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
THE
SUITORS.
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelled
lontano
far
andwideafterhehadsacked
la
the
famoustownofTroy.
Molte
Many
citiesdidhevisit,
e
and
manywerethenationswithwhosemanners
e
and
customshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbysea
mentre
while
tryingtosavehisown
vita
life
andbringhismensafely
casa
home
;
butdowhathemighthecouldnot
salvare
save
hismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyin
mangiare
eating
thecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothe
dio
god
preventedthemfromeverreaching
casa
home
.
Tellme,too,about
tutte
all
thesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
So
ora
now
allwhoescapeddeathinbattle
o
or
byshipwreckhadgotsafely
casa
home
exceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingto
tornare
return
tohiswifeand
paese
country
,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,
che
who
hadgothiminto
una
a
largecaveandwantedtomarryhim.
Ma
But
asyearswentby,therecameatimewhen
il
the
godssettledthathe
dovesse
should
gobacktoIthaca;
ancora
even
then,however,whenhewasamonghisown
popolo
people
,histroubleswerenot
ancora
yet
over;
neverthelessallthegods
avevano
had
nowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,
che
who
stillpersecutedhimwithoutceasing
e
and
wouldnotlethimget
casa
home
.
NowNeptunehadgoneoffto
la
the
Ethiopians,whoareat
la
the
world’send,andliein
due
two
halves,theonelookingWest
e
and
theotherEast.[1]Hehad
andato
gone
theretoacceptahecatombofsheep
e
and
oxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
ma
but
theothergodsmetin
il
the
houseofOlympianJove,
e
and
thesireofgods
e
and
menspokefirst.
Atthat
momento
moment
hewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeen
ucciso
killed
byAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohe
disse
said
totheothergods:.
“See
ora
now
,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatis
dopo
after
allnothingbuttheirownfolly.
Guarda
Look
atAegisthus;
hemustneeds
fare
make
lovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteously
e
and
thenkillAgamemnon,thoughhe
sapeva
knew
itwouldbethe
morte
death
ofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnotto
fare
do
eitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbe
sicuro
sure
totakehisrevenge
quando
when
hegrewupandwantedto
tornare
return
home.
Mercurytoldhim
questo
this
inallgoodwill
ma
but
hewouldnotlisten,
e
and
nowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinerva
disse
said
,“Father,sonofSaturn,
Re
King
ofkings,itservedAegisthusright,
e
and
soitwouldanyoneelse
che
who
doesashedid;
ma
but
Aegisthusisneitherherenor
there
;
itisforUlysses
che
that
myheartbleeds,whenI
penso
think
ofhissufferingsin
che
that
lonelysea-girtisland,faraway,
povero
poor
man,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
e
and
agoddesslivesthere,
figlia
daughter
ofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,
e
and
carriesthegreatcolumnsthat
mantengono
keep
heavenandearthasunder.
Questa
This
daughterofAtlashasgotholdof
povero
poor
unhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingby
ogni
every
kindofblandishmenttomakehim
dimenticare
forget
hishome,sothatheistiredof
vita
life
,andthinksofnothingbut
come
how
hemayoncemore
vedere
see
thesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,
signore
sir
,takenoheedof
questo
this
,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwith
molti
many
aburntsacrifice?
Whythen
dovresti
should
youkeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
E
And
Jovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
Come
How
canIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereis
non
no
morecapablemanon
terra
earth
,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthat
vivono
live
inheaven?
Bearin
mente
mind
,however,thatNeptuneis
ancora
still
furiouswithUlyssesforhavingblinded
un
an
eyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
Polyphemusis
figlio
son
toNeptunebythenymphThoosa,
figlia
daughter
tothesea-kingPhorcys;
therefore
anche se
though
hewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgetting
casa
home
.
