The Suitors' Failure and Odysseus Revealing His Identity — Odyssey §21.148-21.218 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.

Indeed, he then was the first to take the bow and the swift arrow.

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζεν,

And he went and stood upon the threshold, and began to try the bow,

οὐδέ μιν ἐντάνυσε· πρὶν γὰρ κάμε χεῖρας ἀνέλκων

but he did not string it; for before that his hands grew weary as he pulled,

ἀτρίπτους ἁπαλάς· μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·

hands unaccustomed to toil and tender; and he spoke among the suitors:

ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὲν ἐγὼ τανύω, λαβέτω δὲ καὶ ἄλλος.

"O friends, indeed I cannot string it, and let another take it too.

πολλοὺς γὰρ τόδε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει¹

For this bow shall deprive many chieftains

θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστι

of heart and soul, since indeed it is much better

τεθνάμεν ἢ ζώοντας ἁμαρτεῖν, οὗθʼ ἕνεκʼ αἰεὶ

to die than to live and fail of that for which we ever

ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.

assemble here, waiting day after day.

νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ

Now indeed many a man hopes in his heart and desires

γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν.

to marry Penelope, the wife of Odysseus.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,

But when he shall have tried the bow and seen it,

ἄλλην δή τινʼ ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων

then let him woo some other of the fair-robed Achaean women,

μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα

seeking her with gifts of wooing; and she then

γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.

would marry him who offers most and comes as her fated husband."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν καὶ ἀπὸ ἕο τόξον ἔθηκε,

So he spoke, and set the bow down from him,

κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,

leaning it against the well-polished, close-fitting door-planks,

αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,

and leaned the swift arrow there against the beautiful handle,

ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

and sat down again on the seat from which he had risen.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

Then Antinous rebuked him, and spoke and addressed him:

Λειῶδες, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,

"Leiodes, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth,

δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, —νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τʼ ἀκούων—

dread and grievous,—and I am indignant to hear it—

εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει

if indeed this bow shall deprive chieftains

θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.

of heart and soul, just because you are unable to string it.

οὐ γάρ τοί σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ

For surely your lady mother did not bear you to be such a one

οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·

as to be a drawer of the bow and of arrows;

ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.

but other proud suitors will soon string it."

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν·

So he spoke, and ordered Melanthius, the goatherd:

ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,

"Kindle a fire in the halls now, Melanthius,

πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,

and set by it a great seat and a fleece upon it,

ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,

and bring out a great cake of the fat that is within,

ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,

so that the young men, warming the bow and greasing it with fat,

τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.

may make trial of the bow and finish the contest."

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αἶψʼ ἀνέκαιε Μελάνθιος ἀκάματον πῦρ,

So he spoke, and Melanthius quickly kindled the tireless fire,

πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,

and brought the seat and set it down and a fleece upon it,

ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος·

and brought out the great cake of fat that was within.

τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντʼ· οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο

With this then the young men warmed it and made trial; but they could not

ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.

string it, and they were far lacking in strength.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔτʼ ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,

But Antinous still held back, and godlike Eurymachus,

ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.

leaders of the suitors; and they were by far the best in excellence.

τὼ δʼ ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμʼ ἄμφω

Then those two went out of the house together,

βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

the herdsman and the swineherd of divine Odysseus;

ἐκ δʼ αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

and after them went out noble Odysseus himself from the house.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,

But when they were outside the gates and the courtyard,

φθεγξάμενός σφε ἔπεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·

he spoke and addressed them with gentle words:

βουκόλε καὶ σύ, συφορβέ, ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην,

"Herdsman, and you, swineherd, should I speak some word,

ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω;² φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.

or shall I hide it? But my heart bids me speak.

ποῖοί κʼ εἶτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι

What sort of men would you be to defend Odysseus, if he should come

ὧδε μάλʼ ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;

thus very suddenly from somewhere, and some god should bring him?

ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτʼ ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;

Would you defend the suitors or Odysseus?

εἴπαθʼ ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

Tell me as your heart and soul bid you."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·

Then the master herdsman of the cattle answered him:

Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο τελευτήσειας ἐέλδωρ,

"Father Zeus, oh that you would fulfill this wish,

ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·

that that man might come, and a god might guide him!

γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.

Then you would know what my power is and how my hands follow."

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι

And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods

νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.

that wise Odysseus might return to his own home.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέʼ ἀνέγνω,

But when he had recognized their true mind beyond doubt,

ἐξαῦτίς σφε ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

he spoke to them again, answering with words:

ἔνδον μὲν δὴ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας

"Lo, here I am myself inside, having suffered many evils,

ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.

γιγνώσκω δʼ ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω³

And I know that I come to you two who alone of my servants

οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα

desired my return; for of the others I have heard not one

εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.

praying that I should come back home again.

σφῶϊν δʼ, ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.

And to you two I will tell the truth, just as it shall be.

εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,

If a god subdues the proud suitors under me,

ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροις ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματʼ ὀπάσσω

I will bring wives for both of you, and give you possessions

οἰκία τʼ ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα

and houses built near me; and thereafter

Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.

you two shall be companions and brothers to Telemachus.

εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή, καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,

But come, I will show you another very clear sign,

ὄφρα μʼ ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

so that you may know me well and be assured in your hearts,

Syntax notes3 items

§21.153κεκαδήσει
The future tense form κεκαδήσει is a reduplicated future from κήδω ("to distress, deprive"), characteristic of early epic poetry, and governs the genitive of separation θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς ("of heart and soul").
§21.193ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην, ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω;
The former phrase ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην is a potential optative with κε ("should I speak some word"), while the latter ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; is a deliberative subjunctive ("or shall I hide it?"). The careful and testing psychology of the speaker, Odysseus, is depicted through the contrast of different moods.
§21.209σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω
The dative σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν functions as a dative of reference or interest with the verb ἱκάνω ("I come"), meaning "I return to you two who were longing," and is modified by the participle ἐελδομένοισιν.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:21.148-21.218