# The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 4

BOOK IV.
ARGUMENT.
They came to hollow Lacedæmon with its many clefts; and they drove to the house of glorious Menelaus. And they found him making a nuptial feast in his house, of his son and spotless daughter, to many friends. Her he sent to the son of the warlike Achilles; for in Troy he first promised and agreed that he would bestow her: and the gods brought their marriage to pass. He sent her to go there with horses and chariots, to the illustrious city of the Myrmidons, over whom he reigned: and to his son he brought from Sparta the daughter of Alector, who was born to him in his old age, brave Megapenthes, from a slave: but the gods no more gave an offspring to Helen, after she had first brought forth her lovely daughter Hermione, who had the form of golden Venus.
So these neighbours and friends of glorious Menelaus feasted in the lofty-roofed, large house, delighted: and amongst them a divine bard sang, playing on the harp; and two dancers amongst them turned round in the middle, the song having commenced. But they themselves and their horses, ​the hero Telemachus and the illustrious son of Nestor, stood in the vestibule of the house: but excellent Eteoneus, the trusty servant of glorious Menelaus, coming forward, saw them; and he hastened through the house to announce them to glorious Menelaus; and standing near him spoke winged words:
"There are some strangers here, O Menelaus, nourished of Jupiter, two men, and they are like unto the race of mighty Jove. But say, whether we shall loose their swift horses, or send them to go to some one else, who may receive them kindly."
Auburn-haired Menelaus very indignant addressed him: "Formerly indeed thou wast not foolish, O Eteoneus, son of Böetheus, but now, like a child, thou speakest foolish things. We indeed having consumed many hospitable gifts from other men came here; [to see] if Jupiter even hereafter shall allow us to cease from toil; but loose the horses of the strangers, and bring them in immediately to be feasted."
Thus he spoke; and he hastened from the palace, and exhorted his other trusty servants to follow him. But they loosed the horses sweating under the yoke; and bound them to the horses' manger: and they set oats near them, and mixed white barley with them: and they tilted the chariot against the shining walls, and led them into the divine house: but they, beholding, marvelled at the house of the Jove-nurtured king. For there was a splendour like as of the sun and the moon, through the lofty-roofed house of glorious Menelaus. But when, beholding with their eyes, they were satisfied, going into the well-polished baths they washed themselves. When therefore the maid-servants had washed them, and anointed them with oil, and had also thrown woollen cloaks and garments around them, they set them on thrones near Menelaus, the son of Atreus. And a handmaid bringing water in a beautiful golden ewer, poured it over a silver cauldron, to wash in: and she spread a polished table near at hand. And the venerable housekeeper brought bread and set it near them, serving up many dainties, gratifying them as well as she could out of the provisions that were at hand. And the waiter lifting up dishes of all kinds of flesh placed them near; and ​set near them golden cups. Auburn-haired Menelaus then giving them his right hand addressed them:
"Both taste food and rejoice; but when ye twain have eaten of supper, we will inquire of you, who of men you are; for the race of your parents has not perished; but ye are the race of Jove-nurtured, sceptre-bearing kings; for bad men would not produce such as ye are."
Thus he spoke, and he set near them the fat back of an ox, taking in his hands the roasted part, which they had placed near him as an honour: and they stretched forth their hands to the viands lying ready before them. But when they had taken away the desire of drinking and eating, then Telemachus addressed the son of Nestor, holding his head near, that the others might not hear:
"Consider, thou son of Nestor, most pleasing to my mind, the shining of the brass throughout the resounding house, and of gold, and amber, and silver, and ivory. Some such, forsooth, is the hall of the Olympian Jupiter within. How many vast things are here! astonishment possesses me as I behold them."
Auburn-haired Menelaus understood him speaking, and addressing them, spoke winged words:
"My sons, no one indeed of mortals would contend with Jove; for immortal are his houses and possessions; but any one of mortals would either contend with me in possessions, or not. Certainly, having suffered many things, and having wandered much, I was brought in my ships, and I returned in the eighth year: having wandered to Cyprus, and Phœnice, and the Ægyptians, I came to the Æthiopians and Sidonians, and Erembians, and Libya, where the lambs immediately become horned. For the sheep bring forth thrice in a whole year: there indeed neither king nor shepherd is in want of cheese and flesh, nor of sweet milk; but they always furnish milk for milking throughout the year. Whilst I wandered collecting much livelihood in those places, in the mean while another slew my brother secretly, unexpectedly, through the deceit of his pernicious wife: so I by no means rejoicing rule over these possessions. And ye must have heard these things from your fathers, whoever they be; for I have suffered very many things, and have lost my house, which was very well inhabited, containing many and excellent things. Of which ​I would wish having even the third part to dwell in my house, and that the men should be safe who then perished in spacious Troy far from horse-pasturing Argos. But however mourning and grieving for all, ofttimes sitting in my palace, sometimes I am delighted in my mind with grief, at other times again I rest; but the satiety of chilly grief is quick. I do not so much lament for all these, although saddened, as for one, who makes my sleep and my food hateful to me, when I call him to mind; since no one of the Grecians laboured so much, as Ulysses laboured and endured; but for him indeed it was fated that there should be sad cares, but to me grief never to be forgotten on account of him, since indeed he is a long time absent, nor do we know at all whether he is alive or dead. Old Laertes, and prudent Penelope, and Telemachus whom he left lately born in his house, are now some where mourning for him."
Thus he spoke; and he excited in him the desire of grief on account of his sire. And he shed tears from his eyelids on the ground, hearing of his father, holding up a purple mantle before his eyes with both his hands. And Menelaus perceived him, and then he meditated in his thoughts and in his mind, whether he should leave him to make mention of his father, or should ask him first, and inquire of him every thing.
