BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’S
Besøg
VISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.Fortæl
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatgeniale
ingeniousherowhotravelledfarog
andwideafterhehadsackedden
thefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhe
besøgte
visit,andmanywerethenationsmed
withwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhe
led
sufferedmuchbyseawhileforsøgte
tryingtosavehisownliv
lifeandbringhismentrygt
safelyhome;butdowhathe
kunne
mighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyomkom
perishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyinspise
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothe
gud
godpreventedthemfromevernå
reachinghome.Tellme,too,
om
aboutallthesethings,ohdatter
daughterofJove,fromwhatsoeverkilde
sourceyoumayknowthem.So
nu
nowallwhoescapeddeathinkamp
battleorbyshipwreckhadgotsikkert
safelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhan
he,thoughhewaslongingtovende tilbage
returntohiswifeandland
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoen
alargecaveandwantedtomarryham
him.Butasyearswentby,there
kom
cameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheskulle
shouldgobacktoIthaca;eventhen,however,
da
whenhewasamonghiseget
ownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;ikke desto mindre
neverthelessallthegodshadnu
nowbeguntopityhimbortset fra
exceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimuden
withoutceasingandwouldnotlade
lethimgethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,
som
whoareattheworld’sende
end,andlieintwohalves,theoneser
lookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepog
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival
festival;buttheothergodsmetin
de
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
wouldbesuretotakehishævne
revengewhenhegrewupog
andwantedtoreturnhome.Merkur
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgod
goodwillbuthewouldnotlytte
listen,andnowhehasbetalt
paidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
sagde
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Konge
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusret
right,andsoitwouldenhver
anyoneelsewhodoesashedid;men
butAegisthusisneitherhereeller
northere;itisforUlysses
at
thatmyheartbleeds,whenItænker
thinkofhissufferingsinat
thatlonelysea-girtisland,farvæk
away,poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisan
ø
islandcoveredwithforest,intheverymidt
middleofthesea,andagudinde
goddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas
Atlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,og
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatholder
keepheavenandearthasunder.Denne
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofstakkels
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepsforsøger
tryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimglemme
forgethishome,sothatheistræt
tiredoflife,andthinksofintet
nothingbuthowhemaygang
oncemoreseethesmokeofhisegne
ownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedof
dette
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasfør
beforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyoumed
withmanyaburntsacrifice?Hvorfor
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsovred
angrywithhim?”AndJove
sagde
said,“Mychild,whatareyoutaler
talkingabout?HowcanI
glemme
forgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisikke
nomorecapablemanonearth,eller
normoreliberalinhisofferingstode
theimmortalgodsthatliveinhimlen
heaven?Bearinmind,however,
at
thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhave
havingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.Polyphemusis
søn
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,datter
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;derfor
thereforethoughhewillnotdræbe
killUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbyforhindre
preventinghimfromgettinghome.Still,
lad
letuslayourheadssammen
togetherandseehowwekan
canhelphimtoreturn;Neptune
vil
willthenbepacified,forhvis
ifweareallofasind
mindhecanhardlystandud
outagainstus.”AndMinerva
sagde
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Konge
Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnu
nowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethjem
home,weshouldfirstsendMerkur
MercurytotheOgygianislandtofortælle
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
sayingsheboundonherglitteringgyldne
goldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshekan
canflylikethewindover
overlandorsea;she
greb
graspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutog
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohar
havedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,attheporten
gatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasagæst
visitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,og
andsheheldabronzespyd
spearinherhand.Thereshe
fandt
foundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhavde
hadkilledandeaten,andspillede
playingdraughtsinfrontofthehuset
house.Men-servantsandpageswerebustling
om
abouttowaituponthem,nogle
somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,nogle
somecleaningdownthetablesmed
withwetspongesandlayingthemud
outagain,andsomecuttingop
upgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachus
så
