Eurycleia's Tidings and the Skepticism of Penelope — Odyssey §23.1-23.74 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

γρηῢς δʼ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀνεβήσετο καγχαλόωσα,

And the old dame went up to the upper chamber, laughing aloud,

δεσποίνῃ ἐρέουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα·

to tell her mistress that her dear husband was within;

γούνατα δʼ ἐρρώσαντο, πόδες δʼ ὑπερικταίνοντο.

and her knees moved nimbly, and her feet stumbled over one another in her haste.

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

She stood over her head, and spoke to her, saying:

ἔγρεο, Πηνελόπεια, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα ἴδηαι

"Awake, Penelope, dear child, that thou mayest see with thine own eyes

ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσι τά τʼ ἔλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.

what thou hast longed for all thy days.

ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὀψέ περ ἐλθών.

Odysseus is come, and has reached his house, though late in coming.

μνηστῆρας δʼ ἔκτεινεν ἀγήνορας, οἵ θʼ ἑὸν οἶκον

And he has slain the proud suitors, who were wasting his house,

κήδεσκον καὶ κτήματʼ ἔδον βιόωντό τε παῖδα.

and devouring his substance, and oppressing his son."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered her:

μαῖα φίλη, μάργην σε θεοὶ θέσαν, οἵ τε¹ δύνανται

"Dear nurse, the gods have made thee mad, they who are able

ἄφρονα ποιῆσαι καὶ ἐπίφρονά περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,

to make foolish even one who is very wise,

καί τε χαλιφρονέοντα σαοφροσύνης ἐπέβησαν·

and have set the simple-minded on the path of wisdom;

οἵ σέ περ ἔβλαψαν· πρὶν δὲ φρένας αἰσίμη ἦσθα.

It is they who have marred thy wits, though before thou wast of an understanding heart.

τίπτε με λωβεύεις πολυπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαν

Why dost thou mock me, who have a heart full of sorrow,

ταῦτα παρὲξ ἐρέουσα καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου μʼ ἀνεγείρεις

telling this wild tale, and rouse me from the sweet sleep

ἡδέος, ὅς μʼ ἐπέδησε φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας;

which bound me and shrouded my eyes?

οὐ γάρ πω τοιόνδε κατέδραθον, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς

For never have I slept such a sleep since the day when Odysseus

ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.

went forth to look upon Evil-Ilium, that should not be named.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν κατάβηθι καὶ ἂψ ἔρχευ μέγαρόνδε.

But come now, go down, and back to the hall.

εἰ γάρ τίς μʼ ἄλλη γε γυναικῶν, αἵ μοι ἔασι,

For if any other of the women who are mine

ταῦτʼ ἐλθοῦσʼ ἤγγειλε καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνέγειρεν,

had come and told me this, and roused me from sleep,

τῷ κε² τάχα στυγερῶς μιν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμψα νέεσθαι

then I would soon have sent her back in sorry wise to go

αὖτις ἔσω μέγαρον· σὲ δὲ τοῦτό γε γῆρας ὀνήσει.

within the hall; but as for thee, thy old age shall stand thee in good stead."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·

Then the dear nurse Eurycleia answered her:

οὔ τί σε λωβεύω, τέκνον φίλον, ἀλλʼ ἔτυμόν τοι

"I mock thee not, dear child, but in very truth

ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύω,

Odysseus is come, and has reached his house, even as I tell thee,

ὁ ξεῖνος, τὸν πάντες ἀτίμων ἐν μεγάροισι.

even that stranger whom all men did dishonour in the halls.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρα μιν πάλαι ᾔδεεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,

Telemachus indeed knew long since that he was within,

ἀλλὰ σαοφροσύνῃσι νοήματα πατρὸς ἔκευθεν,

but with wisdom he concealed the plans of his father,

ὄφρʼ ἀνδρῶν τίσαιτο βίην ὑπερηνορεόντων.

that he might take vengeance on the violence of the overbearing men."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡ δʼ ἐχάρη καὶ ἀπὸ λέκτροιο θοροῦσα

So she spoke, and Penelope was glad, and springing from her bed

γρηῒ περιπλέχθη, βλεφάρων δʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυον ἧκεν·

she clung to the old woman, and let a tear fall from her eyes;

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and she spoke and addressed her with winged words:

εἰ δʼ ἄγε³ δή μοι, μαῖα φίλη, νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,

"Go to now, dear nurse, I pray thee, tell me truly,

εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

if indeed he is come to his house, as thou sayest,

ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφῆκε

how he laid his hands upon the shameless suitors,

μοῦνος ἐών, οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔμιμνον.

being all alone, while they remained always in a body within."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·

Then the dear nurse Eurycleia answered her:

οὐκ ἴδον, οὐ πυθόμην, ἀλλὰ στόνον οἶον ἄκουσα

"I saw not, I asked not, but only heard the groaning

κτεινομένων· ἡμεῖς δὲ μυχῷ θαλάμων εὐπήκτων

of them that were being slain; but we sat in terror in the innermost corner of our well-built chambers,

ἥμεθʼ ἀτυζόμεναι, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι,

and the close-fitting doors kept us in,

πρίν γʼ ὅτε δή με σὸς υἱὸς ἀπὸ μεγάροιο κάλεσσε

until thy son Telemachus called me from the hall,

Τηλέμαχος· τὸν γάρ ῥα πατὴρ προέηκε καλέσσαι.

for his father had sent him forth to call me.

