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The Odyssey | Gradually Hardening Italian A1-B2 Translation Books

The Odyssey | Gradually Hardening Italian A1-B2 Translation Books

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’S
Visita
VISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTO
La
THESUITORS.
Tellme,O
Musa
Muse,ofthatingeniousherowho
viaggiò
travelledfarandwideafterhehad
saccheggiato
sackedthefamoustownofTroy.
Molte
Manycitiesdidhevisit,
e
andmanywerethenationswithwhosemanners
e
andcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhe
sofferto
sufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingto
salvare
savehisownlifeand
portare
bringhismensafelyhome;
ma
butdowhathemighthecouldnot
salvare
savehismen,forthey
perirono
perishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyin
mangiare
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothe
dio
godpreventedthemfromeverreaching
casa
home.
Tellme,too,about
tutte
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoever
fonte
sourceyoumayknowthem.
So
ora
nowallwhoescapeddeathin
battaglia
battleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafely
casa
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingto
tornare
returntohiswifeand
paese
country,wasdetainedbythe
dea
goddessCalypso,whohadgothiminto
una
alargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.
Ma
Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhen
il
thegodssettledthathe
dovesse
shouldgobacktoIthaca;
ancora
eventhen,however,whenhewas
tra
amonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenot
ancora
yetover;
neverthelessallthegods
avevano
hadnowbeguntopityhim
tranne
exceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhim
senza
withoutceasingandwouldnot
lasciava
lethimgethome.
NowNeptunehad
andato
goneofftotheEthiopians,
che
whoareattheworld’s
fine
end,andlieintwohalves,
la
theonelookingWestand
la
theotherEast.[1]Hehad
andato
gonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheep
e
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathis
festa
festival;
buttheothergods
incontrarono
metinthehouseofOlympianJove,
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;
forIsent
Mercurio
Mercurytowarnhimnotto
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.
Itisanislandcoveredwith
foresta
forest,intheverymiddleofthe
mare
sea,andagoddesslivesthere,
figlia
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthe
fondo
bottomoftheocean,and
porta
carriesthegreatcolumnsthat
mantengono
keepheavenandearthasunder.
Questa
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdof
povero
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingby
ogni
everykindofblandishmenttomakehim
dimenticare
forgethishome,sothatheis
stanco
tiredoflife,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;
perciò
thereforethoughhewillnot
uccide
killUlyssesoutright,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;
Iwillalso
condurrò
conducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,to
vedere
seeifhecanhear
qualcosa
anythingaboutthereturnofhis
caro
dearfather—forthiswillmakepeople
parlare
speakwellofhim.”
So
dicendo
sayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecan
volare
flylikethewindover
terra
landorsea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shod
lancia
spear,sostoutandsturdy
e
andstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroes
che
whohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’
casa
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,
e
andsheheldabronze
lancia
spearinherhand.
Thereshe
trovò
foundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesof
i
theoxenwhichtheyhad
ucciso
killedandeaten,andplayingdraughtsin
davanti
frontofthehouse.
Men-servants
e
andpageswerebustlingabouttowaitupon
li
them,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,
alcuni
somecleaningdownthetableswithwetsponges
e
andlayingthemoutagain,
e
andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesof
carne
meat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewas
seduto
sittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
pensando
thinkingabouthisbravefather,
e
andhowhewouldsendthem
volare
flyingoutofthehouse,
se
ifheweretocometohisownagain
e
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashe
seduto
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinerva
e
andwentstraighttothe
cancello
gate,forhewasvexed
che
thatastrangershouldbe
tenuto
keptwaitingforadmittance.
He
preso
tookherrighthandinhisown,
e
andbadehergivehimher
lancia
spear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,and
quando
whenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyou
avrai
havecomefor.”
Heled
la
thewayashespoke,
e
andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhe
prese
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-stand
contro
againstastrongbearing-postalongwiththe
molte
manyotherspearsofhis
infelice
unhappyfather,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
andshedrewaclean
tavolo
tablebesidethem.
Anupper
servitore
servantbroughtthembread,and
offriva
offeredthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthe
casa
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeats
e
andsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,
e
andamanservantbroughtthem
vino
wineandpoureditoutforthem.
Thenthesuitorscamein
e
andtooktheirplacesonthebenches
e
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservants
versarono
pouredwaterovertheirhands,maids
andarono
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pages
riempirono
filledthemixing-bowlswithwine
e
andwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthings
che
thatwerebeforethem.
As
appena
soonastheyhadhad
abbastanza
enoughtoeatanddrinktheywanted
musica
musicanddancing,whichare
i
thecrowningembellishmentsofa
banchetto
banquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforceto
cantare
singtothem.
