# The Odyssey, Book 16: Father and Son: Odysseus Reveals Himself to Telemachus

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Homecoming

Telemachus reaches the hut. Athena restores Odysseus to his own shape, and father and son meet after twenty years. They plan the suitors' deaths.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/16. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/16.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς  
Now the two of them, Odysseus and the noble swineherd, in the hut
> Dual subject: τὼ is the dual form, marking exactly two: Odysseus and the swineherd together. Homer often uses the dual for natural pairs.

**2** ἐντύνοντο ἄριστον ἅμʼ ἠοῖ, κηαμένω πῦρ,  
were making ready their breakfast at daybreak, having kindled a fire,

**3** ἔκπεμψάν τε νομῆας ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσι·  
and they sent out the herdsmen with the gathered swine;

**4** Τηλέμαχον δὲ περίσσαινον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι,  
but the loud-baying dogs fawned around Telemachus

**5** οὐδʼ ὕλαον προσιόντα. νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
and did not bark at him as he came up. And noble Odysseus noticed

**6** σαίνοντάς τε κύνας, περί τε κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν.  
the dogs fawning, and the sound of footsteps came to him.

**7** αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
At once he spoke winged words to Eumaeus:

**8** Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα τίς τοι ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ
                     ἑταῖρος  
"Eumaeus, surely some companion of yours is coming here,

**9** ἢ καὶ γνώριμος ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ κύνες οὐχ ὑλάουσιν,  
or someone else you know, since the dogs are not barking

**10** ἀλλὰ περισσαίνουσι· ποδῶν δʼ ὑπὸ δοῦπον ἀκούω.  
but fawning around him; and I hear the thud of footsteps."

**11** οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ φίλος υἱὸς  
The word was not yet fully spoken when his own dear son

**12** ἔστη ἐνὶ προθύροισι. ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσε συβώτης,  
stood in the doorway. The swineherd sprang up in amazement,

**13** ἐκ δʼ ἄρα οἱ χειρῶν πέσον ἄγγεα, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο,  
and from his hands the vessels fell with which he was busy,

**14** κιρνὰς αἴθοπα οἶνον. ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθεν ἄνακτος,  
mixing the gleaming wine. He went to meet his master,

**15** κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλὰ  
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes

**16** χεῖράς τʼ ἀμφοτέρας· θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ.  
and both his hands, and a swelling tear fell from him.

**17** ὡς δὲ πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φίλα φρονέων ἀγαπάζῃ  
As a father lovingly welcomes his own son
> Subjunctive in simile: The verb is subjunctive, marking the generic 'whenever' of an extended Homeric simile that describes a typical, repeated situation.

**18** ἐλθόντʼ ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,  
come home from a far country in the tenth year,

**19** μοῦνον τηλύγετον, τῷ ἔπʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσῃ,  
an only son, late-born, for whom he has suffered many sorrows,

**20** ὣς τότε Τηλέμαχον θεοειδέα δῖος ὑφορβὸς  
so then the noble swineherd kissed godlike Telemachus

**21** πάντα κύσεν περιφύς, ὡς ἐκ θανάτοιο φυγόντα·  
all over, clinging to him, as one escaped from death;

**22** καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and weeping he spoke winged words to him:

**23** ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος. οὔ σʼ ἔτʼ ἐγώ
                     γε  
"You have come, Telemachus, sweet light. I no longer
> Sweet light: An affectionate metaphor: the returning Telemachus is the 'sweet light' of Eumaeus' eyes, his joy and his life.

**24** ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε.  
thought I would see you, once you had sailed to Pylos.

**25** ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα σε θυμῷ  
But come now, enter, dear child, so that in my heart

**26** τέρψομαι εἰσορόων νέον ἄλλοθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα.  
I may take joy in looking at you, just come home from abroad.

**27** οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θάμʼ ἀγρὸν ἐπέρχεαι οὐδὲ νομῆας,  
For you do not often visit the farm and the herdsmen,

**28** ἀλλʼ ἐπιδημεύεις· ὣς γάρ νύ τοι εὔαδε θυμῷ,  
but stay in town; so it has pleased your heart,

**29** ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορᾶν ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον.  
to keep watch on the ruinous crowd of the suitors."

**30** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn:
> Perfect participle as epithet: πεπνυμένος ('wise, prudent') is a perfect participle that functions as Telemachus' standing epithet throughout the poem.

**31** ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σέθεν δʼ ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,  
"So it shall be, old friend; but it is for your sake I have come here,

**32** ὄφρα σέ τʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσω,  
so that I may see you with my own eyes and hear your word,

**33** ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐν μεγάροις μήτηρ μένει, ἦέ τις ἤδη  
whether my mother still waits in the halls, or whether by now

**34** ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔγημεν, Ὀδυσσῆος δέ που εὐνὴ  
some other man has married her, and Odysseus' bed

**35** χήτει ἐνευναίων κάκʼ ἀράχνια κεῖται ἔχουσα.  
for want of sleepers lies covered with foul cobwebs."

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

**37** καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ  
"Indeed she still waits, with an enduring heart,

**38** σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ  
in your halls; but always her wretched

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

**40** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·  
So speaking he took from him the bronze spear;

**41** αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.  
and Telemachus went inside and crossed the stone threshold.

**42** τῷ δʼ ἕδρης ἐπιόντι πατὴρ ὑπόειξεν Ὀδυσσεύς·  
As he came up, his father Odysseus made to yield his seat to him;

**43** Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐρήτυε φώνησέν τε·  
but Telemachus stopped him from the other side and spoke:

**44** ἧσʼ, ὦ ξεῖνʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοθι δήομεν
                     ἕδρην  
"Sit, stranger; we shall find a seat elsewhere

**45** σταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ· πάρα δʼ ἀνὴρ ὃς καταθήσει.  
at our station; and here is a man who will set one out."

**46** ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τῷ δὲ
                  συβώτης.  
So he spoke, and Odysseus went back and sat down; and for Telemachus the swineherd

**47** χεῦεν ὕπο χλωρὰς ῥῶπας καὶ κῶας ὕπερθεν·  
spread out green brushwood beneath, and a fleece on top;

**48** ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.  
and there the dear son of Odysseus sat down.

**49** τοῖσιν δʼ αὖ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκε συβώτης  
Then the swineherd set beside them platters of meat,

**50** ὀπταλέων, ἅ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ ὑπέλειπον ἔδοντες,  
roasted, which they had left from their eating the day before,

**51** σῖτον δʼ ἐσσυμένως παρενήνεεν ἐν κανέοισιν,  
and quickly he heaped up bread in baskets,

**52** ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον·  
and in an ivy-wood bowl he mixed the honey-sweet wine;

**53** αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.  
and he himself sat down facing godlike Odysseus.

**54** οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.  
Then they reached out their hands to the good food set ready before them.

