# The Odyssey, Book 15: Telemachus Sails Home; The Seer Theoclymenus

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Homecoming

Athena sends Telemachus home and warns him of the ambush. He takes a fugitive prophet aboard. Eumaeus tells how he was sold as a child.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/15. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/15.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** ἡ δʼ εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη  
But Pallas Athena went to Lacedaemon of the wide dancing-grounds,

**2** ᾤχετʼ, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν  
to remind the glorious son of great-hearted Odysseus

**3** νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.  
of his return, and to urge him to set out for home.

**4** εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν  
She found Telemachus and the splendid son of Nestor

**5** εὕδοντʼ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,  
sleeping in the forecourt of glorious Menelaus,

**6** ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ·  
Nestor's son, that is, overcome by gentle sleep;

**7** Τηλέμαχον δʼ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ  
but sweet sleep did not hold Telemachus; instead, in his heart

**8** νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.  
all through the immortal night cares for his father kept him awake.

**9** ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Standing close beside him, gray-eyed Athena spoke to him:
> Present participle of attendant action: The middle participle 'standing' sets the scene for the main verb of speaking. This 'standing-and-speaking' formula recurs throughout Homer.

**10** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι καλὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ
                     ἀλάλησαι,  
"Telemachus, it is no longer good to wander so far from home,

**11** κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν  
leaving your wealth behind and men in your house

**12** οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι  
so arrogant; beware lest they devour all

**13** κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.  
your goods, dividing them, and your journey prove a wasted errand.

**14** ἀλλʼ ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον  
Come, urge Menelaus, good at the war-cry,

**15** πεμπέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.  
to send you off, so you may still find your noble mother at home.

**16** ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται  
For already her father and her brothers are pressing her

**17** Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας  
to marry Eurymachus; for he outdoes all the others,

**18** μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·  
the suitors, in gifts, and keeps raising his bride-price.

**19** μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.  
Take care that some valuable not be carried from the house against your will.

**20** οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·  
For you know the kind of heart there is in a woman's breast:

**21** κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,  
she wants to build up the house of the man who marries her,

**22** παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο  
and of her former children and of her dear wedded husband

**23** οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηκότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.  
she no longer thinks, once he is dead, nor asks after him.

**24** ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα  
But go yourself and entrust each thing
> Optative of advice: The aorist optative here functions as a gentle command or suggestion, softer than a direct imperative.

**25** δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,  
to whichever of the serving women seems best to you,

**26** εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.  
until the gods reveal to you a glorious wife.

**27** ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.  
Now I will tell you another thing, and you take it to heart.

**28** μνηστήρων σʼ ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν  
The best of the suitors lie deliberately in wait for you

**29** ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης.  
in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,

**30** ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.  
eager to kill you before you reach your fatherland.

**31** ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει  
But I do not think it will be so; sooner the earth will hold down

**32** ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.  
some of those suitor men who are devouring your livelihood.

**33** ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν εὐεργέα νῆα,  
Keep your well-built ship far from the islands,

**34** νυκτὶ δʼ ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν  
and sail by night as well; a following wind will be sent to you

**35** ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.  
by that one of the immortals who watches over you and keeps you safe.

**36** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,  
But when you reach the first headland of Ithaca,

**37** νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,  
send the ship on to the city with all your comrades,

**38** αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,  
but you yourself, first of all, go to the swineherd,

**39** ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.  
who guards your pigs and is loyally kind to you.

**40** ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἀέσαι· τὸν δʼ ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω  
Spend the night there, and send him into the city

**41** ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,  
to carry the message to wise Penelope,
> Future participle of purpose: The future participle 'going to tell' expresses the purpose for which the swineherd is sent.

**42** οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.  
that you are safe and have come back from Pylos."

**43** ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,  
So speaking she departed for high Olympus,

**44** αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρεν  
while he roused Nestor's son from sweet sleep,

**45** λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
nudging him with a kick of his foot, and spoke to him:

**46** ἔγρεο, Νεστορίδη Πεισίστρατε, μώνυχας ἵππους  
"Wake up, Peisistratus, son of Nestor; the single-hoofed horses

**47** ζεῦξον ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.  
lead out and yoke under the chariot, so we may get on with our journey."

**48** τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then Nestor's son Peisistratus answered him:

**49** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐπειγομένους περ ὁδοῖο  
"Telemachus, there is no way, however much we hasten on the road,

**50** νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν· τάχα δʼ ἔσσεται ἠώς.  
to drive through the murky night; soon it will be dawn.

**51** ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ  
Wait, then, until the hero, son of Atreus,

**52** ἥρως Ἀτρείδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,  
Menelaus famed for the spear, brings gifts and sets them on the chariot,
> Spear-famed epithet: A compound epithet ('spear-famous') typical of Homeric warriors, fitted to the hexameter line.

**53** καὶ μύθοις ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.  
and with kindly words bids us a friendly farewell.

**54** τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα  
For a guest remembers, all his days,

**55** ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.  
the host who has shown him kindness."

**56** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.  
So he spoke, and at once Dawn came on her golden throne.
> Golden-throned Dawn: A formulaic dawn-line. 'Golden-throned' is a stock epithet for Dawn that opens a new day in the narrative.

**57** ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,  
Menelaus, good at the war-cry, came near to them,

**58** ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.  
having risen from his bed, from the side of fair-haired Helen.

**59** τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,  
When the dear son of Odysseus noticed him,

**60** σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα  
in haste he drew the shining tunic about his body

**61** δῦνεν, καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις  
and threw a great cloak over his sturdy shoulders,

**62** ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα  
the hero, and went to the door, and standing near him spoke:

**63** Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·  
Telemachus, dear son of godlike Odysseus:

**64** Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,  
"Son of Atreus, Menelaus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of armies,
> Zeus-nurtured (vocative): This and 'leader of armies' are vocatives addressing Menelaus directly, a high-style honorific run of epithets.

**65** ἤδη νῦν μʼ ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·  
now send me off at last to my dear fatherland,

**66** ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.  
for now my heart longs to return home."

**67** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·  
Then Menelaus, good at the war-cry, answered him:

**68** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἐγώ γε πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύξω  
"Telemachus, I for my part will not hold you here a long time

**69** ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ  
when you long to return; I would blame another man too,

**70** ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κʼ ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,  
a host who, in receiving guests, loves them excessively

**71** ἔξοχα δʼ ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.  
or hates them excessively; better are all things in due measure.
> Due measure: Aisima means what is fitting, proper, allotted. The line praises moderation as the proper course in hospitality.

**72** ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθʼ, ὅς τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι  
It is just as bad when a man drives off a guest

**73** ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.  
who does not wish to leave, as when he holds back one who is eager to go.

**74** χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.  
One should love the guest who is present, and send off the one who wishes to leave.

**75** ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω  
But wait until I bring fine gifts and set them on your chariot,

**76** καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ  
and you see them with your own eyes, and I tell the women

**77** δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.  
to prepare a meal in the hall from the plentiful stores within.

**78** ἀμφότερον, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,  
It is both an honor and a glory, and a benefit besides,

**79** δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.  
to dine before going over the wide, boundless earth.

**80** εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,  
And if you wish to turn aside through Hellas and central Argos,

**81** ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,  
so that I myself may accompany you, I will yoke your horses

**82** ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας  
and guide you to the towns of men; and no one

**83** αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,  
will send us off empty-handed, but will give some one thing to carry away,

**84** ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων,  
either some tripod of fine bronze, or a cauldron,

**85** ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.  
or a pair of mules, or a golden cup."

**86** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then shrewd Telemachus answered him in turn:
> Perfect participle as epithet: This perfect participle ('having understanding, prudent') functions as a fixed epithet for Telemachus, marking his good sense.

