Preparations for the Journey and the Charge to Eurycleia — Odyssey §2.290-2.361 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι, καὶ ἄλφιτα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν¹,

wine in two-handled jars, and barley-meal, the marrow of men,

δέρμασιν ἐν πυκινοῖσιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἑταίρους

in well-sewn skins. And I among the people will quickly

αἶψʼ ἐθελοντῆρας συλλέξομαι. εἰσὶ δὲ νῆες

gather companions who are volunteers. And there are ships

πολλαὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί·

many in sea-girt Ithaca, both new and old;

τάων μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιόψομαι ἥ τις ἀρίστη,

of these indeed I will spy out whichever is best,

ὦκα δʼ ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.

and quickly having equipped her, we will launch her into the wide sea."

ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διός· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

So spoke Athena, daughter of Zeus; and no longer for a long time

Τηλέμαχος παρέμιμνεν, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.

did Telemachus linger, when he heard the voice of the god.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα, φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,

And he went to go to the house, sorrowing in his dear heart,

εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐν μεγάροισιν,

and he found indeed the proud suitors in the halls,

αἶγας ἀνιεμένους σιάλους θʼ εὕοντας ἐν αὐλῇ.

flaying goats and singeing fat pigs in the courtyard.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἰθὺς γελάσας κίε Τηλεμάχοιο,

And Antinous went straightway laughing to Telemachus,

ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

and he clasped him by the hand, and spoke and called him by name:

Τηλέμαχʼ ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, μή τί τοι ἄλλο

"Telemachus, you of high speech, of unbridled rage, let no other

ἐν στήθεσσι κακὸν μελέτω ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,

evil deed or word be a care to you in your breast,

ἀλλά μοι ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν², ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.

but eat and drink with me, even just as before.

ταῦτα δέ τοι μάλα πάντα τελευτήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί,

And all these things indeed the Achaeans will surely accomplish for you,

νῆα καὶ ἐξαίτους ἐρέτας, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἵκηαι

the ship and chosen rowers, so that you may go more quickly

ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην μετʼ ἀγαυοῦ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.

to sacred Pylos after news of your noble father."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And to him in turn wise Telemachus answered:

Ἀντίνοʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ὑμῖν

"Antinous, in no way is it possible for me among you, arrogant as you are,

δαίνυσθαί τʼ ἀκέοντα³ καὶ εὐφραίνεσθαι ἕκηλον.

to feast in silence and to make merry at ease.

ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ

Is it not enough that in time past, suitors, you destroyed many and good

κτήματʼ ἐμά, μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα;

possessions of mine, while I was still a child?

νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας εἰμὶ καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἀκούων

But now when indeed I am grown, and by hearing the words of others

πυνθάνομαι, καὶ δή μοι ἀέξεται ἔνδοθι θυμός,

I learn, and indeed my spirit within me increases,

πειρήσω, ὥς κʼ ὔμμι κακὰς ἐπὶ κῆρας ἰήλω,

I will try how I may send evil fates upon you,

ἠὲ Πύλονδʼ ἐλθών, ἢ αὐτοῦ τῷδʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.

either by going to Pylos, or here in this very land.

εἶμι μέν, οὐδʼ ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται ἣν ἀγορεύω,

I will go indeed, nor will the journey I speak of be in vain,

ἔμπορος· οὐ γὰρ νηὸς ἐπήβολος οὐδʼ ἐρετάων

as a passenger; for of a ship and of rowers I do not

γίγνομαι· ὥς νύ που ὔμμιν ἐείσατο κέρδιον εἶναι.

become master; so now indeed it seemed to you to be more profitable."

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς χεῖρα σπάσατʼ Ἀντινόοιο

He spoke indeed, and from the hand of Antinous drew his hand

ῥεῖα· μνηστῆρες δὲ δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένοντο.

easily; and the suitors were busy with the feast throughout the house.

οἱ δʼ ἐπελώβευον καὶ ἐκερτόμεον ἐπέεσσιν.

And they mocked him and insulted him with words.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

And thus would one of the proud youths say:

ἦ μάλα Τηλέμαχος φόνον ἡμῖν μερμηρίζει.

"Indeed Telemachus is planning murder for us.

ἤ τινας ἐκ Πύλου ἄξει ἀμύντορας ἠμαθόεντος

Either he will bring some helpers from sandy Pylos

ἢ ὅ γε καὶ Σπάρτηθεν, ἐπεί νύ περ ἵεται αἰνῶς·

or even from Sparta, since indeed he desires it terribly;

ἠὲ καὶ εἰς Ἐφύρην ἐθέλει, πίειραν ἄρουραν,

or even to Ephyra, fertile land, he wishes

ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἔνθεν θυμοφθόρα φάρμακʼ ἐνείκῃ,

to go, that from there he may bring life-destroying drugs,

ἐν δὲ βάλῃ κρητῆρι καὶ ἡμέας πάντας ὀλέσσῃ.

and cast them into the mixing-bowl, and destroy us all."

