The Odyssey 1732 Studios

Ancient Greek · The Homecoming

Ὀδυσσείας ιη

Book 18. The Boxing Match with Irus; Penelope Before the Suitors

The beggar Irus picks a fight and Odysseus fells him with one blow. Penelope comes down and draws gifts from the suitors.

428 lines · 61 notes

Tap a line to open its words. The mark beside it plays it.

  1. 1

    Then a common beggar came up, one who used to go begging through the town

    Metre

    ἦλθεcameἔρχομαι · aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verbmain verb
    δandδέ · particlecoordinating word

    enclitic 'and/but', postpositive—never stands first in its clause.

    ἐπὶupἐπί · prepositionemphasizing particle
    πτωχὸςbeggarπτωχός · nominative singular masculine adjectivesubject of ἦλθε
    πανδήμιοςcommon/publicπανδήμιος · nominative singular masculine adjectivemodifies πτωχὸς

    'of the whole people'—describes a beggar known to everyone in town; not a recurring Homeric formula (this exact phrase appears only here).

    ὃςwhoὅς · nominative singular masculine pronounsubject of δ᾽
    κατὰthroughκατά · prepositionpreposition
    ἄστυthe townἄστυ · accusative singular neuter nounadverbial to κατὰ
  2. 2

    all over Ithaca, and was known for his greedy belly,

  3. 3

    eating and drinking without end. He had no force in him,

  4. 4

    no strength, though in build he was very big to look at.

  5. 5

    Arnaeus was his name, for so his honored mother had set it on him

  6. 6

    from birth; but all the young men called him Irus,

  7. 7

    because he would go and carry messages whenever anyone bid him.

  8. 8

    He came and tried to drive Odysseus from his own house,

  9. 9

    and, quarreling with him, spoke winged words:

  10. 10

    "Out of the doorway, old man, or soon you will be dragged out by the foot!

  11. 11

    Do you not notice that they are all winking at me,

  12. 12

    and urging me to drag you out? Still, I am ashamed to.

  13. 13

    Come, get up, before our quarrel comes to blows."

  14. 14

    Then, with a dark look at him, resourceful Odysseus answered:

  15. 15

    "Strange man, I do you no harm and say nothing against you,

  16. 16

    nor do I grudge anyone who gives to you, even taking much.

  17. 17

    This threshold will hold us both, and there is no need for you

  18. 18

    to grudge me what is another's. You seem to me to be a vagrant

  19. 19

    just as I am, and the gods will see to giving us fortune.

  20. 20

    But do not challenge me too much with your fists, or you will anger me,

  21. 21

    old as I am, and I will smear your chest and lips

  22. 22

    with blood. Then I would have far more peace

  23. 23

    tomorrow, for I do not think you would come back

  24. 24

    a second time to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes."

  25. 25

    Then, in anger, Irus the vagrant said to him:

  26. 26

    "Look how the glutton runs on, gabbling fast,

  27. 27

    like an old woman at her oven! I could plan him some harm,

  28. 28

    striking with both fists, and knock all the teeth

  29. 29

    out of his jaws to the ground, like a pig caught in the corn.

  30. 30

    Gird yourself now, so all these men too may know us

  31. 31

    as we fight. But how could you stand against a younger man?"

  32. 32

    So before the lofty doors the two of them

  33. 33

    raged with all their hearts on the polished threshold.

  34. 34

    The sacred strength of Antinous heard the two of them,

  35. 35

    and laughing with delight he spoke out among the suitors:

  36. 36

    "Friends, never before has such a thing happened,

  37. 37

    such sport as a god has brought into this house!

  38. 38

    The stranger and Irus are challenging each other

  39. 39

    to fight with fists. Come, let us match them quickly!"

  40. 40

    So he spoke, and they all sprang up laughing,

  41. 41

    and gathered around the two ragged beggars.

  42. 42

    Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke among them:

  43. 43

    "Listen to me, proud suitors, while I say something.

  44. 44

    These goats' paunches lie at the fire, which for supper

  45. 45

    we set aside, having filled them with fat and blood.