**87** Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,  
"Son of Atreus, Menelaus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of armies,

**88** βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν  
I wish to return now to our own land; for behind me

**89** οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·  
I left no guardian when I came away over my possessions.

**90** μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι,  
I fear that in seeking my godlike father I may perish myself,

**91** ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.  
or that some fine treasure may be lost from my halls."

**92** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,  
But when Menelaus, good at the war-cry, heard this,

**93** αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε  
at once he commanded his wife and the serving women

**94** δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.  
to prepare a meal in the hall from the plentiful stores within.

**95** ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,  
Eteoneus, son of Boethous, came near to him,

**96** ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ·  
having risen from his bed, since he lived not far from him;

**97** τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος  
Menelaus, good at the war-cry, bade him kindle a fire

**98** ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.  
and roast some meat; and he did not disobey when he heard.

**99** αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,  
And he himself went down into the fragrant store-room,

**100** οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γʼ Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.  
not alone: Helen went with him, and Megapenthes.

**101** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο,  
But when they came to where the treasures lay,

**102** Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,  
the son of Atreus then took a two-handled cup,

**103** υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν  
and ordered his son Megapenthes to carry a mixing-bowl

**104** ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,  
of silver; and Helen stood beside the chests,

**105** ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.  
where lay her richly embroidered robes, which she herself had made.
> Relative clause with intensive pronoun: The aorist 'made' with the intensive 'she herself' stresses that Helen wove the robes with her own hands.

**106** τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,  
Lifting out one of these, Helen carried it, she radiant among women,

**107** ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,  
the one that was loveliest in its embroidery and largest,

**108** ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.  
and it shone like a star; it had lain lowest of all the rest.

**109** βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο  
They set out to go forward through the house, until they reached

**110** Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·  
Telemachus; and fair-haired Menelaus spoke to him:

**111** Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,  
"Telemachus, your return — just as you long for it in your heart,

**112** ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.  
so may Zeus accomplish it for you, the loud-thundering husband of Hera.
> Wish in the optative: The optative τελέσειεν expresses a wish: 'may he accomplish.' Homer often pairs it with a name of Zeus to frame a blessing.

**113** δώρων δʼ, ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,  
Of the gifts, all the treasures that lie stored in my house,

**114** δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.  
I will give you the one that is finest and most precious.

**115** δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ  
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all of silver,

**116** ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,  
and its rims are finished off with gold,

**117** ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,  
the work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus gave it to me,

**118** Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε  
king of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me

**119** κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.  
on my journey home there. This I am willing to bestow on you."

**120** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον  
So speaking he placed the two-handled cup in his hand,

**121** ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν  
the hero, son of Atreus; and the shining mixing-bowl

**122** θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,  
mighty Megapenthes carried and set down before him,

**123** ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος  
the silver one; and Helen of the lovely cheeks stood by
> Lovely-cheeked: A standing epithet, literally 'beautiful-cheeked,' formed from καλός (beautiful) and παρειά (cheek). Homer attaches such fixed adjectives to characters by metrical convenience.

**124** πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
holding a robe in her hands, and she spoke and addressed him:

**125** δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο
                     δίδωμι,  
"I too give you this gift, dear child,

**126** μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,  
a remembrance of Helen's hands, for the hour of your longed-for wedding,

**127** σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ  
for your bride to wear; until then let it lie beside your dear mother

**128** κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο  
in the hall. And may you come rejoicing to

**129** οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
your well-built home and to your native land."

**130** ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.  
So speaking she placed it in his hands, and he received it gladly.

**131** καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως  
And the hero Peisistratus stowed these things in the wicker basket,

**132** δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·  
taking them up, and marveled at them all in his heart.

**133** τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.  
Then fair-haired Menelaus led them into the house.

**134** ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.  
And the two of them sat down on the couches and chairs.
> Dual verb for the pair: ἑζέσθην is dual, marking exactly two people — Telemachus and Peisistratus — sitting down. Homer keeps the dual alive for natural pairs.

**135** χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα  
A handmaid brought water and poured it from a pitcher

**136** καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,  
of beautiful gold, over a silver basin,

**137** νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.  
for them to wash; and she drew up a polished table beside them.

**138** σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα·  
The honored housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,

**139** εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·  
laying out many dishes, freely giving of her store;

**140** πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·  
and beside them the son of Boethous carved the meat and dealt out the portions;

**141** οἰνοχόει δʼ υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.  
and the son of glorious Menelaus poured the wine.

**142** οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.  
So they reached out their hands to the good things set ready before them.

**143** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,  
But when they had put away their desire for food and drink,
> Formula for finishing a meal: A recurring Homeric line: literally 'they sent out the desire (for food and drink).' ἕντο is aorist middle of ἵημι. The whole verse is a stock formula closing a feast.

**144** δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς  
then Telemachus and the splendid son of Nestor

**145** ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,  
yoked the horses and climbed into the inlaid chariot,

**146** ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.  
and drove out from the gateway and the echoing portico.

**147** τοὺς δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,  
After them went the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus,

**148** οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,  
holding honey-sweet wine in his right hand,

**149** ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην.  
in a golden cup, that they might pour a libation before they set out.

**150** στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·  
He stood before the horses and, pledging them, spoke:

**151** χαίρετον, ὦ κούρω, καὶ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν  
"Farewell, young men, and give my greeting to Nestor, shepherd of the people;
> Shepherd of the people: 'Shepherd of the people' is a recurring epithet for kings in Homer, casting the ruler as one who guards a flock. Here it honors Nestor.

**152** εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,  
for truly he was as kind to me as a father,

**153** ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.  
while we sons of the Achaeans fought at Troy."

**154** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn:

**155** καὶ λίην κείνῳ γε, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,  
"Indeed, Zeus-nurtured one, just as you say,

**156** πάντα τάδʼ ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν· αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς  
we will recount all this to him when we arrive. If only I might, in the same way,

**157** νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε, κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,  
returning to Ithaca, find Odysseus at home

**158** εἴποιμʼ ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης  
and tell him how, having met with every kindness from you,

**159** ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.  
I come, and bring with me many fine treasures."

**160** ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,  
As he was speaking, a bird flew past on his right,

**161** αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,  
an eagle carrying in its talons a great white goose,

**162** ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δʼ ἰΰζοντες ἕποντο  
a tame one from the yard; and men and women followed

**163** ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν  
shouting after it; but the eagle, coming near them,

**164** δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθʼ ἵππων· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες  
darted off to the right in front of the horses. And seeing it

**165** γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.  
they rejoiced, and the heart in every breast was warmed.

**166** τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·  
Among them Peisistratus, son of Nestor, was first to speak:

**167** φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,  
"Consider, Zeus-nurtured Menelaus, leader of the people,

**168** ἢ νῶϊν τόδʼ ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ.  
whether the god has shown this sign for the two of us, or for you yourself."
> First-person dual pronoun: νῶϊν is the dual 'for us two,' set against σοὶ αὐτῷ ('for you yourself'). The dual keeps Telemachus and Peisistratus paired as one unit.

**169** ὣς φάτο, μερμήριξε δʼ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,  
So he spoke, and Menelaus, dear to Ares, pondered

**170** ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας.  
how he might rightly interpret it after thinking it through.

