, ὁ δέ τοι νημερτὲς ἐνίψει·  
to come near the blood will speak to you truly;

**149** ᾧ δέ κʼ ἐπιφθονέῃς, ὁ δέ τοι πάλιν εἶσιν ὀπίσσω.  
but whoever you refuse will go back again."
> Conditional relative: The relative clause with the subjunctive (ᾧ δέ κʼ ἐπιφθονέῃς) is conditional: "whoever you should begrudge." The particle κε marks the contingency.

**150** ὣς φαμένη ψυχὴ μὲν ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω  
Having spoken so, the ghost went into the house of Hades,

**151** Τειρεσίαο ἄνακτος, ἐπεὶ κατὰ θέσφατʼ ἔλεξεν·  
the ghost of lord Teiresias, once he had told the decrees of fate;

**152** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μήτηρ  
but I stayed firmly there, until my mother

**153** ἤλυθε καὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινεφές· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω,  
came and drank the dark-clouded blood; and at once she knew me,
> Dark-clouded blood: κελαινεφές, "black as a storm-cloud," is normally an epithet of Zeus; here transferred to blood to deepen its darkness.

**154** καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and wailing she spoke winged words to me:
> Winged words: "Winged words" (ἔπεα πτερόεντα) is one of Homer's most frequent formulaic epithets, introducing direct speech that flies from speaker to hearer.

**155** τέκνον ἐμόν, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα  
"My child, how did you come beneath the murky gloom

**156** ζωὸς ἐών; χαλεπὸν δὲ τάδε ζωοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.  
while still alive? Hard it is for the living to behold these things.

**157** μέσσῳ γὰρ μεγάλοι ποταμοὶ καὶ δεινὰ ῥέεθρα,  
For in between are great rivers and dread streams,

**158** Ὠκεανὸς μὲν πρῶτα, τὸν οὔ πως ἔστι περῆσαι  
Okeanos first of all, which there is no way to cross

**159** πεζὸν ἐόντʼ, ἢν μή τις ἔχῃ ἐυεργέα νῆα.  
on foot, unless one has a well-built ship.

**160** ἦ νῦν δὴ Τροίηθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις  
Have you only now come here, wandering from Troy

**161** νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροισι πολὺν χρόνον; οὐδέ πω ἦλθες  
with your ship and comrades, after long time? Have you not yet come

**162** εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ εἶδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκα;  
to Ithaca, nor seen your wife in your halls?"

**163** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So she spoke, and I answered her, saying:

**164** μῆτερ ἐμή, χρειώ με κατήγαγεν εἰς Ἀίδαο  
"My mother, need brought me down to Hades
> Augmented aorist: κατήγαγεν ("brought down") is an aorist with the augment κατ-ή-, marking past time in the indicative. Completed aspect is a property of the aorist stem itself, not of the augment — the augment appears equally on the imperfect (ongoing past) as on the aorist.

**165** ψυχῇ χρησόμενον Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο·  
to consult the ghost of Theban Teiresias.

**166** οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς  
For not yet have I come near Achaea, nor yet

**167** γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχων ἀλάλημαι ὀιζύν,  
set foot on my own land, but always wander in misery,

**168** ἐξ οὗ τὰ πρώτισθʼ ἑπόμην Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ  
from the very first, when I followed godlike Agamemnon

**169** Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μαχοίμην.  
to Ilion of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans.

**170** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·  
But come, tell me this and recount it truly:

**171** τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;  
what doom of grievous death overcame you?
> Kêr, doom of death: A kêr is a personified spirit of death, the particular fate that brings a mortal down.

**172** ἦ δολιχὴ νοῦσος, ἦ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα  
Was it a long illness, or did Artemis the archer

**173** οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν;  
come upon you with her gentle arrows and slay you?

**174** εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός τε καὶ υἱέος, ὃν κατέλειπον,  
Tell me too of my father and of the son I left behind,

**175** ἢ ἔτι πὰρ κείνοισιν ἐμὸν γέρας, ἦέ τις ἤδη  
whether my honor still rests with them, or whether some

**176** ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχει, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.  
other man already holds it, and they say I will return no more.

**177** εἰπὲ δέ μοι μνηστῆς ἀλόχου βουλήν τε νόον τε,  
Tell me too of my wedded wife, her purpose and her mind,

**178** ἠὲ μένει παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσει  
whether she stays with our son and keeps all secure,

**179** ἦ ἤδη μιν ἔγημεν Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.  
or whether some best man of the Achaeans has already married her."

**180** ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια
                     μήτηρ·  
So I spoke, and at once my honored mother answered:

**181** καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ  
"Indeed she stays with enduring heart
> Perfect participle: τετληότι ("enduring") is a perfect active participle of τλάω, with reduplication, describing the settled, lasting state of Penelope's patience.

**182** σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀιζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ  
in your halls; and ever wretchedly for her

**183** φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.  
the nights and days waste away as she sheds tears.

**184** σὸν δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος  
No one yet holds your fine honor, but in peace

**185** Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐίσας  
Telemachus tends the estates and shares in equal feasts,

**186** δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρʼ ἀλεγύνειν·  
the banquets it befits a man who deals justice to attend,

**187** πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνει  
for all invite him. But your father stays out there

**188** ἀγρῷ, οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται. οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶ  
in the country, and does not come down to town. He has no bed,

**189** δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,  
no bedstead, no cloaks, no glossy coverlets,

**190** ἀλλʼ ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,  
but in winter he sleeps where the servants do in the house,

**191** ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·  
in the dust beside the fire, and wears poor clothes upon his body;

**192** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ὀπώρη,  
but when summer comes and the rich autumn,

**193** πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο  
everywhere along the slope of his vineyard ground

**194** φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.  
low beds of fallen leaves are strewn for him.

**195** ἔνθʼ ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξει  
There he lies grieving, and the great sorrow swells in his heart

**196** σὸν νόστον ποθέων, χαλεπὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.  
as he longs for your return, and harsh old age comes upon him.
> Nostos, homecoming: nostos is the homecoming that drives the whole poem; here Laertes pines for Odysseus's return.

**197** οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·  
For so I too perished and met my doom:

**198** οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐύσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα  
it was not the keen-eyed archer goddess who in my halls

**199** οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,  
came upon me with her gentle arrows and slew me,

**200** οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλιστα  
nor did any illness come over me, the kind that most often

**201** τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·  
with hateful wasting takes the spirit from the limbs;

**202** ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
but longing for you, and your counsels, glorious Odysseus,

**203** σή τʼ ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.  
and your tenderness, took my honey-sweet life away."
> Honey-sweet life: μελιηδής, "honey-sweet," is a stock epithet applied to wine, fruit, sleep, and here to life itself.

**204** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γʼ ἔθελον φρεσὶ
                     μερμηρίξας  
So she spoke, and I, pondering in my heart, longed

**205** μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.  
to clasp the ghost of my dead mother.

**206** τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,  
Three times I rushed forward, and my heart urged me to clasp her,
> Threefold attempt: The "three times... three times" pattern (here and in line 207) is a Homeric formula for a futile, repeated effort.

**207** τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳ  
but three times she flew from my hands, like a shadow or a dream,

**208** ἔπτατʼ. ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,  
and the sharp grief grew the more within my heart,

**209** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·  
and I spoke winged words to her:

**210** μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μʼ οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν
                        μεμαῶτα,  
"My mother, why do you not stay for me, who long to hold you,

**211** ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντε  
so that even in Hades, throwing our dear arms around each other,
> Dual number: χεῖρε ("two hands") and βαλόντε ("the two of them throwing") are duals: the special Homeric form for a natural pair, here mother and son embracing.

**212** ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;  
we might both take our fill of chilling lament?

**213** ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδʼ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια  
Or is this only a phantom that majestic Persephone

**214** ὤτρυνʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;  
has sent me, so that I may groan and grieve still more?"

