The Odyssey, Page 64

  182-300: Off they went, and drove all day. They spent the night in Pherai, as guests of Diokles, and next day soon came near Pylos. Then Telemachos said to Peisistratos: We're old friends and of an age. Would you drop me off at my ship? I need to get home, and I'm afraid old Nestor will insist on my staying longer as a guest regardless. Peisistratos pondered: How to manage this? He drove to the ship, stowed all the gifts aboard, and said: Board with your crew, and set sail, at once, before I get home and tell Nestor! He's sure to come in person to make you stay. He won't like going home without you: he'll be cross. With that he left for Pylos, and Telemachos and his comrades prepared to sail (182-221). While he was making sacrifice, he was approached by a descendant of the seer Melampous [whose history and lineage are described in a long digression] Theoklymenos, who was on the run after killing a man (222-59).

  He asked Telemachos his identity, and Telemachos told him, saying he'd been seeking news of his father. Theoklymenos said he'd killed a kinsman in Argos and was fleeing to escape death. He asked, as a suppliant, for passage on Telemachos' ship, because he was being pursued. Yes, Telemachos replied, come aboard, and we'll give you such entertainment as we can. Theoklymenos boarded, and they at once set sail. Athene gave them a following wind. It got dark. They sailed on, both wondering if they'd escape or be caught (260-300).

  301-50: Odysseus, Eumaios, and the four assistant swineherds had supper together. Odysseus, trying to find out if they'd invite him to stay on with them, or send him off to make his own way as a beggar in the city, said: I plan to go off and beg tomorrow morning, so as not to be a burden on you. So, advise me, and send one of you with me as guide. But when I'm there I'll take care of myself: beg for food, maybe take news to Penelope, mix with these suitors, see if they'll give me dinner. I've got all a servant's skills--I can make a fire, chop firewood, carve meat, pour wine (301-24). Eumaios said: You must be crazy! They're violent, and they have young men serving them. No, you stay here, no one's bothered by you. And when Telemachos comes, he'll give you decent clothes, and send you wherever you want. Odysseus said: I'm so grateful, you've saved me from wandering and hardship! Nothing's worse than homelessness. So, since you're keeping me here, tell me about Odysseus' parents--are they still alive? (325-50)

  351-402: Eumaios said: Laertes is still alive, but is aged by grief over his absent son. But Odysseus' mother died of sorrow. She brought me up together with her youngest daughter, and treated me like one of her own. But when we were grown, she sent the daughter to Same to be married, with bridal gifts, but me she fitted with mantle and tunic and sandals, and sent out to work in the fields. I think she loved me best, though. Yet now, even though the gods prosper my work, I have to go short so that I can eat and drink and entertain strangers. I hear nothing good from my mistress because of this plague of suitors. Servants like to talk with their mistress, and not only get their food, but take a snack to the fields as well (351-79). Odysseus said: You must have been a young child when you were taken from your home and parents. Was your city sacked? Or were you kidnapped from the fields and shipped out and sold? Eumaios said: So, listen, and drink your wine: no need to sleep yet! The rest of you, go out and sleep, and tomorrow eat early and herd the droves of swine! But we two will drink and enjoy each other's sad stories. And I'll tell you, stranger, what you want to know (380-402).

  403-95: Eumaios' reminiscence. An island, Syria, near Ortygia: rich in flocks, vines, wheat, never subject to famine or illness: in old age people are killed by Apollo's and Artemis' gentle shafts. Two cities, both ruled by Eumaios' father, Ktesios. Cunning Phoenician traders came there by ship. In Ktesios' house, there was a tall, attractive Phoenician woman, bought as a slave from Taphian pirates. The Phoenicians seduced her and offered to take her back to her Sidonian parents. She made them swear they'd do this. They so swore. Then she told them not ever to address her in the street: her owner the king was suspicious. They were to fill their hold speedily with goods, then send her a message, and she'd come with what gold stuff she could lift, plus a child she was nurse of (Eumaios) who'd fetch them a good price (403-56). It took them a year. Then the messenger came, offering the maidservants in the house a necklace, and nodded to the Phoenician woman. She came, bringing three gold cups and Eumaios, and they set sail. But after six days the woman died, and her corpse was thrown overboard. The ship put in at Ithake, and Laertes bought Eumaios as a child. Odysseus said: Very moving. But at least you ended with a good master who took care of you, whereas I've come here as a wanderer. They then slept till dawn (457-95).

