Greeks would have made him a tomb, and he would have obtained great glory for his son hereafter; but now the Harpies have snatched him away ingloriously: he is gone unseen, unheard of, and has left pains and groanings for me. Nor do I lament and grieve for him alone any longer; since the gods have contrived other evil cares for me. For as many chiefs as govern the islands, Dulichium, Samos, and woody Zacynthus, and as many as rule over craggy Ithaca, so many are wooing my mother and wasting away my estate. But she neither refuses the hateful marriage, nor can she bring it to a conclusion; but they are consuming my estate, and waste it away, and they will soon destroy myself to boot."

But with a conflict of painful feelings, Pallas Minerva spoke: "Alas! very much indeed dost thou stand in need of the absent Ulysses, who might lay his hands on the shameless suitors. For if he should now come and stand at the outward gate of the palace, having a helmet and shield and two darts, being such as when first I beheld him in our house drinking and delighting himself, having come from Ephyre from Ilus the son of Mermerus, (for Ulysses went there also in a swift ship, to seek for a deadly drug, that he might anoint his brazen-tipt arrows; but he 38 gave it not to him, for he revered 39 the immortal gods; but my father gave it him, for he loved him exceedingly,) if being such a one Ulysses should come in contact with the suitors, all would be quick-fated, and would have a bitter marriage. But all these things lie on the knees of the gods; whether he returning shall exact vengeance in his own palace, or not. But I exhort thee to consider by what means thou mayest thrust out the suitors from the palace. Come now,40 attend, and regard my words. To-morrow having convoked the Grecian heroes to an assembly, speak the word before all and let the gods be witnesses: command the suitors to disperse to their own homes. And if thy mother's mind encourages her to marry, let her return to the house of her father, who has mighty influence; and they will make a mar

38 Ilus.

39 Literally, "feared the nemesis or ill-will of the gods," for the gods were believed to envy the excessive prosperity of men. Hence cautious persons avoided expressions or actions which displayed arrogance.

40 The full form of expression would be εi dè Bovλɛ, ayɛ, but the simple si d'aye came to mean simply age vero, and be used as an exhortative particle. Loewe

riage for her, and will prepare very large dowries, such as ought to accompany a dear child. But to thee I will suggest prudently, if thou wilt obey me. Having prepared a ship, whichsoever is the best, with twenty rowers, go and inquire about thy father long absent, if any one of mortals can tell thee of him, or thou shouldest hear a report 41 from Jove, which especially brings notice to mortals. First then come to Pylos and inquire of divine Nestor; thence to Sparta to auburn-haired Menelaus; for he came last of the Greeks who wear brazen breastplates. If thou shouldest hear that thy father is alive and will return,42 then, although afflicted, thou mayest yet endure it for a year: but if thou shouldest hear that he is dead, and no longer exists, then returning to thy dear paternal land, erect aloft a monument for him, and perform very many funeral rites, whatsoever are becoming; and bestow upon thy mother a husband. But when thou shalt have concluded and done these things, then consider in thy breast and in thy mind, how thou mayest kill the suitors in thy palace, either by stratagem or openly. Nor oughtest thou by any means to follow childish pursuits, since thou art no longer of such an age. Dost thou not hear what glory the divine Orestes has obtained amongst all men, since he slew the crafty murderer Ægisthus, who slew his renowned father? And do thou, my friend, (for I see that thou art honourable and great,) be brave, that some one of posterity may speak well of thee also. But I will now go to my swift ship, and to my companions, who are in very low spirits through waiting for me. But be this thy care, and do thou regard my words."

But her the prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Stranger, surely thou givest me this advice, being friendly disposed towards me, as a father to his son, and I will never forget it. But come, tarry now, although hastening on thy journey, that having washed thyself, and delighted thy kind heart, thou mayest go to thy ship, rejoicing in thy mind, having a present, precious [and] very beautiful, which will be 41 It is a mistake to render oooav "an oracle," as is shown by Buttmann, Lexil. p. 446, sqq., who observes: common fame has almost always an obscure origin, and spreads with such wonderful rapidity, that the ancients looked upon it as not proceeding from men, but as something divine; hence it is said to come èk Alòs, or is personified, as by Virgil, as a divine being and the messenger of Jove."

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42 Literally, "if you hear of your father's life and return."

a keep-sake from me; [of] such things as friendly hosts bestow on their guests.'

But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva forthwith answered: "Do not any longer detain me, since I am anxious for my journey; but as to the present, whatever thy heart urges thee to give me, give it when I return again, that I may take it home, [yourself] having received a very beauteous [gift]; for it shall be a worthy recompence for thee.43

Thus having spoken, blue-eyed Minerva departed, and flew aloft 44 like a bird; but she placed strength and courage in his feelings, and put him still more in mind of his father than before: but he, considering within his breast, was astonished on reflection, for he thought that she was a god. Then the godlike man immediately went amongst the suitors; and the illustrious bard was singing to them, but they sat listening in silence; [for] he was singing the sad return of the Grecians, which Pallas Minerva ordained from Troy. His divine song prudent Penelope, the daughter of Icarus, understood in her mind from the upper chamber; 45 and she came down the lofty stairs of her palace, not alone, for two female attendants followed with her. But when she, divine amongst women, came to the suitors, she stood near the threshold of the stoutbuilt hall, holding up a slender veil before her cheeks; and a modest female attendant stood on either side of her, and weeping she then addressed the divine bard.

