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The Odyssey | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A1 Learners

The Odyssey | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A1 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTO
La
THESUITORS.
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelled
lontano
farandwideafterhehadsacked
la
thefamoustownofTroy.
Molte
Manycitiesdidhevisit,
e
andmanywerethenationswithwhosemanners
e
andcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbysea
mentre
whiletryingtosavehisown
vita
lifeandbringhismensafely
casa
home;
butdowhathemighthecouldnot
salvare
savehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyin
mangiare
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothe
dio
godpreventedthemfromeverreaching
casa
home.
Tellme,too,about
tutte
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
So
ora
nowallwhoescapeddeathinbattle
o
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafely
casa
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingto
tornare
returntohiswifeand
paese
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,
che
whohadgothiminto
una
alargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.
Ma
Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhen
il
thegodssettledthathe
dovesse
shouldgobacktoIthaca;
ancora
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisown
popolo
people,histroubleswerenot
ancora
yetover;
neverthelessallthegods
avevano
hadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,
che
whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasing
e
andwouldnotlethimget
casa
home.
NowNeptunehadgoneoffto
la
theEthiopians,whoareat
la
theworld’send,andliein
due
twohalves,theonelookingWest
e
andtheotherEast.[1]Hehad
andato
gonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheep
e
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
ma
buttheothergodsmetin
il
thehouseofOlympianJove,
e
andthesireofgods
e
andmenspokefirst.
Atthat
momento
momenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeen
ucciso
killedbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohe
disse
saidtotheothergods:.
“See
ora
now,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatis
dopo
afterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
Guarda
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneeds
fare
makelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteously
e
andthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhe
sapeva
knewitwouldbethe
morte
deathofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnotto
fare
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbe
sicuro
suretotakehisrevenge
quando
whenhegrewupandwantedto
tornare
returnhome.
Mercurytoldhim
questo
thisinallgoodwill
ma
buthewouldnotlisten,
e
andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinerva
disse
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,
Re
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,
e
andsoitwouldanyoneelse
che
whodoesashedid;
ma
butAegisthusisneitherherenor
là
there;
itisforUlysses
che
thatmyheartbleeds,whenI
penso
thinkofhissufferingsin
che
thatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,
povero
poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
e
andagoddesslivesthere,
figlia
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,
e
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthat
mantengono
keepheavenandearthasunder.
Questa
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdof
povero
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingby
ogni
everykindofblandishmenttomakehim
dimenticare
forgethishome,sothatheistiredof
vita
life,andthinksofnothingbut
come
howhemayoncemore
vedere
seethesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,
signore
sir,takenoheedof
questo
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwith
molti
manyaburntsacrifice?
Whythen
dovresti
shouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
E
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
Come
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereis
non
nomorecapablemanon
terra
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthat
vivono
liveinheaven?
Bearin
mente
mind,however,thatNeptuneis
ancora
stillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblinded
un
aneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
Polyphemusis
figlio
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,
figlia
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
therefore
anche se
thoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgetting
casa
home.
Still,letuslayourheads
insieme
togetherandseehowwecanhelphimto
tornare
return;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,for
se
ifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandout
contro
againstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,
figlio
sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,
se
if,then,thegodsnowmean
che
thatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshould
prima
firstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypso
che
thatwehavemadeupourminds
e
andthatheisto
tornare
return.
InthemeantimeIwill
andrò
gotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’
figlio
sonTelemachus;
Iwillemboldenhimto
chiamare
calltheAchaeansinassembly,
e
andspeakouttothesuitorsofhis
madre
motherPenelope,whopersistin
mangiare
eatingupanynumberofhissheep
e
andoxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
e
andtoPylos,tosee
se
ifhecanhearanythingaboutthe
ritorno
returnofhisdearfather—for
questo
thiswillmakepeoplespeak
bene
wellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanfly
come
likethewindoverland
o
orsea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
e
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroes
che
whohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’
casa
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,
e
andsheheldabronzespearinher
mano
hand.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesof
i
theoxenwhichtheyhad
ucciso
killedandeaten,andplayingdraughtsin
davanti
frontofthehouse.
