BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTO
La
THESUITORS.Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelled
lontano
farandwideafterhehadsackedla
thefamoustownofTroy.Molte
Manycitiesdidhevisit,e
andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannerse
andcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesufferedmuchbysea
mentre
whiletryingtosavehisownvita
lifeandbringhismensafelycasa
home;butdowhathemighthecouldnot
salvare
savehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyinmangiare
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothe
dio
godpreventedthemfromeverreachingcasa
home.Tellme,too,about
tutte
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.So
ora
nowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleo
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafelycasa
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtotornare
returntohiswifeandpaese
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,che
whohadgothimintouna
alargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.Ma
Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenil
thegodssettledthathedovesse
shouldgobacktoIthaca;ancora
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpopolo
people,histroubleswerenotancora
yetover;neverthelessallthegods
avevano
hadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,che
whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasinge
andwouldnotlethimgetcasa
home.NowNeptunehadgoneoffto
la
theEthiopians,whoareatla
theworld’send,andlieindue
twohalves,theonelookingWeste
andtheotherEast.[1]Hehadandato
gonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepe
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;ma
buttheothergodsmetinil
thehouseofOlympianJove,e
andthesireofgodse
andmenspokefirst.Atthat
momento
momenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenucciso
killedbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;sohe
disse
saidtotheothergods:.“See
ora
now,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisdopo
afterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.Guarda
LookatAegisthus;hemustneeds
fare
makelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslye
andthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhesapeva
knewitwouldbethemorte
deathofhim;forIsentMercurytowarnhimnotto
fare
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesicuro
suretotakehisrevengequando
whenhegrewupandwantedtotornare
returnhome.Mercurytoldhim
questo
thisinallgoodwillma
buthewouldnotlisten,e
andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
disse
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Re
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,e
andsoitwouldanyoneelseche
whodoesashedid;ma
butAegisthusisneitherherenorlà
there;itisforUlysses
che
thatmyheartbleeds,whenIpenso
thinkofhissufferingsinche
thatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,povero
poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
e
andagoddesslivesthere,figlia
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,e
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatmantengono
keepheavenandearthasunder.Questa
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpovero
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyogni
everykindofblandishmenttomakehimdimenticare
forgethishome,sothatheistiredofvita
life,andthinksofnothingbutcome
howhemayoncemorevedere
seethesmokeofhisownchimneys.You,
signore
sir,takenoheedofquesto
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmolti
manyaburntsacrifice?Whythen
dovresti
shouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”E
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?Come
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnon
nomorecapablemanonterra
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatvivono
liveinheaven?Bearin
mente
mind,however,thatNeptuneisancora
stillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedun
aneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.Polyphemusis
figlio
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,figlia
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;therefore
anche se
thoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettingcasa
home.Still,letuslayourheads
insieme
togetherandseehowwecanhelphimtotornare
return;Neptunewillthenbepacified,for
se
ifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutcontro
againstus.”AndMinervasaid,“Father,
figlio
sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,se
if,then,thegodsnowmeanche
thatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldprima
firstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsoche
thatwehavemadeupourmindse
andthatheistotornare
return.InthemeantimeIwill
andrò
gotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’figlio
sonTelemachus;Iwillemboldenhimto
chiamare
calltheAchaeansinassembly,e
andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismadre
motherPenelope,whopersistinmangiare
eatingupanynumberofhissheepe
andoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
e
andtoPylos,toseese
ifhecanhearanythingabouttheritorno
returnofhisdearfather—forquesto
thiswillmakepeoplespeakbene
wellofhim.”Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanfly
come
likethewindoverlando
orsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
e
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroesche
whohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’casa
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,e
andsheheldabronzespearinhermano
hand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesof
i
theoxenwhichtheyhaducciso
killedandeaten,andplayingdraughtsindavanti
frontofthehouse.Men-servants
e
andpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponli
them,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,alcuni
somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongese
andlayingthemoutagain,e
andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewas
seduto
sittingmoodilyamongthesuitorspensando
thinkingabouthisbravefather,e
andhowhewouldsendthemflyingfuori
outofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagaine
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashe
seduto
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervae
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedche
thatastrangershouldbetenuto
keptwaitingforadmittance.He
preso
tookherrighthandinhisown,e
andbadehergivehimherspear.“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,and
quando
whenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouavrai
havecomefor.”Heled
la
thewayashespoke,e
andMinervafollowedhim.Whentheywerewithinhe
prese
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-standcontro
againstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemolte
manyotherspearsofhisunhappypadre
father,andheconductedhertoun
arichlydecoratedseatunderquale
whichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewas
un
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]e
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,lontano
awayfromthesuitors,thatshepotesse
mightnotbeannoyedwhilemangiava
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,e
andthathemightaskherpiù
morefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthen
portò
broughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewere
andpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,e
andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.Anupperservant
portava
broughtthembread,andofferedthemmolte
manygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthecasa
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatse
andsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,e
andamanservantbroughtthemwinee
andpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscamein
e
andtooktheirplacesonthebenchese
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredacqua
waterovertheirhands,maidsandarono
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwinee
andwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsche
thatwerebeforethem.As
appena
soonastheyhadhadabbastanza
enoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusica
musicanddancing,whicharei
thecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantportò
broughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetocantare
singtothem.Assoonashe
toccò
touchedhislyreandbegantocantare
singTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhistesta
headclosetohersthatnouomo
manmighthear.“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingto
dire
say.Singingcomescheaptothose
che
whodonotpayforesso
it,andallthisisfatto
doneatthecostofuno
onewhoseboneslierottinginqualche
somewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.Se
Ifthesemenweretovedere
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherche
thanalongerpurse,fordenaro
moneywouldnotservethem;ma
buthe,alas,hasfallenonun
anillfate,andevenquando
whenpeopledosometimessayche
thatheiscoming,wenon
nolongerheedthem;weshallnever
vedremo
seehimagain.Andnow,
signore
sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,chi
whoyouareandwhereyouvieni
comefrom.Tellmeofyour
città
townandparents,whatmannerofshipyouvenuto
camein,howyourcrewportato
broughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannotha
havecomebyland.Tellmealsotruly,forIwantto
sapere
know,areyouastrangertoquesta
thishouse,orhaveyoubeenqui
hereinmyfather’stime?Intheolddayswe
avevamo
hadmanyvisitorsformypadre
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”E
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwillracconterò
tellyoutrulyandparticularlytutto
allaboutit.IamMentes,
figlio
sonofAnchialus,andIamRe
KingoftheTaphians.Ihave
venuto
comeherewithmyshipe
andcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,e
andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonder
fuori
offtheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]sotto
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asvecchio
oldLaerteswilltellyou,se
ifyouwillgoandaskhim.They
dicono
say,however,thatheneverviene
comestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinla
thecountry,faringhardly,withuna
anoldwomantolookafterhime
andgethisdinnerforhim,quando
whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringsu
abouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyour
padre
fatherwasathomeagain,andche
thatwaswhyIcame,ma
butitseemsthegodsareancora
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnotmorto
deadyetnotonthemainland.Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,
o
oraprisoneramongsavagesche
whoaredetaininghimagainsthisvolontà
will.Iamnoprophet,
e
andknowverylittleaboutomens,ma
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,e
andassureyouthathesarà
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheis
un
amanofsuchresourceche
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldtroverebbe
findsomemeansofgettingcasa
homeagain.Buttellme,
e
andtellmetrue,canUlyssesdavvero
reallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforun
ason?Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
testa
headandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsprima
beforehesetsailforTroydove
wheretheflowerofalltheArgivesandò
wentalso.Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,ma
butitisawisechildche
thatknowshisownfather.WouldthatIwere
figlio
sontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouchiedi
askme,thereisnopiù
moreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheydicono
tellmeismyfather.”E
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutancora
yet,whilePenelopehassuchun
afinesonasyouare.Ma
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthesignificato
meaningofallthisfeasting,e
andwhoarethesepeople?Whatisitallabout?