Still,letuslayourheads
insieme
together
andseehowwecanhelphimto
tornare
return
;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,for
se
if
weareallofamindhecanhardlystandout
contro
against
us.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,
figlio
son
ofSaturn,Kingofkings,
se
if
,then,thegodsnowmean
che
that
Ulyssesshouldgethome,weshould
prima
first
sendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypso
che
that
wehavemadeupourminds
e
and
thatheisto
tornare
return
.
InthemeantimeIwill
andrò
go
toIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’
figlio
son
Telemachus;
Iwillemboldenhimto
chiamare
call
theAchaeansinassembly,
e
and
speakouttothesuitorsofhis
madre
mother
Penelope,whopersistin
mangiare
eating
upanynumberofhissheep
e
and
oxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
e
and
toPylos,tosee
se
if
hecanhearanythingaboutthe
ritorno
return
ofhisdearfather—for
questo
this
willmakepeoplespeak
bene
well
ofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanfly
come
like
thewindoverland
o
or
sea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
e
and
sturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroes
che
who
havedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’
casa
house
,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,
e
and
sheheldabronzespearinher
mano
hand
.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesof
i
the
oxenwhichtheyhad
ucciso
killed
andeaten,andplayingdraughtsin
davanti
front
ofthehouse.
Men-servants
e
and
pageswerebustlingabouttowaitupon
li
them
,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,
alcuni
some
cleaningdownthetableswithwetsponges
e
and
layingthemoutagain,
e
and
somecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewas
seduto
sitting
moodilyamongthesuitors
pensando
thinking
abouthisbravefather,
e
and
howhewouldsendthemflying
fuori
out
ofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagain
e
and
behonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashe
seduto
sat
amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinerva
e
and
wentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexed
che
that
astrangershouldbe
tenuto
kept
waitingforadmittance.
He
preso
took
herrighthandinhisown,
e
and
badehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,and
quando
when
youhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyou
avrai
have
comefor.”
Heled
la
the
wayashespoke,
e
and
Minervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhe
prese
took
herspearandsetitinthespear-stand
contro
against
astrongbearing-postalongwiththe
molte
many
otherspearsofhisunhappy
padre
father
,andheconductedherto
un
a
richlydecoratedseatunder
quale
which
hethrewaclothofdamask.
Therewas
un
a
footstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]
e
and
hesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,
lontano
away
fromthesuitors,thatshe
potesse
might
notbeannoyedwhile
mangiava
eating
bytheirnoiseandinsolence,
e
and
thathemightaskher
più
more
freelyabouthisfather.
Amaidservantthen
portò
brought
themwaterinabeautifulgoldenewer
e
and
poureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,
e
and
shedrewacleantablebesidethem.
Anupperservant
portava
brought
thembread,andofferedthem
molte
many
goodthingsofwhattherewasinthe
casa
house
,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeats
e
and
setcupsofgoldbytheirside,
e
and
amanservantbroughtthemwine
e
and
poureditoutforthem.
Thenthesuitorscamein
e
and
tooktheirplacesonthebenches
e
and
seats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspoured
acqua
water
overtheirhands,maids
andarono
went
roundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwine
e
and
water,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthings
che
that
werebeforethem.
As
appena
soon
astheyhadhad
abbastanza
enough
toeatanddrinktheywanted
musica
music
anddancing,whichare
i
the
crowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservant
portò
brought
alyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforceto
cantare
sing
tothem.
Assoonashe
toccò
touched
hislyreandbeganto
cantare
sing
TelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhis
testa
head
closetohersthatno
uomo
man
mighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingto
dire
say
.
Singingcomescheaptothose
che
who
donotpayfor
esso
it
,andallthisis
fatto
done
atthecostof
uno
one
whoseboneslierottingin
qualche
some
wildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.
Se
If
thesemenwereto
vedere
see
myfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsrather
che
than
alongerpurse,for
denaro
money
wouldnotservethem;
ma
but
he,alas,hasfallenon
un
an
illfate,andeven
quando
when
peopledosometimessay
che
that
heiscoming,we
non
no
longerheedthem;
weshallnever
vedremo
see
himagain.