**171** τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·  
But Helen of the long robe forestalled him and spoke:
> Long-robed Helen: τανύπεπλος, 'with trailing robe,' is a fixed epithet for noble women in Homer. It marks Helen's stately bearing as she speaks.

**172** κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ
                     θυμῷ  
"Listen to me; I will prophesy, as in my heart

**173** ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.  
the immortals put it, and as I think it will be fulfilled.

**174** ὡς ὅδε χῆνʼ ἥρπαξʼ ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
As this eagle snatched the goose reared in the house,

**175** ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,  
coming from the mountain where its kind and offspring are,

**176** ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς  
so Odysseus, after suffering many evils and wandering far,
> The much-suffering hero: 'Having suffered many evils' echoes the standard description of Odysseus as the man of endurance. It frames the whole homecoming theme.

**177** οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τίσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη  
will return home and take his revenge; or even already

**178** οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.  
he is home, and is sowing evil for all the suitors."

**179** τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered her in turn:

**180** οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης·  
"May Zeus now make it so, the loud-thundering husband of Hera;

**181** τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.  
then even there I would pray to you as to a god."

**182** ἦ καὶ ἐφʼ ἵπποιϊν μάστιν βάλεν· οἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα  
He spoke, and laid the whip on the horses; and they very swiftly

**183** ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.  
sped toward the plain, eager, straight through the city.

**184** οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.  
All day long they shook the yoke they held between them.

**185** δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·  
The sun set and all the ways grew dark;
> Formulaic sunset line: δύσετό is an aorist of δύομαι ('set, sink'). This verse — 'the sun set and all the streets grew dark' — is a recurring formula marking the close of a day's travel.

**186** ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,  
and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,

**187** υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.  
son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheus begot as his child.

**188** ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.  
There they spent the night, and he set out guest-gifts for them.

**189** ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,  
When early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
> Rosy-fingered Dawn: The most famous of Homer's epithets, opening many a new day in the epic. The whole line is a fixed dawn-formula.

**190** ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,  
they yoked the horses and climbed into the inlaid chariot,

**191** ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·  
and drove out from the gateway and the echoing portico;

**192** μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄκοντε πετέσθην.  
he whipped them to run, and the pair flew on, not unwilling.
> Two horses in the dual: Both τὼ ... ἄκοντε and πετέσθην are dual, fitting the pair of horses 'flying on, not unwilling.' The double negative (οὐκ ἄκοντε) understates their eagerness.

**193** αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·  
and soon they came to the steep citadel of Pylos.

**194** καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·  
And then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor:

**195** Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας  
"Son of Nestor, how might you promise and carry out

**196** μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι  
this request of mine? We declare ourselves guest-friends forever

**197** ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·  
through our fathers' friendship, and we are of the same age besides;

**198** ἥδε δʼ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.  
and this journey will bring us still more into one mind.

**199** μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ,  
Do not take me past my ship, Zeus-nurtured one, but leave me there,

**200** μή μʼ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
lest the old man keep me against my will in his house,

**201** ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.  
eager to show me kindness; but I must get home faster."

**202** ὣς φάτο, Νεστορίδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἑῷ συμφράσσατο θυμῷ,  
So he spoke, and the son of Nestor took counsel in his heart

**203** ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.  
how he might rightly promise and carry it out.

**204** ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·  
And as he pondered, this seemed to him the better course:

**205** στρέψʼ ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,  
he turned the horses toward the swift ship and the shore of the sea,

**206** νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρύμνῃ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,  
and at the ship's stern unloaded the beautiful gifts,

**207** ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·  
the clothing and the gold that Menelaus had given him;

**208** καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and urging him on he spoke winged words:
> Winged words: 'Winged words' is among the most common Homeric formulas for speech, picturing words flying from speaker to hearer.

**209** σπουδῇ νῦν ἀνάβαινε κέλευέ τε πάντας
                     ἑταίρους,  
"Now climb aboard in haste and order all your companions,

**210** πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.  
before I reach home and report to the old man.

**211** εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·  
For I know this well in my mind and in my heart:

**212** οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,  
such is his overbearing spirit, he will not let you go,

**213** ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρʼ εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι  
but will come here himself to summon you, and I tell you he will not

**214** ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.  
go back empty-handed; for he will be very angry indeed."

**215** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἔλασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους  
So speaking he drove the fair-maned horses

**216** ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δʼ ἄρα δώμαθʼ ἵκανε.  
back to the city of the Pylians, and quickly reached his house.

**217** Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·  
And Telemachus, urging on his companions, gave the order:

**218** ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχεʼ, ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,  
"Set the gear in order, comrades, in the black ship,
> The black ship: 'Black ship' is a standing epithet, the hulls darkened with pitch. It is one of Homer's most frequent ship-formulas.

**219** αὐτοί τʼ ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.  
and let us climb aboard ourselves, so we may get on with the journey."

**220** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ
                  ἐπίθοντο,  
So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed,

**221** αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.  
At once they went on board and took their places at the oar-pins.

**222** ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν τὰ πονεῖτο καὶ εὔχετο, θῦε δʼ Ἀθήνῃ  
While he was busy with this and praying, sacrificing to Athena

**223** νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ  
beside the ship's stern, a man came up close to him,

**224** τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,  
a stranger from far off, fleeing Argos after killing a man,
> Aorist participle: κατακτάς is the aorist participle of κατακτείνω, 'having killed.' The aorist participle marks an action completed before the main verb (his fleeing).

**225** μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,  
a seer; by birth he was a descendant of Melampus,

**226** ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,  
who once long ago lived in Pylos, the mother of flocks,

**227** ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγʼ ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·  
rich among the Pylians, dwelling in a house of great splendor;

**228** δὴ τότε γʼ ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων  
but then he came to the land of another people, fleeing his homeland

**229** Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,  
and great-hearted Neleus, most lordly of living men,

**230** ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν  
who by force kept his many possessions for a full year's

**231** εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο  
turning. Meanwhile, in the halls of Phylacus,

**232** δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων  
he lay bound in painful chains, suffering grievous anguish
> Pluperfect passive: δέδετο is the pluperfect passive of δέω, 'he had been/lay bound.' The reduplication (δε-) marks the perfect system; the passive shows the action done to him.

**233** εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,  
on account of the daughter of Neleus and the heavy ruin

**234** τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.  
that the dread goddess Erinys had laid upon his mind.

**235** ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους  
Yet he escaped death and drove the loud-bellowing cattle

**236** ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτίσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς  
to Pylos from Phylace, and avenged the shameful deed

**237** ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα  
on godlike Neleus, and led the woman as a wife

**238** ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,  
to his brother's house. He himself went to another people,

**239** Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν  
to horse-pasturing Argos; for there it was his destiny

**240** ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντʼ Ἀργείοισιν  
to dwell, ruling over many of the Argives.

**241** ἔνθα δʼ ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,  
There he married a wife and built a high-roofed house,

**242** γείνατο δʼ Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.  
and fathered Antiphates and Mantius, two mighty sons.

**243** Ἀντιφάτης μὲν ἔτικτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,  
Antiphates begot great-hearted Oicleus,

**244** αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάραον,  
and Oicleus the host-rouser Amphiaraus,

**245** ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων  
whom aegis-bearing Zeus and Apollo loved in their hearts
> Aegis-bearing Zeus: αἰγίοχος, 'aegis-bearing,' is a standing epithet of Zeus. The aegis is his storm-shield, a sign of terrifying divine power.