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

**56** δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε δῖον ὑφορβόν·  
then indeed Telemachus spoke to the noble swineherd:

**57** ἄττα, πόθεν τοι ξεῖνος ὅδʼ ἵκετο; πῶς δέ ἑ
                     ναῦται  
"Old friend, where did this stranger come from? How did sailors

**58** ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;  
bring him to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?

**59** οὐ μὲν γάρ τί ἑ πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.  
For I do not think he came here on foot."

**60** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·  
Then you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
> Address to a character: Homer turns to address Eumaeus directly in the second person ('you answered'), a rare apostrophe reserved for a few sympathetic figures.

**61** τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντʼ ἀγορεύσω.  
"Then I will tell you, child, the whole truth.

**62** ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχεται εὐρειάων,  
He claims his lineage is from broad Crete,

**63** φησὶ δὲ πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεα δινηθῆναι  
and he says he has wandered through many cities of mortals,

**64** πλαζόμενος· ὣς γάρ οἱ ἐπέκλωσεν τά γε δαίμων.  
drifting on; for so a god spun this fate for him.

**65** νῦν αὖ Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποδρὰς  
Now, having run off from a ship of the Thesprotian men,

**66** ἤλυθʼ ἐμὸν πρὸς σταθμόν, ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἐγγυαλίξω·  
he has come to my station; and I hand him over to you.

**67** ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχεται εἶναι.  
Do as you wish; he claims to be your suppliant."

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

**69** Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος θυμαλγὲς ἔειπες·  
"Eumaeus, truly you have spoken a word that grieves my heart.

**70** πῶς γὰρ δὴ τὸν ξεῖνον ἐγὼν ὑποδέξομαι οἴκῳ;  
For how am I to receive this stranger in my house?

**71** αὐτὸς μὲν νέος εἰμὶ καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα  
I myself am young, and do not yet trust my hands

**72** ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ·  
to fend off a man, whenever someone provokes me first;

**73** μητρὶ δʼ ἐμῇ δίχα θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,  
and my mother's heart wavers two ways within her,
> Present of inner debate: The present tense μερμηρίζει ('ponders, wavers') vividly portrays Penelope's ongoing, unresolved deliberation.

**74** ἢ αὐτοῦ παρʼ ἐμοί τε μένῃ καὶ δῶμα κομίζῃ,  
whether to stay here beside me and keep the house,

**75** εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,  
honoring her husband's bed and the talk of the people,

**76** ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπηται Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος  
or whether now to follow whoever is best of the Achaeans

**77** μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν.  
who woos her in the halls and offers the most.

**78** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοὶ τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,  
But as for this stranger, since he has come to your home,

**79** ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,  
I will clothe him in a cloak and tunic, fine garments,

**80** δώσω δὲ ξίφος ἄμφηκες καὶ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,  
and give him a double-edged sword and sandals for his feet,

**81** πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.  
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go.

**82** εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, σὺ κόμισσον ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσιν ἐρύξας·  
Or if you wish, keep him and tend him here at the station;

**83** εἵματα δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ πέμψω καὶ σῖτον ἅπαντα  
and I will send clothing here and all the food

**84** ἔδμεναι, ὡς ἂν μή σε κατατρύχῃ καὶ ἑταίρους.  
for him to eat, so he does not wear down you and your men.

**85** κεῖσε δʼ ἂν οὔ μιν ἐγώ γε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἐῷμι  
But I would not let him go over there, among the suitors,

**86** ἔρχεσθαι· λίην γὰρ ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·  
for they have far too reckless an insolence;
> Reckless insolence: hubris is the suitors' defining sin: arrogant, lawless violence that the gods punish. ἀτάσθαλος intensifies it as morally blind recklessness.

**87** μή μιν κερτομέωσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται αἰνόν.  
they might mock him, and that would be dread grief for me.

**88** πρῆξαι δʼ ἀργαλέον τι μετὰ πλεόνεσσιν ἐόντα  
It is hard for a man, even a strong one, to accomplish anything

**89** ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.  
when he is among a greater number, for they are far stronger."

**90** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:
> Epithet formula: 'Much-enduring noble Odysseus' is a fixed metrical formula filling the verse-end; epithets like this are a hallmark of oral epic.

**91** ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί θήν μοι καὶ ἀμείψασθαι θέμις ἐστίν,  
"Friend, since it is surely right for me to answer too,

**92** ἦ μάλα μευ καταδάπτετʼ ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ,  
truly my heart is torn within me as I listen,

**93** οἷά φατε μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθαι  
to the reckless deeds you say the suitors are contriving

**94** ἐν μεγάροις, ἀέκητι σέθεν τοιούτου ἐόντος.  
in the halls, against your will, you being such a man.

**95** εἰπέ μοι ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ  
Tell me, do you submit willingly, or do the people

**96** ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ,  
hate you throughout the land, following the voice of some god?

**97** ἦ τι κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφεαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ  
Or do you have some grievance against brothers, in whom a man

**98** μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.  
trusts when they fight, even if a great quarrel arises?

**99** αἲ γάρ ἐγὼν οὕτω νέος εἴην τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ,  
If only I were as young as I am in spirit now,
> Optative of wish: αἲ γάρ with the optative εἴην expresses an unattainable wish: 'would that I were.' The optative is Homer's mood for prayers and longings.

**100** ἢ παῖς ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἠὲ καὶ αὐτός·  
either the son of blameless Odysseus, or Odysseus himself!

**102** αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπʼ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς,  
Then at once let a stranger's hand cut my head from me,

**103** εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κείνοισι κακὸν πάντεσσι γενοίμην,  
if I did not become a bane to all those men,

**104** ἐλθὼν ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.  
going to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes.

**105** εἰ δʼ αὖ με πληθυῖ δαμασαίατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,  
And even if their numbers overcame me, alone as I am,

**106** βουλοίμην κʼ ἐν ἐμοῖσι κατακτάμενος μεγάροισι  
I would rather, struck down in my own halls,
> Potential optative: The optative with κε (ἄν) expresses a hypothetical preference: 'I would rather.' This is the potential optative of polite or conditional statement.

**107** τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,  
be dead, than always look upon these shameful deeds:

**108** ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας  
strangers being beaten, and the serving women

**109** ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά,  
dragged about disgracefully through the fine halls,

**110** καὶ οἶνον διαφυσσόμενον, καὶ σῖτον ἔδοντας  
and wine drawn off, and the food devoured

**111** μὰψ αὔτως, ἀτέλεστον, ἀνηνύστῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.  
recklessly, to no end, for a labor that can never be brought to completion.

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

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

**114** οὔτε τί μοι πᾶς δῆμος ἀπεχθόμενος χαλεπαίνει,  
It is not that the whole people hates me and is harsh toward me,

**115** οὔτε κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφομαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ  
nor do I have any complaint against brothers, the ones in whom a man

**116** μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.  
puts his trust when they fight at his side, even if a great quarrel arises.

