The Odyssey: Book 04 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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They reached the low lying city of Lacedaemon them where they	A
drove straight to the of abode Menelaus and found him in his own	B
house feasting with his many clansmen in honour of the wedding of his	C
son and also of his daughter whom he was marrying to the son of that	D
valiant warrior Achilles He had given his consent and promised her to	E
him while he was still at Troy and now the gods were bringing the	F
marriage about so he was sending her with chariots and horses to	E
the city of the Myrmidons over whom Achilles' son was reigning For	G
his only son he had found a bride from Sparta daughter of Alector	G
This son Megapenthes was born to him of a bondwoman for heaven	H
vouchsafed Helen no more children after she had borne Hermione who	E
was fair as golden Venus herself	I
So the neighbours and kinsmen of Menelaus were feasting and making	J
merry in his house There was a bard also to sing to them and play his	C
lyre while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them	K
when the man struck up with his tune	L
Telemachus and the son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate	M
whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaus came out and as soon as he saw	N
them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master He went	O
close up to him and said Menelaus there are some strangers come	P
here two men who look like sons of Jove What are we to do Shall we	Q
take their horses out or tell them to find friends elsewhere as	R
they best can	S
Menelaus was very angry and said Eteoneus son of Boethous you	E
never used to be a fool but now you talk like a simpleton Take their	G
horses out of course and show the strangers in that they may have	T
supper you and I have stayed often enough at other people's houses	U
before we got back here where heaven grant that we may rest in	V
peace henceforward	O
So Eteoneus bustled back and bade other servants come with him They	A
took their sweating hands from under the yoke made them fast to the	F
mangers and gave them a feed of oats and barley mixed Then they	A
leaned the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard and led	O
the way into the house Telemachus and Pisistratus were astonished	O
when they saw it for its splendour was as that of the sun and moon	L
then when they had admired everything to their heart's content	O
they went into the bath room and washed themselves	W
When the servants had washed them and anointed them with oil they	A
brought them woollen cloaks and shirts and the two took their seats	X
by the side of Menelaus A maidservant brought them water in a	F
beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for them to	O
wash their hands and she drew a clean table beside them An upper	G
servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of	Y
what there was in the house while the carver fetched them plates of	Y
all manner of meats and set cups of gold by their side	O
Menelaus then greeted them saying Fall to and welcome when you	O
have done supper I shall ask who you are for the lineage of such	Z
men as you cannot have been lost You must be descended from a line of	Y
sceptre bearing kings for poor people do not have such sons as you	O
are	G
On this he handed them a piece of fat roast loin which had been set	O
near him as being a prime part and they laid their hands on the	F
good things that were before them as soon as they had had enough to	O
eat and drink Telemachus said to the son of Nestor with his head	O
so close that no one might hear Look Pisistratus man after my	A2
own heart see the gleam of bronze and gold of amber ivory and	O
silver Everything is so splendid that it is like seeing the palace of	Y
Olympian Jove I am lost in admiration	H
Menelaus overheard him and said No one my sons can hold his	C
own with Jove for his house and everything about him is immortal but	O
among mortal men well there may be another who has as much wealth as	R
I have or there may not but at all events I have travelled much	Z
and have undergone much hardship for it was nearly eight years before	G
I could get home with my fleet I went to Cyprus Phoenicia and the	F
Egyptians I went also to the Ethiopians the Sidonians and the	F
Erembians and to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are	G
born and the sheep lamb down three times a year Every one in that	O
country whether master or man has plenty of cheese meat and good	O
milk for the ewes yield all the year round But while I was	B2
travelling and getting great riches among these people my brother was	B2
secretly and shockingly murdered through the perfidy of his wicked	O
wife so that I have no pleasure in being lord of all this wealth	C2
Whoever your parents may be they must have told you about all this	D2
and of my heavy loss in the ruin of a stately mansion fully and	O
magnificently furnished Would that I had only a third of what I now	E2
have so that I had stayed at home and all those were living who	O
perished on the plain of Troy far from Argos I of grieve as I sit	O
here in my house for one and all of them At times I cry aloud for	G
sorrow but presently I leave off again for crying is cold comfort	O