Men-servants
e
andpageswerebustlingabouttowaitupon
li
them,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,
alcuni
somecleaningdownthetableswithwetsponges
e
andlayingthemoutagain,
e
andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewas
seduto
sittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
pensando
thinkingabouthisbravefather,
e
andhowhewouldsendthemflying
fuori
outofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagain
e
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashe
seduto
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinerva
e
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexed
che
thatastrangershouldbe
tenuto
keptwaitingforadmittance.
He
preso
tookherrighthandinhisown,
e
andbadehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,and
quando
whenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyou
avrai
havecomefor.”
Heled
la
thewayashespoke,
e
andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhe
prese
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-stand
contro
againstastrongbearing-postalongwiththe
molte
manyotherspearsofhisunhappy
padre
father,andheconductedherto
un
arichlydecoratedseatunder
quale
whichhethrewaclothofdamask.
Therewas
un
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]
e
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,
lontano
awayfromthesuitors,thatshe
potesse
mightnotbeannoyedwhile
mangiava
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,
e
andthathemightaskher
più
morefreelyabouthisfather.
Amaidservantthen
portò
broughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewer
e
andpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,
e
andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.
Anupperservant
portava
broughtthembread,andofferedthem
molte
manygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthe
casa
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeats
e
andsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,
e
andamanservantbroughtthemwine
e
andpoureditoutforthem.
Thenthesuitorscamein
e
andtooktheirplacesonthebenches
e
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspoured
acqua
waterovertheirhands,maids
andarono
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwine
e
andwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthings
che
thatwerebeforethem.
As
appena
soonastheyhadhad
abbastanza
enoughtoeatanddrinktheywanted
musica
musicanddancing,whichare
i
thecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservant
portò
broughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforceto
cantare
singtothem.
Assoonashe
toccò
touchedhislyreandbeganto
cantare
singTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhis
testa
headclosetohersthatno
uomo
manmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingto
dire
say.
Singingcomescheaptothose
che
whodonotpayfor
esso
it,andallthisis
fatto
doneatthecostof
uno
onewhoseboneslierottingin
qualche
somewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.
Se
Ifthesemenwereto
vedere
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsrather
che
thanalongerpurse,for
denaro
moneywouldnotservethem;
ma
buthe,alas,hasfallenon
un
anillfate,andeven
quando
whenpeopledosometimessay
che
thatheiscoming,we
non
nolongerheedthem;
weshallnever
vedremo
seehimagain.
Andnow,
signore
sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,
chi
whoyouareandwhereyou
vieni
comefrom.
Tellmeofyour
città
townandparents,whatmannerofshipyou
venuto
camein,howyourcrew
portato
broughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannot
ha
havecomebyland.
Tellmealsotruly,forIwantto
sapere
know,areyouastrangerto
questa
thishouse,orhaveyoubeen
qui
hereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswe
avevamo
hadmanyvisitorsformy
padre
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
E
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwill
racconterò
tellyoutrulyandparticularly
tutto
allaboutit.
IamMentes,
figlio
sonofAnchialus,andIam
Re
KingoftheTaphians.
Ihave
venuto
comeherewithmyship
e
andcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,
e
andIshallbringbackcopper.
Asformyship,itliesoveryonder
fuori
offtheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]
sotto
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,as
vecchio
oldLaerteswilltellyou,
se
ifyouwillgoandaskhim.
They
dicono
say,however,thathenever
viene
comestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfin
la
thecountry,faringhardly,with
una
anoldwomantolookafterhim
e
andgethisdinnerforhim,
quando
whenhecomesintiredfrompottering
su
abouthisvineyard.
Theytoldmeyour
padre
fatherwasathomeagain,and
che
thatwaswhyIcame,
ma
butitseemsthegodsare
ancora
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnot
morto
deadyetnotonthemainland.
Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,
o
oraprisoneramongsavages
che
whoaredetaininghimagainsthis
volontà
will.
Iamnoprophet,
e
andknowverylittleaboutomens,
ma
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,
e
andassureyouthathe
sarà
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;
forheis
un
amanofsuchresource
che
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewould
troverebbe
findsomemeansofgetting
casa
homeagain.
Buttellme,
e
andtellmetrue,canUlysses
davvero
reallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowfor
un
ason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
testa
headandeyes,forwewereclosefriends
prima
beforehesetsailforTroy
dove
wheretheflowerofalltheArgives
andò
wentalso.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,
ma
butitisawisechild
che
thatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIwere
figlio
sontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyou
chiedi
askme,thereisno
più
moreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhothey
dicono
tellmeismyfather.”
E
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingout
ancora
yet,whilePenelopehassuch
un
afinesonasyouare.
Ma
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthe
significato
meaningofallthisfeasting,
e
andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Avete
Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddingin
le
thefamily—fornooneseemstobe
portare
bringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
E
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
fanno
makeoverthewholehouse;
itis
abbastanza
enoughtodisgustanyrespectableperson
che
whocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”
disse
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyour
domanda
question,solongasmy
padre
fatherwashereitwas
bene
wellwithusandwiththe
casa
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,
e
andhavehiddenhimaway
più
morecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneit
meglio
bettereventhoughhewere
morto
dead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,
o
orhaddiedwithfriends
attorno
aroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeans
sarei
wouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,
e
andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;
ma
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawaywe
sappiamo
knownotwhither;
heis
andato
gonewithoutleavingsomuchas
una
atracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthe
questione
matterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmy
padre
father;
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanother
tipo
kind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,
e
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,are
mangiando
eatingupmyhouseunderthepretextof
pagare
payingtheircourttomy
madre
mother,whowillneitherpointblank
dirà
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]nor
ancora
yetbringmatterstoanend;
sotheyare
faranno
makinghavocofmyestate,
e
andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,
e
andacoupleoflances,
e
andifheisthemanhewas
quando
whenIfirstknewhiminour
casa
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewould
presto
soonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostand
volta
oncemoreuponhisownthreshold.
Hewasthen
veniva
comingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,
figlio
sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggods
e
andwouldnotgivehimany,
ma
butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondof
gli
him.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitors
era
willhaveashortshrift
e
andasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
tornare
return,andtakehisrevengeinhisown
casa
houseorno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemyadvice,
chiamate
calltheAchaeanheroesinassembly
domani
to-morrowmorning—layyourcasebefore
loro
them,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.
Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,
ciascuno
eachtohisownplace,
e
andifyourmother’smindissetonmarrying
di nuovo
again,lethergobacktoher
padre
father,whowillfindhera
marito
husbandandprovideherwith
tutti
allthemarriagegiftsthatso
cara
dearadaughtermayexpect.
Asforyourself,
lascia
letmeprevailuponyouto
prendere
takethebestshipyoucan
ottenere
get,withacrewoftwentymen,
e
andgoinquestofyour
padre
fatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.
Qualche
Someonemaytellyou
qualcosa
something,or(andpeopleoften
sente
hearthingsinthisway)
qualche
someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.
Prima
FirstgotoPylosand
chiedi
askNestor;
thencegoontoSparta
e
andvisitMenelaus,forhe
arrivato
gothomelastofalltheAchaeans;
se
ifyouhearthatyour
padre
fatherisaliveandonhisway
casa
home,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswill
faranno
makeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Se
Ifontheotherhandyou
sentite
hearofhisdeath,come
casa
homeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,build
una
abarrowtohismemory,
e
andmakeyourmothermarry
di nuovo
again.
Then,havingdoneall
questo
this,thinkitwelloverinyour
mente
mindhow,byfairmeans
o
orfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourown
casa
house.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
hai
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesfor
hai
havingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youare
un
afine,smartlookingfellow;
mostrate
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourself
un
anameinstory.