  46. 46

    Whichever of the two wins and proves himself the better,

  47. 47

    let him stand up and take for himself whichever of these he wants;

  48. 48

    and always afterward he will feast with us, and we will not let

  49. 49

    any other beggar come in among us to ask for alms."

  50. 50

    So spoke Antinous, and the saying pleased them.

  51. 51

    Then, with cunning intent, resourceful Odysseus spoke among them:

  52. 52

    "Friends, there is no way for an old man worn down by hardship

  53. 53

    to fight a younger one. But my belly,

  54. 54

    doer of mischief, drives me on, to be beaten down with blows.

  55. 55

    But come now, all of you swear me a strong oath,

  56. 56

    that none of you, favoring Irus, will strike me with a heavy hand

  57. 57

    in recklessness, and beat me down by force for his sake."

  58. 58

    So he spoke, and they all swore as he bid them.

  59. 59

    But when they had sworn and finished the oath,

  60. 60

    the sacred strength of Telemachus again spoke among them:

  61. 61

    "Stranger, if your heart and proud spirit urge you

  62. 62

    to fend off this man, fear none of the other Achaeans,

  63. 63

    since whoever strikes you will have to fight more than one.

  64. 64

    I am your host, and the princes approve as well,

  65. 65

    Antinous and Eurymachus, both men of sense."

  66. 66

    So he spoke, and they all assented. Then Odysseus

  67. 67

    girded his rags about his loins, and showed his thighs,

  68. 68

    fine and great, and his broad shoulders came into view,

  69. 69

    his chest and sturdy arms. And Athena,

  70. 70

    standing close beside, filled out the limbs of the shepherd of the people.

  71. 71

    Then all the suitors were astonished beyond measure,

  72. 72

    and one would look at his neighbor and say:

  73. 73

    "Soon Irus, un-Irused, will have the trouble he brought on himself,

  74. 74

    such a thigh the old man shows from under his rags!"

  75. 75

    So they spoke, and Irus' spirit was badly shaken.

  76. 76

    But even so the servants girded him and led him on by force,

  77. 77

    terrified; the flesh quivered on his limbs.

  78. 78

    Antinous rebuked him, spoke, and called him by name:

  79. 79

    "Better now if you did not exist, you braggart, or had never been born,

  80. 80

    if you tremble at this man and dread him so terribly,

  81. 81

    an old man worn down by the hardship that has come upon him.

  82. 82

    But I tell you plainly, and it will surely be done:

  83. 83

    if this man beats you and proves the better,

  84. 84

    I will throw you into a black ship and send you to the mainland,

  85. 85

    to King Echetus, mangler of all mortals,

  86. 86

    who will cut off your nose and ears with the pitiless bronze,

  87. 87

    and tear out your genitals and give them raw to the dogs to eat."

  88. 88

    So he spoke, and trembling seized Irus' limbs all the more.

  89. 89

    They led him into the middle, and both men put up their hands.

  90. 90

    Then much-enduring noble Odysseus pondered

  91. 91

    whether to strike him so that his life left him as he fell on the spot,

  92. 92

    or to hit him lightly and stretch him out on the ground.

  93. 93

    And as he thought it over, this seemed the better course:

  94. 94

    to strike lightly, so the Achaeans would not suspect him.

  95. 95

    Then, as both raised their fists, Irus struck the right shoulder,

  96. 96

    but the other hit his neck below the ear, and crushed the bones

  97. 97

    within; at once the red blood came up through his mouth,

  98. 98

    and bellowing he fell in the dust, gnashing his teeth

  99. 99

    and kicking the ground with his feet. But the lordly suitors

  100. 100

    threw up their hands and died with laughter. Then Odysseus

  101. 101

    took him by the foot and dragged him out through the porch, till he reached the courtyard

  102. 102

    and the doors of the gallery. There he propped him against the courtyard wall,

  103. 103

    set him up, leaning, put a staff in his hand,

  104. 104

    and spoke to him, addressing him with winged words:

  105. 105

    "Sit here now and keep off the pigs and dogs,

  106. 106

    and do not try to be lord over strangers and beggars,

  107. 107

    wretch that you are, or you may suffer something even worse."

  108. 108

    He spoke, and slung over his shoulders the shabby wallet,

  109. 109

    all full of holes, with a twisted cord for a strap.