Whilst he meditated these things in his thoughts and in his mind, Helen came out of the sweet-smelling, lofty-roofed chamber, like unto Diana of the golden distaff. For her Adrasta immediately placed a well-made seat; and Alcippe brought tapestry of soft wool; and Phylo brought a silver basket, which Alcandra the wife of Polybus gave her, who dwelt in Egyptian Thebes, where very many possessions lie in his house: who gave to Menelaus two silver baths, and two tripods, and ten talents of gold; and his wife moreover gave beautiful gifts to Helen; she presented a golden distaff, and a round basket, silver, but the lips were finished with gold. This indeed the handmaid Phylo brought and placed near her, filled with well-dressed thread; and upon it the distaff was stretched, containing violet-coloured wool. And she sat on the seat, and a foot-stool was under her feet: and she straightway inquired every thing of her husband with words:
"Do we know, O thou Jove-nurtured Menelaus, what ​men these are who profess to come to our house? Shall I say false, or shall I speak the truth? For my mind exhorts me. For I say that I have never seen any man or woman so like (reverence possesses me as I behold him) as he is like unto Telemachus, the son of magnanimous Ulysses, whom that man left lately born in his house, when ye Grecians came to Troy on account of me, immodest one, arousing fierce war."
Auburn-haired Menelaus answering addressed her: "So now I too am thinking, my wife, as thou dost conjecture. For such are his feet, and such his hands, and the cast of his eyes, and his head and his locks above. And I just now, making mention of Ulysses, related what things he undergoing labour suffered on my account; but he shed a bitter tear from his eyelids, holding up his purple mantle before his eyes."
Pisistratus, the son of Nestor, addressed him in answer: "O Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured of Jove, chieftain of the people, he is truly his son, as thou sayest; [but he is prudent, and is indignant in mind, coming hither first to show the forwardness by entering first on the discourse in your presence, with whose voice, as of a god, we are delighted.] But the Gerenian knight Nestor sent me forth, to accompany him as a guide; for he desired to see thee, that thou mayest suggest some word or some deed to him. For the son of an absent father, to whom there are no other assistants, suffers many griefs in his palace; so now is it with Telemachus; he indeed is gone, nor are there others amongst the people who may ward off calamity."
But him auburn-haired Menelaus answering addressed: "O gods! of a truth the son of a very dear man, who for my sake hath laboured through many toils, has come to my house. And I said that I would receive him with kindness above the rest of the Grecians, upon returning, if wide-thundering Olympian Jove had granted that there should be a return for us over the sea in our swift ships: and I would have founded a city in Argos for him, and would have built ​houses, bringing him from Ithaca with his possessions and his son, [and all his people, having sacked one city of those, which are inhabited around, but are ruled over by me myself.] And we being here, would frequently have associated together; nor would any thing else have separated us twain, being kind to and delighting one another, before at least the time when the black cloud of death had enveloped us. But perhaps the deity himself would have envied these things, who made him alone wretched without a return."
Thus he spoke, but he excited in them all a desire of grief. Argive Helen born of Jupiter wept, Telemachus wept, and Menelaus the son of Atreus; nor did the son of Nestor keep his eyes tearless: for he remembered in his mind blameless Antilochus, whom the glorious son of shining Aurora slew; remembering him he spoke winged words:
"O son of Atreus, aged Nestor said that thou art prudent above mortals, when we mentioned thee [in his palace, and were inquiring of one another]. And now, if it is at all possible, obey me; for I am not delighted, weeping at suppertime; but Aurora, the mother of dawn, will soon be present; I am not at all indignant at weeping for one, who amongst mortals is dead, and has drawn on his fate. This indeed is the only honour to be paid to wretched mortals, to clip the hair, and to pour the tear down from the cheeks. For my brother too died, who was by no means the worst of the Grecians, as thou must be aware; for I have not met with nor seen him, as they say that Antilochus excelled others, that he was exceeding fleet to run, and a warrior."
Auburn-haired Menelaus addressed him in answer: "O friend, since thou hast spoken such things, as a prudent man would speak and do, even one who was more advanced; (for thou art born of such a father, wherefore thou speakest prudent things;) but the son of a man, to whom the son of Saturn has destined happiness when he marries, and when he begets children, is easily to be distinguished. As he has now given to Nestor all his days continually, that he himself should grow old comfortably in his palace, and that his sons should be prudent, and excellent in the use of the spear. But let us indeed leave off our mourning, which was before: and let us again remember our supper, and let them pour water on our hands: but in the morning there shall be conversation ​between Telemachus and me, that we may discourse with one another."