**117** ὧδε γὰρ ἡμετέρην γενεὴν μούνωσε Κρονίων·  
For thus the son of Cronus has made our line single in each generation:

**118** μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε,  
Arceisius fathered Laertes as his only son,

**119** μοῦνον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
and his father in turn fathered Odysseus alone; then Odysseus

**120** μοῦνον ἔμʼ ἐν μεγάροισι τεκὼν λίπεν οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο.  
fathered me alone in the halls and left, with no profit from me.

**121** τῷ νῦν δυσμενέες μάλα μυρίοι εἴσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.  
And so now enemies past counting are within the house.

**122** ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,  
For all the nobles who hold sway over the islands,

**123** Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,  
Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,

**124** ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσι,  
and all who lord it over rugged Ithaca,

**125** τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.  
all of these are courting my mother and wearing down the house.

**126** ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν  
And she neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able

**127** ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες  
to bring it to an end; meanwhile they devour and waste

**128** οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.  
my house; and soon they will tear me to pieces as well.

**129** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·  
But truly these things lie on the knees of the gods.

**130** ἄττα, σὺ δʼ ἔρχεο θᾶσσον, ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ  
Old friend, you go quickly, and to prudent Penelope

**131** εἴφʼ ὅτι οἱ σῶς εἰμὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθα.  
say that I am safe and have come back from Pylos.

**132** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μενέω, σὺ δὲ δεῦρο νέεσθαι,  
But I myself will stay here, and you return back this way,

**133** οἴῃ ἀπαγγείλας· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τις Ἀχαιῶν  
having told her alone; let no other of the Achaeans

**134** πευθέσθω· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.  
find out, for many are devising evil against me."

**135** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·  
Then you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
> Address to the swineherd: Homer speaks directly to Eumaeus with a second-person verb (apostrophe), a mark of affection for the character.

**136** γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.  
"I understand, I take your meaning; you command one who already grasps it.

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

**138** ἦ καὶ Λαέρτῃ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἄγγελος ἔλθω  
shall I go on the same road as a messenger to Laertes too,

**139** δυσμόρῳ, ὃς τῆος μὲν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγʼ ἀχεύων  
the ill-fated man, who up to now, grieving deeply for Odysseus,

**140** ἔργα τʼ ἐποπτεύεσκε μετὰ δμώων τʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
would oversee the work and, among his servants in the house,

**141** πῖνε καὶ ἦσθʼ, ὅτε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγοι·  
would eat and drink whenever the spirit in his breast urged him;

**142** αὐτὰρ νῦν, ἐξ οὗ σύ γε ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε,  
but now, ever since you went off in the ship to Pylos,

**143** οὔ πω μίν φασιν φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν αὔτως,  
they say he no longer eats or drinks as before,

**144** οὐδʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἰδεῖν, ἀλλὰ στοναχῇ τε γόῳ τε  
nor looks to the work, but with groaning and lament

**145** ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος, φθινύθει δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφι χρώς.  
he sits mourning, and the flesh withers about his bones."

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

**147** ἄλγιον, ἀλλʼ ἔμπης μιν ἐάσομεν, ἀχνύμενοί περ·  
"It is the harder grief, but even so we will leave him be, sorry as we are.

**148** εἰ γὰρ πως εἴη αὐτάγρετα πάντα βροτοῖσι,  
For if all things could be had for the choosing by mortals,

**149** πρῶτόν κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑλοίμεθα νόστιμον ἦμαρ.  
the first thing we would choose is my father's day of homecoming.
> Day of homecoming: Nostos, the homecoming, is the driving theme of the Odyssey; the phrase 'day of return' recurs as a fixed expression.

**150** ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἀγγείλας ὀπίσω κίε, μηδὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺς  
But you, when you have given the message, come back, and do not

**151** πλάζεσθαι μετʼ ἐκεῖνον· ἀτὰρ πρὸς μητέρα εἰπεῖν  
wander through the fields after him; but tell my mother

**152** ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὀτρυνέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα  
to send the housekeeper, a maidservant, as quickly as possible

**153** κρύβδην· κείνη γὰρ κεν ἀπαγγείλειε γέροντι.  
in secret; for she could carry the news to the old man."

**154** ἦ ῥα καὶ ὦρσε συφορβόν· ὁ δʼ εἵλετο χερσὶ
                  πέδιλα,  
So he spoke, and roused the swineherd; he took his sandals in his hands,

**155** δησάμενος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πόλινδʼ ἴεν. οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνην  
bound them under his feet, and went to the town. Nor did Athena

**156** λῆθεν ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο κιὼν Εὔμαιος ὑφορβός,  
fail to notice Eumaeus the swineherd leaving the steading,

**157** ἀλλʼ ἥ γε σχεδὸν ἦλθε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ  
but she herself came near; in form she was like a woman,

**158** καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ.  
fair and tall and skilled in glorious handiwork.

**159** στῆ δὲ κατʼ ἀντίθυρον κλισίης Ὀδυσῆϊ φανεῖσα·  
She stood at the door of the hut, showing herself to Odysseus;

**160** οὐδʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἴδεν ἀντίον οὐδʼ ἐνόησεν,  
but Telemachus did not see her before him, nor perceive her,

**161** οὐ γὰρ πω πάντεσσι θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς,  
for the gods do not appear in plain sight to everyone,

**162** ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε κύνες τε ἴδον, καί ῥʼ οὐχ ὑλάοντο  
but Odysseus and the dogs saw her, and they did not bark

**163** κνυζηθμῷ δʼ ἑτέρωσε διὰ σταθμοῖο φόβηθεν.  
but whimpering they shrank away to the other side of the steading.

**164** ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
She signaled with her brows; noble Odysseus understood,

**165** ἐκ δʼ ἦλθεν μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,  
and came out of the hall, past the great wall of the courtyard,

**166** στῆ δὲ πάροιθʼ αὐτῆς· τὸν δὲ προσέειπεν Ἀθήνη·  
and stood before her; then Athena spoke to him:

**167** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,
> Vocative epithet line: This whole line is in the vocative case, a fixed formula of address for Odysseus. 'Of many devices' is one of his signature epithets.

**168** ἤδη νῦν σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,  
now at last speak the word to your son, and do not hide it,

**169** ὡς ἄν μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἀραρόντε  
so that, having fixed death and doom for the suitors,

**170** ἔρχησθον προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν· οὐδʼ ἐγὼ αὐτὴ  
the two of you may go to the famous town; and I myself
> Dual number for the pair: Homer uses dual forms here for Odysseus and Telemachus acting as a pair, a feature largely lost in later Greek.

**171** δηρὸν ἀπὸ σφῶϊν ἔσομαι μεμαυῖα μάχεσθαι.  
will not be far from you two for long, eager as I am to fight."

**172** ἦ καὶ χρυσείῃ ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη.  
She spoke, and touched him with her golden wand.

**173** φᾶρος μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα  
First a well-washed cloak and a tunic

**174** θῆκʼ ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι, δέμας δʼ ὤφελλε καὶ ἥβην.  
she set about his chest, and increased his stature and his youth.

