Telemachus Takes in Theoclymenus and Sets Sail — Odyssey §15.215-15.284 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἔλασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους

So he spoke, and drove the fair-maned horses

ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δʼ ἄρα δώμαθʼ ἵκανε.

back to the city of the Pylians, and quickly he came to the palace.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·

And Telemachus urged his comrades and commanded them:

ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχεʼ, ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,

"Set the gear in order, comrades, in the black ship,

αὐτοί τʼ ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο¹.

and let us go on board ourselves, that we may speed on our way."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,

So he spoke, and they readily heard him and obeyed,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.

and quickly went on board and sat down upon the benches.

ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν τὰ πονεῖτο καὶ εὔχετο, θῦε δʼ Ἀθήνῃ

Now while he was busied with these things and praying, and sacrificing to Athena

νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ

beside the stern of the ship, there came near him a man

τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς²,

from a far country, fleeing from Argos because he had slain a man,

μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,

a seer; and by lineage he was a descendant of Melampus,

ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,

who once dwelt in Pylos, mother of sheep,

ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγʼ ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·

rich among the Pylians, dwelling in a very lofty house.

δὴ τότε γʼ ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων

Then indeed he went to the land of others, fleeing his country

Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,

and great-hearted Neleus, most noble of living men,

ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν³

who held much of his wealth by force for a full year.

εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο

Meanwhile Melampus in the halls of Phylacus

δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων

was bound in grievous bonds, suffering strong pains

εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,

because of the daughter of Neleus and the heavy madness

τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.

which the goddess, the dread Erinys, had laid upon his mind.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους

But he escaped death and drove the loud-lowing cattle

ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτίσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς

from Phylace to Pylos, and avenged the unseemly deed upon

ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα

godlike Neleus, and brought the woman to his brother's

ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,

home. But he himself went to the land of others,

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν

to horse-pasturing Argos; for there it was fated for him

ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντʼ Ἀργείοισιν

to dwell, ruling over many Argives.

ἔνθα δʼ ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,

There he married a wife and built a high-roofed house,

γείνατο δʼ Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.

and begot Antiphates and Mantius, strong sons.

Ἀντιφάτης μὲν ἔτικτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,

Antiphates begot great-hearted Oicles,

αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάραον,

and Oicles begot Amphiaraus, rouser of the host,

ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων

whom aegis-bearing Zeus and Apollo loved in their hearts

παντοίην φιλότητʼ· οὐδʼ ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,

with all manner of love; yet he did not reach the threshold of old age,

ἀλλʼ ὄλετʼ ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.

but perished at Thebes because of a woman's bribes.

τοῦ δʼ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντʼ Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.

To him were born sons, Alcmaeon and Amphilochus.

Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·

And Mantius begot Polyphides and Cleitus;

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς

but Cleitus golden-throned Dawn snatched away

κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·

by reason of his beauty, that he might be among the immortals.

αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων

But proud Polyphides Apollo made a seer,

θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάραος·

far the best of mortals after Amphiaraus died;

ὅς ῥʼ Ὑπερησίηνδʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,

who removed to Hyperesia, angry with his father,

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσιν.

and dwelling there he prophesied to all mortals.

τοῦ μὲν ἄρʼ υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἦεν,

It was his son who now came up, and his name was Theoclymenus;

ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανεν

he then came and stood near Telemachus, and found him

σπένδοντʼ εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,

pouring libations and praying beside his swift black ship,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and addressing him he spoke winged words:

ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε θύοντα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,

"Friend, since I find you sacrificing in this place,

λίσσομʼ ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

I beseech you by the sacrifices and the god, and then

σῆς τʼ αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,

by your own life and the lives of your comrades who follow you,

εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδʼ ἐπικεύσῃς·

tell me truly what I ask, and hide it not:

τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

Who are you, and from whence? Where is your city and your parents?"

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer:

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

"Then indeed, stranger, I will tell you very truly.

ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,

I am of Ithaca by birth, and my father is Odysseus,

εἴ ποτʼ ἔην⁴· νῦν δʼ ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.

if ever he existed; but now he has already perished by a pitiful death.

τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν

Therefore have I now taken my comrades and black ship,

ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.

and come to inquire of my father who has been long gone."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

To him in turn godlike Theoclymenus spoke:

οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐγὼν ἐκ πατρίδος, ἄνδρα κατακτὰς

"Even so have I too fled from my country, having slain a man

ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε

of my own tribe; and many are his brothers and kinsmen

Ἄργος ἀνʼ ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

in horse-pasturing Argos, and they have great power over the Achaeans.

τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν

Shunning death and black fate at their hands,

φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.

I flee, since it is now my lot to wander among men.

ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,

But set me on your ship, since I have come to you as a fugitive and suppliant,

μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.

lest they slay me; for I think they are in pursuit."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer:

οὐ μὲν δή σʼ ἐθέλοντά γʼ ἀπώσω νηὸς ἐΐσης,

"Indeed I will not reject you from my well-balanced ship, since you wish it;

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κʼ ἔχωμεν.

but follow, and there you shall be welcomed with such things as we have."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

So he spoke, and took from him his bronze spear,

καὶ τό γʼ ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης·

and laid it along the deck of the curved ship,

ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.

and himself went on board the seafaring ship.

Syntax notes4 items

§15.219πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο
Meaning "to make progress on our journey" or "to speed on our way." The genitive ὁδοῖο is partitive or local, used in connection with the verb πρήσσω to denote the sphere or route of movement.
§15.224ἄνδρα κατακτάς
The aorist participle κατακτά ("having slain a man") functions causally or temporally, expressing the prior action that led to his current state of flight represented by the present participle φεύγων.
§15.230τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν
An idiomatic poetic expression meaning "for a full year" or "for a year bringing its fruit to completion," indicating a whole, uninterrupted year.
§15.268εἴ ποτʼ ἔην
"If ever he existed" or "if indeed he was." This is an idiomatic formulaic expression of grief, conveying not literal doubt about his paternity or existence, but rather profound sorrow over the father's disappearance, suggesting that his past presence now feels like a distant, dreamlike illusion.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.215-15.284