Theoclymenus' Prophecy and Odysseus' Departure for Town — Odyssey §17.139-17.204 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι¹ παρακλιδὸν οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,

"would speak of other things, turning aside, nor will I deceive you;

ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,

but what the unerring old man of the sea told me,

τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.

of these things I will not hide or conceal a single word from you.

φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν² κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,

He said he had seen him on an island suffering strong griefs,

νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ

in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who by necessity

ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.

holds him; and he cannot come to his own fatherland.

οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,

For he has near him no well-oared ships and companions,

οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης

who might send him over the broad back of the sea.'

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος.

So spoke the son of Atreus, Menelaus, famous with the spear.

ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον

Having accomplished these things, I returned; and the immortals

ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.

gave me a fair wind, who sent me quickly to my dear fatherland."

ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε.

So he spoke, and he stirred the heart within her breast.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·

And to them also spoke the godlike Theoclymenus:

ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,

"O revered wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,

ἦ τοι ὅ γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδεν, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·

indeed he does not know clearly, but listen to my word;

ἀτρεκέως γάρ σοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω·

for I will prophesy to you truly, nor will I conceal it.

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα

Let Zeus first of the gods be witness now, and the hospitable table,

ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,

and the hearth of noble Odysseus, to which I have come,

ὡς ἦ τοι Ὀδυσεὺς ἤδη ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ,

that indeed Odysseus is already in his fatherland,

ἥμενος ἢ ἕρπων, τάδε πευθόμενος κακὰ ἔργα,

sitting or moving, learning of these evil deeds,

ἔστιν, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει·

and he is sowing evil for all the suitors.

τοῖον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸς

Such a bird of omen indeed I, on the well-benched ship

ἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν.

sitting, perceived, and shouted out to Telemachus."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

And to him wise Penelope spoke in turn:

αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·

"Would that this word, stranger, might be fulfilled;

τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα

then you would straightway know my friendship and many gifts

ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.

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

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

Thus indeed they spoke such things to one another,

μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο

while the suitors before the halls of Odysseus

δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες,

were enjoying themselves with quoits and throwing with javelins,

ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος ὕβριν ἔχοντες.

on the level pavement, where before they showed their insolence.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλα

But when it was time for dinner and the sheep came

πάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δʼ ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ,

from all sides from the fields, and those led them who did so before,

καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλιστα

then indeed Medon spoke to them; for he most of all

ἥνδανε κηρύκων, καὶ σφιν παρεγίγνετο δαιτί·

pleased the heralds, and was present at their feast:

κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,

"Youths, since indeed you have all pleased your heart with contests,

ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα·

go to the house, so that we may prepare the feast;

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι.

for it is in no way a bad thing to take dinner in due season."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,

So he spoke, and they rose up and went, and obeyed his word.

οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,

and they sacrificed large sheep and fat goats,

ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην,

and they sacrificed fatted swine and a heifer from the herd,

δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι. τοὶ δʼ ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδε

preparing the feast. But they from the field to the city

ὠτρύνοντʼ Ὀδυσεύς τʼ ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.

were hastening to go, both Odysseus and the noble swineherd.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·

And to them the swineherd, leader of men, began speaking:

ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδʼ ἰέναι μενεαίνεις

"Stranger, since indeed you are eager to go to the city

σήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός—ἦ σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε

today, as my master commanded—indeed I

αὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι·

would wish you to be left here as a keeper of the farmsteads;

ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσω

but I revere him and fear lest hereafter he

νεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τʼ ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί—

chide me; and hard are the rebukes of masters—

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλιστα

but come now, let us go; for indeed the day

ἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται.

is mostly past, and soon towards evening it will be colder."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

And answering him, resourceful Odysseus addressed him:

γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.

"I know, I understand; you command these things to one who comprehends.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.

But let us go, and you lead the way all through.

δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστίν,

And give me, if indeed you have a cut staff anywhere,

σκηρίπτεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φατʼ ἀρισφαλέʼ ἔμμεναι οὐδόν.

to lean upon, since indeed you said the path was very slippery."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,

He spoke, and about his shoulders he cast his miserable pouch,

πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ·

full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap;

Εὔμαιος δʼ ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.

and Eumaeus indeed gave him a welcome staff.

τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρες

The two went, and the dogs and the herdsmen

ῥύατʼ ὄπισθε μένοντες· ὁ δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακτα

stayed behind to guard the farmstead; and he led his master to the city,

πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,

like a wretched beggar and an old man,

σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.

leaning on a staff; and he had miserable garments about his body.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσαν

But when indeed, walking down the rugged path,

Syntax notes2 items

§17.139ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι
A potential optative construction continuing from "οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε" in the preceding line 138, expressing a strong determination: "I would not speak of other things, turning aside."
§17.142φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν
The subject of the infinitive ἰδέειν (Homeric form of ἰδεῖν) is the demonstrative pronoun ὅ γʼ (referring to Proteus), and its object is the accusative μιν (referring to Odysseus), forming an indirect statement: "He said that he had seen him."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:17.139-17.204