Telemachus Convenes the Assembly to Denounce the Suitors — Odyssey §2.1-2.70 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

When early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,

ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφιν¹ Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς

rose from his bed the dear son of Odysseus,

εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,

putting on his clothes; and around his shoulder he slung his sharp sword,

ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

and under his shining feet he bound his fair sandals,

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην.

and went forth from his chamber, like a god to look upon.

αἶψα δὲ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε

Straightway he ordered the clear-voiced heralds

κηρύσσειν ἀγορήνδε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.

to summon the long-haired Achaeans to the assembly.

οἱ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.

They made the summons, and the others gathered very quickly.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,

But when they were gathered and the assembly was met,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,

he went to the assembly, and in his hand he held a bronze spear,

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.

not alone, but with him two swift hounds followed.

θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη.

And upon him Athena shed wondrous grace.

τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο·

All the people marveled at him as he came;

ἕζετο δʼ ἐν πατρὸς θώκῳ, εἶξαν δὲ γέροντες.

he sat in his father's seat, and the elders made way.

τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἥρως Αἰγύπτιος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,

Then among them the hero Aegyptius began to speak,

ὃς δὴ γήραϊ κυφὸς ἔην καὶ μυρία ᾔδη.

who was bent with age and knew thousands of things.

καὶ γὰρ τοῦ φίλος υἱὸς ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι

For his dear son, the spearman Antiphus, had gone

Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν,

with godlike Odysseus to horse-famed Ilium in the hollow ships;

Ἄντιφος αἰχμητής· τὸν δʼ ἄγριος ἔκτανε Κύκλωψ

but him the savage Cyclops slew

ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ, πύματον δʼ ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.

in his hollow cave, and made him his last meal.

τρεῖς δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔσαν, καὶ ὁ μὲν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,

Three others he had: one, Eurynomus, associated with the suitors,

Εὐρύνομος, δύο δʼ αἰὲν ἔχον πατρώια ἔργα.

while two always kept their father's estates.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς τοῦ λήθετʼ ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων.

But not even so did he forget the other, mourning and grieving.

τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

Weeping for him, he spoke and addressed them:

κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·

"Hear now from me, men of Ithaca, what I shall say.

οὔτε ποθʼ ἡμετέρη ἀγορὴ γένετʼ οὔτε θόωκος

Never has our assembly been held, nor our session,

ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς δῖος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσί.

since noble Odysseus went in the hollow ships.

νῦν δὲ τίς ὧδʼ ἤγειρε; τίνα χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει

But now, who has gathered us thus? To whom has such need come,

ἠὲ νέων ἀνδρῶν ἢ οἳ προγενέστεροί εἰσιν;

whether of the young men or of those who are older?

ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυεν ἐρχομένοιο,

Has he heard some news of an army returning,

ἥν χʼ ἡμῖν σάφα εἴποι, ὅτε πρότερός γε πύθοιτο;

which he might clearly tell us, since he heard it first?

ἦέ τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκεται ἠδʼ ἀγορεύει;

Or is he declaring and speaking of some other public matter?

ἐσθλός μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι, ὀνήμενος. εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ

An honorable man he seems to me, and blessed. May Zeus

Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν, ὅτι φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.

accomplish for him the good that he purposes in his mind."

ὣς φάτο, χαῖρε δὲ φήμῃ Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

So he spoke, and the dear son of Odysseus rejoiced at the omen;

οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν ἧστο, μενοίνησεν δʼ ἀγορεύειν,

he sat no longer, but was eager to speak,

στῆ δὲ μέσῃ ἀγορῇ· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρὶ

and stood in the midst of the assembly; and into his hand the staff was placed

κῆρυξ Πεισήνωρ πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς.

by the herald Peisenor, who knew wise counsels.

πρῶτον ἔπειτα γέροντα καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·

Then first, addressing the old man, he spoke:

ὦ γέρον, οὐχ ἑκὰς οὗτος ἀνήρ, τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι αὐτός,

"Old man, not far off is this man—and soon you shall know yourself—

ὃς λαὸν ἤγειρα· μάλιστα δέ μʼ ἄλγος ἱκάνει.

who gathered the people; and grief comes to me most of all.

