Humanitext Reader

Homer · Odyssey §4.566-4.635

Menelaus' Return and His Gifts to Telemachus

Passage 28 of 173 · Greek

Summary

After describing the pleasant life of Elysium, the old man of the sea disappears, and Menelaus returns to Sparta. Menelaus invites Telemachus to stay longer and offers him a magnificent mixing-bowl instead of horses, after which the scene shifts to the suitors in Ithaca.

§4.566οὐ νιφετός, οὔτʼ ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρος, §4.567ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήτας §4.568Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους· §4.569οὕνεκʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι.
No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but always the shrill-blowing breezes of Zephyrus Oceanus sends up to bring cooling to men; because you have Helen and are in their eyes the son-in-law of Zeus.
§4.570ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.
So saying, he plunged into the surging deep.
§4.571αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμʼ ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν §4.572ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
But I went to the ships with my godlike companions, and my heart was deeply troubled as I went.
§4.573αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, §4.574δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ, §4.575δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
But when we had come down to the ship and the sea, and had made ready our supper, and ambrosial night came on, then indeed we lay down to sleep on the breaker-beaten shore of the sea.
§4.576ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, §4.577νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν, §4.578ἐν δʼ ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς, §4.579ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον· §4.580ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
And as soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, first of all we dragged our ships into the bright sea, and set up the masts and sails in the well-balanced ships; and they themselves went on board and sat upon the benches, and sitting in order they smote the grey sea with their oars.
§4.581ἂψ δʼ εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο §4.582στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.
Back to the waters of the heaven-fed river of Egypt I stayed my ships, and offered perfect hecatombs.
§4.583αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων, §4.584χεῦʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵνʼ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη.
But when I had appeased the wrath of the ever-living gods, I heaped up a mound for Agamemnon, so that his fame might be unquenchable.
§4.585ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον §4.586ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
Having finished this, I set out for home; and the immortals gave me a wind and sent me swiftly to my beloved fatherland.
§4.587ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν, §4.588ὄφρα κεν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται· §4.589καὶ τότε σʼ εὖ πέμψω, δώσω δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα, §4.590τρεῖς ἵππους καὶ δίφρον ἐύξοον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα §4.591δώσω καλὸν ἄλεισον, ἵνα σπένδῃσθα θεοῖσιν §4.592ἀθανάτοις ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα. §4.593τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα· §4.594Ἀτρεΐδη, μὴ δή με πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἔρυκε.
But come now, tarry in my halls until the eleventh or twelfth day shall come; and then I will speed you well on your way, and will give you splendid gifts, three horses and a well-polished chariot; and furthermore I will give you a beautiful cup, that you may pour libations to the immortal gods, and be mindful of me all your days." Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: "Son of Atreus, keep me no longer here.
§4.595καὶ γάρ κʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἐγὼ παρὰ σοί γʼ ἀνεχοίμην §4.596ἥμενος, οὐδέ κέ μʼ οἴκου ἕλοι πόθος οὐδὲ τοκήων· §4.597αἰνῶς γὰρ μύθοισιν ἔπεσσί τε σοῖσιν ἀκούων §4.598τέρπομαι.
For indeed for a year I could endure to sit by you, and no longing for home or parents would seize me; for wonderfully do I enjoy listening to your stories and your words.
ἀλλʼ ἤδη μοι ἀνιάζουσιν ἑταῖροι §4.599ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ· σὺ δέ με χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύκεις.
But already my companions are growing weary in sacred Pylos, and you are keeping me here.
§4.600δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοίης, κειμήλιον ἔστω· §4.601ἵππους δʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐκ ἄξομαι, ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ §4.602ἐνθάδε λείψω ἄγαλμα· σὺ γὰρ πεδίοιο ἀνάσσεις §4.603εὐρέος, ᾧ ἔνι μὲν λωτὸς πολύς, ἐν δὲ κύπειρον §4.604πυροί τε ζειαί τε ἰδʼ εὐρυφυὲς κρῖ λευκόν.
And whatever gift you would give me, let it be a treasure; but horses I will not take to Ithaca, but will leave them here as an ornament for yourself; for you rule over a wide plain wherein is clover in plenty, and galingale, and wheat and spelt, and broad-eared white barley.