"O Phemius, since thou dost ken many other things to cheer mortals, the deeds of men and of gods, which bards are wont to celebrate; do thou sit down then, and sing one of these, and let them drink their wine in silence: but cease from this sad strain, which for ever wears my 46 heart within my breast: for unceasing grief has exceedingly come upon me. For I regret such a person, ever remembering the man,

47

45 It was usual for hosts to make presents to their guests, and for guests to return others to their hosts; as in the Iliad, Bellerophon is said to have given χρυσοῦν ποτήριον. ζ. ν. 220. Old translation, ἄξιον ἔσσετ ̓ ἀμοιβῆς "it shall be fit for a recompence for thee."

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44 Such seems to be the sense of avonaia ȧvwpepns. See Loewe. 45 i. e. being in the upper chamber, she understood it.

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meus, suus.'

46 The young student will remember that in Homer, as in Pindar, pilog is continually used for the possessive pronoun 47 So in Horace, "Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus Tain cari capitis." Soph. Antig. i. 'Ioμŋvns kápa.

whose glory is far spread through Greece and the middle of Argos."

Her prudent Telemachus addressed in turn : "My mother, why dost thou grudge the agreeable bard to delight in what way his mind incites him; the bards are not the cause, but Jove is sometimes the cause, who suggests to ingenious men, as he chooses to each. There is no blame for him to sing the evil fate of the Grecians.

For men celebrate hearers. But let For Ulysses was

48

that song most, which is newest to the thy heart and mind endure to hear it. not the only one who, at Troy, lost his return; but many other men likewise perished. Go then into thy chamber, and attend to thine own employments, the web and the distaff, and bid thy servants hasten their work; but conversation shall be a care to all men, and especially to me; for the authority within the house is mine." She indeed astonished went again within the house; for she revolved in her mind the prudent words of her son. And going to the upper room with her women attendants, she then wept for her dear husband Ulysses, until blue-eyed Minerva shed sweet sleep over her eyelids. But the suitors were rioting within the shaded dwellings, and all longed to recline on a couch with her.

But prudent Telemachus began to address them: "Suitors of my mother, who are possessed of overbearing insolence, now let us delight ourselves feasting, nor let there be any clamour; since this is an honourable thing, to hear such a bard as he is, like unto the gods in his voice. But in the morning let us all go and sit down in assembly, that I may confidently declare this message to you, that you are to go out of this dwelling; and prepare other feasts, consuming your own possessions, taking turns at each other's houses. But if this seems to you more proper and better, to destroy with impunity the livelihood of one man, waste it; but 49 I will call upon the immortal gods; If Jupiter shall grant that deeds shall meet with retribution, then shall ye perish unrevenged within the house."

Thus he spoke; but they all biting their lips 50 marvelled at Telemachus, that he harangued so boldly.

68 οἶκον · ὑπερῷα in vs. 362.

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49 i. e. then I will. "Literally, "weeping close their lips on the teeth."

But him Antinous, the son of Eupithes, addressed in answer: "O Telemachus, of a truth the gods themselves teach thee to be a lofty speaker, and to harangue boldly; but never may the son of Saturn make thee king in sea-girt Ithaca, which is hereditary to thee by descent."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Antinous, art thou amazed at what I say? Indeed I should wish to receive this, if Jove would grant it. Dost thou say that this is the worst thing amongst men? For it is by no means a bad thing to be a king; his house forthwith becomes opulent, and he himself more honoured. But indeed there are nany other kings of the Grecians in sea-girt Ithaca, young and old; some one of these may possess this, since divine Ulysses is dead. But I will be king over mine own house, and my servants, whom divine Ulysses has obtained for me as his share of booty."

But him Eurymachus, son of Polybus, then answered: "Telemachus, these things of a certainty lie on the knees of the gods, [as to] who of the Grecians shall reign in sea-girt Ithaca; but thou mayest thyself have his possessions, and rule over his house. For never may the man come, who would waste thy possessions by force against thy will, when Ithaca is still inhabited. But I wish to inquire of thee, O most excellent one, about the stranger, from whence this man is, and from what land he boasts himself to be; and where are his race,51 and his paternal fields.52 Does he bring any news of thy father's coming, or desiring some debt of his own, does he come hither? For he went away immediately in haste, nor did he wait for us to know him; yet in countenance he was by no means like a mean person."

But him prudent Telemachus addressed in answer: "Eurymachus, truly the return of my father has perished; nor do I any longer give credit to any message, if one should come from any place: nor do I regard an oracle, if my mother, having called any prophet to the palace, should inquire of him. But this man is a guest of my father's from Taphos; he boasts himself to be Mentes, son of warlike Anchialus, but he reigns over the oar-loving Taphians."

Thus spoke Telemachus; but in his mind he knew the im