Athena's Warning and Telemachus' Request to Depart — Odyssey §15.1-15.73 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἡ δʼ εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

Pallas Athena went to spacious Lacedaemon,

ᾤχετʼ, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν

to remind the glorious son of great-hearted Odysseus

νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα¹ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.

of his return and to urge him to depart.

εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν

She found Telemachus and the illustrious son of Nestor

εὕδοντʼ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

sleeping in the vestibule of glorious Menelaus,

ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ·

indeed the son of Nestor was overcome by soft sleep;

Τηλέμαχον δʼ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

but sweet sleep did not hold Telemachus, rather in his heart

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.

anxieties for his father kept him awake through the immortal night.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

And standing near, flashing-eyed Athena addressed him:

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι καλὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ ἀλάλησαι,

"Telemachus, no longer is it well for you to wander far from your home,

κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν

leaving your possessions behind and men in your house

οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι²

so arrogant; lest they consume all your possessions

κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.

by dividing them, and you go on a fruitless journey.

ἀλλʼ ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον

But urge most quickly Menelaus, good at the war-cry,

πεμπέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.

to send you away, so that you may still find your blameless mother at home.

ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται

For already indeed her father and brothers are urging her

Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας

to marry Eurymachus; for he surpasses all

μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·

the suitors in gifts and has increased the bride-gifts;

μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.

lest she carry away some possessions from your house against your will.

οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·

For you know what kind of heart is in a woman's breast:

κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,

she wishes to increase the house of him who weds her,

παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο

but of her former children and her dear wedded husband

οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηκότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.

once dead she no longer remembers nor inquires.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα

But you, having returned, entrust everything yourself

δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,

to whichever of the handmaids seems to you to be the best,

εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.

until the gods show you a glorious wife.

ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.

And another word I will tell you, and do you lay it up in your heart.

μνηστήρων σʼ ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν

The chief men of the suitors are intentionally lying in wait for you

ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης.

in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,

ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.

desiring to kill you before you reach your native land.

ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει

But I do not think this will be; before that, the earth shall hold some

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.

of the suitors, who are devouring your livelihood.

ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν³ εὐεργέα νῆα,

But keep your well-built ship far from the islands,

νυκτὶ δʼ ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν

and sail likewise by night; and he will send you a favorable wind from behind,

ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.

whichever of the immortals guards and protects you.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,

But when you reach the first shore of Ithaca,

νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,

urge the ship and all your companions toward the city,

αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,

but you yourself go first of all to the swineherd,

ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.

who is the keeper of your swine, and likewise has kindly feelings toward you.

ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἀέσαι· τὸν δʼ ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω

There spend the night; and urge him to go into the city

ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

to tell the news to wise Penelope,

οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.

that you are safe for her and have come from Pylos."

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

Thus having spoken she departed to lofty Olympus,

αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρεν

but he woke the son of Nestor from sweet sleep,

λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

moving him with his foot, and addressed a word to him:

ἔγρεο, Νεστορίδη Πεισίστρατε, μώνυχας ἵππους

"Awake, Pisistratus, son of Nestor, lead the whole-hooved horses

ζεῦξον ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο⁴.

and yoke them under the chariot, so that we may make speed on our journey."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To him in turn Pisistratus, son of Nestor, spoke in answer:

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐπειγομένους περ ὁδοῖο

"Telemachus, there is no way for us, though eager for the journey,

νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν⁵· τάχα δʼ ἔσσεται ἠώς.

to drive through the dark night; soon indeed it will be dawn.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ

But wait until the hero, son of Atreus, spear-famed Menelaus,

ἥρως Ἀτρείδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

brings gifts and places them on the chariot,

καὶ μύθοις ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.

and dismisses us with kindly words.

τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα

For a guest remembers all his days

ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.

the host who has shown him friendship."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.

Thus he spoke, and immediately gold-throned Dawn came.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

And near them came Menelaus, good at the war-cry,

ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.

rising from his bed from beside fair-haired Helen.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

When therefore the dear son of Odysseus noticed him,

σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα

hastening he put on his shining tunic about his body,

δῦνεν, καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις

and the hero threw a large cloak over his sturdy shoulders,

ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα

and went outside, and standing beside him addressed him,

Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus:

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the people,

ἤδη νῦν μʼ ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·

now already dismiss me to my dear native land;

ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.

for already my heart desires to reach home."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

To him then Menelaus, good at the war-cry, answered:

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἐγώ γε πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύξω

"Telemachus, I indeed will not keep you here for a long time

ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ

who are eager for your return; and I am indignant at any other

ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κʼ ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,

host who should love exceedingly,

ἔξοχα δʼ ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.

or hate exceedingly; but moderation in all things is better.

ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθʼ, ὅς τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι

It is an equal evil indeed, both he who urges a guest to depart who does not wish to,

ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.

and he who holds back one who is eager to go."

Syntax notes5 items

15.3νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα
The future participle `ὑπομνήσουσα` (from `ὑπομιμνήσκω`) expresses purpose ('in order to remind'). The genitive `νόστου` is the object of this verbal idea.
15.12κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι
The preposition `κατά` and the subjunctive verb `φάγωσι` form a tmesis of the compound verb `καταφάγωσι` ('consume entirely'), separated by `πάντα`.
15.33ἀπέχειν
This infinitive is used as an imperative (infinitive of command), addressing Telemachus in the second person singular. This usage continues with the subsequent infinitives like `πλείειν` (§15.34), `ὀτρῦναι` (§15.37), and `εἰσαφικέσθαι` (§15.38).
15.47πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο
The subjunctive `πρήσσωμεν` is introduced by the purpose conjunction `ὄφρα`. The genitive `ὁδοῖο` (epic genitive of `ὁδός`) acts as a partitive or space genitive indicating the path along which they make speed ('to push on with our journey').
15.49οὔ πως ἔστιν ... ἐλάαν
The impersonal construction `οὔ πως ἔστιν` ('there is no way [to do something]') takes the infinitive `ἐλάαν` (from `ἐλάω`, 'to drive, speed') to express impossibility. The subject of the infinitive is represented by the accusative participle `ἐπειγομένους` ('though we are eager').

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.1-15.73