# The Odyssey, Book 20: The Night Before; Omens of the Suitors' Doom

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Homecoming

Odysseus lies awake and hears the maids go out to the suitors. Zeus thunders. At the feast Theoclymenus sees the hall full of ghosts.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/20. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/20.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν προδόμῳ εὐνάζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
But noble Odysseus lay down to sleep in the forecourt;
> Standing epithet: "Noble Odysseus" is a recurring formulaic epithet. Homer pairs fixed adjectives with heroes' names to fill the hexameter.

**2** κὰμ μὲν ἀδέψητον βοέην στόρεσʼ, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε  
he spread an untanned oxhide on the ground, and over it

**3** κώεα πόλλʼ ὀΐων, τοὺς ἱρεύεσκον Ἀχαιοί·  
many fleeces of sheep that the Achaeans were forever slaughtering;

**4** Εὐρυνόμη δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ χλαῖναν βάλε κοιμηθέντι.  
and Eurynome threw a cloak over him once he had lain down.

**5** ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μνηστῆρσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ  
There Odysseus lay, brooding evil in his heart against the suitors,

**6** κεῖτʼ ἐγρηγορόων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο γυναῖκες  
wide awake; and out from the hall the women came

**7** ἤϊσαν, αἳ μνηστῆρσιν ἐμισγέσκοντο πάρος περ,  
filing along, the ones who used to consort with the suitors before,
> Iterative imperfect: The -σκ- suffix marks repeated, habitual past action: "used to consort, kept consorting." It is an iterative form of the imperfect.

**8** ἀλλήλῃσι γέλω τε καὶ εὐφροσύνην παρέχουσαι.  
giving each other laughter and merriment.

**9** τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·  
But his heart was stirred within his own breast;

**10** πολλὰ δὲ μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,  
and he pondered much, deep in his mind and heart,
> Mind and heart: Homer often doubles "phren" (the seat of thought) and "thymos" (the seat of feeling and will) to express the whole inner life. The phrasing is formulaic.

**11** ἠὲ μεταΐξας θάνατον τεύξειεν ἑκάστῃ,  
whether to spring among them and deal death to each woman,

**12** ἦ ἔτʼ ἐῷ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγῆναι  
or to let them lie one more time with the arrogant suitors,

**13** ὕστατα καὶ πύματα, κραδίη δέ οἱ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει.  
for the last and final time; but the heart within him was growling.
> The heart "barks": The verb literally means "barks," preparing the simile of the dog that follows. Homer makes Odysseus's heart growl like a watchdog.

**14** ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσα  
As a bitch, standing over her tender pups,

**15** ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,  
barks at a man she does not know and is eager to fight,

**16** ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·  
so his heart growled within him in outrage at the wicked deeds.

**17** στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·  
But he struck his chest and rebuked his heart with words:

**18** τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ
                     ἔτλης.  
"Endure now, my heart; you once bore a thing more shameful still,
> Imperative to the self: Odysseus issues a command to his own heart: "endure!" The perfect imperative of tlao expresses a steady, lasting state of endurance.

**19** ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ  
on that day when the Cyclops, unrestrained in fury, devoured

**20** ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις  
my mighty companions; yet you held out, until your cunning
> Cunning (mêtis): Mêtis is the resourceful intelligence that defines Odysseus, echoed in his epithet polymêtis. Here his own wit is what saved him from the Cyclops.

**21** ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.  
led you out of the cave when you thought you would die."

**22** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν στήθεσσι καθαπτόμενος φίλον ἦτορ·  
So he spoke, chiding the dear heart within his breast;

**23** τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐν πείσῃ κραδίη μένε τετληυῖα  
and his heart held firmly in obedience, enduring

**24** νωλεμέως· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἑλίσσετο ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.  
without flinching; but he himself kept twisting this way and that.

**25** ὡς δʼ ὅτε γαστέρʼ ἀνὴρ πολέος πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,  
As when a man, before a great blazing fire, turns a paunch

**26** ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος, ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα  
stuffed full of fat and blood, this way and that,

**27** αἰόλλῃ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα λιλαίεται ὀπτηθῆναι,  
and longs to have it roasted very quickly,

**28** ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλίσσετο, μερμηρίζων  
so he tossed himself this way and that, pondering

**29** ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει  
how he might lay his hands upon the shameless suitors,

**30** μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσι. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη  
one man against many. Then Athena came near him,

**31** οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικί·  
descending from heaven; in form she was like a woman.

**32** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·  
She stood above his head and spoke to him:

**33** τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἐγρήσσεις, πάντων περὶ κάμμορε
                     φωτῶν;  
"Why are you awake again, most ill-fated of all men?

**34** οἶκος μέν τοι ὅδʼ ἐστί, γυνὴ δέ τοι ἥδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
This is your house, and your wife is here within it,

**35** καὶ, πάϊς, οἷόν πού τις ἐέλδεται ἔμμεναι υἷα.  
and your son, the kind of son any man could wish to have."

**36** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her:
> "Odysseus of many wiles": Polymêtis, "of many counsels," is Odysseus's defining epithet, built on mêtis (cunning). It is a stock formula for speech introductions.

**37** ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·  
"Yes, goddess, all of this you have spoken rightly;

**38** ἀλλά τί μοι τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,  
but this is what my heart keeps pondering within my breast:

**39** ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσω,  
how I am to lay my hands upon the shameless suitors,

**40** μοῦνος ἐών· οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔασι.  
being one man alone, while they are always packed together inside.

**41** πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζω·  
And besides this, I ponder a thing still greater in my mind:

**42** εἴ περ γὰρ κτείναιμι Διός τε σέθεν τε ἕκητι,  
even if I should kill them, by the will of Zeus and you,
> Conditional optative (less vivid condition): κτείναιμι is a conditional optative in the εἰ-clause (protasis), marking a remote/less vivid condition — there is no κεν/ἄν particle in this clause. The potential optative proper (optative + κεν/ἄν) appears in the apodosis; see b20-l43 (πῆ κεν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι) for that construction. Greek uses εἰ + optative in the protasis for the less-vivid conditional.

**43** πῆ κεν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι; τά σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.  
where could I escape? I bid you consider this."

**44** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athena, answered him in turn:
> "Gray-eyed Athena": Glaukôpis, traditionally "gray-eyed" or "bright-eyed," is Athena's standing epithet, completing the metrical line.

