§17.139ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδὸν οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω, §17.140ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής, §17.141τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
"would speak of other things, turning aside, nor will I deceive you; but what the unerring old man of the sea told me, of these things I will not hide or conceal a single word from you.
§17.142φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα, §17.143νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ §17.144ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
He said he had seen him on an island suffering strong griefs, in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who by necessity holds him; and he cannot come to his own fatherland.
§17.145οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι, §17.146οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης §17.147ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος.
For he has near him no well-oared ships and companions, who might send him over the broad back of the sea.' So spoke the son of Atreus, Menelaus, famous with the spear.
§17.148ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον §17.149ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν. §17.150ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε.
Having accomplished these things, I returned; and the immortals gave me a fair wind, who sent me quickly to my dear fatherland." So he spoke, and he stirred the heart within her breast.
§17.151τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής· §17.152ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος, §17.153ἦ τοι ὅ γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδεν, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον· §17.154ἀτρεκέως γάρ σοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω·
And to them also spoke the godlike Theoclymenus: "O revered wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes, indeed he does not know clearly, but listen to my word; for I will prophesy to you truly, nor will I conceal it.
§17.155ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα §17.156ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω, §17.157ὡς ἦ τοι Ὀδυσεὺς ἤδη ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ, §17.158ἥμενος ἢ ἕρπων, τάδε πευθόμενος κακὰ ἔργα, §17.159ἔστιν, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει·
Let Zeus first of the gods be witness now, and the hospitable table, and the hearth of noble Odysseus, to which I have come, that indeed Odysseus is already in his fatherland, sitting or moving, learning of these evil deeds, and he is sowing evil for all the suitors.
§17.160τοῖον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸς §17.161ἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν. §17.162τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια· §17.163αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη· §17.164τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα §17.165ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι. §17.166ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον, §17.167μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο §17.168δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες, §17.169ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
Such a bird of omen indeed I, on the well-benched ship sitting, perceived, and shouted out to Telemachus." And to him wise Penelope spoke in turn: "Would that this word, stranger, might be fulfilled; then you would straightway know my friendship and many gifts from me, so that anyone meeting you would call you blessed." Thus indeed they spoke such things to one another, while the suitors before the halls of Odysseus were enjoying themselves with quoits and throwing with javelins, on the level pavement, where before they showed their insolence.
§17.170ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλα §17.171πάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δʼ ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ, §17.172καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλιστα §17.173ἥνδανε κηρύκων, καὶ σφιν παρεγίγνετο δαιτί· §17.174κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρένʼ ἀέθλοις, §17.175ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα· §17.176οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι. §17.177ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.
But when it was time for dinner and the sheep came from all sides from the fields, and those led them who did so before, then indeed Medon spoke to them; for he most of all pleased the heralds, and was present at their feast: "Youths, since indeed you have all pleased your heart with contests, go to the house, so that we may prepare the feast; for it is in no way a bad thing to take dinner in due season." So he spoke, and they rose up and went, and obeyed his word.
§17.178αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας, §17.179χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε, §17.180οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας, §17.181ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην, §17.182δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι.
and they sacrificed large sheep and fat goats, and they sacrificed fatted swine and a heifer from the herd, preparing the feast.
τοὶ δʼ ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδε §17.183ὠτρύνοντʼ Ὀδυσεύς τʼ ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.
But they from the field to the city were hastening to go, both Odysseus and the noble swineherd.
§17.184τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν· §17.185ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδʼ ἰέναι μενεαίνεις §17.186σήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός—ἦ σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε §17.187αὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι· §17.188ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσω §17.189νεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τʼ ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί— §17.190ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλιστα §17.191ἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται. §17.192τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς· §17.193γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
And to them the swineherd, leader of men, began speaking: "Stranger, since indeed you are eager to go to the city today, as my master commanded—indeed I would wish you to be left here as a keeper of the farmsteads; but I revere him and fear lest hereafter he chide me; and hard are the rebukes of masters— but come now, let us go; for indeed the day is mostly past, and soon towards evening it will be colder." And answering him, resourceful Odysseus addressed him: "I know, I understand; you command these things to one who comprehends.
§17.194ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.
But let us go, and you lead the way all through.
§17.195δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστίν, §17.196σκηρίπτεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φατʼ ἀρισφαλέʼ ἔμμεναι οὐδόν. §17.197ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην, §17.198πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ· §17.199Εὔμαιος δʼ ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.
And give me, if indeed you have a cut staff anywhere, to lean upon, since indeed you said the path was very slippery." He spoke, and about his shoulders he cast his miserable pouch, full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap; and Eumaeus indeed gave him a welcome staff.
§17.200τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρες §17.201ῥύατʼ ὄπισθε μένοντες· ὁ δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακτα §17.202πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι, §17.203σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.
The two went, and the dogs and the herdsmen stayed behind to guard the farmstead; and he led his master to the city, like a wretched beggar and an old man, leaning on a staff; and he had miserable garments about his body.
§17.204ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσαν
But when indeed, walking down the rugged path,