The Challenge of Irus and Preparations for the Fight — Odyssey §18.1-18.71 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ πτωχὸς πανδήμιος, ὃς κατὰ ἄστυ

And there came a common beggar, who

πτωχεύεσκʼ Ἰθάκης, μετὰ δʼ ἔπρεπε γαστέρι μάργῃ

used to beg through the town of Ithaca; and he was notable for his greedy belly,

ἀζηχὲς φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἦν ἲς

eating and drinking without cease; but he had no strength

οὐδὲ βίη, εἶδος δὲ μάλα μέγας ἦν ὁράασθαι¹.

nor might, though he was very large in size to look upon.

Ἀρναῖος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τὸ γὰρ θέτο πότνια μήτηρ

Arnaeus was his name; for his lady mother had given him this name

ἐκ γενετῆς· Ἶρον δὲ νέοι κίκλησκον ἅπαντες,

from his birth; but all the young men called him Irus,

οὕνεκʼ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε κιών, ὅτε πού τις ἀνώγοι·

because he used to go and carry messages whenever anyone bade him.

ὅς ῥʼ ἐλθὼν Ὀδυσῆα διώκετο οἷο δόμοιο,

He, coming, would drive Odysseus from his own house,

καί μιν νεικείων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and railing at him, he spoke winged words:

εἶκε, γέρον, προθύρου, μὴ δὴ τάχα καὶ ποδὸς ἕλκῃ².

'Yield, old man, from the doorway, lest soon you be even dragged out by the foot.

οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅτι δή μοι ἐπιλλίζουσιν ἅπαντες,

Do you not see that they all are winking at me

ἑλκέμεναι δὲ κέλονται; ἐγὼ δʼ αἰσχύνομαι ἔμπης.

and bidding me drag you? But I am ashamed nevertheless.

ἀλλʼ ἄνα, μὴ τάχα νῶϊν ἔρις καὶ χερσὶ γένηται.

But arise, lest soon our strife turn even to blows of the hands.'

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Then looking darkly at him, wise Odysseus addressed him:

δαιμόνιʼ, οὔτε τί σε ῥέζω κακὸν οὔτʼ ἀγορεύω,

'Sir, I do you no evil, nor do I speak ill of you,

οὔτε τινὰ φθονέω δόμεναι καὶ πόλλʼ ἀνελόντα.

nor do I grudge that anyone should give to you, though he take and give much.

οὐδὸς δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ὅδε χείσεται, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

This threshold will hold us both, nor is there any need for you

ἀλλοτρίων φθονέειν· δοκέεις δέ μοι εἶναι ἀλήτης

to grudge others' goods; you seem to me to be a wanderer

ὥς περ ἐγών, ὄλβον δὲ θεοὶ μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν.

even as I am, and it is the gods who are likely to grant prosperity.

χερσὶ δὲ μή τι λίην προκαλίζεο, μή με χολώσῃς,

But do not challenge me too much to blows of the hands, lest you anger me,

μή σε γέρων περ ἐὼν στῆθος καὶ χείλεα φύρσω

lest, old though I am, I defile your breast and lips

αἵματος³· ἡσυχίη δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτʼ εἴη

with blood; so would I have even greater peace

αὔριον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σʼ ὑποστρέψεσθαι ὀΐω

tomorrow; for indeed I do not think that you will return

δεύτερον ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

a second time to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes.'

τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος προσεφώνεεν Ἶρος ἀλήτης·

To him, in great wrath, spoke the wanderer Irus:

ὢ πόποι, ὡς ὁ μολοβρὸς ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγορεύει,

'Ah, look now, how glibly this greedy glutton speaks,

γρηῒ καμινοῖ ἶσος· ὃν ἂν κακὰ μητισαίμην

like an old oven-woman! I would devise evil for him,

κόπτων ἀμφοτέρῃσι, χαμαὶ δέ κε πάντας ὀδόντας

smiting him with both hands, and would knock all the teeth

γναθμῶν ἐξελάσαιμι συὸς ὣς ληϊβοτείρης.

from his jaws upon the ground, like a crop-devouring wild sow.

ζῶσαι νῦν, ἵνα πάντες ἐπιγνώωσι καὶ οἵδε

Gird yourself now, so that all these too may know

μαρναμένους· πῶς δʼ ἂν σὺ νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχοιο;

of our fighting; but how could you fight with a younger man?'

ὣς οἱ μὲν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων

Thus they before the high doors

οὐδοῦ ἔπι ξεστοῦ πανθυμαδὸν ὀκριόωντο.

on the polished threshold with all their hearts were provoking each other.

τοῖϊν δὲ ξυνέηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀντινόοιο,

And the mighty strength of Antinous heard the two,

ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνει μνηστήρεσσιν·

and laughing merrily, he spoke among the suitors:

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μέν πώ τι πάρος τοιοῦτον ἐτύχθη,

'Friends, never before has any such thing happened,

οἵην τερπωλὴν θεὸς ἤγαγεν ἐς τόδε δῶμα.

such delight as a god has brought to this house.