and one soon tires of it Yet grieve for these as I may I do so for	G
one man more than for them all I cannot even think of him without	O
loathing both food and sleep so miserable does he make me for no one	H
of all the Achaeans worked so hard or risked so much as he did He	Q
took nothing by it and has left a legacy of sorrow to myself for	G
he has been gone a long time and we know not whether he is alive or	G
dead His old father his long suffering wife Penelope and his son	H
Telemachus whom he left behind him an infant in arms are plunged	O
in grief on his account	O
Thus spoke Menelaus and the heart of Telemachus yearned as he	Q
bethought him of his father Tears fell from his eyes as he heard	O
him thus mentioned so that he held his cloak before his face with	F2
both hands When Menelaus saw this he doubted whether to let him	G2
choose his own time for speaking or to ask him at once and find	O
what it was all about	O
While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high vaulted	O
and perfumed room looking as lovely as Diana herself Adraste brought	O
her a seat Alcippe a soft woollen rug while Phylo fetched her the	F
silver work box which Alcandra wife of Polybus had given her	G
Polybus lived in Egyptian Thebes which is the richest city in the	F
whole world he gave Menelaus two baths both of pure silver two	O
tripods and ten talents of gold besides all this his wife gave	H2
Helen some beautiful presents to wit a golden distaff and a	F
silver work box that ran on wheels with a gold band round the top	I2
of it Phylo now placed this by her side full of fine spun yarn	J2
and a distaff charged with violet coloured wool was laid upon the	F
top of it Then Helen took her seat put her feet upon the	F
footstool and began to question her husband	O
Do we know Menelaus said she the names of these strangers	K2
who have come to visit us Shall I guess right or wrong but I	A2
cannot help saying what I think Never yet have I seen either man or	G
woman so like somebody else indeed when I look at him I hardly know	L2
what to think as this young man is like Telemachus whom Ulysses left	O
as a baby behind him when you Achaeans went to Troy with battle in	V
your hearts on account of my most shameless self	I
My dear wife replied Menelaus I see the likeness just as you	O
do His hands and feet are just like Ulysses' so is his hair with	F2
the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes Moreover when I	A2
was talking about Ulysses and saying how much he had suffered on my	A2
account tears fell from his eyes and he hid his face in his mantle	M2
Then Pisistratus said Menelaus son of Atreus you are right in	V
thinking that this young man is Telemachus but he is very modest and	O
is ashamed to come here and begin opening up discourse with one	H
whose conversation is so divinely interesting as your own My	A2
father Nestor sent me to escort him hither for he wanted to know	L2
whether you could give him any counsel or suggestion A son has always	N2
trouble at home when his father has gone away leaving him without	O
supporters and this is how Telemachus is now placed for his father	G
is absent and there is no one among his own people to stand by him	G2
Bless my heart replied Menelaus then I am receiving a visit	O
from the son of a very dear friend who suffered much hardship for	G
my sake I had always hoped to entertain him with most marked	O
distinction when heaven had granted us a safe return from beyond the	F
seas I should have founded a city for him in Argos and built him a	F
house I should have made him leave Ithaca with his goods his son	H
and all his people and should have sacked for them some one of the	F
neighbouring cities that are subject to me We should thus have seen	O2
one another continually and nothing but death could have	T
interrupted so close and happy an intercourse I suppose however	G
that heaven grudged us such great good fortune for it has prevented	O
the poor fellow from ever getting home at all	P2
Thus did he speak and his words set them all a weeping Helen wept	O
Telemachus wept and so did Menelaus nor could Pisistratus keep his	C
eyes from filling when he remembered his dear brother Antilochus whom	Q2
the son of bright Dawn had killed Thereon he said to Menelaus	C
Sir my father Nestor when we used to talk about you at home told	O
me you were a person of rare and excellent understanding If then it	O
be possible do as I would urge you I am not fond of crying while I	A2
am getting my supper Morning will come in due course and in the	F
forenoon I care not how much I cry for those that are dead and gone	R2
This is all we can do for the poor things We can only shave our heads	C
for them and wring the tears from our cheeks I had a brother who died	O
at Troy he was by no means the worst man there you are sure to	O
have known him his name was Antilochus I never set eyes upon him	G2
myself but they say that he was singularly fleet of foot and in fight	O
valiant	O
Your discretion my friend answered Menelaus is beyond your	G
years It is plain you take after your father One can soon see when a	F
man is son to one whom heaven has blessed both as regards wife and	O
offspring and it has blessed Nestor from first to last all his	C
days giving him a green old age in his own house with sons about him	G2