Andnow,
signore
sir
,tellmeandtellmetrue,
chi
who
youareandwhereyou
vieni
come
from.
Tellmeofyour
città
town
andparents,whatmannerofshipyou
venuto
came
in,howyourcrew
portato
brought
youtoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannot
ha
have
comebyland.
Tellmealsotruly,forIwantto
sapere
know
,areyouastrangerto
questa
this
house,orhaveyoubeen
qui
here
inmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswe
avevamo
had
manyvisitorsformy
padre
father
wentaboutmuchhimself.”
E
And
Minervaanswered,“Iwill
racconterò
tell
youtrulyandparticularly
tutto
all
aboutit.
IamMentes,
figlio
son
ofAnchialus,andIam
Re
King
oftheTaphians.
Ihave
venuto
come
herewithmyship
e
and
crew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,
e
and
Ishallbringbackcopper.
Asformyship,itliesoveryonder
fuori
off
theopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]
sotto
under
thewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,as
vecchio
old
Laerteswilltellyou,
se
if
youwillgoandaskhim.
They
dicono
say
,however,thathenever
viene
comes
totownnow,andlivesbyhimselfin
la
the
country,faringhardly,with
una
an
oldwomantolookafterhim
e
and
gethisdinnerforhim,
quando
when
hecomesintiredfrompottering
su
about
hisvineyard.
Theytoldmeyour
padre
father
wasathomeagain,and
che
that
waswhyIcame,
ma
but
itseemsthegodsare
ancora
still
keepinghimback,forheisnot
morto
dead
yetnotonthemainland.
Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,
o
or
aprisoneramongsavages
che
who
aredetaininghimagainsthis
volontà
will
.
Iamnoprophet,
e
and
knowverylittleaboutomens,
ma
but
Ispeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,
e
and
assureyouthathe
sarà
will
notbeawaymuchlonger;
forheis
un
a
manofsuchresource
che
that
eventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewould
troverebbe
find
somemeansofgetting
casa
home
again.
Buttellme,
e
and
tellmetrue,canUlysses
davvero
really
havesuchafinelookingfellowfor
un
a
son?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
testa
head
andeyes,forwewereclosefriends
prima
before
hesetsailforTroy
dove
where
theflowerofalltheArgives
andò
went
also.
Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”
rispose
answered
Telemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,
ma
but
itisawisechild
che
that
knowshisownfather.
WouldthatIwere
figlio
son
toonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyou
chiedi
ask
me,thereisno
più
more
ill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhothey
dicono
tell
meismyfather.”
E
And
Minervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingout
ancora
yet
,whilePenelopehassuch
un
a
finesonasyouare.
Ma
But
tellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthe
significato
meaning
ofallthisfeasting,
e
and
whoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Avete
Have
yousomebanquet,oristhereaweddingin
le
the
family—fornooneseemstobe
portare
bringing
anyprovisionsofhisown?
E
And
theguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
fanno
make
overthewholehouse;
itis
abbastanza
enough
todisgustanyrespectableperson
che
who
comesnearthem.”
“Sir,”
disse
said
Telemachus,“asregardsyour
domanda
question
,solongasmy
padre
father
washereitwas
bene
well
withusandwiththe
casa
house
,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,
e
and
havehiddenhimaway
più
more
closelythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneit
meglio
better
eventhoughhewere
morto
dead
,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,
o
or
haddiedwithfriends
attorno
around
himwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeans
sarei
would
havebuiltamoundoverhisashes,
e
and
Ishouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;
ma
but
nowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawaywe
sappiamo
know
notwhither;
heis
andato
gone
withoutleavingsomuchas
una
a
tracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthe
questione
matter
endsimplywithgriefforthelossofmy
padre
father
;
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanother
tipo
kind
;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,
e
and
thewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,are
mangiando
eating
upmyhouseunderthepretextof
pagare
paying
theircourttomy
madre
mother
,whowillneitherpointblank
dirà
say
thatshewillnotmarry,[7]nor
ancora
yet
bringmatterstoanend;
sotheyare
faranno
making
havocofmyestate,
e
and
beforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,
e
and
acoupleoflances,
e
and
ifheisthemanhewas
quando
when
Ifirstknewhiminour
casa
house
,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewould
presto
soon
layhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostand
volta
once
moreuponhisownthreshold.