  110. 110

    Then he went back and sat down on the threshold, while they went inside,

  111. 111

    laughing merrily, and they greeted him with words:

  112. 112

    "May Zeus grant you, stranger, and the other immortal gods,

  113. 113

    whatever you most desire and is dear to your heart,

  114. 114

    you who have stopped this insatiable creature from begging

  115. 115

    in the land; for soon we will ship him off to the mainland

  116. 116

    to King Echetus, the maimer of all mortals."

  117. 117

    So they spoke, and noble Odysseus rejoiced at the omen.

  118. 118

    Then Antinous set a great paunch beside him,

  119. 119

    stuffed full of fat and blood; and Amphinomus

  120. 120

    took two loaves from the basket and set them before him

  121. 121

    and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:

  122. 122

    "Hail, father stranger; may prosperity be yours

  123. 123

    in time to come; for now you are gripped by many troubles."

  124. 124

    Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him:

  125. 125

    "Amphinomus, you truly seem to me a man of sense;

  126. 126

    such was your father too, for I heard his noble fame,

  127. 127

    Nisus of Dulichium, that he was both brave and rich.

  128. 128

    They say you are his son, and you look like a courteous man.

  129. 129

    So I will tell you something; mark it and hear me.

  130. 130

    the earth nurtures nothing frailer than a human being.

  131. 131

    of all things that breathe and creep upon the earth.

  132. 132

    For a man thinks he will never suffer harm hereafter,

  133. 133

    so long as the gods grant him strength and his knees are quick;

  134. 134

    but when the blessed gods bring sorrows to pass as well,

  135. 135

    these too he bears, unwilling, with an enduring heart.

  136. 136

    For such is the mind of mortal men upon the earth,

  137. 137

    as is the day the father of men and gods brings on them.

  138. 138

    For I too was once destined to be prosperous among men,

  139. 139

    and I did many reckless things, yielding to force and strength,

  140. 140

    trusting in my father and my brothers.

  141. 141

    Therefore let no man ever be utterly lawless,

  142. 142

    but let him keep in silence the gods' gifts, whatever they give.

  143. 143

    Such reckless deeds I see the suitors contriving,

  144. 144

    wasting the goods and dishonoring the wife

  145. 145

    of a man who, I say, will not for long be far

  146. 146

    from his friends and his native land; he is very near. But may a god

  147. 147

    lead you safely home, that you not meet that man

  148. 148

    when he returns to his own dear native land;

  149. 149

    for I do not think the suitors and that man will part

  150. 150

    without bloodshed, once he comes beneath his roof."

  151. 151

    So he spoke, and poured a libation and drank the honey-sweet wine,

  152. 152

    then put the cup back into the hands of the marshal of the people.

  153. 153

    But he went off through the hall with grieving heart,

  154. 154

    nodding his head; for his spirit foreboded evil.

  155. 155

    Yet even so he did not escape death; Athena had bound him too,

  156. 156

    to be brought low by Telemachus's hands and spear.

  157. 157

    He went back and sat down on the chair from which he had risen.

  158. 158

    Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, put it in the mind

  159. 159

    of the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

  160. 160

    to show herself to the suitors, so that she might most stir

  161. 161

    the hearts of the suitors, and become more honored

  162. 162

    in the eyes of her husband and her son than before.

  163. 163

    She gave a faint, pointless laugh, and spoke and said:

  164. 164

    "Eurynome, my heart longs, as never before,

  165. 165

    to show myself to the suitors, hateful though they are;

  166. 166

    and I would say a word to my son that would be better,

  167. 167

    that he not keep company with the arrogant suitors,

  168. 168

    who speak fair but plot evil behind it."

  169. 169

    Then Eurynome the housekeeper answered her:

  170. 170

    "Yes indeed, my child, all this you have said rightly.

  171. 171

    But go and speak the word to your son, and hide nothing,

  172. 172

    after you have washed your skin and anointed your cheeks;

  173. 173

    and do not go like this, your face all stained with tears;

  174. 174

    for it is worse to grieve forever without measure.

  175. 175

    For your son is now of the very age you most

  176. 176

    prayed to the immortals to see him with a beard."

