Pause in the Tale of Women and Alcinous's Praise — Odyssey §11.286-11.357 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

Νέστορά τε Χρόνιον τε Περικλύμενόν τʼ ἀγέρωχον.

Nestor and Chronius and noble Periclymenus.

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,

And after them she bore strong Pero, a wonder to mortals,

τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδʼ ἄρα Νηλεὺς

whom all the neighbors wooed; but Neleus indeed

τῷ ἐδίδου ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπους

would not give her to anyone who should not indeed

ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε¹ βίης Ἰφικληείης

drive from Phylace the crumple-horned, broad-browed cattle of the might of Iphiclus,

ἀργαλέας· τὰς δʼ οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμων

which were hard to drive; these alone the blameless prophet undertook

ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε,

to drive away; but a hard fate of a god bound him,

δεσμοί τʼ ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.

and hard bonds and rustic herdsmen.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο

But when indeed months and days were fulfilled,

ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,

as the year rolled round again and the seasons came on,

καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη,

even then indeed the might of Iphiclus released him,

θέσφατα πάντʼ εἰπόντα· Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή.

when he had spoken all the oracles; and the counsel of Zeus was being fulfilled.

καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,

And I saw Leda, the wife of Tyndareus,

ἥ ῥʼ ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,

who bore under Tyndareus two strong-minded sons,

Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,

Castor, tamer of horses, and Polydeuces, good in boxing,

τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·

both of whom, though alive, the life-giving earth holds fast;

οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντες

who even beneath the earth having honor from Zeus

ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσʼ ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε

at one time live on alternate days, and at another time

τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.

are dead; and they have won honor equal to the gods.

τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτιν

And next after her I saw Iphimedeia, wife of Aloeus,

εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,

who said indeed she had mingled with Poseidon,

καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δʼ ἐγενέσθην,

and she bore two sons, but they were short-lived,

Ὦτόν τʼ ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τʼ Ἐφιάλτην,

Otus, equal to the gods, and far-famed Ephialtes,

οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουρα

whom indeed the grain-giving earth reared to be the tallest,

καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·

and far the fairest after the famous Orion;

ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσαν

for at nine years old they were indeed nine cubits in breadth,

εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.

and in length indeed they became nine fathoms.

οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ

And they indeed even threatened the immortals on Olympus

φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάικος πολέμοιο.

that they would raise the tumult of furious war.

Ὄσσαν ἐπʼ Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ Ὄσσῃ

They were eager to place Ossa upon Olympus, and upon Ossa

Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵνʼ οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.

leaf-shaking Pelion, so that heaven might be scaleable.

καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο²·

And now indeed they would have accomplished it, if they had reached the measure of youth;

ἀλλʼ ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,

but the son of Zeus, whom fair-haired Leto bore, destroyed

ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωιν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλους

both of them, before the down blossomed beneath their temples

ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς ἐυανθέι λάχνῃ.

and covered their cheeks with well-flowered hair.

Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τʼ Ἀριάδνην,

And Phaedra and Procris I saw, and beautiful Ariadne,

κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς

the daughter of destructive-minded Minos, whom once Theseus

ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράων

was leading from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens,

ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο³· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα

though he had no joy of her; for before that Artemis slew her

Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσιν.

in wave-washed Dia because of the witness of Dionysus.

Μαῖράν τε Κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τʼ Ἐριφύλην,

And Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle,

ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.

who received precious gold for her own husband.

πάσας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,

But all I cannot tell nor name,

ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·

as many wives and daughters of heroes as I saw;

πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτʼ ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρη

for before that even the immortal night would wane. But it is also time

εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς ἑταίρους

to sleep, either going to the swift ship to your companions,

ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖς ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.

or here; and the journey home will be the care of the gods and of you.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,

So he spoke, and they indeed all became hushed in silence,

κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.

and they were held by a spell throughout the shadowy halls.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων.

And among them white-armed Arete began speaking:

Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι

"Phaeacians, how does this man seem to you to be

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐίσας;

in form and in stature and in the well-balanced mind within?

ξεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·

And he is moreover my guest, but each of you shares in the honor;

τῷ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε, μηδὲ τὰ δῶρα

therefore do not send him away in haste, nor curtail the gifts

οὕτω χρηίζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖν

to one who stands so much in need; for many indeed

κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.

are the possessions lying in your halls by the will of the gods."

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,

And among them also spoke the old hero Echeneus,

ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·

who was indeed an elder among Phaeacian men:

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης

"Friends, indeed not far from the mark nor from our expectation

μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.

does our wise queen speak; but do you obey.

Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται⁴ ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.

Yet on Alcinous here depend both deed and word."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

And Alcinous in turn answered him and spoke:

τοῦτο μὲν οὕτω δὴ ἔσται ἔπος, αἴ κεν ἐγώ γε

"This word indeed shall surely be thus, if I indeed

ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·

live and rule over the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar;

ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζων

but let the guest endure, though greatly longing for his return,

ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσαν

nevertheless to remain until tomorrow, until indeed I shall complete

δωτίνην τελέσω· πομπὴ δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει

all the gift; and the convoy shall be the care of the men

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.

all, and especially of me; for his is the power in the land."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

And answering him spoke resourceful Odysseus:

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

"Lord Alcinous, most illustrious of all peoples,

εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτʼ αὐτόθι μίμνειν,

if you should bid me remain here even for a year,

πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,

and should urge on my convoy and give glorious gifts,

Syntax notes4 items

11.289ὃς μὴ ... ἐλάσειε
The optative with `μή` in the relative clause modifying `τῷ` (line 289) expresses a general condition or hypothetical circumstance ('whoever should not...').
11.317καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο
A past contrary-to-fact conditional sentence. The apodosis features `κεν` with the aorist indicative (`ἐξετέλεσσαν`), and the protasis has `εἰ` with the aorist indicative (`ἵκοντο`), meaning 'they would have accomplished it, if they had reached the measure of youth.'
11.324ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο
The imperfect `ἦγε` expresses an attempted action (conative imperfect, 'he was trying to lead her away'), which is contrasted with the aorist `ἀπόνητο` indicating the unsuccessful outcome ('but he had no joy of her').
11.346Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται
The middle-passive verb `ἔχεται` is used here with the genitive `Ἀλκινόου ... τοῦδʼ` in an idiomatic construction meaning 'depends upon' or 'hangs upon' this Alcinous.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:11.286-11.357