Thus he spoke; but Asphalion, the trusty servant of glorious Menelaus, poured water over their hands. And they stretched forth their hands to the viands that were lying ready. There then Jove-descended Helen planned other things. She straightway cast a drug into the wine, from whence they were drinking, that frees men from grief and from anger, and causes oblivion of all ills. Whoever should drink down this, when it is mixed in a cup, would not shed a tear down his cheeks for a whole day, not even if both his mother and father should die, nor if they should slay with the steel a brother or a beloved son before him, and he should behold it with his eyes. Such cunning and excellent drugs the daughter of Jove possessed, which Polydamna, the wife of Thone, gave her, an Egyptian; where the bounteous land produces very many drugs, many excellent when mingled, and many fatal; and each physician is skilled above all men; for truly they are of the race of Pæon. But when she put it in, and ordered them to pour wine over it, straightway addressing them with words, she spoke:
"O Menelaus, thou Jove-nurtured son of Atreus, and also these sons of brave men—but the god Jupiter gives both good and evil, sometimes to one and sometimes to another; for he is able [to do] all things—now however feast, sitting in the palace, and delight yourselves with conversation; for I will relate fitting things. I could not indeed relate or name all things, as many as are the labours of patient Ulysses: but what that was, which the brave man did and suffered amongst the people of the Trojans, where ye Greeks suffered calamities. Having inflicted on himself unseemly blows, throwing vile garments about his shoulders, like a servant, he entered the city of the enemy with its spacious streets. But concealing himself he likened himself unto another man, a beggar, he who was by no means such a one at the ships of the Grecians; like unto him he entered the city of the Trojans; and they all knew him not; but I alone recognised him, although he ​was such a one; and I put questions to him, but he avoided me by his craft. But when indeed I washed him and anointed him with oil, and put garments on him, and swore a firm oath, that I would not make Ulysses manifest to the Trojans, before he came to the swift ships and the tents; then at length he declared to me the whole intention of the Grecians. And having slain many of the Trojans with the long-pointed steel, he came to the Argives; and he brought back much intelligence There the other Trojan women wailed shrilly; but my heart rejoiced; for now indeed my mind was inclined to return home again; but I lamented the calamity, which Venus had given, when she led me thither from my dear paternal land, and separated my daughter [from me], and my chamber, and my husband, who was not at all deficient, either as to his understanding or his form."
But auburn-haired Menelaus addressed her in turn: "Of a truth, wife, thou hast spoken all these things rightly. I have now, indeed, learned the counsel and mind of many heroes, and have passed over much land; but I have not yet seen such a one with my eyes, so kind as was the heart of patient Ulysses, and such a thing as that which the brave man did and suffered in the polished horse, wherein we all, chiefs of the Grecians, sat in ambush, bringing slaughter and fate upon the Trojans. Then thou camest thither; but the deity, who wished to give glory to the Trojans, must have exhorted thee, although godlike Deiphobus followed thee as thou wentest. And thrice didst thou go round the hollow ambush, feeling it about, and called the chiefs of the Grecians by name, imitating the voice of the wives of all the Greeks. But I, and the son of Tydeus, and divine Ulysses sitting in the middle, heard how thou calledst aloud. Both of us indeed were anxious, having rushed forth either to go out, or to answer thee immediately from within; but Ulysses hindered us and restrained us, although desirous. [There all the other sons of the Grecians were silent; but Anticlus alone wished to answer thee with words; but Ulysses without ceasing pressed ​upon his mouth with his strong hands, and saved all the Grecians: he held him so long until Pallas Minerva led thee far away.]"
But him prudent Telemachus addressed in turn: "O Menelaus, Jove-nurtured son of Atreus, chieftain of the people, it is more grievous; for these things did in no wise avert sad death from him, not even if his heart was of steel within. But come, send us to bed, that we may now be delighted with sweet sleep, being laid down to rest."
Thus he spoke; and Argive Helen ordered the maid-servants to place couches under the portico, and to throw on them beautiful purple rugs, and to strew tapestry on the top, and to place on them woollen cloaks to cover them above. But they went from the palace, holding a torch in their hands: and they strewed the couches; and the herald led out the guests. They indeed, the hero Telemachus and the illustrious son of Nestor, lay there in the vestibule of the house; but the son of Atreus slept in the recess of the lofty house, and near him lay long-robed Helen, a divine one amongst women. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, Menelaus, gallant in the din of battle, arose from his bed, having put on his garments; and around his shoulder he girded a sharp sword, and beneath his shining feet he bound beautiful sandals; and hastened from the chamber like unto a god to behold, and he sat near Telemachus, and spoke, and called him by name:
"What necessity brought thee hither, O hero Telemachus, to divine Lacedæmon, over the wide back of the sea? Public or private? tell me this truly."
But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "O Menelaus, Jove-nurtured son of Atreus, chieftain of the people, I am come [to see] if perchance thou couldst tell me any report concerning my father. My house is being consumed, and rich tillages are perishing. And my house is full of hostile men, who are constantly slaying my tender sheep, and my curve-footed, crooked-horned oxen, suitors of my mother, possessing over-bearing insolence. Wherefore I come to thy knees, if thou art willing to tell of his mournful death, if thou hast any where beheld it with thine eyes, or hast heard the tale of any one else wandering: for his mother brought him forth exceedingly calamitous. Nor by any means reverencing me, ​be gentle, nor pitying me, but tell me plainly as thou hast met with the sight [of it]; I beseech thee, if ever my father, good Ulysses, has accomplished any word or deed for you, having undertaken it amongst the people of the Trojans, where ye Greeks suffered losses, be mindful of these things now, and tell me true."
And auburn-haired Menelaus mourning greatly addressed him: "O gods! indeed they have sought to lie in the bed of a stout-hearted man, themselves being weak. As when a hart, having laid her new-born suckling fawns in the den of a strong lion, feeding, searches the thickets and grassy valleys, but he then has entered his lair, and on them both has brought a severe fate; so Ulysses will bring a severe fate upon those men. I wish, O father Jupiter, and Minerva and Apollo, being such formerly, in well-built Lesbos, rising he wrestled in contention with the son of Philomela, and threw him with violence, and all the Greeks rejoiced. Should Ulysses, being such a one, engage with the suitors, [all would be quick fated, and would have a bitter marriage.] But as to these things, which thou inquirest and beseechest of me, I would not tell thee other things besides, indirectly, nor will I deceive thee: but as to the things which the true old man of the sea told me, of these I will by no means hide or conceal a word from you.