**246** παντοίην φιλότητʼ· οὐδʼ ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,  
with every kind of affection; yet he did not reach the threshold of old age,

**247** ἀλλʼ ὄλετʼ ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.  
but perished at Thebes because of a woman's bribes.

**248** τοῦ δʼ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντʼ Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.  
His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus.

**249** Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·  
Mantius in turn fathered Polypheides and Cleitus;

**250** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς  
but Cleitus golden-throned Dawn carried off
> Golden-throned Dawn: χρυσόθρονος, 'golden-throned,' is a recurring epithet of Dawn (Eos). She abducts the beautiful Cleitus to live among the gods.

**251** κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·  
for the sake of his beauty, so that he might dwell among the immortals;

**252** αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων  
but high-spirited Polypheides Apollo made

**253** θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάραος·  
by far the best seer among mortals, once Amphiaraus had died.

**254** ὅς ῥʼ Ὑπερησίηνδʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,  
He moved to Hyperesia, angry with his father,

**255** ἔνθʼ ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσιν.  
and dwelling there he prophesied to all mortals.

**256** τοῦ μὲν ἄρʼ υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δʼ ὄνομʼ
                  ἦεν,  
His son it was who now came up, Theoclymenus by name,

**257** ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανεν  
and stood beside Telemachus. He found him

**258** σπένδοντʼ εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,  
pouring libations and praying beside the swift black ship,

**259** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and he spoke to him in winged words:
> Winged words: 'Winged words' (ἔπεα πτερόεντα) is one of Homer's most common formulas for speech, as if words take flight from speaker to hearer.

**260** ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε θύοντα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,  
"Friend, since I find you sacrificing in this place,

**261** λίσσομʼ ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα  
I beg you by these offerings and by the god, and after that

**262** σῆς τʼ αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,  
by your own head and by your companions who follow you:

**263** εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδʼ ἐπικεύσῃς·  
tell me truly what I ask, and do not hide it.

**264** τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;  
Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?"

**265** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him:

**266** τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.  
"Well then, stranger, I will tell you quite truly.

**267** ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,  
By birth I am from Ithaca, and my father is Odysseus,

**268** εἴ ποτʼ ἔην· νῦν δʼ ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.  
if ever he was; but now he has perished by a wretched death.
> "If ever he was": εἴ ποτʼ ἔην ('if ever he was') uses the imperfect of εἰμί in a wistful conditional, voicing Telemachus's doubt that his long-absent father still exists.

**269** τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν  
For this reason now, taking my companions and a black ship,

**270** ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.  
I have come seeking news of my father, gone so long."

**271** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·  
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke to him in turn:

**272** οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐγὼν ἐκ πατρίδος, ἄνδρα κατακτὰς  
"So too am I far from my homeland, having killed a man

**273** ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε  
of my own tribe; and many are his brothers and kinsmen

**274** Ἄργος ἀνʼ ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν.  
in horse-pasturing Argos, and they hold great power among the Achaeans.

**275** τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν  
Shunning death and black doom at their hands,
> Black doom: κῆρ ('doom, death-spirit') is regularly paired with the epithet μέλαινα, 'black.' The Keres are personified death-fates that seize the dying.

**276** φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.  
I flee, since now it is my lot to wander among mankind.

**277** ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,  
But take me aboard your ship, since in flight I have come as your suppliant,

**278** μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.  
so they may not kill me; for I think they are in pursuit."

**279** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him:

**280** οὐ μὲν δή σʼ ἐθέλοντά γʼ ἀπώσω νηὸς ἐΐσης,  
"I will surely not thrust you, willing, from my balanced ship;
> The balanced ship: ἐΐση ('well-balanced, trim') is a standard epithet of ships, describing a vessel symmetrical and even on both sides.

**281** ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κʼ ἔχωμεν.  
but follow; there you shall be welcomed with what we have."

**282** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,  
So speaking, he took from him the bronze-tipped spear

**283** καὶ τό γʼ ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης·  
and laid it along the deck of the curved ship;

**284** ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.  
then he himself climbed aboard the seafaring ship.

**285** ἐν πρύμνῃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ  
He sat down at the stern, and beside himself

**286** εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.  
he seated Theoclymenus; and the men loosed the stern-cables.

**287** Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν  
Telemachus urged his companions and gave the order

**288** ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.  
to lay hold of the tackle; and they eagerly obeyed.

**289** ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης  
The mast of fir they raised and set upright within

**290** στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,  
the hollow mast-box, and made it fast with the forestays,

**291** ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.  
and they hauled up the white sails with well-twisted ox-hide thongs.

**292** τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,  
And for them gray-eyed Athena sent a favoring wind,
> Gray-eyed Athena: γλαυκῶπις, 'gray-eyed' or 'bright-eyed,' is Athena's defining epithet, suggesting the keen, gleaming gaze of the owl that is her bird.

**293** λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα διʼ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα  
blowing strong through the upper air, so that as quickly as possible

**294** νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.  
the ship might run her course over the salt sea-water.

**295** βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.  
They sailed past Crounoi and fair-flowing Chalcis.

**296** δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·  
The sun set and all the ways grew dark;

**297** ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ  
and the ship pressed on toward Pheae, driven by the wind of Zeus,

**298** ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.  
and past noble Elis, where the Epeans hold power.

**299** ἔνθεν δʼ αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν,  
From there he steered her on toward the swift islands,

**300** ὁρμαίνων ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ.  
pondering whether he would escape death or be taken.
> Deliberative optative: φύγοι is an optative; ἁλώῃ is a Homeric aorist subjunctive (3rd singular) of ἁλίσκομαι — its -ῃ ending marks the subjunctive, not the optative. Homer's mixing of optative and subjunctive in alternative indirect questions is a recognized Epic idiom.

**301** τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς  
Meanwhile in the hut Odysseus and the noble swineherd

**302** δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.  
were taking their supper, and beside them the other men supped too.

**303** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,  
But when they had put off their desire for drink and food,
> Putting off desire: 'When they had put off their desire for food and drink' is a recurring formula marking the end of a meal and the turn to conversation or action.

**304** τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,  
Odysseus spoke among them, testing the swineherd,

**305** ἤ μιν ἔτʼ ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι  
whether he would still kindly entertain him and bid him stay

**306** αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ, ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·  
there at the steading, or send him off to the city.

**307** κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες
                     ἑταῖροι·  
"Listen now, Eumaeus, and all you other companions:

**308** ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι  
at dawn I am eager to set out for the town

**309** πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.  
to beg, so that I may not wear you and your men down.

**310** ἀλλά μοι εὖ θʼ ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον  
Advise me well, and give me a good guide to go with me

**311** ὅς κέ με κεῖσʼ ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ  
who will lead me there; and through the city itself, of necessity,

**312** πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.  
I will wander, in case someone offers a cup and a crust.

**313** καί κʼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο  
And going to the house of godlike Odysseus,

**314** ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,  
I might bring news to wise Penelope,

**315** καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,  
and I might mingle among the overbearing suitors,

**316** εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρίʼ ἔχοντες.  
in case they give me a meal, having boundless plenty.

**317** αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν ἅσσʼ ἐθέλοιεν.  
Soon I would serve them well in whatever they might wish.

**318** ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·  
For I will tell you plainly, and you mark it and hear me:

**319** Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων  
by the favor of Hermes the guide, who upon all
> Hermes the guide: διάκτορος is a cult-title of Hermes, usually rendered 'guide' or 'messenger.' Hermes grants grace and renown to men's labors.