Now,however,I
devo
mustgobacktomyship
e
andtomycrew,who
saranno
willbeimpatientifIkeepthem
aspettare
waitinglonger;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,
e
andrememberwhatIhave
detto
saidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyouto
parlare
talktomeinthis
modo
way,asthoughIwereyourown
figlio
son,andIwilldo
tutto
allyoutellme;
I
so
knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,
ma
butstayalittlelongertillyou
hai
havetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthen
darò
giveyouapresent,andyoushall
andrai
goonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwill
darò
giveyouoneofgreatbeauty
e
andvalue—akeepsakesuchas
solo
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minerva
rispose
answered,“Donottrytokeepme,forI
sarei
wouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asfor
qualsiasi
anypresentyoumaybedisposedtomake
me
me,keepittillIcomeagain,
e
andIwilltakeit
casa
homewithme.
Youshallgivemeavery
buono
goodone,andIwillgiveyou
uno
oneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewaway
come
likeabirdintotheair,
ma
butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,
e
andhadmadehimthink
più
morethaneverabouthis
padre
father.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedat
lo
it,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeen
un
agod,sohewentstraightto
dove
wherethesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswas
ancora
stillsinging,andhishearers
sedevano
satraptinsilenceashe
raccontava
toldthesadtaleofthe
ritorno
returnfromTroy,andtheillsMinerva
aveva
hadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,
figlia
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,
e
andcamedownbythe
grande
greatstaircase,notalone,butattendedby
due
twoofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingposts
che
thatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenon
entrambi
eithersideofher.
She
tenuto
heldaveil,moreover,beforeher
viso
face,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknow
molte
manyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoets
amano
lovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssome
uno
oneofthese,andletthem
bevano
drinktheirwineinsilence,
ma
butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowful
cuore
heart,andremindsmeofmy
perduto
losthusbandwhomImournever
senza
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewas
grande
greatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathe
ha
hasamindto;
bards
fanno
donotmaketheillstheysing
di
of;
itisJove,notthey,
che
whomakesthem,andwhosendsweal
o
orwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.
Questo
Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fated
ritorno
returnoftheDanaans,forpeople
sempre
alwaysapplaudthelatestsongs
più
mostwarmly.
Makeupyourmindtoit
e
andbearit;
Ulyssesisnottheonly
uomo
manwhonevercamebackfromTroy,
ma
butmanyanotherwentdownaswellas
lui
he.
Go,then,withinthe
casa
houseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,
e
andtheorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’s
materia
matter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoam
padrone
masterhere.”
Shewentwonderingbackinto
il
thehouse,andlaidherson’s
detto
sayinginherheart.
Then,
andando
goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedher
caro
dearhusbandtillMinervashed
dolce
sweetsleepoverhereyes.
Ma
Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],
e
andprayedeachonethathe
potesse
mightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachus
parlò
spoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasure
ora
now,andlettherebe
non
nobrawling,foritisarare
cosa
thingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;
ma
butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImay
darò
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,
e
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,
girate
turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Se
Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupon
un
oneman,heavenhelpme,
ma
butJoveshallreckonwithyouin
pieno
full,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’s
casa
housethereshallbeno
uomo
mantoavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
sentivano
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,
figlio
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohave
dato
givenyoulessonsinbluster
e
andtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyour
padre
fatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachus
rispose
answered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,
ma
but,godwilling,Iwillbechieftoo
se
ifIcan.
Isthis
il
theworstfateyoucanthinkoffor
me
me?
Itisnobad
cosa
thingtobeachief,forit
porta
bringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,
ora
nowthatUlyssesisdead
ci
therearemanygreatmeninIthacabothold
e
andyoung,andsomeothermay
prendere
taketheleadamongthem;
neverthelessI
sarò
willbechiefinmyown
casa
house,andwillrulethosewhomUlysses
ha
haswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,
figlio
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecide
chi
whoshallbechiefamongus,
ma
butyoushallbemasterinyourown
casa
houseandoveryourownpossessions;
noonewhilethereisa
uomo
maninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.
