Calypso's Offer of Departure and Odysseus's Resolve — Odyssey §5.145-5.214 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

To her in turn spoke the messenger Argeiphontes:

οὕτω νῦν ἀπόπεμπε, Διὸς δʼ ἐποπίζεο μῆνιν,

"Send him away now even so, and regard the wrath of Zeus,

μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.

lest haply hereafter he wax wroth and be hard upon you."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης·

So saying, the strong Argeiphontes departed;

ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα πότνια νύμφη

but the queenly nymph went to great-hearted Odysseus,

ἤιʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ Ζηνὸς ἐπέκλυεν ἀγγελιάων.

when she had heard the message of Zeus.

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς εὗρε καθήμενον· οὐδέ ποτʼ ὄσσε

Him she found sitting on the shore, and his eyes

δακρυόφιν τέρσοντο, κατείβετο δὲ γλυκὺς αἰὼν

were never dry of tears, and his sweet life was ebbing away,

νόστον ὀδυρομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἥνδανε νύμφη.

as he mourned for his return, since the nymph no longer pleased him.

ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νύκτας μὲν ἰαύεσκεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ

Yet by night indeed he would sleep perforce

ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ¹·

in the hollow caves, unwilling by her side who was willing;

ἤματα δʼ ἂμ πέτρῃσι καὶ ἠιόνεσσι καθίζων

but by day he would sit on the rocks and the shores,

δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων

tearing his heart with tears and groans and griefs,

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.

and he kept looking over the barren sea, shedding tears.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσεφώνεε δῖα θεάων·

And standing near, the beautiful goddess addressed him:

κάμμορε, μή μοι ἔτʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὀδύρεο², μηδέ τοι αἰὼν

"Unhappy man, sorrow no more here for my sake, nor let your life

φθινέτω· ἤδη γάρ σε μάλα πρόφρασσʼ ἀποπέμψω.

pine away; for now with a very ready heart will I send you on your way.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δούρατα μακρὰ ταμὼν ἁρμόζεο χαλκῷ

Come, fell long timbers, and fashion with the bronze ax

εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην· ἀτὰρ ἴκρια πῆξαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς

a broad raft; and bind on it deck-beams

ὑψοῦ, ὥς σε φέρῃσιν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον.

high up, that it may bear you over the misty sea.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῖτον καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρὸν

And I will place in it bread and water and red wine,

ἐνθήσω μενοεικέʼ, ἅ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι,

abundant, such as to keep off hunger,

εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσω· πέμψω δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν,

and I will clothe you with garments, and send a fair wind behind,

ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι,

so that you may reach your native land quite unscathed,

αἴ κε θεοί γʼ ἐθέλωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,

if the gods so will, who hold the broad heaven,

οἵ μευ φέρτεροί εἰσι νοῆσαί τε κρῆναί τε.

who are stronger than I both to devise and to accomplish."

ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

So she spoke, and much-enduring, noble Odysseus shuddered,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· and he spoke, and addressed her with winged words:

ἄλλο τι δὴ σύ, θεά, τόδε μήδεαι, οὐδέ τι πομπήν,

"Some other thing than my sending, goddess, are you planning in this,

ἥ με κέλεαι σχεδίῃ περάαν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,

in that you bid me cross on a raft the great gulf of the sea,

δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε· τὸ δʼ οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι

dread and grievous, which not even the balanced,

ὠκύποροι περόωσιν, ἀγαλλόμεναι Διὸς οὔρῳ.

swift-faring ships cross, rejoicing in the breeze of Zeus.

οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀέκητι σέθεν σχεδίης ἐπιβαίην,

Nor would I, against your will, embark on a raft,

εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι³

unless you would consent, goddess, to swear a great oath

μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.

that you will not plot against me any other evil plight to my hurt."

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων,

So he spoke, and Calypso, the beautiful goddess, smiled,

χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

and she stroked him with her hand, and spoke, and addressed him:

ἦ δὴ ἀλιτρός γʼ ἐσσὶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλια εἰδώς,

"A rogue you are, in truth, and no simpleton,

οἷον δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἐπεφράσθης ἀγορεῦσαι.

seeing what manner of word this is that you have thought to speak.

ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε

Now let earth be witness to this, and the broad heaven above,

καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος

and the down-flowing water of Styx, which is the greatest

ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,

and most dread oath for the blessed gods,

μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.

that I will not plot against you any other evil plight to your hurt.

ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν νοέω καὶ φράσσομαι, ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περ

Nay, I have such thoughts in mind, and will take such counsel, as I

αὐτῇ μηδοίμην⁴, ὅτε με χρειὼ τόσον ἵκοι·

would devise for my own self, if ever such need should come upon me.

καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ νόος ἐστὶν ἐναίσιμος, οὐδέ μοι αὐτῇ

For I too have a mind that is righteous, and the heart

θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι σιδήρεος, ἀλλʼ ἐλεήμων.

in my breast is not of iron, but full of pity."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο δῖα θεάων

So saying, the beautiful goddess led the way

καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.

quickly, and he followed in the footsteps of the goddess.

ἷξον δὲ σπεῖος γλαφυρὸν θεὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνήρ,

And they came to the hollow cave, the goddess and the man,

καί ῥʼ ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη

and he sat down on the seat from which

Ἑρμείας, νύμφη δʼ ἐτίθει πάρα πᾶσαν ἐδωδήν,

Hermes had arisen, and the nymph set before him all manner of food

ἔσθειν καὶ πίνειν, οἷα βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ἔδουσιν·

to eat and drink, such as mortal men eat.

αὐτὴ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,

But she herself sat opposite noble Odysseus,

τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἀμβροσίην δμῳαὶ καὶ νέκταρ ἔθηκαν.

and handmaids set before her ambrosia and nectar.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

So they laid their hands upon the good things ready before them.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,

But when they had had their fill of food and drink,

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·

Calypso, the beautiful goddess, was the first to speak to them:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, Odysseus of many devices,

οὕτω δὴ οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

do you indeed desire to go now straightway home to your own native land?

αὐτίκα νῦν ἐθέλεις ἰέναι; σὺ δὲ χαῖρε καὶ ἔμπης.

Yet even so, fare you well.

εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης σῇσι φρεσὶν ὅσσα τοι αἶσα

If but you knew in your heart how many

κήδεʼ ἀναπλῆσαι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,

sorrows it is your fate to fill up before you reach your native land,

ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις⁵

here would you remain with me and guard this home,

ἀθάνατός τʼ εἴης, ἱμειρόμενός περ ἰδέσθαι

and be immortal, however much you may long to see

σὴν ἄλοχον, τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐέλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.

your wife, for whom you are ever longing day after day.

οὐ μέν θην κείνης γε χερείων εὔχομαι εἶναι,

Truly I claim to be in no wise inferior to her,

οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως οὐδὲ ἔοικεν

either in form or stature, since it is nowise seemly

θνητὰς ἀθανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν.

that mortal women should rival immortals in form and appearance."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

To her in turn spoke resourceful Odysseus, and said:

Syntax notes5 items

5.155παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ
The phrase presents a stark contrast between `οὐκ ἐθέλων` (the unwilling male, Odysseus) and `ἐθελούσῃ` (the willing female, Calypso), both governed by the preposition `παρά`.
5.160μή μοι ἔτʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὀδύρεο
The pronoun `μοι` functions as an ethical dative, emphasizing Calypso's personal concern or involvement in Odysseus's grieving ("grieve no more on my account" or "in my presence").
5.178εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
The conditional clause with the optative `τλαίης` corresponds to the potential optative with `ἂν` in the main clause (`οὐδʼ ἂν ... ἐπιβαίην` in line 177), representing a cautious hypothetical condition in the present or future.
5.188ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περ αὐτῇ μηδοίμην
The relative pronoun `ἅσσα` (epic form of `ἅτινα`) is followed by the optative with `ἂν` (`ἂν ... μηδοίμην`), expressing a hypothetical generalized action in the present or future ("such things as I would devise for my own self").
5.208ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις
The optatives `φυλάσσοις` and `εἴης` (in line 209) with the particle `κε` form the apodosis of a conditional sentence introduced by the protasis `εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης` (in line 206), indicating a potential or counterfactual result.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:5.145-5.214