**45** σχέτλιε, καὶ μέν τίς τε χερείονι πείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,  
"Hard man, even one who trusts a weaker comrade can prevail,

**46** ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδεν·  
one who is mortal and knows fewer counsels than I do;

**47** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, διαμπερὲς ἥ σε φυλάσσω  
but I am a goddess, who guards you through and through

**48** ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοις. ἐρέω δέ τοι ἐξαναφανδόν·  
in all your toils. And I will tell you openly:

**49** εἴ περ πεντήκοντα λόχοι μερόπων ἀνθρώπων  
even if fifty companies of mortal men

**50** νῶϊ περισταῖεν, κτεῖναι μεμαῶτες Ἄρηϊ,  
stood around us, straining to kill us in battle,

**51** καί κεν τῶν ἐλάσαιο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα.  
even then you would drive off their cattle and sturdy sheep.

**52** ἀλλʼ ἑλέτω σε καὶ ὕπνος· ἀνίη καὶ τὸ φυλάσσειν  
But let sleep take you too; it is a misery to keep watch

**53** πάννυχον ἐγρήσσοντα, κακῶν δʼ ὑποδύσεαι ἤδη.  
awake all night, and now you will rise up out of your troubles."

**54** ὣς φάτο, καί ῥά οἱ ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν
                  ἔχευεν,  
So she spoke, and she poured sleep over his eyelids,

**55** αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἀφίκετο δῖα θεάων.  
and she herself went back to Olympus, bright among goddesses.

**56** εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ,  
While sleep was seizing him, loosening the cares of his heart,

**57** λυσιμελής, ἄλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπέγρετο κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα·  
the limb-loosener, his faithful wife awoke, wise in her thoughts;
> "Limb-loosener": Sleep is called lysimelês, "loosener of limbs," the same compound Homer uses elsewhere of desire. It captures sleep's bodily release.

**58** κλαῖε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καθεζομένη μαλακοῖσιν.  
and she wept, sitting up on her soft bed.

**59** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίουσα κορέσσατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,  
But when she had had her fill of weeping in her heart,

**60** Ἀρτέμιδι πρώτιστον ἐπεύξατο δῖα γυναικῶν·  
first of all the woman, radiant among women, prayed to Artemis:

**61** Ἄρτεμι, πότνα θεά, θύγατερ Διός, αἴθε μοι
                     ἤδη  
"Artemis, lady goddess, daughter of Zeus, would that now

**62** ἰὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλοῦσʼ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιο  
you would strike an arrow into my breast and take away my life

**63** αὐτίκα νῦν, ἢ ἔπειτα μʼ ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα  
this very moment, or that a storm-wind would snatch me up

**64** οἴχοιτο προφέρουσα κατʼ ἠερόεντα κέλευθα,  
and carry me away down the murky paths,

**65** ἐν προχοῇς δὲ βάλοι ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.  
and cast me into the mouths of back-flowing Ocean.

**66** ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρας ἀνέλοντο θύελλαι·  
As when storm-winds carried off the daughters of Pandareus;

**67** τῇσι τοκῆας μὲν φθῖσαν θεοί, αἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο  
the gods had destroyed their parents, and they were left

**68** ὀρφαναὶ ἐν μεγάροισι, κόμισσε δὲ δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη  
orphans in the halls, and radiant Aphrodite cared for them

**69** τυρῷ καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ καὶ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ·  
with cheese and sweet honey and pleasant wine;

**70** Ἥρη δʼ αὐτῇσιν περὶ πασέων δῶκε γυναικῶν  
and Hera gave them, beyond all women,

**71** εἶδος καὶ πινυτήν, μῆκος δʼ ἔπορʼ Ἄρτεμις ἁγνή,  
beauty and good sense; chaste Artemis granted them stature,

**72** ἔργα δʼ Ἀθηναίη δέδαε κλυτὰ ἐργάζεσθαι.  
and Athena taught them to work at glorious crafts.

**73** εὖτʼ Ἀφροδίτη δῖα προσέστιχε μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,  
But while radiant Aphrodite was climbing to high Olympus,

**74** κούρῃς αἰτήσουσα τέλος θαλεροῖο γάμοιο—  
to ask, for the girls, the fulfillment of flourishing marriage —

**75** ἐς Δία τερπικέραυνον, ὁ γάρ τʼ εὖ οἶδεν ἅπαντα,  
going to Zeus who delights in thunder, for he knows all things well,
> "Delighting in thunder": An ornamental epithet of Zeus, terpikeraunos, "who delights in the thunderbolt." Such compound epithets are a hallmark of Homeric diction.

**76** μοῖράν τʼ ἀμμορίην τε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων—  
both the destiny and ill-fortune of mortal men —

**77** τόφρα δὲ τὰς κούρας ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο  
meanwhile the Harpies snatched the girls away

**78** καί ῥʼ ἔδοσαν στυγερῇσιν ἐρινύσιν ἀμφιπολεύειν·  
and gave them to the hateful Erinyes to serve.

**79** ὣς ἔμʼ ἀϊστώσειαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες,  
So may those who hold the halls of Olympus blot me out,

**80** ἠέ μʼ ἐϋπλόκαμος βάλοι Ἄρτεμις, ὄφρʼ Ὀδυσῆα  
or fair-haired Artemis strike me, so that I might go

**81** ὀσσομένη καὶ γαῖαν ὕπο στυγερὴν ἀφικοίμην,  
still keeping Odysseus in view, even beneath the hateful earth,

**82** μηδέ τι χείρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐϋφραίνοιμι νόημα.  
and never gladden the mind of a lesser man.

**83** ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν καὶ ἀνεκτὸν ἔχει κακόν, ὁππότε κέν τις  
Yet this is an endurable evil, when someone

**84** ἤματα μὲν κλαίῃ, πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ,  
weeps through the days, grieving sorely in the heart,

**85** νύκτας δʼ ὕπνος ἔχῃσιν—ὁ γάρ τʼ ἐπέλησεν ἁπάντων,  
but sleep holds them at night — for it makes one forget everything,

**86** ἐσθλῶν ἠδὲ κακῶν, ἐπεὶ ἄρ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψῃ—  
good and bad alike, once it has closed over the eyelids —

**87** αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ ὀνείρατʼ ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.  
but for me a god sends even evil dreams.
> Daimôn: A daimôn is a divine power, often an impersonal force of fate or fortune rather than a named god. Here it is the source of Penelope's tormenting dreams.

**88** τῇδε γὰρ αὖ μοι νυκτὶ παρέδραθεν εἴκελος αὐτῷ,  
For this very night one lay beside me, like himself,

**89** τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος ᾖεν ἅμα στρατῷ· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ  
looking as he did when he went off with the army; and my heart

**90** χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ὄναρ ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἤδη.  
rejoiced, for I did not think it a dream, but waking truth at last."

**91** ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.  
So she spoke, and at once golden-throned Dawn came.
> "Golden-throned Dawn": Dawn (Eos) regularly receives a luminous epithet such as chrysothronos, "golden-throned." The personified daybreak is a recurring formula.