Assoonashe
toccò
touchedhislyreandbeganto
cantare
singTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhis
testa
headclosetohersthatno
uomo
manmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbe
offenda
offendedwithwhatIamgoingto
dire
say.
Singingcomescheaptothose
che
whodonotpayfor
esso
it,andallthisis
fatto
doneatthecostof
uno
onewhoseboneslierottingin
qualche
somewildernessorgrindingto
polvere
powderinthesurf.
Ifthesemenwereto
vedere
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywould
pregherebbero
prayforlongerlegsrather
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,whatmannerof
nave
shipyoucamein,howyour
squadra
crewbroughtyoutoIthaca,
e
andofwhatnationthey
dichiarati
declaredthemselvestobe—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,onavoyagetomenofaforeign
lingua
tonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]witha
carico
cargoofiron,andIshall
porterò
bringbackcopper.
Asformy
nave
ship,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
deadyetnotonthe
terraferma
mainland.
Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,
o
oraprisoneramongsavages
che
whoaredetaininghimagainsthis
volontà
will.
Iamnoprophet,
e
andknowverylittleaboutomens,
ma
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefrom
cielo
heaven,andassureyouthathe
sarà
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;
forheis
un
amanofsuchresource
che
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewould
troverebbe
findsomemeansofgetting
casa
homeagain.
Buttellme,
e
andtellmetrue,canUlysses
davvero
reallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowfor
un
ason?
Youareindeed
meravigliosamente
wonderfullylikehimaboutthe
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,“Thereisno
paura
fearofyourracedyingout
ancora
yet,whilePenelopehassuch
un
afinesonasyouare.
Ma
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthe
significato
meaningofallthisfeasting,
e
andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Avete
Haveyousomebanquet,oristherea
matrimonio
weddinginthefamily—fornoone
sembra
seemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
E
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyare
comportano
behaving;
whatriottheymakeover
la
thewholehouse;
itis
abbastanza
enoughtodisgustanyrespectableperson
che
whocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”
disse
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyour
domanda
question,solongasmy
padre
fatherwashereitwas
bene
wellwithusandwiththe
casa
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilledit
diversamente
otherwise,andhavehiddenhimaway
più
morecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryet
nascosto
hidden.
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,andI
eredito
inheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthe
questione
matterendsimplywithgriefforthe
perdita
lossofmyfather;
heaven
ha
haslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanother
tipo
kind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,
e
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,are
mangiando
eatingupmyhouseunderthe
pretesto
pretextofpayingtheircourttomy
madre
mother,whowillneitherpointblank
dirà
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]nor
ancora
yetbringmatterstoanend;
sotheyare
faranno
makinghavocofmyestate,
e
andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhis
casco
helmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,
e
andifheisthemanhewas
quando
whenIfirstknewhiminour
casa
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewould
presto
soonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostand
volta
oncemoreuponhisown
soglia
threshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,
dove
wherehehadbeentobeg
veleno
poisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,
figlio
sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggods
e
andwouldnotgivehimany,
ma
butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasvery
affezionato
fondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitors
era
willhaveashortshrift
e
andasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswith
cielo
heaventodeterminewhetherheisto
tornare
return,andtakehisrevengeinhisown
casa
houseorno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemy
consiglio
advice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassembly
domani
to-morrowmorning—layyourcasebefore
loro
them,andcallheaventobearyou
testimone
witness.
Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,
ciascuno
eachtohisownplace,
e
andifyourmother’smindisseton
sposarsi
marryingagain,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,youcanputupwiththe
spreco
wastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Se
Ifontheotherhandyou
sentite
hearofhisdeath,come
casa
homeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,
costruite
buildabarrowtohis
memoria
memory,andmakeyourmother
sposare
marryagain.
Then,havingdone
tutto
allthis,thinkitwell
su
overinyourmindhow,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
mustgobacktomy
nave
shipandtomycrew,
che
whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthem
aspettare
waitinglonger;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,
e
andrememberwhatIhave
detto
saidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyouto
parlare
talktomeinthis
modo
way,asthoughIwereyourown
figlio
son,andIwilldo
tutto
allyoutellme;
I
so
knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyour
viaggio
voyage,butstayalittlelongertillyou
hai
havetakenabathand
rinfrescato
refreshedyourself.
Iwillthen
darò
giveyouapresent,andyoushall
andrai
goonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwill
darò
giveyouoneofgreat
bellezza
beautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchas
solo
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minerva
rispose
answered,“Donottrytokeepme,forI
sarei
wouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asfor
qualsiasi
anypresentyoumaybe
disposto
disposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,
e
andIwilltakeit
casa
homewithme.
