BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarand
bredt
wideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhe
led
sufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoever
kilde
sourceyoumayknowthem.Sonowallwhoescapeddeathin
kamp
battleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargehule
caveandwantedtomarryhim.Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewas
blandt
amonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;neverthelessallthegodshadnowbegunto
medlidenhed
pityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombof
får
sheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival
festival;buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsentMercuryto
advare
warnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehishævne
revengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,it
tjente
servedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwith
skov
forest,intheverymiddleofthesea,andagoddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburnt
offer
sacrifice?Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?
Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
derfor
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecan
næppe
hardlystandoutagainstus.”AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.
InthemeantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;
IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhis
får
sheepandoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingshe
bundet
boundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzespearinherhand.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswith
våde
wetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodily
blandt
amongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashesat
blandt
amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttotheporten
gate,forhewasvexedthatafremmed
strangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.
Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheir
støj
noiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.A
tjenestepige
maidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantableved siden af
besidethem.Anupperservantbroughtthem
brød
bread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pages
fyldte
filledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.
AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.
IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnot
tjene
servethem;buthe,alas,hasfallenonanill
skæbne
fate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyour
besætning
crewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnation
nationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyoua
fremmed
strangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipand
besætning
crew,onavoyagetomenofafremmed
foreigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofjern
iron,andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewooded
bjerg
mountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faring
næppe
hardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.
Itismore
sandsynligt
likelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidhavet
ocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamnoprophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;
forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelooking
fyr
fellowforason?Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisa
klogt
wisechildthatknowshisownfather.WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyare
opfører
behaving;whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;
itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasa
spor
tracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthe
tabet
lossofmyfather;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;
sotheyaremakinghavocofmy
ejendom
estate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobeg
gift
poisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehis
hævne
revengeinhisownhouseorno;Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemy
råd
advice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyouvidne
witness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandand
give
provideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebestshipyoucanget,witha
besætning
crewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessagemay
lede
directyou.FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;
thencegoontoSpartaandvisitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;
ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,
fejr
celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,buildabarrowtohismemory,andmakeyourmothermarryagain.Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’s
morder
murdererAegisthus?Youareafine,smartlooking
fyr
fellow;showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomy
besætning
crew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakena
bad
bathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnoless
værdi
valueinreturn.”Withthesewordssheflewawaylikea
fugl
birdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachusmod
courage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptin
stilhed
silenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.
Sheheldaveil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetsloveto
fejre
celebrate.Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwinein
stilhed
silence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andminder
remindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.
This
fyr
fellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealwaysapplaudtheseneste
latestsongsmostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;
UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.
Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyour
daglige
dailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;for
tale
speechisman’smatter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.
Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisa
sjælden
rarethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhis
tale
speech.Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthistheworst
skæbne
fateyoucanthinkofforme?Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytakethelead
blandt
amongthem;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechief
blandt
amongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyou
vold
violencenorrobyou.Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishis
ejendom
estate?Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
Heseemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.
Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontotheoutercourt;
hither,then,hehied,broodingandfullofthought.
Agoodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithacoupleofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung;
hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedwife,buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehadnursedhimwhenhewasababy.
Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingered
Dawn
Dawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhis
sværd
swordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwitha
tilstedeværelse
presenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.
HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthe
tabet
lossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhistale
speech.“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishto
advare
warnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewill
give
granthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachustookthis
tale
speechasofgoodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwillshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.
IhavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwould
advare
warnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.
Thefirstoftheseisthe
tabet
lossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefblandt
amongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmy
ejendom
estate.Thesonsofallthechiefmen
blandt
amongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andto
giver
providemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,ofrer
sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.No
ejendom
estatecanstandsuchrecklessness;wehavenownoUlyssestowardoff
skade
harmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.