**215** ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια
                     μήτηρ·  
So I spoke, and at once my honored mother answered:

**216** ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, περὶ πάντων κάμμορε φωτῶν,  
"Ah me, my child, most ill-fated of all men,

**217** οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,  
it is not Persephone, daughter of Zeus, who deceives you,

**218** ἀλλʼ αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν·  
but this is the way of mortals when one of them dies:
> Dikê, the way / custom: Here δίκη means not "justice" but "the way things are," the customary lot of mortals after death.

**219** οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,  
for the sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones,

**220** ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο  
but the mighty force of blazing fire

**221** δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκʼ ὀστέα θυμός,  
subdues them, once the spirit first leaves the white bones,

**222** ψυχὴ δʼ ἠύτʼ ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.  
and the soul flits away like a dream and is gone, fluttering off.
> psyche as the fluttering shade: Here psyche is the soul that leaves the body at death and survives as a powerless shade. The simile likens it to a dream, an image as insubstantial as it is real.

**223** ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο· ταῦτα δὲ πάντα  
But long for the light with all speed; and all these things

**224** ἴσθʼ, ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.  
know, so that hereafter you may tell them to your wife.
> imperative "know": ἴσθι is the imperative of οἶδα, "know." Antikleia commands Odysseus to take careful note so he can later report to Penelope.

**225** νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμεθʼ, αἱ δὲ
                     γυναῖκες  
So the two of us went on exchanging words, and the women
> dual "the two of us": νῶι is the dual pronoun, "we two," used for Odysseus and his mother as a natural pair in conversation.

**226** ἤλυθον, ὤτρυνεν γὰρ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια,  
came, for noble Persephone urged them on,

**227** ὅσσαι ἀριστήων ἄλοχοι ἔσαν ἠδὲ θύγατρες.  
all those who had been the wives and daughters of great men.

**228** αἱ δʼ ἀμφʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο,  
They gathered in a throng about the dark blood,

**229** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον ὅπως ἐρέοιμι ἑκάστην.  
while I was planning how I might question each of them.

**230** ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·  
And this seemed to my mind the best plan:

**231** σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ  
drawing the long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh,

**232** οὐκ εἴων πίνειν ἅμα πάσας αἷμα κελαινόν.  
I would not let them all drink the dark blood at once.

**233** αἱ δὲ προμνηστῖναι ἐπήισαν, ἠδὲ ἑκάστη  
So they came forward one after another, and each

**234** ὃν γόνον ἐξαγόρευεν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐρέεινον ἁπάσας.  
declared her lineage; and I questioned them all.

**235** ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πρώτην Τυρὼ ἴδον εὐπατέρειαν,  
There first I saw Tyro, born of a noble father,

**236** ἣ φάτο Σαλμωνῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονος εἶναι,  
who said she was the daughter of blameless Salmoneus,

**237** φῆ δὲ Κρηθῆος γυνὴ ἔμμεναι Αἰολίδαο·  
and said she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus.

**238** ἣ ποταμοῦ ἠράσσατʼ Ἐνιπῆος θείοιο,  
She fell in love with the river, divine Enipeus,

**239** ὃς πολὺ κάλλιστος ποταμῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησι,  
who is by far the fairest of rivers that flow upon the earth,

**240** καί ῥʼ ἐπʼ Ἐνιπῆος πωλέσκετο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.  
and she would often haunt the beautiful streams of Enipeus.
> iterative imperfect: πωλέσκετο is an iterative form (with the -σκ- suffix), describing a repeated, habitual action: she "used to go" again and again to the river.

**241** τῷ δʼ ἄρα εἰσάμενος γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος  
Taking his shape, the earth-holder, the earth-shaker,
> epithet of Poseidon: γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος, "earth-holder, earth-shaker," are standard epithets of Poseidon, marking his power over land and sea and his role in earthquakes.

**242** ἐν προχοῇς ποταμοῦ παρελέξατο δινήεντος·  
lay with her at the outpourings of the eddying river.

**243** πορφύρεον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα περιστάθη, οὔρεϊ ἶσον,  
A dark wave stood arched around them, high as a mountain,

**244** κυρτωθέν, κρύψεν δὲ θεὸν θνητήν τε γυναῖκα.  
curving over, and it hid the god and the mortal woman.

**245** λῦσε δὲ παρθενίην ζώνην, κατὰ δʼ ὕπνον ἔχευεν.  
He loosed her maiden girdle and poured sleep upon her.

**246** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐτέλεσσε θεὸς φιλοτήσια ἔργα,  
But when the god had finished the work of love,

**247** ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
he clasped her hand, spoke a word, and called her by name:

**248** χαῖρε, γύναι, φιλότητι· περιπλομένου δʼ
                        ἐνιαυτοῦ  
"Rejoice, woman, in this love; and as the year comes round

**249** τέξεις ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιοι εὐναὶ  
you will bear splendid children, for the beds of the immortals

**250** ἀθανάτων· σὺ δὲ τοὺς κομέειν ἀτιταλλέμεναί τε.  
are not barren; and you must nurse and rear them.

**251** νῦν δʼ ἔρχευ πρὸς δῶμα, καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀνομήνῃς·  
But now go to your house, and hold back, and name no name;
> prohibition with the subjunctive: μηδʼ ὀνομήνῃς uses μή with the aorist subjunctive to forbid an action: "do not name (me)." Poseidon orders Tyro to keep his identity secret.

**252** αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοί εἰμι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.  
but know that I am Poseidon, the earth-shaker."

**253** ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.  
So saying, he plunged beneath the surging sea.

**254** ἡ δʼ ὑποκυσαμένη Πελίην τέκε καὶ Νηλῆα,  
And she conceived and bore Pelias and Neleus,

**255** τὼ κρατερὼ θεράποντε Διὸς μεγάλοιο γενέσθην  
who both became mighty servants of great Zeus,
> dual verb: γενέσθην is a dual aorist, "the two of them became," matching the dual subject of Pelias and Neleus as a pair of brothers.

**256** ἀμφοτέρω· Πελίης μὲν ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ἰαωλκῷ  
the two of them: Pelias in spacious Iolcus

**257** ναῖε πολύρρηνος, ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι.  
dwelt, rich in flocks, and the other in sandy Pylos.

**258** τοὺς δʼ ἑτέρους Κρηθῆι τέκεν βασίλεια γυναικῶν,  
The rest she bore to Cretheus, that queen among women:

**259** Αἴσονά τʼ ἠδὲ Φέρητʼ Ἀμυθάονά θʼ ἱππιοχάρμην.  
Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon, who delights in chariots.

**260** τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα,  
After her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus,

**261** ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι,  
who boasted that she had slept in the very arms of Zeus,

**262** καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδʼ, Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε,  
and she bore two sons, Amphion and Zethus,

**263** οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο,  
who first founded the seat of seven-gated Thebes

**264** πύργωσάν τʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γʼ ἐδύναντο  
and walled it, since they could not, for all their strength,

**265** ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε.  
dwell in spacious Thebes unwalled, mighty though they were.
> dual participle: ἐόντε is the dual participle of εἰμί, "being (the two of them)," agreeing with the brothers Amphion and Zethus.

**266** τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀλκμήνην ἴδον, Ἀμφιτρύωνος
                     ἄκοιτιν,  
After her I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon,

**267** ἥ ῥʼ Ἡρακλῆα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα  
who bore Heracles, bold in spirit, lion-hearted,

**268** γείνατʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο μιγεῖσα·  
after she lay in the arms of great Zeus.

