§16.204οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτʼ ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς, §16.205ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δʼ ἀληθείς, §16.206ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
"For indeed no other Odysseus will ever come here to you; but here am I, such as I am, having suffered evils and having wandered much, returned in the twentieth year to my native land.
§16.207αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης, §16.208ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γὰρ, §16.209ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε §16.210ἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντι.
But indeed this is the work of Athena, driver of the spoil, who made me such as she wishes, for she has the power, at one time like a beggar, and at another time like a young man and one having beautiful garments about his body.
§16.211ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν, §16.212ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι. §16.213ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ §16.214ἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο, δάκρυα λείβων, §16.215ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·
And it is easy for the gods, who hold the wide heaven, both to glorify a mortal man and to bring him low." So indeed having spoken, he sat down; and Telemachus, throwing his arms about his noble father, lamented, shedding tears, and in both of them arose a longing for wailing.
§16.216κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἀδινώτερον ἤ τʼ οἰωνοί, §16.217φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκνα §16.218ἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι· §16.219ὣς ἄρα τοί γʼ ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβον.
And they cried shrilly, more close-thronging than birds, ospreys or crook-taloned vultures, whose children countrymen have taken away before they were fledged; even so indeed did they let fall a piteous tear from beneath their brows.
§16.220καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο, §16.221εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα· §16.222ποίῃ γὰρ νῦν δεῦρο, πάτερ φίλε, νηΐ σε ναῦται §16.223ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην;
And now indeed the light of the sun would have set upon their lamenting, had not Telemachus quickly spoken to his father: "By what kind of ship now, dear father, did sailors bring you here to Ithaca?
τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
Who did they claim to be?
§16.224οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι. §16.225τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς· §16.226τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
For in no wise, I think, did you come here on foot." And him in turn answered the patient, noble Odysseus: "Therefore indeed, my child, I will tell you the truth.
§16.227Φαίηκές μʼ ἄγαγον ναυσίκλυτοι, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους §16.228ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται· §16.229καί μʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες §16.230κάτθεσαν εἰς Ἰθάκην, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα, §16.231χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν.
The Phaeacians, famous for ships, brought me, who also send other men home, whosoever comes to them; and carrying me sleeping on a swift ship over the sea, they set me down in Ithaca, and gave me splendid gifts, bronze and gold in abundance, and woven garments.
§16.232καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται· §16.233νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης, §16.234ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.
And these indeed lie in caves by the will of the gods; but now in turn I have come here by the promptings of Athena, so that we may take counsel about the slaughter of our enemies.
§16.235ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον, §16.236ὄφρʼ εἰδέω ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί· §16.237καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξας §16.238φράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθʼ ἀντιφέρεσθαι §16.239μούνω ἄνευθʼ ἄλλων, ἦ καὶ διζησόμεθʼ ἄλλους. §16.240τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα· §16.241ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι σεῖο μέγα κλέος αἰὲν ἄκουον, §16.242χεῖράς τʼ αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν· §16.243ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴη §16.244ἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.
But come, count and list the suitors for me, so that I may know how many and what kind of men they are; and then, having pondered in my noble mind, I shall consider whether we two shall be able to oppose them alone without others, or whether we shall seek others too." And him in turn wise Telemachus answered: "O father, indeed I always used to hear of your great fame, that you were a warrior in hands and wise in counsel; but you have spoken of an exceeding great thing; amazement holds me; nor would it be possible for two men to fight against many and mighty ones.
§16.245μνηστήρων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύʼ οἶαι, §16.246ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι ἐνθάδʼ ἀριθμόν.
Of the suitors, indeed, there is neither one decade truly nor only two, but many more; and quickly shall you know the number here.
§16.247ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα §16.248κοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἓξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται· §16.249ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρές τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν, §16.250ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν, §16.251ἐκ δʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι, §16.252καί σφιν ἅμʼ ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς §16.253καὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.
From Dulichium indeed there are two and fifty chosen youths, and six servants follow them; from Same there are four and twenty men; from Zacynthus there are twenty youths of the Achaeans; and from Ithaca itself, twelve, all of them the best, and with them is Medon the herald, and the divine minstrel, and two squires, skilled in carving.
If we shall encounter all of these being inside, I fear lest you, having come, will pay a bitter and terrible price for their violence.
§16.256ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ, εἰ δύνασαί τινʼ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι, §16.257φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ. §16.258τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς· §16.259τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον· §16.260καὶ φράσαι ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ §16.261ἀρκέσει, ἦέ τινʼ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω. §16.262τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα· §16.263ἐσθλώ τοι τούτω γʼ ἐπαμύντορε, τοὺς ἀγορεύεις, §16.264ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις §16.265ἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι. §16.266τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς· §16.267οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθον §16.268φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν §16.269ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.
But do you, if you are able to think of any helper, consider who might defend us with a willing heart." And him in turn answered the patient, noble Odysseus: "Therefore indeed I will tell you, and do you understand and listen to me; and consider whether Athena with father Zeus will suffice for us, or whether I shall think of some other helper." And him in turn wise Telemachus answered: "Good indeed are these two defenders whom you name, though they sit high up in the clouds; and they rule over other men as well, and over the immortal gods." And him in turn answered the patient, noble Odysseus: "Surely those two will not for long be far away from the fierce battle, when between the suitors and us in my halls the fury of Ares is decided.