**320** ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,  
men's labors bestows grace and glory,

**321** δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,  
in service no other mortal could rival me:

**322** πῦρ τʼ εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,  
to lay a fire well, to split dry wood,

**323** δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,  
to carve and roast the meat, and to pour the wine,

**324** οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες.  
such tasks as lesser men perform for their betters."

**325** τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·  
Then, deeply troubled, you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
> Address to Eumaeus: Homer repeatedly addresses Eumaeus in the second person ('you answered'), a rare and intimate vocative apostrophe reserved for a few sympathetic characters.

**326** ὤ μοι, ξεῖνε, τίη τοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα  
"Ah, stranger, why has this notion come into your mind?

**327** ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.  
Surely you are bent on perishing utterly there,

**328** εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,  
if you mean to plunge into the throng of the suitors,

**329** τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.  
whose violence and insolence reach the iron sky.
> Reaching the iron sky: Saying that the suitors' arrogance 'reaches the iron sky' is a hyperbolic Homeric image for boundless, heaven-high excess.

**330** οὔ τοι τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,  
Their servants are not men of your kind:

**331** ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,  
but young men, well clothed in cloaks and tunics,

**332** αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,  
their heads always glistening with oil and their faces handsome,

**333** οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι  
these are the ones who serve them; and the polished tables

**334** σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδʼ οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.  
are laden with bread and meat and wine.

**335** ἀλλὰ μένʼ· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,  
No, stay here; no one is troubled by your presence,

**336** οὔτʼ ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.  
neither I nor any other of the companions I have.

**337** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,  
But when the dear son of Odysseus comes,

**338** κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,  
he will clothe you with a cloak and tunic for garments,

**339** πέμψει δʼ ὅππη σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.  
and he will send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."

**340** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:
> Standing epithet: "Much-enduring noble Odysseus" is a fixed metrical formula used to fill the line's end. The whole noun-epithet phrase functions as the subject in the nominative.

**341** αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο  
"May you, Eumaeus, become as dear to father Zeus
> Optative of wish: γένοιο is an aorist optative expressing a wish: "may you become." The particle αἴθʼ (would that) marks it as a prayer.

**342** ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μʼ ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.  
as you are to me, since you have ended my wandering and bitter misery.

**343** πλαγκτοσύνης δʼ οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·  
There is nothing worse for mortals than vagrancy;

**344** ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔχουσιν  
but for the sake of the accursed belly men endure cruel troubles,

**345** ἀνέρες, ὅν τινʼ ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.  
any man whom wandering and suffering and grief have reached.

**346** νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναι τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,  
But now, since you detain me and bid me wait for him,

**347** εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο  
come, tell me about the mother of noble Odysseus

**348** πατρός θʼ, ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,  
and his father, whom he left behind on the threshold of old age when he went away,

**349** ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,  
whether they still live perhaps beneath the rays of the sun,

**350** ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.  
or are already dead and in the house of Hades."

**351** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·  
Then the swineherd, leader of men, answered him:

**352** τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.  
"Well then, stranger, I will tell you the whole truth.

**353** Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δʼ εὔχεται αἰεὶ  
Laertes still lives, but always prays to Zeus

**354** θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν·  
that the spirit may waste from his limbs there in his halls;

**355** ἐκπάγλως γὰρ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται οἰχομένοιο  
for terribly does he mourn his departed son

**356** κουριδίης τʼ ἀλόχοιο δαΐφρονος, ἥ ἑ μάλιστα  
and his wedded wife, the wise one, who most of all

**357** ἤκαχʼ ἀποφθιμένη καὶ ἐν ὠμῷ γήραϊ θῆκεν.  
grieved him by her death and brought him to raw old age.
> Raw old age: ὠμός literally means "raw, unripe," here transferred to old age to mean a premature, harsh aging brought on by grief.

**358** ἡ δʼ ἄχεϊ οὗ παιδὸς ἀπέφθιτο κυδαλίμοιο,  
She perished in grief for her glorious son,

**359** λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ, ὡς μὴ θάνοι ὅς τις ἐμοί γε  
by a wretched death — may no one die so who, for me,

**360** ἐνθάδε ναιετάων φίλος εἴη καὶ φίλα ἔρδοι.  
dwelling here, is a friend and does kind deeds.

**361** ὄφρα μὲν οὖν δὴ κείνη ἔην, ἀχέουσά περ ἔμπης,  
So long, then, as she was alive, grieving though she was,

**362** τόφρα τί μοι φίλον ἔσκε μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,  
so long it was dear to me to inquire and ask after her,
> Correlative ὄφρα...τόφρα: The pair ὄφρα (so long as) at line 361 and τόφρα (so long) here frames a "as long as X, so long Y" temporal construction common in Homer.

**363** οὕνεκά μʼ αὐτὴ θρέψεν ἅμα Κτιμένῃ τανυπέπλῳ,  
because she herself reared me alongside long-robed Ctimene,

**364** θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ, τὴν ὁπλοτάτην τέκε παίδων·  
her sturdy daughter, the youngest of the children she bore;

**365** τῇ ὁμοῦ ἐτρεφόμην, ὀλίγον δέ τί μʼ ἧσσον ἐτίμα.  
with her I was raised, and she honored me only a little less.

**366** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβην πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ ἄμφω,  
But when we both came to the much-desired bloom of youth,

**367** τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα Σάμηνδʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ μυρίʼ ἕλοντο,  
then they gave her in marriage to Same and took countless gifts for her,

**368** αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐκείνη  
but as for me, she clothed me in a cloak and tunic for garments,

**369** καλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφιέσασα, ποσὶν δʼ ὑποδήματα δοῦσα  
very fine ones, and gave sandals for my feet,

**370** ἀγρόνδε προΐαλλε· φίλει δέ με κηρόθι μᾶλλον.  
and sent me off to the country; but in her heart she loved me even more.

**371** νῦν δʼ ἤδη τούτων ἐπιδεύομαι· ἀλλά μοι αὐτῷ  
Now I lack all these things; yet for me myself

**372** ἔργον ἀέξουσιν μάκαρες θεοὶ ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω·  
the blessed gods make the work prosper at which I labor;

**373** τῶν ἔφαγόν τʼ ἔπιόν τε καὶ αἰδοίοισιν ἔδωκα.  
from this I have eaten and drunk and given to those worthy of respect.

**374** ἐκ δʼ ἄρα δεσποίνης οὐ μείλιχον ἔστιν ἀκοῦσαι  
But from my mistress there is nothing gracious to hear,

**375** οὔτʼ ἔπος οὔτε τι ἔργον, ἐπεὶ κακὸν ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ,  
neither word nor any deed, since evil has fallen on the house —

**376** ἄνδρες ὑπερφίαλοι· μέγα δὲ δμῶες χατέουσιν  
the arrogant men; and greatly do the servants long

**377** ἀντία δεσποίνης φάσθαι καὶ ἕκαστα πυθέσθαι  
to speak face to face with their mistress and learn each thing,

**378** καὶ φαγέμεν πιέμεν τε, ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι φέρεσθαι  
and to eat and drink, and then to carry something also

**379** ἀγρόνδʼ, οἷά τε θυμὸν ἀεὶ δμώεσσιν ἰαίνει.  
to the country — the kind of things that always warm the hearts of servants."

