mortal goddess. But they having turned to the dance and the lovely song were delighted; and awaited till evening came on. And dark evening came upon them whilst they were being delighted. They then went each to his home to sleep; but Telemachus, where the lofty chamber of the most beautiful palace was built for him, in a conspicuous place, there went to bed, meditating many things in his mind. Chaste Euryclea, daughter of Ops, son of Pisenor, carried lighted torches with him; she whom formerly Laertes had bought with his wealth, while she was still in the prime of youth, and he gave a hundred beeves [for her]. And he honoured her in his palace, equally with his chaste wife; but he never embraced her on the couch, for he avoided the anger of his wife. She carried lighted torches with him, and loved him most of the female servants, and had nurtured him when little. But he opened the door of the well-made chamber, and sat on the bed, and put off his soft garment, and placed it in the hands of the prudent old woman. She having folded and arranged the garment, and having hung it on a peg near the compact 53 bed, hastened from the chamber, and drew to the door with a silver ring, and fastened the bolt with the thong.

Here he all night, covered with the finest wool,5 considered in his mind the journey, which Pallas Minerva had advised.

53 i. e. the bed fastened together by pegs driven through holes. Hesych. τοῖς κατὰ τὰς ἁρμογὰς τετρημένοις. Εtym. Magn. Τρητὸν λέχος, παρὰ τὸ τετρῆσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐνήλατα, εἰς ἃ ἐμβάλλεται ἡ σπάρτος, ἤ παρὰ τὸ τετρῆσθαι τοὺς πόδας, εἰς οὓς ἐμβάλλεται τὰ ἐνήλατα. Mr. Burges suggests that this term may really apply to a mattrass of straw, stabbed through, in order to keep it in shape, like the modern palliasse.

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54 Literally, "the flower of a sheep." But Buttmann, Lexil. p. 187, regards awros as equivalent to the Latin "floccus," observing, as this comes from flo, so that comes from anu; and both mean the light ana airy locks of the sheep or the flax-plant.'

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT.

Telemachus, having called an assembly, commands the suitors to leave the house of Ulysses: upon which there arises a sharp dispute, and an omen appears favourable to Telemachus. He then informs the suitors of his

intention of going in quest of his father, and asks for a ship for that purpose; which they refuse: but Minerva, appearing to him again, furnishes him with a ship and companions. Having obtained provisions from Eu ryclea, he sets sail in the evening in company with Minerva, without hav ing informed his mother of his intended departure.

1

BUT when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, then the dear son of Ulysses arose from his bed, having put on his garments: and around his shoulder he slung a sharp sword; and beneath his shining feet he bound beauti ful sandals. And he went forth from his chamber like unto a god to behold.2 And forthwith he ordered the shrill-voiced heralds to call to an assembly the long-haired Grecians. They indeed called them; and they were very quickly assembled. But when they were assembled, and were collected together, he proceeded to go to the forum, and in his hand he held a brazen spear. Not alone, for two swift3 dogs followed in company with him; and over him Minerva shed divine grace. And all the people gazed at him as he came, and he sat in the seat of his father, and the old men gave way. Then the hero Ægyptius began to harangue them, who was bent with old age, and knew ten thousand things. For his dear son, the warrior Antiphus, went with godlike Ulysses in the hollow ships to steed-excelling Ilium. But the fierce Cyclops slew him in his hollow cave, and prepared for his last supper. And there were three others; but one of them, Eurynomus, associated with the suitors: but two were always employed in their paternal duties. But not even thus did he forget him," lamenting and grieving. He pouring forth tears harangued them and spoke:

"Hear now from me, Ithacans, what I shall say. Never 1 See Loewe, who rightly prefers this explanation of ǹρiyέvεia. ? "coram," Schauf. vavríov, pavɛpwç, Hesych.

3 Or "white." See Loewe.

• Either because Antiphus was his last human victim, or the last of the followers of Ulysses that was eaten.

• Antiphus.

Eustath.

has our assembly, nor our sitting together, taken place, since divine Ulysses went in the hollow ships. But now who has assembled us here? upon whom does so great a necessity come, whether of young men, or of those who are more advanced? Whether has any one heard some intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed he can declare clearly to us, since he heard it first? or does he bring forward and advise something else which is public? He appears to me to be a good man, and may he be fortunate.6 May Jove accomplish for him whatever good he is anxious for in his mind."

Thus he spoke; but the beloved son of Ulysses rejoiced in the omen; nor did he sit still much longer, but was anxious to harangue; and he stood in the middle of the assembly; and the herald Pisenor, who understood prudent counsels, placed the sceptre in his hand. First then, turning towards the old man, he spoke [thus]:

"O old man, not far off is this? man who assembled the people (and thou thyself wilt soon know him); but grief comes especially upon me; I have neither heard any intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed I can clearly declare to thee, since I have heard it first, nor do I bring forward or advise any thing else which is public. But my own necessity, the evil which has fallen upon mine house, which is two-fold. First, I have lost my excellent sire, who was formerly a king amongst you who are here, 10 and he was mild as a father. But now again even a much greater [evil has befallen], which will soon altogether break up my whole house, and will entirely destroy my whole livelihood. Suitors are urging my mother against her will, the sons of the men who are the chief here: they dread to go to the house of her Icarian father, so that he may endow his daughter, and give her to whom he chooses, and to whomsoever should come acceptable to him. But they, spending all their days at my house, sacrificing oxen, and sheep, and fat goats, feast, and drink my ruddy1l wine to no purpose: but many things are • Supply εἴη with ὀνήμενος.