who are both we disposed and valiant We will put an end therefore	G
to all this weeping and attend to our supper again Let water be	Q
poured over our hands Telemachus and I can talk with one another	G
fully in the morning	J
On this Asphalion one of the servants poured water over their	G
hands and they laid their hands on the good things that were before	G
them	K
Then Jove's daughter Helen bethought her of another matter She	Q
drugged the wine with an herb that banishes all care sorrow and	O
ill humour Whoever drinks wine thus drugged cannot shed a single tear	G
all the rest of the day not even though his father and mother both of	Y
them drop down dead or he sees a brother or a son hewn in pieces	C
before his very eyes This drug of such sovereign power and virtue	O
had been given to Helen by Polydamna wife of Thon a woman of Egypt	O
where there grow all sorts of herbs some good to put into the	F
mixing bowl and others poisonous Moreover every one in the whole	S2
country is a skilled physician for they are of the race of Paeeon	R2
When Helen had put this drug in the bowl and had told the servants to	O
serve the wine round she said	O
Menelaus son of Atreus and you my good friends sons of	Y
honourable men which is as Jove wills for he is the giver both of	Y
good and evil and can do what he chooses feast here as you will	T2
and listen while I tell you a tale in season I cannot indeed name	U2
every single one of the exploits of Ulysses but I can say what he did	O
when he was before Troy and you Achaeans were in all sorts of	Y
difficulties He covered himself with wounds and bruises dressed	O
himself all in rags and entered the enemy's city looking like a	F
menial or a beggar and quite different from what he did when he was	C
among his own people In this disguise he entered the city of Troy	G
and no one said anything to him I alone recognized him and began to	O
question him but he was too cunning for me When however I had	O
washed and anointed him and had given him clothes and after I had	O
sworn a solemn oath not to betray him to the Trojans till he had got	O
safely back to his own camp and to the ships he told me all that	O
the Achaeans meant to do He killed many Trojans and got much	Z
information before he reached the Argive camp for all which things	C
the Trojan women made lamentation but for my own part I was glad for	G
my heart was beginning to oam after my home and I was unhappy about	O
wrong that Venus had done me in taking me over there away from my	A2
country my girl and my lawful wedded husband who is indeed by no	R2
means deficient either in person or understanding	J
Then Menelaus said All that you have been saying my dear wife is	C
true I have travelled much and have had much to do with heroes	C
but I have never seen such another man as Ulysses What endurance too	O
and what courage he displayed within the wooden horse wherein all the	F
bravest of the Argives were lying in wait to bring death and	O
destruction upon the Trojans At that moment you came up to us some	P
god who wished well to the Trojans must have set you on to it and	O
you had Deiphobus with you Three times did you go all round our	G
hiding place and pat it you called our chiefs each by his own name	U2
and mimicked all our wives Diomed Ulysses and I from our seats	C
inside heard what a noise you made Diomed and I could not make up our	G
minds whether to spring out then and there or to answer you from	P
inside but Ulysses held us all in check so we sat quite still all	P2
except Anticlus who was beginning to answer you when Ulysses clapped	O
his two brawny hands over his mouth and kept them there It was	C
this that saved us all for he muzzled Anticlus till Minerva took	V2
you away again	R2
How sad exclaimed Telemachus that all this was of no avail to	O
save him nor yet his own iron courage But now sir be pleased to	O
send us all to bed that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of	Y
sleep	W2
On this Helen told the maid servants to set beds in the room that	O
was in the gatehouse and to make them with good red rugs and	O
spread coverlets on the top of them with woollen cloaks for the guests	C
to wear So the maids went out carrying a torch and made the beds	C
to which a man servant presently conducted the strangers Thus	C
then did Telemachus and Pisistratus sleep there in the forecourt	O
while the son of Atreus lay in an inner room with lovely Helen by	A2
his side	O
When the child of morning rosy fingered Dawn appeared Menelaus	C
rose and dressed himself He bound his sandals on to his comely	Q
feet girded his sword about his shoulders and left his room	Q2
looking like an immortal god Then taking a seat near Telemachus he	Q
said	O
And what Telemachus has led you to take this long sea voyage to	O
Lacedaemon Are you on public or private business Tell me all about	O
it	O
I have come sir replied Telemachus to see if you can tell me	Q
anything about my father I am being eaten out of house and home my	A2
fair estate is being wasted and my house is full of miscreants who	O
keep killing great numbers of my sheep and oxen on the pretence of	Y
paying their addresses to my mother Therefore I am suppliant at your	G
knees if haply you may tell me about my father's melancholy end	O
whether you saw it with your own eyes or heard it from some other	G
