Greek A level - Odyssey (3) 338 - 451

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Πηνελοπείῃ δʼ εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰς

πάνθʼ ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.

But swin herd having come to stand near by Penelope said

All the things which her dear son had ordered him to say.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.

And when he had spoken all that he had been told,

He went to go among the pigs, and he left both the courtyard and the hall.

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ἐκ δʼ ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,

αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.

But the suitors were distressed and downcast in their spirit,

and they went out from the hall alongside the great wall of the coutyard,

and they sat out there in front of the doors.

τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·

ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως τετέλεσται

Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.

But then Euremachus, the son of Polybus, began to speak to them.

“My friends, but in truth a great deed has been arrogantly brought to pass, this journey by Telemachus. And we said it would not be completed by him.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν ἥ τις ἀρίστη,

ἐς δʼ ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστα

κείνοις ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι.”

But come let us launch a black ship, the one which is best,

and let us gather together on board sea-men as rowers, who most swiftly carry a message to them to return home quickly.”

οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθʼ, ὅτʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,

στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,

ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.

not yet had the orders been fully given, when Amphinomous turning from his place, saw a ship,

being in the very deep harbour,

and the men both taking in the sails and having the oars in their hands.

ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷς ἑτάροισι·

μή τινʼ ἔτʼ ἀγγελίην ὀτρύνομεν· οἵδε γὰρ ἔνδον.

and having broken out into sweet laughter he spoke to his companions.

“let us not send this message anymore, For they are here at home.

ἤ τίς σφιν τόδʼ ἔειπε θεῶν, ἢ εἴσιδον αὐτοὶ

νῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.

either some God has told them this, or they themselves saw his ship passing by, and they were not able to catch up with it.”

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,

αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,

τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.

So he spoke, the men stood and went to the shore of the sea,

and at once they dragged the black ship on to the mainland,

and the high-spirited servants carried away the weapons.

αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον

εἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.

and they went all together into the agora, allowing neither any

of the yong men nor the old men to sit in their company.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

“ὢ πόποι, ὡς τόνδʼ ἄνδρα θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν.

ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἷζον ἐπʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας

αἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι·

Then Antinous, son of Eupeitheos spoke amongst them,

“alas, for the Gods have freed this man from ruin.

each day the watchmen sat went to windswept hilltops and sat,

always one after another.

ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι

οὔ ποτʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου νύκτʼ ἄσαμεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ

νηῒ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,

Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθίσωμεν ἑλόντες

αὐτόν·

And at the same time as the sun was setting,

we never slept on the mainland during the night, but sailing over the sea in our swift ship we waited until divine dawn,

lying in wait for Telemachus, in order that having captured him we

might kill him.

τὸν δʼ ἄρα τῆος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον

Τηλεμάχῳ, μηδʼ ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι·

But in the mean time a God took him away home,

but we let us here plan a miserable destruction for him,

for Telemachus, nor may he escape us.

οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω

τούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.

For i do not think that

while this man is still alive our business here would be accomplished.

αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,

λαοὶ δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.

For while this man is an expert in both advice and good sense,

people no longer show a kindness to us.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺς

εἰς ἀγορήν—οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,

ἀλλʼ ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστὰς

οὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδʼ ἐκίχημεν·

But come, before he gathers the Achains for a meeting

in the agora - for I do not think that he will be slow to act,

but will be full of wrath and rising up he will declare

among them all that we contrived utter destruction, but did not catch him.

οἱ δʼ οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·

μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἡμέας ἐξελάσωσι

γαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δʼ ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον·

and they will not praise us when they hear of our evils deeds.

Beware, then, may they work us some harm and drive us out

from our country, and we come to the land of strangers.

ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος

ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ·

Nay, let us act first, having sezied him the field far from the city,

or on the road;

βίοτον δʼ αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματʼ ἔχωμεν,

δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφʼ ἡμέας, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε

κείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅστις ὀπυίοι.

and let us ourselves keep his wealth and his possessions,

dividing them fairly among us; let us give the house now to his mother to possess, and to whoever weds her.

εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθε

αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,

and if this plan is displeasing to you, and you wish

that he should live and keep all his fathers possessions,

μή οἱ χρήματʼ ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέ ʼἔδωμεν

ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλʼ ἐκμεγάροιο ἕκαστος

μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέκʼ ἔπειτα

γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.

let us not continue to devour his abundance of desirable possessions as we gather here, but let each man from his own hall

woo her seeking her with bridal gifts, and she then

would wed he who offers the most, and who comes as her fated lord.”

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε,

Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος,

ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Δουλιχίου πολυπύρου, ποιήεντος,

ἡγεῖτο μνηστῆρσι,

Then Amphinomus addressed their assembly, and spoke among them.

He was the glorious son of the prince Nisus, Son of King Aretias, and he led the suitors, who came from wheat filled, grassy Dulichium,

μάλιστα δὲ Πηνελοπείῃ

ἥνδανε μύθοισι· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσιν·

and above all the others he pleased Penelope

with his words. for he was graced with good sense.

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

“ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατακτείνειν ἐθέλοιμι

Τηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστιν

κτείνειν·

He addressed the assembly with good intent, and spoke among them:

“O friends, I indeed would not wish to kill

Telemachus. And the royal offspring is something dreadful

to kill.

ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.

εἰ μέν κʼ αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,

αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·

But first we must seek the Gods will.

And if the great law bearing Gods approve of this,

I will both kill him and command all the others.

εἰ δέ κʼ ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί,παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δʼἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

But if the Gods prevent us, I bid you to cease from this.”

As Amphinomus spoke, his speech pleased them.

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,

ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.

At once then having stood up he went into Odysseus’ home,

and having arrived he sat down on the polished chairs.

ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,

μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρ βιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.

and now as wise Penelope had another thought,

to confront the suitors, having such arrogant pride.

πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·

κῆρυξ γὰρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.

For she had found out about her sons destruction in the halls

for the herald Medon told her, who had learnt about their plot.

And she started to go to the hall with her female attendants.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,

Ἀντίνοον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

But when she arrived near the suitors, glorious amongst the women,

she stood beside the pillar build under the sturdy roof,

across her cheeks

and rebuked Antinous and spoke out and addressed him

Ἀντίνοʼ, ὕβριν ἔχων, κακομήχανε, καὶ δέ σέ φασινἐν

δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθʼ ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστον

βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι·

“Antonius, you are arrogant, and trouble making, and they say that you are the best man among your contemporaries in the land of Ithaca and in the council and stories.

σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἄρατοῖος ἔησθα.

μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε

ῥάπτεις, οὐδʼ ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς

μάρτυρος; οὐδʼ ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.

and I am sure you are not of such a kind.

Crazy, and why do you plot Telemachus’ murder and death,

Nor do you care about the suppliants, who are Zeus’ witnesses?

ἦ οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,

δῆμον ὑποδείσας; δὴ γὰρκεχολώατο λίην,

οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισιν

ἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς·

Nor is it righteous to plot evilly with the others.

Do you not know that his father has arrived here after fleeing,

having feared the people? For surely he would be very angry

because obeying Taphian robbers he was sorrowful

οἱ δʼ ἡμῖνἄρθμιοι ἦσαν·

τόν ῥʼ ἔθελον φθῖσαι καὶἀπορραῖσαι φίλον ἦτορ

ἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέαπολλήν·

ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.

τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳδὲ γυναῖκα

παῖδά τʼ ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲμεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·

ἀλλά σε παύσασθαι κέλομαι καὶἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβουπάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονΠηνελόπεια,

θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶσῇσι μελόντων.

οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἔσσεταιοὐδὲ γένηται,

ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ σῷ υἱέϊ χεῖραςἐποίσει

ζώοντός γʼ ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶδερκομένοιο.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴντετελεσμένον ἔσται·

αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσειπερὶ δουρὶ

ἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲπτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς

πολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσινἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸν

ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ἐπέσχε τεοἶνον ἐρυθρόν.

τῷ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺφίλτατός ἐστιν

ἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατοντρομέεσθαι ἄνωγα

ἔκ γε μνηστήρων·

θεόθεν δʼ οὐκἔστʼ ἀλέασθαι.

ὣς φάτο θαρσύνων, τῷ δʼ ἤρτυεναὐτὸς ὄλεθρον.