Hewasthen
veniva
coming
fromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,
figlio
son
ofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggods
e
and
wouldnotgivehimany,
ma
but
myfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondof
gli
him
.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitors
era
will
haveashortshrift
e
and
asorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
tornare
return
,andtakehisrevengeinhisown
casa
house
orno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemyadvice,
chiamate
call
theAchaeanheroesinassembly
domani
to-morrow
morning—layyourcasebefore
loro
them
,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.
Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,
ciascuno
each
tohisownplace,
e
and
ifyourmother’smindissetonmarrying
di nuovo
again
,lethergobacktoher
padre
father
,whowillfindhera
marito
husband
andprovideherwith
tutti
all
themarriagegiftsthatso
cara
dear
adaughtermayexpect.
Asforyourself,
lascia
let
meprevailuponyouto
prendere
take
thebestshipyoucan
ottenere
get
,withacrewoftwentymen,
e
and
goinquestofyour
padre
father
whohassolongbeenmissing.
Qualche
Some
onemaytellyou
qualcosa
something
,or(andpeopleoften
sente
hear
thingsinthisway)
qualche
some
heaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.
Prima
First
gotoPylosand
chiedi
ask
Nestor;
thencegoontoSparta
e
and
visitMenelaus,forhe
arrivato
got
homelastofalltheAchaeans;
se
if
youhearthatyour
padre
father
isaliveandonhisway
casa
home
,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswill
faranno
make
foryetanothertwelvemonths.
Se
If
ontheotherhandyou
sentite
hear
ofhisdeath,come
casa
home
atonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,build
una
a
barrowtohismemory,
e
and
makeyourmothermarry
di nuovo
again
.
Then,havingdoneall
questo
this
,thinkitwelloverinyour
mente
mind
how,byfairmeans
o
or
foul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourown
casa
house
.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
hai
have
younotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesfor
hai
having
killedhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youare
un
a
fine,smartlookingfellow;
mostrate
show
yourmettle,then,andmakeyourself
un
a
nameinstory.
Now,however,I
devo
must
gobacktomyship
e
and
tomycrew,who
saranno
will
beimpatientifIkeepthem
aspettare
waiting
longer;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,
e
and
rememberwhatIhave
detto
said
toyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyouto
parlare
talk
tomeinthis
modo
way
,asthoughIwereyourown
figlio
son
,andIwilldo
tutto
all
youtellme;
I
so
know
youwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,
ma
but
stayalittlelongertillyou
hai
have
takenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthen
darò
give
youapresent,andyoushall
andrai
go
onyourwayrejoicing;
Iwill
darò
give
youoneofgreatbeauty
e
and
value—akeepsakesuchas
solo
only
dearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minerva
rispose
answered
,“Donottrytokeepme,forI
sarei
would
beonmywayatonce.
Asfor
qualsiasi
any
presentyoumaybedisposedtomake
me
me
,keepittillIcomeagain,
e
and
Iwilltakeit
casa
home
withme.
Youshallgivemeavery
buono
good
one,andIwillgiveyou
uno
one
ofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewaway
come
like
abirdintotheair,
ma
but
shehadgivenTelemachuscourage,
e
and
hadmadehimthink
più
more
thaneverabouthis
padre
father
.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedat
lo
it
,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeen
un
a
god,sohewentstraightto
dove
where
thesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswas
ancora
still
singing,andhishearers
sedevano
sat
raptinsilenceashe
raccontava
told
thesadtaleofthe
ritorno
return
fromTroy,andtheillsMinerva
aveva
had
laidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,
figlia
daughter
ofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,
e
and
camedownbythe
grande
great
staircase,notalone,butattendedby
due
two
ofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingposts
che
that
supportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenon
entrambi
either
sideofher.