**269** καὶ Μεγάρην, Κρείοντος ὑπερθύμοιο θύγατρα,  
And Megara, daughter of proud-hearted Creon,

**270** τὴν ἔχεν Ἀμφιτρύωνος υἱὸς μένος αἰὲν ἀτειρής.  
whom the son of Amphitryon held, ever unwearied in strength.

**271** μητέρα τʼ Οἰδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Ἐπικάστην,  
And I saw the mother of Oedipus, fair Epicaste,

**272** ἣ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξεν ἀιδρείῃσι νόοιο  
who did a monstrous thing in the blindness of her mind,

**273** γημαμένη ᾧ υἷι· ὁ δʼ ὃν πατέρʼ ἐξεναρίξας  
marrying her own son; and he, having killed his father,

**274** γῆμεν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.  
married her; and at once the gods made it known to mortals.

**275** ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράτῳ ἄλγεα πάσχων  
Yet he, suffering pains in lovely Thebes,

**276** Καδμείων ἤνασσε θεῶν ὀλοὰς διὰ βουλάς·  
ruled the Cadmeans through the gods' deadly designs;

**277** ἡ δʼ ἔβη εἰς Ἀίδαο πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο,  
but she went down to the house of Hades, the strong gatekeeper,

**278** ἁψαμένη βρόχον αἰπὺν ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου,  
having fastened a sheer noose from the high rafter,

**279** ᾧ ἄχεϊ σχομένη· τῷ δʼ ἄλγεα κάλλιπʼ ὀπίσσω  
gripped by her grief; and to him she left sorrows behind,

**280** πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα τε μητρὸς Ἐρινύες ἐκτελέουσιν.  
very many, all that a mother's Furies bring to pass.

**281** καὶ Χλῶριν εἶδον περικαλλέα, τήν ποτε Νηλεὺς  
And I saw beautiful Chloris, whom once Neleus

**282** γῆμεν ἑὸν διὰ κάλλος, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,  
married for her beauty, after he gave countless bridal gifts,

**283** ὁπλοτάτην κούρην Ἀμφίονος Ἰασίδαο,  
the youngest daughter of Amphion son of Iasus,

**284** ὅς ποτʼ ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ Μινυείῳ ἶφι ἄνασσεν·  
who once ruled mightily in Minyan Orchomenus.

**285** ἡ δὲ Πύλου βασίλευε, τέκεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,  
She was queen of Pylos, and bore him splendid children,

**286** Νέστορά τε Χρόμιον τε Περικλύμενόν τʼ ἀγέρωχον.  
Nestor and Chromius and lordly Periclymenus.

**287** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,  
And besides them she bore mighty Pero, a wonder to mortals,

**288** τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδʼ ἄρα Νηλεὺς  
whom all the neighbors wooed; but Neleus

**289** τῷ ἐδίδου ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπους  
would give her to no man who did not drive off the curved-horned,

**290** ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε βίης Ἰφικληείης  
broad-browed cattle from Phylace, those of mighty Iphicles,

**291** ἀργαλέας· τὰς δʼ οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμων  
hard to take; these alone a blameless seer undertook
> the blameless seer: The unnamed seer is Melampus, famed in legend for prophecy. ἀμύμων, "blameless, excellent," is a recurring heroic epithet.

**292** ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε,  
to drive away; but the harsh fate of the god bound him fast,

**293** δεσμοί τʼ ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.  
with grievous bonds and the rustic herdsmen.

**294** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο  
But when at last the months and the days were fulfilled,

**295** ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,  
as the year came round again and the seasons returned,

**296** καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη,  
then mighty Iphicles set him free,

**297** θέσφατα πάντʼ εἰπόντα· Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή.  
once he had told all the oracles; and the will of Zeus was fulfilled.

**298** καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,  
And I saw Leda, the bedmate of Tyndareus,

**299** ἥ ῥʼ ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,  
who bore to Tyndareus two stout-hearted sons,

**300** Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,  
Castor tamer of horses and Polydeuces, good with his fists.

**301** τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·  
Both of them the life-giving earth holds, though alive,

**302** οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντες  
who even beneath the earth, holding honor from Zeus,

**303** ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσʼ ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε  
live one day at a time, and at another

**304** τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.  
are dead; and they have won honor equal to the gods.

**305** τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτιν  
After her I saw Iphimedeia, the bedmate of Aloeus,

**306** εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,  
who claimed that she had lain with Poseidon,

**307** καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δʼ ἐγενέσθην,  
and she bore two sons, but they were short-lived,

**308** Ὦτόν τʼ ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τʼ Ἐφιάλτην,  
godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes,

**309** οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουρα  
whom the grain-giving earth reared to be the tallest

**310** καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·  
and by far the fairest, after famous Orion;

**311** ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσαν  
for at nine years old they were nine cubits

**312** εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.  
in breadth, and in height the two of them grew nine fathoms.
> dual again for the giant brothers: γενέσθην is dual aorist, "the two grew," continuing to treat Otus and Ephialtes as an inseparable pair.

**313** οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ  
These two even threatened the immortals on Olympus

**314** φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάικος πολέμοιο.  
to raise the din of furious war.

**315** Ὄσσαν ἐπʼ Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ Ὄσσῃ  
They strove to set Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa

**316** Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵνʼ οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.  
leaf-shaking Pelion, that heaven might be scaled.

**317** καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο·  
And they would have done it, had they reached the measure of youth;

**318** ἀλλʼ ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,  
but the son of Zeus, whom fair-haired Leto bore, destroyed

**319** ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωιν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλους  
them both, before the down beneath their temples

**320** ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς ἐυανθέι λάχνῃ.  
could bloom and thicken their cheeks with flowering beard.

**321** Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τʼ
                     Ἀριάδνην,  
Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne,

**322** κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς  
daughter of malign-minded Minos, whom once Theseus

**323** ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράων  
from Crete toward the hill of sacred Athens

**324** ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα  
tried to bring, but had no joy of her; for first Artemis killed her

**325** Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσιν.  
in sea-girt Dia, on the testimony of Dionysus.

**326** Μαῖράν τε Κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τʼ
                     Ἐριφύλην,  
Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle,

**327** ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.  
who took precious gold as the price of her own husband.

**328** πάσας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,  
But I could not name or recount them all,

**329** ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·  
as many as the wives and daughters of heroes I saw;

**330** πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτʼ ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρη  
before that, the immortal night would wane. But it is time

**331** εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς ἑταίρους  
to sleep, whether after going to the swift ship and my comrades

**332** ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖς ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.  
or staying here; my escort shall be the gods' concern and yours.

**333** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,  
So he spoke, and they all fell hushed in silence,

**334** κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.  
and they were held spellbound throughout the shadowy halls.
> Held spellbound: kêlêthmos is the enchantment of song or skilled speech. Homer uses it to mark how completely the Phaeacians are captivated by Odysseus's tale.

**335** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων.  
Among them white-armed Arete was the first to speak:
> White-armed: A standard epithet for noble women in Homer. Such fixed name-epithet pairings help the oral poet fill out the hexameter line.

**336** Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι  
"Phaeacians, how does this man seem to you to be,

**337** εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐίσας;  
in looks and stature and the well-balanced mind within?

**338** ξεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·  
He is my own guest, yet each of you has a share in the honor.

**339** τῷ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε, μηδὲ τὰ δῶρα  
So do not be hasty to send him off, nor cut short the gifts

**340** οὕτω χρηίζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖν  
for one in such need; for many are the

**341** κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.  
treasures that lie in your halls by the will of the gods."

**342** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,  
Then the old hero Echeneus spoke among them too,

**343** ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·  
who was the eldest of the Phaeacian men:

**344** ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης  
"Friends, surely not wide of the mark nor of our own judgment

**345** μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.  
does our wise queen speak; so be persuaded.

**346** Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.  
Yet on Alcinous here the deed and the word depend."

**347** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·  
Then in answer Alcinous spoke to him:

**348** τοῦτο μὲν οὕτω δὴ ἔσται ἔπος, αἴ κεν ἐγώ γε  
"This word shall indeed be so, as surely as I

**349** ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·  
live and rule over the oar-loving Phaeacians.

**350** ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζων  
But let the stranger, however much he longs for his homecoming,
> Nostos: homecoming: nostos is the longing for and act of returning home, the central theme of the whole poem. It later gives us the word 'nostalgia'.

