whose glory is far spread through Greece and the middle of Argos."

Her prudent Telemachus addressed in turn: "My mother, why dost thou grudge the agreeable bard to delight in what way his mind incites him; the bards are not the cause, but Jove is sometimes the cause, who suggests to ingenious men, as he chooses to each. There is no blame for him to sing the evil fate of the Grecians. For men celebrate that song most, which is newest to the hearers. But let thy heart and mind endure to hear it. For Ulysses was not the only one who, at Troy, lost his return; but many other men likewise perished. Go then into thy chamber, 48 and attend to thine own employments, the web and the distaff, and bid thy servants hasten their work; but conversation shall be a care to all men, and especially to me; for the authority within the house is mine." She indeed astonished went again within the house; for she revolved in her mind the prudent words of her son. And going to the upper room with her women attendants, she then wept for her dear husband Ulysses, until blue-eyed Minerva shed sweet sleep over her eyelids. But the suitors were rioting within the shaded dwellings, and all longed to recline on a couch with her.

"Suitors

But prudent Telemachus began to address them : of my mother, who are possessed of overbearing insolence, now let us delight ourselves feasting, nor let there be any clamour; since this is an honourable thing, to hear such a bard as he is, like unto the gods in his voice. But in the morning let us all go and sit down in assembly, that I may confidently declare this message to you, that you are to go out of this dwelling; and prepare other feasts, consuming your own possessions, taking turns at each other's houses. But if this seems to you more proper and better, to destroy with impunity the livelihood of one man, waste it; but 49 I will call upon the immortal gods; If Jupiter shall grant that deeds shall meet with retribution, then shall ye perish unrevenged within the house."

Thus he spoke; but they all biting their lips 50 marvelled at Telemachus, that he harangued so boldly.

48 οἶκον = ὑπερῷα in vs. 362.

49 i. e. then I will. 50 Literally, "weeping close their lips on the teeth."

But him Antinous, the son of Eupithes, addressed in answer: "O Telemachus, of a truth the gods themselves teach thee to be a lofty speaker, and to harangue boldly; but never may the son of Saturn make thee king in sea-girt Ithaca, which is hereditary to thee by descent."

"An

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: tinous, art thou amazed at what I say? Indeed I should wish to receive this, if Jove would grant it. Dost thou say

that this is the worst thing amongst men? For it is by no means a bad thing to be a king; his house forthwith becomes opulent, and he himself more honoured. But indeed there are many other kings of the Grecians in sea-girt Ithaca, young and old; some one of these may possess this, since divine Ulysses is dead. But I will be king over mine own house, and my servants, whom divine Ulysses has obtained for me as his share of booty."

But him Eurymachus, son of Polybus, then answered: "Telemachus, these things of a certainty lie on the knees of the gods, [as to] who of the Grecians shall reign in sea-girt Ithaca; but thou mayest thyself have his possessions, and rule over his house. For never may the man come, who would waste thy possessions by force against thy will, when Ithaca is still inhabited. But I wish to inquire of thee, O most excellent one, about the stranger, from whence this man is, and from what land he boasts himself to be; and where are his race, 51 and his paternal fields.52 Does he bring any news of thy father's coming, or desiring some debt of his own, does he come hither? For he went away immediately in haste, nor did he wait for us to know him; yet in countenance he was by no means like a mean person."

But him prudent Telemachus addressed in answer: “Eurymachus, truly the return of my father has perished; nor do I any longer give credit to any message, if one should come from any place: nor do I regard an oracle, if my mother, having called any prophet to the palace, should inquire of him. But this man is a guest of my father's from Taphos; he boasts himself to be Mentes, son of warlike Anchialus, but he reigns over the oar-loving Taphians."

Thus spoke Telemachus; but in his mind he knew the im

mortal goddess. But they having turned to the dance and the lovely song were delighted; and awaited till evening came on. And dark evening came upon them whilst they were being delighted. They then went each to his home to sleep; but Telemachus, where the lofty chamber of the most beautiful palace was built for him, in a conspicuous place, there went to bed, meditating many things in his mind. Chaste Euryclea, daughter of Ops, son of Pisenor, carried lighted torches with him; she whom formerly Laertes had bought with his wealth, while she was still in the prime of youth, and he gave a hundred beeves [for her]. And he honoured her in his palace, equally with his chaste wife; but he never embraced her on the couch, for he avoided the anger of his wife. She carried lighted torches with him, and loved him most of the female servants, and had nurtured him when little. But he opened the door of the well-made chamber, and sat on the bed, and put off his soft garment, and placed it in the hands of the prudent old woman. She having folded and arranged the garment, and having hung it on a peg near the compact 53 bed, hastened from the chamber, and drew to the door with a silver ring, and fastened the bolt with the thong.

Here he all night, covered with the finest wool,54 considered in his mind the journey, which Pallas Minerva had advised.