**92** τῆς δʼ ἄρα κλαιούσης ὄπα σύνθετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Noble Odysseus heard the sound of her weeping;

**93** μερμήριζε δʼ ἔπειτα, δόκησε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν  
then he pondered, and it seemed to him in his heart

**94** ἤδη γιγνώσκουσα παρεστάμεναι κεφαλῆφι.  
that she already knew him and was standing by his head.

**95** χλαῖναν μὲν συνελὼν καὶ κώεα, τοῖσιν ἐνεῦδεν,  
Gathering up the cloak and the fleeces on which he had slept,

**96** ἐς μέγαρον κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἐκ δὲ βοείην  
he laid them on a chair in the hall, and the oxhide

**97** θῆκε θύραζε φέρων, Διὶ δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·  
he carried out of doors; then, lifting his hands, he prayed to Zeus:

**98** Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ μʼ ἐθέλοντες ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ
                     ὑγρὴν  
"Father Zeus, if it was your will that over dry land and water

**99** ἤγετʼ ἐμὴν ἐς γαῖαν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐκακώσατε λίην,  
you brought me to my own land, after you afflicted me so sorely,

**100** φήμην τίς μοι φάσθω ἐγειρομένων ἀνθρώπων  
let someone of the people now waking speak an omen to me

**101** ἔνδοθεν, ἔκτοσθεν δὲ Διὸς τέρας ἄλλο φανήτω.  
from inside, and outside let another sign of Zeus appear."

**102** ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς,  
So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus the counselor heard him,

**103** αὐτίκα δʼ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,  
and at once he thundered from gleaming Olympus,

**104** ὑψόθεν ἐκ νεφέων· γήθησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
high up out of the clouds; and noble Odysseus rejoiced.

**105** φήμην δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο γυνὴ προέηκεν ἀλετρὶς  
And a woman, a grinder of grain, sent forth an omen from the house

**106** πλησίον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα οἱ μύλαι ἥατο ποιμένι λαῶν,  
nearby, where the mills stood for the shepherd of the people,
> "Shepherd of the people": Poimên laôn, "shepherd of the people," is a stock epithet for a king or leader, here Odysseus. The image of ruler-as-herdsman is common in Homer.

**107** τῇσιν δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἐπερρώοντο γυναῖκες  
at which twelve women in all toiled away,

**108** ἄλφιτα τεύχουσαι καὶ ἀλείατα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν.  
making barley-meal and flour, the marrow of men.
> "Marrow of men": Grain is called "the marrow of men," a vivid metaphor for the food that sustains life and strength.

**109** αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄλλαι εὗδον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ πυρὸν ἄλεσσαν,  
Now the others were sleeping, since they had ground their wheat,

**110** ἡ δὲ μίʼ οὔπω παύετʼ, ἀφαυροτάτη δʼ ἐτέτυκτο·  
but this one alone had not yet stopped, being the feeblest of them.

**111** ἥ ῥα μύλην στήσασα ἔπος φάτο, σῆμα ἄνακτι·  
She stopped her mill and spoke a word, a sign for her master:
> sêma — sign/omen: A sêma is a meaningful sign sent by the gods. The miller-woman's unwitting words become the second omen Odysseus prayed for.

**112** Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν
                     ἀνάσσεις,  
"Father Zeus, you who rule over gods and men,

**113** ἦ μεγάλʼ ἐβρόντησας ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος,  
loudly indeed you have thundered from the starry sky,

**114** οὐδέ ποθι νέφος ἐστί· τέρας νύ τεῳ τόδε φαίνεις.  
and there is no cloud anywhere: surely you show this as a sign to someone.

**115** κρῆνον νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ δειλῇ ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·  
Grant now to wretched me too the word that I will speak:

**116** μνηστῆρες πύματόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἤματι τῷδε  
may the suitors, for the very last and final time this day,

**117** ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος ἑλοίατο δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν,  
take their lovely feast in the halls of Odysseus,

**118** οἳ δή μοι καμάτῳ θυμαλγέι· γούνατʼ ἔλυσαν  
they who with heart-grieving toil have loosened my knees
> "loosened the knees": A Homeric idiom for exhaustion or death; here the grinding has worn the woman down. The same phrase elsewhere describes a warrior killed in battle.

**119** ἄλφιτα τευχούσῃ· νῦν ὕστατα δειπνήσειαν.  
as I made their meal: now may they dine for the last time."

**120** ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, χαῖρεν δὲ κλεηδόνι δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
So she spoke, and noble Odysseus rejoiced at the omen

**121** Ζηνός τε βροντῇ· φάτο γὰρ τίσασθαι ἀλείτας.  
and at the thunder of Zeus, for he believed he would punish the guilty.

**122** αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι δμῳαὶ κατὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος  
The other serving-women through the fair house of Odysseus

**123** ἀγρόμεναι ἀνέκαιον ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ.  
gathered and kindled the tireless fire on the hearth.

**124** Τηλέμαχος δʼ εὐνῆθεν ἀνίστατο, ἰσόθεος φώς,  
Telemachus rose from his bed, a man like a god,

**125** εἵματα ἑσσάμενος· περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ·  
and put on his clothes; about his shoulder he slung a sharp sword;

**126** ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,  
beneath his shining feet he bound his fine sandals,

**127** εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι· χαλκῷ·  
and took up a strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze.

**128** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, πρὸς δʼ Εὐρύκλειαν ἔειπε·  
He went and stood on the threshold, and spoke to Eurycleia:

**129** μαῖα φίλη, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐτιμήσασθʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
"Dear nurse, did you honor the stranger in the house

**130** εὐνῇ καὶ σίτῳ, ἦ αὔτως κεῖται ἀκηδής;  
with a bed and food, or does he lie just so, uncared for?

**131** τοιαύτη γὰρ ἐμὴ μήτηρ, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα·  
For such is my mother, sensible though she is:

**132** ἐμπλήγδην ἕτερόν γε τίει μερόπων ἀνθρώπων  
rashly she honors the worse of mortal men,

**133** χείρονα, τὸν δέ τʼ ἀρείονʼ ἀτιμήσασʼ ἀποπέμπει.  
while the better she sends away dishonored."

**134** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·  
Then prudent Eurycleia answered him in turn:

**135** οὐκ ἄν μιν νῦν, τέκνον, ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳο.  
"You should not now, child, blame her when she is blameless.
> Wordplay: blame the blameless: The verb 'blame' (αἰτιάομαι) is set against its negative adjective 'blameless' (ἀναίτιον), a deliberate figura etymologica. αἰτιόῳο is a second-person optative in the potential 'you should/would' sense.

