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The Odyssey | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

The Odyssey | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tellme,O
Muse
Muse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.
Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismen
veilig
safelyhome;
butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthe
vee
cattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothegod
verhinderde
preventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
Sonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorby
schipbreuk
shipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythe
godin
goddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.
Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;
niettemin
neverthelessallthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithout
ophouden
ceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.
NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsent
Mercurius
Mercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,anda
godin
goddesslivesthere,daughterofthe
tovenaar
magicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.
Thisdaughterof
Atlas
AtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?
Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstill
woedend
furiouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimby
verhinderen
preventinghimfromgettinghome.
Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsend
Mercurius
MercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.
Inthe
tussentijd
meantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;
IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,who
volharden
persistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;
she
greep
graspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,
vermomd
disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andshehelda
bronzen
bronzespearinherhand.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.
Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimher
speer
spear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookher
speer
spearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichly
versierde
decoratedseatunderwhichhethrewa
doek
clothofdamask.
Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbe
geïrriteerd
annoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.
Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerand
goot
poureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.
Anupper
knecht
servantbroughtthembread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineand
goot
poureditoutforthem.
Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservants
gieten
pouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.
Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofa
banket
banquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.
AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbe
beledigd
offendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsome
wildernis
wildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.
IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalonger
portemonnee
purse,formoneywouldnotservethem;
buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;
weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationthey
verklaard
declaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.
Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipandcrew,ona
reis
voyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]witha
lading
cargoofiron,andIshallbringback
koper
copper.
Asformyship,itliesover
daarginds
yonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.
Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthis
wijngaard
vineyard.
Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthe
vasteland
mainland.
Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.
Iamno
profeet
prophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,and
verzeker
assureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;
forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforeheset
zeilde
sailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousome
banket
banquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;
itisenoughtodisgustany
respectabele
respectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythan
sterfelijke
mortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuilta
heuvel
moundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeen
erfgenaam
heirtohisrenown;
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andI
erf
inheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthematterendsimplywith
verdriet
griefforthelossofmyfather;
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthe
voorwendsel
pretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;
sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhis
helm
helmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisown
drempel
threshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheavento
bepalen
determinewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;
Iwould,however,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.
Youaretoooldto
pleiten
pleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’
prijzen
praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew,whowillbe
ongeduldig
impatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyour
reis
voyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathand
verfrissend
refreshedyourself.
Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesad
verhaal
taleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreat
trap
staircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.
Shehelda
sluier
veil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,but
ophouden
ceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomI
treur
mourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeupon
mensheid
mankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.
Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealways
applaudisseren
applaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.
Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;
UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.
Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’smatter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”
Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.
Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,she
rouwde
mournedherdearhusbandtillMinerva
wierp
shedsweetsleepoverhereyes.
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsucha
goddelijke
divinevoiceasPhemiushas;
butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyou
formeel
formalnoticetodepart,and
feest
feastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Ifontheotherhandyouchooseto
volharden
persistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomanto
wreken
avengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,and
verwonderd
marvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthistheworstfateyoucanthinkofforme?
Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem;
niettemin
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.”
Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthe
godin
goddess.
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—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVA
Vermomd
DISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.
Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassembly
speer
spearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuch
goddelijke
divinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventhe
oudste
oldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.
Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andof
oneindige
infiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.
HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;
niettemin
neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Hashegotwindofsome
gastheer
hostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?
Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgood
voorteken
omenandroseatonce,forhewas
barstte
burstingwithwhathehadtosay.
HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwill
binnenkort
shortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.
Ihavenotgotwindofany
gastheer
hostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.
Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.
TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothe
hoeveelheid
quantityofwinetheydrink.
Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.