**351** ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσαν  
still endure to wait until tomorrow, until I complete

**352** δωτίνην τελέσω· πομπὴ δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει  
the whole gift; and his escort shall be the men's concern,

**353** πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.  
all of them, and mine above all; for the power in this land is mine."

**354** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
> Resourceful Odysseus: polymêtis ('of many devices') is Odysseus's signature epithet, naming the cunning that defines him.

**355** Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,  
"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all people,

**356** εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτʼ αὐτόθι μίμνειν,  
even if you bade me wait here a full year,

**357** πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,  
and urged on my escort and gave me splendid gifts,

**358** καὶ κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη,  
I would even wish for that, and it would be far more profitable,

**359** πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χειρὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι·  
to reach my dear homeland with a fuller hand;

**360** καί κʼ αἰδοιότερος καὶ φίλτερος ἀνδράσιν εἴην  
and I would be more respected and more dear to all men

**361** πᾶσιν, ὅσοι μʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα.  
who should see me come home to Ithaca."

**362** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·  
Then in answer Alcinous spoke to him and said:

**363** ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, τὸ μὲν οὔ τί σʼ ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες,  
"Odysseus, as we look at you we judge you in no way

**364** ἠπεροπῆά τʼ ἔμεν καὶ ἐπίκλοπον, οἷά τε πολλοὺς  
to be a deceiver and a cheat, such as the black earth

**365** βόσκει γαῖα μέλαινα πολυσπερέας ἀνθρώπους,  
breeds in great numbers, men scattered far and wide,

**366** ψεύδεά τʼ ἀρτύνοντας ὅθεν κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο·  
framing lies out of things no one could ever see.

**367** σοὶ δʼ ἔπι μὲν μορφὴ ἐπέων, ἔνι δὲ φρένες ἐσθλαί.  
But upon you is grace of words, and good sense within.
> Shapeliness of words: morphê epeôn is the 'form' or 'grace' of speech. Alcinous praises Odysseus's eloquence as the mark of an honest, well-ordered mind, not a liar's flattery.

**368** μῦθον δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἐπισταμένως κατέλεξας,  
You have told your tale skillfully, like a bard,

**369** πάντων τʼ Ἀργείων σέο τʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεα λυγρά.  
the grievous sorrows of all the Argives and of yourself.

**370** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,  
But come, tell me this and recount it truly:

**371** εἴ τινας ἀντιθέων ἑτάρων ἴδες, οἵ τοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ  
did you see any of your godlike comrades, who along with you

**372** Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο καὶ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐπέσπον.  
followed to Ilium and there met their doom?

**373** νὺξ δʼ ἥδε μάλα μακρή, ἀθέσφατος· οὐδέ πω ὥρη  
This night is very long, beyond telling; and it is not yet the hour

**374** εὕδειν ἐν μεγάρῳ, σὺ δέ μοι λέγε θέσκελα ἔργα.  
to sleep in the hall, so tell me of these marvelous deeds.

**375** καί κεν ἐς ἠῶ δῖαν ἀνασχοίμην, ὅτε μοι σὺ  
I could hold out even until the bright dawn, if you

**376** τλαίης ἐν μεγάρῳ τὰ σὰ κήδεα μυθήσασθαι.  
would bear to tell me of your sorrows here in the hall."

**377** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:

**378** Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,  
"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all people,

**379** ὥρη μὲν πολέων μύθων, ὥρη δὲ καὶ ὕπνου·  
there is a time for many tales, and a time also for sleep.

**380** εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀκουέμεναί γε λιλαίεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε  
But if you still long to listen, I would not

**381** τούτων σοι φθονέοιμι καὶ οἰκτρότερʼ ἄλλʼ ἀγορεύειν,  
grudge you these things, nor telling of others more pitiful still,

**382** κήδεʼ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἳ δὴ μετόπισθεν ὄλοντο,  
the sorrows of my comrades, who perished afterward,

**383** οἳ Τρώων μὲν ὑπεξέφυγον στονόεσσαν ἀυτήν,  
who escaped the grievous war-cry of the Trojans

**384** ἐν νόστῳ δʼ ἀπόλοντο κακῆς ἰότητι γυναικός.  
but died on their homecoming by the will of an evil woman.

**385** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψυχὰς μὲν ἀπεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ  
Now after holy Persephone had scattered this way and that

**386** ἁγνὴ Περσεφόνεια γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,  
the spirits of the women,

**387** ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο  
there came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

**388** ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ  
grieving; and round him were gathered the others, all who with him

**389** οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.  
died in the house of Aegisthus and met their doom.

**390** ἔγνω δʼ αἶψʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν·  
He knew me at once, when he had drunk the dark blood;
> Aorist of sudden recognition: egnô is the aorist of gignôskô, marking the instant the shade recognizes Odysseus once it has drunk the blood. The aorist captures a single completed event.

**391** κλαῖε δʼ ὅ γε λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων,  
he wept shrilly, letting fall big tears,

**392** πιτνὰς εἰς ἐμὲ χεῖρας, ὀρέξασθαι μενεαίνων·  
stretching his hands toward me, eager to embrace me;

**393** ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ οἱ ἔτʼ ἦν ἲς ἔμπεδος οὐδέ τι κῖκυς,  
but no longer was there firm strength in him, nor any vigor,

**394** οἵη περ πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι.  
such as once was in his supple limbs.

**395** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,  
When I saw him I wept and pitied him in my heart,

**396** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·  
and speaking to him I addressed winged words:
> Winged words: This formula, 'winged words', recurs constantly in Homer for direct speech, imagining words flying from speaker to hearer.

**397** Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,  
"Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,

**398** τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;  
what doom of death that lays men low brought you down?

**399** ἦε σέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν  
Did Poseidon overcome you among your ships,

**400** ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν;  
rousing the cruel blast of grievous winds?

**401** ἦέ σʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου  
Or did hostile men do you harm on dry land

**402** βοῦς περιταμνόμενον ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,  
as you cut off their cattle and fine flocks of sheep,

**403** ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενον ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;  
or while fighting for their city and their women?"

**404** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπε·  
So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:

**405** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

**406** οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν  
Poseidon did not overcome me among my ships,

**407** ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν,  
rousing the cruel blast of grievous winds,

**408** οὔτε μʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,  
nor did hostile men do me harm on dry land,

**409** ἀλλά μοι Αἴγισθος τεύξας θάνατόν τε μόρον τε  
but Aegisthus, contriving my death and doom,

**410** ἔκτα σὺν οὐλομένῃ ἀλόχῳ, οἶκόνδε καλέσσας,  
killed me with the help of my accursed wife, after he had called me home,

**411** δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.  
and feasted me, as one slaughters an ox at the manger.

**412** ὣς θάνον οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ· περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι  
So I died by a most pitiful death; and around me my other comrades

**413** νωλεμέως κτείνοντο σύες ὣς ἀργιόδοντες,  
were slain without pause, like white-tusked swine,

**414** οἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν ἀφνειοῦ ἀνδρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο  
such as are killed in the house of a rich and powerful man

**415** ἢ γάμῳ ἢ ἐράνῳ ἢ εἰλαπίνῃ τεθαλυίῃ.  
for a wedding, or a feast, or a lavish banquet.

**416** ἤδη μὲν πολέων φόνῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας,  
You have come upon the slaughter of many men before,

**417** μουνὰξ κτεινομένων καὶ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ·  
killed in single combat and in the fierce press of battle;

**418** ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν ὀλοφύραο θυμῷ,  
but you would have grieved most in your heart to see that,

**419** ὡς ἀμφὶ κρητῆρα τραπέζας τε πληθούσας  
how around the mixing-bowl and the laden tables

**420** κείμεθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.  
we lay in the hall, and the whole floor steamed with blood.
> The floor steamed with blood: thyen evokes blood seething or steaming like a sacrificial offering, a grim inversion: the murdered men flood the banquet hall as if it were an altar.