§4.605ἐν δʼ Ἰθάκῃ οὔτʼ ἂρ δρόμοι εὐρέες οὔτε τι λειμών· §4.606αἰγίβοτος, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος ἱπποβότοιο.
But in Ithaca there are no wide courses nor any meadow land; it is a pasture land for goats, and more lovely than one that pastures horses.
§4.607οὐ γάρ τις νήσων ἱππήλατος οὐδʼ ἐυλείμων, §4.608αἵ θʼ ἁλὶ κεκλίαται· Ἰθάκη δέ τε καὶ περὶ πασέων. §4.609ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος, §4.610χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν· §4.611αἵματός εἰς ἀγαθοῖο, φίλον τέκος, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις·
For none of the islands that slope down to the sea is fit for driving horses, or rich in meadows, and Ithaca least of all." So he spoke, and Menelaus, good at the war-cry, smiled, and caressed him with his hand, and spoke, and addressed him: "You are of noble blood, dear child, that you speak such words.
§4.612τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μεταστήσω· δύναμαι γάρ.
Therefore indeed I will change these gifts for you; for I have the power.
§4.613δώρων δʼ ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται, §4.614δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστιν·
And of all the gifts that lie as treasures in my house, I will give you that which is finest and most precious.
§4.615δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ §4.616ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all of silver, and the lips are finished with gold.
§4.617ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο. πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως, §4.618Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε §4.619κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι. §4.620ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον, §4.621δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου βασιλῆος.
It is the work of Hephaestus; and the hero Phaedimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it to me, when his house sheltered me as I came thither on my return; and to you I wish to give it." Thus they spoke such things to one another; and the banqueters came to the palace of the divine king.
§4.622οἱ δʼ ἦγον μὲν μῆλα, φέρον δʼ ἐυήνορα οἶνον· §4.623σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἄλοχοι καλλικρήδεμνοι ἔπεμπον.
They led sheep, and brought wine that makes glad the heart of man; and their wives of the beautiful veils sent them bread.
§4.624ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο.
Thus they were busy with the feast in the halls.
§4.625μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο §4.626δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες §4.627ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
But the suitors before the palace of Odysseus were making merry with quoits and throwing with spears on the level pavement, where before they were wont, in their insolence.
§4.628Ἀντίνοος δὲ καθῆστο καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής, §4.629ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων, ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.
And Antinous was sitting there, and godlike Eurymachus, the leaders of the suitors, who in manly excellence were far the best of all.
§4.630τοῖς δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν §4.631Ἀντίνοον μύθοισιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπεν· §4.632Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ ῥά τι ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί, §4.633ὁππότε Τηλέμαχος νεῖτʼ ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος;
To them Noemon, son of Phronius, drew near, and spoke to Antinous, questioning him: "Antinous, do we know at all in our hearts, or do we not, when Telemachus will return from sandy Pylos?
§4.634νῆά μοι οἴχετʼ ἄγων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς §4.635Ἤλιδʼ ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι, ἔνθα μοι ἵπποι
He has gone, taking my ship; and I have need of it to cross over to spacious Elis, where I have horses..."

Notes

  1. 4.568ἀναψύχειν — The infinitive `ἀναψύχειν` expresses the purpose or result of the preceding verb `ἀνίησιν` ("sends up in order to cool / with the result of cooling").
  2. 4.569σφιν — The third-person plural dative `σφιν` ("to them / in their eyes") refers contextually to the "immortal gods" (ἀθάνατοι) mentioned previously, or to the inhabitants of Elysium. It functions as a dative of relation or reference.
  3. 4.595-596ἀνεχοίμην ἥμενος — The optative `ἀνεχοίμην` with the particle `κʼ` (`ἄν`) expresses a potential statement, while the participle `ἥμενος` functions complementarily, meaning "endure sitting" or "tolerate remaining".
  4. 4.606ἱπποβότοιο — This is a genitive of comparison dependent on the comparative phrase `μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος`, contrasting a horse-pasturing land (plains) with a goat-pasturing land (rugged islands like Ithaca).
  5. 4.632ἦ ῥά τι ἴδμεν ... ἦε καὶ οὐκί — The particles `ἦ... ἦε` introduce an indirect double question ("whether... or not"), forming the object clause of `ἴδμεν` ("do we know").

Cite this passage

Homer, Odyssey §4.566-4.635. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:4.566-4.635

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