BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tell
moi
me,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledloin
farandwideafterheavoir
hadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhevisit,
et
andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannerset
andcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesuffered
beaucoup
muchbyseawhiletryingtosauver
savehisownlifeandramener
bringhismensafelyhome;mais
butdowhathemightheput
couldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedpar
throughtheirownsheerfollyinmangeant
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothe
dieu
godpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.Tell
moi
me,too,aboutallthesethings,ohfille
daughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoupuisses
mayknowthem.Sonow
tous
allwhoescapeddeathinbattleou
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,et
andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoretourner
returntohiswifeandpays
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,qui
whohadgothimintoune
alargecaveandwantedtomarrylui
him.Butasyearswentby,there
venu
cameatimewhenthegodssettledthathedevrait
shouldgobacktoIthaca;même
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghispropre
ownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;nevertheless
tous
allthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,qui
whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasinget
andwouldnotlethimgethome.Maintenant
NowNeptunehadgoneofftoles
theEthiopians,whoareatles
theworld’send,andlieindeux
twohalves,theonelookingWestet
andtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepet
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;mais
buttheothergodsmetinthemaison
houseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodset
andmenspokefirst.Atthatmomenthewas
pensait
thinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeentué
killedbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;sohe
dit
saidtotheothergods:.“See
maintenant
now,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisaprès
afterallnothingbuttheirpropre
ownfolly.LookatAegisthus;
he
doit
mustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’sfemme
wifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhesache
knewitwouldbethemort
deathofhim;forI
envoyé
sentMercurytowarnhimnottofaire
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOrestesvoudrait
wouldbesuretotakehisrevengequand
whenhegrewupandvoudrait
wantedtoreturnhome.Mercury
dit
toldhimthisinallgoodvolonté
willbuthewouldnotlisten,et
andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
dit
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Roi
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusdroit
right,andsoitwouldanyoneelsequi
whodoesashedid;mais
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;itisforUlysses
que
thatmyheartbleeds,whenIpense
thinkofhissufferingsinque
thatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,pauvre
poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
et
andagoddesslivesthere,fille
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,et
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenet
andearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdof
pauvre
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverysorte
kindofblandishmenttomakehimoublier
forgethishome,sothatheistiredofvie
life,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayonceplus
moreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.You,
monsieur
sir,takenoheedofthis,et
andyetwhenUlysseswasdevant
beforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouavec
withmanyaburntsacrifice?Pourquoi
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”Et
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyouparles
talkingabout?HowcanI
oublier
forgetUlyssesthanwhomthereispas
nomorecapablemanonterre
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstole
theimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?Bearinmind,however,
que
thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforavoir
havingblindedaneyeofPolyphemusroi
kingoftheCyclopes.Polyphemusis
fils
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,fille
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;thereforethoughhewillnot
tue
killUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.Still,letuslayourheads
ensemble
togetherandseehowwepouvons
canhelphimtoreturn;Neptune
sera
willthenbepacified,forsi
ifweareallofaesprit
mindhecanhardlystandoutcontre
againstus.”AndMinervasaid,“Father,
fils
sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,si
if,then,thegodsnowmeanque
thatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstenvoyer
sendMercurytotheOgygianislandtodire
tellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindset
andthatheistorevenir
return.InthemeantimeIwill
aller
gotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’fils
sonTelemachus;Iwillemboldenhimtocall
les
theAchaeansinassembly,andparler
speakouttothesuitorsofhismère
motherPenelope,whopersistineatingupn'importe quel
anynumberofhissheepet
andoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
et
andtoPylos,toseeifhepeut
canhearanythingabouttheretour
returnofhisdearfather—forcela
thiswillmakepeoplespeakbien
wellofhim.”Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,
avec
withwhichshecanflycomme
likethewindoverlandou
orsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
et
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroesqui
whohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’maison
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,et
andsheheldabronzespearinhermain
hand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichthey
devant
hadkilledandeaten,andjouant
playingdraughtsinfrontofthemaison
house.Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,
certains
somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,certains
somecleaningdownthetablesavec
withwetspongesandlayingthemoutnouveau
again,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachussawherlong
avant
beforeanyoneelsedid.Hewas
assis
sittingmoodilyamongthesuitorspensant
thinkingabouthisbravefather,et
andhowhewouldsendthemflyinghors
outofthehouse,ifheweretovenir
cometohisownagainet
andbehonouredasindayspassés
goneby.Thusbroodingashe
assis
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaet
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangerdoive
shouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.He
prit
tookherrighthandinhisown,et
andbadehergivehimherspear.“Welcome,”said
il
he,“toourhouse,andquand
whenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”Heled
la
thewayashespoke,et
andMinervafollowedhim.Whentheywerewithinhetookherspear
et
andsetitinthespear-standcontre
againstastrongbearing-postalongavec
withthemanyotherspearsofhisunhappypère
father,andheconductedhertoun
arichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewun
aclothofdamask.Therewas
un
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]et
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,loin
awayfromthesuitors,thatshepuisse
mightnotbeannoyedwhilemangeant
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,et
andthathemightaskherplus
morefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthen
apporta
broughtthemwaterinabelle
beautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,et
andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.Anupperservant
apportait
broughtthembread,andofferedthembeaucoup
manygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthemaison
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesoftoutes
allmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,et
andamanservantbroughtthemwineet
andpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscamein
et
andtooktheirplacesonthebencheset
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundavec
withthebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlsavec
withwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsqui
thatwerebeforethem.Assoonastheyhadhadenoughto
mangé
eatanddrinktheywantedmusique
musicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantapporta
broughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetochanter
singtothem.Assoonashe
touché
touchedhislyreandbegantochanter
singTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,avec
withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanpouvait
mighthear.“Ihope,sir,”said
il
he,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamvais
goingtosay.Singingcomescheapto
ceux
thosewhodonotpayforit,et
andallthisisdoneatthecostofun
onewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessou
orgrindingtopowderinthesurf.Si
Ifthesemenweretovoir
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotserveleur
them;buthe,alas,has
tombé
fallenonanillfate,et
andevenwhenpeopledoparfois
sometimessaythatheisvient
coming,wenolongerheedles
them;weshallneverseehimagain.
