Telemachus' Voyage and Odysseus Testing Eumaeus — Odyssey §15.285-15.354 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἐν πρύμνῃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ

Then he sat down at the stern, and beside himself

εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.

he seated Theoclymenus; and they loosed the stern-cables.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν

And Telemachus urged his comrades and commanded them

ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.

to lay hold of the tackling; and they readily obeyed.

ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης

Lifting the fir mast, they set it inside the hollow

στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,

mast-box, and bound it fast with the forestays,

ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.

and hoisted the white sails with well-twisted ox-hide ropes.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

And grey-eyed Athena sent them a favorable breeze,

λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα διʼ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα

blowing fiercely through the upper air, so that most quickly

νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.

the running ship might accomplish her way over the salty water of the sea.

βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.

So they sailed past Cruni and beautiful-flowing Chalcis.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·

And the sun set, and all the ways grew dark;

ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ

and she drew near to Pheae, urged by the wind of Zeus,

ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.

and sailed past divine Elis, where the Epeians rule.

ἔνθεν δʼ αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν¹,

From there he directed the ship toward the swift islands,

ὁρμαίνων ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ².

wondering whether he should escape death or be taken.

τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς

Meanwhile in the hut Odysseus and the noble swineherd

δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.

were supping, and beside them the other men were supping.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

But when they had put away the desire of food and drink,

τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,

Odysseus spoke among them, making trial of the swineherd,

ἤ μιν ἔτʼ ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι

to see whether he would still welcome him kindly and bid him stay

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ, ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·

there at the farm, or urge him to go to the city:

κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι·

"Hear me now, Eumaeus, and all you other comrades;

ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι

in the morning I desire to go away to the city

πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.

to beg, that I may not wear out you and your comrades.

ἀλλά μοι εὖ θʼ ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον

But advise me well, and give me a trusty guide to go with me

ὅς κέ με κεῖσʼ ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ

who may lead me thither; and through the city I will wander by myself

πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.

of necessity, if perchance anyone will give me a cup of water and a loaf.

καί κʼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

And I would go to the house of divine Odysseus,

ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

and bring tidings to wise Penelope,

καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,

and mingle with the insolent suitors,

εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρίʼ ἔχοντες.

to see if they would give me a meal, since they have countless good things.

αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν ἅσσʼ ἐθέλοιεν.

Quickly would I do good service among them in all that they wish.

ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·

For I will tell you, and do you mark and hear me;

Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων

by the favor of Hermes the messenger, who grants

ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,

grace and glory to the works of all men,

δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,

in handiwork no other mortal could vie with me,

πῦρ τʼ εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,

whether to pile up a fire well, or to cleave dry wood,

δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,

or to carve meat and roast it and pour wine,

οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες³.

even such things as inferiors minister to nobles."

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·

Then, deeply moved, you spoke to him, swineherd Eumaeus:

ὤ μοι, ξεῖνε, τίη τοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα

"Ah me, stranger, why has this thought come into

ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.

your mind? Surely you must desire to perish utterly there,

εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,

if indeed you are bent on entering the throng of suitors,

τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.

whose insolence and violence reach the iron heaven.

οὔ τοι τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,

No, their servants are not of such sort as you,

ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,

but they are young men, well clad in cloaks and tunics,

αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,

and ever glossed with oil are their heads and fair faces—

οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι

they it is who minister to them; and well-polished tables

σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδʼ οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.

are laden with bread and meat and wine.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,

Nay, abide here; for no one is vexed by your presence,

οὔτʼ ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.

neither I, nor any other of my comrades who are with me.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

But when the dear son of Odysseus comes,

κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,

he will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic,

πέμψει δʼ ὅππη σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

To him then spoke in answer much-enduring noble Odysseus:

αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο

"May you, Eumaeus, be as dear to father Zeus

ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μʼ ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.

as you are to me, because you have made me cease from wandering and grievous woe.

πλαγκτοσύνης δʼ οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·

For than wandering there is no other evil worse for mortals;

ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔχουσιν

yet for their cursed belly's sake men suffer hard sorrows,

ἀνέρες, ὅν τινʼ ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.

on whomsoever wandering and evil plight and pain may come.

νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναι τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,

But now, since you keep me here and bid me await him,

εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

come, tell me of the mother of divine Odysseus,

πατρός θʼ, ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,

and of his father, whom he left behind when he went on the threshold of old age—

ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,

whether they are still living beneath the rays of the sun,

ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.

or are already dead and in the house of Hades."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·

To him in turn the swineherd, leader of men, spoke:

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

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

Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δʼ εὔχεται αἰεὶ

Laertes indeed still lives, but ever prays to Zeus

θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν·

that his soul may perish from his limbs within his halls;

Syntax notes3 items

§15.299νήσοισιν ... θοῇσιν
The adjective θοῇσιν (dative plural of θοός "swift, sharp") is used of islands, either in the sense of "swift-running" (surrounded by swift currents) or "pointed / sharp". It is generally thought to refer to the Echinades islands on Telemachus' route.
§15.300ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ
In this indirect question, the potential optative with κεν (ἤ κεν ... ἦ κεν ...) expresses a deliberation of possibility or apprehension: "whether he might escape death or be captured."
§15.324οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες
In this comparative clause, οἷα (accusative neuter plural of the relative pronoun used adverbially) refers to the preceding infinitives of service. χέρηες ("inferiors") is the subject, and τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι ("nobles", dative) is the indirect object of the verb παραδρώωσι ("serve").

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.285-15.354