Youshallgivemeavery
buono
goodone,andIwillgiveyou
uno
oneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordsshe
volò
flewawaylikeabirdintotheair,
ma
butshehadgivenTelemachus
coraggio
courage,andhadmadehim
pensare
thinkmorethaneverabouthis
padre
father.
Hefeltthechange,
meravigliò
wonderedatit,andknew
che
thatthestrangerhadbeen
un
agod,sohewent
dritto
straighttowherethesuitorswere
seduti
sitting.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,
e
andhishearerssatraptin
silenzio
silenceashetoldthe
triste
sadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,
e
andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,
figlia
daughterofIcarius,heardhis
canzone
songfromherroomupstairs,
e
andcamedownbythe
grande
greatstaircase,notalone,butattendedby
due
twoofherhandmaids.
Whenshe
raggiunse
reachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthe
sostenevano
bearingpoststhatsupportedthe
tetto
roofofthecloisters[8]withastaid
fanciulla
maidenoneithersideofher.
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
orwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngood
piacere
pleasure.
Thisfellowmeansno
male
harmbysingingtheill-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,letusfeastatour
piacere
pleasurenow,andlettherebe
non
nobrawling,foritisarare
cosa
thingtohearamanwithsuchadivine
voce
voiceasPhemiushas;
butinthe
mattino
morningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImay
darò
giveyouformalnoticeto
partire
depart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,
girate
turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Se
Ifontheotherhandyou
scegli
choosetopersistinspungingupon
un
oneman,heavenhelpme,
ma
butJoveshallreckonwithyouin
pieno
full,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’s
casa
housethereshallbeno
uomo
mantoavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
sentivano
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhis
discorso
speech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,
disse
said,“Thegodsseemtohave
dato
givenyoulessonsinbluster
e
andtalltalking;
mayJovenever
conceda
grantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyour
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,“Itrestswith
cielo
heaventodecidewhoshallbechief
tra
amongus,butyoushallbe
padrone
masterinyourownhouse
e
andoveryourownpossessions;
noonewhilethereisa
uomo
maninIthacashalldoyou
violenza
violencenorrobyou.
And
ora
now,mygoodfellow,Iwantto
sapere
knowaboutthisstranger.
What
paese
countrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhat
famiglia
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Ha
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthe
ritorno
returnofyourfather,orwasheon
affari
businessofhisown?
He
sembrava
seemedawelltodo
uomo
man,buthehurriedoffsosuddenly
che
thathewasgonein
un
amomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“My
padre
fatherisdeadandgone,”
rispose
answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIput
non
nomorefaithinit
ora
now.
Mymotherdoesindeed
a volte
sometimessendforasoothsayer
e
andquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyings
non
noheed.
Asforthe
sconosciuto
stranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,
un
anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Ma
Butinhishearthe
sapeva
knewthatithadbeenthe
dea
goddess.
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinging
e
anddancinguntiltheevening;
ma
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringthey
andarono
wenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwas
alto
highupinatower[13]
che
thatlookedontothe
esterno
outercourt;
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
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDAS
Mentore
MENTOR.
Nowwhenthechildof
mattino
morning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrose
e
anddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhis
spada
swordabouthisshoulder,and
lasciò
lefthisroomlookinglike
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,
terra
landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshad
ucciso
killedhimwhentheywere
tutti
allshutupinthe
grotta
cave,andhadcookedhislast
cena
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehad
tre
threesonsleft,ofwhom
due
twostillworkedontheirfather’s
terra
land,whilethethird,Eurynomus,was
uno
oneofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheir
padre
fathercouldnotgetoverthe
perdita
lossofAntiphus,andwas
ancora
stillweepingforhimwhenhe
iniziato
beganhisspeech.
“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
andIhopeJovewill
conceda
granthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachus
prese
tookthisspeechasofgood
presagio
omenandroseatonce,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,
né
noristhereanymatterof
pubblico
publicmomentonwhichI
vorrei
wouldspeak.
Mygrievanceis
puramente
purelypersonal,andturnson
due
twogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmy
casa
house.
Thefirstoftheseisthe
perdita
lossofmyexcellentfather,
che
whowaschiefamongallyou
qui
herepresent,andwaslikea
padre
fathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmore
grave
serious,anderelongwillbetheutter
rovina
ruinofmyestate.
Thesonsof
tutti
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmy
madre
mothertomarrythemagainsther
volontà
will.
Theyareafraidto
andare
gotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimto
scegliere
choosetheonehelikesbest,
e
andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhis
figlia
daughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’s
casa
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,
e
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,
e
andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothe
quantità
quantityofwinetheydrink.
Noestatecan
sopportare
standsuchrecklessness;
wehave
ora
nownoUlyssestowardoff
male
harmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyown
contro
againstthem.