traveller for he was a man born to trouble Do not soften things	C
out of any pity for myself but tell me in all plainness exactly	Q
what you saw If my brave father Ulysses ever did you loyal service	C
either by word or deed when you Achaeans were harassed by the	F
Trojans bear it in mind now as in my favour and tell me truly all	P2
Menelaus on hearing this was very much shocked So he	Q
exclaimed these cowards would usurp a brave man's bed A hind	O
might as well lay her new born young in the lair of a lion and then	R2
go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell the lion when	R2
he comes back to his lair will make short work with the pair of	Y
them and so will Ulysses with these suitors By father Jove Minerva	F
and Apollo if Ulysses is still the man that he was when he wrestled	O
with Philomeleides in Lesbos and threw him so heavily that all the	F
Achaeans cheered him if he is still such and were to come near	G
these suitors they would have a short shrift and a sorry wedding	J
As regards your questions however I will not prevaricate nor deceive	X2
you but will tell you without concealment all that the old man of the	F
sea told me	Q
I was trying to come on here but the gods detained me in Egypt	O
for my hecatombs had not given them full satisfaction and the gods	C
are very strict about having their dues Now off Egypt about as far	G
as a ship can sail in a day with a good stiff breeze behind her there	G
is an island called Pharos it has a good harbour from which vessels	C
can get out into open sea when they have taken in water and the	F
gods becalmed me twenty days without so much as a breath of fair	G
wind to help me forward We should have run clean out of provisions	C
and my men would have starved if a goddess had not taken pity upon me	Q
and saved me in the person of Idothea daughter to Proteus the old	O
man of the sea for she had taken a great fancy to me	Q
She came to me one day when I was by myself as I often was for	G
the men used to go with their barbed hooks all over the island in the	F
hope of catching a fish or two to save them from the pangs of	Y
hunger 'Stranger ' said she 'it seems to me that you like starving	J
in this way at any rate it does not greatly trouble you for you	O
stick here day after day without even trying to get away though	R2
your men are dying by inches '	Y2
'Let me tell you ' said I 'whichever of the goddesses you may	A
happen to be that I am not staying here of my own accord but must	O
have offended the gods that live in heaven Tell me therefore for	G
the gods know everything which of the immortals it is that is	C
hindering me in this way and tell me also how I may sail the sea so	R2
as to reach my home '	Y2
'Stranger ' replied she 'I will make it all quite clear to you	O
There is an old immortal who lives under the sea hereabouts and	O
whose name is Proteus He is an Egyptian and people say he is my	A2
father he is Neptune's head man and knows every inch of ground all	P2
over the bottom of the sea If you can snare him and hold him tight	O
he will tell you about your voyage what courses you are to take	Z2
and how you are to sail the sea so as to reach your home He will also	R2
tell you if you so will all that has been going on at your house	C
both good and bad while you have been away on your long and dangerous	C
journey '	Y2
'Can you show me ' said I 'some stratagem by means of which I	A2
may catch this old god without his suspecting it and finding me out	O
For a god is not easily caught not by a mortal man '	Y2
'Stranger ' said she 'I will make it all quite clear to you About	O
the time when the sun shall have reached mid heaven the old man of	Y
the sea comes up from under the waves heralded by the West wind	O
that furs the water over his head As soon as he has come up he lies	C
down and goes to sleep in a great sea cave where the seals	C
Halosydne's chickens as they call them come up also from the grey	A
sea and go to sleep in shoals all round him and a very strong and	O
fish like smell do they bring with them Early to morrow morning I	A2
will take you to this place and will lay you in ambush Pick out	O
therefore the three best men you have in your fleet and I will	T2
tell you all the tricks that the old man will play you	O
'First he will look over all his seals and count them then	R2
when he has seen them and tallied them on his five fingers he will go	R2
to sleep among them as a shepherd among his sheep The moment you see	Q
that he is asleep seize him put forth all your strength and hold	O
him fast for he will do his very utmost to get away from you He will	T2
turn himself into every kind of creature that goes upon the earth and	O
will become also both fire and water but you must hold him fast and	O
grip him tighter and tighter till he begins to talk to you and	O
comes back to what he was when you saw him go to sleep then you may	A
slacken your hold and let him go and you can ask him which of the	F
gods it is that is angry with you and what you must do to reach	A3
your home over the seas '	Y2
Having so said she dived under the waves whereon I turned back	B3
to the place where my ships were ranged upon the shore and my heart	O
was clouded with care as I went along When I reached my ship we got	O
supper ready for night was falling and camped down upon the beach	A3