Et
Andnow,sir,tellmeet
andtellmetrue,whoyouareet
andwhereyoucomefrom.Raconte
Tellmeofyourtownet
andparents,whatmannerofshipyouvenu
camein,howyourcrewamené
broughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavevenu
comebyland.Tellme
aussi
alsotruly,forIwanttosavoir
know,areyouastrangertocette
thishouse,orhaveyoubeenici
hereinmyfather’stime?Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformy
père
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”Et
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyet
andparticularlyallaboutit.IamMentes,
fils
sonofAnchialus,andIamRoi
KingoftheTaphians.Ihavecome
ici
herewithmyshipandcrew,onune
avoyagetomenofune
aforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]avec
withacargoofiron,et
andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopen
campagne
countryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]sous
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsavant
beforeus,asoldLaerteswilldira
tellyou,ifyouwillaller
goandaskhim.They
disent
say,however,thathenevervient
comestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinla
thecountry,faringhardly,withune
anoldwomantolookafterhimet
andgethisdinnerforlui
him,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringsur
abouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyour
père
fatherwasathomeagain,et
andthatwaswhyIcame,mais
butitseemsthegodsaretoujours
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnotmort
deadyetnotonthemainland.Itis
plus
morelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,ou
oraprisoneramongsavagesqui
whoaredetaininghimagainsthisvolonté
will.Iamnoprophet,
et
andknowverylittleaboutomens,mais
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,et
andassureyouthathesera
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheis
un
amanofsuchresourceque
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldtrouverait
findsomemeansofgettingmaison
homeagain.Buttellme,
et
andtellmetrue,canUlyssesvraiment
reallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforun
ason?Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
tête
headandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsavant
beforehesetsailforTroyoù
wheretheflowerofalltheArgivesallée
wentalso.Sincethattimewehave
jamais
nevereitherofusseentheother.”“Mymother,”
répondit
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamfils
sontoUlysses,butitisun
awisechildthatknowshispropre
ownfather.WouldthatIwere
fils
sontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,puisque
sinceyouaskme,thereispas
nomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheydit
tellmeismyfather.”Et
AndMinervasaid,“Thereispas
nofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchun
afinesonasyouare.Mais
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningoftout
allthisfeasting,andwhoareces
thesepeople?Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,
ou
oristhereaweddinginla
thefamily—fornooneseemstobeapporter
bringinganyprovisionsofhisown?Et
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;whatriotthey
font
makeoverthewholehouse;itisenoughtodisgust
toute
anyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”
dit
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion
question,solongasmypère
fatherwashereitwasbien
wellwithusandwiththemaison
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,et
andhavehiddenhimawayplus
morecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.I
pu
couldhaveborneitbettermême
eventhoughheweredead,ifhedevant
hadfallenwithhismendevant
beforeTroy,orhaddiedavec
withfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhiscombat
fightingweredone;forthen
les
theAchaeanswouldhavebuiltun
amoundoverhisashes,et
andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;mais
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimloin
awayweknownotwhither;heis
parti
gonewithoutleavingsomuchasune
atracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoesthe
question
matterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmypère
father;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyet
autre
anotherkind;forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,
Même
Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmymaison
houseunderthepretextofpayer
payingtheircourttomymère
mother,whowillneitherpointblankdira
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanfin
end;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,
et
andbeforelongwilldosoaussi
alsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeed
voulez
wantUlysseshomeagain.Givehimhishelmet,shield,
et
andacoupleoflances,et
andifheisthemanhewasquand
whenIfirstknewhiminourmaison
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldbientôt
soonlayhishandsaboutces
theserascallysuitors,werehetotenait
standoncemoreuponhispropre
ownthreshold.HewasthencomingfromEphyra,
où
wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,fils
sonofMermerus.Ilusfeared
les
theever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,mais
butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondoflui
him.IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwas
ces
thesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftet
andasorrywedding.“But
il
there!Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
revenir
return,andtakehisrevengeinhispropre
ownhouseorno;Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabout
essayer
tryingtogetridofces
thesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,
appelez
calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblydemain
to-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,et
andcallheaventobearyouwitness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,
chacun
eachtohisownplace,et
andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,laisse
lethergobacktoherpère
father,whowillfindherun
ahusbandandprovideherwithtous
allthemarriagegiftsthatsochère
dearadaughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,
laissez
letmeprevailuponyoutoprendre
takethebestshipyoupuissiez
canget,withacrewoftwentymen,et