She
tenuto
held
aveil,moreover,beforeher
viso
face
,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknow
molte
many
anotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoets
amano
love
tocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssome
uno
one
ofthese,andletthem
bevano
drink
theirwineinsilence,
ma
but
ceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowful
cuore
heart
,andremindsmeofmy
perduto
lost
husbandwhomImournever
senza
without
ceasing,andwhosenamewas
grande
great
overallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”
rispose
answered
Telemachus,“letthebardsingwhathe
ha
has
amindto;
bards
fanno
do
notmaketheillstheysing
di
of
;
itisJove,notthey,
che
who
makesthem,andwhosendsweal
o
or
woeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.
Questo
This
fellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fated
ritorno
return
oftheDanaans,forpeople
sempre
always
applaudthelatestsongs
più
most
warmly.
Makeupyourmindtoit
e
and
bearit;
Ulyssesisnottheonly
uomo
man
whonevercamebackfromTroy,
ma
but
manyanotherwentdownaswellas
lui
he
.
Go,then,withinthe
casa
house
andbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,
e
and
theorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’s
materia
matter
,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoam
padrone
master
here.”
Shewentwonderingbackinto
il
the
house,andlaidherson’s
detto
saying
inherheart.
Then,
andando
going
upstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedher
caro
dear
husbandtillMinervashed
dolce
sweet
sleepoverhereyes.
Ma
But
thesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],
e
and
prayedeachonethathe
potesse
might
beherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachus
parlò
spoke
,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasure
ora
now
,andlettherebe
non
no
brawling,foritisarare
cosa
thing
tohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;
ma
but
inthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImay
darò
give
youformalnoticetodepart,
e
and
feastatoneanother’shouses,
girate
turn
andturnabout,atyourowncost.
Se
If
ontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupon
un
one
man,heavenhelpme,
ma
but
Joveshallreckonwithyouin
pieno
full
,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’s
casa
house
thereshallbeno
uomo
man
toavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
sentivano
heard
him,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,
figlio
son
ofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohave
dato
given
youlessonsinbluster
e
and
talltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyour
padre
father
wasbeforeyou.”
Telemachus
rispose
answered
,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,
ma
but
,godwilling,Iwillbechieftoo
se
if
Ican.
Isthis
il
the
worstfateyoucanthinkoffor
me
me
?
Itisnobad
cosa
thing
tobeachief,forit
porta
brings
bothrichesandhonour.
Still,
ora
now
thatUlyssesisdead
ci
there
aremanygreatmeninIthacabothold
e
and
young,andsomeothermay
prendere
take
theleadamongthem;
neverthelessI
sarò
will
bechiefinmyown
casa
house
,andwillrulethosewhomUlysses
ha
has
wonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,
figlio
son
ofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecide
chi
who
shallbechiefamongus,
ma
but
youshallbemasterinyourown
casa
house
andoveryourownpossessions;
noonewhilethereisa
uomo
man
inIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.
E
And
now,mygoodfellow,Iwantto
sapere
know
aboutthisstranger.
What
paese
country
doeshecomefrom?
Ofwhat
famiglia
family
ishe,andwhereishisestate?
Ha
Has
hebroughtyounewsaboutthe
ritorno
return
ofyourfather,orwasheon
affari
business
ofhisown?
Heseemed
un
a
welltodoman,
ma
but
hehurriedoffsosuddenly
che
that
hewasgonein
un
a
momentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“My
padre
father
isdeadandgone,”
rispose
answered
Telemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIput
non
no
morefaithinit
ora
now
.
Mymotherdoesindeed
a volte
sometimes
sendforasoothsayer
e
and
questionhim,butIgivehisprophecyings
non
no
heed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
figlio
son
ofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,
un
an
oldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Ma
But
inhishearthe
sapeva
knew
thatithadbeenthegoddess.