**175** ἂψ δὲ μελαγχροιὴς γένετο, γναθμοὶ δὲ τάνυσθεν,  
Again he grew dark of skin, and his cheeks filled out,

**176** κυάνεαι δʼ ἐγένοντο γενειάδες ἀμφὶ γένειον.  
and dark grew the beard about his chin.

**177** ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασα πάλιν κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
When she had done this she went back again; but Odysseus

**178** ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· θάμβησε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,  
went into the hut; and his dear son was amazed at him,

**179** ταρβήσας δʼ ἑτέρωσε βάλʼ ὄμματα, μὴ θεὸς εἴη,  
and in fear turned his eyes aside, lest he be a god,

**180** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking to him he uttered winged words:
> Winged words: A recurring Homeric formula: speech that 'flies' from the speaker to the listener.

**181** ἀλλοῖός μοι, ξεῖνε, φάνης νέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν,  
"You look different to me, stranger, than a moment before;

**182** ἄλλα δὲ εἵματʼ ἔχεις, καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθʼ ὁμοῖος.  
you wear other clothing, and your skin is no longer the same.

**183** ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν·  
Surely you are some god, one of those who hold the wide heaven.

**184** ἀλλʼ ἵληθʼ, ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰ  
Be gracious, then, that we may give you pleasing offerings

**185** ἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρα, τετυγμένα· φείδεο δʼ ἡμέων  
and gifts of wrought gold; and have mercy on us."

**186** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:
> Much-enduring Odysseus: A signature epithet for Odysseus, recalling all he has suffered on his wanderings.

**187** οὔ τίς τοι θεός εἰμι· τί μʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐΐσκεις;  
"I am no god for you; why do you liken me to the immortals?

**188** ἀλλὰ πατὴρ τεός εἰμι, τοῦ εἵνεκα σὺ στεναχίζων  
I am your father, for whose sake you, groaning,

**189** πάσχεις ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.  
suffer many pains, enduring the violence of men."

**190** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας υἱὸν κύσε, κὰδ δὲ παρειῶν  
So speaking he kissed his son, and down his cheeks

**191** δάκρυον ἧκε χαμᾶζε· πάρος δʼ ἔχε νωλεμὲς αἰεί.  
he let a tear fall to the ground; before he had held it back without ceasing.

**192** Τηλέμαχος δʼ, οὐ γάρ πω ἐπείθετο ὃν πατέρʼ εἶναι,  
But Telemachus, since he did not yet believe him to be his father,

**193** ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·  
answered him once more with these words and said:

**194** οὐ σύ γʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, πατὴρ ἐμός, ἀλλά με
                     δαίμων  
"You are not Odysseus, my father, but some divine power

**195** θέλγει, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω.  
is bewitching me, so that I may grieve and groan still more.
> To bewitch: Thelgo means to charm or enchant, often with the suggestion of deceptive, supernatural power.

**196** οὐ γάρ πως ἂν θνητὸς ἀνὴρ τάδε μηχανόῳτο  
For no mortal man could contrive such things

**197** ᾧ αὐτοῦ γε νόῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν  
by his own wit, unless a god himself coming near
> Aorist participle: 'Coming upon' is an aorist participle expressing the god's arrival as completed action prior to the main verb.

**198** ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη νέον ἠὲ γέροντα.  
should easily, by his will, make him young or old.

**199** ἦ γάρ τοι νέον ἦσθα γέρων καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσο·  
For just now you were old and dressed in rags;

**200** νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικας, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.  
but now you are like the gods who hold the wide heaven."

**201** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him:
> Of many counsels: Polymetis, 'of many wiles/counsels,' is another of Odysseus' defining epithets, marking his cleverness.

**202** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ σε ἔοικε φίλον πατέρ ἔνδον ἐόντα  
"Telemachus, it is not fitting, when your dear father is within,

**203** οὔτε τι θαυμάζειν περιώσιον οὔτʼ ἀγάασθαι·  
to wonder so excessively or to be astonished;

**204** οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτʼ ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,  
for no other Odysseus will come here to you,

**205** ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δʼ ἀληθείς,  
but I, here, am that man: having suffered evils, and wandered much,

**206** ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.

**207** αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης,  
And this is the work of Athena, driver of the spoil,
> Driver of the spoil: An epithet of Athena (agelaie), evoking her as the one who leads off plunder or booty in war.

**208** ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γὰρ,  
who has made me such as she wishes, for she has the power,

**209** ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε  
at one time like a beggar, and at another time

**210** ἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντι.  
like a young man with fine clothes about his body.

**211** ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,  
It is easy for the gods, who hold the wide heaven,

**212** ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι.  
both to glorify a mortal man and to bring him low."
> Paired infinitives: Two aorist infinitives ('to glorify,' 'to bring low') depend on 'easy,' framing the gods' twofold power in a balanced antithesis.

**213** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ  
So speaking he sat down, and Telemachus,

**214** ἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο, δάκρυα λείβων,  
flinging his arms about his noble father, wept, shedding tears.

**215** ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·  
And in both of them the longing for lament arose;

**216** κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἀδινώτερον ἤ τʼ οἰωνοί,  
they wailed shrilly, more thickly than birds,

**217** φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκνα  
sea-eagles or vultures with crooked talons, whose young

**218** ἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι·  
the country folk have stolen before they were fledged;

**219** ὣς ἄρα τοί γʼ ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβον.  
so piteously did they let the tears fall from beneath their brows.

**220** καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,  
And now the light of the sun would have set upon their weeping,

**221** εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·  
had not Telemachus suddenly spoken to his father:

**222** ποίῃ γὰρ νῦν δεῦρο, πάτερ φίλε, νηΐ σε
                     ναῦται  
"In what ship, dear father, did the sailors bring you here

**223** ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;  
to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?

**224** οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.  
For I do not suppose you reached this place on foot."

**225** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:
> Formulaic epithet: This whole-line formula 'much-enduring noble Odysseus' recurs at line-end throughout the poem, fitting the hexameter. Such fixed epithets are a hallmark of oral composition.

**226** τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.  
"Then I will tell you the truth, my child.

**227** Φαίηκές μʼ ἄγαγον ναυσίκλυτοι, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους  
The Phaeacians, famed for ships, brought me; they who also escort

**228** ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται·  
other men, whoever comes to them.

**229** καί μʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες  
And as I slept they carried me over the sea in their swift ship

**230** κάτθεσαν εἰς Ἰθάκην, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,  
and set me down in Ithaca, and gave me splendid gifts,

**231** χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν.  
bronze and gold in plenty, and woven clothing.

**232** καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται·  
These things lie in a cave by the will of the gods,

**233** νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,  
and now I have come here at the prompting of Athena,
> Dative of cause/means: The plural dative 'ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν' (by the promptings) gives the reason for Odysseus's arrival. The dative case often marks the means or cause of an action.