**421** οἰκτροτάτην δʼ ἤκουσα ὄπα Πριάμοιο θυγατρός,  
And I heard the most piteous cry of Priam's daughter,

**422** Κασσάνδρης, τὴν κτεῖνε Κλυταιμνήστρη δολόμητις  
Cassandra, whom guileful Clytemnestra was killing

**423** ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ γαίῃ χεῖρας ἀείρων  
over me, while I, raising my hands toward the ground,

**424** βάλλον ἀποθνήσκων περὶ φασγάνῳ· ἡ δὲ κυνῶπις  
let them fall, dying, upon the sword; and she, the dog-faced one,
> Dog-faced: kynôpis ('dog-eyed/dog-faced') is a bitter term for shamelessness in Homer. Agamemnon hurls it at Clytemnestra for her brazen cruelty.

**425** νοσφίσατʼ, οὐδέ μοι ἔτλη ἰόντι περ εἰς Ἀίδαο  
turned away, and did not bear, though I was going down to Hades,

**426** χερσὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑλέειν σύν τε στόμʼ ἐρεῖσαι.  
to close my eyes with her hands or to shut my mouth.

**427** ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός,  
So there is nothing more dreadful or more shameless than a woman

**428** ἥ τις δὴ τοιαῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἔργα βάληται·  
who sets her mind on deeds like these,

**429** οἷον δὴ καὶ κείνη ἐμήσατο ἔργον ἀεικές,  
as that one too devised a monstrous deed,

**430** κουριδίῳ τεύξασα πόσει φόνον. ἦ τοι ἔφην γε  
contriving murder for her wedded husband. Truly I thought

**431** ἀσπάσιος παίδεσσιν ἰδὲ δμώεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν  
I would come home welcome to my children and my servants;

**432** οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· ἡ δʼ ἔξοχα λυγρὰ ἰδυῖα  
but she, with her thoughts set on utter ruin,

**433** οἷ τε κατʼ αἶσχος ἔχευε καὶ ἐσσομένῃσιν ὀπίσσω  
poured shame upon herself and on the women yet to come hereafter,

**434** θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ ἐυεργὸς ἔῃσιν.  
even on one who is virtuous."

**435** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So he spoke, and in answer I said to him:

**436** ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ γόνον Ἀτρέος εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς  
"Ah, surely far-thundering Zeus has indeed hated the line of Atreus
> Far-thundering Zeus: euryopa, a fixed epithet of Zeus (loud- or wide-thundering), keeps its archaic ending here, one of many Homeric forms preserved for the meter.

**437** ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε γυναικείας διὰ βουλὰς  
terribly, through the counsels of women,

**438** ἐξ ἀρχῆς· Ἑλένης μὲν ἀπωλόμεθʼ εἵνεκα πολλοί,  
from the beginning. For Helen's sake many of us perished,

**439** σοὶ δὲ Κλυταιμνήστρη δόλον ἤρτυε τηλόθʼ ἐόντι.  
and against you Clytemnestra wove her treachery while you were far away."

**440** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπε·  
So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:

**441** τῷ νῦν μή ποτε καὶ σὺ γυναικί περ ἤπιος εἶναι·  
So now never be too gentle, even toward your own wife.

**442** μή οἱ μῦθον ἅπαντα πιφαυσκέμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,  
Do not reveal to her the whole of what you well know,

**443** ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν φάσθαι, τὸ δὲ καὶ κεκρυμμένον εἶναι.  
but tell her one part, and keep the other hidden.
> Infinitives as commands: Both φάσθαi (to speak) and εἶναι (to be) are infinitives used in place of imperatives, a common feature of Homeric instruction. Render them as 'tell' and 'keep'.

**444** ἀλλʼ οὐ σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, φόνος ἔσσεται ἔκ γε γυναικός·  
Yet for you, Odysseus, there will be no murder at your wife's hands;

**445** λίην γὰρ πινυτή τε καὶ εὖ φρεσὶ μήδεα οἶδε  
for she is far too sensible, and her heart knows good counsel,

**446** κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.  
the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope.
> An epithet for Penelope: περίφρων means 'thoughtful, circumspect, prudent' and is Penelope's standing epithet throughout the poem.

**447** ἦ μέν μιν νύμφην γε νέην κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς  
Truly we left her a young bride

**448** ἐρχόμενοι πόλεμόνδε· πάϊς δέ οἱ ἦν ἐπὶ μαζῷ  
when we set out for the war; and she had a boy at the breast,

**449** νήπιος, ὅς που νῦν γε μετʼ ἀνδρῶν ἵζει ἀριθμῷ,  
an infant, who by now no doubt sits among the ranks of men,

**450** ὄλβιος· ἦ γὰρ τόν γε πατὴρ φίλος ὄψεται ἐλθών,  
blessed; for surely his dear father will see him when he comes,
> Blessed and prosperous: ὄλβιος means 'happy, blessed, prosperous' — the fortunate state of one whom the gods favor, set bitterly against Agamemnon's own fate.

**451** καὶ κεῖνος πατέρα προσπτύξεται, ἣ θέμις ἐστίν.  
and he will embrace his father, as is right.

**452** ἡ δʼ ἐμὴ οὐδέ περ υἷος ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἄκοιτις  
But my wife did not let me fill even my eyes

**453** ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἔασε· πάρος δέ με πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν.  
with the sight of my son; before that she killed me, his father.

**454** ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·  
And another thing I will tell you, and lay it up in your heart:

**455** κρύβδην, μηδʼ ἀναφανδά, φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν  
in secret, not openly, to your dear native land

**456** νῆα κατισχέμεναι· ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.  
bring your ship to shore; for women are no longer to be trusted.

**457** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,  
But come, tell me this, and recount it truly:

**458** εἴ που ἔτι ζώοντος ἀκούετε παιδὸς ἐμοῖο,  
have you perhaps heard that my son is still living,

**459** ἤ που ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ ἢ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι,  
somewhere in Orchomenos, or in sandy Pylos,

**460** ἤ που πὰρ Μενελάῳ ἐνὶ Σπάρτῃ εὐρείῃ·  
or perhaps with Menelaus in broad Sparta?

**461** οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀρέστης.  
For noble Orestes has not yet died upon the earth.

**462** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:

**463** Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τι οἶδα,  
Son of Atreus, why do you ask me this? I have no idea

**464** ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.  
whether he lives or is dead; and it is a bad thing to speak empty words.
> 'Windy' words: ἀνεμώλια literally means 'windy, like the wind' — hence idle, empty, futile. Odysseus refuses to speak idle guesses about Orestes.

**465** νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν  
So the two of us stood exchanging these grievous words,
> The dual: two speakers: νῶι ('we two') and the participle ἀμειβομένω are dual forms, marking exactly two persons in conversation — Odysseus and Agamemnon.

**466** ἕσταμεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·  
grieving, shedding warm tears down our cheeks;

**467** ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος  
and there came up the ghost of Achilles, son of Peleus,

**468** καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο  
and of Patroclus, and of blameless Antilochus,

**469** Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε  
and of Ajax, who was the best in form and stature

**470** τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.  
of all the other Danaans after the blameless son of Peleus.

**471** ἔγνω δὲ ψυχή με ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο  
The ghost of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus knew me,

**472** καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and with lamentation she spoke to me winged words:

**473** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
> Vocative of address: Both the epithet πολυμήχανε ('of many devices') and Ὀδυσσεῦ are vocative, the case used for direct address.