"The gods detained me in Egypt, desiring to return hither, since I did not offer up to them perfect hecatombs: [but the gods always wish that we should be mindful of their commands.] There is a certain island then in a boisterous sea, before Egypt,—they call it Pharos,—so far distant as a hollow ship would make in a whole day, when a whistling wind should blow on from behind. But in it there is a haven with good mooring, from whence they take equal ships into the sea, having drawn black water. There for twenty days the gods detained me, nor did favourable winds ever appear blowing on the sea, which are the conveyers of ships over the wide back of the ocean. And now all my provisions would have been consumed, and the strength of my men [would have failed], had not one of the goddesses taken pity on me, and preserved me, Idothea, daughter of illustrious Proteus, the old man of the ​sea: for I very much moved her mind, who met me wandering alone, at a distance from my companions; for they, constantly wandering about the island, fished with crooked hooks; for hunger subdued their belly. But she standing near me spoke, and said, 'Thou art exceedingly foolish, O stranger, or remiss in mind, or thou art willingly neglectful, and art delighted at suffering griefs; thus now thou art a long time detained in an island, nor canst thou discover any means of escape, and the heart of thy companions wastes away.'
"Thus she spoke; and I addressed her in answer: 'I will tell thee, indeed, whoever thou art of the goddesses, that I am by no means willingly detained; but I must have sinned against the immortals, who possess the wide heaven; but do thou tell me, for the gods ken all things, who of the immortals hinders me, and has bound me from my journey, and [tell me of] my return, how I shall go over the fishy sea.'
"Thus I spoke; but she, the divine one of goddesses, immediately answered: 'I will tell thee, indeed, O stranger, very correctly. A certain true old man of the sea has his haunts here, immortal Proteus the Egyptian, who is acquainted with the depths of the whole sea, the servant of Neptune; they say that he is my father, and that he begot me. Him if thou couldst by any means insnare and take, he would tell thee the way and the measures of the track, and thy return, how thou mayest go over the fishy sea. And he will tell thee, besides, O noble one, if he chooses, what evil and good has happened in thy palace, whilst thou wast absent on a long and difficult journey.'
"Thus she spoke; but I addressed her in answer: 'Do thou now thyself bethink thee of the snare for the divine old man, lest by any means foreseeing me, or knowing beforehand, he should escape me: for a god is difficult to be subdued by a mortal man.'
"Thus I spoke; but she, divine one of goddesses, straightway answered: 'Therefore, O stranger, will I tell thee very correctly. When the sun has gone round up to the middle of the heaven, then the unerring old man of the sea comes forth from the deep, under the breathing of the west wind, covered with the black foam; and having gone out, he lies down to rest under the hollow caves. But around him sea-calves, the ​offspring of fair Halosydna, sleep together, emerging from the hoary sea, breathing forth a bitter smell of the deep sea. There I will lead thee, together with the appearance of morn, and lay thee in order; but do thou choose well three companions, who are the best at your well-benched ships; but I will tell thee all the terrible tricks of the old man. First he will reckon and go over the sea-calves; and when he has numbered all on his five fingers, and has seen them, he will lie down in the middle, as a shepherd among a flock of sheep. And when thou shalt have first seen him laid to sleep, then let strength and force be thy care to keep him there, although desirous and striving to escape. But he will make the attempt, becoming all things, whatsoever reptiles are upon the earth, and water, and fire that blazes from the gods; but do thou keep him firmly, and press him still more. But when he himself shall ask thee with words, being such as thou sawest him when asleep, then, O hero, desist from force, and loose the old man: but ask him, who of the gods hurts thee, and about thy return, how thou mayest go over the fishy sea.'
"Thus having spoken, she dived under the billowy sea: but I went to the ships, where they stood on the sands; but my heart was deeply troubled much as I went. But when I came to the ship and to the sea, we made ready a supper, and ambrosial night came on; then we lay down to rest on the shore of the sea. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then I went to the shore of the wide-wayed sea, much supplicating the gods; and I took three companions, in whom I most trusted for every attempt. But in the mean time she, having dived beneath the wide bosom of the sea, brought from the deep four skins of sea-calves; and all were fresh-skinned, and she planned a stratagem against her sire; ​and having hollowed out beds in the sands of the sea, she sat waiting, but we came very near to her; and she laid us down in order, and threw a skin over each of us. There, however, the ambush was most grievous; for a most pernicious smell [from the skins] of sea-nourished calves afflicted us horribly: for who would sleep near a whale of the sea? But she preserved us and bethought her of a mighty remedy; she brought ambrosia and placed it under the nostrils of each, which breathed very pleasantly, and destroyed the smell of the whale. And we waited the whole morning with patient mind. And the sea-calves came together from the sea; they then lay in order near the shore of the sea. And the old man at mid-day came from the sea, and found the well-nourished sea-calves; and he went over all and counted their number. And he counted us first amongst the whales, nor did he at all suspect in his mind that it was a trick; and then he himself also lay down. But we immediately shouting rushed upon him; and threw our hands around him: nor did the old man forget his wily art. And first indeed he became a lion with noble mane, and then a dragon, and a leopard, and a great boar; and he became liquid water and a lofty-leaved tree. But we held him firmly with patient mind; and when at length the old man mourned, skilled in terrible tricks, then inquiring of me with words he addressed me; 'Who of the gods, thou son of Atreus, planned counsels for thee, that thou mightest take me against my will, having insnared me? of what hast thou need?' "Thus he spoke; but I addressed him in answer: 'Thou knowest, old man—why dost thou ask me these things, deceiving me? Since I am now detained a long time in the island, nor can I find any means of escape, and my heart wastes away within me. But do thou tell me, for the gods know all things, who of the immortals hinders me, and has bound me from my journey, and [tell me about] my return, how shall I go over the fishy sea.'