Avete
Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddinginle
thefamily—fornooneseemstobeportare
bringinganyprovisionsofhisown?E
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;whatriotthey
fanno
makeoverthewholehouse;itis
abbastanza
enoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonche
whocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”
disse
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourdomanda
question,solongasmypadre
fatherwashereitwasbene
wellwithusandwiththecasa
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,e
andhavehiddenhimawaypiù
morecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.Icouldhaveborneit
meglio
bettereventhoughheweremorto
dead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,o
orhaddiedwithfriendsattorno
aroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;forthentheAchaeans
sarei
wouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,e
andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;ma
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawaywesappiamo
knownotwhither;heis
andato
gonewithoutleavingsomuchasuna
atracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoesthe
questione
matterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmypadre
father;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanother
tipo
kind;forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,
e
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,aremangiando
eatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpagare
payingtheircourttomymadre
mother,whowillneitherpointblankdirà
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]norancora
yetbringmatterstoanend;sotheyare
faranno
makinghavocofmyestate,e
andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,
e
andacoupleoflances,e
andifheisthemanhewasquando
whenIfirstknewhiminourcasa
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldpresto
soonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandvolta
oncemoreuponhisownthreshold.Hewasthen
veniva
comingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,figlio
sonofMermerus.Ilusfearedtheever-livinggods
e
andwouldnotgivehimany,ma
butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofgli
him.IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitors
era
willhaveashortshrifte
andasorrywedding.“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
tornare
return,andtakehisrevengeinhisowncasa
houseorno;Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemyadvice,
chiamate
calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblydomani
to-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforeloro
them,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,
ciascuno
eachtohisownplace,e
andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingdi nuovo
again,lethergobacktoherpadre
father,whowillfindheramarito
husbandandprovideherwithtutti
allthemarriagegiftsthatsocara
dearadaughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,
lascia
letmeprevailuponyoutoprendere
takethebestshipyoucanottenere
get,withacrewoftwentymen,e
andgoinquestofyourpadre
fatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Qualche
Someonemaytellyouqualcosa
something,or(andpeopleoftensente
hearthingsinthisway)qualche
someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.Prima
FirstgotoPylosandchiedi
askNestor;thencegoontoSparta
e
andvisitMenelaus,forhearrivato
gothomelastofalltheAchaeans;se
ifyouhearthatyourpadre
fatherisaliveandonhiswaycasa
home,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillfaranno
makeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Se
Ifontheotherhandyousentite
hearofhisdeath,comecasa
homeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,builduna
abarrowtohismemory,e
andmakeyourmothermarrydi nuovo
again.Then,havingdoneall
questo
this,thinkitwelloverinyourmente
mindhow,byfairmeanso
orfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourowncasa
house.Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
hai
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhai
havingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
un
afine,smartlookingfellow;mostrate
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfun
anameinstory.Now,however,I
devo
mustgobacktomyshipe
andtomycrew,whosaranno
willbeimpatientifIkeepthemaspettare
waitinglonger;thinkthematteroverforyourself,
e
andrememberwhatIhavedetto
saidtoyou.”“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyouto
parlare
talktomeinthismodo
way,asthoughIwereyourownfiglio
son,andIwilldotutto
allyoutellme;I
so
knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,ma
butstayalittlelongertillyouhai
havetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthen
darò
giveyouapresent,andyoushallandrai
goonyourwayrejoicing;Iwill
darò
giveyouoneofgreatbeautye
andvalue—akeepsakesuchassolo
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minerva
rispose
answered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIsarei
wouldbeonmywayatonce.Asfor
qualsiasi
anypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme
me,keepittillIcomeagain,e
andIwilltakeitcasa
homewithme.Youshallgivemeavery
buono
goodone,andIwillgiveyouuno
oneofnolessvalueinreturn.”Withthesewordssheflewaway
come
likeabirdintotheair,ma
butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,e
andhadmadehimthinkpiù
morethaneverabouthispadre
father.Hefeltthechange,wonderedat
lo
it,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenun
agod,sohewentstraighttodove
wherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswas
ancora
stillsinging,andhishearerssedevano
satraptinsilenceasheraccontava
toldthesadtaleoftheritorno
returnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervaaveva
hadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
figlia
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,e
andcamedownbythegrande
greatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbydue
twoofherhandmaids.Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingposts
che
thatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenonentrambi
eithersideofher.She
tenuto
heldaveil,moreover,beforeherviso
face,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“youknow
molte
manyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetsamano
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssome
uno
oneofthese,andletthembevano
drinktheirwineinsilence,ma
butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulcuore
heart,andremindsmeofmyperduto
losthusbandwhomImourneversenza
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgrande
greatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhatheha
hasamindto;bards
fanno
donotmaketheillstheysingdi
of;itisJove,notthey,
che
whomakesthem,andwhosendswealo
orwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.Questo
Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedritorno
returnoftheDanaans,forpeoplesempre
alwaysapplaudthelatestsongspiù
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
e
andbearit;Ulyssesisnottheonly
uomo
manwhonevercamebackfromTroy,ma
butmanyanotherwentdownaswellaslui
he.Go,then,withinthe
casa
houseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,e
andtheorderingofyourservants;forspeechisman’s
materia
matter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoampadrone
masterhere.”Shewentwonderingbackinto
il
thehouse,andlaidherson’sdetto
sayinginherheart.Then,
andando
goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedhercaro
dearhusbandtillMinervasheddolce
sweetsleepoverhereyes.Ma
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],e
andprayedeachonethathepotesse
mightbeherbedfellow.ThenTelemachus
parlò
spoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasureora
now,andlettherebenon
nobrawling,foritisararecosa
thingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;ma
butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaydarò
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,e
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,girate
turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.Se
Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspunginguponun
oneman,heavenhelpme,ma
butJoveshallreckonwithyouinpieno
full,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’scasa
housethereshallbenouomo
mantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
sentivano
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.Then,Antinous,
figlio
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavedato
givenyoulessonsinblustere
andtalltalking;mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyour
padre
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
rispose
answered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,ma
but,godwilling,Iwillbechieftoose
ifIcan.Isthis
il
theworstfateyoucanthinkofforme
me?Itisnobad
cosa
thingtobeachief,foritporta
bringsbothrichesandhonour.Still,
ora
nowthatUlyssesisdeadci
therearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholde
andyoung,andsomeothermayprendere
taketheleadamongthem;neverthelessI
sarò
willbechiefinmyowncasa
house,andwillrulethosewhomUlyssesha
haswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
figlio
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidechi
whoshallbechiefamongus,ma
butyoushallbemasterinyourowncasa
houseandoveryourownpossessions;noonewhilethereisa
uomo
maninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.E
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttosapere
knowaboutthisstranger.What
paese
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
famiglia
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?Ha
Hashebroughtyounewsabouttheritorno
returnofyourfather,orwasheonaffari
businessofhisown?Heseemed
un
awelltodoman,ma
buthehurriedoffsosuddenlyche
thathewasgoneinun
amomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”“My
padre
fatherisdeadandgone,”rispose
answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnon
nomorefaithinitora
now.Mymotherdoesindeed
a volte
sometimessendforasoothsayere
andquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnon
noheed.Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
figlio
sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,un
anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Ma
Butinhishearthesapeva
knewthatithadbeenthegoddess.I
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginge
anddancinguntiltheevening;ma
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheyandarono
wenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwasalto
highupinatower[13]che
thatlookedontotheoutercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
e
andfullofthought.Agoodold
donna
woman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thefiglio
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithapaio
coupleofblazingtorches.Laerteshadboughtherwithhisown
soldi
moneywhenshewasquitegiovane
young;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
e
andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedmoglie
wife,buthedidnottakehertohisletto
bedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswhoora
nowlightedTelemachustohisroom,e
andshelovedhimbetterthanqualsiasi
anyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forsheaveva
hadnursedhimwhenhewasun
ababy.Heopenedthe
porta
doorofhisbedroome
andsatdownupontheletto
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOF
I
THEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSE
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSE
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.Ora
Nowwhenthechildofmattino
morning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrosee
anddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
e
andlefthisroomlookinglikeun
animmortalgod.Heatoncesent
il
thecriersroundtocallil
thepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledtheme
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
quando
whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheluogo
placeofassemblyspearinhand—notsolo
alone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.Minervaendowedhimwith
una
apresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessche
thatallmarvelledathimashewentby,e
andwhenhetookhisposto
placeinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsfecero
madewayforhim.Aegyptius,
un
amanbentdoublewithage,e
andofinfiniteexperience,wasil
thefirsttospeak.His
figlio
sonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,ma
butthesavageCyclopshaducciso
killedhimwhentheyweretutti
allshutupinthecave,e
andhadcookedhislastcena
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtre
threesonsleft,ofwhomdue
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,mentre
whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasuno
oneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
padre
fathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,e
andwasstillweepingforhimquando
whenhebeganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
disse
said,“hearmywords.Fromthe
giorno
dayUlyssesleftusthereha
hasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilora
now;whothencanitbe,whether
vecchio
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?Ha
Hashegotwindofqualche
somehostapproaching,anddoeshedesidera
wishtowarnus,orvorrebbe
wouldhespeakuponsomeotherquestione
matterofpublicmoment?Iam
sicuro
sureheisanexcellentperson,e
andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
prese
tookthisspeechasofgoodomene
androseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhatheaveva
hadtosay.Hestoodin
il
themiddleoftheassemblye
andthegoodheraldPisenorportò
broughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”
disse
saidhe,“itisI,asyousono
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIche
whoamthemostaggrieved.I
ho
havenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutcui
whichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanyquestione
matterofpublicmomentoncui
whichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
e
andturnsontwogreatmisfortunesche
whichhavefallenuponmycasa
house.Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellent
padre
father,whowaschiefamongtutti
allyouherepresent,andwascome
likeafathertoeveryoneofyou;thesecondismuchmore
grave
serious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.Thesonsof
tutti
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymadre
mothertomarrythemagainsthervolontà
will.Theyareafraidto
andare
gotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,e
andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisfiglia
daughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’scasa
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,e
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,e
andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheybevono
drink.Noestatecanstand
tale
suchrecklessness;wehavenow
non
noUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,e
andIcannotholdmyowncontro
againstthem.