Telemachus' Return and the Omen of the Hawk — Odyssey §15.492-15.557 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω.

And now, after wandering through many cities of men, I have come here."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

Thus they spoke such things to one another,

καδδραθέτην¹ δʼ οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·

and they slept for no long time, but only for a little while;

αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου

for soon came fair-throned Dawn. But on the shore

Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δʼ ἕλον ἱστὸν

Telemachus' companions loosed the sails, and quickly took down the mast,

καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρυσσαν ἐρετμοῖς·

and eagerly drew the ship into the anchorage with their oars.

ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·

They cast out the anchor-stones, and bound the stern cables;

ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,

and they themselves stepped out onto the breaking wave of the sea,

δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.

and prepared their meal and mixed the sparkling wine.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

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

τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·

among them wise Telemachus began to speak:

ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδʼ ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,

"Do you now row the black ship to the city,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·

but I will visit the fields and the herdsmen;

ἑσπέριος δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.

and in the evening, having looked over my lands, I will go down to the city.

ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν² ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,

And in the morning I would set before you a reward for your journey,

δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.

a good feast of meat and sweet-drinking wine."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

To him in turn godlike Theoclymenus spoke:

πῆ γὰρ ἐγώ, φίλε τέκνον, ἴω; τεῦ δώμαθʼ ἵκωμαι

"Where then shall I go, dear child? Whose house shall I reach,

ἀνδρῶν οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;

of the men who rule in rugged Ithaca?

ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;

Or shall I go straight to your mother's and your own house?"

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And him in turn wise Telemachus answered:

ἄλλως μέν σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην³

"In other circumstances indeed, I would bid you go to our house;

ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ

for there is no lack of hospitality. But for yourself

χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ

it would be worse, since I shall be away, and my mother will not

ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

see you; for she does not often appear before the suitors in the house,

φαίνεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.

but apart from them in the upper chamber she weaves a web.

ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,

But I will tell you of another man whom you might go to,

Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,

Eurymachus, the glorious son of wise Polybus,

τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·

whom now the Ithacans look upon as a god;

καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα

for he is by far the best man, and is most eager

μητέρʼ ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.

to marry my mother and to have the kingship of Odysseus.

ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,

But Olympian Zeus indeed knows this, who dwells in the ether,

εἴ κέ σφι πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.

whether he will bring upon them an evil day before their marriage."

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,

Even as he spoke, a bird flew on his right,

κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι

a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo. In his talons

τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε

he held a dove and was plucking it, and shed the feathers to the ground

μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.

midway between the ship and Telemachus himself.

τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας

Then Theoclymenus called him apart from his companions,

ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

and grasped his hand and spoke a word and addressed him:

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἔπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις

"Telemachus, not without a god did this bird fly on your right;

ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.

for I knew, looking at it face to face, that it was an omen.

ὑμετέρου δʼ οὐκ ἔστι γένος βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο

There is no other house more kingly than yours

ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.

in the land of Ithaca, but you are mighty forever."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And him in turn wise Telemachus answered:

αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·

"Would indeed, stranger, that this word might be fulfilled!

τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα

Then you would soon know friendship and many gifts

ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.

from me, so that anyone meeting you would call you blessed."

ἦ καὶ Πείραιον προσεφώνεε, πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·

He spoke, and addressed Peiraeus, his faithful companion:

Πείραιε Κλυτίδη, σὺ δέ μοι τά περ ἄλλα μάλιστα

"Peiraeus, son of Clytius, you who in other things especially

πείθῃ⁴ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἵ μοι Πύλον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο·

hearken to me of my companions who followed me to Pylos;

καὶ νῦν μοι τὸν ξεῖνον ἄγων ἐν δώμασι σοῖσιν

even now, I pray you, take this stranger to your house,

ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.

and kindly cherish and honor him until I come."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And him in turn Peiraeus, famous with the spear, answered:

Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ γάρ κεν σὺ πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδε μίμνοι,

"Telemachus, even if you should remain here for a long time,

τόνδε τʼ ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.

I will take care of him, and there shall be no lack of hospitality for him."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβη, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους

So saying, he went on board the ship, and ordered his companions

αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.

themselves to embark and to loose the stern cables.

οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.

And they quickly embarked and sat down upon the benches.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

And Telemachus bound his beautiful sandals under his feet,

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

and took his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,

νηὸς ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.

from the deck of the ship; and they loosed the stern cables.

οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε

They pushed off and sailed to the city, as ordered

Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

by Telemachus, the dear son of godlike Odysseus.

τὸν δʼ ὦκα προβιβάντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,

But his feet swiftly bore him walking onward, until he reached the courtyard,

ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης

where were his countless swine, with whom the good swineherd

ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς,

used to spend the night, knowing kind thoughts toward his masters.

Syntax notes4 items

§§15.494καδδραθέτην
The third-person dual aorist of `καταδαρθάνω` (to sleep). The subject refers to the two speakers, Odysseus and Eumaeus, who were conversing in the previous lines.
§§15.506ὔμμιν
An epic and dialectal form of the second-person plural pronoun in the dative case (corresponding to Attic `ὑμῖν`), serving here as the indirect object ("to you").
§§15.513ἄλλως μέν σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην
The particle `ἄν` combined with the optative `κελοίμην` (from `κέλομαι`, "to bid/urge") forms a potential optative or a conditional apodosis ("otherwise, I would bid you go to our house"), indicating a hypothetical situation contrary to current reality.
§§15.540πείθῃ
The second-person singular present indicative middle/passive of `πείθω`. In the middle voice, it means "to obey" or "to hearken to," taking the dative pronoun `μοι` from the previous line to mean "you obey me."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.492-15.557