"Thus I spoke; but he answering again addressed me: 'But thou oughtest by all means to embark, having offered favourable sacrifices to Jupiter, and the other gods, that thou mayest come as quick as possible to thy country, sailing over the dark sea. For it is not the destiny for thee to behold thy friends and to come to thy well-built house and thy paternal land, before thou shalt return again to the water of ​the Egyptian river filled by Jove, and shall offer sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods, who possess the wide heaven: and then the gods will grant thee the journey for which thou art anxious.'
"Thus he spoke; but my clear heart was grievously afflicted, because he commanded me to go again to Egypt over the shadowy sea, a long and difficult journey. But even so answering him with words I addressed him: 'These things I will indeed so perform, O old man, as thou commandest. But come, tell me this and relate it truly, if all the Grecians have returned with their ships, unhurt, whom Nestor and I left when we set out from Troy, or has any one perished with unlooked-for death in his ship, or in the hands of his friends after he had brought the war to an end?'
"Thus I spoke; but he again answering addressed me: 'O son of Atreus, why dost thou ask me these things? It is not at all fit that thou shouldst know or learn my mind; nor do I think that thou wilt long be without weeping, when thou hast heard all things rightly. Many of these have been subdued and many have been left. But two leaders only of the brazen breastplated Grecians have perished in their return; for thou also wast present at the battle: and one is still detained some where alive on the wide sea. Ajax indeed was subdued amongst the long-oared ships; first Neptune made him approach to the great rocks Gyræ, and saved him from the sea; and now he would have escaped death, although hated by Minerva, had he not thrown out a haughty expression, and he was greatly hurt: for he said that he would escape the mighty wave of the sea against the will of the gods. And Neptune heard him boasting great things. Immediately then taking his trident in his sturdy hands, he struck the Gyrean rock, and cut it off. And one [part] remained there, but another fragment fell into the sea; upon this Ajax at first sitting was greatly hurt, for it carried him into the vast billowy sea. [Thus he perished there, when he drank salt water.] But thy brother by some means avoided death, and escaped in his hollow ships; for venerable Juno preserved ​him. But when he was now immediately about to come to the lofty mountain of the Maleans, then at length, the storm snatching him away bore him along, mourning greatly, through the fishy sea, to the extreme part of the country, where Thyestes before dwelt in his house, but then Ægisthus, son of Thyestes, dwelt there. But when his return from thence at length appeared safe, and the gods turned the wind back, and they came home, he indeed rejoicing stept on his paternal land, and touching his country kissed it; and many warm tears were shed by him, as he gladly beheld his land. The spy indeed saw him from a place of look-out, whom crafty-counselling Ægisthus having led, had seated there; and he promised him two talents of gold as a reward. And he watched for a year, lest coming he [Agamemnon] should escape him, and be mindful of doughty valour. And he hastened to tell it at the house of the shepherd of the people; and Ægisthus immediately planned a deceitful stratagem. Having chosen out of the people twenty of the most excellent men, he set them in ambush, and elsewhere he ordered a banquet to be prepared. But he himself went to invite Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, with horses and chariots, meditating disgraceful deeds. Entertaining him at a banquet he led him unawares to death, and slew him, as if any one has slain an ox at its manger. Nor was any one left of the companions of the son of Atreus, who had followed him, nor any one of those of Ægisthus; but they were [all] slain in the palace.'
"Thus he spoke; but my heart was broken: and sitting on the sands I wept; nor did my heart desire to live any longer and behold the light of the sun. But when I was satiated with weeping, and rolling myself [on the ground], then the unerring old man of the sea addressed me. 'No longer, O son of Atreus, weep thus for a long time without ceasing, since we shall not find any profit from it; but try as quickly as possible, by what means thou mayest now reach thy paternal land. For thou wilt either find him alive; or Orestes being before-hand has slain him; but thou wilt be present at the burial feast.'
"Thus he spoke. But my heart and noble mind was again delighted in my breast, although I was sorrowful; and ad​dressing him I spoke winged words. 'These indeed I know; but do thou name the third man, who is still detained alive in the wide sea[, or dead; for I wish although grieving to hear].'
"Thus I spoke; hut he answering again addressed me: 'The son of Laertes, who inhabits dwellings in Ithaca: him I saw in an island, shedding the moist tear, in the palace of the nymph Calypso, who detains him by necessity; nor is he able to come to his paternal land: for he has not ships fitted with oars, and companions who may conduct him over the wide back of the sea. But for thee, O noble Menelaus, it is not decreed by the gods to die, and meet with thy fate in horse-pasturing Argos; but the immortals will send you to the Elysian plain, and the boundaries of the earth, (where is auburn-haired Rhadamanthus, there of a truth is the most easy life for men. There is nor snow, nor long winter, nor ever a shower, but ever does the ocean send forth the gently blowing breezes of the west wind, to refresh men;) because you possess Helen, and are the son-in-law of Jove.'
"Thus having spoken, he plunged beneath the billowy sea. But I went to my ships together with my godlike companions; and my heart was troubled much as I went. But when we came to our ship and to the sea, and prepared supper, and ambrosial night came on, then we slept on the shore of the sea. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, first of all we drew our ships into the divine sea, and placed the masts and sails in the equal ships; and they embarking sat on the benches, and sitting in order smote the hoary wave with their oars. And I brought the ships back to the waters of Egypt, to the river filled by Jove, and I offered up perfect hecatombs. But when I had appeased the anger of the gods who exist for ever, I built a tomb for Agamemnon, that his renown might be inextinguishable. Having performed these things, I returned; for the immortals, who sent me quickly to my dear country, gave me a prosperous gale. But come now, remain in my palace until the eleventh or twelfth day; and then I will send thee [away] well, and will give thee splendid presents, three horses and a well-polished chariot; but furthermore I will give thee a beautiful cup, that ​thou mayest make libations to the immortal gods, mindful of me all thy days."