When the child of morning rosy fingered Dawn appeared I took the	F
three men on whose prowess of all kinds I could most rely and went	O
along by the sea side praying heartily to heaven Meanwhile the	F
goddess fetched me up four seal skins from the bottom of the sea	Q
all of them just skinned for she meant playing a trick upon her	G
father Then she dug four pits for us to lie in and sat down to	O
wait till we should come up When we were close to her she made us	C
lie down in the pits one after the other and threw a seal skin over	G
each of us Our ambuscade would have been intolerable for the	F
stench of the fishy seals was most distressing who would go to bed	O
with a sea monster if he could help it but here too the goddess	C
helped us and thought of something that gave us great relief for she	Q
put some ambrosia under each man's nostrils which was so fragrant	O
that it killed the smell of the seals	C
We waited the whole morning and made the best of it watching the	F
seals come up in hundreds to bask upon the sea shore till at noon the	F
old man of the sea came up too and when he had found his fat seals he	Q
went over them and counted them We were among the first he counted	O
and he never suspected any guile but laid himself down to sleep as	C
soon as he had done counting Then we rushed upon him with a shout and	O
seized him on which he began at once with his old tricks and changed	O
himself first into a lion with a great mane then all of a sudden he	Q
became a dragon a leopard a wild boar the next moment he was	C
running water and then again directly he was a tree but we stuck	C3
to him and never lost hold till at last the cunning old creature	G
became distressed and said Which of the gods was it Son of	Y
Atreus that hatched this plot with you for snaring me and seizing	J
me against my will What do you want '	Y2
'You know that yourself old man ' I answered 'you will gain	R2
nothing by trying to put me off It is because I have been kept so	R2
long in this island and see no sign of my being able to get away I	A2
am losing all heart tell me then for you gods know everything	J
which of the immortals it is that is hindering me and tell me also	R2
how I may sail the sea so as to reach my home '	Y2
Then ' he said 'if you would finish your voyage and get home	D3
quickly you must offer sacrifices to Jove and to the rest of the gods	C
before embarking for it is decreed that you shall not get back to	O
your friends and to your own house till you have returned to the	F
heaven fed stream of Egypt and offered holy hecatombs to the immortal	M2
gods that reign in heaven When you have done this they will let you	O
finish your voyage '	Y2
I was broken hearted when I heard that I must go back all that long	E3
and terrible voyage to Egypt nevertheless I answered 'I will do	O
all old man that you have laid upon me but now tell me and tell me	Q
true whether all the Achaeans whom Nestor and I left behind us when	R2
we set sail from Troy have got home safely or whether any one of them	K
came to a bad end either on board his own ship or among his friends	C
when the days of his fighting were done '	Y2
'Son of Atreus ' he answered 'why ask me You had better not	O
know what I can tell you for your eyes will surely fill when you have	T
heard my story Many of those about whom you ask are dead and gone	R2
but many still remain and only two of the chief men among the	F
Achaeans perished during their return home As for what happened on	R2
the field of battle you were there yourself A third Achaean leader	G
is still at sea alive but hindered from returning Ajax was wrecked	O
for Neptune drove him on to the great rocks of Gyrae nevertheless he	Q
let him get safe out of the water and in spite of all Minerva's	C
hatred he would have escaped death if he had not ruined himself by	A2
boasting He said the gods could not drown him even though they had	O
tried to do so and when Neptune heard this large talk he seized	O
his trident in his two brawny hands and split the rock of Gyrae in	R2
two pieces The base remained where it was but the part on which Ajax	C
was sitting fell headlong into the sea and carried Ajax with it so he	Q
drank salt water and was drowned	O
'Your brother and his ships escaped for Juno protected him but	O
when he was just about to reach the high promontory of Malea he was	C
caught by a heavy gale which carried him out to sea again sorely	Q
against his will and drove him to the foreland where Thyestes used to	O
dwell but where Aegisthus was then living By and by however it	O
seemed as though he was to return safely after all for the gods	C
backed the wind into its old quarter and they reached home whereon	R2
Agamemnon kissed his native soil and shed tears of joy at finding	J
himself in his own country	Q
'Now there was a watchman whom Aegisthus kept always on the	F
watch and to whom he had promised two talents of gold This man had	O
been looking out for a whole year to make sure that Agamemnon did	O
not give him the slip and prepare war when therefore this man saw	C
Agamemnon go by he went and told Aegisthus who at once began to lay a	F
plot for him He picked twenty of his bravest warriors and placed them	K
in ambuscade on one side the cloister while on the opposite side he	Q