  495-557: Meanwhile, Telemachos and his crew rowed their ship to an anchorage nearby, disembarked, and had a meal. Telemachos then told them to row on to the city, while he himself checked his estate. He'd walk into town the following day, and give them a good meal as their reward. Theoklymenos said: What about me? Whose house should I go to? Or should I go straight to yours and your mother's? Telemachos said: Normally I'd say go to ours, but that won't suit you because I'll be away, and my mother never comes out among the suitors. No, go to Eurymachos' house--he's highly respected, a leading figure, and wants to marry my mother (495-522). But Zeus only knows whether he'll meet his day of doom before such a wedding. At this a hawk flew by, plucking the feathers from a dove. Theoklymenos took him aside and said: This was an omen! No line is more kingly than yours here in Ithake! You will rule forever! Telemachos said: Would that your prediction might be fulfilled! I'd certainly favor and reward you! He then told his faithful comrade Peiraios to take this stranger home as a guest and look after him. Peiraios agreed to do so. They embarked and set out. But Telemachos took a spear and made for the swineherd's farmstead (523-57).

  BOOK 16

  1-67: Odysseus and Eumaios, alone in the hut after the herdsmen left with their droves of pigs, relit the fire and prepared breakfast. Telemachos approached outside: the dogs fawned on him, didn't bark. Odysseus heard his footsteps, told Eumaios some comrade of his must be coming. Telemachos came in, to be lovingly greeted by the swineherd, who said, sobbing: I thought I'd never see you again when you left for Pylos! Come in, come in! You don't often visit; I suppose you prefer the suitors' company! Telemachos said: I came to ask you if my mother's still here, or has remarried and left (1-35). Eumaios said: She's still here, still weeping. And he took his spear and ushered him in. Odysseus stood up and offered him his place. Telemachos refused, saying there was a man there who'd fix him one. Odysseus sat down again, and the swineherd made a seat for Telemachos and served up yesterday's leftovers, with bread and wine. After eating, Telemachos said to Eumaios: Dad, where did this stranger come from? What sailors brought him? He can't have come on foot. Eumaios said: He's a wanderer, from Krete. He ran away here from a Thesprotian ship. He's your suppliant. Up to you (36-67).

  68-153: Telemachos said: How can I give this stranger proper welcome? I'm still young, and I'm not yet sure I can defend myself against an unreasonably angry man! My mother can't decide whether to keep house here, as people would prefer, or to marry the most lavish of these suitors! As for this stranger, I can give him clothes and a sword and sandals and send him wherever he wants. Or you can have him here at the farmstead, and I'll pay for his keep. But I won't let him go up among the suitors--they might mock him, and I'd be embarrassed. Hard for me to get anything done: I'm only one man, and there are so many of them (68-89). Odysseus replied: I should answer this! This account of the suitors' wanton behavior is heartbreaking! Do you just put up with it? Do the people hate you? Is it your brothers' fault? I wish I were younger, or a son of Odysseus--or that Odysseus himself would return [there's still hope]! Then behead me if I don't make trouble for the suitors! But even if they overwhelmed me by force of numbers, I'd rather die thus than go on seeing strangers abused and maidservants raped and men endlessly squandering my goods! Telemachos said: Then I'll tell you. No, the people don't hate me. Nor do I blame any brothers--Zeus has made our ancestry a one-son line! From Arkeisios to Laertes to Odysseus to me, we were all only sons. That'
s why all these suitors are courting my mother and wasting my property (90-125). My mother neither says no to remarriage nor does she decide on it. So they'll go on feasting and devouring my goods, and soon they'll ruin me. So, Eumaios, go tell Penelope that I'm back safe from Pylos. And don't tell anyone else, and come straight back here when you've told her--I've got enemies round here. Eumaios said: Got it! But shouldn't I tell Laertes too? He's so miserable and never comes into town now. Telemachos said: No, you come straight back. My mother could send her housekeeper over with the news (126-53).