**380** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him in reply:
> Resourceful Odysseus: πολύμητις ("of many devices") is one of Odysseus' signature epithets, a fixed formula filling the verse end and marking his cleverness.

**381** ὢ πόποι, ὡς ἄρα τυτθὸς ἐών, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα,  
"Well now, swineherd Eumaeus, so as a little child

**382** πολλὸν ἀπεπλάγχθης σῆς πατρίδος ἠδὲ τοκήων.  
you were driven far from your homeland and your parents.

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

**384** ἠὲ διεπράθετο πτόλις ἀνδρῶν εὐρυάγυια,  
was the wide-streeted city of men sacked

**385** ᾗ ἔνι ναιετάασκε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,  
in which your father and honored mother dwelt,

**386** ἦ σέ γε μουνωθέντα παρʼ οἴεσιν ἢ παρὰ βουσὶν  
or did hostile men, when you were left alone among the sheep or among the cattle,

**387** ἄνδρες δυσμενέες νηυσὶν λάβον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσαν  
seize you with their ships and ferry you across

**388** τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.  
to this man's house, and he gave a worthy price?"

**389** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·  
Then the swineherd, leader of men, answered him:

**390** ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,  
"Stranger, since indeed you ask me about these things and inquire,

**391** σιγῇ νῦν ξυνίει καὶ τέρπεο, πῖνέ τε οἶνον  
listen now in silence and take your pleasure, and drink your wine
> String of imperatives: ξυνίει (understand), τέρπεο (enjoy), and πῖνε (drink) are all present imperatives giving a sequence of friendly commands.

**392** ἥμενος. αἵδε δὲ νύκτες ἀθέσφατοι· ἔστι μὲν εὕδειν,  
as you sit. These nights are immense: there is time to sleep,

**393** ἔστι δὲ τερπομένοισιν ἀκούειν· οὐδέ τί σε χρή,  
and time to listen with delight; nor is there any need for you,

**394** πρὶν ὥρη, καταλέχθαι· ἀνίη καὶ πολὺς ὕπνος.  
before the hour, to lie down: too much sleep is a weariness too.

**395** τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει,  
Whoever of the others his heart and spirit bids,

**396** εὑδέτω ἐξελθών· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι  
let him go out and sleep; and at the appearing of Dawn

**397** δειπνήσας ἅμʼ ὕεσσιν ἀνακτορίῃσιν ἑπέσθω.  
let him breakfast and follow the master's pigs.

**398** νῶϊ δʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ πίνοντέ τε δαινυμένω τε  
But we two, in the hut, drinking and feasting,
> Dual forms: νῶϊ ("we two") and the participles πίνοντε, δαινυμένω are dual, used because Eumaeus speaks of just himself and Odysseus.

**399** κήδεσιν ἀλλήλων τερπώμεθα λευγαλέοισι,  
let us take pleasure in each other's grievous sorrows

**400** μνωομένω· μετὰ γάρ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι τέρπεται ἀνήρ,  
as we remember them; for a man takes pleasure even in his pains afterward,

**401** ὅς τις δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθῇ.  
one who has suffered very much and wandered far.

**402** τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.  
So I will tell you what you ask me and inquire about.

**403** νῆσός τις Συρίη κικλήσκεται, εἴ που ἀκούεις,  
There is an island called Syria — perhaps you have heard of it —

**404** Ὀρτυγίης καθύπερθεν, ὅθι τροπαὶ ἠελίοιο,  
above Ortygia, where are the turnings of the sun,

**405** οὔ τι περιπληθὴς λίην τόσον, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ μέν,  
not so very populous, yet a good land,

**406** εὔβοτος, εὔμηλος, οἰνοπληθής, πολύπυρος.  
rich in cattle, rich in sheep, abounding in wine, with much wheat.

**407** πείνη δʼ οὔ ποτε δῆμον ἐσέρχεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη  
Famine never enters that land, nor any other

**408** νοῦσος ἐπὶ στυγερὴ πέλεται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν·  
hateful sickness comes upon wretched mortals;

**409** ἀλλʼ ὅτε γηράσκωσι πόλιν κάτα φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων,  
but when the tribes of men grow old throughout the city,

**410** ἐλθὼν ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξὺν  
Apollo of the silver bow comes, together with Artemis,
> Silver-bow epithet: ἀργυρότοξος ("of the silver bow") is Apollo's standing epithet. Apollo and Artemis bringing painless death is a Homeric idea of a gentle end in old age.

**411** οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.  
and slays them, drawing near with his gentle shafts.

**412** ἔνθα δύω πόλιες, δίχα δέ σφισι πάντα δέδασται·  
There are two cities there, and everything is divided in two between them;

**413** τῇσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευε,  
over both of these my father was king,

**414** Κτήσιος Ὀρμενίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν.  
Ctesius son of Ormenus, a man like the immortals.

**415** ἔνθα δὲ Φοίνικες ναυσίκλυτοι ἤλυθον ἄνδρες,  
There came Phoenician men, famed for their ships,

**416** τρῶκται, μυρίʼ ἄγοντες ἀθύρματα νηῒ μελαίνῃ.  
greedy rogues, bringing countless trinkets in their black ship.
> Greedy rogues: τρῶκται means "nibblers, cheats," a contemptuous term for grasping traders. It colors the Phoenicians as untrustworthy profiteers.

**417** ἔσκε δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο γυνὴ Φοίνισσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,  
Now there was a Phoenician woman in my father's house,

**418** καλή τε μεγάλη τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυῖα·  
beautiful and tall and skilled in splendid handiwork;

**419** τὴν δʼ ἄρα Φοίνικες πολυπαίπαλοι ἠπερόπευον.  
and the crafty Phoenicians beguiled her.

**420** πλυνούσῃ τις πρῶτα μίγη κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ  
As she was washing, one of them first lay with her beside the hollow ship

**421** εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι, τά τε φρένας ἠπεροπεύει  
in love and in bed — things that deceive the wits

**422** θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.  
of womankind, even one who is honest.

**423** εἰρώτα δὴ ἔπειτα τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι·  
Then he asked who she was and where she came from;

**424** ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ·  
and at once she pointed out my father's high-roofed house:

**425** ἐκ μὲν Σιδῶνος πολυχάλκου εὔχομαι εἶναι,  
'I claim to be from Sidon, rich in bronze,
> "I claim to be": εὔχομαι here means "I declare/claim" rather than "I pray." With the infinitive εἶναι it is a formula for stating one's origin or status.

**426** κούρη δʼ εἴμʼ Ἀρύβαντος ἐγὼ ῥυδὸν ἀφνειοῖο·  
and I am the daughter of Arybas, a man of flowing wealth;

**427** ἀλλά μʼ ἀνήρπαξαν Τάφιοι ληΐστορες ἄνδρες  
but Taphian pirate men carried me off

**428** ἀγρόθεν ἐρχομένην, πέρασαν δέ τε δεῦρʼ ἀγαγόντες  
as I came from the fields, and brought me here over the sea,

**429** τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.  
to this man's house; and he gave a worthy price.'

**430** τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐμίσγετο
                     λάθρη·  
Then the man who had secretly lain with her answered her:

**431** ἦ ῥά κε νῦν πάλιν αὖτις ἅμʼ ἡμῖν οἴκαδʼ ἕποιο,  
'Would you now come back home together with us,

**432** ὄφρα ἴδῃ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ὑψερεφὲς δῶ  
to see your father's and mother's high-roofed house

**433** αὐτούς τʼ; ἦ γὰρ ἔτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.  
and themselves? For they still live and are called wealthy.'