prepared a banquet Then he sent his chariots and horsemen to	O
Agamemnon and invited him to the feast but he meant foul play He	Q
got him there all unsuspicious of the doom that was awaiting him and	O
killed him when the banquet was over as though he were butchering an	R2
ox in the shambles not one of Agamemnon's followers was left alive	F3
nor yet one of Aegisthus' but they were all killed there in the	F
cloisters '	Y2
Thus spoke Proteus and I was broken hearted as I heard him I	A2
sat down upon the sands and wept I felt as though I could no longer	G
bear to live nor look upon the light of the sun Presently when I had	O
had my fill of weeping and writhing upon the ground the old man of	Y
the sea said 'Son of Atreus do not waste any more time in crying	J
so bitterly it can do no manner of good find your way home as fast	O
as ever you can for Aegisthus be still alive and even though Orestes	C
has beforehand with you in kilting him you may yet come in for his	C
funeral '	Y2
On this I took comfort in spite of all my sorrow and said 'I	A2
know then about these two tell me therefore about the third man	R2
of whom you spoke is he still alive but at sea and unable to get	O
home or is he dead Tell me no matter how much it may grieve me '	Y2
'The third man ' he answered 'is Ulysses who dwells in Ithaca I	A2
can see him in an island sorrowing bitterly in the house of the	F
nymph Calypso who is keeping him prisoner and he cannot reach his	C
home for he has no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea As	C
for your own end Menelaus you shall not die in Argos but the gods	C
will take you to the Elysian plain which is at the ends of the world	O
There fair haired Rhadamanthus reigns and men lead an easier life	G3
than any where else in the world for in Elysium there falls not rain	R2
nor hail nor snow but Oceanus breathes ever with a West wind that	O
sings softly from the sea and gives fresh life to all men This	C
will happen to you because you have married Helen and are Jove's	C
son in law '	Y2
As he spoke he dived under the waves whereon I turned back to	O
the ships with my companions and my heart was clouded with care as	C
I went along When we reached the ships we got supper ready for night	O
was falling and camped down upon the beach When the child of	Y
morning rosy fingered Dawn appeared we drew our ships into the	F
water and put our masts and sails within them then we went on	R2
board ourselves took our seats on the benches and smote the grey sea	C
with our oars I again stationed my ships in the heaven fed stream	H3
of Egypt and offered hecatombs that were full and sufficient When	R2
I had thus appeased heaven's anger I raised a barrow to the memory of	Y
Agamemnon that his name might live for ever after which I had a quick	I3
passage home for the gods sent me a fair wind	O
And now for yourself stay here some ten or twelve days longer and	O
I will then speed you on your way I will make you a noble present	O
of a chariot and three horses I will also give you a beautiful	M2
chalice that so long as you live you may think of me whenever you make	Z2
a drink offering to the immortal gods	C
Son of Atreus replied Telemachus do not press me to stay	A
longer I should be contented to remain with you for another twelve	J3
months I find your conversation so delightful that I should never	G
once wish myself at home with my parents but my crew whom I have left	O
at Pylos are already impatient and you are detaining me from them As	C
for any present you may be disposed to make me I had rather that it	O
should he a piece of plate I will take no horses back with me to	O
Ithaca but will leave them to adorn your own stables for you have	T
much flat ground in your kingdom where lotus thrives as also	C
meadowsweet and wheat and barley and oats with their white and	O
spreading ears whereas in Ithaca we have neither open fields nor	G
racecourses and the country is more fit for goats than horses and	O
I like it the better for that None of our islands have much level	M2
ground suitable for horses and Ithaca least of all	P2
Menelaus smiled and took Telemachus's hand within his own What you	O
say said he shows that you come of good family I both can and	O
will make this exchange for you by giving you the finest and most	O
precious piece of plate in all my house It is a mixing bowl by	A2
Vulcan's own hand of pure silver except the rim which is inlaid	O
with gold Phaedimus king of the Sidonians gave it me in the	F
course of a visit which I paid him when I returned thither on my	A2
homeward journey I will make you a present of it	O
Thus did they converse and guests kept coming to the king's	C
house They brought sheep and wine while their wives had put up bread	O
for them to take with them so they were busy cooking their dinners in	R2
the courts	C
Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a	F
mark on the levelled ground in front of Ulysses' house and were	G
behaving with all their old insolence Antinous and Eurymachus who	O
were their ringleaders and much the foremost among them all were	G
sitting together when Noemon son of Phronius came up and said to	O
Antinous	C
Have we any idea Antinous on what day Telemachus returns from	P
Pylos He has a ship of mine and I want it to cross over to Elis	C
I have twelve brood mares there with yearling mule foals by their side	O