  177. 177

    Then wise Penelope answered her in turn:

  178. 178

    "Eurynome, do not urge me to this, kindly though you mean it,

  179. 179

    to wash my skin and anoint myself with oil;

  180. 180

    for the gods who hold Olympus destroyed my beauty

  181. 181

    from the day that man went off in the hollow ships.

  182. 182

    But bid Autonoe and Hippodameia

  183. 183

    come to me, so that they may stand beside me in the hall;

  184. 184

    I will not go alone among the men; I feel shame."

  185. 185

    So she spoke, and the old woman went off through the hall

  186. 186

    to tell the women and urge them to come.

  187. 187

    Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, devised another thing:

  188. 188

    over the daughter of Icarius she poured sweet sleep,

  189. 189

    and she slept, reclined; and all her limbs were loosed

  190. 190

    there on the couch; and meanwhile the bright goddess

  191. 191

    gave her immortal gifts, that the Achaeans might marvel at her.

  192. 192

    First she cleansed her lovely face with beauty,

  193. 193

    with the ambrosial kind that fair-crowned Cytherea

  194. 194

    anoints herself when she goes to the lovely dance of the Graces;

  195. 195

    and she made her taller and fuller to behold,

  196. 196

    and made her whiter than sawn ivory.

  197. 197

    When the bright goddess had done this, she went away,

  198. 198

    and the white-armed maidservants came from the hall,

  199. 199

    approaching with their talk; and sweet sleep released her,

  200. 200

    and she wiped her cheeks with her hands and spoke:

  201. 201

    "Truly a soft drowsiness wrapped me in my deep distress.

  202. 202

    If only pure Artemis would grant me so soft a death

  203. 203

    right now, so that I might no longer waste my life away

  204. 204

    grieving in my heart, longing for my dear husband's

  205. 205

    every excellence, since he was foremost of the Achaeans."

  206. 206

    So speaking, she came down from her shining upper rooms,

  207. 207

    not alone; two handmaids followed her as well.

  208. 208

    And when the bright woman reached the suitors,

  209. 209

    she stood by the pillar of the well-built roof,

  210. 210

    holding her shining veil before her cheeks;

  211. 211

    and a trusty handmaid stood on either side of her.

  212. 212

    Then their knees went slack where they sat, their hearts bewitched with desire,

  213. 213

    and every one prayed to lie beside her in bed.

  214. 214

    But she addressed Telemachus, her dear son:

  215. 215

    "Telemachus, your wits are no longer steady, nor your judgment.

  216. 216

    While still a boy you turned over shrewder thoughts in your mind;

  217. 217

    but now, when you are grown and have reached the measure of youth,

  218. 218

    and a stranger looking at your stature and beauty

  219. 219

    might say you were the son of a prosperous man,

  220. 220

    your wits are no longer sound, nor your judgment.

  221. 221

    What a thing this is that has now been done in our halls,

  222. 222

    that you let the stranger be abused in such a way!

  223. 223

    What now, if the stranger, sitting here in our house,

  224. 224

    should suffer harm from such cruel rough handling?

  225. 225

    Shame and disgrace before all people would come upon you.

  226. 226

    Then thoughtful Telemachus answered her in turn:

  227. 227

    "My mother, I do not blame you for being angry at this;

  228. 228

    but in my heart I understand and know each thing,

  229. 229

    both the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.

  230. 230

    Yet I cannot reckon every prudent course,

  231. 231

    for these men unnerve me, sitting beside me one on this side, one on that,

  232. 232

    plotting evil, and I have no helpers.

  233. 233

    Still, the bout between the stranger and Iros did not turn out

  234. 234

    as the suitors wished; in strength the stranger proved the better.

  235. 235

    Would, by Father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,

  236. 236

    that the suitors now in our house

  237. 237

    might droop their heads, broken down, some in the courtyard,

  238. 238

    and some inside the house, with the limbs of each gone slack,

  239. 239

    as now that Iros yonder, at the courtyard gates,

  240. 240

    sits nodding his head, looking like a drunken man,

  241. 241

    and cannot stand upright on his feet nor make his way

  242. 242

    home, wherever his road may be, since his dear limbs are slack."