**136** οἶνον μὲν γὰρ πῖνε καθήμενος, ὄφρʼ ἔθελʼ αὐτός,  
For he sat and drank wine as long as he himself wished,

**137** σίτου δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔφη πεινήμεναι· εἴρετο γάρ μιν.  
and said he no longer hungered for food, when she asked him.

**138** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίτοιο καὶ ὕπνου μιμνήσκοιτο,  
But when he turned his mind to rest and sleep,

**139** ἡ μὲν δέμνιʼ ἄνωγεν ὑποστορέσαι δμῳῇσιν,  
she ordered the maids to spread bedding for him,

**140** αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὥς τις πάμπαν ὀϊζυρὸς καὶ ἄποτμος,  
but he, like a man utterly wretched and luckless,

**141** οὐκ ἔθελʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καὶ ἐν ῥήγεσσι καθεύδειν,  
would not sleep on a bed and under blankets,

**142** ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀδεψήτῳ βοέῃ καὶ κώεσιν οἰῶν  
but on an undressed bullock's hide and the fleeces of sheep

**143** ἔδραθʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ· χλαῖναν δʼ ἐπιέσσαμεν ἡμεῖς.  
he lay down in the forecourt; and we threw a cloak over him."

**144** ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει  
So she spoke, and Telemachus strode out through the hall

**145** ἔγχος ἔχων, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.  
holding his spear, and two swift dogs followed at his side.

**146** βῆ δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορὴν μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.  
He went on his way to the assembly, to join the well-greaved Achaeans.
> "well-greaved" Achaeans: A stock epithet praising the Achaeans for their fine bronze shin-guards (greaves). Such formulaic epithets fit the meter and recur across the poem.

**147** ἡ δʼ αὖτε δμῳῇσιν ἐκέκλετο δῖα γυναικῶν,  
Then the noble among women called out to the maids,

**148** Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο·  
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, Peisenor's son:

**149** ἀγρεῖθʼ, αἱ μὲν δῶμα κορήσατε ποιπνύσασαι,  
"Come, bestir yourselves: some of you sweep the house and tidy it,

**150** ῥάσσατέ τʼ, ἔν τε θρόνοις εὐποιήτοισι τάπητας  
sprinkle the floor, and on the well-made chairs

**151** βάλλετε πορφυρέους· αἱ δὲ σπόγγοισι τραπέζας  
throw the purple coverings; others, with sponges, the tables

**152** πάσας ἀμφιμάσασθε, καθήρατε δὲ κρητῆρας  
wipe down, every one, and clean the mixing-bowls

**153** καὶ δέπα ἀμφικύπελλα τετυγμένα· ταὶ δὲ μεθʼ ὕδωρ  
and the well-wrought double cups; and you, for water

**154** ἔρχεσθε κρήνηνδε, καὶ οἴσετε θᾶσσον ἰοῦσαι.  
go to the spring, and bring it back quickly as you come.

**155** οὐ γὰρ δὴν μνηστῆρες ἀπέσσονται μεγάροιο,  
For the suitors will not be long away from the hall,

**156** ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἦρι νέονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ πᾶσιν ἑορτή.  
but will come very early, since today is a feast for all."

**157** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἄρα τῆς μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ
                  ἐπίθοντο.  
So she spoke, and they listened well to her and obeyed.

**158** αἱ μὲν ἐείκοσι βῆσαν ἐπὶ κρήνην μελάνυδρον,  
Twenty of them went to the spring of dark water,

**159** αἱ δʼ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισταμένως πονέοντο.  
and the others labored skillfully there about the house.

**160** ἐς δʼ ἦλθον δρηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα  
In came the menservants of the Achaeans. They then

**161** εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως κέασαν ξύλα, ταὶ δὲ γυναῖκες  
well and skillfully split firewood, and the women

**162** ἦλθον ἀπὸ κρήνης· ἐπὶ δέ σφισιν ἦλθε συβώτης  
came back from the spring; and after them came the swineherd

**163** τρεῖς σιάλους κατάγων, οἳ ἔσαν μετὰ πᾶσιν ἄριστοι.  
driving in three fattened hogs, the best of all his herd.

**164** καὶ τοὺς μέν ῥʼ εἴασε καθʼ ἕρκεα καλὰ νέμεσθαι,  
These he let feed within the fair enclosures,

**165** αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·  
and he himself spoke to Odysseus with gentle words:
> "gentle words": μειλίχιος means soothing or kindly; the noun 'words' is understood. The phrase marks the loyal swineherd's warmth, in sharp contrast to Melanthius' jeering that follows.

**166** ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ τί σε μᾶλλον Ἀχαιοὶ εἰσορόωσιν,  
"Stranger, do the Achaeans regard you any better now,

**167** ἦέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ;  
or do they dishonor you throughout the halls, as before?"

**168** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολυμήτις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him:
> Epithet "of many wiles": πολύμητις, 'of many counsels/wiles,' is Odysseus' signature epithet. Such name-plus-epithet formulas are nominative subject phrases that fill the verse's end.

**169** αἲ γὰρ δή, Εὔμαιε, θεοὶ τισαίατο λώβην,  
"Would, Eumaeus, that the gods might avenge the outrage

**170** ἣν οἵδʼ ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται  
which these men in their insolence recklessly devise

**171** οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ, οὐδʼ αἰδοῦς μοῖραν ἔχουσιν.  
in another's house, and have no portion of shame."

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

**173** ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν.  
and close at hand came Melanthius, the herder of goats,

**174** αἶγας ἄγων αἳ πᾶσι μετέρεπον αἰπολίοισι,  
leading goats that were the finest in all the flocks,

**175** δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι. δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.  
for the suitors' meal; and two herdsmen came with him.

**176** καὶ τὰς μὲν κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,  
He tied the goats up under the echoing portico,

**177** αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα κερτομίοισι·  
and himself again addressed Odysseus with taunts:

**178** ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις κατὰ δῶμα  
"Stranger, will you still even now be a nuisance here through the house,

**179** ἀνέρας αἰτίζων, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἔξεισθα θύραζε;  
begging from the men? Will you not get out the door?

**180** πάντως οὐκέτι νῶϊ διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω  
I think we two will not part at all

**181** πρὶν χειρῶν γεύσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ περ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον  
before we taste each other's fists, since you beg not in any decent way,
> kosmos — in due order: κατὰ κόσμον means 'fittingly, in proper order.' Melanthius accuses the beggar of behaving without decorum, ironic given his own abuse.

**182** αἰτίζεις· εἰσὶν δὲ καὶ ἄλλαι δαῖτες Ἀχαιῶν.  
but there are other feasts of the Achaeans too."

**183** ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So he spoke, but Odysseus of many wiles made no answer to him,

**184** ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.  
but silently shook his head, brooding deep on evil.
> "building in the deep": A vivid metaphor: Odysseus is 'building deep down,' i.e. quietly plotting vengeance in his heart while keeping outward calm.