But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "O son of Atreus, do not now detain me here a long time. For indeed I could endure to sit with thee for a year, nor would a regret for home and for my parents possess me; for I am very much delighted at hearing thy words and discourse. But now my companions in divine Pylos are wearied; and thou art detaining me here for a long time. But let the present, whatever thou wouldst have given me, be some furniture: for I will not take horses to Ithaca, but will leave them here as an ornament for thee; for thou rulest over the wide plain, in which there is abundance of lotus, and cypress, and wheat, and rye, and wide-springing white barley. But in Ithaca there are neither wide courses, nor is there any meadow: it is fit for feeding goats, although it is more pleasant [to me] than [a land] that pastures horses. For there is not any of the islands, which are shut up by the sea, fit for driving horses, or that has good meadows; and above all Ithaca."
Thus he spoke; but Menelaus strenuous in the din of battle smiled, and stroken him down by the hand, and spoke and addressed him: "Thou art of a good race, my son, such words dost thou say. Wherefore I will change these things for you; for I am able. But of presents, whatever effects lie in my house, I will give thee that which is most beautiful and most valuable. I will give thee a wrought cup; and it is all silver, but the lips are worked with gold. It is the work of Vulcan; but the hero Phædimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it, when his house covered me being about to return from thence; but I wish to give this to thee."
Thus they indeed spoke such things to one another; but the banqueters had gone to the dwelling of the divine king; and they led forth sheep, and brought heartening wine; and their wives with beautiful fillets brought bread for them. Thus they were arranging about supper in the palace.
But the suitors before the palace of Ulysses were delighted ​with quoits and hurling small javelins on a worked pavement, where before they practised their insolence. But Antinous and godlike Eurymachus, chiefs of the suitors, had sat down, for they were by far the best in virtue. To them Noemon, son of Phronius, coming near, inquiring of Antinous with words addressed them: "Do we then know any thing in our minds, or not, O Antinous, when Telemachus returns from sandy Pylos? He has gone having taken my ship; but I have need of it, to pass over to wide-wayed Elis, where I have twelve mares, and under them untamed mules patient in toil: some one of which I would by driving subdue."
Thus he spoke; but they were astonished in their mind; for they did not suppose that he was gone to Nelean Pylos, but was present some where there in the country, or amongst the sheep, or with the swineherd.
Antinous, the son of Eupithes, immediately addressed him: "Tell me unerringly, where did he go, and what youths chosen from Ithaca followed him? Are they his own hired men and servants? And could he accomplish this? And tell me this truly, that I may know well, whether did he take away thy black ship by force against thy will, or didst thou give it him willingly, when he kindly addressed thee with words?"
But him Noemon, the son of Phronius, addressed in turn: "I gave it him willingly. What would another do, when such a man, having cares in his mind, should beg him? It would be difficult indeed to deny a gift. But those youths follow him, who excel amongst us in the people: and I perceived Mentor, or some god, (but he was in all respects like him,) embarking as captain. But I marvel at this. I saw divine Mentor here yesterday in the morning; but at that time he embarked in the ship to Pylos." Thus having spoken, he went to the house of his father. But the noble mind of both of these was astonished: and the suitors sat together, and ceased their games. But Antinous, son of Eupithes, grieving, spoke amongst them; for his darkened thoughts were very much filled with rage, and his eyes were like unto shining fire.
"O gods! a great work indeed has been most daringly performed, this voyage of Telemachus; we said that it would not be accomplished by him. Against the will of so many of us, a young boy has gone away at random, having drawn out ​a ship, and having chosen out the best amongst the people. He will begin to be even a further evil; but may Jupiter destroy his might, before he begets harm for us. But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions, that I may lie in ambush for him, and watch him as he is returning, in the strait of Ithaca and rugged Samos; so that to his sorrow he may sail for the sake of his father."
Thus he spoke; and they all praised and urged him [to go]: immediately then rising they went into the house of Ulysses; nor was Penelope long without hearing their words, which the suitors meditated deeply in their minds. For the herald Medon told it her, who heard their counsels, being outside the hall; but they had planned their counsel secretly. He was hastening through the house to tell it to Penelope; but as he was crossing the threshold Penelope addressed him.
"O herald, why have the illustrious suitors sent thee forward? Is it that thou mayest tell the handmaidens of divine Ulysses to cease from their employments, and prepare a feast for them? Would that, not wooing me, nor keeping company any where else, they would now sup here for the last and most extreme time. Ye who, assembled together, consume much livelihood, the possession of prudent Telemachus, have ye not before heard from your fathers, when ye were children, what a man was Ulysses amongst your parents, neither treating any one unjustly, nor speaking aught amongst the people, which is the custom of divine kings; in that one may hate some mortals, and may love others. But he never at all treated a man unjustly: but your mind and disgraceful deeds are apparent, nor is there any gratitude afterwards for benefits."
Medon, acquainted with prudent things, addressed her in turn: "I would indeed, O queen, this may be the worst evil, but the suitors are planning another much greater, and more grievous, which may not the son of Saturn accomplish: they desire to kill Telemachus with the sharp brass, as he is returning home; but he has gone for news of his father to sacred Pylos, and to divine Lacedæmon."
Thus he spoke; and her knees and heart were loosed; and speechlessness seized her for a long time: and her eyes were filled with tears, and her full voice was checked. But at length answering him with words she addressed him: "O ​herald, wherefore is my son gone? it was not at all necessary that he should embark on swift ships, which for men are horses of the sea, and pass over the vast wave? Is it that his name may not be left amongst men?"
Then Medon, acquainted with prudent things, answered her: "I know not whether some god excited him, or his own mind was urged to go to Pylos, that he may inquire of either the return of his father, or what fate he has drawn on himself."
