BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’S
Visite
VISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingenious
héros
herowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthecélèbre
famoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhe
visita
visit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesufferedmuchby
mer
seawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
Sonowallwho
échappé
escapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomesauf
exceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoagrande
largecaveandwantedtomarryhim.Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;
neverthelessallthegodshadnow
commencé
beguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonethereto
accepter
acceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlay
accusent
blameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhe
grandirait
grewupandwantedtoreturnhome.Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girt
île
island,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisan
île
islandcoveredwithforest,intheverymilieu
middleofthesea,andagoddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andporte
carriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepciel
heavenandearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheis
fatigué
tiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethefumée
smokeofhisownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,
ni
normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinciel
heaven?Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedan
œil
eyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.
Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.
InthemeantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;
IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecan
voler
flylikethewindoverterre
landorsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzespearinherhand.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixing
vin
winewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somenettoyant
cleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandposant
layingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofviande
meat.Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthem
voler
flyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwent
directement
straighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecorated
siège
seatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanother
siège
seatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemto
lavent
washtheirhands,andshedrewapropre
cleantablebesidethem.Anupperservantbroughtthembread,and
offrait
offeredthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemvin
wineandpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswith
vin
wineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.
Assoonashetouchedhislyreand
commencé
begantosingTelemachusspokebas
lowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.
IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywould
prieraient
prayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotservethem;buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;
weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerof
navire
shipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyterre
land.Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmy
navire
shipandcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformy
navire
ship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.Theysay,
cependant
however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesinfatigué
tiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butit
semble
seemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girt
île
islandinmidocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamnoprophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitis
porté
borneinuponmefromciel
heaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunder
ciel
heaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”AndMinervasaid,“Thereisno
peur
fearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,oristherea
mariage
weddinginthefamily—fornoonesemble
seemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;
itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilledit
autrement
otherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryetcaché
hidden.Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhave
construit
builtamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmyfather;
ciel
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheir
cour
courttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.
Ilus
craignait
fearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorry
mariage
wedding.“Butthere!
Itrestswith
ciel
heaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;Iwould,
cependant
however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcall
ciel
heaventobearyouwitness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandandprovideherwithallthe
mariage
marriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayattendre
expect.Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebest
navire
shipyoucanget,withacrewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeople
souvent
oftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessage
messagemaydirectyou.FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;
thencegoontoSpartaand
visitez
visitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththe
gaspillage
wastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,
construisez
buildabarrowtohismémoire
memory,andmakeyourmothermarryagain.Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youareafine,
intelligent
smartlookingfellow;showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,
cependant
however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthengiveyoua
cadeau
present,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;Iwillgiveyouoneofgreat
beauté
beautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforany
cadeau
presentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewent
directement
straighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthe
triste
sadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhis
chanson
songfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.Whenshe
atteint
reachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsoutenaient
supportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.Sheheldaveil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheir
vin
wineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmilieu
middleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeuponmankind
selon
accordingtohisowngoodplaisir
pleasure.Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.
Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;
UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.
Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’smatter,andmine
au-dessus
aboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”Shewent
demandant
wonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],and
priaient
prayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatour
plaisir
pleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoix
voiceasPhemiushas;butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Ifontheotherhandyou
choisissez
choosetopersistinspungingupononeman,ciel
heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegods
semblent
seemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthisthe
pire
worstfateyoucanthinkofforme?Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem;
neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswith
ciel
heaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyouviolence
ni
norrobyou.Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
He
semblait
seemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosoudainement
suddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.
Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontotheouter
cour
court;hither,then,hehied,broodingandfullofthought.
Agoodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithacoupleofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung;
hegavethe
valeur
worthoftwentyoxenforher,andshewedasmuchrespect
respecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedwife,buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhecraignait
fearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehadnursedhimwhenhewasababy.Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseand
habillé
dressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomely
pieds
feet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.
Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andofinfinite
expérience
experience,wasthefirsttospeak.HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,
terre
landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcuisiné
cookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sterre
land,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhe
commencé
beganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,
si
whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonécessaire
necessarytoconveneus?Hashegot
vent
windofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublic
publicmoment?Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgoodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.
Hestoodinthe
milieu
middleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwillshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.
Ihavenotgot
vent
windofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,ni
noristhereanymatterofpublic
publicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurely
personnel
personal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmy
excellent
excellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.
TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimto
choisir
choosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemariage
marriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofvin
winetheydrink.Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.