**234** ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.  
so that we may plan the slaughter of our enemies.
> Purpose with subjunctive: ὄφρα + aorist subjunctive 'βουλεύσωμεν' expresses purpose: 'so that we may plan.' Purpose clauses regularly take the subjunctive after primary tenses.

**235** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον,  
But come, count the suitors for me and tell their number,

**236** ὄφρʼ εἰδέω ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί·  
that I may know how many and what kind of men they are.

**237** καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξας  
Then, having weighed it in my faultless heart,

**238** φράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθʼ ἀντιφέρεσθαι  
I will consider whether the two of us can stand against them
> Dual pronoun: 'νῶϊ' is the dual form of the first-person pronoun, 'we two.' Homer often uses the dual for natural pairs, here Odysseus and Telemachus.

**239** μούνω ἄνευθʼ ἄλλων, ἦ καὶ διζησόμεθʼ ἄλλους.  
alone, without others, or whether we must seek out more."

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

**241** ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι σεῖο μέγα κλέος αἰὲν ἄκουον,  
"Father, I have always heard of your great fame,

**242** χεῖράς τʼ αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν·  
that you are a spearman of strong hands and shrewd in counsel.

**243** ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴη  
But this is far too great a thing you say; amazement holds me. There is no way

**244** ἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.  
for two men to fight against many and strong ones.

**245** μνηστήρων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύʼ οἶαι,  
Of the suitors there is not just one full ten, nor two,

**246** ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι ἐνθάδʼ ἀριθμόν.  
but far more; you will soon learn their number here.

**247** ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα  
From Dulichium there are fifty-two

**248** κοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἓξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται·  
chosen young men, and six servants attend them;

**249** ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρές τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν,  
from Same there are twenty-four men,

**250** ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,  
from Zacynthus there are twenty young Achaeans,

**251** ἐκ δʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι,  
and from Ithaca itself twelve, all the best,

**252** καί σφιν ἅμʼ ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς  
and with them is Medon the herald and the divine singer

**253** καὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.  
and two attendants, skilled in carving meat.

**254** τῶν εἴ κεν πάντων ἀντήσομεν ἔνδον ἐόντων,  
If we meet all these while they are within,

**255** μὴ πολύπικρα καὶ αἰνὰ βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών.  
I fear you may pay a bitter and terrible price for your violence when you come.

**256** ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ, εἰ δύνασαί τινʼ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,  
But you, if you can think of some helper,

**257** φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ.  
consider who might defend us two with a willing heart."

**258** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:

**259** τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·  
"Then I will tell you; mark it well and hear me.

**260** καὶ φράσαι ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ  
Consider whether Athena, together with father Zeus,

**261** ἀρκέσει, ἦέ τινʼ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.  
will be enough for us two, or whether I should think of some other helper."

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

**263** ἐσθλώ τοι τούτω γʼ ἐπαμύντορε, τοὺς ἀγορεύεις,  
"Truly these are noble defenders that you name,

**264** ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις  
though they sit high among the clouds; they who also rule over

**265** ἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.  
both other men and the immortal gods."

**266** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus answered him:

**267** οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθον  
"Those two will not for long stand apart
> Dual verb form: 'ἔσεσθον' is the third-person dual future, 'the two of them will be.' The dual ending -τον/-σθον matches the two divine allies, Athena and Zeus.

**268** φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν  
from the mighty battle-din, when between the suitors and us

**269** ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.  
in my halls the fury of Ares is decided.

**270** ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν  
But go now at the showing of Dawn
> Dawn appearing: Literally 'with Dawn appearing'; the suffix -φιν is an old instrumental/locative ending Homer uses freely. It marks the time at which Telemachus is to set out.

**271** οἴκαδε, καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·  
home, and mingle with the arrogant suitors;

**272** αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει,  
and the swineherd will bring me to the city later,

**273** πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.  
looking like a wretched beggar and an old man.

**274** εἰ δέ μʼ ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα, σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρ  
And if they dishonor me throughout the house, let your own dear heart

**275** τετλάτω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο,  
endure within your breast while I am badly treated,
> Imperative of endurance: 'τετλάτω' is a third-person perfect imperative, 'let it endure.' The perfect of τλάω carries present force, the settled state of endurance Odysseus demands of his son.

**276** ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δῶμα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζε  
even if they drag me by the feet through the house to the door

**277** ἢ βέλεσι βάλλωσι· σὺ δʼ εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.  
or pelt me with missiles; but you, looking on, hold yourself in check.

**278** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι παύεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,  
Still, urge them to cease from their folly,

**279** μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν· οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τι  
speaking them fair with gentle words; yet they will not

**280** πείσονται· δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.  
obey you, for now their day of doom stands near.

**281** ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·  
And another thing I will tell you; lay it to your heart.

**282** ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,  
When Athena of many counsels puts it in my mind,

**283** νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα νοήσας  
I will nod my head to you, and then, when you notice it,

**284** ὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν Ἀρήϊα τεύχεα κεῖται  
all the weapons of war that lie in the halls,

**285** ἐς μυχὸν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείρας  
take them up and lay them away in a corner of the high chamber,

**286** πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι  
every one; and the suitors, with soft words,

**287** παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·  
win over, when they ask after them, missing them:

**288** ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν
                        ἐῴκει  
'I put them out of the smoke, since they no longer looked like

**289** οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,  
what they were when Odysseus left them on going to Troy,

**290** ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.  
but are tarnished, as far as the fire's breath reached them.'

**291** πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,  
And besides, the son of Cronos put this greater thought in my mind:

**292** μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,  
lest somehow, made drunk and starting a quarrel among yourselves,
> Aorist passive participle: 'οἰνωθέντες' is an aorist passive participle, 'having been made drunk with wine.' Participles like this compactly add circumstance to the main verb.

**293** ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα  
you wound one another and bring shame upon the feast

**294** καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.  
and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man on.

**295** νῶϊν δʼ οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρε  
But for us two alone leave two swords and two spears

**296** καλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,  
and two oxhide shields to take up in our hands,

**297** ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα· τοὺς δέ κʼ ἔπειτα  
so that we may rush in and seize them; and those men afterward

**298** Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.  
Pallas Athena and Zeus the counselor will bewitch.

**299** ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·  
And another thing I will tell you; lay it to your heart.

**300** εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέροιο,  
If you are truly mine and of our blood,
> Genitive of origin: 'αἵματος ἡμετέροιο' (of our blood) is a genitive marking source or origin. Greek uses the genitive to express what someone is descended from.

**301** μή τις ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος,  
let no one then hear that Odysseus is within,

**302** μήτʼ οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτης  
let neither Laertes know it nor the swineherd

**303** μήτε τις οἰκήων μήτʼ αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια,  
nor any of the household nor Penelope herself,

**304** ἀλλʼ οἶοι σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώομεν ἰθύν·  
but only you and I; let us learn the women's leanings,

**305** καί κέ τεο δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθεῖμεν,  
and we might also test some of the menservants,

**306** ἠμὲν ὅπου τις νῶϊ τίει καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,  
to see where any man honors us and fears us in his heart,

**307** ἠδʼ ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σὲ δʼ ἀτιμᾷ τοῖον ἐόντα.  
and who pays no heed and dishonors you, such a man as you are."

