BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’S
Besuch
VISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.
Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswith
deren
whosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesufferedmuchby
see
seawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
Sonowallwho
entkommen
escapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeaußer
exceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargecaveandwantedtoheiraten
marryhim.Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;
neverthelessallthegodshadnow
begannen
beguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,and
liegen
lieintwohalves,theonelookingWesten
WestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusis
weder
neitherherenorthere;itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girt
insel
island,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisan
insel
islandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthemeer
sea,andagoddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeephimmel
heavenandearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethe
rauch
smokeofhisownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingso
wütend
angrywithhim?”AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatlivein
himmel
heaven?Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.
Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygian
insel
islandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.InthemeantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;
IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecan
fliegen
flylikethewindoverland
landorsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyand
stark
strong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,häuptling
chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzespearinherhand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixing
wein
winewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlegen
layingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesoffleisch
meat.Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwent
direkt
straighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecorated
sitz
seatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.
Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewaclean
tisch
tablebesidethem.Anupperservantbroughtthembread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthem
wein
wineandpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswith
wein
wineandwater,andtheylegten
laidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.
AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthe
kosten
costofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywould
beten
prayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotservethem;buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;
weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerof
schiff
shipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland
land.Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmy
schiff
shipandcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformy
schiff
ship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.Theysay,
jedoch
however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butit
scheint
seemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girt
insel
islandinmidocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamnoprophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefrom
himmel
heaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunder
himmel
heaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”AndMinervasaid,“Thereisno
angst
fearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,oristherea
hochzeit
weddinginthefamily—fornoonescheint
seemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;
itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilledit
anders
otherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryetversteckt
hidden.Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhave
gebaut
builtamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthematterend
einfach
simplywithgriefforthelossofmyfather;himmel
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowill
weder
neitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhavea
kurze
shortshriftandasorryhochzeit
wedding.“Butthere!
Itrestswith
himmel
heaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;Iwould,
jedoch
however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcall
himmel
heaventobearyouwitness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindisseton
heiraten
marryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandandprovideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayerwarten
expect.Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebest
schiff
shipyoucanget,withacrewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeople
oft
oftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentbotschaft
messagemaydirectyou.FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;
thencegoontoSpartaand
besuchen
visitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththe
verschwendung
wastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,
bauen
buildabarrowtohismemory,andmakeyourmotherheiraten
marryagain.Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,
jedoch
however,Imustgobacktomyschiff
shipandtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreat
schönheit
beautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordsshe
flog
flewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewent
direkt
straighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahad
gelegt
laidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhis
lied
songfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.
Sheheldaveil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheir
wein
wineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,anddessen
whosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeuponmankind
nach
accordingtohisowngoodpleasure.Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.
Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;
UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.
Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’smatter,andmine
über
aboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,and
legte
laidherson’ssayinginherheart.Then,going
oben
upstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatour
vergnügen
pleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinestimme
voiceasPhemiushas;butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourown
kosten
cost.Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,
himmel
heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegods
scheinen
seemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;mayJovenevergrantyoutobe
häuptling
chiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,Iwillbe
häuptling
chieftooifIcan.Isthisthe
schlimmste
worstfateyoucanthinkofforme?Itisnobadthingtobea
häuptling
chief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem;
neverthelessIwillbe
häuptling
chiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswith
himmel
heaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
He
schien
seemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsoplötzlich
suddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomore
glaube
faithinitnow.Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,
häuptling
chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontotheoutercourt;
hither,then,hehied,broodingandfullofthought.
Agoodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithacoupleofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung;
hegavethe
wert
worthoftwentyoxenforher,andshewedasmuchrespekt
respecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedwife,buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehadnursedhimwhenhewasababy.Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomely
füße
feet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’s
sitz
seateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewith
alter
age,andofinfiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,
land
landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland
land,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhe
begann
beganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,
ob
whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonotwendig
necessarytoconveneus?Hashegot
wind
windofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgoodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.
Hestoodinthe
mitte
middleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwillshortly
erfahren
learn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.Ihavenotgot
wind
windofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.
Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymotherto
heiraten
marrythemagainstherwill.TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimto
wählen
choosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwein
winetheydrink.Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.