**474** σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἔτι μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήσεαι ἔργον;  
rash man, what greater deed than this will you plot in your heart?

**475** πῶς ἔτλης Ἄϊδόσδε κατελθέμεν, ἔνθα τε νεκροὶ  
How did you dare to come down to Hades, where the dead

**476** ἀφραδέες ναίουσι, βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων;  
dwell without sense, the phantoms of mortals worn out by toil?

**477** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So she spoke, and I answered her and said:

**478** ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,  
Achilles, son of Peleus, far the mightiest of the Achaeans,

**479** ἦλθον Τειρεσίαο κατὰ χρέος, εἴ τινα βουλὴν  
I came after Teiresias, in need of some counsel

**480** εἴποι, ὅπως Ἰθάκην ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἱκοίμην·  
that he might tell me, how I might reach rugged Ithaca;

**481** οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς  
for I have not yet come near the land of Achaea, nor have I set foot

**482** γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχω κακά. σεῖο δʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,  
on my own ground, but always I have troubles. But you, Achilles,

**483** οὔ τις ἀνὴρ προπάροιθε μακάρτατος οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὀπίσσω.  
no man before was more blessed, nor will any be hereafter.

**484** πρὶν μὲν γάρ σε ζωὸν ἐτίομεν ἶσα θεοῖσιν  
For before, while you lived, we honored you like the gods,

**485** Ἀργεῖοι, νῦν αὖτε μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν  
we Argives; and now you rule with great power among the dead,

**486** ἐνθάδʼ ἐών· τῷ μή τι θανὼν ἀκαχίζευ, Ἀχιλλεῦ.  
being here. So do not grieve at all that you are dead, Achilles.

**487** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπε·  
So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:

**488** μὴ δή μοι θάνατόν γε παραύδα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.  
Do not try to console me about death, glorious Odysseus.
> Negative command: μὴ with the present imperative παραύδα forbids an ongoing or attempted action: 'do not keep trying to talk me round about death.'

**489** βουλοίμην κʼ ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,  
I would rather be on the land, a hired hand serving another,

**490** ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,  
beside a man with no allotment of land, whose living was not great,

**491** ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.  
than to be king over all the perished dead.

**492** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγαυοῦ μῦθον ἐνίσπες,  
But come, tell me word of my noble son,

**493** ἢ ἕπετʼ ἐς πόλεμον πρόμος ἔμμεναι, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.  
whether he followed to the war to be a champion, or not.

**494** εἰπὲ δέ μοι Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος, εἴ τι πέπυσσαι,  
And tell me of blameless Peleus, if you have heard anything,

**495** ἢ ἔτʼ ἔχει τιμὴν πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,  
whether he still holds his honor among the many Myrmidons,

**496** ἦ μιν ἀτιμάζουσιν ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τε,  
or whether they dishonor him throughout Hellas and Phthia,

**497** οὕνεκά μιν κατὰ γῆρας ἔχει χεῖράς τε πόδας τε.  
because old age holds him fast, in hands and feet.

**498** οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπαρωγὸς ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,  
For I am no helper to him under the rays of the sun,

**499** τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ  
being such as I once was on the broad plain of Troy,

**500** πέφνον λαὸν ἄριστον, ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν·  
when I slew the best of the host, defending the Argives.

**501** εἰ τοιόσδʼ ἔλθοιμι μίνυνθά περ ἐς πατέρος δῶ·  
If, being such, I could come even for a little while to my father's house,

**502** τῷ κέ τεῳ στύξαιμι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους,  
then I would make my strength and my invincible hands hateful

**503** οἳ κεῖνον βιόωνται ἐέργουσίν τʼ ἀπὸ τιμῆς.  
to any who do him violence and bar him from his honor.

**504** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
                     προσέειπον·  
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:

**505** ἦ τοι μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος οὔ τι πέπυσμαι,  
Truly of blameless Peleus I have heard nothing,

**506** αὐτάρ τοι παιδός γε Νεοπτολέμοιο φίλοιο  
but of your dear son Neoptolemus

**507** πᾶσαν ἀληθείην μυθήσομαι, ὥς με κελεύεις·  
I will tell you the whole truth, as you bid me.
> The whole truth: ἀλήθεια literally means 'unconcealment' — the full, undisguised account. Odysseus pledges the complete story of Neoptolemus.

**508** αὐτὸς γάρ μιν ἐγὼ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐίσης  
For I myself, in my hollow, balanced ship,

**509** ἤγαγον ἐκ Σκύρου μετʼ ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.  
brought him from Scyros to join the well-greaved Achaeans.

**510** ἦ τοι ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ πόλιν Τροίην φραζοίμεθα βουλάς,  
Indeed, whenever we took counsel around the city of Troy,

**511** αἰεὶ πρῶτος ἔβαζε καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτανε μύθων·  
he always spoke first and never missed the mark in his words;

**512** Νέστωρ ἀντίθεος καὶ ἐγὼ νικάσκομεν οἴω.  
godlike Nestor and I alone would surpass him.

**513** αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μαρναίμεθα χαλκῷ,  
But whenever we fought with the bronze on the Trojan plain,

**514** οὔ ποτʼ ἐνὶ πληθυῖ μένεν ἀνδρῶν οὐδʼ ἐν ὁμίλῳ,  
he never stayed back in the press of men or in the throng,

**515** ἀλλὰ πολὺ προθέεσκε τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων,  
but ran far out in front, yielding to no one in his fury,

**516** πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνεν ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι.  
and he slew many men in the dread carnage of battle.

**517** πάντας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,  
I could not tell or name them all,

**518** ὅσσον λαὸν ἔπεφνεν ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν,  
all the host he slew while defending the Argives,

**519** ἀλλʼ οἷον τὸν Τηλεφίδην κατενήρατο χαλκῷ,  
but only how he cut down with the bronze the son of Telephus,

**520** ἥρωʼ Εὐρύπυλον, πολλοὶ δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι  
the hero Eurypylus; and many comrades around him,

**521** Κήτειοι κτείνοντο γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.  
the Ceteians, were slain for the sake of a woman's gifts.

**522** κεῖνον δὴ κάλλιστον ἴδον μετὰ Μέμνονα δῖον.  
He was the most handsome man I saw, after noble Memnon.

**523** αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ εἰς ἵππον κατεβαίνομεν, ὃν κάμʼ Ἐπειός,  
And when we climbed into the horse that Epeius made,

**524** Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ πάντα τέταλτο,  
the best of the Argives, and to me everything was entrusted,

**525** ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν λόχον ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι,  
both to open the close-packed ambush and to shut it,

**526** ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες  
there the other leaders and counselors of the Danaans

**527** δάκρυά τʼ ὠμόργνυντο τρέμον θʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστου·  
kept wiping away tears, and the limbs of each one trembled;

**528** κεῖνον δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν  
but him I never once saw with my eyes

**529** οὔτʼ ὠχρήσαντα χρόα κάλλιμον οὔτε παρειῶν  
turn his fair skin pale, nor from his cheeks

**530** δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενον· ὁ δέ γε μάλα πόλλʼ ἱκέτευεν  
wipe away a tear; rather he kept earnestly begging

**531** ἱππόθεν ἐξέμεναι, ξίφεος δʼ ἐπεμαίετο κώπην  
to be let out of the horse, and gripped the hilt of his sword

**532** καὶ δόρυ χαλκοβαρές, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μενοίνα.  
and his bronze-heavy spear, eager to bring evil on the Trojans.

**533** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,  
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam,

**534** μοῖραν καὶ γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινεν  
he went aboard his ship with his share and a noble prize,
> The prize of honor: γέρας is the prize of honor awarded to a warrior from the spoils — a public token of his worth, distinct from his mere share (μοῖρα).