**308** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός  
Then his glorious son answered him:

**309** ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτά γʼ, ὀΐω,  
"Father, you will come to know my spirit hereafter, I think;

**310** γνώσεαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μʼ ἔχουσιν·  
no foolishness holds me at all.

**311** ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος ἐγὼν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐω  
But I do not think this plan will turn to profit
> Profit, gain: 'κέρδος' means gain or advantage, often with a shrewd, calculating edge. Telemachus weighs the plan in terms of practical benefit for both of them.

**312** ἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.  
for the two of us; I urge you to consider it.

**313** δηθὰ γὰρ αὔτως εἴσῃ ἑκάστου πειρητίζων,  
For you would waste a long time testing each man,

**314** ἔργα μετερχόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἕκηλοι  
going round the farms, while they at ease in the halls

**315** χρήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.  
devour your goods recklessly, and there is no sparing.

**316** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοί σε γυναῖκας ἐγὼ δεδάασθαι ἄνωγα,  
But I do urge you to find out about the women,

**317** αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν·  
which of them dishonor you and which are guiltless.

**318** ἀνδρῶν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατὰ σταθμοὺς ἐθέλοιμι  
As for the men, I would not be willing to go round the farms

**319** ἡμέας πειράζειν, ἀλλʼ ὕστερα ταῦτα πένεσθαι,  
to test them; let us see to that later,

**320** εἰ ἐτεόν γέ τι οἶσθα Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.  
if you really know some sign from Zeus who bears the aegis."

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

**322** ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἰθάκηνδε κατήγετο νηῦς εὐεργής,  
and meanwhile the well-built ship was putting in to Ithaca,

**323** ἣ φέρε Τηλέμαχον Πυλόθεν καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους.  
the one that had brought Telemachus from Pylos and all his comrades.

**324** οἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,  
And when they had come inside the deep harbor,

**325** νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,  
they hauled the black ship up onto the dry land,
> Aorist with doubled sigma: 'ἔρυσσαν' is the aorist 'they dragged,' with the doubled sigma typical of Homeric forms. It describes the standard act of beaching a ship.

**326** τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες,  
and the proud attendants carried off their gear,

**327** αὐτίκα δʼ ἐς Κλυτίοιο φέρον περικαλλέα δῶρα.  
and at once bore the lovely gifts to the house of Clytius.

**328** αὐτὰρ κήρυκα πρόεσαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,  
Then they sent a herald to the house of Odysseus

**329** ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,  
to give a message to wise Penelope,

**330** οὕνεκα Τηλέμαχος μὲν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νῆα δʼ ἀνώγει  
that Telemachus was in the country, but had ordered the ship

**331** ἄστυδʼ ἀποπλείειν, ἵνα μὴ δείσασʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ  
should sail back to the town, so that the queen would not, afraid in her heart,

**332** ἰφθίμη βασίλεια τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβοι  
the noble queen, let a tender tear fall down her cheek.
> Optative in a purpose clause: The optative εἴβοι ('might shed') follows ἵνα μή in a purpose clause set in past time. After a past main verb, Greek shifts purpose-clause verbs from subjunctive to optative.

**333** τὼ δὲ συναντήτην κῆρυξ καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς  
And the two met, the herald and the noble swineherd,
> Dual verb form: συναντήτην is a dual (third-person, two subjects): 'the two of them met.' Homer uses the dual for natural pairs like these two messengers.

**334** τῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί.  
on the same errand, to deliver word to the woman.

**335** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμον θείου βασιλῆος,  
But when they reached the house of the godlike king,

**336** κῆρυξ μέν ῥα μέσῃσι μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·  
the herald spoke out in the midst of the serving women:

**337** ἤδη τοι, βασίλεια, φίλος πάϊς εἰλήλουθε.  
"Your dear son, my queen, has already come home."

**338** Πηνελοπείῃ δʼ εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰς  
But the swineherd stood close to Penelope and told her

**339** πάνθʼ ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.  
all that her dear son had bidden him say.

**340** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,  
Then, when he had delivered the whole charge laid on him,

**341** βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.  
he set off to go back to his pigs, leaving the courtyards and the hall.

**342** μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,  
But the suitors were grieved and downcast in their hearts,

**343** ἐκ δʼ ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,  
and they came out of the hall, past the great wall of the courtyard,

**344** αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.  
and there, right in front of the gates, they sat down.

**345** τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·  
Among them Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak:

**346** ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως τετέλεσται  
"My friends, truly a great deed has been brought off, in arrogant style,

**347** Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.  
this journey of Telemachus; we said it would never come to pass.

**348** ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν ἥ τις ἀρίστη,  
But come, let us drag down a black ship, the best there is,
> Hortatory subjunctive: ἐρύσσομεν here is a short-vowel aorist subjunctive used hortatively: 'let us drag down.' Homer often uses this first-person plural to urge group action.

**349** ἐς δʼ ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστα  
and gather sea-rowers, who as quickly as possible

**350** κείνοις ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι.  
may tell those men to hurry back home."

**351** οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθʼ, ὅτʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,  
Not all had been said when Amphinomus caught sight of the ship,

**352** στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,  
turning round from where he sat, inside the deep harbor,

**353** ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.  
as the men furled the sails and held the oars in their hands.

**354** ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷς ἑτάροισι·  
Laughing sweetly, he spoke out among his companions:

**355** μή τινʼ ἔτʼ ἀγγελίην ὀτρύνομεν· οἵδε γὰρ
                     ἔνδον.  
"Let us no longer rouse any message; these men are home.

**356** ἤ τίς σφιν τόδʼ ἔειπε θεῶν, ἢ εἴσιδον αὐτοὶ  
Either some god told them this, or they themselves saw

**357** νῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.  
the ship as it passed by, and could not overtake it."

**358** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν ἐπὶ θῖνα
                  θαλάσσης,  
So he spoke, and they rose and went to the shore of the sea,

**359** αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,  
and at once they drew the black ship up onto the dry land,

**360** τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.  
and their high-spirited attendants carried off their gear.

**361** αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον  
They themselves went in a body to the place of assembly, and no one else,

**362** εἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.  
young or old, did they allow to sit among them.

**363** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·  
And among them Antinous spoke, the son of Eupeithes:

**364** ὢ πόποι, ὡς τόνδʼ ἄνδρα θεοὶ κακότητος
                     ἔλυσαν.  
"For shame, how the gods have freed this man from ruin!
> An exclamation of dismay: ὢ πόποι is a formulaic cry of indignation or astonishment, here close to 'damn it' or 'for shame.' It marks a speaker's shock at how events have gone.