not yet broken in and I want to bring one of them over here and break	Z2
him	G2
They were astounded when they heard this for they had made sure	G
that Telemachus had not gone to the city of Neleus They thought he	C
was only away somewhere on the farms and was with the sheep or	G
with the swineherd so Antinous said When did he go Tell me	C
truly and what young men did he take with him Were they freemen or	G
his own bondsmen for he might manage that too Tell me also did	O
you let him have the ship of your own free will because he asked	O
you or did he take it without yourleave	T
I lent it him answered Noemon what else could I do when a man	R2
of his position said he was in a difficulty and asked me to oblige	K3
him I could not possibly refuse As for those who went with him	G2
they were the best young men we have and I saw Mentor go on board	O
as captain or some god who was exactly like him I cannot	O
understand it for I saw Mentor here myself yesterday morning and yet	O
he was then setting out for Pylos	C
Noemon then went back to his father's house but Antinous and	O
Eurymachus were very angry They told the others to leave off playing	J
and to come and sit down along with themselves When they came	U2
Antinous son of Eupeithes spoke in anger His heart was black with	F2
rage and his eyes flashed fire as he said	O
Good heavens this voyage of Telemachus is a very serious matter	G
we had made sure that it would come to nothing but the young fellow	C
has got away in spite of us and with a picked crew too He will be	C
giving us trouble presently may Jove take him before he is full	L3
grown Find me a ship therefore with a crew of twenty men and I	A2
will lie in wait for him in the straits between Ithaca and Samos he	C
will then rue the day that he set out to try and get news of his	C
father	G
Thus did he speak and the others applauded his saying they then	R2
all of them went inside the buildings	C
It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were	G
plotting for a man servant Medon overheard them from outside the	F
outer court as they were laying their schemes within and went to tell	M3
his mistress As he crossed the threshold of her room Penelope said	O
Medon what have the suitors sent you here for Is it to tell the	F
maids to leave their master's business and cook dinner for them I	A2
wish they may neither woo nor dine henceforward neither here nor	G
anywhere else but let this be the very last time for the waste you	O
all make of my son's estate Did not your fathers tell you when you	O
were children how good Ulysses had been to them never doing	J
anything high handed nor speaking harshly to anybody Kings may say	C
things sometimes and they may take a fancy to one man and dislike	N3
another but Ulysses never did an unjust thing by anybody which shows	C
what bad hearts you have and that there is no such thing as gratitude	O
left in this world	O
Then Medon said I wish Madam that this were all but they are	G
plotting something much more dreadful now may heaven frustrate	O
their design They are going to try and murder Telemachus as he is	C
coming home from Pylos and Lacedaemon where he has been to get news	C
of his father	G
Then Penelope's heart sank within her and for a long time she was	C
speechless her eyes filled with tears and she could find no	C
utterance At last however she said Why did my son leave me	C
What business had he to go sailing off in ships that make long voyages	C
over the ocean like sea horses Does he want to die without leaving	J
any one behind him to keep up his name	U2
I do not know answered Medon whether some god set him on to it	O
or whether he went on his own impulse to see if he could find out if	T
his father was dead or alive and on his way home	D3
Then he went downstairs again leaving Penelope in an agony of	T
grief There were plenty of seats in the house but she had no	C
heart for sitting on any one of them she could only fling herself	T
on the floor of her own room and cry whereon all the maids in the	F
house both old and young gathered round her and began to cry too	O
till at last in a transport of sorrow she exclaimed	O
My dears heaven has been pleased to try me with more affliction	R2
than any other woman of my age and country First I lost my brave	T
and lion hearted husband who had every good quality under heaven and	O
whose name was great over all Hellas and middle Argos and now my	A2
darling son is at the mercy of the winds and waves without my	A2
having heard one word about his leaving home You hussies there was	C
not one of you would so much as think of giving me a call out of my	A2
bed though you all of you very well knew when he was starting If I	A2
had known he meant taking this voyage he would have had to give it	O
up no matter how much he was bent upon it or leave me a corpse	C
behind him one or other Now however go some of you and call old	O
Dolius who was given me by my father on my marriage and who is my	A2
gardener Bid him go at once and tell everything to Laertes who may	C
be able to hit on some plan for enlisting public sympathy on our side	O
as against those who are trying to exterminate his own race and that	O
of Ulysses	C
Then the dear old nurse Euryclea said You may kill me Madam or	G
let me live on in your house whichever you please but I will tell	M3