7 i. e. in words that seem to prognosticate his own success. In other passages, as vs. 240, this means to rebuke."

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• Telemachus points to himself. Hence ἤγειρα, not ἤγειρε, is the core rect reading.

10 "The Attics use roïodí [rather, Tolodí, Ed.]. See Aristoph. Ach. 160." Loewe,

"Bright, sparkling, glowing wine. See Loewe, and Liddel's Lexicon

consumed; for there is not present such a man as Ulysses was, to avert the calamity from the house. We are by no means such [as he was] to resist them; and besides we should be both weak, and not skilled in strength. Truly would I resist them, if strength were mine. For no longer are the deeds to be endured that have been done, and no longer does my house perish honourably. Be ye yourselves indignant, and revere other neighbouring men, who dwell around: and dread the wrath of the gods, lest they should make some change, enraged at your evil deeds. I beseech you by Olympian Jove and by Themis, who both breaks up and seats the assemblies of men, withhold, my friends, and suffer me to be afflicted alone with mournful grief, if my father the good Ulysses, being hostile, has at any time done evil to the wellgreaved Grecians. Taking revenge upon me for these things, be hostile to me, and do me harm, inciting these. And it would be better for me that ye should consume my householdstuff, and my cattle. But if you should devour them, perhaps there would be a requital hereafter; for so long should we make entreaties through the city, demanding back our goods, until all shall be restored: but now you cast incurable griefs into my mind."

Thus he spoke enraged, and cast the sceptre on the earth, bursting into tears;12 and pity possessed all the people. Here all the others were silent, nor did any one dare to answer Telemachus with bitter words but Antinous alone in answer addressed him.

“Telemachus, of lofty speech, intolerable in spirit, what hast thou said, disgracing us! Thou wouldst wish in truth to attach blame [to us]. The suitors of the Grecians 13 are not at all to blame, but thy mother, who is exceedingly skilled in craft: for it is now the third year, and the fourth is going on 14 swiftly, since she deceives the mind of the Grecians in their breast. She makes all hope, and promises every man, sending messages; but her mind hankers after other things. For she planned this other deceit in her mind; having begun a 12 Literally, lacrymas incendens." See Buttm. Lexil. p. 484, who compares τὸ δὲ (αἷμα) ἀνὰ στόμα καὶ κατὰ ῥῖνας Πρῆσε, “ he made th blood stream. II. π. 350.

13 i. e.

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"the suitors who are Grecians."

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14 See Loewe, who remarks that this is the only interpretation that preents inconsistency with vs. 106, sq.

large web in her palace she wove it, slender and very large; and straightway addressed us: Youths, my suitors, since godlike Ulysses is dead, stay urging my marriage until I shall finish this veil, that my threads may not perish in vain, a shroud for the hero Laertes, at the time when the destructive fate of long-slumbering death shall seize him. Lest some one amongst the Grecian women be indignant against me, should he lie without a wrapper, having possessed many things.' Thus she spoke, and our proud mind was persuaded. Then during the day she wove the mighty web; but at night, when she had placed the torches near her, she unravelled it. Thus for three years, indeed, she escaped by deceit, and persuaded the Grecians. But when the fourth year 15 came, and the hours advanced on, then indeed some one of the women, who knew it well, told it; and we found her unravelling the splendid web; so that she finished it of necessity, although unwilling. Thus the suitors answer thee, that thou mayest thyself know it in thy mind, and that all the Greeks may know it. Send away your mother, and bid her marry whomsoever her father bids, and she herself pleases. But if she shall for a long time further annoy the sons of the Grecians, caring in mind for those things, which Minerva has given her in abundance, to understand beautiful works, and [to possess a good disposition, and stratagems, such as we have never heard any one, even of the ancients, [possessed, 16] of those, who have been heretofore fair-haired Grecian women,17 Tyro, and Alcmene, and fair-haired Mycene; none of these knew the same arts of Penelope. But this indeed she has not planned rightly. For then they will consume thy livelihood and possessions, so long as she has this mind, which the gods have now placed in her breast; for herself indeed she obtains great glory, but for thee a regret for much sustinence.18 But we will neither go to our employments, nor any where else, before she marries whomsoever of the Grecians she chooses."

17

Him prudent Telemachus addressed in turn: "O Antinous, it is in no wise possible [for me] to thrust out of my house 15 i. e. the present one, of which he is now speaking.

16 With Tvα we must supply a verb, the sense of which is implied in the preceding ἐπίστασθαι.

17 Inverted, for "of those beautiful Grecian women, who were heretofore."

18 i. e. for its loss.