Menelaus and Helen Present Farewell Gifts to Telemachus — Odyssey §15.74-15.144 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.

One should cherish a guest while he is present, and send him on his way when he wishes to go.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω

But wait until I bring beautiful gifts and place them on your chariot,

καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ

and you see them with your eyes, and I tell the women

δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.

to prepare a meal in the halls from the abundant store within.

ἀμφότερον¹, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,

It is both a glory, a splendor, and a benefit,

δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.

that you should dine before going over the wide, boundless earth.

εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,

And if you wish to turn your course through Hellas and mid-Argos,

ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,

so that I myself may accompany you, I will yoke horses for you,

ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας

and guide you through the cities of men; nor will anyone

αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,

send us away empty-handed, but will give us some one thing to carry away,

ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων,

either some tripod of fine bronze, or a cauldron,

ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.

or two mules, or a golden cup."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer:

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

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

βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν

I wish now to return to our own home; for when I departed

οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·

I left behind no guardian over my possessions.

μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι²,

Lest while seeking my godlike father I myself should perish,

ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.

or some goodly treasure be lost to me from my halls."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

When therefore Menelaus, good at the war-cry, heard this,

αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε

straightway he ordered his wife and her handmaids

δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.

to prepare a meal in the halls from the abundant store within.

ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,

And near him came Eteoneus, son of Boethous,

ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ·

rising from his bed, since he dwelt not far from him;

τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

Menelaus, good at the war-cry, ordered him to kindle a fire

ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.

and roast meat; and he indeed, having heard, did not disobey.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,

But he himself went down into his fragrant store-chamber,

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γʼ Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.

not alone, but Helen and Megapenthes went with him.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο,

But when indeed they came where the treasures were stored,

Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,

then the son of Atreus took a two-handled cup,

υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν

and ordered his son Megapenthes to carry a mixing-bowl

ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,

of silver; and Helen stood by the chests,

ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.

where were her richly-embroidered robes, which she herself had wrought.

τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,

One of these Helen, fairest of women, lifted and carried,

ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,

which was the most beautiful in embroidery and the largest,

ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.

and shone like a star; and it lay beneath all the others.

βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο

And they went forward through the house until they came

Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

to Telemachus; and fair-haired Menelaus spoke to him:

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς³,

"Telemachus, indeed may Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,

ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

accomplish for you your return, just as you desire in your heart.

δώρων δʼ, ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,

And of the gifts, as many as are stored as treasures in my house,

δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.

I will give you the one which is finest and most precious.

δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ

I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is

ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,

all of silver, and the lips are finished with gold,

ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,

the work of Hephaestus; and the hero Phadimus, king of the Sidonians,

Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε

gave it to me, when his house sheltered me

κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.

as I returned thence; and to you I wish to present this."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον

Thus having spoken, the hero, son of Atreus, placed the two-handled cup in his hand;

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν

and then strong Megapenthes brought the shining

θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,

silver mixing-bowl and set it before him;

ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος

and fair-cheeked Helen stood by him

πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

having the robe in her hands, and spoke and addressed him:

δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο δίδωμι,

"I too give you this gift, dear child,

μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,

a memorial of Helen's hands, for the season of your longed-for marriage,

σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ

for your wife to wear; but until then let it lie

κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο

in your hall beside your dear mother. And may you return with joy

οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

to your well-built house and to your native land."

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.

Thus having spoken, she placed it in his hands, and he received it rejoicing.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως

And the hero Pisistratus received them and placed them in the wicker-basket,

δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·

and admired them all in his heart.

τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

And fair-haired Menelaus led them to the house;

ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.

and then they sat down on the couches and chairs.

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

And a handmaid brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher

καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

and poured it over a silver basin,

νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

to wash their hands; and beside them she drew a polished table.

σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα·

And the respected housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,

εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·

laying on many dainties, favoring them from what was at hand.

πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·

And near them the son of Boethous carved the meat and distributed portions,

οἰνοχόει δʼ υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

and the son of glorious Menelaus poured the wine.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

And they stretched forth their hands to the good things lying ready before them.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

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

δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

indeed then Telemachus and the illustrious son of Nestor...

Syntax notes3 items

15.78ἀμφότερον
The neuter accusative singular ἀμφότερον is used adverbially ('in both ways', 'at once') in apposition to the subsequent terms κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ.
15.90μὴ ... ὄλωμαι
This is an independent use of the subjunctive with μή expressing fear or apprehension ('lest I perish'). It directly conveys the underlying anxiety behind his wish (βούλομαι).
15.111ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς
A relative clause introduced by the relative adverb ὅπως, modifying the antecedent νόστον ('your return, just as you desire it in your heart').

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.74-15.144