**535** ἀσκηθής, οὔτʼ ἂρ βεβλημένος ὀξέι χαλκῷ  
unscathed, neither struck by the sharp bronze

**536** οὔτʼ αὐτοσχεδίην οὐτασμένος, οἷά τε πολλὰ  
nor wounded in close combat, such as often

**537** γίγνεται ἐν πολέμῳ· ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης.  
happens in war; for Ares rages indiscriminately.
> Ares strikes at random: ἐπιμίξ means 'confusedly, mingled together, indiscriminately.' War's god Ares spares and strikes without regard to worth.

**538** ὣς ἐφάμην, ψυχὴ δὲ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο  
So I spoke, and the ghost of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus

**539** φοίτα μακρὰ βιβᾶσα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,  
went striding away with long steps across the field of asphodel,

**540** γηθοσύνη ὅ οἱ υἱὸν ἔφην ἀριδείκετον εἶναι.  
rejoicing, because I had told him his son was preeminent.

**541** αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι ψυχαὶ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων  
But the other ghosts of the dead who had perished

**542** ἕστασαν ἀχνύμεναι, εἴροντο δὲ κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.  
stood there grieving, and each asked about her own cares.

**543** οἴη δʼ Αἴαντος ψυχὴ Τελαμωνιάδαο  
Only the ghost of Ajax, son of Telamon,

**544** νόσφιν ἀφεστήκει, κεχολωμένη εἵνεκα νίκης,  
stood apart, far off, still angry over the victory

**545** τήν μιν ἐγὼ νίκησα δικαζόμενος παρὰ νηυσὶ  
in which I had beaten him, when judgment was given by the ships

**546** τεύχεσιν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆος· ἔθηκε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ.  
over the arms of Achilles; his lady mother had set them as the prize.

**547** παῖδες δὲ Τρώων δίκασαν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.  
The sons of the Trojans gave judgment, and Pallas Athena.

**548** ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀέθλῳ·  
Would that I had never won in such a contest,
> An unfulfilled wish: ὄφελον with the infinitive expresses a wish that things had been otherwise: 'would that I had not won.' Odysseus regrets a victory that cost Ajax his life.

**549** τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκʼ αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν,  
for over such a head the earth closed because of those arms —

**550** Αἴανθʼ, ὃς πέρι μὲν εἶδος, πέρι δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο  
Ajax, who in form and in deeds was foremost

**551** τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.  
of the other Danaans, after the noble son of Peleus.

**552** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπέεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισιν·  
Him I addressed with gentle, soothing words:
> Honey-soft words: The adjective means 'honeyed, soothing,' a stock epithet for conciliatory speech. Odysseus tries to placate Ajax with gentleness.

**553** Αἶαν, παῖ Τελαμῶνος ἀμύμονος, οὐκ ἄρʼ
                        ἔμελλες  
"Ajax, son of noble Telamon, were you not even then
> Vocative of address: Both 'Ajax' and 'son of Telamon' stand in the vocative case, directly calling out to the dead hero.

**554** οὐδὲ θανὼν λήσεσθαι ἐμοὶ χόλου εἵνεκα τευχέων  
going, even in death, to set aside your anger against me over those accursed

**555** οὐλομένων; τὰ δὲ πῆμα θεοὶ θέσαν Ἀργείοισι,  
arms? The gods set them as a ruin for the Argives,

**556** τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο· σεῖο δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ  
for in you such a tower of strength was lost. And we Achaeans

**557** ἶσον Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῇ Πηληϊάδαο  
grieve for you, equal to the head of Achilles, son of Peleus,

**558** ἀχνύμεθα φθιμένοιο διαμπερές· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος  
now that you are dead, grieve without end. No one else

**559** αἴτιος, ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς Δαναῶν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων  
is to blame, but Zeus, who against the host of Danaan spearmen

**560** ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε, τεῒν δʼ ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἔθηκεν.  
raged with terrible hatred, and on you he laid this doom.

**561** ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵνʼ ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃς  
But come here, lord, so you may hear my word and speech,

**562** ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀγήνορα θυμόν.  
ours; and master your fury and your proud spirit."
> Manly, proud spirit: Thymos is the seat of passion and will; agenor ('manly, lordly') marks it as fierce pride. Odysseus asks Ajax to subdue it.

**563** ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ
                     ἄλλας  
So I spoke, but he answered me nothing and went off after the other

**564** ψυχὰς εἰς Ἔρεβος νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.  
ghosts into Erebus, among the dead who have perished.
> Erebus: Erebus is the deep darkness of the underworld, here a destination for the shades of the dead.

**565** ἔνθα χʼ ὅμως προσέφη κεχολωμένος, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τόν·  
There, angry as he was, he might still have spoken to me, or I to him,

**566** ἀλλά μοι ἤθελε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι  
but the heart within my own breast wished

**567** τῶν ἄλλων ψυχὰς ἰδέειν κατατεθνηώτων.  
to see the ghosts of the other dead who have perished.

**568** ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διὸς ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,  
There indeed I saw Minos, the glorious son of Zeus,

**569** χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα, θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν,  
holding a golden scepter, giving judgment to the dead,

**570** ἥμενον, οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφὶ δίκας εἴροντο ἄνακτα,  
seated, while the dead asked their cases of the lord,

**571** ἥμενοι ἑσταότες τε κατʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.  
some seated, some standing, throughout the wide-gated house of Hades.

**572** τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ὠρίωνα πελώριον εἰσενόησα  
After him I caught sight of monstrous Orion,

**573** θῆρας ὁμοῦ εἰλεῦντα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,  
herding wild beasts together across the meadow of asphodel,

**574** τοὺς αὐτὸς κατέπεφνεν ἐν οἰοπόλοισιν ὄρεσσι  
the same beasts he himself had killed in the lonely mountains,

**575** χερσὶν ἔχων ῥόπαλον παγχάλκεον, αἰὲν ἀαγές.  
holding in his hands a club all of bronze, forever unbroken.

**576** καὶ Τιτυὸν εἶδον, Γαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱόν,  
And I saw Tityus, son of glorious Earth,

**577** κείμενον ἐν δαπέδῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐννέα κεῖτο πέλεθρα,  
lying on the ground. He stretched over nine acres,

**578** γῦπε δέ μιν ἑκάτερθε παρημένω ἧπαρ ἔκειρον,  
and two vultures, sitting on either side, tore at his liver,

**579** δέρτρον ἔσω δύνοντες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἀπαμύνετο χερσί·  
plunging into his belly, and he could not beat them off with his hands.

**580** Λητὼ γὰρ ἕλκησε, Διὸς κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν,  
For he had assaulted Leto, the honored consort of Zeus,

**581** Πυθώδʼ ἐρχομένην διὰ καλλιχόρου Πανοπῆος.  
as she went to Pytho through Panopeus of the lovely dancing-grounds.

**582** καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ
                     ἔχοντα  
And indeed I saw Tantalus suffering harsh torments,

**583** ἑστεῶτʼ ἐν λίμνῃ· ἡ δὲ προσέπλαζε γενείῳ·  
standing in a pool; the water lapped against his chin.

**584** στεῦτο δὲ διψάων, πιέειν δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν ἑλέσθαι·  
He strained, parched with thirst, but could take nothing to drink,

**585** ὁσσάκι γὰρ κύψειʼ ὁ γέρων πιέειν μενεαίνων,  
for as often as the old man stooped, longing to drink,
> Iterative optative: The optative here, paired with 'as often as,' expresses repeated past action: each time he bent down. Homer pictures the torment endlessly recurring.

**586** τοσσάχʼ ὕδωρ ἀπολέσκετʼ ἀναβροχέν, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ  
so often the water would vanish, swallowed away, and around his feet
> Iterative imperfect in -σκ-: The suffix -σκ- on a past-tense verb marks habitual or repeated action: the water 'kept vanishing' again and again.