  154-219: Eumaios now left. Athene noted this, and came to the door of the hut in the likeness of a tall, handsome woman, invisible to Telemachos, but seen by Odysseus and the dogs, which whined and shrank away in fear. Odysseus went outside and stood by her. Athene said: Now tell your son who you are, and together plan the suitors' destruction. Then both of you go into town. I'll soon be with you there. She touched him with her wand, made him bigger, younger-looking, firm of flesh, dark of beard, better dressed. Then she left, and Odysseus went back inside. Telemachos, amazed at his changed appearance, took him for a god. Odysseus said: I'm no god: I'm your father, for whom you're suffering the attentions of these men! He then embraced his son and wept (154-91). Telemachos said: You can't be my father! Some god's tricking me! Just now you were an old beggar in rags, but now you're like a god! Odysseus replied: Don't be incredulous. I am indeed Odysseus. No other Odysseus will come here! This transformation is the work of Athene. He then sat down. Telemachos embraced him, and they both wept, like vultures robbed of their chicks (192-219).

  220-65: Telemachos asked: What ship did you come on? Where were the crew from? Odysseus said: The Phaiakians, regular transporters, brought me as I slept, together with rich gifts, now stowed in caves. I'm here at Athene's bidding to plan the destruction of our enemies with you. So list the suitors for me. We must decide whether we can take them on alone or need help. Telemachos said: I always knew you were a great fighter, but this is too much! Two men can't fight them. There are fifty-two from Doulichion, with six servants; twenty-four from Same; twenty from Zakynthos; and twelve of the noblest from Ithake itself, plus Medon the herald, and the minstrel, and two meat carvers. If we go against all these in the hall, we'll have a bad time of it. We'll need any helpers you can think of. Odysseus said: Do you reckon Zeus and Athene will do, or shall we need more? Telemachos said: Good indeed! They rule the other gods, as well as mankind (220-65).

  266-320: Odysseus said: Those two won't be absent when things get going! Now: you go home in the morning, join the suitors. The swineherd will escort me in later, disguised as an elderly beggar. If they abuse me, you must put up with it. You can ask them politely, but they won't listen. Also, when I give you the nod, you start removing all the weapons from the hall, to be stowed away in the back of the storeroom. If the suitors ask you about this, say you're taking them away from the grime and smoke, and as a safety precaution, in case when the suitors are drunk, quarrels start (266-94). But leave two swords, spears, and shields for us: Athene and Zeus will bewitch the suitors. And don't tell anyone that Odysseus is back home! We'll see then which of the servants is loyal. Telemachos said: You'll see I'm no slacker! But it'd take too long to go about the estate testing all the farmhands: you can do that afterwards. Still, I agree about the women (266-320).

  321-92: Meanwhile, Telemachos' ship arrived. They offloaded the gifts, and sent a herald to tell Penelope that her son was home safe. The herald coincided with Eumaios on the same errand, and merely reported Telemachos' return: Eumaios told her all that Telemachos had instructed him to say, after which he returned to his pigs. The news depressed the suitors. Eurymachos said: We thought Telemachos would never complete this journey! Now we need to send a ship to tell the ambushers to come back! (320-50). But a ship was seen putting in, and it proved to be the ambushers. No message needed! A god had perhaps told them. Or perhaps they'd seen Telemachos' ship. The suitors now went first to the harbor, to pick up the ambushers, then to the place of assembly, where they would not let anyone else join them. Antinoos addressed them: The gods must have saved Telemachos from destruction! We were keeping watch, but he eluded us! We need to arrange his sure death: the man's no fool, and he'll work against us! Also, the people have turned completely against us. Telemachos will be furious and tell them how we plotted to kill him, but failed. We need to take care they don't drive us out! We have to catch him on the road or in the countryside. Then we can share out his property and estate, though the house has to go to his mother and whoever she weds. But if you'd rather that he lives and keeps all his inheritance, then we need to stop devouring his livelihood, and each of us should court Penelope from his own home and compete with bridal gifts for her hand (361-92).