I
The
suitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinging
e
and
dancinguntiltheevening;
ma
but
whennightfellupontheirpleasuringthey
andarono
went
hometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwas
alto
high
upinatower[13]
che
that
lookedontotheoutercourt;
hither,then,hehied,brooding
e
and
fullofthought.
Agoodold
donna
woman
,Euryclea,daughterofOps,the
figlio
son
ofPisenor,wentbeforehimwitha
paio
couple
ofblazingtorches.
Laerteshadboughtherwithhisown
soldi
money
whenshewasquite
giovane
young
;
hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
e
and
shewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownwedded
moglie
wife
,buthedidnottakehertohis
letto
bed
forhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswho
ora
now
lightedTelemachustohisroom,
e
and
shelovedhimbetterthan
qualsiasi
any
oftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshe
aveva
had
nursedhimwhenhewas
un
a
baby.
Heopenedthe
porta
door
ofhisbedroom
e
and
satdownuponthe
letto
bed
;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOF
I
THE
PEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
E
AND
OFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONS
E
AND
STARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Ora
Now
whenthechildof
mattino
morning
,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrose
e
and
dressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
e
and
lefthisroomlookinglike
un
an
immortalgod.
Heatoncesent
il
the
criersroundtocall
il
the
peopleinassembly,sotheycalledthem
e
and
thepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,
quando
when
theyweregottogether,hewenttothe
luogo
place
ofassemblyspearinhand—not
solo
alone
,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwith
una
a
presenceofsuchdivinecomeliness
che
that
allmarvelledathimashewentby,
e
and
whenhetookhis
posto
place
inhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillors
fecero
made
wayforhim.
Aegyptius,
un
a
manbentdoublewithage,
e
and
ofinfiniteexperience,was
il
the
firsttospeak.
His
figlio
son
AntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,
ma
but
thesavageCyclopshad
ucciso
killed
himwhentheywere
tutti
all
shutupinthecave,
e
and
hadcookedhislast
cena
dinner
forhim.[17]Hehad
tre
three
sonsleft,ofwhom
due
two
stillworkedontheirfather’sland,
mentre
while
thethird,Eurynomus,was
uno
one
ofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheir
padre
father
couldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,
e
and
wasstillweepingforhim
quando
when
hebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”he
disse
said
,“hearmywords.
Fromthe
giorno
day
Ulyssesleftusthere
ha
has
beennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntil
ora
now
;
whothencanitbe,whether
vecchio
old
oryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Ha
Has
hegotwindof
qualche
some
hostapproaching,anddoeshe
desidera
wish
towarnus,or
vorrebbe
would
hespeakuponsomeother
questione
matter
ofpublicmoment?
Iam
sicuro
sure
heisanexcellentperson,
e
and
IhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachus
prese
took
thisspeechasofgoodomen
e
and
roseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathe
aveva
had
tosay.
Hestoodin
il
the
middleoftheassembly
e
and
thegoodheraldPisenor
portò
brought
himhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”
disse
said
he,“itisI,asyou
sono
will
shortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisI
che
who
amthemostaggrieved.
I
ho
have
notgotwindofanyhostapproachingabout
cui
which
Iwouldwarnyou,noristhereany
questione
matter
ofpublicmomenton
cui
which
Iwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
e
and
turnsontwogreatmisfortunes
che
which
havefallenuponmy
casa
house
.
Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellent
padre
father
,whowaschiefamong
tutti
all
youherepresent,andwas
come
like
afathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmore
grave
serious
,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsof
tutti
all
thechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmy
madre
mother
tomarrythemagainsther
volontà
will
.
Theyareafraidto
andare
go
toherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,
e
and
toprovidemarriagegiftsforhis
figlia
daughter
,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’s
casa
house
,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,
e
and
fatgoatsfortheirbanquets,
e
and
nevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinethey
bevono
drink
.
Noestatecanstand
tale
such
recklessness;
wehavenow
non
no
Ulyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,
e
and
Icannotholdmyown
contro
against
them.