would come back; for his return is lost. But come, tell me this and detail it truly; Who art thou? from whence amongst men? where are thy city and thy parents? in what kind of a ship didst thou come? and how did sailors conduct thee to Ithaca? who do they boast themselves to be? for I do not think that thou didst by any means come hither on foot. And tell me this truly, that I may be well informed; whether art thou just now arrived, or art thou a guest of my father's? since many other men are acquainted with our house; for he was conversant with men."

I

But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva addressed in turn : "I will tell thee then, indeed, these things very accurately; say that I am 31 Mentes, the son of the warlike Anchialus, and I rule over the oar-loving Taphians. And I am now come hither with my ship and my companions, sailing over the dark sea to men of a different language, to Temese, for brass; and I [also] bring shining steel. But my ship is stationed off the country at a distance from the city, in the port Reithrus, under woody Neïus. But we say that we are guests of one another's fathers from the first, if thou shouldest go and inquire of the old hero Laertes; whom they say no longer comes to the city, but far off in the country endures griefs in company with an old female servant, who sets before him meat and drink, when labour comes upon his limbs, crawling over the fruitful soil of the wine-producing vineyard. But now I am come; for they for a long time said that thy father is returned; but now the gods hinder him on his journey for divine Ulysses has not yet died on the earth, but is still detained alive some where on the wide ocean, in a sea-girt island; and cruel men are detaining him, savage, who keep him away some where against his will. But now, indeed, I will prophesy to thee, as the immortals suggest to my mind; and as I think will be brought to pass, not being at all a prophet, nor skilled in omens by birds. He will be absent not a long time from his dear father-land, even if bonds of steel hold him; but he will plan how he may return, since he is full of contrivances. But come, tell me this and detail it truly, whether thou, who art of such an age,32 art of a truth the son

31 εὔχομαι εἶναι="sum. ." So in vs. 187. The sense of boasting is laid aside in this usage. See Loewe,

32 "tam adultus juvenis. The Attic writers use тηλɩkovтоg and rŋλɩKóσde in the same sense." Loewe.

of Ulysses himself: for thou art exceedingly like him, as to thy head and thy beauteous eyes; since we frequently kept company with one another before he embarked for Troy, where also others, the best of the Argives, went in their hollow ships; but since that time I have neither seen Ulysses, nor has he [seen] me."

But her prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "I will inform thee, O stranger, very accurately; my mother, indeed, says that I am his, but I know not; for no one ever knew his own father. O would that I were the son of a happy man, upon whom old age had come [when] in the enjoyment of his possessions; but now they say that I was born from him, who is the most ill-fated of mortal men; since thou askest this of me."

But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva again addressed: "The gods indeed have not ordained thy race to be ignoble hereafter; since Penelope has borne thee such. But come, tell me this and relate it truly, What feast and what assembly is this? what necessity urges you? is it a banquet or a marriage? since this is not a collation; 33 for they seem to me, being exceedingly 34 insolent, to banquet in the house, and any prudent man, coming amongst them, would be wrath, beholding many disgraceful things."

But her prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "0 stranger, since thou askest and inquirest these things of me, this house formerly promised to be 35 rich and illustrious, whilst that man was still at home; but now the gods have willed 36 it otherwise, planning evil things, who have made him to be unseen above all men; since I should not grieve so much for him when dead, had he been overcome with his companions amongst the Trojans, or in the hands of his friends, after he had brought the war to an end ;37 then indeed all the

33 "Epavos, a convivial meeting at which every man paid his proportion, at least contributed something. But it seems to have been a meeting at which strict propriety was observed: else Pallas would not have inferred from the noise and riot of this that it was not such a one. Cowper.

34 See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 516, sq. Whatever the adjective may signify in various places, the adverb væερpiáλws seems to simply increase the sense, without expressing any specific idea of reproach.

35 Literally, 66 I was about to be."

36 On the form ßóλovтo, see Thiersch, Gk. Gr. p. 492, 31. ed. Sandford, and Buttmann, Lexil. p. 196.

37 Literally, “spun out.” μεταφορικῶς· καὶ γὰρ τὴν τῶν ἐρίων τῶν ἤδη κατειργασμένων εἴλησιν τολύπην λέγομεν. Schol.

Greeks would have made him a tomb, and he would have obtained great glory for his son hereafter; but now the Harpies have snatched him away ingloriously: he is gone unseen, unheard of, and has left pains and groanings for me. Nor do I lament and grieve for him alone any longer; since the gods have contrived other evil cares for me. For as many chiefs as govern the islands, Dulichium, Samos, and woody Zacynthus, and as many as rule over craggy Ithaca, so many are wooing my mother and wasting away my estate. But she neither refuses the hateful marriage, nor can she bring it to a conclusion; but they are consuming my estate, and waste it away, and they will soon destroy myself to boot."