**185** τοῖσι δʼ ἐπὶ τρίτος ἦλθε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος
                  ἀνδρῶν,  
Then a third came to them, Philoetius, a leader of men,

**186** βοῦν στεῖραν μνηστῆρσιν ἄγων καὶ πίονας αἶγας.  
bringing a barren cow for the suitors and fat goats.

**187** πορθμῆες δʼ ἄρα τούς γε διήγαγον, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους  
Ferrymen had brought them across, men who also carry other

**188** ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται.  
people, whoever comes to them.

**189** καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,  
He tied these up well under the echoing portico,

**190** αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐρέεινε συβώτην ἄγχι παραστάς·  
and himself then questioned the swineherd, standing close beside him:

**191** τίς δὴ ὅδε ξεῖνος νέον εἰλήλουθε, συβῶτα,  
"Who is this stranger newly come, swineherd,

**192** ἡμέτερον πρὸς δῶμα; τέων δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι  
to our house? Of what men does he claim

**193** ἀνδρῶν; ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα;  
to be? Where is his lineage and his native land?

**194** δύσμορος, ἦ τε ἔοικε δέμας βασιλῆϊ ἄνακτι·  
Ill-fated man—yet in his frame he is like a kingly lord.

**195** ἀλλὰ θεοὶ δυόωσι πολυπλάγκτους ἀνθρώπους,  
But the gods bring low men who wander far,

**196** ὁππότε καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἐπικλώσωνται ὀϊζύν.  
whenever they spin out misery even for kings."

**197** ἦ καὶ δεξιτερῇ δειδίσκετο χειρὶ παραστάς,  
He spoke, and standing near greeted him with his right hand,

**198** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and raising his voice spoke winged words to him:
> "Winged words": ἔπεα πτερόεντα, 'winged words,' is among the most famous Homeric formulas, picturing speech as flying swiftly from speaker to hearer. ἔπεα is the accusative object of 'spoke.'

**199** χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· γένοιτό τοι ἔς περ
                     ὀπίσσω  
"Greetings, father stranger; may good fortune be yours

**200** ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.  
hereafter; but now indeed you are gripped by many evils.
> olbos — prosperity: ὄλβος is happiness rooted in prosperity and security, the very good fortune the stranger now lacks. The word straddles lines 199–200 (enjambment).

**201** Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·  
Father Zeus, no other of the gods is more destructive than you:

**202** οὐκ ἐλεαίρεις ἄνδρας, ἐπὴν δὴ γείνεαι αὐτός,  
you have no pity on men, though you yourself begot them,

**203** μισγέμεναι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι λευγαλέοισιν.  
that they should be mingled with misery and grievous pains.

**204** ἴδιον, ὡς ἐνόησα, δεδάκρυνται δέ μοι ὄσσε  
I broke into sweat when I saw him, and my eyes filled with tears,

**205** μνησαμένῳ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνον ὀΐω  
remembering Odysseus, for I think that he too,

**206** τοιάδε λαίφεʼ ἔχοντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι,  
wearing such rags as these, wanders among men,

**207** εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.  
if indeed he still lives anywhere and sees the light of the sun.

**208** εἰ δʼ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν,  
But if he is already dead and in the house of Hades,

**209** ὤ μοι ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς μʼ ἐπὶ βουσὶν  
then woe is me for blameless Odysseus, who set me over his cattle,

**210** εἷσʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα Κεφαλλήνων ἐνὶ δήμῳ.  
while I was still a little child, in the land of the Cephallenians.

**211** νῦν δʼ αἱ μὲν γίγνονται ἀθέσφατοι, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως  
Now those cattle are beyond counting, nor in any other way

**212** ἀνδρί γʼ ὑποσταχύοιτο βοῶν γένος εὐρυμετώπων·  
could a man's breed of broad-browed oxen grow up so well;

**213** τὰς δʼ ἄλλοι με κέλονται ἀγινέμεναί σφισιν αὐτοῖς  
yet others order me to drive these in for them

**214** ἔδμεναι· οὐδέ τι παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀλέγουσιν,  
to eat, and they care nothing for the son in the halls,

**215** οὐδʼ ὄπιδα τρομέουσι θεῶν· μεμάασι γὰρ ἤδη  
nor do they dread the gods' watching eyes; for already they are eager
> ὄπις — divine retribution: ὄπις is the gods' vengeful regard, the watchful punishment that the suitors recklessly ignore.

**216** κτήματα δάσσασθαι δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος.  
to divide up the possessions of a master long gone.

**217** αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι  
But within my own breast my heart

**218** πόλλʼ ἐπιδινεῖται· μάλα μὲν κακὸν υἷος ἐόντος  
keeps turning many things over: it is a very evil thing, while the son lives,

**219** ἄλλων δῆμον ἱκέσθαι ἰόντʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,  
to go off to the land of strangers, taking the cattle themselves with me,

**220** ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον, αὖθι μένοντα  
to foreign men; yet it is more chilling still to stay here

**221** βουσὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίῃσι καθήμενον ἄλγεα πάσχειν.  
to sit here over another man's cattle and suffer such grief.

**222** καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων  
Long ago I would have gone to some other mighty king,

**223** ἐξικόμην φεύγων, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πέλονται·  
fled to him, since these things are no longer bearable;

**224** ἀλλʼ ἔτι τὸν δύστηνον ὀΐομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν  
but still I keep thinking of that unlucky man, hoping he may come from somewhere

**225** ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείῃ.  
and scatter the suitors in flight throughout the halls.

**226** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
> A standing epithet: πολύμητις, 'of many devices,' is Odysseus' recurring formulaic epithet. Such fixed epithet-noun pairs are a hallmark of oral hexameter style.

**227** βουκόλʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔτε κακῷ οὔτʼ ἄφρονι φωτὶ ἔοικας,  
"Cowherd, since you seem neither a base nor a senseless man,

**228** γιγνώσκω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τοι πινυτὴ φρένας ἵκει,  
and I myself can see that good sense has reached your wits,

**229** τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·  
for that reason I will speak, and swear a great oath upon it:

**230** ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ξενίη τε τράπεζα  
let Zeus now be my witness first of the gods, and the guest-table,

**231** ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,  
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:

**232** ἦ σέθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντος ἐλεύσεται οἴκαδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·  
truly, while you are still here, Odysseus will come home.

**233** σοῖσιν δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἐπόψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,  
With your own eyes you will see, if you wish,

**234** κτεινομένους μνηστῆρας, οἳ ἐνθάδε κοιρανέουσιν.  
the suitors slain, who lord it over this house."

**235** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·  
Then the man who herded the cattle answered him:

**236** αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τελέσειε Κρονίων·  
"Stranger, if only the son of Cronos would fulfill that word,

**237** γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.  
you would learn what my strength is and what these hands can do."