  243. 243

    So they spoke such things to one another;

  244. 244

    and Eurymachus addressed Penelope with these words:

  245. 245

    "Daughter of Icarius, thoughtful Penelope,

  246. 246

    if all the Achaeans throughout Iasian Argos could see you,

  247. 247

    even more suitors would feast in your halls

  248. 248

    from dawn onward, since you surpass all women

  249. 249

    in beauty and in stature and in the balanced wit within."

  250. 250

    Then thoughtful Penelope answered him:

  251. 251

    "Eurymachus, my excellence, my looks and figure,

  252. 252

    the immortals destroyed when the Argives set out for Ilium,

  253. 253

    and among them my husband Odysseus went.

  254. 254

    If he were to come and tend my life again,

  255. 255

    greater would my fame be, and fairer thus.

  256. 256

    But now I grieve, for a god has loosed such evils upon me.

  257. 257

    Truly, when he set out, leaving his native land,

  258. 258

    he took my right hand by the wrist and spoke to me:

  259. 259

    'Wife, I do not think the well-greaved Achaeans

  260. 260

    will all come safely back from Troy unscathed;

  261. 261

    for they say the Trojans too are fighting men,

  262. 262

    both spearmen and drawers of the bow,

  263. 263

    and mounters of swift-footed horses, who very quickly

  264. 264

    decide the great strife of leveling war.

  265. 265

    So I do not know whether a god will bring me back, or whether I shall be taken

  266. 266

    there in Troy. Let all things here be your care:

  267. 267

    remember my father and mother in the halls

  268. 268

    as now, or even more, while I am far away;

  269. 269

    but when you see our son grown to a beard,

  270. 270

    marry whomever you wish, and leave your house behind.'

  271. 271

    So he spoke; and now all this is being fulfilled.

  272. 272

    There will come a night when a hateful marriage will meet me,

  273. 273

    wretched as I am, whose happiness Zeus has taken away.

  274. 274

    But this dread grief comes upon my heart and spirit:

  275. 275

    this was not the suitors' way in time gone by.

  276. 276

    Those who wish to court a noble woman, the daughter

  277. 277

    of a wealthy man, and vie with one another,

  278. 278

    themselves bring oxen and fat sheep,

  279. 279

    a feast for the girl's friends, and give splendid gifts;

  280. 280

    they do not devour another's living without recompense."

  281. 281

    So she spoke, and much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,

  282. 282

    because she drew gifts from them, and charmed their hearts

  283. 283

    with coaxing words, though her mind was set on other things.

  284. 284

    Then Antinous addressed her, the son of Eupeithes:

  285. 285

    "Daughter of Icarius, thoughtful Penelope,

  286. 286

    whatever gifts any of the Achaeans wishes to bring here,

  287. 287

    accept them; for it is not right to refuse a gift.

  288. 288

    But we will not go to our work or anywhere else

  289. 289

    until you marry whichever of the Achaeans is best."

  290. 290

    So spoke Antinous, and his words pleased them.

  291. 291

    Each man sent a herald to fetch his gifts.

  292. 292

    For Antinous a herald brought a great, lovely robe,

  293. 293

    richly embroidered; on it were twelve brooches in all,

  294. 294

    of gold, fitted with well-curved clasps.

  295. 295

    For Eurymachus a herald at once brought an intricate necklace,

  296. 296

    of gold, strung with amber beads, like the sun.

  297. 297

    For Eurydamas two attendants brought earrings,

  298. 298

    with three drops like mulberries; great grace shone from them.

  299. 299

    And from lord Peisander, son of Polyctor,

  300. 300

    an attendant brought a choker, a most beautiful ornament.

  301. 301

    And each of the Achaeans brought some other fine gift.

  302. 302

    Then the noble woman went up to her upper chamber,

  303. 303

    and her handmaids carried the lovely gifts along with her.

  304. 304

    But the suitors turned to dancing and to lovely song

  305. 305

    and took their delight, waiting for evening to come.

  306. 306

    And as they took their pleasure, dark evening came upon them.

