Antinous' Warning and Telemachus Defending the Stranger — Odyssey §21.291-21.362 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

μύθων ἡμετέρων¹ καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

but listen to our words and speech? No other

ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.

stranger or beggar listens to our words.

οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους

Honey-sweet wine harms you, which also injures others,

βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.

whoever takes it greedily and does not drink in moderation.

οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,

Wine also drove mad the Centaur, famous Eurytion,

ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,

in the hall of great-hearted Peirithous,

ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,

when he went to the Lapithae. And when his mind was darkened with wine,

μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·

in his madness he did evil deeds throughout the house of Peirithous.

ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε

Grief seized the heroes, and springing up they dragged him out

ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

through the porch, having cut off his ears

ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς

and nose with the pitiless bronze. And he, with darkened mind,

ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.

went his way, bearing his own doom in his foolish heart.

ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,

From this arose the feud between Centaurs and men,

οἷ δʼ αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.

and he was the first to find evil for himself through being heavy with wine.

ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον

So also to you I foretell great disaster, if you

ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις

string the bow; for you will meet with no kindness

ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ

in our land, but we will send you at once in a black ship

εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,

to King Echetus, the destroyer of all mortals;

πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

and from him you will in no way be saved. So drink in peace,

πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.

and do not strive with younger men.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered him:

Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον

"Antinous, it is neither honorable nor just

ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·

to mistreat the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.

ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον

Do you expect that, if the stranger strings the great bow

ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας²,

of Odysseus, trusting in his hands and his strength,

οἴκαδέ μʼ ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;

he will lead me to his home and make me his wife?

οὐδʼ αὐτός που τοῦτό γʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·

He himself, I suppose, has no such hope in his breast.

μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γʼ εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων

Let none of you feast here with a heavy heart

ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικεν.

on that account, for indeed that is not seemly at all."

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her:

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,

"Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

οὔ τί σε τόνδʼ ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθʼ· οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·

we do not think this man will lead you away; indeed, it is not seemly.

ἀλλʼ αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν,

But we feel shame at the talk of men and women,

μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν

lest some other baser Achaean should say:

ἦ πολὺ χείρονες ἄνδρες ἀμύμονος ἀνδρὸς ἄκοιτιν

'Surely far meaner men court the wife of a noble man,

μνῶνται, οὐδέ τι τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύουσιν·

yet they cannot string the well-polished bow at all;

ἀλλʼ ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν

but another, a wandering beggar who came here,

ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου.

easily strung the bow and shot through the iron.'

ὣς ἐρέουσʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.

So they will say, and this would be a reproach to us."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered him:

Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐϋκλεῖας κατὰ δῆμον

"Eurymachus, there is no way for men to be of good repute among the people

ἔμμεναι οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν

who dishonor and devour the house

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δʼ ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;

of a prince. Why do you make this a matter of reproach?

οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδʼ εὐπηγής,

This stranger is very tall and well-built,

πατρὸς δʼ ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.

and claims to be by birth the son of a noble father.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.

But come, give him the well-polished bow, so that we may see.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

For thus I will speak, and this shall indeed be brought to pass:

εἴ κέ μιν ἐντανύσῃ, δώῃ δέ οἱ εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,

if he strings it, and Apollo grants him glory,

ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,

I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fair garments,

δώσω δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,

and give him a sharp javelin to ward off dogs and men,

καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,

and a two-edged sword; and I will give him sandals for his feet,

πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Then wise Telemachus answered her:

μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο

"My mother, as for the bow, no one of the Achaeans has better right

κρείσσων³, ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,

than I to give or to deny it to whomsoever I will,

οὔθʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,

neither of those who rule in rugged Ithaca,

οὔθʼ ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·

nor of those in the islands toward horse-pasturing Elis.

τῶν οὔ τίς μʼ ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωμι

Of these, no one shall force me against my will, even if I should wish

καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.

to give this bow once and for all to the stranger to bear away.

ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,

But go to your chamber, and attend to your own work,

ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε

the loom and the distaff, and bid your handmaids

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει

ply their tasks. The bow shall be for men to care for,

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

all men, and most of all for me; for mine is the authority in this house."

ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·

She, amazed, went back to her chamber;

παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.

for she laid to heart the wise saying of her son.

ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ

And going up to her upper chamber with her handmaids,

κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον

she then wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until

ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

bright-eyed Athena cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.

αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·

Now the noble swineherd took the curved bow and was carrying it;

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·

and all the suitors shouted at him in the halls.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

And thus one of the proud youths would say:

πῆ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,

"Where indeed are you carrying the curved bow, miserable swineherd,

Syntax notes3 items

§§21.291μύθων ἡμετέρων
A genitive phrase modifying the verb `ἀκούεις` at the end of the previous chunk (line 290). Both `μύθων ἡμετέρων` and the following `ῥήσιος` serve as genitive objects governed by the verb `ἀκούεις` (to hear/listen to).
§§21.315ἧφι πιθήσας
`ἧφι` (sometimes written as `ᾗφι`) is an archaic epic case form of the third-person singular possessive adjective `ὅς` (one's own), agreeing here with the feminine noun `βίηφι` (strength). It functions as a feminine singular dative/instrumental controlled by the participle `πιθήσας` (trusting in).
§§21.344ἐμεῖο κρείσσων
The comparative adjective `κρείσσων` (stronger/having more authority) is followed by `ἐμεῖο`, which is the genitive of comparison ('than I'). The subsequent infinitives `δόμεναι` (to give) and `ἀρνήσασθαι` (to deny) function as infinitives of specification, defining the area of authority.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:21.291-21.362