  393-449: Amphinomos of Doulichion then spoke: I'm not for killing Telemachos: slaying royals is a serious matter. Let's learn the gods' will first. If they approve, we'll do it; if not, not. General approval. End of meeting. Move to Odysseus' house. Meanwhile, Penelope had learned of the murder plot from Medon the herald, and decided to confront the suitors. From the doorway she addressed Antinoos: You violent mischief-maker! Yet you're thought the best speaker and counselor of your age here! Not so! Why are you planning to murder Telemachos? Why ignore suppliants? Your father came here as a fugitive! He'd been raiding Thesprotians when they were our allies, and they wanted to kill him and consume his property, but Odysseus held them off--and it's his estate you're devouring without payment now, his wife you're courting, his son you want to kill! You're causing me great distress. Stop it, and make the others stop too! (393-433). Eurymachos answered her, saying: Don't be distressed! No man lives who'll touch your son--I'd spear him first! Odysseus used to sit me on his knee and feed me as a child, so Telemachos need have no fear of death--not from the suitors, anyway; the gods are another thing! So he said; but he was himself plotting the boy's death. Penelope now went back upstairs to her room (434-49).

  450-81: That evening, the swineherd returned to Odysseus and Telemachos, who were making supper. [Before he got there, however, Athene came and once more made Odysseus an aged beggar in ragged clothing to make sure the swineherd didn't recognize him and tell Penelope.] Telemachos asked Eumaios: What news in town? Have the suitors returned from their ambush, or are they still watching out for me? Eumaios answered: It wasn't my business to wander round asking for news. I wanted to deliver my message and come straight back. But on my way home I did notice a ship put in. It may have been them: I don't know. Telemachos glanced at his father and smiled, but avoided the swineherd's eye. So then they ate supper, and after it retired to sleep.

  BOOK 17

  1-60: Next morning early, Telemachos told Eumaios: I'm going into town to see my mother. She won't stop lamenting my absence till she actually sees me. I want you to guide this stranger into town to beg for food. I'm so worried I can't bother with this kind of thing myself. If that angers him, too bad. I prefer to be honest. Odysseus then said: Friend, I'm not eager to be left here. Better for a beggar to be in town! I'm too old to be a farmhand. So go! This man you detailed to guide me will do so, as soon as the sun's higher and I've warmed myself--these threadbare clothes are no help against frost, and it's a long way to the city (1-25). Telemachos left, walking briskly. Old Eurykleia was the first to see him arrive at the house. She and the handmaids gathered round and welcomed him. Penelope came down, hugged and kissed him, and said: I thought I'd never see you again! Tell me what you heard about your father. Telemachos said: Don't remind me of the death I just escaped! You go take a bath and put on clean clothes. Then you and your handmaids vow a full sacrifice in the hope of revenge! I'm going to assembly: I've a guest who came with me from Pylos--I sent him on ahead to be looked after by Peiraios till I arrive myself. Penelope said nothing, but did all that he'd asked (26-60).

  61-149: Telemachos now went to the place of assembly. The suitors were polite, but evil was in their hearts. He avoided them and went to join his father's old friends. Peiraio
s now brought his guest over and told Telemachos to send women to his house to collect Menelaos' gifts. Telemachos said: Depends how things go. If the suitors kill me and share out my inheritance, I'd rather you had those things. But if I destroy them, yes, fine, bring the gifts to me. He then escorted his guest home. They bathed, were massaged with oil, dressed in clean mantles and tunics, and went in to the hall, ready for a meal. Penelope sat across from Telemachos, and they had dinner. Penelope then said: Telemachos, I'm going back upstairs, to lie down and mourn! But couldn't you be bothered, before the suitors arrive, to tell me anything you'd heard about your father? (61-107). Telemachos said: All right, mother, here it is. We went to Pylos, and Nestor entertained me generously, but said he'd heard nothing about Odysseus, living or dead. Then we went to Menelaos, where I met Helen. Menelaos asked why I'd come. I told him. Menelaos said: Cowards themselves, they wish to lie in the bed of a brave-hearted man! As a lion destroys two fawns he finds in his lair, so Odysseus will destroy them! I wish he'd come, as strong as he was when he wrestled Philomeleides down in Lesbos, and take on the suitors--then they'd all be in for a nasty death and a bitter marriage! I'll tell you all I heard from the Old Man of the Sea. He said he'd seen Odysseus, suffering greatly, on an island, kept there perforce by the nymph Kalypso, unable to get away because he had neither a ship nor comrades. That's what Menelaos said. After this I set out for home, and the gods gave me a good wind, and a quick voyage (108-49).