  307. 307

    At once they set up three braziers in the halls,

  308. 308

    to give light; and around them they laid dry firewood,

  309. 309

    seasoned long ago, well dried, freshly split with bronze;

  310. 310

    and they mixed in torches. By turns they tended the flame,

  311. 311

    the slave women of steadfast Odysseus. But to them

  312. 312

    Odysseus himself, the resourceful, Zeus-born, spoke:

  313. 313

    "Slave women of Odysseus, your lord so long gone,

  314. 314

    go to the rooms where the honored queen is;

  315. 315

    turn the spindles beside her, and gladden her

  316. 316

    sitting in the hall, or comb the wool with your hands;

  317. 317

    but I will furnish light for all these men.

  318. 318

    For even if they should choose to wait for fair-throned Dawn,

  319. 319

    they will not outlast me; I am very enduring."

  320. 320

    So he spoke, and they laughed and looked at one another.

  321. 321

    Then fair-cheeked Melantho rebuked him shamefully,

  322. 322

    whom Dolius had fathered, but Penelope reared,

  323. 323

    and cherished her like her own child, giving her toys for her delight;

  324. 324

    yet even so she had no grief in her heart for Penelope,

  325. 325

    but used to lie with Eurymachus and love him.

  326. 326

    She it was who rebuked Odysseus with insulting words:

  327. 327

    "Wretched stranger, you must be someone struck out of your wits,

  328. 328

    since you are not willing to go and sleep in a smithy

  329. 329

    or in some lounging-place, but here you make many speeches,

  330. 330

    boldly, among many men, and in your heart you feel no

  331. 331

    you feel no fear. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else

  332. 332

    your mind is always like this — that is why you babble such nonsense.

  333. 333

    Are you beside yourself because you beat the tramp Iros?

  334. 334

    Take care that no better man than Iros soon rises up against you,

  335. 335

    one who batters your head with his strong hands

  336. 336

    and drives you out of the house, smeared with much blood.

  337. 337

    Then, with a dark look at her, resourceful Odysseus replied:

  338. 338

    "I will go straight to Telemachus, you bitch, and tell him what you say,

  339. 339

    going over there, so that he may cut you to pieces on the spot."

  340. 340

    So speaking, with his words he scattered the women in terror.

  341. 341

    They went off through the house, and the knees of each gave way

  342. 342

    with fright, for they thought he spoke the truth.

  343. 343

    But he took his stand beside the blazing braziers, giving light,

  344. 344

    looking at them all; yet his heart was busy with other things

  345. 345

    that turned in his mind — things that would not go unfulfilled.

  346. 346

    Athena would not let the proud suitors hold back at all

  347. 347

    from heart-galling outrage, so that grief might bite still deeper

  348. 348

    into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.

  349. 349

    Among them Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak,

  350. 350

    mocking Odysseus and raising a laugh among his companions:

  351. 351

    "Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,

  352. 352

    that I may say what the heart in my breast bids me.

  353. 353

    Not without a god's will has this man come to the house of Odysseus.

  354. 354

    At any rate the gleam of the torches seems to me to come from him,

  355. 355

    from his head, since there is not a hair on it, not the least."

  356. 356

    He spoke, and at once addressed Odysseus, sacker of cities:

  357. 357

    "Stranger, would you be willing to work for hire, if I took you on,

  358. 358

    out at the edge of my land — your wages would be assured —

  359. 359

    gathering stones for walls and planting tall trees?

  360. 360

    There I would furnish you food the whole year round,

  361. 361

    and clothe your body, and give sandals for your feet.

  362. 362

    But since you have learned only bad habits, you will not be willing

  363. 363

    to take up real work; you would rather go cringing through the land

  364. 364

    begging, so you can keep feeding that insatiable belly of yours."

  365. 365

    Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:

  366. 366

    "Eurymachus, if only there could be a contest of work between us

  367. 367

    in the spring season, when the days grow long,

  368. 368

    in the meadow — I with a well-curved scythe in my hands,

  369. 369

    and you with one as good, so that we might test ourselves at the work,

  370. 370

    fasting until full dark, and the grass there to mow.