Thus having spoken, he departed to the house of Ulysses. But soul-wasting grief was shed around her, nor did she any more endure to sit on her seat, although many were in the house; but she sat on the threshold of her much-laboured chamber, mourning piteous: and around her all her handmaidens wailed, as many as were in the house, young and old: Penelope, mourning violently, addressed them:
"Hear me, friends, for Olympus has given me grief above the measure of all those, as many as were brought up and born with me; I who before indeed have lost my excellent husband, lion-hearted, adorned amongst the Grecians with all kinds of virtues, excellent; whose glory is wide throughout Greece and the middle of Argos. But now the tempests have snatched away my dear son from the palace, inglorious; nor did I hear of his setting out. Wretched ones, you did not each of you place it in your mind to raise me from my bed, knowing clearly in your soul when he embarked on the hollow black ship. For if I had known that he was setting out on this voyage, then he should have either remained, although anxious for his voyage, or should have left me dead in the palace. But let some trusty servant call old Dolius, my servant, whom my father gave me on coming hither, and he keeps my garden that abounds in trees; that as quickly as possible, sitting by Laertes, he may tell him all these things, if by chance contriving some counsel in his mind, going out he may make lamentations amongst the people on account of those, who desire to destroy his own offspring, and that of divine Ulysses."
Her dear nurse Euryclea in answer addressed her: "Dear mistress, do thou slay me with the cruel steel, or leave me in the palace; but I will not by any means conceal the tale. I ​knew all these things, and I gave him whatever he commanded, bread and sweet wine; but he received a great oath from me, that I would not tell thee, before the twelfth day came, or thou thyself didst desire me, and hadst heard of his having set out; so that thou mightest not hurt thy beauteous person by weeping. But having washed thyself, and putting clean garments on thy body, ascending to the upper room, with thy women attendants, pray to Minerva the daughter of Ægis-bearing Jove: for she will then save him, even from death. But do not grieve the afflicted old man; for I do not think that the race of the son of Arcesius is altogether hated by the blessed gods: but some one will survive, who shall possess the lofty-roofed houses, and the rich fields afar."
Thus she spoke; and laid her grief to sleep, and restrained her eyes from grief. But she, having washed herself, and putting clean garments on her body, ascended to the upper room with her women attendants: and she put cakes in a basket, and prayed to Minerva. "Hear me, thou daughter of Ægis-bearing Jove, unsubdued, if ever much-counselling Ulysses has burnt in his palace the fat thighs of an ox or a sheep, of these, I pray thee, be mindful now, and save my dear son, and ward off the suitors who are wickedly over-bearing."
Thus having spoken she lamented; but the goddess heard her prayer. And the suitors were making a tumult in the shaded palace; and thus some one of the over-bearing youths spoke: "In truth the much-wooed queen is preparing nuptials for us; nor kens she at all that slaughter is devised for her son." Thus some one said; but they knew not these things, how they were destined. But Antinous harangued and addressed them:
"Sirs, avoid all vaunting words entirely, lest by chance some one may tell them even within. But come, standing up thus in silence, let us accomplish our design, which even now has pleased us all in our breasts."
Thus having spoken, he chose twenty of the best men; and they hastened to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. First of all they drew the ship into the deep of the sea: and placed a mast and sails in the black ship: and fitted the oars to the ​leather thongs, [all things rightly: and above they spread out the white sails.] And the high-minded servants brought arms for them, and they moored it on high in the moist sea; and they themselves embarked, and there they took supper, and waited till evening came on.
But prudent Penelope, having ascended to the upper room, lay without taking food, without taking any thing to eat or drink, meditating whether her blameless son would escape death, or whether he would be subdued by the overbearing suitors. But as many things as a lion is wont to meditate in a crowd of men, fearing, when they bring the deceitful circle around him; upon her meditating so many things sweet sleep fell: and she slept reclining; and all her limbs were relaxed. Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva thought of other things; she made an image, and it was like in its body to the lady Iphthima, the daughter of magnanimous Icarius; whom Eumelus, who inhabits a house in Pheræ, had married. And she sent her to the house of divine Ulysses; if she could by any means make Penelope, mourning and grieving, cease from her wailing and tearful grief. But she entered the chamber near the thong of the bolt, and she stood over her head and addressed her in words.
"Art thou sleeping, Penelope, sorrowing in thy dear heart? the gods who live easily by no means suffer thee to weep, nor to be sad, since thy son is still about to return; for he is not at all a sinner against the gods."
But her prudent Penelope answered, sleeping very sweetly at the gates of dreams: "Why, my sister, hast thou come hither? for before thou hast not visited me, since thou dost inhabit a house very far off: and thou exhortest me to cease from my toil, and the many pains which irritate me in my mind and breast: I who before lost my excellent husband, lion-hearted, adorned amongst the Grecians with all kinds of virtues, excellent; whose glory is wide throughout Greece and the middle of Argos. Now my beloved son is gone in a hollow ship, childish, nor well experienced in labours, or ​commerce. I am now even more grieved for his sake, than for that one. For him I tremble and fear, lest he should suffer something, either from those amongst the people where he is gone, or on the sea: for many enemies are devising snares against him, desiring to kill him before he comes to his paternal land."
The obscure image answering addressed her: "Be of good cheer, nor be too fearful in thy mind: for such a guide has accompanied him, whom others also have desired to be with them, (for she is able,) Pallas Minerva: and she pities thee lamenting; who now sent me forward, to tell these things to thee."
But her prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "If indeed thou art a goddess, and hast heard the voice of a goddess, come tell me of him in a sea calamitous, whether he is still some where alive, and beholds the light of the sun, or is already dead, and in the dwellings of Pluto."