**434** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο
                     μύθῳ·  
Then the woman answered him and spoke in reply:

**435** εἴη κεν καὶ τοῦτʼ, εἴ μοι ἐθέλοιτέ γε, ναῦται,  
'Even this might be, if you sailors would be willing
> Potential and conditional optatives: εἴη κεν is a potential optative ("it might be"), and ἐθέλοιτε in the εἰ-clause is an optative of a future-less-vivid condition. Together they express a cautious, hypothetical agreement.

**436** ὅρκῳ πιστωθῆναι ἀπήμονά μʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀπάξειν.  
to pledge me by oath to bring me home unharmed.'

**437** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπώμνυον ὡς
                     ἐκέλευεν.  
So she spoke, and they all swore as she bade.

**438** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,  
But when they had sworn and completed the oath,

**439** τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·  
the woman spoke among them again and answered in reply:

**440** σιγῇ νῦν, μή τίς με προσαυδάτω ἐπέεσσιν  
'Be silent now: let none of your companions address me with words

**441** ὑμετέρων ἑτάρων, ξυμβλήμενος ἢ ἐν ἀγυιῇ,  
of your men, should one meet me, either in the street

**442** ἤ που ἐπὶ κρήνῃ· μή τις ποτὶ δῶμα γέροντι  
or maybe at the well; let no one go to the house and tell the old man,

**443** ἐλθὼν ἐξείπῃ, ὁ δʼ ὀϊσάμενος καταδήσῃ  
for if he suspects he will bind me

**444** δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπιφράσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.  
in cruel bonds, and plot destruction for you all.

**445** ἀλλʼ ἔχετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ μῦθον, ἐπείγετε δʼ ὦνον ὁδαίων.  
But keep my words in mind, and press on with buying your cargo.

**446** ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηῦς πλείη βιότοιο γένηται,  
And when at last your ship is laden full with goods,

**447** ἀγγελίη μοι ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθω·  
then let word come quickly to me at the house;

**448** οἴσω γὰρ καὶ χρυσόν, ὅτις χʼ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ·  
for I will bring gold too, whatever comes to my hand;

**449** καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλʼ ἐπίβαθρον ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσά γε δοίην.  
and there is something else I would gladly give for my passage.
> Passage-fare: The ἐπίβαθρον is the fare paid for boarding a ship. The woman offers it on top of the gold she will steal.

**450** παῖδα γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀτιτάλλω,  
For I am nursing the son of my own master within his halls,

**451** κερδαλέον δὴ τοῖον, ἅμα τροχόωντα θύραζε·  
a clever little thing, who runs about beside me out of doors;

**452** τόν κεν ἄγοιμʼ ἐπὶ νηός, ὁ δʼ ὑμῖν μυρίον ὦνον  
him I would bring aboard the ship, and he would fetch you a vast price

**453** ἄλφοι, ὅπῃ περάσητε κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους.  
wherever you sell him among men of foreign speech."
> Foreign-tongued: ἀλλόθροος means literally "of another voice/speech," marking foreigners by their unintelligible language.

**454** ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα καλά,  
So having spoken she went away to the fair house,

**455** οἱ δʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα παρʼ ἡμῖν αὖθι μένοντες  
while they stayed on there with us a whole year long,

**456** ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ βίοτον πολὺν ἐμπολόωντο.  
buying up a great store of goods for their hollow ship.

**457** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίλη νηῦς ἤχθετο τοῖσι νέεσθαι,  
But when the hollow ship was loaded for their voyage home,

**458** καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελον ἧκαν, ὃς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί.  
then they sent a messenger to carry word to the woman.

**459** ἤλυθʼ ἀνὴρ πολύϊδρις ἐμοῦ πρὸς δώματα πατρὸς  
A man full of cunning came to my father's house
> Much-knowing: πολύϊδρις means "of much knowledge, very cunning" — the same root (ιδ-, to know/see) that gives Odysseus his shrewdness.

**460** χρύσεον ὅρμον ἔχων, μετὰ δʼ ἠλέκτροισιν ἔερτο.  
with a golden necklace, strung here and there with amber.

**461** τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ δμῳαὶ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ  
This the maids in the hall and my honored mother

**462** χερσίν τʼ ἀμφαφόωντο καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶντο,  
kept handling in their hands and gazing on with their eyes,

**463** ὦνον ὑπισχόμεναι· ὁ δὲ τῇ κατένευσε σιωπῇ.  
offering a price; and he nodded silently to the woman.

**464** ἦ τοι ὁ καννεύσας κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα βεβήκει,  
Then, having given the nod, he went off to the hollow ship,

**465** ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα δόμων ἐξῆγε θύραζε.  
and she, taking me by the hand, led me out of the house.

**466** εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ ἠμὲν δέπα ἠδὲ τραπέζας  
In the forecourt she found the cups and the tables

**467** ἀνδρῶν δαιτυμόνων, οἵ μευ πατέρʼ ἀμφεπένοντο.  
of the men who had feasted, who waited upon my father.

**468** οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς θῶκον πρόμολον, δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,  
They had gone out to the meeting-place and the people's council,

**469** ἡ δʼ αἶψα τρίʼ ἄλεισα κατακρύψασʼ ὑπὸ κόλπῳ  
and she at once, hiding three cups beneath her dress,

**470** ἔκφερεν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀεσιφροσύνῃσι.  
carried them off; and I followed in my childish folly.
> Childish folly: ἀεσιφροσύνη is thoughtless, reckless folly. The dative here means "out of folly" — Eumaeus excuses his boyhood self.

**471** δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·  
The sun went down and all the streets grew dark;

**472** ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν ὦκα κιόντες,  
and we came in haste to the famous harbor,

**473** ἔνθʼ ἄρα Φοινίκων ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὠκύαλος νηῦς.  
where the swift-sailing ship of the Phoenician men lay.

**474** οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,  
Then they went aboard and sailed the watery ways,

**475** νὼ ἀναβησάμενοι· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς οὖρον ἴαλλεν.  
taking the two of us aboard; and Zeus sent a fair wind after.
> Dual: "the two of us": νώ is the dual accusative of the first-person pronoun, "us two" — the woman and the child. Homer uses the dual for natural pairs.

**476** ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·  
For six days alike we sailed, by night and by day;

**477** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,  
but when Zeus son of Cronos brought on the seventh day,

**478** τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα γυναῖκα βάλʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,  
then Artemis the archer struck down the woman,
> Arrow-pouring: ἰοχέαιρα, "she who pours forth arrows," is a standing epithet of Artemis, whose shafts bring sudden death to women.

**479** ἄντλῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησε πεσοῦσʼ ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ.  
and she crashed down into the bilge like a seagull plunging.

**480** καὶ τὴν μὲν φώκῃσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι  
And her they threw out, to be prey for the seals and the fish,

**481** ἔκβαλον· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ·  
overboard; but I was left grieving in my heart.

**482** τοὺς δʼ Ἰθάκῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ,  
Wind and water bore them and brought them to Ithaca,

**483** ἔνθα με Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.  
where Laertes bought me with his own possessions.

**484** οὕτω τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι.  
And so it was that I saw this land with my own eyes."

**485** τὸν δʼ αὖ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·  
Then Odysseus, sprung from Zeus, answered him and said:
> Zeus-born: διογενής, "sprung from Zeus," is a heroic epithet marking divine descent and honor; here attached to Odysseus.