  371. 371

    Or again, if there were oxen to drive, the very best,

  372. 372

    tawny and large, both well filled with grass,

  373. 373

    of equal age, of equal pull, their strength not to be worn out,

  374. 374

    and a field of four acres, the clod yielding to the plow —

  375. 375

    then you would see whether I could cut a furrow straight and unbroken.

  376. 376

    Or again, if the son of Cronus should stir up war somewhere

  377. 377

    this very day, and I had a shield and two spears

  378. 378

    and a helmet all of bronze, fitted to my temples —

  379. 379

    then you would see me mixing in among the foremost fighters,

  380. 380

    and you would not be taunting me about my belly.

  381. 381

    But you are utterly insolent, and your mind is harsh,

  382. 382

    and you fancy yourself, no doubt, a great man and a strong one,

  383. 383

    because you mix with a few men, and those not good ones.

  384. 384

    But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,

  385. 385

    then quickly these doors, wide though they are,

  386. 386

    would prove too narrow for you, fleeing out through the porch."

  387. 387

    So he spoke, and Eurymachus grew angrier at heart,

  388. 388

    and with a dark look he addressed him with winged words:

  389. 389

    "Wretch, soon I will do you harm, for the things you say

  390. 390

    so boldly among many men, and in your heart you feel

  391. 391

    no fear. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else

  392. 392

    your mind is always like this — that is why you babble such nonsense.

  393. 393

    Are you beside yourself because you beat the tramp Iros?"

  394. 394

    So speaking, he seized a footstool; but Odysseus

  395. 395

    crouched down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium,

  396. 396

    in fear of Eurymachus. He struck the wine-pourer on the hand,

  397. 397

    his right one; the wine-jug clattered to the ground as it fell,

  398. 398

    and the man himself fell backward in the dust with a cry.

  399. 399

    The suitors broke into uproar through the shadowy halls,

  400. 400

    and one would look at his neighbor and say:

  401. 401

    "Would that this stranger had perished elsewhere in his wanderings

  402. 402

    before he came here — then he would not have raised such a din.

  403. 403

    Now we are quarreling over beggars, and there will be no pleasure

  404. 404

    in the good feast, since the worse things win out."

  405. 405

    Then the sacred might of Telemachus spoke among them:

  406. 406

    "Madmen, you rave, and you no longer hide in your hearts

  407. 407

    the food and drink you have had — some god is stirring you up.

  408. 408

    But now that you have feasted well, go home and lie down to rest,

  409. 409

    whenever your heart bids you — though I drive no one out."

  410. 410

    So he spoke, and they all bit their lips

  411. 411

    and marveled at Telemachus, that he spoke so boldly.

  412. 412

    Then Amphinomus addressed them and spoke among them,

  413. 413

    the splendid son of Nisus, son of lord Aretias:

  414. 414

    "Friends, when a fair thing has been said, no one should

  415. 415

    be angry and attack it with hostile words.

  416. 416

    Do not abuse the stranger, nor anyone else

  417. 417

    among the servants in the house of godlike Odysseus.

  418. 418

    Come now, let the wine-pourer begin with the cups,

  419. 419

    so that we may pour libations and go home to lie down.

  420. 420

    As for the stranger, let us leave him in the halls of Odysseus

  421. 421

    for Telemachus to look after, since it is to his house that he has come."

  422. 422

    So he spoke, and to them all he said a word that pleased them.

  423. 423

    For them the hero Mulius mixed a bowl of wine,

  424. 424

    the herald from Dulichium; he was the attendant of Amphinomus.

  425. 425

    He served it to them all, going to each in turn; and they, to the gods,

  426. 426

    having poured libations to the blessed ones, drank the honey-sweet wine.

  427. 427

    Then, when they had poured libations and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

  428. 428

    they went off, each to his own house, to lie down to sleep.

The particulars

The text
Ὀδύσσεια, Homer. The Homecoming.
Translation
Public-domain Greek (Homer, ancient; text via the Perseus Digital Library). English translation © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.
Reading aloud
Digital narration in reconstructed pronunciation, shaped to the hexameter. The complete audiobook.
The app
The same text on your phone, your place kept, the audio offline. Book 1 free, the rest $4.99.
App StoreGoogle Play
Words
Every word of the text, by letter.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.