**238** ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύξατο πᾶσι θεοῖσι  
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods

**239** νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.  
that wise Odysseus might return to his own home.

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

**241** μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε  
while the suitors were contriving death and doom for Telemachus;

**242** ἤρτυον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀριστερὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,  
but a bird came to them on the left, an omen:

**243** αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης, ἔχε δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν.  
a high-flying eagle, and it held a trembling dove.

**244** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
Then Amphinomus spoke before them and addressed them:

**245** ὦ φίλοι, οὐχ ἡμῖν συνθεύσεται ἥδε γε βουλή,  
"My friends, this plan of ours will not run to its end for us,

**246** Τηλεμάχοιο φόνος· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα δαιτός.  
the killing of Telemachus; let us turn our minds to the feast instead."

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

**248** ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο  
Going into the halls of godlike Odysseus,

**249** χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,  
they laid down their cloaks upon the couches and the chairs,

**250** οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,  
and they sacrificed great sheep and fat goats,

**251** ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην·  
they slaughtered fattened pigs and a heifer of the herd;

**252** σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ὀπτήσαντες ἐνώμων, ἐν δέ τε οἶνον  
and roasting the inner parts they shared them out, and in the bowls

**253** κρητῆρσιν κερόωντο· κύπελλα δὲ νεῖμε συβώτης.  
they mixed the wine; and the swineherd handed round the cups.

**254** σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἐπένειμε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,  
Philoetius, leader of men, dealt out the bread to them

**255** καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἐῳνοχόει δὲ Μελανθεύς.  
in fine baskets, and Melanthius poured the wine.

**256** οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.  
And they reached out their hands to the good things laid ready before them.
> Imperfect of repeated action: ἴαλλον is imperfect, 'kept stretching out,' picturing the ongoing motion of the feasters reaching for food. The imperfect suits a customary, drawn-out scene.

**257** Τηλέμαχος δʼ Ὀδυσῆα καθίδρυε, κέρδεα νωμῶν,  
But Telemachus, plying his cunning, seated Odysseus

**258** ἐντὸς ἐϋσταθέος μεγάρου, παρὰ λάϊνον οὐδόν,  
inside the well-built hall, beside the stone threshold,

**259** δίφρον ἀεικέλιον καταθεὶς ὀλίγην τε τράπεζαν·  
setting down a shabby stool and a small table for him;

**260** πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν  
he set beside him portions of the inner meat, and poured wine for him

**261** ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·  
in a golden cup, and spoke a word to him:

**262** ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν ἧσο μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οἰνοποτάζων·  
"Sit here now among the men and drink your wine.

**263** κερτομίας δέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ χεῖρας ἀφέξω  
I myself will ward off from you the taunts and hands

**264** πάντων μνηστήρων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι δήμιός ἐστιν  
of all the suitors, since this is no common house

**265** οἶκος ὅδʼ, ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐκτήσατο κεῖνος.  
but the house of Odysseus, and he won it for me.

**266** ὑμεῖς δέ, μνηστῆρες, ἐπίσχετε θυμὸν ἐνιπῆς  
And you, suitors, hold back your hearts from abuse

**267** καὶ χειρῶν, ἵνα μή τις ἔρις καὶ νεῖκος ὄρηται.  
and from blows, so that no quarrel or strife may arise."

**268** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι
                  φύντες  
So he spoke, and they all bit their lips with their teeth
> Biting the lips: Literally 'fastening their teeth in their lips,' a vivid idiom for suppressed anger. The suitors are astonished and resentful but say nothing.

**269** Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.  
and marveled at Telemachus, that he spoke so boldly.

**270** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·  
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke among them:

**271** καὶ χαλεπόν περ ἐόντα δεχώμεθα μῦθον,
                     Ἀχαιοί,  
"Hard though it is, let us accept the word, Achaeans,

**272** Τηλεμάχου· μάλα δʼ ἧμιν ἀπειλήσας ἀγορεύει.  
of Telemachus; he speaks to us with strong threats.

**273** οὐ γὰρ Ζεὺς εἴασε Κρονίων· τῷ κέ μιν ἤδη  
Zeus, son of Cronos, did not allow it; otherwise by now

**274** παύσαμεν ἐν μεγάροισι, λιγύν περ ἐόντʼ ἀγορητήν.  
we would have silenced him in the halls, clear-voiced speaker though he is."

**275** ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.  
So spoke Antinous, but Telemachus paid no heed to his words.

**276** κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην  
Meanwhile the heralds were leading a holy hecatomb for the gods

**277** ἦγον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγέροντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
up through the town; and the long-haired Achaeans gathered

**278** ἄλσος ὕπο σκιερὸν ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.  
under the shady grove of far-shooting Apollo.

**279** οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,  
When they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,

**280** μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα·  
they divided the portions and feasted on the glorious feast;

**281** πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο  
and beside Odysseus those who served set down a portion

**282** ἴσην, ὡς αὐτοί περ ἐλάγχανον· ὣς γὰρ ἀνώγει  
equal to their own share; for so had he commanded,

**283** Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.  
Telemachus, the dear son of godlike Odysseus.

**284** μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη  
But Athena did not at all let the arrogant suitors

**285** λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον  
hold back from heart-galling abuse, so that still more

**286** δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα.  
the pain might sink into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.

**287** ἦν δέ τις ἐν μνηστῆρσιν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,  
Now there was among the suitors a man who knew lawless ways,

**288** Κτήσιππος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε, Σάμῃ δʼ ἐνὶ οἰκία ναῖεν·  
Ctesippus was his name, and he had his home in Same;

**289** ὃς δή τοι κτεάτεσσι πεποιθὼς θεσπεσίοισι  
trusting in his prodigious wealth,

**290** μνάσκετʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα.  
he was wooing the wife of Odysseus, long gone away.

**291** ὅς ῥα τότε μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μετηύδα·  
He then spoke among the overweening suitors:

**292** κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι
                     εἴπω·  
"Hear me, proud suitors, so that I may say something.

**293** μοῖραν μὲν δὴ ξεῖνος ἔχει πάλαι, ὡς ἐπέοικεν,  
The stranger has long had his portion, as is fitting,

**294** ἴσην· οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον  
an equal one; for it is neither good nor just
> Infinitive as subject: The infinitive ἀτέμβειν ('to cheat, slight') functions as the subject of 'is not good nor just.' Greek freely uses the infinitive as a verbal noun.

**295** ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.  
to slight the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.