**365** ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἷζον ἐπʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας  
By day our scouts sat on the windy headlands,

**366** αἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι  
always one after another; and when the sun went down

**367** οὔ ποτʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου νύκτʼ ἄσαμεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ  
we never spent the night on land, but out on the sea,

**368** νηῒ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,  
sailing in our swift ship, we waited for the bright Dawn,
> Epithet of Dawn: Ἠώς (Dawn) carries the formulaic epithet δῖα, 'bright, divine.' Such fixed name-and-epithet pairs are a hallmark of Homer's oral style.

**369** Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθίσωμεν ἑλόντες  
lying in wait for Telemachus, to seize and kill

**370** αὐτόν· τὸν δʼ ἄρα τῆος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων,  
the man himself; but meanwhile a god has brought him home.

**371** ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον  
Now let us here plan a grim destruction

**372** Τηλεμάχῳ, μηδʼ ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω  
for Telemachus, and let him not slip away from us; for I do not think

**373** τούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.  
that, while he lives, this business of ours will be accomplished.

**374** αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,  
For he himself is shrewd in counsel and in mind,

**375** λαοὶ δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.  
and the people no longer favor us at all.
> To do a favor: The idiom ἦρα φέρειν means 'to bring gratification, do a kindness to' someone. Here the people no longer 'bring favor' to the suitors — public opinion has turned.

**376** ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺς  
But come, before that man gathers the Achaeans

**377** εἰς ἀγορήν—οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,  
into assembly — for I do not think he will let it go,

**378** ἀλλʼ ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστὰς  
but he will rage on, and standing up among them all will declare

**379** οὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδʼ ἐκίχημεν·  
how we stitched together his sheer murder and failed to catch him;
> Plotting as 'stitching': ῥάπτω literally means 'to sew, stitch together,' used metaphorically for contriving a plot. Homer pictures scheming as needlework — the same image recurs at line 422.

**380** οἱ δʼ οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·  
and they will not approve when they hear of these foul deeds.

**381** μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἡμέας ἐξελάσωσι  
Beware lest they do us some harm and drive us out

**382** γαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δʼ ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον·  
of our own land, and we go off to the country of strangers.

**383** ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος  
Rather let us seize him first, out in the fields away from the city,

**384** ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ· βίοτον δʼ αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματʼ ἔχωμεν,  
or on the road; and let us keep his livelihood and his goods for ourselves,

**385** δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφʼ ἡμέας, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε  
dividing them fairly among us; but the house, in turn,

**386** κείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅστις ὀπυίοι.  
let us give to his mother to keep, and to whoever marries her.

**387** εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθε  
But if this plan does not please you, and you would rather

**388** αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,  
have him live and hold all his father's possessions,

**389** μή οἱ χρήματʼ ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέʼ ἔδωμεν  
then let us no longer eat up his store of pleasant goods,

**390** ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο ἕκαστος  
gathering here, but let each man from his own hall

**391** μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα  
woo her with bridal gifts, seeking her; and she would then

**392** γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.  
marry the one who offers the most and comes as the man fated for her."

**393** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.  
So he spoke, and they all fell silent and still.

**394** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε,  
Then Amphinomus addressed them and spoke among them,

**395** Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος,  
the glorious son of Nisus, lord Aretias' son,

**396** ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Δουλιχίου πολυπύρου, ποιήεντος,  
who from Dulichium, rich in wheat and grass,

**397** ἡγεῖτο μνηστῆρσι, μάλιστα δὲ Πηνελοπείῃ  
led the suitors, and most of all to Penelope

**398** ἥνδανε μύθοισι· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσιν·  
was pleasing in his words; for he was endowed with good sense.

**399** ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
With good will toward them he spoke and declared among them:

**400** ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατακτείνειν ἐθέλοιμι  
"My friends, I for one would not be willing to kill

**401** Τηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστιν  
Telemachus; it is a fearful thing to kill one of royal

**402** κτείνειν· ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.  
stock. But first let us inquire into the counsels of the gods.

**403** εἰ μέν κʼ αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,  
If the ordinances of great Zeus approve it,
> The decrees of Zeus: θέμιστες are divine ordinances or judgments, the established laws of right backed by Zeus. Amphinomus wants to consult these before acting.

**404** αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·  
I myself will kill him and urge on all the rest;

**405** εἰ δέ κʼ ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί, παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.  
but if the gods turn us away from it, I bid you hold off."

**406** ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.  
So spoke Amphinomus, and his words pleased them.

**407** αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,  
At once then they rose and went to the house of Odysseus,

**408** ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.  
and on arriving they sat down on the polished chairs.

**409** ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,  
But wise Penelope thought of something else:

**410** μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.  
to show herself to the suitors in their overweening insolence.
> Hubris: ὕβρις is wanton, arrogant violence — overstepping the bounds of decent conduct. It is the keynote of the suitors throughout the poem.

**411** πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·  
For she had learned of the plot against her son in the halls;

**412** κῆρυξ γὰρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.  
for the herald Medon, who had overheard their plans, had told her.

**413** βῆ δʼ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.  
She went on her way to the hall with her attendant women.

**414** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,  
But when she, noblest of women, reached the suitors,

**415** στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,  
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built roof,

**416** ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,  
holding her shining veil before her cheeks,

**417** Ἀντίνοον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
and she rebuked Antinous, spoke a word, and called him by name:

**418** Ἀντίνοʼ, ὕβριν ἔχων, κακομήχανε, καὶ δέ σέ
                     φασιν  
"Antinous, full of insolence, contriver of evil — and yet they say

**419** ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθʼ ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστον  
that in the land of Ithaca you are the best of your age

**420** βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἄρα τοῖος ἔησθα.  
in counsel and in speech; but you were no such man, it seems.

**421** μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε  
You madman, why do you stitch death and doom

**422** ῥάπτεις, οὐδʼ ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς  
for Telemachus, and care nothing for suppliants, whose witness is Zeus

**423** μάρτυρος; οὐδʼ ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.  
himself? It is not holy to stitch evil against one another.

**424** ἦ οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,  
Do you not know how once your father came here in flight,

**425** δῆμον ὑποδείσας; δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην,  
in dread of the people? For they were greatly enraged,

**426** οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισιν  
because, following Taphian pirates,

**427** ἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς· οἱ δʼ ἡμῖν ἄρθμιοι ἦσαν·  
he had harmed the Thesprotians, who were our allies;

**428** τόν ῥʼ ἔθελον φθῖσαι καὶ ἀπορραῖσαι φίλον ἦτορ  
they wanted to destroy him and tear out his very heart

**429** ἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέα πολλήν·  
and devour his great and pleasing wealth;

**430** ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.  
but Odysseus held them back and restrained them, eager though they were.

**431** τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳ δὲ γυναῖκα  
Now you devour his house unpaid for, and woo his wife,

**432** παῖδά τʼ ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲ μεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·  
and try to kill his son, and you grieve me greatly.