εὗρον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν

Then I found Odysseus standing among the bodies of the slain,

ἑσταόθʼ· οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφί, κραταίπεδον οὖδας ἔχοντες,

and they around him, covering the hard floor,

κείατʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν· ἰδοῦσά κε θυμὸν ἰάνθης.

lay piled one upon another; thou wouldst have rejoiced in heart at the sight.

νῦν δʼ οἱ μὲν δὴ πάντες ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν

And now they are all gathered together at the gates of the court,

ἀθρόοι, αὐτὰρ ὁ δῶμα θεειοῦται περικαλλές,

but he is purifying the beautiful house with sulphur,

πῦρ μέγα κηάμενος· σὲ δέ με προέηκε καλέσσαι.

and has kindled a great fire; and he sent me to call thee.

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ, ὄφρα σφῶϊν ἐϋφροσύνης ἐπιβῆτον⁴

But follow me, that ye may both enter into gladness

ἀμφοτέρω φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέποσθε.

of heart, for ye have suffered many evils.

νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε μακρὸν ἐέλδωρ ἐκτετέλεσται·

And now at length this thy long-cherished desire is fulfilled:

ἦλθε μὲν αὐτὸς ζωὸς ἐφέστιος, εὗρε δὲ καὶ σὲ

he has come back himself alive to his hearth, and has found thee

καὶ παῖδʼ ἐν μεγάροισι· κακῶς δʼ οἵ πέρ μιν ἔρεζον

and his son in the halls; and on those who did him evil,

μνηστῆρες, τοὺς πάντας ἐτίσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

even the suitors, he has taken vengeance on them all in his own house."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered her:

μαῖα φίλη, μή πω μέγʼ ἐπεύχεο καγχαλόωσα.

"Dear nurse, boast not yet aloud with laughter.

οἶσθα γὰρ ὥς κʼ ἀσπαστὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φανείη⁵

For thou knowest how welcome his appearing would be in the halls

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί τε καὶ υἱέϊ, τὸν τεκόμεσθα·

to all, and most of all to me and to his son, whom we begot.

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅδε μῦθος ἐτήτυμος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

But this is no true tale, as thou tellest it;

ἀλλά τις ἀθανάτων κτεῖνε μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,

nay, some one of the immortals has slain the proud suitors,

ὕβριν ἀγασσάμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.

in wrath at their grievous insolence and their evil deeds.

οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,

For they respected no man on earth,

οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·

bad or good, whoever came among them;

τῷ διʼ ἀτασθαλίας ἔπαθον κακόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

wherefore through their own wantonness they have suffered this evil. But Odysseus

ὤλεσε τηλοῦ νόστον Ἀχαιΐδος, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός.

has lost his return far from Achaea, and has perished himself."

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·

Then the dear nurse Eurycleia answered her:

τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,

"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of thy teeth,

ἣ πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα παρʼ ἐσχάρῃ οὔ ποτʼ ἔφησθα

in that thou saidst that thy husband, who is even now within by the hearth,

οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος.

would never return home; thy heart is ever unbelieving.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι εἴπω,

But come, let me tell thee another sign that is very clear,

οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι.

even the scar of the wound which long ago the boar dealt him with his white tusk.

Syntax notes5 items

§23.11οἵ τε
The relative pronoun οἵ combined with the generalizing particle τε, which introduces a statement of general truth regarding the nature of the gods ("they who are able to..."). This construction governs the infinitive ἄφρονα ποιῆσαι and the verb ἐπέβησαν.
§23.21εἰ γάρ ... τῷ κε
A past contrary-to-fact conditional sentence. The protasis is formed with εἰ γάρ + past indicative (ἤγγειλε, ἀνέγειρεν), and the apodosis with the dative demonstrative pronoun τῷ + potential particle κε + past indicative (ἀπέπεμψα), meaning "had it been any other woman, I would have sent her back in sorry wise."
§23.35εἰ δʼ ἄγε
An idiomatic formula combining the conditional conjunction εἰ, the particle δέ, and the imperative ἄγε. Used to urge someone to action ("come now," "go to now"), here working in tandem with the subsequent imperative ἐνίσπες to express Penelope's pressing demand for the truth.
§23.52ἐπιβῆτον
The dual active aorist subjunctive form (2nd or 3rd person) of ἐπιβαίνω. The verb is in the dual because its subject is the dual phrase ἀμφοτέρω φίλον ἦτορ ("both of your dear hearts"). It governs the genitive ἐϋφροσύνης ("gladness"), meaning "to enter into or attain joy."
§23.60ὥς κʼ ... φανείη
The conjunction ὡς (introducing an indirect exclamation or object clause) followed by the potential particle κεν (κʼ) and the aorist passive optative φανείη. This construction conveys a potential or hypothetical nuance ("how welcome he would appear"), dependent on the main verb οἶσθα.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:23.1-23.74