Arrival at Pylos and the Welcome by Nestor — Odyssey §3.1-3.73 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

Ἠέλιος δʼ ἀνόρουσε, λιπὼν περικαλλέα λίμνην¹,

And the Sun rose, leaving the very beautiful pool,

οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φαείνοι

into the bronze heaven, that he might shine for the immortals

καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·

and for mortal men upon the grain-giving earth.

οἱ δὲ Πύλον, Νηλῆος ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

And they to Pylos, the well-built city of Neleus,

ἷξον· τοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης ἱερὰ ῥέζον,

came; and they on the shore of the sea were making sacred offerings,

ταύρους παμμέλανας, ἐνοσίχθονι κυανοχαίτῃ.

all-black bulls, to the dark-haired Earth-shaker.

ἐννέα δʼ ἕδραι ἔσαν, πεντακόσιοι δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῃ

And there were nine seats, and five hundred in each

ἥατο καὶ προύχοντο ἑκάστοθι ἐννέα ταύρους.

were sitting and holding before them at each seat nine bulls.

εὖθʼ οἱ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, θεῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκαιον,

When indeed they had tasted the inner parts and were burning the thigh-pieces for the god,

οἱ δʼ ἰθὺς κατάγοντο ἰδʼ ἱστία νηὸς ἐίσης

then they steered straight in, and the sails of the well-balanced ship

στεῖλαν ἀείραντες, τὴν δʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·

they furled and raised, and they moored her, and themselves went out.

ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη.

And Telemachus went up out of the ship, and Athena led.

τὸν προτέρη προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

And him first the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, addressed:

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐ μέν σε⁵ χρὴ ἔτʼ αἰδοῦς², οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν·

"Telemachus, there is no need for you to feel shame anymore, not even a little;

τοὔνεκα γὰρ καὶ πόντον ἐπέπλως, ὄφρα πύθηαι

for because of this you have sailed the sea, that you might inquire

πατρός, ὅπου κύθε γαῖα καὶ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.

of your father, where the earth hides him and what fate he met.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἰθὺς κίε Νέστορος ἱπποδάμοιο·

But come now, go straight to Nestor, tamer of horses;

εἴδομεν ἥν τινα μῆτιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κέκευθε.

let us see what counsel he keeps hidden in his breast.

λίσσεσθαι³ δέ μιν αὐτός, ὅπως νημερτέα εἴπῃ·

And entreat him yourself, that he may speak the truth;

ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστί.

and he will not tell a lie, for he is very wise."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

And to her in turn wise Telemachus answered:

Μέντορ, πῶς τʼ ἄρʼ ἴω; πῶς τʼ ἂρ προσπτύξομαι αὐτόν;

"Mentor, how then shall I go? And how shall I greet him?

οὐδέ τί πω μύθοισι πεπείρημαι πυκινοῖσιν·

I have not yet been tried in skilled speeches;

αἰδὼς δʼ αὖ νέον ἄνδρα γεραίτερον ἐξερέεσθαι⁴.

and it is a shame for a young man to question an older one."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

And to him in turn the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, addressed:

Τηλέμαχʼ, ἄλλα μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ σῇσι νοήσεις,

"Telemachus, some things you yourself will devise in your mind,

ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω

and other things the divinity will suggest; for I do not think

οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.

that you were born and bred without the will of the gods."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

So having spoken, Pallas Athena led the way

καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.

quickly; and he then followed in the footsteps of the goddess.

ἷξον δʼ ἐς Πυλίων ἀνδρῶν ἄγυρίν τε καὶ ἕδρας,

And they came to the gathering and the seats of the men of Pylos,

ἔνθʼ ἄρα Νέστωρ ἧστο σὺν υἱάσιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι

where Nestor sat with his sons, and around them his companions

δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι κρέα τʼ ὤπτων ἄλλα τʼ ἔπειρον.

were preparing the feast and roasting the meat and spitting other pieces.

οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν ξείνους ἴδον, ἁθρόοι ἦλθον ἅπαντες,

And when they saw the strangers, they all came together in a crowd,

χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο καὶ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγον.

and welcomed them with their hands and bade them sit.