**296** ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ καὶ ἐγὼ δῶ ξείνιον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸς  
But come, I too will give him a guest-gift, so that he in turn

**297** ἠὲ λοετροχόῳ δώῃ γέρας ἠέ τῳ ἄλλῳ  
may give a present to the bath-woman, or to some other

**298** δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.  
of the servants who are in the house of godlike Odysseus."

**299** ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψε βοὸς πόδα χειρὶ παχείῃ.  
So saying, he hurled an ox's foot with his strong hand,

**300** κείμενον ἐκ κανέοιο λαβών· ὁ δʼ ἀλεύατʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
taking it where it lay in the basket; but Odysseus dodged it,

**301** ἦκα παρακλίνας κεφαλήν, μείδησε δὲ θυμῷ  
tilting his head slightly aside, and he smiled in his heart

**302** σαρδάνιον μάλα τοῖον· ὁ δʼ εὔδμητον βάλε τοῖχον.  
a most bitter, sardonic smile; and it struck the well-built wall.
> A sardonic smile: σαρδάνιον describes a grim, mocking smile of suppressed rage. This is the origin of the English word 'sardonic.'

**303** Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·  
Then Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus with words:

**304** Κτήσιππʼ, ἦ μάλα τοι τόδε κέρδιον ἔπλετο
                     θυμῷ·  
"Ctesippus, truly it was better for your spirit this way:

**305** οὐκ ἔβαλες τὸν ξεῖνον· ἀλεύατο γὰρ βέλος αὐτός.  
you did not hit the stranger, for he dodged the missile himself.

**306** ἦ γάρ κέν σε μέσον βάλον ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,  
Otherwise I would have struck you through the middle with my sharp spear,

**307** καί κέ τοι ἀντὶ γάμοιο πατὴρ τάφον ἀμφεπονεῖτο  
and instead of a wedding your father would have busied himself with a funeral

**308** ἐνθάδε. τῷ μή τίς μοι ἀεικείας ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
here. So let no one display unseemly conduct in my house;

**309** φαινέτω· ἤδη γὰρ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,  
for now I understand and know each thing,

**310** ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρηα· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.  
both the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.

**311** ἀλλʼ ἔμπης τάδε μὲν καὶ τέτλαμεν εἰσορόωντες,  
But even so we endure to look upon these things,
> Perfect with present force: τέτλαμεν is a perfect from the root of τλάω ('endure') but carries a present sense, 'we endure.' Such perfects of state are common in Homer.

**312** μήλων σφαζομένων οἴνοιό τε πινομένοιο  
the sheep being slaughtered and the wine drunk

**313** καὶ σίτου· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐρυκακέειν ἕνα πολλούς.  
and the bread consumed; for it is hard for one man to restrain many.

**314** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι μοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες·  
But come, do me no more harm in your hostility.

**315** εἰ δʼ ἤδη μʼ αὐτὸν κτεῖναι μενεαίνετε χαλκῷ,  
And if you are now eager to kill me myself with the bronze,

**316** καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη  
even that I would choose, and it would be far better

**317** τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,  
to be dead than forever to look on these shameful deeds,

**318** ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας  
guests being abused, and the serving-women

**319** ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά.  
dragged about disgracefully through the fair halls."

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

**321** ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·  
At last Agelaus, son of Damastor, spoke among them:

**322** ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ  
"My friends, surely no one should take offense at a just saying

**323** ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·  
and attack it with hostile, angry words:

**324** μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον  
do not abuse the stranger, nor any other

**325** δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.  
of the servants who are in the house of godlike Odysseus.

**326** Τηλεμάχῳ δέ κε μῦθον ἐγὼ καὶ μητέρι φαίην  
But to Telemachus and his mother I would say a word,

**327** ἤπιον, εἴ σφωϊν κραδίῃ ἅδοι ἀμφοτέροιϊν.  
a gentle one, if it would please the heart of them both:
> Dual number: ἀμφοτέροιϊν and σφωϊν are dual forms, referring to the two of them, Telemachus and his mother. The dual marks exactly two persons, a feature Homeric Greek preserves.

**328** ὄφρα μὲν ὑμῖν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει  
as long as your hearts within your breasts still hoped

**329** νοστήσειν Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,  
that wise Odysseus would return to his own home,

**330** τόφρʼ οὔ τις νέμεσις μενέμεν τʼ ἦν ἰσχέμεναί τε  
until then there was no blame in waiting and holding the suitors back

**331** μνηστῆρας κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεὶ τόδε κέρδιον ἦεν,  
the suitors throughout the house, since this was the better course,

**332** εἰ νόστησʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ ὑπότροπος ἵκετο δῶμα·  
if Odysseus should return and come back home;

**333** νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε δῆλον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν.  
but now it is already clear that he will never come home again.

**334** ἀλλʼ ἄγε, σῇ τάδε μητρὶ παρεζόμενος κατάλεξον,  
So come, sit beside your mother and tell her this:
> Aorist imperative: An aorist imperative, a brisk command to give a full account. Aspect frames it as a single complete act of telling.

**335** γήμασθʼ ὅς τις ἄριστος ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν,  
to marry whatever man is best and offers the most gifts,

**336** ὄφρα σὺ μὲν χαίρων πατρώϊα πάντα νέμηαι,  
so that you may enjoy all your father's goods in peace,

**337** ἔσθων καὶ πίνων, ἡ δʼ ἄλλου δῶμα κομίζῃ.  
eating and drinking, while she keeps another man's house.

**338** τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn:
> Perfect participle as epithet: A perfect middle participle, literally "having been made wise," used as a fixed epithet of Telemachus. The perfect marks a settled state.

**339** οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, Ἀγέλαε, καὶ ἄλγεα πατρὸς ἐμοῖο,  
"No, by Zeus, Agelaus, and by the sufferings of my father,

**340** ὅς που τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης ἢ ἔφθιται ἢ ἀλάληται,  
who somewhere far from Ithaca has either died or wanders still,

**341** οὔ τι διατρίβω μητρὸς γάμον, ἀλλὰ κελεύω  
I am not delaying my mother's marriage; rather I urge her

**342** γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃ, ποτὶ δʼ ἄσπετα δῶρα δίδωμι.  
to marry whomever she wishes, and I add countless gifts besides.

**343** αἰδέομαι δʼ ἀέκουσαν ἀπὸ μεγάροιο δίεσθαι  
But I am ashamed to drive her from the hall against her will
> aidos (shame, respect): The verb of aidos, the social sense of shame and propriety that restrains a person from improper action. Telemachus will not force his mother out.

**344** μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειεν.  
with a word of compulsion; may a god never bring that to pass."

**345** ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος· μνηστῆρσι δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη  
So spoke Telemachus; but among the suitors Pallas Athena

**346** ἄσβεστον γέλω ὦρσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ νόημα.  
stirred up unquenchable laughter, and unhinged their wits.