ἄλλος δʼ αὖτʼ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

And another in turn of the proud youths would say:

τίς δʼ οἶδʼ, εἴ κε καὶ αὐτὸς ἰὼν κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς

"And who knows if he himself, going on a hollow ship,

τῆλε φίλων ἀπόληται ἀλώμενος ὥς περ Ὀδυσσεύς;

may perish far from his friends, wandering just like Odysseus?

οὕτω κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλειεν πόνον ἄμμιν·

Thus he would even increase more toil for us;

κτήματα γάρ κεν πάντα δασαίμεθα, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε

for we should divide all his possessions, and his house in turn

τούτου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅς τις ὀπυίοι.

we would give to his mother to keep, and to him whoever should wed her."

ὣς φάν, ὁ δʼ ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κατεβήσετο πατρὸς

So they spoke; and he went down to the high-roofed storeroom of his father,

εὐρύν, ὅθι νητὸς χρυσὸς καὶ χαλκὸς ἔκειτο

wide, where piled gold and bronze lay,

ἐσθής τʼ ἐν χηλοῖσιν ἅλις τʼ ἐυῶδες ἔλαιον·

and clothing in chests, and plenty of fragrant oil;

ἐν δὲ πίθοι οἴνοιο παλαιοῦ ἡδυπότοιο

and in it jars of old sweet-tasting wine

ἕστασαν, ἄκρητον θεῖον ποτὸν ἐντὸς ἔχοντες,

stood, holding unmixed divine drink within,

ἑξείης ποτὶ τοῖχον ἀρηρότες, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς

fitted in order against the wall, if ever Odysseus

οἴκαδε νοστήσειε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας.

should return home even after having suffered many pains.

κληισταὶ δʼ ἔπεσαν σανίδες πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαι,

And doors were closed, closely fitted,

δικλίδες· ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ

double-folding; and in it a housekeeper woman night and day

ἔσχʼ, ἣ πάντʼ ἐφύλασσε νόου πολυϊδρείῃσιν,

stayed, who guarded all with great wisdom of mind,

Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο.

Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, son of Peisenor.

τὴν τότε Τηλέμαχος προσέφη θαλαμόνδε καλέσσας·

To her then Telemachus spoke, having called her to the storeroom:

μαῖʼ, ἄγε δή μοι οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσον

"Nurse, come now, draw me wine in two-handled jars,

ἡδύν, ὅτις μετὰ τὸν λαρώτατος ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις

sweet, which is the most delicious after that which you guard

κεῖνον ὀιομένη τὸν κάμμορον, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι

thinking of that ill-fated one, if ever he should come from somewhere,

διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.

heaven-born Odysseus, having escaped death and fates.

δώδεκα δʼ ἔμπλησον καὶ πώμασιν ἄρσον ἅπαντας.

And fill twelve, and fit them all with lids.

ἐν δέ μοι ἄλφιτα χεῦον ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσιν·

And pour me barley-meal in well-sewn skins;

εἴκοσι δʼ ἔστω μέτρα μυληφάτου ἀλφίτου ἀκτῆς.

and let there be twenty measures of mill-ground barley-meal.

αὐτὴ δʼ οἴη ἴσθι· τὰ δʼ ἁθρόα πάντα τετύχθω·

And know this yourself alone; and let all these things be prepared together;

ἑσπέριος γὰρ ἐγὼν αἱρήσομαι, ὁππότε κεν δὴ

for in the evening I will take them, when indeed

μήτηρ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβῇ κοίτου τε μέδηται.

my mother goes up to the upper chamber and minds her bed.

εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα

For I am going to Sparta and to sandy Pylos

νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσω.

to inquire of the return of my dear father, if anywhere I may hear."

ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,

So he spoke, and his dear nurse Eurycleia cried aloud,

Syntax notes3 items

2.290μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν
A Homeric metaphor referring to barley-meal as the "marrow of men" (the source of strength and vitality), standing in apposition to ἄλφιτα.
2.305ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν
Infinitives (present infinitives) used in place of imperatives (imperative infinitive). It functions as a direct command to Telemachus.
2.311ἀκέοντα
Accusative singular masculine of the adjectival word ἀκέων, acting as the subject of the infinitive δαίνυσθαι. Since the infinitive has its own subject expressed, it appears in the accusative case, referring back to Telemachus.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:2.290-2.361