The obscure image answering addressed her: "I will not tell thee of him altogether, whether he is alive or dead, but it is base to speak vain things." Having thus spoken, she vanished by the bolt of the entrance into the gales of the winds. But the daughter of Icarus started from her sleep, and her dear heart was rejoiced, so manifest had the dream come upon her in depth of night.
But the suitors, having embarked, sailed over the watery ways [of the sea], meditating in their minds a severe death for Telemachus. Now there is a certain rocky island in the middle of the sea, between Ithaca and rugged Samos, Asteris, not large; and in it there are havens fit for ships, with two entrances; there the Grecians waited in ambush for him.
* ↑ Cf. Buttman Lexil. p. 379—383, where he has completely set at rest the old interpretations of this word, which he derives primarily from χάω, χάσκω. Loewe has adopted the same view. Κοίλη is applied to Lacedæmon, because it was situated in the valley between Mounts Taygetus and Parthenius.
* ↑ His son Megapenthes wedded the daughter of Alector, and his daughter Hermione, Neoptolemus.
* ↑ In the old prose translation, the author of which is seldom guilty of losing an opportunity for a blunder, we have an amusing oscillation between ἐξάρχοντες and ἐξάρχοντος. Had he been aware that the commentary of Eustathius on this passage is simply a quotation from Athenæus, who read ἐξάρχοντος, he would have seen that the reading, not the interpretation, was the question.
* ↑ On this meaning of κρείων see Loewe.
* ↑ I have some doubts about this passage.
* ↑ The Scholiast explains these words in three different ways: "to show the reproaches thrown upon him by the suitors," or "to relate the reproaches cast on his house," or as it is here translated, "he is too modest to speak first." Old Transl. See Loewe, who, with one of the Scholiasts, is inclined to condemn these verses as spurious.
* ↑ See on i. 32.
* ↑ i. e. the physicians of Egypt. Cf. Herodot. ii. 77, 84,
* ↑ Homer distinguishes between Apollo and Pæon. Cf. Il. v. 401, and Loewe's note.
* ↑ Could not tell who he was. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. v. ἀβακεῖν.
* ↑ The Scholiast explains this passage thus: καταφρόνησιν αὐτῶν ἤγαγεν· τουτέστιν, ἢ αὐτὸς κατεφρόνησε τότε αὐτῶν, ἢ τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἐποίησεν αὐτῶν καταφρονῆσαι δι' ὧν ἔπεισε τὴν Ἑλένην· ἢ φρονήσεως ἀπείρον ἑαυτῳ περιέθετο τὸ ὄνομα ταῦτα ποιήσας· οἱ δὲ νεώτεροι, φρόνιν τὴν λείαν ἀπεδέξαντο. But see Loewe.
* ↑ i. e. the wooden horse.
* ↑ Or, the foot of a mountain.
* ↑ Patroclus.
* ↑ Proteus.
* ↑ Νέποδες = "without feet," or "that make their way by swimming." But Eustathius says, Νέποδες γὰρ θαλάσσης, αἱ φῶκαι ὅ ἐστι τέκνα. Νέπους γὰρ, κατὰ τινα γλῶσσαν, ὁ ἀπόγονος. See Loewe.
* ↑ Probably ὀλοφώϊα is derived from ὀλοὸ and φαίνω, because these tricks, though not terrible, seemed so. Loewe.
* ↑ Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 357. 4.
* ↑ Πορφύρειν, τὸ βαθέως διαλογίζεσθαι, ὡς ἀπὸ θαλάσσης, ἐφ' ἧς καὶ τὸ πορφύρειν καὶ τὸ ἰοδνεφὲς καὶ τὸ μέλαν καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα λέγεται. τὸ δ' αὐτὸ καὶ καλχαίνειν, ἀπὸ τῆς κάλχης, ὃ πορφύραν δηλοῖ. See Donaldson on Soph. Antig. 20.
* ↑ i. e. "by rain sent from Jove," ὑετῷ πληρουμένου. Eustath.
* ↑ See on i. 238.
* ↑ Where the former prose translator learnt that μέγ' ἀάσθη meant "greatly offended her," I am unable to discover. Cf. vs. 509.
* ↑ Perhaps Æschylus conceived the beautiful speech of the herald (Agam. 516, sqq.) from this passage.
* ↑ Ægisthus.
* ↑ "That my fame"!! is the version of the old translator, according to his usual taste and judgment.
* ↑ The explanation of this passage is due to Loewe, who alone has seen that καὶ is equivalent to quamvis, the sense being, "Ithaca sana non est locus equis pascendis bene inserviens, quamvis sit longe gratior mihi quam terra equos pascens, sc. tanquam terra quæ me genuit, quæ me aluit."
* ↑ Antinous and Eurymachus.
* ↑ Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 32, sqq.
* ↑ i. e. heaven, put for the gods.
* ↑ Laertes was the son of Arcesius, son of Jupiter.
* ↑ Ὁρμίζειν ὑψοῦ ἐν νοτίῳ sc. ὑγρῷ est solventium e portu vel e litore, cum navis deducta stat in aqua alta: at ὁρμίζειν ὑψοῦ ἐν ξηοῷ est appellentium, cum navis finito cursu subducitur. Ernesti.
* ↑ i. e. in a very deep sleep, ὡς τῶν οὕτω ὑπνωττόντων καὶ ὀνείροις ὡς εἰκὸς ἐντυγχανόντων. Eustath. See Loewe.
* ↑ i. e. Ulysses.
* ↑ My friend, Mr. G. Burges, well compares the lines in Gay's Fables; "Just as she spoke, a faery sprite Popp'd through the key-hole swift as light."
* ↑ I have followed Buttmann, Lexil. p. 89, sqq. His admirable remarks are too copious for the limits of a note, but will amply repay the trouble of perusal.