BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Fortæl
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledlangt
farandwideafterhehavde
hadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Mange
Manycitiesdidhevisit,og
andmanywerethenationsmed
withwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesuffered
meget
muchbyseawhiletryingtoredde
savehisownlifeandbringe
bringhismensafelyhome;men
butdowhathemighthekunne
couldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheiregen
ownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothe
gud
godpreventedthemfromeverreachinghjem
home.Tellme,too,about
alle
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoukan
mayknowthem.Sonow
alle
allwhoescapeddeathinbattleeller
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhjem
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,selv
thoughhewaslongingtovende tilbage
returntohiswifeandland
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoen
alargecaveandwantedtomarryham
him.Butasyearswentby,there
kom
cameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheskulle
shouldgobacktoIthaca;eventhen,however,
da
whenhewasamonghiseget
ownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;nevertheless
alle
allthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,som
whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingog
andwouldnotlethimkomme
gethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,
som
whoareattheworld’sende
end,andlieintwohalves,theoneser
lookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepog
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;men
buttheothergodsmetinde
thehouseofOlympianJove,og
andthesireofgodsog
andmenspokefirst.Atthat
øjeblik
momenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeendræbt
killedbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;sohe
sagde
saidtotheothergods:.“See
nu
now,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafteralt
allnothingbuttheirownfolly.Se
LookatAegisthus;hemustneedsmake
elske
lovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyog
andthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhevidste
knewitwouldbethedød
deathofhim;forI
sendte
sentMercurytowarnhimnottogøre
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOrestesville
wouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewop
upandwantedtoreturnhjem
home.Mercurytoldhimthisinall
god
goodwillbuthewouldnotlytte
listen,andnowhehasbetalt
paidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
sagde
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Konge
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusret
right,andsoitwouldenhver
anyoneelsewhodoesashedid;men
butAegisthusisneitherherenorder
there;itisforUlysses
at
thatmyheartbleeds,whenItænker
thinkofhissufferingsinat
thatlonelysea-girtisland,farvæk
away,poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
og
andagoddesslivesthere,datter
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,og
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatholder
keepheavenandearthasunder.Denne
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofstakkels
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepsforsøger
tryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimglemme
forgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,og
andthinksofnothingbuthvordan
howhemayoncemorese
seethesmokeofhisegne
ownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedof
dette
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasfør
beforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyoumed
withmanyaburntsacrifice?Hvorfor
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrymed
withhim?”AndJovesaid,“My
barn
child,whatareyoutalkingom
about?HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereis
ikke
nomorecapablemanonjorden
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstode
theimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?Bearinmind,however,
at
thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhave
havingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.Polyphemusis
søn
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,datter
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;therefore
selv
thoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromkomme
gettinghome.Still,letuslayourheads
sammen
togetherandseehowwekan
canhelphimtoreturn;Neptune
vil
willthenbepacified,forhvis
ifweareallofasind
mindhecanhardlystandud
outagainstus.”AndMinerva
sagde
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Konge
Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnu
nowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethjem
home,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtofortælle
tellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsog
andthatheistovende tilbage
return.InthemeantimeI
vil
willgotoIthaca,tosætte
putheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;I
vil
willemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,og
andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismor
motherPenelope,whopersistinspise
eatingupanynumberofhissheepog
andoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
og
andtoPylos,toseeifhekan
canhearanythingaboutthereturnofhiskære
dearfather—forthiswillmakefolk
peoplespeakwellofhim.”So
siger
sayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,med
withwhichshecanflylikethewindover
overlandorsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
og
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohar
havedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’hus
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,og
andsheheldabronzespearinherhånden
hand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichthey
havde
hadkilledandeaten,andspillede
playingdraughtsinfrontofthehuset
house.Men-servantsandpageswerebustling
om
abouttowaituponthem,nogle
somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,nogle
somecleaningdownthetablesmed
withwetspongesandlayingthemud
outagain,andsomecuttingop
upgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachus
så
sawherlongbeforeanyoneelsegjorde
did.Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
tænkte
thinkingabouthisbravefather,og
andhowhewouldsendthemflyingud
outofthehouse,ifheweretokomme
cometohisownagainog
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashe
sad
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaog
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthaten
astrangershouldbekeptventer
waitingforadmittance.Hetookher
højre
righthandinhisown,og
andbadehergivehimherspear.“Welcome,”
sagde
saidhe,“toourhouse,og
andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushallfortælle
telluswhatyouhavecomefor.”Heledthe
vejen
wayashespoke,andMinervafulgte
followedhim.Whentheywerewithinhe
tog
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-standmod
againstastrongbearing-postalongmed
withthemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfar
father,andheconductedhertoarichlydecoratedseatunder
underwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewas
en
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]og
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,væk
awayfromthesuitors,thatshekunne
mightnotbeannoyedwhilespiste
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,og
andthathemightaskhermere
morefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthen
bragte
broughtthemwaterinasmuk
beautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,og
andshedrewacleantablebesidedem
them.Anupperservantbroughtthembread,
og
andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhatder
therewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofalle
allmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,og
andamanservantbroughtthemwineog
andpoureditoutfordem
them.Thenthesuitorscamein
og
andtooktheirplacesonthebenchesog
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredvand
waterovertheirhands,maidsgik
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlsmed
withwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegode
goodthingsthatwerebeforedem
them.Assoonastheyhadhad
nok
enoughtoeatanddrinktheyønskede
wantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofen
abanquet,soaservantbragte
broughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosynge
singtothem.Assoonashetouchedhislyre
og
andbegantosingTelemachustalte
spokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadtæt
closetohersthatnomand
manmighthear.“Ihope,sir,”said
han
he,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosige
say.Singingcomescheapto
dem
thosewhodonotpayforit,og
andallthisisdoneatthecostofen
onewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernesseller
orgrindingtopowderinthesurf.Hvis
Ifthesemenweretose
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheyville
wouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanen
alongerpurse,formoneyville
wouldnotservethem;but
han
he,alas,hasfallenonen
anillfate,andevennår
whenpeopledosometimessayat
thatheiscoming,weikke
nolongerheedthem;weshall
aldrig
neverseehimagain.And
nu
now,sir,tellmeandfortæl
tellmetrue,whoyouareog
andwhereyoucomefrom.Tellmeofyour
by
townandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamei
in,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,og
andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothave
havecomebyland.Tellme
også
alsotruly,forIwanttovide
know,areyouastrangertodette
thishouse,orhaveyoubeenher
hereinmyfather’stime?Inthe
gamle
olddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfar
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”Og
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwillfortælle
tellyoutrulyandparticularlyalt
allaboutit.IamMentes,
søn
sonofAnchialus,andIamKonge
KingoftheTaphians.Ihavecome
her
herewithmyshipandcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]med
withacargoofiron,og
andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,it
ligger
liesoveryonderofftheåbne
opencountryawayfromthebyen
town,intheharbourRheithron[5]under
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsfør
beforeus,asoldLaertesvil
willtellyou,ifyouvil
willgoandaskhim.Theysay,however,thathe
aldrig
nevercomestotownnow,og
andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,med
withanoldwomantolookafterhimog
andgethisdinnerforham
him,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringom
abouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyour
far
fatherwasathomeagain,og
andthatwaswhyIkom
came,butitseemsthegodsarestadig
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdød
deadyetnotonthemainland.Itis
mere
morelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,eller
oraprisoneramongsavagesder
whoaredetaininghimagainsthisvilje
will.Iamnoprophet,
og
andknowverylittleaboutomens,men
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,og
