Penelope's Silence and the Feigned Wedding — Odyssey §23.75-23.149 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

τὴν¹ ἀπονίζουσα φρασάμην, ἔθελον δὲ σοὶ αὐτῇ

"I perceived it while washing his feet, and I wished to tell

εἰπέμεν· ἀλλά με κεῖνος ἑλὼν ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶν

thee thyself; but he laid his hand upon my mouth and

οὐκ ἔα εἰπέμεναι πολυϊδρείῃσι νόοιο.

did not suffer me to speak, in the deep wisdom of his heart.

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐμέθεν περιδώσομαι² αὐτῆς,

But follow me; and I will stake my very life,

αἴ κέν σʼ ἐξαπάφω, κτεῖναί μʼ οἰκτίστῳ ὀλέθρῳ.

if I deceive thee, that thou mayest slay me by the most pitiful death."

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered her:

μαῖα φίλη, χαλεπόν σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

"Dear nurse, it is hard for thee to understand the counsels of the everlasting gods,

δήνεα εἴρυσθαι³, μὰλα περ πολύϊδριν ἐοῦσαν.

though thou art very wise.

ἀλλʼ ἔμπης ἴομεν μετὰ παῖδʼ ἐμόν, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι

Yet let us go to my son, that I may see

ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας τεθνηότας, ἠδʼ ὃς ἔπεφνεν.

the suitors dead, and him who slew them."

ὣς φαμένη κατέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ

So saying she went down from the upper chamber; and much her heart

ὥρμαινʼ, ἢ ἀπάνευθε φίλον πόσιν ἐξερεείνοι,

debated, whether she should question her dear husband from aloof,

ἦ⁴ παρστᾶσα κύσειε κάρη καὶ χεῖρε λαβοῦσα.

or stand by his side and kiss his face, taking his hands.

ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν,

And when she had entered and passed over the stone threshold,

ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐναντίη, ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,

she sat down opposite Odysseus, in the light of the fire,

τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν

by the further wall; but he sat against a tall pillar,

ἧστο κάτω ὁρόων, ποτιδέγμενος εἴ τί μιν εἴποι

looking down, waiting if his noble wife would say anything to him,

ἰφθίμη παράκοιτις, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.

when she saw him with her eyes.

ἡ δʼ ἄνεω δὴν ἧστο, τάφος δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἵκανεν·

But she sat long in silence, and amazement came upon her heart;

ὄψει δʼ ἄλλοτε μέν μιν ἐνωπαδίως ἐσίδεσκεν,

and at one time she would look upon his face directly,

ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀγνώσασκε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.

and at another time she would fail to know him, because he had wretched clothing on his body.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

And Telemachus chid her, and spoke a word, and addressed her:

μῆτερ ἐμή, δύσμητερ, ἀπηνέα θυμὸν ἔχουσα,

"My mother, ill mother, that hast a hard heart,

τίφθʼ οὕτω πατρὸς νοσφίζεαι, οὐδὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν

why dost thou hold thyself thus aloof from my father, and dost not sit by him

ἑζομένη μύθοισιν ἀνείρεαι οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷς;

and ask him with words, and question him?

οὐ μέν κʼ ἄλλη γʼ ὧδε γυνὴ τετληότι θυμῷ

No other woman would hold aloof with so stubborn a heart

ἀνδρὸς ἀφεσταίη, ὅς οἱ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας

from her husband, who after suffering many evils

ἔλθοι ἐεικοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·

had come back in the twentieth year to his native land;

σοὶ δʼ αἰεὶ κραδίη στερεωτέρη ἐστὶ λίθοιο.

but thy heart is ever harder than stone."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Then wise Penelope answered him:

τέκνον ἐμόν, θυμός μοι ἐνὶ στήθεσσι τέθηπεν,

"My child, my heart within my breast is amazed,

οὐδέ τι προσφάσθαι δύναμαι ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐρέεσθαι

and I cannot speak a word to him, nor ask him,

οὐδʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι ἐναντίον. εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ

nor look him in the face. But if in truth

ἔστʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ἦ μάλα νῶϊ

he is Odysseus, and has returned home, indeed we two

γνωσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων⁵ καὶ λώϊον· ἔστι γὰρ ἡμῖν

shall know each other even better; for we have

σήμαθʼ, ἃ δὴ καὶ νῶϊ κεκρυμμένα ἴδμεν ἀπʼ ἄλλων.

signs which we two know, hidden from others."

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

So she spoke, and the much-enduring noble Odysseus smiled,

αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and straightway spoke to Telemachus winged words:

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι μητέρʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔασον

"Telemachus, suffer thy mother in the halls

πειράζειν ἐμέθεν· τάχα δὲ φράσεται καὶ ἄρειον.

to test me; and soon she will know me better.

νῦν δʼ ὅττι ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,

But now because I am filthy and have wretched clothing on my body,

τοὔνεκʼ ἀτιμάζει με καὶ οὔ πω φησὶ τὸν εἶναι.

therefore she dishonours me, and says not yet that I am he.

ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.

But let us take counsel how all may be for the very best.

καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα φῶτα κατακτείνας ἐνὶ δήμῳ,

For if one has slain but one man in a community,

ᾧ μὴ πολλοὶ ἔωσιν ἀοσσητῆρες ὀπίσσω,

even one who has not many helpers to follow after him,

φεύγει πηούς τε προλιπὼν καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν·

he flees, leaving his kinsmen and his native land;

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἕρμα πόληος ἀπέκταμεν, οἳ μέγʼ ἄριστοι

but we have slain the pillar of the city, they who were by far the best

κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.

of the youths in Ithaca; this I bid thee consider."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Then wise Telemachus answered him:

αὐτὸς ταῦτά γε λεῦσσε, πάτερ φίλε· σὴν γὰρ ἀρίστην

"Do thou thyself look to this, dear father; for thy wisdom

μῆτιν ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ κέ τίς τοι

is said to be the best among men, nor could any

ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἐρίσειε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.

other of mortal men contend with thee.

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμʼ ἑψόμεθʼ, οὐδέ τί φημι

And we will follow thee eagerly, nor do I think

ἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστιν.

we shall lack courage, so far as our power goes."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

Then resourceful Odysseus answered him:

τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.

"Therefore will I tell thee what seems to me to be best.

πρῶτα μὲν ἂρ λούσασθε καὶ ἀμφιέσασθε χιτῶνας,

First bathe yourselves, and put on your tunics,

δμῳὰς δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀνώγετε εἵμαθʼ ἑλέσθαι·

and bid the handmaids in the halls to choose their raiment;

αὐτὰρ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

and let the divine minstrel with his clear-toned lyre

ἡμῖν ἡγείσθω φιλοπαίγμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,

lead us in the mirthful dance,

ὥς κέν τις φαίη⁶ γάμον ἔμμεναι ἐκτὸς ἀκούων,

that anyone who hears from without may say it is a wedding,

ἢ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν στείχων, ἢ οἳ περιναιετάουσι·

whether he be one passing along the way or of those who dwell around;

μὴ πρόσθε κλέος εὐρὺ φόνου κατὰ ἄστυ γένηται

lest the wide rumour of the slaying of the suitors go through the city

ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, πρίν γʼ ἡμέας ἐλθέμεν ἔξω

before we go forth to our wooded farm; there indeed thereafter

ἀγρὸν ἐς ἡμέτερον πολυδένδρεον· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα

to our wooded farm; there indeed thereafter

φρασσόμεθʼ ὅττι κε κέρδος Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξῃ.

we shall consider what device the Olympian may grant us."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο

So he spoke, and they readily hearkened to him and obeyed.

πρῶτα μὲν οὖν λούσαντο καὶ ἀμφιέσαντο χιτῶνας,

First then they bathed and put on their tunics,

ὅπλισθεν δὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δʼ εἵλετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς

and the women arrayed themselves; and the divine minstrel took

φόρμιγγα γλαφυρήν, ἐν δέ σφισιν ἵμερον ὦρσε

the hollow lyre, and aroused in them the desire

μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο.

for sweet song and the flawless dance.

τοῖσιν δὲ μέγα δῶμα περιστεναχίζετο ποσσὶν

And the great house resounded around with the feet

ἀνδρῶν παιζόντων καλλιζώνων τε γυναικῶν.

of men dancing and of fair-girdled women.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε δόμων ἔκτοσθεν ἀκούων·

And thus would one say who heard it from without the house:

ἦ μάλα δή τις ἔγημε πολυμνήστην βασίλειαν·

"In truth someone has wedded the much-wooed queen."

Syntax notes6 items

§23.75τὴν
Demonstrative pronoun referring back to the "scar" (οὐλήν) mentioned in the preceding lines.
§23.78περιδώσομαι
The middle voice περιδίδωμαι with a genitive (here ἐμέθεν αὐτῆς "myself/my own life") forms an idiomatic expression meaning "to stake or wager something."
§23.82εἴρυσθαι
Perfect middle/passive infinitive of ἐρύω (to guard) or ἐρύομαι (to draw out, to understand). In this context, it means to comprehend or fathom the counsels of the gods.
§23.86ὥρμαινʼ, ἢ ... ἦ ...
Introduces an indirect double deliberative question (ἢ... ἦ...), where the verbs in the dependent clauses are in the optative mood (ἐξερεείνοι, κύσειε) due to the secondary tense (historical imperfect ὥρμαινʼ) of the main clause.
§23.109γνωσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων
The verb γιγνώσκω with a genitive (ἀλλήλων) meaning "to recognize or know one another (by means of signs)."
§23.135ὥς κέν τις φαίη
The conjunction ὥς with κεν and the optative (φαίη) expresses a potential or purposeful outcome: "so that someone (hearing from without) might say."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:23.75-23.149