53 i. e. the bed fastened together by pegs driven through holes. Hesych. τοῖς κατὰ τὰς ἁρμογὰς τετρημένοις. Εtym. Magn. Τρητὸν λέχος, παρὰ τὸ τετρῆσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐνήλατα, εἰς ἃ ἐμβάλλεται ἡ σπάρτος, ἤ παρὰ τὸ τετρῆσθαι τοὺς πόδας, εἰς οὓς ἐμβάλλεται τὰ ἐνήλατα. Mr. Burges suggests that this term may really apply to a mattrass of straw, stabbed through, in order to keep it in shape, like the modern palliasse.

54 Literally, "the flower of a sheep." But Buttmann, Lexil. p. 187, regards awros as equivalent to the Latin "floccus," observing, as this comes from flo, so that comes from aŋu; and both mean the light and airy locks of the sheep or the flax-plant."

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT.

Telemachus, having called an assembly, commands the suitors to leave the house of Ulysses: upon which there arises a sharp dispute, and an omen appears favourable to Telemachus. He then informs the suitors of his intention of going in quest of his father, and asks for a ship for that purpose; which they refuse: but Minerva, appearing to him again, furnishes him with a ship and companions. Having obtained provisions from Euryclea, he sets sail in the evening in company with Minerva, without having informed his mother of his intended departure.

But when the mother of dawn,1 rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then the dear son of Ulysses arose from his bed, having put on his garments: and around his shoulder he slung a sharp sword; and beneath his shining feet he bound beautiful sandals. And he went forth from his chamber like unto a god to behold.2 And forthwith he ordered the shrill-voiced heralds to call to an assembly the long-haired Grecians. They indeed called them; and they were very quickly assembled. But when they were assembled, and were collected together, he proceeded to go to the forum, and in his hand he held a brazen spear. Not alone, for two swift3 dogs followed in company with him; and over him Minerva shed divine grace. And all the people gazed at him as he came, and he sat in the seat of his father, and the old men gave way. Then the hero Ægyptius began to harangue them, who was bent with old age, and knew ten thousand things. For his dear son, the warrior Antiphus, went with godlike Ulysses in the hollow ships to steed-excelling Ilium. But the fierce Cyclops slew him in his hollow cave, and prepared for his last1 supper. And there were three others; but one of them, Eurynomus, associated with the suitors: but two were always employed in their paternal duties. But not even thus did he forget him,5 lamenting and grieving. He pouring forth tears harangued them and spoke:

“Hear now from me, Ithacans, what I shall say. Never 1 See Loewe, who rightly prefers this explanation of ǹpiyévɛia. 2 44 coram," Schauf. ivavríov, pavɛpwc, Hesych.

3 Or "white." See Loewe.

Either because Antiphus was his last human victim, or the last of the followers of Ulysses that was eaten.

5 Antiphus.

Eustath.

has our assembly, nor our sitting together, taken place, since divine Ulysses went in the hollow ships. But now who has assembled us here? upon whom does so great a necessity come, whether of young men, or of those who are more advanced? Whether has any one heard some intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed he can declare clearly to us, since he heard it first? or does he bring forward and advise something else which is public? He appears to me to be a good man, and may he be fortunate.6 May Jove accomplish for him whatever good he is anxious for in his mind."

Thus he spoke; but the beloved son of Ulysses rejoiced in the omen ; nor did he sit still much longer, but was anxious to harangue; and he stood in the middle of the assembly; and the herald Pisenor, who understood prudent counsels, placed the sceptre in his hand. First then, turning towards the old

man, he spoke [thus]:

66

8

"O old man, not far off is this man who assembled the people (and thou thyself wilt soon know him); but grief comes especially upon me; I have neither heard any intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed I can clearly declare to thee, since I have heard it first, nor do I bring forward or advise any thing else which is public. But my own necessity, the evil which has fallen upon mine house, which is two-fold. First, I have lost my excellent sire, who was formerly a king amongst you who are here,1o and he was mild as a father. But now again even a much greater [evil has befallen], which will soon altogether break up my whole house, and will entirely destroy my whole livelihood. Suitors are urging my mother against her will, the sons of the men who are the chief here: they dread to go to the house of her Icarian father, so that he may endow his daughter, and give her to whom he chooses, and to whomsoever should come acceptable to him. But they, spending all their days at my house, sacrificing oxen, and sheep, and fat goats, feast, and drink my ruddy wine to no purpose: but many things are • Supply εἴη with ὀνήμενος.

11

7 i. e. in words that seem to prognosticate his own success. In other passages, as vs. 240, this means "to rebuke."

Telemachus points to himself. Hence ἤγειρα, not ἤγειρε, is the correct reading.

10 "The Attics use roïσdí (rather, móidí, Ed.]. See Aristoph. Ach. 160." Loewe,

11 Bright, sparkling, glowing wine. See Loewe, and Liddel's Lexicon.