sawherlongbeforeanyoneelsegjorde
did.Hewassittingmoodily
blandt
amongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefar
father,andhowhewouldsende
sendthemflyingoutofthehuset
house,ifheweretokomme
cometohisownagainog
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashe
sad
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaog
andwentstraighttotheporten
gate,forhewasvexedthaten
astrangershouldbekeptventer
waitingforadmittance.Hetookher
højre
righthandinhisown,og
andbadehergivehimherspyd
spear.“Welcome,”saidhe,“toour
hus
house,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushallfortælle
telluswhatyouhavecomefor.”He
førte
ledthewayashetalte
spoke,andMinervafollowedhim.Da
Whentheywerewithinhetog
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-standmod
againstastrongbearing-postalongmed
withthemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfar
father,andheconductedhertoarichlydekoreret
decoratedseatunderwhichhekastede
threwaclothofdamask.Therewas
en
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]og
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,væk
awayfromthesuitors,thatshekunne
mightnotbeannoyedwhilespiste
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,og
andthathemightaskhermere
morefreelyabouthisfather.A
tjenestepige
maidservantthenbroughtthemvand
waterinabeautifulgoldenewerog
andpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtovaske
washtheirhands,andshedrewarent
cleantablebesidethem.An
øverste
upperservantbroughtthembread,og
andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhatder
therewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofalle
allmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,og
andamanservantbroughtthemvin
wineandpoureditoutfordem
them.Thenthesuitorscamein
og
andtooktheirplacesonthebenchesog
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantshældte
pouredwaterovertheirhands,maidsgik
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfyldte
filledthemixing-bowlswithwineog
andwater,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,“thatyouwillnotbefornærmet
offendedwithwhatIamgoingtosige
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,whatmannerofskib
shipyoucamein,howyourbesætning
crewbroughtyoutoIthaca,og
andofwhatnationtheyerklærede
declaredthemselvestobe—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
herewithmyshipandbesætning
crew,onavoyagetomenofafremmed
foreigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]med
withacargoofiron,og
andIshallbringbackkobber
copper.Asformyship,it
ligger
liesoveryonderofftheåbne
opencountryawayfromthebyen
town,intheharbourRheithron[5]under
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsfør
beforeus,asoldLaertesvil
willtellyou,ifyouvil
willgoandaskhim.Theysay,
men
however,thathenevercomestobyen
townnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringnæppe
hardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimog
andgethisdinnerforham
him,whenhecomesintræt
tiredfrompotteringabouthisvingård
vineyard.Theytoldmeyour
far
fatherwasathomeagain,og
andthatwaswhyIkom
came,butitseemsthegodsarestadig
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdød
deadyetnotonthefastlandet
mainland.Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girt
ø
islandinmidocean,oren
aprisoneramongsavageswhoaretilbageholder
detaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamno
profet
prophet,andknowverylittleom
aboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromhimlen
heaven,andassureyouthathevil
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheis
en
amanofsuchresourceat
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironheville
wouldfindsomemeansofkomme
gettinghomeagain.Buttellme,
og
andtellmetrue,canUlyssesvirkelig
reallyhavesuchafinelookingfyr
fellowforason?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-starredmanunderhimlen
heaventhanhewhotheysiger
tellmeismyfather.”Og
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisingen
nofearofyourracedyingoutendnu
yet,whilePenelopehassuchen
afinesonasyouare.Men
Buttellme,andtellmesandt
true,whatisthemeaningofalt
allthisfeasting,andwhoarethesemennesker
people?Whatisitall
om
about?Haveyousomebanquet,
eller
oristhereaweddinginthefamily—foringen
nooneseemstobebringe
bringinganyprovisionsofhisegen
own?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyare
opfører
behaving;whatriottheymake
over
overthewholehouse;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,andIarver
inheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoes
det
thematterendsimplywithsorg
griefforthelossofmyfar
father;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeof
endnu
yetanotherkind;forthechiefsfrom
alle
allourislands,Dulichium,Same,og
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalle
alltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areæder
eatingupmyhouseunderde
thepretextofpayingtheircourttomymor
mother,whowillneitherpointblanksige
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]eller
noryetbringmatterstoen
anend;sotheyare
gøre
makinghavocofmyestate,og
andbeforelongwilldosoogså
alsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeed
vil
wantUlysseshomeagain.Givehimhis
hjelm
helmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,og
andifheisthemand
manhewaswhenIførste
firstknewhiminourhus
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,heville
wouldsoonlayhishandsom
abouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostå
standoncemoreuponhisegen
ownthreshold.HewasthencomingfromEphyra,
hvor
wherehehadbeentobeggift
poisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,søn
sonofMermerus.Ilusfeared
de
theever-livinggodsandwouldnotgive
givehimany,butmyfar
fatherlethimhavesome,forhewasmeget
veryfondofhim.IfUlyssesis
den
themanhethenwasthesesuitorsvil
willhaveashortshriftog
andasorrywedding.“But
der
there!Itrestswithheavento
afgøre
determinewhetherheistovende tilbage
return,andtakehisrevengeinhiseget
ownhouseorno;I
vil
would,however,urgeyoutosetaboutforsøge
tryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.Tag
Takemyadvice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyoursag
casebeforethem,andcallhimlen
heaventobearyouwitness.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-sentbudskab
messagemaydirectyou.First
gå
gotoPylosandaskNestor;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,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyoureget
ownhouse.Youaretoo
gammel
oldtopleadinfancyanylonger;haveyounot
hørt
heardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingdræbt
killedhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
en
afine,smartlookingfellow;vis
showyourmettle,then,andgør
makeyourselfanameinstory.Nu
Now,however,Imustgotilbage
backtomyshipandtomybesætning
crew,whowillbeimpatienthvis
ifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;tænk
thinkthematteroverforyourself,og
andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”“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—akeepsakesuchasonlykære
dearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minerva
svarede
answered,“Donottrytoholde
keepme,forIwouldbeonmyvej
wayatonce.Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedto
lave
makeme,keepittillIkommer
comeagain,andIwilltage
takeithomewithme.Youshall
give
givemeaverygoodone,og
andIwillgiveyouoneofikke
nolessvalueinreturn.”Med
Withthesewordssheflewvæk
awaylikeabirdintotheair,men
butshehadgivenTelemachusmod
courage,andhadmadehimtænke
thinkmorethaneverabouthisfar
father.Hefeltthechange,
undrede
wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhavde
hadbeenagod,sohegik
wentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresad
sitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,
og
andhishearerssatraptinstilhed
silenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,og
andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
datter
daughterofIcarius,heardhissang
songfromherroomupstairs,og
andcamedownbythestore
greatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbyto
twoofherhandmaids.Whenshe
nåede
reachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofde
thebearingpoststhatsupportedde
theroofofthecloisters[8]med
withastaidmaidenoneithersideofhende
her.Sheheldaveil,moreover,
før
beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“you
kender
knowmanyanotherfeatofgodsog
andheroes,suchaspoetselsker
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,
og
andletthemdrinktheirvin
wineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulhjerte
heart,andremindsmeofmytabte
losthusbandwhomImourneveruden
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatover
overallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
svarede
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsynge
singwhathehasamindtil
to;bardsdonotmaketheillsthey
synger
singof;itisJove,not
de
they,whomakesthem,andwhosender
sendswealorwoeuponmenneskeheden
mankindaccordingtohisowngode
goodpleasure.Thisfellowmeans
ikke
noharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forfolk
peoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmest
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
og
andbearit;Ulyssesisnot
den
theonlymanwhonevercametilbage
backfromTroy,butmanyanothergik
wentdownaswellashe.Gå
Go,then,withinthehouseog
andbusyyourselfwithyourdaglige
dailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,og
andtheorderingofyourservants;for
tale
speechisman’smatter,andmineover
aboveallothers[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
amanwithsuchaguddommelig
divinevoiceasPhemiushas;men
butinthemorningmeetmeinfuld
fullassemblythatImaygive
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,og
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,vende
turnandturnabout,atyouregen
owncost.Ifonthe
anden
otherhandyouchoosetofortsætte
persistinspungingupononemand
man,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonmed
withyouinfull,andnår
whenyoufallinmyfather’shus
housethereshallbenomand
mantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
hørte
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhistale
speech.Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,
sagde
said,“Thegodsseemtohave
havegivenyoulessonsinblusterog
andtalltalking;mayJove
aldrig
nevergrantyoutobehøvding
chiefinIthacaasyourfar
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
svarede
answered,“Antinous,donotchidemed
withme,but,godwilling,Ivil
willbechieftooifIkan
can.Isthistheworst
skæbne
fateyoucanthinkofforme?Itis
ikke
nobadthingtobeahøvding
chief,foritbringsbothrichesog
andhonour.Still,nowthatUlyssesis
død
deadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabåde
botholdandyoung,andnogle
someothermaytaketheleadblandt
amongthem;neverthelessIwillbe
høvding
chiefinmyownhouse,og
andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshar
haswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
søn
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithhimlen
heaventodecidewhoshallbechiefblandt
amongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhus
houseandoveryourownpossessions;ingen
noonewhilethereisamand
maninIthacashalldoyouvold
violencenorrobyou.And
nu
now,mygoodfellow,Ivil
wanttoknowaboutthisstranger.What
land
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
familie
familyishe,andwhereishisejendom
estate?Hashebroughtyou
nyheder
newsaboutthereturnofyourfather,eller
orwasheonbusinessofhisegen
own?Heseemedawelltodo
mand
man,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinaøjeblik
momentbeforewecouldgettokende
knowhim.”“Myfatheris
død
deadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumournår
reachesmeIputnomere
morefaithinitnow.My
mor
motherdoesindeedsometimessendforen
asoothsayerandquestionhim,men
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
thatlookedontotheydre
outercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
og
andfullofthought.A
god
goodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesøn
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimmed
withacoupleofblazingtorches.Laertes
havde
hadboughtherwithhisegne
ownmoneywhenshewasganske
quiteyoung;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenfor
hende
her,andshewedasmuchrespekt
respecttoherinhishusstand
householdashedidtohisegen
ownweddedwife,buthegjorde
didnottakehertohisseng
bedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswhonu
nowlightedTelemachustohisværelse
room,andshelovedhimbedre
betterthananyoftheandre
otherwomeninthehousegjorde
did,forshehadnursedhimda
whenhewasababy.He
åbnede
openedthedoorofhissengen
bedroomandsatdownuponthesengen
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
Og
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSOg
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVAForklædt
DISGUISEDASMENTOR.Nowwhen
den
thechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn
Dawn,appearedTelemachusroseandklædte
dressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomely
fødder
feet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,og
andlefthisroomlookinglikeen
animmortalgod.Heatonce
sendte
sentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemog
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
da
whentheyweregottogether,hegik
wenttotheplaceofassemblyspyd
spearinhand—notalone,forhisto
twohoundswentwithhim.Minervaendowedhimwith
en
apresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessat
thatallmarvelledathimashegik
wentby,andwhenhetog
tookhisplaceinhisfather’sseatselv
eventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforham
him.Aegyptius,amanbent
dobbelt
doublewithage,andofuendelig
infiniteexperience,wasthefirsttotale
speak.HissonAntiphushadgone
med
withUlyssestoIlius,landofædle
noblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshavde
hadkilledhimwhentheywerealle
allshutupinthecave,og
andhadcookedhislastmiddag
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtre
threesonsleft,ofwhomto
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,mens
whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasen
oneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
far
fathercouldnotgetoverthetabet
lossofAntiphus,andwasstadig
stillweepingforhimwhenhebegyndte
beganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
sagde
said,“hearmywords.From
den
thedayUlyssesleftusder
therehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsindtil
untilnow;whothencanitbe,whether
gammel
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonødvendigt
necessarytoconveneus?Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,
og
anddoeshewishtoadvare
warnus,orwouldhetale
speakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?Iam
sikker
sureheisanexcellentperson
person,andIhopeJovevil
willgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
tog
tookthisspeechasofgodt
goodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingmed
withwhathehadtosige
say.Hestoodinthe
midt
middleoftheassemblyandden
thegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”said
han
he,“itisI,asyouvil
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemest
mostaggrieved.Ihavenot
fået
gotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIvil
wouldwarnyou,noristherenogen
anymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIvil
wouldspeak.Mygrievanceis
rent
purelypersonal,andturnsonto
twogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhus
house.Thefirstoftheseis
den
thelossofmyexcellentfar
father,whowaschiefamongallyouher
herepresent,andwaslikeafar
fathertoeveryoneofyou;den
thesecondismuchmorealvorlig
serious,anderelongwillbeden
theutterruinofmyejendom
estate.Thesonsofallthechiefmen
blandt
amongyouarepesteringmymor
mothertomarrythemagainstherwill.Theyare
bange
afraidtogotoherfar
fatherIcarius,askinghimtovælge
choosetheonehelikesbedst
best,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdatter
daughter,butdaybydaytheyholder
keephangingaboutmyfather’shus
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,og
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,og
andnevergivingsomuchasamen
thoughttothequantityofvin
winetheydrink.Noestate
kan
canstandsuchrecklessness;we
har
havenownoUlyssestowardoffskade
harmfromourdoors,andIcannotholde
holdmyownagainstthem.