andassureyouthathevil
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheis
en
amanofsuchresourceat
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironheville
wouldfindsomemeansofkomme
gettinghomeagain.Buttell
mig
me,andtellmetrue,kan
canUlyssesreallyhavesuchen
afinelookingfellowforen
ason?Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
hoved
headandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsfør
beforehesetsailforTroyhvor
wheretheflowerofalltheArgivesgik
wentalso.Sincethattimewe
har
havenevereitherofusseentheother.”“Mymother,”
svarede
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsøn
sontoUlysses,butitiset
awisechildthatknowshisegen
ownfather.WouldthatIwere
søn
sontoonewhohadgrowngammel
olduponhisownestates,for
for,sinceyouaskme,thereisingen
nomoreill-starredmanunderheavenend
thanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”Og
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisingen
nofearofyourracedyingoutendnu
yet,whilePenelopehassuchen
afinesonasyouare.Men
Buttellme,andtellmesandt
true,whatisthemeaningofalt
allthisfeasting,andwhoaredisse
thesepeople?Whatisitall
om
about?Haveyousomebanquet,
eller
oristhereaweddinginthefamily—foringen
nooneseemstobebringe
bringinganyprovisionsofhisegen
own?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
gør
makeoverthewholehouse;itis
nok
enoughtodisgustanyrespectableperson
personwhocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”
sagde
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourspørgsmål
question,solongasmyfar
fatherwashereitwasgodt
wellwithusandwiththehuset
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehar
havewilleditotherwise,andhar
havehiddenhimawaymorecloselyend
thanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.I
kunne
couldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredød
dead,ifhehadfallenmed
withhismenbeforeTroy,eller
orhaddiedwithfriendsomkring
aroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;forthentheAchaeans
ville
wouldhavebuiltamoundover
overhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhave
havebeenheirtohisrenown;men
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimvæk
awayweknownotwhither;heisgone
uden
withoutleavingsomuchaset
atracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoes
det
thematterendsimplywithgrieffordet
thelossofmyfather;heaven
har
haslaidsorrowsuponmeofendnu
yetanotherkind;forthechiefsfrom
alle
allourislands,Dulichium,Same,og
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalle
alltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areæder
eatingupmyhouseunderde
thepretextofpayingtheircourttomymor
mother,whowillneitherpointblanksige
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]norendnu
yetbringmatterstoanende
end;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,
og
andbeforelongwilldosoogså
alsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeed
vil
wantUlysseshomeagain.Givehimhishelmet,shield,
og
andacoupleoflances,og
andifheisthemand
manhewaswhenIførste
firstknewhiminourhus
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,heville
wouldsoonlayhishandsom
abouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostå
standoncemoreuponhisegen
ownthreshold.HewasthencomingfromEphyra,
hvor
wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,søn
sonofMermerus.Ilusfeared
de
theever-livinggodsandwouldnotgive
givehimany,butmyfar
fatherlethimhavesome,forhewasmeget
veryfondofhim.IfUlyssesis
den
themanhethenwasdisse
thesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftog
andasorrywedding.“But
der
there!Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
vende tilbage
return,andtakehisrevengeinhiseget
ownhouseorno;I
vil
would,however,urgeyoutosetaboutforsøge
tryingtogetridofdisse
thesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,
kald
calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyoursag
casebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.Bid
de
thesuitorstakethemselvesoff,hver
eachtohisownplace,og
andifyourmother’smindisindstillet
setonmarryingagain,lethergå
gobacktoherfather,som
whowillfindheramand
husbandandprovideherwithalle
allthemarriagegiftsthatsokære
dearadaughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,
lad
letmeprevailuponyoutotage
takethebestshipyoukan
canget,withacrewoftwentymen,og
andgoinquestofyourfar
fatherwhohassolongbeensavnet
missing.Someonemaytellyou
noget
something,or(andpeopleoftenhører
hearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessagekan
maydirectyou.FirstgotoPylos
og
andaskNestor;thencegoontoSparta
og
andvisitMenelaus,forhekom
gothomelastofalltheAchaeans;hvis
ifyouhearthatyourfar
fatherisaliveandonhisvej
wayhome,youcanputupwithdet
thewastethesesuitorswillgøre
makeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Hvis
Ifontheotherhandyouhører
hearofhisdeath,comehjem
homeatonce,celebratehisfuneralritesmed
withallduepomp,builden
abarrowtohismemory,og
andmakeyourmothermarryigen
again.Then,havingdoneall
dette
this,thinkitwelloverinyoursind
mindhow,byfairmeanseller
orfoul,youmaykilldisse
thesesuitorsinyourownhus
house.Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounot
hørt
heardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingdræbt
killedhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
en
afine,smartlookingfellow;vis
showyourmettle,then,andgør
makeyourselfanameinstory.Nu
Now,however,Imustgotilbage
backtomyshipandtomycrew,som
whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemvente
waitinglonger;thinkthematter
over
overforyourself,andrememberwhatIhar
havesaidtoyou.”“Sir,”
svarede
answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenmeget
verykindofyoutotale
talktomeinthismåde
way,asthoughIwereyouregen
ownson,andIwillgøre
doallyoutellme;I
ved
knowyouwanttobebliv
gettingonwithyourvoyage,men
butstayalittlelongertillyouhar
havetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.I
vil
willthengiveyouapresent,og
andyoushallgoonyourvej
wayrejoicing;Iwillgiveyouoneof
stor
greatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchaskun
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minerva
svarede
answered,“Donottrytoholde
keepme,forIwouldbeonmyvej
wayatonce.Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedto
lave
makeme,keepittillIkommer
comeagain,andIwilltage
takeithomewithme.Youshall
give
givemeaverygoodone,og
andIwillgiveyouoneofikke
nolessvalueinreturn.”Med
Withthesewordssheflewvæk
awaylikeabirdintotheair,men
butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,og
andhadmadehimthinkmere
morethaneverabouthisfar
father.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,
og
andknewthatthestrangerhavde
hadbeenagod,sohegik
wentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresad
sitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,
og
andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashefortalte
toldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,og
andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
datter
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherværelse
roomupstairs,andcamedownbyden
thegreatstaircase,notalone,men
butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.Da
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestod
stoodbyoneofthebearingpostsder
thatsupportedtheroofofde
thecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneitherside
sideofher.Sheheld
et
aveil,moreover,beforeheransigt
face,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“you
kender
knowmanyanotherfeatofgodsog
andheroes,suchaspoetselsker
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,
og
andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,men
butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulhjerte
heart,andremindsmeofmytabte
losthusbandwhomImourneveruden
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatover
overallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
svarede
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsynge
singwhathehasamindtil
to;bardsdonotmaketheillsthey
synger
singof;itisJove,not
de
they,whomakesthem,andwhosender
sendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisegen
owngoodpleasure.Thisfellow
mener
meansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forfolk
peoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmest
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
og
andbearit;Ulyssesisnot
den
theonlymanwhonevercametilbage
backfromTroy,butmanyanothergik
wentdownaswellashe.Gå
Go,then,withinthehouseog
andbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,og
andtheorderingofyourservants;forspeechisman’s
sag
matter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIder
whoammasterhere.”She
gik
wentwonderingbackintothehuset
house,andlaidherson’ssayinginherhjerte
heart.Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoher
værelse
room,shemournedherdearmand
husbandtillMinervashedsweetsøvn
sleepoverhereyes.But
de
thesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutde
thecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachoneat
thathemightbeherbedfellow.ThenTelemachus
talte
spoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,lad
letusfeastatourpleasurenu
now,andlettherebeikke
nobrawling,foritisen
ararethingtohearen
amanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushar
has;butinthemorning
mød
meetmeinfullassemblythatIkan
maygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,og
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,vende
turnandturnabout,atyouregen
owncost.Ifonthe
anden
otherhandyouchoosetopersistinspunginguponen
oneman,heavenhelpme,men
butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,og
andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shus
housethereshallbenomand
mantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
hørte
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.Then,Antinous,
søn
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohave
havegivenyoulessonsinblusterog
andtalltalking;mayJove
aldrig
nevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfar
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
svarede
answered,“Antinous,donotchidemed
withme,but,godwilling,Ivil
willbechieftooifIkan
can.Isthistheworstfateyou
kan
canthinkofforme?Itis
ikke
nobadthingtobeachief,foritbringer
bringsbothrichesandhonour.Still,
nu
nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemange
manygreatmeninIthacabåde
botholdandyoung,andnogle
someothermaytaketheleadamongdem
them;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmy
eget
ownhouse,andwillruledem
thosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
søn
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongos
us,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhus
houseandoveryourownpossessions;ingen
noonewhilethereisamand
maninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.Og