**486** Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα δή μοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸν ὄρινας  
"Eumaeus, deeply indeed have you stirred the heart in my breast

**487** ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἄλγεα θυμῷ.  
telling out each of these things, all the sorrows you have suffered in your spirit.

**488** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σοὶ μὲν παρὰ καὶ κακῷ ἐσθλὸν ἔθηκε  
Yet truly, alongside the evil Zeus has set good for you

**489** Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ ἀνδρὸς δώματʼ ἀφίκεο πολλὰ μογήσας  
as well, since after much hardship you came to the house

**490** ἠπίου, ὃς δή τοι παρέχει βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε  
of a kindly man, who gives you food and drink

**491** ἐνδυκέως, ζώεις δʼ ἀγαθὸν βίον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε  
with care, and you live a good life; but as for me,

**492** πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω.  
I have come here wandering through the many cities of men."

**493** ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,  
So they spoke such things to one another,

**494** καδδραθέτην δʼ οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·  
and they slept not long, but only a little while;

**495** αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου  
for soon came Dawn on her fair throne. Meanwhile, near shore

**496** Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δʼ ἕλον ἱστὸν  
Telemachus' comrades were loosing the sails, and they lowered the mast

**497** καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρυσσαν ἐρετμοῖς·  
swiftly, and rowed the ship forward into the anchorage with their oars;

**498** ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·  
they cast out the mooring-stones and made fast the stern-cables;

**499** ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,  
and they themselves stepped out upon the breaking surf of the sea,

**500** δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.  
and made ready their meal, and mixed the gleaming wine.
> Gleaming wine: αἶθοψ, "fiery, sparkling," is a formulaic epithet of wine, evoking its flashing red glint.

**501** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,  
But when they had put away their desire for drink and food,

**502** τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·  
then wise Telemachus began to speak among them:

**503** ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδʼ ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,  
"You now drive the black ship on to the city,

**504** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·  
but I will go to the fields and to the herdsmen;

**505** ἑσπέριος δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.  
and at evening, when I have seen my own work, I will come down to the city.

**506** ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,  
And at dawn I will set before you, for your journey,

**507** δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.  
a good feast of meats and sweet-to-drink wine."

**508** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·  
Then godlike Theoclymenus said to him in turn:

**509** πῆ γὰρ ἐγώ, φίλε τέκνον, ἴω; τεῦ δώμαθʼ ἵκωμαι  
"And where, dear child, am I to go? Whose house am I to reach,

**510** ἀνδρῶν οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;  
among the men who hold sway over rugged Ithaca?

**511** ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;  
Or shall I go straight to your mother and to your house?"

**512** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn:

**513** ἄλλως μέν σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην  
"At any other time I would bid you go to our own home,

**514** ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ  
for there is no lack of hospitality there; but for you yourself

**515** χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ  
it would be worse, since I shall be away, and my mother will not

**516** ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
see you; for she does not often show herself in the house

**517** φαίνεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.  
among the suitors, but apart from them weaves at her loom upstairs.

**518** ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,  
But I will name you another man whose house you might go to,

**519** Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,  
Eurymachus, the shining son of wise Polybus,

**520** τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·  
whom now the men of Ithaca look upon as a god;
> Dative of comparison: ἶσα θεῷ, "equal to a god," uses the dative θεῷ with ἶσος to express comparison — "like a god."

**521** καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα  
for he is by far the best man, and is most eager

**522** μητέρʼ ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.  
to marry my mother and to hold the honor of Odysseus.
> Prerogative of honor: γέρας is the prize or privilege owed to rank — here Odysseus' kingly standing, which Eurymachus hopes to seize through marriage.

**523** ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,  
But Olympian Zeus, who dwells in the bright sky, knows these things,

**524** εἴ κέ σφι πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.  
whether he will bring on them an evil day before the marriage."

**525** ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,  
As he was speaking, a bird flew by on his right,

**526** κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι  
a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo; and in its talons

**527** τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε  
it held a dove, plucking it, and shed the feathers to the ground

**528** μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.  
midway between the ship and Telemachus himself.

**529** τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας  
Then Theoclymenus, calling him apart from his comrades,

**530** ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
clasped him by the hand, and spoke a word, and called him by name:

**531** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἔπτατο δεξιὸς
                     ὄρνις  
"Telemachus, not without a god did that bird fly by on your right;

**532** ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.  
for I knew, seeing it before my eyes, that it was a bird of omen.
> Participles of perception: It is ἔγνων (the main verb, a verb of recognizing) that governs the accusative + participle construction μιν … ἐόντα: "I recognized it as being a bird of omen." ἰδών ("having seen") is a separate circumstantial participle of manner modifying the implicit subject, not the governing verb of the construction.

**533** ὑμετέρου δʼ οὐκ ἔστι γένος βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο  
There is no other family more kingly than yours

**534** ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.  
in the land of Ithaca; you will always be the mighty ones."

**535** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn:

**536** αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·  
"Would, stranger, that this word might be fulfilled;
> Optative of wish: αἲ γάρ with the optative εἴη expresses a wish: "would that it might be." This is the standard way Homer voices longing.

**537** τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα  
then you would soon know my friendship, and many gifts

**538** ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.  
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed."

**539** ἦ καὶ Πείραιον προσεφώνεε, πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·  
He spoke, and called to Peiraeus, his trusty comrade:

**540** Πείραιε Κλυτίδη, σὺ δέ μοι τά περ ἄλλα μάλιστα  
"Peiraeus, son of Clytius, you above all the others

**541** πείθῃ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἵ μοι Πύλον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο·  
obey me, of my comrades who followed me to Pylos;

**542** καὶ νῦν μοι τὸν ξεῖνον ἄγων ἐν δώμασι σοῖσιν  
so now too take this stranger to your house

**543** ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.  
and care for him kindly and honor him, until I come."

**544** τὸν δʼ αὖ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then Peiraeus, famed for his spear, answered him in turn:
> Spear-famed: δουρικλυτός, "renowned with the spear," is a warrior epithet; Homer attaches such honorifics even to minor comrades.

**545** Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ γάρ κεν σὺ πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδε μίμνοι,  
"Telemachus, even if you stay here a long time,

**546** τόνδε τʼ ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.  
I will take care of this man, and he shall have no lack of hospitality."

**547** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβη, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους  
So saying he went aboard the ship, and bade his comrades

**548** αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.  
themselves embark and loose the stern-cables.

**549** οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.  
And they at once went aboard and sat down at the oarlocks.

**550** Τηλέμαχος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,  
Then Telemachus bound the fair sandals beneath his feet,
> Middle voice: for himself: ἐδήσατο is aorist middle — "he bound on for himself" his own sandals. The middle voice marks the action as done in the subject's own interest.

**551** εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,  
and he took up his sturdy spear, tipped with sharp bronze,

**552** νηὸς ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.  
from the ship's deck; and they loosed the stern cables.

**553** οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε  
They pushed off and sailed for the town, as he had ordered,

**554** Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·  
Telemachus, dear son of godlike Odysseus;

**555** τὸν δʼ ὦκα προβιβάντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,  
but his feet carried him swiftly striding on, until he reached the farmstead
> Striding participle: A present participle in the accusative agreeing with 'him' (τόν), describing the manner of his going. The image is of long, eager strides.

**556** ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης  
where his countless swine were, among which the swineherd

**557** ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς,  
good as he was, made his bed, loyal-hearted toward his masters.
> Knowing kindly things: Literally 'knowing gentle things' toward his masters, a formula for someone reliably well-disposed and faithful, used repeatedly of Eumaeus.

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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.