BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tellme,O
Muse
Muse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismen
trygt
safelyhome;butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,forthey
omkom
perishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthekvæg
cattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothegod
forhindrede
preventedthemfromeverreachinghome.Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
Sonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgot
sikkert
safelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;
ikke desto mindre
neverthelessallthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsent
Merkur
Mercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.Merkur
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,anda
gudinde
goddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas
Atlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.Thisdaughterof
Atlas
AtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normore
liberal
liberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstill
rasende
furiouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimby
forhindre
preventinghimfromgettinghome.Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsend
Merkur
MercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.Inthe
mellemtiden
meantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;
she
greb
graspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandrobust
sturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,attheporten
gatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasagæst
visitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronze
bronzespearinherhand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.
Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimher
spyd
spear.“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookher
spyd
spearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydekoreret
decoratedseatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbe
irriteret
annoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefrit
freelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerand
hældte
poureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.An
øverste
upperservantbroughtthembread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandhældte
poureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservants
hældte
pouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soa
tjener
servantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbe
fornærmet
offendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslie
rådne
rottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopulver
powderinthesurf.IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalonger
taske
purse,formoneywouldnotservethem;buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;
weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationthey
erklærede
declaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipandcrew,ona
rejse
voyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withalast
cargoofiron,andIshallbringbackkobber
copper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.
Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthis
vingård
vineyard.Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthe
fastlandet
mainland.Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandin
midt
midocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaretilbageholder
detaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamno
profet
prophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,andforsikrer
assureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforeheset
sejlede
sailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
what
oprør
riottheymakeoverthewholehouse;itisenoughtodisgustany
respektabel
respectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeen
arving
heirtohisrenown;butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andI
arver
inheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoesthematterendsimplywith
sorg
griefforthelossofmyfather;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthe
påskud
pretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhis
hjelm
helmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisowntærskel
threshold.HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasvery
glad
fondofhim.IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheavento
afgøre
determinewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;Iwould,however,
opfordre
urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.
Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandandprovideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayexpect.
Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebestshipyoucanget,withacrewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.
Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.
FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;
thencegoontoSpartaandvisitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;
ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,buildabarrowtohismemory,andmakeyourmothermarryagain.
Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyour
rejse
voyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesad
fortælling
taleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreat
trappe
staircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaid
jomfru
maidenoneithersideofher.Shehelda
slør
veil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,but
ophør
ceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomIsørger
mourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeupon
menneskeheden
mankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.
Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;
UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.
Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’smatter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”
Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.
Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,she
sørgede
mournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsucha
guddommelig
divinevoiceasPhemiushas;butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Ifontheotherhandyouchooseto
fortsætte
persistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantohævne
avengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthistheworstfateyoucanthinkofforme?
Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem;
alligevel
neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;
noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
Heseemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.
Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontothe
ydre
outercourt;hither,then,hehied,broodingandfullofthought.
Agoodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithacoupleofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung;
hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhis
husstand
householdashedidtohisownweddedwife,buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehadnursedhimwhenhewasababy.Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVA
Forklædt
DISGUISEDASMENTOR.Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikean
udødelig
immortalgod.Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassembly
spyd
spearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuch
guddommelig
divinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheældste
oldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,aman
bøjet
bentdoublewithage,andofuendelig
infiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landof
ædle
noblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?
Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgoodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.
HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwill
snart
shortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.Ihavenotgotwindofany
vært
hostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceis
rent
purelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.
TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.
Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.