Athena's Encouragement and the Counterattack — Odyssey §22.212-22.284 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

πρῶτος τήν γʼ ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·

First Agelaus, son of Damastor, rebuked her:

Μέντορ, μή σʼ ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν¹ Ὀδυσσεὺς

"Mentor, let not Odysseus persuade thee with words

μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δέ οἱ αὐτῷ.

to fight against the suitors, and to defend him.

ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·

For thus, I think, our purpose shall be fulfilled:

ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρʼ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν,

When we shall have slain these, father and son,

ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς

then thou too shalt be slain among them, for what thou purposest

ἔρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δʼ αὐτοῦ κράατι τίσεις.

to do in the hall; with thine own life shalt thou pay the price.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ,

But when we have taken away your strength with the bronze,

κτήμαθʼ ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τʼ ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι,

all the possessions that are thine, within doors and without,

τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμίξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας

we will mingle with the possessions of Odysseus; and thy sons

ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ θύγατρας

we will not suffer to live in thy halls, nor thy daughters

οὐδʼ ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν.

nor thy cherished wife to walk in the city of Ithaca."

ὣς φάτʼ, Ἀθηναίη δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

So he spoke, and Athena grew more wroth at heart,

νείκεσσεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·

and she rebuked Odysseus with angry words:

οὐκέτι σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή

"No longer, Odysseus, hast thou steadfast might or any valor,

οἵη ὅτʼ² ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ,

such as when for white-armed Helen, daughter of a noble sire,

εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί,

for nine years thou didst fight against the Trojans unceasingly ever,

πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

and didst slay many men in the dread conflict,

σῇ δʼ ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.

and by thy counsel was the wide-wayed city of Priam taken.

πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν τε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἱκάνεις,

How is it then that now, when thou hast come to thy house and thy possessions,

ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;

thou shrinkest from being brave against the suitors?

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,

But come hither, friend, stand by my side and behold the deed,

ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν

that thou mayest know what manner of man toward hostile men

Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν³.

is Mentor, son of Alcimus, to requite benefits."

ἦ ῥα, καὶ οὔ πω πάγχυ δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην,

She spoke, and did not yet give them victory to turn the tide completely,

ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν

but still made trial of the strength and valor

ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδʼ υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.

both of Odysseus and of his glorious son.

αὐτὴ δʼ αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον

And she herself flew up to the roof-beam of the smoky hall

ἕζετʼ ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.

and sat there, in appearance like a swallow.

μνηστῆρας δʼ ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος,

But the suitors were urged on by Agelaus, son of Damastor,

Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε,

and Eurynomus, and Amphimedon, and Demoptolemus,

Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων·

and Peisander, son of Polyctor, and wise Polybus;

οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι,

for these were by far the best in valor of the suitors

ὅσσοι ἔτʼ ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο·

as many as still lived and fought for their lives;

τοὺς δʼ ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.

but the others the bow and the thick-falling arrows had already laid low.

τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·

To them Agelaus spoke, making his words known to them all:

ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους·

"Friends, now at last this man will stay his invincible hands;

καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών,

lo, Mentor has gone from him, having spoken empty boasts,

οἱ δʼ οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.

and they are left alone at the outer doors.

τῷ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά,

Therefore, do not now all at once cast your long spears,

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

but come, let you six first hurl your spears, if perchance Zeus

δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

may grant that Odysseus be smitten and we win glory.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν.

Of the others there is no care, once he has fallen."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὡς ἐκέλευεν,

So he spoke, and they all hurled their spears as he bade,

ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη,

eagerly; but Athena made them all in vain.

τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,

βεβλήκει, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·

another the close-fitting door;

ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.

and another's bronze-heavy ashen spear fell upon the wall.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατʼ ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων,

But when they had avoided the spears of the suitors,

τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

then much-enduring noble Odysseus was the first to speak to his companions:

ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι⁴

"Friends, now indeed I would say that we too

μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν

should hurl our spears into the throng of the suitors, who are eager

ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν.

to slay us in addition to their former outrages."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα

So he spoke, and they all hurled their sharp spears,

ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς,

aiming straight forward; Odysseus smote Demoptolemus,

Εὐρυάδην δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης,

Telemachus Euryades, the swineherd Elatus,

Πείσανδρον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.

and the herdsman of the cattle slew Peisander.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας,

Then these all together bit the vast earth with their teeth,

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε·

and the suitors retreated to the innermost part of the hall;

τοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δʼ ἐξ ἔγχεʼ ἕλοντο.

and the others rushed forward and drew their spears from the dead.

αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα

Again the suitors hurled their sharp spears,

ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.

eagerly; but Athena made most of them in vain.

τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο

One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,

βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·

another the close-fitting door;

ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.

and another's bronze-heavy ashen spear fell upon the wall.

Ἀμφιμέδων δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ

But Amphimedon struck Telemachus on the wrist,

λίγδην, ἄκρον δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.

grazing it, and the bronze damaged the surface of the skin.

Κτήσιππος δʼ Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ

And Ctesippus grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus with his long spear,

ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δʼ ἔραζε.

over his shield; but it flew over and fell to the ground.

τοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην,

Then they again, around wise and crafty Odysseus,

μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.

hurled their sharp spears into the throng of the suitors.

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς,

There then Eurydamas was smitten by Odysseus, waster of cities,

Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·

and Telemachus struck Amphimedon, and the swineherd Polybus;

Syntax notes4 items

§22.213παραιπεπίθῃσιν
Aorist active third-person singular subjunctive (with Homeric lengthening and suffix `-ῃσι`), which together with the negative particle `μή` expresses a strong prohibition or concern ("let not... persuade"). The infinitives `μάχεσθαι` and `ἀμυνέμεναι` in line 214 depend on this verb to denote the content of the persuasion.
§22.226οἵη ὅτʼ
The relative pronoun `οἵη` (feminine nominative singular) refers back to the antecedent `ἀλκή`, forming an elliptical clause `οἵη ἦν` ("such as it was"). Followed by the conjunction `ὅτε` ("when"), it creates a double ellipsis meaning "such as [it was] when [thou didst fight against the Trojans]."
§22.235εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν
The infinitive `ἀποτίνειν` depends on the relative adjective `οἷός` (line 234) in a characterizing or consecutive sense. Literally meaning "what kind of man [he is] to requite benefits," it describes Mentor's character and capacity to repay Odysseus's past kindnesses in the presence of their enemies.
§22.262εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι
The optative `εἴποιμι` with `κεν` (line 262) is a potential optative expressing a mild assertion or suggestion ("I would say / suggest"). The dative `ἄμμι` ("to us/for us") acts as the subject of the infinitive `ἀκοντίσαι` (line 263), resulting in the construction "I would suggest that we too hurl our spears."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:22.212-22.284