andgoinquestofyourpère
fatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Some
un
onemaytellyousomething,ou
or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsincette
thisway)someheaven-sentmessagepeut
maydirectyou.FirstgotoPylos
et
andaskNestor;thencegoontoSparta
et
andvisitMenelaus,forhegotmaison
homelastofalltheAchaeans;si
ifyouhearthatyourpère
fatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youpourrez
canputupwiththewasteces
thesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Si
Ifontheotherhandyouentendez
hearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralritesavec
withallduepomp,buildune
abarrowtohismemory,et
andmakeyourmothermarryagain.Then,
avoir
havingdoneallthis,thinkitbien
welloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansou
orfoul,youmaykillces
thesesuitorsinyourownmaison
house.Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
avoir
haveyounotheardhowgens
peoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforavoir
havingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
un
afine,smartlookingfellow;montre
showyourmettle,then,andfais
makeyourselfanameinstory.Maintenant
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipet
andtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientsi
ifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;réfléchissez
thinkthematteroverforyourself,et
andrememberwhatIhavedit
saidtoyou.”“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeen
très
verykindofyoutoparler
talktomeinthisfaçon
way,asthoughIwereyourpropre
ownson,andIwillferai
doallyoutellme;I
sais
knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,mais
butstayalittlelongertillyouhavepris
takenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthen
donnerai
giveyouapresent,andyoushallpartirez
goonyourwayrejoicing;Iwillgiveyou
un
oneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetoun
oneanother.”Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeep
me
me,forIwouldbeonmychemin
wayatonce.Asfor
n'importe quel
anypresentyoumaybedisposedtofaire
makeme,keepittillIcomeagain,et
andIwilltakeitmaison
homewithme.Youshallgivemea
très
verygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnon
nolessvalueinreturn.”Avec
Withthesewordssheflewawaycomme
likeabirdintotheair,mais
butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,et
andhadmadehimthinkplus
morethaneverabouthispère
father.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,
et
andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenun
agod,sohewentstraighttooù
wherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswasstill
chantait
singing,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceasheracontait
toldthesadtaleoftheretour
returnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
fille
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,et
andcamedownbythegrand
greatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbydeux
twoofherhandmaids.Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingposts
qui
thatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]avec
withastaidmaidenoneithercôté
sideofher.Sheheld
un
aveil,moreover,beforehervisage
face,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“you
connaissez
knowmanyanotherfeatofgodset
andheroes,suchaspoetsaiment
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssomeoneof
ces
these,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,mais
butceasethissadtale,foritbrise
breaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmyperdu
losthusbandwhomImourneversans
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgrand
greatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
répondit
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardchanter
singwhathehasamindto;bards
ne
donotmaketheillstheychantent
singof;itisJove,notthey,
qui
whomakesthem,andwhoenvoie
sendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisownbon
goodpleasure.Thisfellowmeans
pas
noharmbysingingtheill-fatedretour
returnoftheDanaans,forgens
peoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsplus
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
et
andbearit;Ulyssesisnot
le
theonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,mais
butmanyanotherwentdownasbien
wellashe.Go,then,within
la
thehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,et
andtheorderingofyourservants;forspeechisman’smatter,
et
andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIqui
whoammasterhere.”Shewentwonderingbackinto
la
thehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginhercœur
heart.Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedher
cher
dearhusbandtillMinervasheddoux
sweetsleepoverhereyes.Mais
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutles
thecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedchacun
eachonethathemightbeherlit
bedfellow.ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasure
maintenant
now,andlettherebepas
nobrawling,foritisararethingtohearahomme
manwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;mais
butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaydonnerai
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,et
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnet
andturnabout,atyourowncost.Si
Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspunginguponun
oneman,heavenhelpme,mais
butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,et
andwhenyoufallinmyfather’smaison
housethereshallbenohomme
mantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,
et
andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.Then,Antinous,
fils
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtoavoir
havegivenyoulessonsinblusteret
andtalltalking;mayJove
jamais
nevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourpère
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
répondit
answered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme
me,but,godwilling,Iveut
willbechieftooifIpeux
can.Isthistheworstfateyou
puissiez
canthinkofforme?Itis
pas
nobadthingtobeun
achief,foritbringsfois
bothrichesandhonour.Still,
maintenant
nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearebeaucoup
manygreatmeninIthacabothvieux
oldandyoung,andsomeotherpeuvent
maytaketheleadamongeux
them;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmy
propre
ownhouse,andwillruleceux
thosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
fils
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidequi
whoshallbechiefamongnous
us,butyoushallbemaître
masterinyourownhouseet
andoveryourownpossessions;noonewhile
y
thereisamaninIthacashallne
doyouviolencenorrobyou.Et
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iveux
wanttoknowaboutthisstranger.What
pays
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
famille
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?Hashe
apporté
broughtyounewsabouttheretour
returnofyourfather,orwasheonaffaires
businessofhisown?Heseemed
un
awelltodoman,mais
buthehurriedoffsosuddenlyque
thathewasgoneinun
amomentbeforewecouldgettoconnaître
knowhim.”“Myfatheris
mort
deadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andmême
evenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnoplus
morefaithinitnow.My
mère
motherdoesindeedsometimessendforun
asoothsayerandquestionhim,mais
butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
fils
sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,un
anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Mais
Butinhishearthesavait
knewthatithadbeenla
thegoddess.Thesuitorsthen
retournés
returnedtotheirsinginganddanses
dancinguntiltheevening;but
quand
whennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometolit
bedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashaut
highupinatower[13]qui
thatlookedontotheoutercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
et
andfullofthought.Agoodold
femme
woman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thefils
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimavec
withacoupleofblazingtorches.Laerteshadboughther
avec
withhisownmoneywhenshewasquitejeune
young;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
et
andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashefait
didtohisownweddedfemme
wife,buthedidnottakehertohislit
bedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwasqui
whonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,et
andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheautre
otherwomeninthehousefait
did,forshehadnursedhimquand
whenhewasababy.He
ouvrit
openedthedoorofhislit
bedroomandsatdownuponthelit
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHE
Peuple
PEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSEt
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSEt
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.Maintenant
Nowwhenthechildofmatin
morning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseet
anddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
et
andlefthisroomlookinglikeun
animmortalgod.Heatonce
envoya
sentthecriersroundtoappeler
callthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemet
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
quand
whentheyweregottogether,hewenttola
theplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notseul
alone,forhistwohoundswentavec
withhim.Minervaendowedhimwith
une
apresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthattout
allmarvelledathimashepassait
wentby,andwhenheprit
tookhisplaceinhisfather’sseatmême
eventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,
un
amanbentdoublewithage,et
andofinfiniteexperience,wasle
thefirsttospeak.His
fils
sonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,mais
butthesavageCyclopshadtué
killedhimwhentheyweretous
allshutupinthecave,et
andhadcookedhislastdîner
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtrois
threesonsleft,ofwhomdeux
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,tandis que
whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
père
fathercouldnotgetoverla
thelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimquand
whenhebeganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
dit
said,“hearmywords.From
le
thedayUlyssesleftusil
therehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsjusqu'à
untilnow;whothencanitbe,whether
vieux
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconvenenous
us?Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,
et
anddoeshewishtowarnnous
us,orwouldhespeakuponsomeautre
othermatterofpublicmoment?Iam
sûr
sureheisanexcellentpersonne
person,andIhopeJovesuis
willgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
prit
tookthisspeechasofbon
goodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtodire
say.Hestoodinthemiddleoftheassembly
et
andthegoodheraldPisenorapporta
broughthimhisstaff.Then,
tournant
turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyousuis
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIqui
whoamthemostaggrieved.I
eu
havenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIvoudrais
wouldwarnyou,norisil
thereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIvoudrais
wouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
et
andturnsontwogreatmisfortunesqui
whichhavefallenuponmymaison
house.Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellent
père
father,whowaschiefamongallyouici
herepresent,andwaslikeapère
fathertoeveryoneofyou;la
thesecondismuchmoregrave
serious,anderelongwillbela
theutterruinofmyestate.Thesonsof
tous
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymère
mothertomarrythemagainsthervolonté
will.Theyareafraidtogotoher
père
fatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheoneheaime
likesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisfille
daughter,butdaybydaytheycontinuent
keephangingaboutmyfather’smaison
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,et
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,et
andnevergivingsomuchasapensant
thoughttothequantityofwinetheyboivent
drink.Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenow
pas
noUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,et
andIcannotholdmyowncontre
againstthem.