But with a conflict of painful feelings, Pallas Minerva spoke: "Alas! very much indeed dost thou stand in need of the absent Ulysses, who might lay his hands on the shameless suitors. For if he should now come and stand at the outward gate of the palace, having a helmet and shield and two darts, being such as when first I beheld him in our house drinking and delighting himself, having come from Ephyre from Ilus the son of Mermerus, (for Ulysses went there also in a swift ship, to seek for a deadly drug, that he might anoint his brazen-tipt arrows; but he 38 gave it not to him, for he revered 39 the immortal gods; but my father gave it him, for he loved him exceedingly,) if being such a one Ulysses should come in contact with the suitors, all would be quick-fated, and would have a bitter marriage. But all these things lie on the knees of the gods; whether he returning shall exact vengeance in his own palace, or not. But I exhort thee to consider by what means thou mayest thrust out the suitors from the palace. Come now,40 attend, and regard my words. To-morrow having convoked the Grecian heroes to an assembly, speak the word before all and let the gods be witnesses: command the suitors to disperse to their own homes. And if thy mother's mind encourages her to marry, let her return to the house of her father, who has mighty influence; and they will make a mar

38 Ilus.

39 Literally, "feared the nemesis or ill-will of the gods," for the gods were believed to envy the excessive prosperity of men. Hence cautious persons avoided expressions or actions which displayed arrogance.

40 The full form of expression would be ɛi dè Bovλεi, ayɛ, but the simple si days came to mean simply age vero, and be used as an exhortative particle. Loewe.

riage for her, and will prepare very large dowries, such as ought to accompany a dear child. But to thee I will suggest prudently, if thou wilt obey me. Having prepared a ship, whichsoever is the best, with twenty rowers, go and inquire about thy father long absent, if any one of mortals can tell thee of him, or thou shouldest hear a report 41 from Jove, which especially brings notice to mortals. First then come to Pylos and inquire of divine Nestor; thence to Sparta to auburn-haired Menelaus; for he came last of the Greeks who wear brazen breastplates. If thou shouldest hear that thy father is alive and will return,42 then, although afflicted, thou mayest yet endure it for a year: but if thou shouldest hear that he is dead, and no longer exists, then returning to thy dear paternal land, erect aloft a monument for him, and perform very many funeral rites, whatsoever are becoming; and bestow upon thy mother a husband. But when thou shalt have concluded and done these things, then consider in thy breast and in thy mind, how thou mayest kill the suitors in thy palace, either by stratagem or openly. Nor oughtest thou by any means to follow childish pursuits, since thou art no longer of such an age. Dost thou not hear what glory the divine Orestes has obtained amongst all men, since he slew the crafty murderer Ægisthus, who slew his renowned father? And do thou, my friend, (for I see that thou art honourable and great,) be brave, that some one of posterity may speak well of thee also. But I will now go to my swift ship, and to my companions, who are in very low spirits through waiting for me. But be this thy care, and do thou regard my words."

66

But her the prudent Telemachus answered in turn: Stranger, surely thou givest me this advice, being friendly disposed towards me, as a father to his son, and I will never forget it. But come, tarry now, although hastening on thy journey, that having washed thyself, and delighted thy kind heart, thou mayest go to thy ship, rejoicing in thy mind, having a present, precious [and] very beautiful, which will be

41 It is a mistake to render ooσav “an oracle," as is shown by Buttmann, Lexil. p. 446, sqq., who observes: "common fame has almost always an obscure origin, and spreads with such wonderful rapidity, that the ancients looked upon it as not proceeding from men, but as something divine; hence it is said to come & Auòg, or is personified, as by Virgil, as a divine being and the messenger of Jove."

42 Literally, "if you hear of your father's life and return."

a keep-sake from me; [of] such things as friendly hosts bestow on their guests."

But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva forthwith answered: "Do not any longer detain me, since I am anxious for my journey; but as to the present, whatever thy heart urges thee to give me, give it when I return again, that I may take it home, [yourself] having received a very beauteous [gift]; for it shall be a worthy recompence for thee.43

Thus having spoken, blue-eyed Minerva departed, and flew aloft 44 like a bird; but she placed strength and courage in his feelings, and put him still more in mind of his father than before: but he, considering within his breast, was astonished on reflection, for he thought that she was a god. Then the godlike man immediately went amongst the suitors; and the illustrious bard was singing to them, but they sat listening in silence; [for] he was singing the sad return of the Grecians, which Pallas Minerva ordained from Troy. His divine song prudent Penelope, the daughter of Icarus, understood in her mind from the upper chamber; 45 and she came down the lofty stairs of her palace, not alone, for two female attendants followed with her. But when she, divine amongst women, came to the suitors, she stood near the threshold of the stoutbuilt hall, holding up a slender veil before her cheeks; and a modest female attendant stood on either side of her, and weeping she then addressed the divine bard.

"O Phemius, since thou dost ken many other things to cheer mortals, the deeds of men and of gods, which bards are wont to celebrate; do thou sit down then, and sing one of these, and let them drink their wine in silence: but cease from this sad strain, which for ever wears my' 46 heart within my breast: for unceasing grief has exceedingly come upon me. For I regret such a person," ever remembering the man,

47

43 It was usual for hosts to make presents to their guests, and for guests to return others to their hosts; as in the Iliad, Bellerophon is said to have given χρυσοῦν ποτήριον. ζ. ν. 220. Old translation, ἄξιον ἔσσετ ̓ ἀμοιβῆς "it shall be fit for a recompence for thee."

=

44 Such seems to be the sense of άvoπaiα = ȧvwpepns. See Loewe. 45 i. e. being in the upper chamber, she understood it.

46 The young student will remember that in Homer, as in Pindar, peλds is continually used for the possessive pronoun meus, suus.'

"

47 So in Horace, "Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus Tam cari capitis." Soph. Antig. i. 'Ioμnvns kápa.