Odysseus' Discus Throw and Challenge to the Games — Odyssey §8.149-8.220 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἀλλʼ ἄγε πείρησαι, σκέδασον δʼ ἀπὸ κήδεα θυμοῦ.

"But come, make trial, and disperse the cares from your heart.

σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη

For your journey shall no longer be long delayed, but already for you

νηῦς τε κατείρυσται καὶ ἐπαρτέες εἰσὶν ἑταῖροι.

the ship has been drawn down and the companions are ready."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

And resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:

Λαοδάμα, τί με ταῦτα κελεύετε κερτομέοντες;

"Laodamas, why do you command me these things, mocking me?

κήδεά μοι καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤ περ ἄεθλοι,

Cares are in my mind even more than contests,

ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθον¹ καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα,

I who in time past have suffered very much and toiled much,

νῦν δὲ μεθʼ ὑμετέρῃ ἀγορῇ νόστοιο χατίζων

and now I sit in your assembly, longing for my return,

ἧμαι, λισσόμενος βασιλῆά τε πάντα τε δῆμον.

entreating the king and all the people."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·

And Euryalus in turn answered him and reviled him to his face:

οὐ γάρ σʼ οὐδέ, ξεῖνε, δαήμονι φωτὶ ἐίσκω

"For indeed, stranger, I do not liken you to a man skilled

ἄθλων, οἷά τε πολλὰ μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται,

in contests, such as are many among men,

ἀλλὰ τῷ, ὅς θʼ ἅμα νηὶ πολυκλήιδι θαμίζων,

but to one who, continually going in a many-benched ship,

ἀρχὸς ναυτάων οἵ τε πρηκτῆρες ἔασιν,

is a leader of sailors who are merchant-traders,

φόρτου τε μνήμων καὶ ἐπίσκοπος ᾖσιν ὁδαίων

mindful of his cargo and watchful of his freight

κερδέων θʼ ἁρπαλέων· οὐδʼ ἀθλητῆρι ἔοικας.

and greedy gains; you do not look like an athlete."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Then with an angry glance, resourceful Odysseus addressed him:

ξεῖνʼ, οὐ καλὸν ἔειπες· ἀτασθάλῳ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.

"Stranger, you have not spoken well; you look like a reckless man.

οὕτως οὐ πάντεσσι θεοὶ χαρίεντα διδοῦσιν

Thus the gods do not give graceful gifts to all

ἀνδράσιν, οὔτε φυὴν οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτʼ ἀγορητύν.

men, neither noble stature, nor mind, nor eloquence.

ἄλλος μὲν γάρ τʼ εἶδος ἀκιδνότερος πέλει ἀνήρ,

For one man is weaker in appearance,

ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει, οἱ δέ τʼ ἐς αὐτὸν

but god crowns his form with words, and people look upon him

τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν· ὁ δʼ ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει

with delight; and he speaks without stumbling,

αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ, μετὰ δὲ πρέπει ἀγρομένοισιν,

with gentle modesty, and is conspicuous among those gathered,

ἐρχόμενον δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωσιν.

and as he walks through the city, they look upon him as a god.

ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἶδος μὲν ἀλίγκιος ἀθανάτοισιν,

Another, again, is like the immortals in form,

ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ χάρις ἀμφιπεριστέφεται ἐπέεσσιν,

but no grace crowns his words,

ὡς καὶ σοὶ εἶδος μὲν ἀριπρεπές, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως

even as for you, your form is pre-eminent, nor in any other way

οὐδὲ θεὸς τεύξειε², νόον δʼ ἀποφώλιός ἐσσι.

could even a god fashion it, but in mind you are empty.

ὤρινάς μοι θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν

You have stirred the anger in my breast

εἰπὼν οὐ κατὰ κόσμον. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ νῆις ἀέθλων,

speaking out of order. Indeed, I am not ignorant of contests,

ὡς σύ γε μυθεῖαι, ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀίω

as you say, but I think I was among the first,

ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἥβῃ τε πεποίθεα³ χερσί τʼ ἐμῇσι.

as long as I trusted in my youth and in my hands.

νῦν δʼ ἔχομαι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἔτλην

But now I am bound by misery and grief; for much have I suffered,

ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων.

cleaving through wars of men and painful waves.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς, κακὰ πολλὰ παθών, πειρήσομʼ ἀέθλων·

But even so, though I have suffered many evils, I will make trial of the contests;

θυμοδακὴς γὰρ μῦθος, ἐπώτρυνας δέ με εἰπών.

for your word has bitten my heart, and you have spurred me by speaking."

ἦ ῥα καὶ αὐτῷ φάρει ἀναΐξας λάβε δίσκον

He spoke, and leaping up with his cloak still on, he seized a discus,

μείζονα καὶ πάχετον, στιβαρώτερον οὐκ ὀλίγον περ

larger and thicker, and not a little heavier

ἢ οἵῳ Φαίηκες ἐδίσκεον ἀλλήλοισι.

than those with which the Phaeacians threw at one another.