you the real truth I knew all about it and gave him everything he	C
wanted in the way of bread and wine but he made me take my solemn	P
oath that I would not tell you anything for some ten or twelve days	C
unless you asked or happened to hear of his having gone for he did	O
not want you to spoil your beauty by crying And now Madam wash your	G
face change your dress and go upstairs with your maids to offer	G
prayers to Minerva daughter of Aegis bearing Jove for she can save	T
him even though he be in the jaws of death Do not trouble Laertes he	C
has trouble enough already Besides I cannot think that the gods hate	O
die race of the race of the son of Arceisius so much but there will	T2
be a son left to come up after him and inherit both the house and the	F
fair fields that lie far all round it	O
With these words she made her mistress leave off crying and dried	O
the tears from her eyes Penelope washed her face changed her	G
dress and went upstairs with her maids She then put some bruised	O
barley into a basket and began praying to Minerva	F
Hear me she cried Daughter of Aegis bearing Jove	F
unweariable If ever Ulysses while he was here burned you fat thigh	F
bones of sheep or heifer bear it in mind now as in my favour and	O
save my darling son from the villainy of the suitors	C
She cried aloud as she spoke and the goddess heard her prayer	G
meanwhile the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered	O
cloister and one of them said	O
The queen is preparing for her marriage with one or other of us	C
Little does she dream that her son has now been doomed to die	F
This was what they said but they did not know what was going to	O
happen Then Antinous said Comrades let there be no loud talking	J
lest some of it get carried inside Let us be up and do that in	R2
silence about which we are all of a mind	O
He then chose twenty men and they went down to their ship and to	O
the sea side they drew the vessel into the water and got her mast and	O
sails inside her they bound the oars to the thole pins with twisted	O
thongs of leather all in due course and spread the white sails	C
aloft while their fine servants brought them their armour Then	R2
they made the ship fast a little way out came on shore again got	O
their suppers and waited till night should fall	P2
But Penelope lay in her own room upstairs unable to eat or drink	O3
and wondering whether her brave son would escape or be overpowered by	F
the wicked suitors Like a lioness caught in the toils with huntsmen	R2
hemming her in on every side she thought and thought till she sank	P3
into a slumber and lay on her bed bereft of thought and motion	R2
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter and made a vision in	R2
the likeness of Penelope's sister Iphthime daughter of Icarius who had	O
married Eumelus and lived in Pherae She told the vision to go to	O
the house of Ulysses and to make Penelope leave off crying so it	O
came into her room by the hole through which the thong went for	G
pulling the door to and hovered over her head saying	J
You are asleep Penelope the gods who live at ease will not suffer	G
you to weep and be so sad Your son has done them no wrong so he will	T2
yet come back to you	O
Penelope who was sleeping sweetly at the gates of dreamland	O
answered Sister why have you come here You do not come very often	R2
but I suppose that is because you live such a long way off Am I	F
then to leave off crying and refrain from all the sad thoughts that	O
torture me I who have lost my brave and lion hearted husband who	O
had every good quality under heaven and whose name was great over all	P2
Hellas and middle Argos and now my darling son has gone off on	R2
board of a ship a foolish fellow who has never been used to	O
roughing it nor to going about among gatherings of men I am even	R2
more anxious about him than about my husband I am all in a tremble	M2
when I think of him lest something should happen to him either	G
from the people among whom he has gone or by sea for he has many	R2
enemies who are plotting against him and are bent on killing him	G2
before he can return home	D3
Then the vision said Take heart and be not so much dismayed	O
There is one gone with him whom many a man would be glad enough to	O
have stand by his side I mean Minerva it is she who has compassion	R2
upon you and who has sent me to bear you this message	Q3
Then said Penelope if you are a god or have been sent here by	F
divine commission tell me also about that other unhappy one is he	R2
still alive or is he already dead and in the house of Hades	C
And the vision said I shall not tell you for certain whether he is	C
alive or dead and there is no use in idle conversation	R2
Then it vanished through the thong hole of the door and was	C
dissipated into thin air but Penelope rose from her sleep refreshed	O
and comforted so vivid had been her dream	H3
Meantime the suitors went on board and sailed their ways over the	F
sea intent on murdering Telemachus Now there is a rocky islet called	O
Asteris of no great size in mid channel between Ithaca and Samos	C
and there is a harbour on either side of it where a ship can lie Here	G
then the Achaeans placed themselves in ambush	R3

Homer

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