πρῶτος Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

First Peisistratus, the son of Nestor, coming near,

ἀμφοτέρων ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἵδρυσεν παρὰ δαιτὶ

took the hands of both and seated them at the feast

κώεσιν ἐν μαλακοῖσιν ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις ἁλίῃσιν

on soft fleeces on the sand of the sea,

πάρ τε κασιγνήτῳ Θρασυμήδεϊ καὶ πατέρι ᾧ·

beside his brother Thrasymedes and his father;

δῶκε δʼ ἄρα σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν

and he gave them portions of the inner parts, and poured wine

χρυσείῳ δέπαϊ· δειδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα

in a golden cup; and welcoming them he addressed

Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην κούρην Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·

Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus:

εὔχεο νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·

"Pray now, stranger, to lord Poseidon;

τοῦ γὰρ καὶ δαίτης ἠντήσατε δεῦρο μολόντες.

for his is the feast you have met with on coming here.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν σπείσῃς τε καὶ εὔξεαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,

But when you have poured libations and prayed, as is right,

δὸς καὶ τούτῳ ἔπειτα δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνου

give also to this one then the cup of honey-sweet wine

σπεῖσαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτον ὀίομαι ἀθανάτοισιν

to pour libations, since I think he too to the immortals

εὔχεσθαι· πάντες δὲ θεῶν χατέουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.

prays; for all men have need of the gods.

ἀλλὰ νεώτερός ἐστιν, ὁμηλικίη δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ·

But he is younger, of the same age as myself;

τοὔνεκα σοὶ προτέρῳ δώσω χρύσειον ἄλεισον.

therefore to you first I will give the golden cup."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἡδέος οἴνου·

So saying, he placed in her hand the cup of sweet wine;

χαῖρε δʼ Ἀθηναίη πεπνυμένῳ ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ,

and Athena rejoiced in the wise and just man,

οὕνεκα οἷ προτέρῃ δῶκε χρύσειον ἄλεισον·

because to her first he gave the golden cup;

αὐτίκα δʼ εὔχετο πολλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·

and immediately she prayed much to lord Poseidon:

κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, μηδὲ μεγήρῃς

"Hear, Poseidon, earth-holder, and do not grudge

ἡμῖν εὐχομένοισι τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.

us who pray to accomplish these deeds.

Νέστορι μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ υἱάσι κῦδος ὄπαζε,

To Nestor first of all and to his sons grant glory,

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοισι δίδου χαρίεσσαν ἀμοιβὴν

and then to the others give a gracious return,

σύμπασιν Πυλίοισιν ἀγακλειτῆς ἑκατόμβης.

to all the Pylians for this glorious hecatomb.

δὸς δʼ ἔτι Τηλέμαχον καὶ ἐμὲ πρήξαντα νέεσθαι,

And grant besides that Telemachus and I may return, having accomplished

οὕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

that for which we came here with our swift black ship."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ πάντα τελεύτα.

Thus indeed she prayed, and herself was accomplishing all.

δῶκε δὲ Τηλεμάχῳ καλὸν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον·

And she gave Telemachus the beautiful double-cup;

ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἠρᾶτο Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.

and in the same way prayed the dear son of Odysseus.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,

And when they had roasted the outer meat and drawn it off,

μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.

dividing the portions they feasted on the glorious feast.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

But when they had put away the desire of drink and food,

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

to them Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak:

νῦν δὴ κάλλιόν ἐστι μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι

"Now indeed it is more fitting to inquire and ask

ξείνους, οἱ τινές εἰσιν, ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδωδῆς.

the strangers, who they are, since they have enjoyed food.

ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;

O strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery paths?

ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε

Is it for some business, or do you wander at random,

οἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται

like pirates over the sea, who wander..."

Syntax notes5 items

3.1περικαλλέα λίμνην
Meaning "very beautiful pool/lake." In Homeric epic, `λίμνη` can refer to the expanse of the sea, here representing the eastern waters from which the sun rises.
3.14αἰδοῦς
Genitive of respect/need as a complement to the impersonal verb `χρή` ("there is need"). Literally, "there is no need of shame for you."
3.19λίσσεσθαι
Infinitive used in the sense of an imperative (infinitive for imperative). The subject pronoun `αὐτός` is placed in the nominative case.
3.24αἰδὼς δʼ αὖ νέον ἄνδρα γεραίτερον ἐξερέεσθαι
The accusative subject of the infinitive `ἐξερέεσθαι` ("to question") is `νέον ἄνδρα` ("a young man"), and `γεραίτερον` ("an older man") is its object. The whole phrase forms a subject clause: "for a young man to question an older man is a shame."
3.28οὐ γὰρ ὀίω / οὔ σε
Rule of multiple negatives in Greek. A general negative `οὐ` at the beginning of the clause followed by a simple negative `οὔ` reinforces the negation rather than canceling it ("I do not think at all that...").

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:3.1-3.73