**347** οἱ δʼ ἤδη γναθμοῖσι γελοίων ἀλλοτρίοισιν,  
They were laughing now with jaws that were not their own,

**348** αἱμοφόρυκτα δὲ δὴ κρέα ἤσθιον· ὄσσε δʼ ἄρα σφέων  
and they ate meat befouled with blood; their eyes

**349** δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠΐετο θυμός.  
filled with tears, and their hearts foreboded weeping.

**350** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·  
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke among them:

**351** ἆ δειλοί, τί κακὸν τόδε πάσχετε; νυκτὶ μὲν
                     ὑμέων  
"Ah, wretched men, what is this horror you suffer? In night

**352** εἰλύαται κεφαλαί τε πρόσωπά τε νέρθε τε γοῦνα.  
your heads and faces and knees below are shrouded.

**353** οἰμωγὴ δὲ δέδηε, δεδάκρυνται δὲ παρειαί,  
Wailing has broken out, your cheeks are wet with tears,

**354** αἵματι δʼ ἐρράδαται τοῖχοι καλαί τε μεσόδμαι·  
the walls are spattered with blood and the fair roof-beams too;

**355** εἰδώλων δὲ πλέον πρόθυρον, πλείη δὲ καὶ αὐλή,  
the porch is full of ghosts, and the courtyard full,
> eidola (ghostly shades): Eidola are phantom images, the shades of the dead. Theoclymenus the seer sees the suitors' coming death already crowding the house.

**356** ἱεμένων Ἔρεβόσδε ὑπὸ ζόφον· ἠέλιος δὲ  
of them rushing down to Erebus beneath the gloom; and the sun

**357** οὐρανοῦ ἐξαπόλωλε, κακὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν ἀχλύς.  
has perished from the sky, and an evil mist has spread over all."

**358** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ
                  γέλασσαν.  
So he spoke, but they all laughed merrily at him.

**359** τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·  
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak among them:

**360** ἀφραίνει ξεῖνος νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰληλουθώς.  
"This stranger newly come from elsewhere has lost his mind.

**361** ἀλλά μιν αἶψα, νέοι, δόμου ἐκπέμψασθε θύραζε  
Quick, young men, escort him out of the house, through the doors,

**362** εἰς ἀγορὴν ἔρχεσθαι, ἐπεὶ τάδε νυκτὶ ἐΐσκει.  
to go to the assembly, since here he thinks it is night."

**363** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·  
Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him:

**364** Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἄνωγα ἐμοὶ πομπῆας ὀπάζειν·  
"Eurymachus, I do not ask you to give me escorts.

**365** εἰσί μοι ὀφθαλμοί τε καὶ οὔατα καὶ πόδες ἄμφω  
I have eyes and ears and both my feet,

**366** καὶ νόος ἐν στήθεσσι τετυγμένος οὐδὲν ἀεικής.  
and a mind in my breast well shaped, no faulty thing.
> noos (mind, perception): Noos is the mind as the faculty of understanding and insight. The seer insists his perception is sound, unlike the deluded suitors.

**367** τοῖς ἔξειμι θύραζε, ἐπεὶ νοέω κακὸν ὔμμιν  
With these I will go out the doors, for I perceive evil coming

**368** ἐρχόμενον, τό κεν οὔ τις ὑπεκφύγοι οὐδʼ ἀλέαιτο  
upon you, which not one of the suitors will escape or avoid,

**369** μνηστήρων, οἳ δῶμα κάτʼ ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος  
you who in the house of godlike Odysseus

**370** ἀνέρας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθε.  
abuse men and contrive your reckless outrages."

**371** ὣς εἰπὼν ἐξῆλθε δόμων εὖ ναιεταόντων,  
So speaking he went out from the well-built halls,

**372** ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Πείραιον, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.  
and came to Piraeus, who received him kindly.

**373** μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες  
Then all the suitors, looking at one another,

**374** Τηλέμαχον ἐρέθιζον, ἐπὶ ξείνοις γελόωντες·  
kept goading Telemachus by laughing at his guests.

**375** ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·  
And thus one of the arrogant young men would say:

**376** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τις σεῖο κακοξεινώτερος ἄλλος·  
"Telemachus, no man is worse off in his guests than you.

**377** οἷον μέν τινα τοῦτον ἔχεις ἐπίμαστον ἀλήτην,  
What a filthy vagabond you keep there,

**378** σίτου καὶ οἴνου κεχρημένον, οὐδέ τι ἔργων  
needy for bread and wine, with no skill at any work

**379** ἔμπαιον οὐδὲ βίης, ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἄχθος ἀρούρης.  
or in fighting, but a mere dead weight on the earth.
> "a burden on the earth": A proverbial phrase, literally "a weight of the plowland," for a useless person who only consumes. It mocks the disguised Odysseus.

**380** ἄλλος δʼ αὖτέ τις οὗτος ἀνέστη μαντεύεσθαι.  
And here is this other fellow who has stood up to prophesy.

**381** ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·  
But if you would listen to me, it would be far better:

**382** τοὺς ξείνους ἐν νηῒ πολυκληῗδι βαλόντες  
let us throw the strangers aboard a many-benched ship

**383** ἐς Σικελοὺς πέμψωμεν, ὅθεν κέ τοι ἄξιον ἄλφοι.  
and send them to the Sicels, where they would fetch you a good price."

**384** ὣς ἔφασαν μνηστῆρες· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων,  
So spoke the suitors, but he paid no heed to their words,

**385** ἀλλʼ ἀκέων πατέρα προσεδέρκετο, δέγμενος αἰεί,  
but in silence kept watching his father, waiting always

**386** ὁππότε δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει.  
for when he would lay his hands upon the shameless suitors.

**387** ἡ δὲ κατʼ ἄντηστιν θεμένη περικαλλέα δίφρον  
And she, having set her lovely chair facing them,

**388** κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,  
the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

**389** ἀνδρῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἑκάστου μῦθον ἄκουεν.  
listened to the words of each man in the hall.

**390** δεῖπνον μὲν γάρ τοί γε γελοίωντες τετύκοντο  
For laughing they had made themselves a dinner,

**391** ἡδὺ τε καὶ μενοεικές, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἱέρευσαν·  
sweet and satisfying, since they had sacrificed many beasts;

**392** δόρπου δʼ οὐκ ἄν πως ἀχαρίστερον ἄλλο γένοιτο,  
but no supper could ever be more graceless than this,

**393** οἷον δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε θεὰ καὶ καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ  
such as the goddess and the mighty man were soon

**394** θησέμεναι· πρότεροι γὰρ ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.  
to set before them; for they had first contrived their shameful deeds.

---

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.