Eurymachus's Mockery and the Thrown Footstool — Odyssey §18.358-18.428 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς—μισθὸς δέ τοι ἄρκιος ἔσται—

"at the edge of the field—and your pay would be sure—

αἱμασιάς τε λέγων¹ καὶ δένδρεα μακρὰ φυτεύων;

gathering stones for dry walls and planting tall trees?

ἔνθα κʼ ἐγὼ σῖτον μὲν ἐπηετανὸν παρέχοιμι,

There indeed I would provide you with abundant food,

εἵματα δʼ ἀμφιέσαιμι ποσίν θʼ ὑποδήματα δοίην.

and clothe you with garments and give sandals for your feet.

ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθες, οὐκ ἐθελήσεις

But since you have learned only bad deeds, you will not wish

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσειν κατὰ δῆμον

to go about work, but you prefer to go begging through the land,

βούλεαι, ὄφρʼ ἄν ἔχῃς βόσκειν σὴν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.

so that you may have food to feed your insatiable belly."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Then Odysseus of many wiles addressed him in answer:

Εὐρύμαχʼ, εἰ γὰρ νῶϊν ἔρις ἔργοιο γένοιτο²

"Eurymachus, if only there might be a contest in work between us two,

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται,

in the spring season, when the days are long,

ἐν ποίῃ, δρέπανον μὲν ἐγὼν εὐκαμπὲς ἔχοιμι,

in the meadow, and I had a well-curved scythe,

καὶ δὲ σὺ τοῖον ἔχοις, ἵνα πειρησαίμεθα ἔργου

and you had another like it, so that we might test our work,

νήστιες ἄχρι μάλα κνέφαος, ποίη δὲ παρείη.

fasting until very late dusk, and there would be plenty of grass.

εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ βόες εἶεν ἐλαυνέμεν, οἵ περ ἄριστοι,

Or if there were oxen to drive, the very best ones,

αἴθωνες, μεγάλοι, ἄμφω κεκορηότε ποίης,

fiery and large, both well-fed on grass,

ἥλικες, ἰσοφόροι, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,

of equal age, equal-pulling, whose strength is not weak,

τετράγυον δʼ εἴη, εἴκοι δʼ ὑπὸ βῶλος ἀρότρῳ·

and there were a four-acre field, and the soil would yield to the plow;

τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις, εἰ ὦλκα διηνεκέα προταμοίμην.

then you would see me, whether I could cut a continuous straight furrow.

εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ πόλεμόν ποθεν ὁρμήσειε Κρονίων

Or again, if the son of Cronos should stir up war from somewhere

σήμερον, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ σάκος εἴη καὶ δύο δοῦρε

today, and I had a shield and two spears

καὶ κυνέη πάγχαλκος, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖα,

and a helmet all of bronze, fitted well upon my temples;

τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις πρώτοισιν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι μιγέντα,

then you would see me mingled among the foremost champions,

οὐδʼ ἄν μοι τὴν γαστέρʼ ὀνειδίζων ἀγορεύοις.

nor would you speak mocking my belly.

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὑβρίξεις, καί τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής·

But you are very insolent, and your mind is cruel;

καί πού τις δοκέεις μέγας ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ κραταιός,

and surely you think yourself to be someone great and mighty,

οὕνεκα πὰρ παύροισι καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθοῖσιν ὁμιλεῖς.

because you associate with few, and those not good men.

εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,

αἶψά κέ τοι τὰ θύρετρα, καὶ εὐρέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,

straightway those doors, very wide though they are,

φεύγοντι στείνοιτο διὲκ προθύροιο θύραζε.

would be narrow for you as you flee outward through the vestibule."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐχολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

So he spoke, and Eurymachus grew even more angry in his heart,

καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and looking grimly at him, he addressed him with winged words:

ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τάχα τοι τελέω κακόν, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις

"Ah, wretch, surely I will quickly bring evil upon you for what you say

θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

so boldly among many men, and have no fear in your heart.

ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ

Surely wine has mastered your wits, or else your mind is ever

τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.

such, and that is why you babble vainly.

ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;

Are you beside yourself because you have beaten the vagabond Irus?"