ὁ ξεῖνός τε καὶ Ἶρος ἐρίζετον ἀλλήλοιϊν

The stranger and Irus are wrangling with each other

χερσὶ μαχέσσασθαι· ἀλλὰ ξυνελάσσομεν ὦκα.

to fight with their fists; let us set them together quickly!'

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀνήϊξαν γελόωντες,

So he spoke, and they all sprang up laughing,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα πτωχοὺς κακοείμονας ἠγερέθοντο.

and gathered around the ill-clad beggars.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

Then Antinous spoke among them, Eupeithes' son:

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι εἴπω.

'Hear me, proud suitors, that I may say something.

γαστέρες αἵδʼ αἰγῶν κέατʼ ἐν πυρί, τὰς ἐπὶ δόρπῳ

Here are goats' bellies lying on the fire, which for supper

κατθέμεθα κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος ἐμπλήσαντες·

we laid down, filled with fat and blood.

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,

Whichever of the two wins and proves the better man,

τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀναστὰς αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω·

let him stand up and choose for himself whichever of these he will.

αἰεὶ αὖθʼ ἡμῖν μεταδαίσεται, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον

And he shall always feast with us, nor will we allow any other

πτωχὸν ἔσω μίσγεσθαι ἐάσομεν αἰτήσοντα.

beggar to mingle among us within to ask for alms.'

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

So spoke Antinous, and his word was pleasing to them.

τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Then with crafty mind wise Odysseus spoke among them:

ὦ φίλοι, οὔ πως ἔστι νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχεσθαι

'Friends, there is no way for an old man, worn out with distress,

ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον⁴· ἀλλά με γαστὴρ

to fight with a younger man; but my evil-working belly

ὀτρύνει κακοεργός, ἵνα πληγῇσι δαμείω.

urges me on, that I may be subdued by blows.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,

But come, now, all of you swear to me a mighty oath,

μή τις ἐπʼ Ἴρῳ ἦρα φέρων⁵ ἐμὲ χειρὶ βαρείῃ

lest any man, showing favor to Irus, with heavy hand

πλήξῃ ἀτασθάλλων, τούτῳ δέ με ἶφι δαμάσσῃ.

strike me unfairly, and so by force subdue me for him.'

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀπώμνυον ὡς ἐκέλευεν.

So he spoke, and they all swore that they would not, as he bade.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

But when they had sworn and completed the oath,

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·

then the mighty strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:

ξεῖνʼ, εἴ σʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

'Stranger, if your heart and proud spirit urge you

τοῦτον ἀλέξασθαι, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τινʼ Ἀχαιῶν

to ward off this fellow, then fear none of the other

δείδιθʼ, ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσεται ὅς κέ σε θείνῃ·

Achaeans; for whoever strikes you shall fight against more;

ξεινοδόκος μὲν ἐγών, ἐπὶ δʼ αἰνεῖτον βασιλῆες,

I am the host, and the kings assent,

Ἀντίνοός τε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος, πεπνυμένω ἄμφω.

Antinous and Eurymachus, prudent men both.'

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

So he spoke, and they all approved. Then Odysseus

ζώσατο μὲν ῥάκεσιν περὶ μήδεα, φαῖνε δὲ μηροὺς

girded his rags about his loins, and showed his thighs,

καλούς τε μεγάλους τε, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι

comely and great, and his broad shoulders

στήθεά τε στιβαροί τε βραχίονες· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη

and breast and strong arms were revealed. And Athena,

ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν.

drawing near, made larger the limbs of the shepherd of the people.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως ἀγάσαντο·

And all the suitors marvelled exceedingly;

Syntax notes5 items

§18.4εἶδος ... ὁράασθαι
εἶδος is an accusative of respect ("in appearance"). ὁράασθαι is an epexegetical infinitive limiting the adjective μέγας ("great to look upon").
§18.10μὴ δὴ τάχα καὶ ποδὸς ἕλκῃ
ἕλκῃ is the third-person singular subjunctive (passive or middle). The negative particle μὴ with an independent subjunctive in the main clause expresses apprehension or a warning ("lest you be dragged"). ποδός is a partive genitive indicating the part of the body seized ("by the foot").
§18.21μή σε ... στῆθος καὶ χείλεα φύρσω αἵματος
φύρσω is an aorist subjunctive expressing a warning ("lest I stain..."). σε ("you") and στῆθος καὶ χείλεα ("chest and lips") stand in the "whole and part" accusative construction (schema de kath' holon kai meros). αἵματος is a genitive of material/association with a verb of staining.
§18.53δύῃ ἀρημένον
ἀρημένον is a perfect passive participle (traditionally derived from ἀράομαι "to ruin, harm", or treated as an adjectival form connected with ἀρή "ruin"). It means "worn out, overcome by distress (δύῃ)".
§18.56ἦρα φέρων
ἦρα φέρειν is an idiomatic expression meaning "to bring favor" or "to side with someone" (usually taking a dative, here with the prepositional phrase ἐπʼ Ἴρῳ, "showing favor to Irus").

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:18.1-18.71