E
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwantto
sapere
knowaboutthisstranger.
What
paese
countrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhat
famiglia
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Ha
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthe
ritorno
returnofyourfather,orwasheon
affari
businessofhisown?
Heseemed
un
awelltodoman,
ma
buthehurriedoffsosuddenly
che
thathewasgonein
un
amomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“My
padre
fatherisdeadandgone,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIput
non
nomorefaithinit
ora
now.
Mymotherdoesindeed
a volte
sometimessendforasoothsayer
e
andquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyings
non
noheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
figlio
sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,
un
anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Ma
Butinhishearthe
sapeva
knewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
I
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinging
e
anddancinguntiltheevening;
ma
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringthey
andarono
wenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwas
alto
highupinatower[13]
che
thatlookedontotheoutercourt;
hither,then,hehied,brooding
e
andfullofthought.
Agoodold
donna
woman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,the
figlio
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwitha
paio
coupleofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisown
soldi
moneywhenshewasquite
giovane
young;
hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
e
andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownwedded
moglie
wife,buthedidnottakehertohis
letto
bedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswho
ora
nowlightedTelemachustohisroom,
e
andshelovedhimbetterthan
qualsiasi
anyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshe
aveva
hadnursedhimwhenhewas
un
ababy.
Heopenedthe
porta
doorofhisbedroom
e
andsatdownuponthe
letto
bed;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOF
I
THEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
E
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONS
E
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Ora
Nowwhenthechildof
mattino
morning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrose
e
anddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
e
andlefthisroomlookinglike
un
animmortalgod.
Heatoncesent
il
thecriersroundtocall
il
thepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthem
e
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,
quando
whentheyweregottogether,hewenttothe
luogo
placeofassemblyspearinhand—not
solo
alone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwith
una
apresenceofsuchdivinecomeliness
che
thatallmarvelledathimashewentby,
e
andwhenhetookhis
posto
placeinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillors
fecero
madewayforhim.
Aegyptius,
un
amanbentdoublewithage,
e
andofinfiniteexperience,was
il
thefirsttospeak.
His
figlio
sonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,
ma
butthesavageCyclopshad
ucciso
killedhimwhentheywere
tutti
allshutupinthecave,
e
andhadcookedhislast
cena
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehad
tre
threesonsleft,ofwhom
due
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,
mentre
whilethethird,Eurynomus,was
uno
oneofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheir
padre
fathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,
e
andwasstillweepingforhim
quando
whenhebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”he
disse
said,“hearmywords.
Fromthe
giorno
dayUlyssesleftusthere
ha
hasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntil
ora
now;
whothencanitbe,whether
vecchio
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Ha
Hashegotwindof
qualche
somehostapproaching,anddoeshe
desidera
wishtowarnus,or
vorrebbe
wouldhespeakuponsomeother
questione
matterofpublicmoment?
Iam
sicuro
sureheisanexcellentperson,
e
andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachus
prese
tookthisspeechasofgoodomen
e
androseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathe
aveva
hadtosay.
Hestoodin
il
themiddleoftheassembly
e
andthegoodheraldPisenor
portò
broughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”
disse
saidhe,“itisI,asyou
sono
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisI
che
whoamthemostaggrieved.
I
ho
havenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingabout
cui
whichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereany
questione
matterofpublicmomenton
cui
whichIwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
e
andturnsontwogreatmisfortunes
che
whichhavefallenuponmy
casa
house.
Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellent
padre
father,whowaschiefamong
tutti
allyouherepresent,andwas
come
likeafathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmore
grave
serious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsof
tutti
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmy
madre
mothertomarrythemagainsther
volontà
will.
Theyareafraidto
andare
gotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,
e
andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhis
figlia
daughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’s
casa
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,
e
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,
e
andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinethey
bevono
drink.
Noestatecanstand
tale
suchrecklessness;
wehavenow
non
noUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,
e
andIcannotholdmyown
contro
againstthem.