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας σφέλας ἔλλαβεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

So speaking, he seized a footstool; but Odysseus

Ἀμφινόμου πρὸς γοῦνα καθέζετο Δουλιχιῆος,

sat down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium,

Εὐρύμαχον δείσας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οἰνοχόον βάλε χεῖρα

fearing Eurymachus. And Eurymachus struck the cupbearer on his right

δεξιτερήν³· πρόχοος δὲ χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα,

hand; and the pitcher fell clattering to the ground,

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ οἰμώξας πέσεν ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι.

and he groaning fell backward in the dust.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,

Then the suitors clamored throughout the shadowy halls,

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

and thus would one speak, looking at his neighbor:

αἴθʼ ὤφελλʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλλοθʼ ὀλέσθαι⁴

"Would that the wandering stranger had perished elsewhere

πρὶν ἐλθεῖν· τῷ οὔ τι τόσον κέλαδον μετέθηκε.

before coming here; then he would not have brought such an uproar among us.

νῦν δὲ περὶ πτωχῶν ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς

But now we are wrangling about beggars, and there will be no pleasure

ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.

in the good feast, since the worse things prevail."

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο

Then the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:

δαιμόνιοι, μαίνεσθε καὶ οὐκέτι κεύθετε θυμῷ

"Fools, you are mad, and no longer hide in your hearts

βρωτὺν οὐδὲ ποτῆτα· θεῶν νύ τις ὔμμʼ ὀροθύνει.

your food and drink; surely some god is stirring you up.

ἀλλʼ εὖ δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες,

But now that you have dined well, go home and lay down to sleep,

ὁππότε θυμὸς ἄνωγε· διώκω δʼ οὔ τινʼ ἐγώ γε.

whenever your heart bids you; but I drive no one away."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες

So he spoke, and they all bit their lips

Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.

and marveled at Telemachus, because he spoke so boldly.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε

And Amphinomus spoke and addressed them,

Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος·

the glorious son of Nisus, the king, son of Aretias:

ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ

"Friends, surely no one should be angry and attack with hostile words

ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·

against what has been spoken justly;

μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον

do not ill-treat the stranger nor any of the servants

δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.

who are in the house of divine Odysseus.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,

But come, let the cupbearer pour the first drops into the cups,

ὄφρα σπείσαντες κατακείομεν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·

so that we may pour libations and go home to sleep.

τὸν ξεῖνον δὲ ἐῶμεν ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος

And let us leave the stranger in the halls of Odysseus

Τηλεμάχῳ μελέμεν· τοῦ γὰρ φίλον ἵκετο δῶμα.

to be cared for by Telemachus, for to his dear house he came."

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ἑαδότα μῦθον ἔειπε.

So he spoke, and his word was pleasing to them all.

τοῖσιν δὲ κρητῆρα κεράσσατο Μούλιος ἥρως,

And the hero Mulius mixed the bowl for them,

κῆρυξ Δουλιχιεύς· θεράπων δʼ ἦν Ἀμφινόμοιο·

the herald of Dulichium, who was the squire of Amphinomus;

νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσι

and he distributed it to all in turn; and they poured libations

σπείσαντες μακάρεσσι πίον μελιηδέα οἶνον.

to the blessed gods and drank the honey-sweet wine.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

But when they had poured libations and drunk as much as their heart desired,

βάν ῥʼ ἴμεναι κείοντες ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος.

they went each to his own house to lay down to sleep.

Syntax notes4 items

§§18.359αἱμασιάς τε λέγων
The present participle λέγων here is derived not from the sense of "speaking," but from the ancient poetic usage of λέγω meaning "to gather" or "collect," hence "gathering stones for dry walls."
§§18.366εἰ γὰρ νῶϊν ἔρις ἔργοιο γένοιτο
The particle of wish εἰ γάρ followed by the optative (γένοιτο) expresses a hypothetical or remote wish ("if only there might be a contest in work between us two").
§§18.396οἰνοχόον βάλε χεῖρα / δεξιτερήν
Double accusative of the whole and the part (the construction καθ' ὅλον καὶ μέρος). The verb βάλε ("struck") takes both the person affected (οἰνοχόον) and the specific body part hit (χεῖρα δεξιτερήν) in the accusative case.
§§18.401αἴθʼ ὤφελλʼ ... ὀλέσθαι
Expresses an unfulfilled wish in the past. The particle αἴθε (or εἴθε) combined with ὤφελλε (aorist of ὀφείλω) and the infinitive (ὀλέσθαι) yields "would that he had perished (but he did not)."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:18.358-18.428