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Ivil
wanttoknowaboutthisstranger.What
land
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
familie
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?Har
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfars
father,orwasheonbusinessofhisegen
own?Heseemedawelltodo
mand
man,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinaøjeblik
momentbeforewecouldgettokende
knowhim.”“Myfatheris
død
deadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIsætter
putnomorefaithinitnu
now.Mymotherdoesindeed
nogle gange
sometimessendforasoothsayerog
andquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsikke
noheed.Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
søn
sonofAnchialus,chiefofden
theTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Men
Butinhishearthevidste
knewthatithadbeenthegoddess.Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheir
sang
singinganddancinguntiltheevening;men
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheygik
wenthometobedeachinhisegen
ownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashøjt
highupinatower[13]der
thatlookedontotheoutercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
og
andfullofthought.A
god
goodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesøn
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimmed
withacoupleofblazingtorches.Laertes
havde
hadboughtherwithhisegne
ownmoneywhenshewasganske
quiteyoung;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenfor
hende
her,andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashegjorde
didtohisownweddedkone
wife,buthedidnottog
takehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswhonu
nowlightedTelemachustohisværelse
room,andshelovedhimbedre
betterthananyoftheandre
otherwomeninthehousegjorde
did,forshehadnursedhimda
whenhewasababy.He
åbnede
openedthedoorofhissengen
bedroomandsatdownuponthesengen
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
Og
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSOg
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.Now
da
whenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseog
anddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
og
andlefthisroomlookinglikeen
animmortalgod.Heatonce
sendte
sentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemog
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
da
whentheyweregottogether,hegik
wenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalene
alone,forhistwohoundsgik
wentwithhim.Minervaendowedhimwith
en
apresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessat
thatallmarvelledathimashegik
wentby,andwhenhetog
tookhisplaceinhisfather’sseatselv
eventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforham
him.Aegyptius,amanbentdouble
med
withage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasden
thefirsttospeak.His
søn
sonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,men
butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimda
whentheywereallshutupinthecave,og
andhadcookedhislastmiddag
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtre
threesonsleft,ofwhomto
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,mens
whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasen
oneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
far
fathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,og
andwasstillweepingforhimda
whenhebeganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
sagde
said,“hearmywords.From
den
thedayUlyssesleftusder
therehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsindtil
untilnow;whothencanitbe,whether
gammel
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneos
us?Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,
og
anddoeshewishtowarnos
us,orwouldhespeakuponsomeandet
othermatterofpublicmoment?Iam
sikker
sureheisanexcellentperson
person,andIhopeJovevil
willgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
tog
tookthisspeechasofgodt
goodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingmed
withwhathehadtosige
say.Hestoodinthemiddleof
den
theassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbragte
broughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”said
han
he,“itisI,asyouvil
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemest
mostaggrieved.Ihavenot
fået
gotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIvil
wouldwarnyou,noristherenogen
anymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIvil
wouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
og
andturnsontwogreatmisfortunesder
whichhavefallenuponmyhus
house.Thefirstoftheseis
den
thelossofmyexcellentfar
father,whowaschiefamongallyouher
herepresent,andwaslikeafar
fathertoeveryoneofyou;den
thesecondismuchmorealvorlig
serious,anderelongwillbeden
theutterruinofmyestate.Thesonsof
alle
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymor
mothertomarrythemagainsthervilje
will.Theyareafraidto
gå
gotoherfatherIcarius,bede
askinghimtochoosetheonehelide
likesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdatter
daughter,butdaybydaytheyholder
keephangingaboutmyfather’shus
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,og
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,og
andnevergivingsomuchasamen
thoughttothequantityofwinetheydrikker
drink.Noestatecanstand
sådan
suchrecklessness;wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,
og
andIcannotholdmyegen
ownagainstthem.