τόν ῥα περιστρέψας ἧκε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρός,

This he whirled and sent from his stout hand,

βόμβησεν δὲ λίθος· κατὰ δʼ ἔπτηξαν ποτὶ γαίῃ

and the stone hummed; and they cowered down to the earth,

Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες,

the Phaeacians of the long oars, men famous for their ships,

λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὁ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο σήματα πάντων

before the rush of the stone; and it flew over the marks of all,

ῥίμφα θέων ἀπὸ χειρός. ἔθηκε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀθήνη

speeding lightly from his hand. And Athena marked the limit,

ἀνδρὶ δέμας ἐικυῖα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

likening herself to a man, and she spoke a word and addressed him:

καί κʼ ἀλαός τοι, ξεῖνε, διακρίνειε τὸ σῆμα

"Even a blind man, stranger, could distinguish your mark

ἀμφαφόων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι μεμιγμένον ἐστὶν ὁμίλῳ,

by feeling it, since it is not at all mixed with the crowd,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτον. σὺ δὲ θάρσει τόνδε γʼ ἄεθλον·

but is far the first. Have courage as to this contest, at least;

οὔ τις Φαιήκων τόδε γʼ ἵξεται, οὐδʼ ὑπερήσει.

no one of the Phaeacians will reach this, nor throw beyond it."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

So she spoke, and much-enduring noble Odysseus was glad,

χαίρων, οὕνεχʼ ἑταῖρον ἐνηέα λεῦσσʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.

rejoicing because he saw a kindly companion in the arena.

καὶ τότε κουφότερον μετεφώνεε Φαιήκεσσιν·

And then with a lighter heart he spoke among the Phaeacians:

τοῦτον νῦν ἀφίκεσθε, νέοι. τάχα δʼ ὕστερον ἄλλον

"Reach this now, young men! And soon after, I think, I shall send another

ἥσειν ἢ τοσσοῦτον ὀίομαι ἢ ἔτι μᾶσσον.

either as far, I think, or even further.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει,

And of the others, whomsoever his heart and spirit bid,

δεῦρʼ ἄγε πειρηθήτω, ἐπεί μʼ ἐχολώσατε λίην,

let him come hither and make trial, since you have angered me exceedingly,

ἢ πὺξ ἠὲ πάλῃ ἢ καὶ ποσίν, οὔ τι μεγαίρω,

whether in boxing or wrestling or even running, I do not begrudge it at all,

πάντων Φαιήκων, πλήν γʼ αὐτοῦ Λαοδάμαντος.

of all the Phaeacians, except indeed Laodamas himself.

ξεῖνος γάρ μοι ὅδʼ ἐστί· τίς ἂν φιλέοντι μάχοιτο;

For he is my host; who would fight with one who treats him kindly?

ἄφρων δὴ κεῖνός γε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς πέλει ἀνήρ,

Foolish indeed is that man, and worth nothing,

ὅς τις ξεινοδόκῳ ἔριδα προφέρηται ἀέθλων

whoever proposes a contest in games to his host

δήμῳ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῷ· ἕο δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντα κολούει.

in a foreign land; he cuts down all his own concerns.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ πέρ τινʼ ἀναίνομαι οὐδʼ ἀθερίζω,

But of the rest, I refuse none and make light of none,

ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω ἴδμεν καὶ πειρηθήμεναι ἄντην.

but I wish to know them and to make trial of them face to face.

πάντα γὰρ οὐ κακός εἰμι, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ὅσσοι ἄεθλοι·

For in all things I am not bad, in all contests that are among men.

εὖ μὲν τόξον οἶδα ἐύξοον ἀμφαφάασθαι·

Well do I know how to handle the well-polished bow;

πρῶτός κʼ ἄνδρα βάλοιμι ὀιστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ

I would be the first to strike a man, sending an arrow into the crowd

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλοὶ ἑταῖροι

of hostile men, even if many companions

ἄγχι παρασταῖεν καὶ τοξαζοίατο φωτῶν.

stood near and were shooting at the men.

οἶος δή με Φιλοκτήτης ἀπεκαίνυτο τόξῳ

Philoctetes alone surpassed me with the bow

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅτε τοξαζοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιοί.

in the land of the Trojans, when we Achaeans fought with the bow."

Syntax notes3 items

8.155πάθον
Although this verb form may look like a third-person plural, it is a first-person singular aorist (poetic form of ἔπαθον), agreeing with the relative pronoun ὅς whose antecedent is the implicit first person in the preceding μοι.
8.177τεύξειε
An optative of possibility (potential optative) continuing with the particle κεν from the preceding line. It forms a strong hypothetical expression: 'not even a god could fashion it otherwise.'
8.181πεποίθεα
This is a first-person singular pluperfect of the perfect πέποιθα (with the epic ending -εα corresponding to Attic -η). Together with the temporal conjunction ὄφρα ('as long as'), it expresses a continuous state of trust in the past.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.149-8.220