**433** ἀλλά σε παύσασθαι κέλομαι καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.  
But I bid you stop, and order the others to stop as well."

**434** τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον
                  ηὔδα·  
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her:

**435** κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,  
"Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

**436** θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.  
take heart; let none of these things trouble your mind.

**437** οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἔσσεται οὐδὲ γένηται,  
There is no such man, nor will there be, nor shall be born,

**438** ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ σῷ υἱέϊ χεῖρας ἐποίσει  
who shall lay hands on your son Telemachus,

**439** ζώοντός γʼ ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο.  
while I am alive and looking out upon the earth.
> Genitive absolute: ζώοντος ἐμέθεν ('while I am alive') is a genitive absolute: a noun and participle in the genitive standing apart from the main clause to set a condition or time. Here it states the duration of Eurymachus' boast.

**440** ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·  
For thus I declare, and it shall surely be brought to pass:

**441** αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶ  
Soon his dark blood will gush around the spear,

**442** ἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
my own spear — for in truth Odysseus, sacker of cities,
> Epithet of Odysseus: "Sacker of cities" is a standing epithet, here in the nominative as subject of the following clause. Such formulaic epithets are a hallmark of Homeric verse.

**443** πολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸν  
often set me on his knees and put roasted meat

**444** ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ἐπέσχε τε οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.  
into my hands, and held the red wine to my lips.

**445** τῷ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν  
For this reason Telemachus is by far the dearest to me of all

**446** ἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατον τρομέεσθαι ἄνωγα  
men, and I bid him have no fear of death

**447** ἔκ γε μνηστήρων· θεόθεν δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀλέασθαι.  
at the suitors' hands; but from the gods there is no escaping it.

**448** ὣς φάτο θαρσύνων, τῷ δʼ ἤρτυεν αὐτὸς ὄλεθρον.  
So he spoke, reassuring her, but he himself was preparing his doom.

**449** ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ εἰσαναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα  
She then went up into her gleaming upper chamber

**450** κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον  
and wept there for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep

**451** ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.  
was cast upon her eyelids by gray-eyed Athena.
> Gray-eyed Athena: The standing epithet γλαυκῶπις ("gray-eyed" or "bright-eyed") accompanies Athena's name in the nominative as the subject who casts sleep on Penelope.

**452** ἑσπέριος δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ καὶ υἱέϊ δῖος ὑφορβὸς  
At evening the noble swineherd came to Odysseus

**453** ἤλυθεν· οἱ δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐπισταδὸν ὡπλίζοντο,  
and his son; and they were busily preparing supper,

**454** σῦν ἱερεύσαντες ἐνιαύσιον. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,  
having sacrificed a year-old pig. But Athena,

**455** ἄγχι παρισταμένη, Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα  
drawing near and standing close, struck Odysseus, son of Laertes,

**456** ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα πάλιν ποίησε γέροντα,  
with her wand and made him an old man once more,
> Perfect active participle: πεπληγυῖα is a perfect active participle feminine nominative of πλήσσω, "having struck," agreeing with Athena. The reduplication πε- is the diagnostic marker of the perfect system; -υῖα is the feminine perfect active participle ending. The aorist of πλήσσω (πλήξας / πλαγών) looks entirely different.

**457** λυγρὰ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε περὶ χροΐ, μή ἑ συβώτης  
and clothed his body in shabby rags, lest the swineherd

**458** γνοίη ἐσάντα ἰδὼν καὶ ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ  
recognize him face to face and go to prudent Penelope

**459** ἔλθοι ἀπαγγέλλων μηδὲ φρεσὶν εἰρύσσαιτο.  
carrying the news, and not keep it locked in his heart.

**460** τὸν καὶ Τηλέμαχος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
Telemachus was the first to speak to him:

**461** ἦλθες, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε. τί δὴ κλέος ἔστʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ;  
"You are back, noble Eumaeus. What is the news through the town?
> kleos here means "report": Though κλέος usually means "glory" or "fame," here it carries its more literal sense of "what is heard" — the report or news circulating in the town.

**462** ἦ ῥʼ ἤδη μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἔνδον ἔασιν  
Are the proud suitors now back inside,

**463** ἐκ λόχου, ἦ ἔτι μʼ αὖτʼ εἰρύαται οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα;  
from their ambush, or are they still watching for me to come home?"

**464** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·  
Then you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
> Apostrophe to Eumaeus: Homer addresses the swineherd directly in the second person ("you answered"), a recurring apostrophe used only for Eumaeus in the Odyssey. προσέφης is a second-person singular imperfect.

**465** οὐκ ἔμελέν μοι ταῦτα μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι  
"It was not on my mind to ask about that or inquire,

**466** ἄστυ καταβλώσκοντα· τάχιστά με θυμὸς ἀνώγει  
roaming through the town; my heart urged me

**467** ἀγγελίην εἰπόντα πάλιν δεῦρʼ ἀπονέεσθαι.  
to deliver my message and come back here as quickly as I could.

**468** ὡμήρησε δέ μοι παρʼ ἑταίρων ἄγγελος ὠκύς,  
A swift messenger from your companions fell in with me,

**469** κῆρυξ, ὃς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν.  
a herald, who was the first to tell your mother the news.

**470** ἄλλο δέ τοι τό γε οἶδα· τὸ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.  
But this one thing I do know, for I saw it with my own eyes.

**471** ἤδη ὑπὲρ πόλιος, ὅθι θʼ Ἕρμαιος λόφος ἐστίν,  
Already above the city, where the hill of Hermes is,

**472** ἦα κιών, ὅτε νῆα θοὴν ἰδόμην κατιοῦσαν  
I was on my way when I saw a swift ship coming down

**473** ἐς λιμένʼ ἡμέτερον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ,  
into our harbor; and there were many men aboard her,

**474** βεβρίθει δὲ σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι·  
and she was laden with shields and double-pointed spears;

**475** καὶ σφέας ὠΐσθην τοὺς ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ τι οἶδα.  
and I thought it was they, but I cannot be sure."

**476** ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο  
So he spoke, and the sacred might of Telemachus smiled,
> "The sacred might of Telemachus": A periphrasis: "the sacred might of Telemachus" simply means Telemachus himself. Τηλεμάχοιο is a genitive of the older Homeric -οιο ending.

**477** ἐς πατέρʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών, ἀλέεινε δʼ ὑφορβόν.  
glancing at his father with his eyes, but avoiding the swineherd's gaze.

**478** οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε
                  δαῖτα,  
When they had finished their work and made ready the meal,

**479** δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.  
they feasted, and their hearts lacked nothing of the equal feast.

**480** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,  
But when they had put away their desire for drink and food,
> Formulaic line for finishing a meal: This whole verse is a recurring formula marking the end of a meal. ἕντο is an aorist middle ("they sent away from themselves" their desire).

**481** κοίτου τε μνήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.  
they turned their thoughts to bed and took the gift of sleep.

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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.