**587** γαῖα μέλαινα φάνεσκε, καταζήνασκε δὲ δαίμων.  
the black earth would show, and a god would dry it up.

**588** δένδρεα δʼ ὑψιπέτηλα κατὰ κρῆθεν χέε καρπόν,  
And tall, leafy trees poured down their fruit from above,

**589** ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι  
pears and pomegranates and apples with their shining fruit,

**590** συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι·  
and sweet figs and flourishing olives.

**591** τῶν ὁπότʼ ἰθύσειʼ ὁ γέρων ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι,  
But whenever the old man reached out his hands to grasp them,

**592** τὰς δʼ ἄνεμος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα.  
the wind would toss them up toward the shadowy clouds.

**593** καὶ μὴν Σίσυφον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ
                     ἔχοντα  
And indeed I saw Sisyphus suffering harsh torments,

**594** λᾶαν βαστάζοντα πελώριον ἀμφοτέρῃσιν.  
heaving a monstrous boulder with both his hands.

**595** ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν σκηριπτόμενος χερσίν τε ποσίν τε  
Truly, bracing himself with hands and feet,

**596** λᾶαν ἄνω ὤθεσκε ποτὶ λόφον· ἀλλʼ ὅτε μέλλοι  
he kept thrusting the stone up toward a crest; but whenever he was about

**597** ἄκρον ὑπερβαλέειν, τότʼ ἀποστρέψασκε κραταιίς·  
to heave it over the summit, then its weight would turn it back,

**598** αὖτις ἔπειτα πέδονδε κυλίνδετο λᾶας ἀναιδής.  
and once more down to the plain the shameless stone rolled.
> The 'shameless' stone: Anaides ('shameless, relentless') is transferred from people to the boulder, giving the dead weight a willful cruelty.

**599** αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἂψ ὤσασκε τιταινόμενος, κατὰ δʼ ἱδρὼς  
But he would strain and shove it back again, and the sweat

**600** ἔρρεεν ἐκ μελέων, κονίη δʼ ἐκ κρατὸς ὀρώρει.  
poured from his limbs, and dust rose up from his head.

**601** τὸν δὲ μετʼ εἰσενόησα βίην Ἡρακληείην,  
After him I caught sight of the mighty strength of Heracles,
> "The strength of Heracles": A Homeric periphrasis: 'the might of Heracles' stands for the hero himself, an honorific way of naming great men.

**602** εἴδωλον· αὐτὸς δὲ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι  
his phantom; for he himself, among the immortal gods,
> Phantom: An eidolon is an image or shade. Only Heracles' ghost is here; the hero himself dwells among the gods.

**603** τέρπεται ἐν θαλίῃς καὶ ἔχει καλλίσφυρον Ἥβην,  
takes his delight at feasts and has lovely-ankled Hebe,

**604** παῖδα Διὸς μεγάλοιο καὶ Ἥρης χρυσοπεδίλου.  
the daughter of great Zeus and of golden-sandaled Hera.

**605** ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κλαγγὴ νεκύων ἦν οἰωνῶν ὥς,  
Around him rose the clamor of the dead, like that of birds,

**606** πάντοσʼ ἀτυζομένων· ὁ δʼ ἐρεμνῇ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,  
scattering in panic on all sides; and he, like dark night,

**607** γυμνὸν τόξον ἔχων καὶ ἐπὶ νευρῆφιν ὀιστόν,  
holding his bow bare and an arrow on the string,

**608** δεινὸν παπταίνων, αἰεὶ βαλέοντι ἐοικώς.  
glaring terribly, forever like one about to shoot.

**609** σμερδαλέος δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρ  
Dreadful around his breast was the baldric,

**610** χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα τέτυκτο,  
a golden strap, on which marvelous works were wrought:

**611** ἄρκτοι τʼ ἀγρότεροί τε σύες χαροποί τε λέοντες,  
bears and wild boars and lions with gleaming eyes,

**612** ὑσμῖναί τε μάχαι τε φόνοι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.  
and combats and battles and slaughters and killings of men.
> Slaughters of men: A compound from 'man' and 'killing.' Homer piles up four near-synonyms for carnage to convey the belt's terrible imagery.

**613** μὴ τεχνησάμενος μηδʼ ἄλλο τι τεχνήσαιτο,  
May he never craft another such work,
> Optative of wish: The optative here expresses a wish: 'may he never make.' The narrator hopes no one ever matches that terrifying craftsmanship again.

**614** ὃς κεῖνον τελαμῶνα ἑῇ ἐγκάτθετο τέχνῃ.  
whoever stored away such skill in that baldric.

**615** ἔγνω δʼ αὖτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,  
And he in turn knew me, once he saw me with his eyes,

**616** καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and grieving he addressed to me winged words:
> "Winged words": A famous formulaic epithet for speech that flies swiftly from speaker to hearer.

**617** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
> Resourceful Odysseus: Polymechanos ('of many devices') is Odysseus' signature epithet, in the vocative as Heracles addresses him.

**618** ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,  
ah, wretched man, do you too drag out some evil fate,

**619** ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.  
such as I myself endured beneath the rays of the sun?

**620** Ζηνὸς μὲν πάϊς ἦα Κρονίονος, αὐτὰρ ὀιζὺν  
I was the son of Zeus, son of Cronus, yet misery

**621** εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην· μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶ  
I had without end; for to a far meaner man

**622** δεδμήμην, ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετʼ ἀέθλους.  
I was made subject, and he laid grievous labors on me.

**623** καί ποτέ μʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔπεμψε κύνʼ ἄξοντʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλον  
Once he even sent me here to fetch the hound; for he thought no other

**624** φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον·  
labor could be harder for me than this.

**625** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀίδαο·  
But that one I carried up and led out of Hades,

**626** Ἑρμείας δέ μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.  
for Hermes guided me, and bright-eyed Athena."
> Bright-eyed Athena: Glaukopis ('gleaming-eyed' or 'owl-eyed') is Athena's standing epithet throughout Homer.

**627** ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,  
So saying, he went back again into the house of Hades,

**628** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔλθοι  
but I stayed firmly there, in case any other should still come,

**629** ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οἳ δὴ τὸ πρόσθεν ὄλοντο.  
of the men who were heroes, who perished in time before.

**630** καί νύ κʼ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας, οὓς ἔθελόν περ,  
And now I would have seen still earlier men, whom I longed to see,

**631** Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα·  
Theseus and Peirithous, glorious children of the gods.

**632** ἀλλὰ πρὶν ἐπὶ ἔθνεʼ ἀγείρετο μυρία νεκρῶν  
But before that, countless tribes of the dead gathered around me

**633** ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει,  
with an unearthly clamor; and pale fear seized me,
> Pale fear: Chloron deos literally is 'green/pale fear,' a vivid Homeric phrase for terror that drains the color from a person.

**634** μή μοι Γοργείην κεφαλὴν δεινοῖο πελώρου  
lest dread Persephone send up against me the Gorgon's head

**635** ἐξ Ἀίδεω πέμψειεν ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια.  
of that terrible monster, out of Hades, the august Persephone.

**636** αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους  
At once then, going to the ship, I ordered my companions

**637** αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.  
to climb aboard themselves and to loose the stern cables.

**638** οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.  
And quickly they embarked and sat down at the oar-locks.

**639** τὴν δὲ κατʼ Ὠκεανὸν ποταμὸν φέρε κῦμα ῥόοιο,  
Then the swell of the current carried the ship down the river Ocean,

**640** πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίῃ, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος.  
first by rowing, and afterward by a fair following wind.

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Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray/Allen text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0). English translation: © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC — original line-aligned draft, pending editorial review. Word-by-word morphology and syntax derived from the Perseus Ancient Greek Dependency Treebank (CC BY-SA 3.0); English glosses and notes © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.