οὔτε τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυον ἐρχομένοιο,

I have heard no news of an army returning,

ἥν χʼ ὑμῖν σάφα εἴπω, ὅτε πρότερός γε πυθοίμην²,

which I might clearly tell you, having heard it first,

οὔτε τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκομαι οὐδʼ ἀγορεύω,

nor am I declaring or speaking of any other public matter,

ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος, ὅ μοι κακὰ ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ

but my own need, since evil has fallen upon my house,

δοιά· τὸ μὲν πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα, ὅς ποτʼ ἐν ὑμῖν

twofold: on the one hand, I lost my noble father, who once ruled

τοίσδεσσιν βασίλευε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν·

among you here, and was gentle as a father;

νῦν δʼ αὖ καὶ πολὺ μεῖζον, ὃ δὴ τάχα οἶκον ἅπαντα

and now, on the other hand, a far greater evil, which soon my whole house

πάγχυ διαρραίσει, βίοτον δʼ ἀπὸ πάμπαν ὀλέσσει.

will utterly destroy and completely ruin my livelihood.

μητέρι μοι μνηστῆρες ἐπέχραον οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ,

Suitors have beset my mother against her will,

τῶν ἀνδρῶν φίλοι υἷες, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ εἰσὶν ἄριστοι,

the dear sons of those men who are here the noblest,

οἳ πατρὸς μὲν ἐς οἶκον ἀπερρίγασι νέεσθαι

who shrink from going to the house of her father,

Ἰκαρίου, ὥς κʼ αὐτὸς ἐεδνώσαιτο³ θύγατρα,

Icarius, so that he himself might arrange the dowry for his daughter,

δοίη δʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλοι καί οἱ κεχαρισμένος ἔλθοι·

and give her to whom he will, and who comes welcome to him.

οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,

But they, coming to our house day after day,

βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄις καὶ πίονας αἶγας

slaughtering oxen and sheep and fat goats,

εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον

feast and drink the sparkling wine

μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,

recklessly; and most of our goods are consumed. For there is no man here,

οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.

such as Odysseus was, to ward off ruin from the house.

ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔ νύ τι τοῖοι ἀμυνέμεν⁴· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα

We are not such as can ward it off; indeed, even hereafter

λευγαλέοι τʼ ἐσόμεσθα καὶ οὐ δεδαηκότες ἀλκήν.

we shall be pitiful and unskilled in fight.

ἦ τʼ ἂν ἀμυναίμην, εἴ μοι δύναμίς γε παρείη.

Yet truly I would defend myself, if only strength were mine.

οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀνσχετὰ ἔργα τετεύχαται, οὐδʼ ἔτι καλῶς

For deeds no longer bearable have been done, and no longer decently

οἶκος ἐμὸς διόλωλε. νεμεσσήθητε καὶ αὐτοί,

is my house destroyed. Be indignant yourselves,

ἄλλους τʼ αἰδέσθητε περικτίονας ἀνθρώπους,

and respect other men who dwell around us,

οἳ περιναιετάουσι· θεῶν δʼ ὑποδείσατε μῆνιν,

our neighbors; and fear the wrath of the gods,

μή τι μεταστρέψωσιν ἀγασσάμενοι κακὰ ἔργα.

lest they should turn upon you in anger at your evil deeds.

λίσσομαι ἠμὲν Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου ἠδὲ Θέμιστος,

I beseech you both by Olympian Zeus and by Themis,

ἥ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀγορὰς ἠμὲν λύει ἠδὲ καθίζει·

who dissolves and gathers the assemblies of men:

σχέσθε, φίλοι, καί μʼ οἶον ἐάσατε πένθεϊ λυγρῷ

hold back, friends, and leave me alone in my grievous sorrow

Syntax notes4 items

2.2ἐξ εὐνῆφιν
The suffix `-φιν` (an archaic case ending) functions here as a genitive/ablative singular after the preposition `ἐξ`.
2.43εἴπω, ὅτε πρότερός γε πυθοίμην
The subjunctive `εἴπω` (with `κε`) in the relative clause expresses purpose or expectation, whereas the optative `πυθοίμην` in the temporal clause represents a subjective condition or potential scenario.
2.53ὥς κʼ αὐτὸς ἐεδνώσαιτο
The combination of the relative/conjunction `ὡς` and the particle `κε` with the optative `ἐεδνώσαιτο` forms a Homeric final clause expressing a prospective, conditional, or potential purpose.
2.60οὔ νύ τι τοῖοι ἀμυνέμεν
The demonstrative adjective `τοῖοι` (such) is followed by the epic infinitive `ἀμυνέμεν` (to ward off) to express capability or result ('we are not such [men as] to ward off').

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:2.1-2.70