The Odyssey Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

BOOKI

THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THE

Sfida

CHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.

Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowho

viaggiò

travelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.

Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;

moreoverhe

sofferto

sufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;

butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;

sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.

Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoever

fonte

sourceyoumayknowthem.

Sonowallwhoescapeddeathin

battaglia

battleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalarge

grotta

caveandwantedtomarryhim.

Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;

eventhen,however,whenhewas

tra

amonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;

neverthelessallthegodshadnowbegunto

pietà

pityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.

NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathis

festa

festival;

buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.

AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;

sohesaidtotheothergods:.

“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.

LookatAegisthus;

hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;

forIsentMercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.

Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”

ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,it

servito

servedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;

butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;

itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.

Itisanislandcoveredwith

foresta

forest,intheverymiddleofthesea,andagoddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthe

fondo

bottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.

ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoor

infelice

unhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.

You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?

Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”

AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?

HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomore

capace

capablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?

Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.

PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;

perciò

thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.

Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;

Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”

AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.

InthemeantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;

IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;

IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”

Sosayingshe

legò

boundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;

shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzespearinherhand.

Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.

Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,some

mescolavano

mixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.

Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.

Hewassittingmoodily

tra

amongthesuitorsthinkingabouthis

coraggioso

bravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.

Thusbroodingashesat

tra

amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothe

cancello

gate,forhewasvexedthata

sconosciuto

strangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.

Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimherspear.

“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”

Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.

Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhis

infelice

unhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.

Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheir

rumore

noiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.

Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshe

disegnò

drewacleantablebesidethem.

Anupperservantbroughtthem

pane

bread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.

Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pages

riempirono

filledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.

Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.

AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.

“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.

Singingcomes

a buon mercato

cheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.

IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnot

servirebbe

servethem;

buthe,alas,hasfallenonanill

destino

fate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;

weshallneverseehimagain.

Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.

Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyour

squadra

crewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhat

nazione

nationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.

Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyoua

sconosciuto

strangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?

Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”

AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.

IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.

Ihavecomeherewithmyshipand

equipaggio

crew,onavoyagetomenofaforeign

lingua

tonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,andIshallbringbackcopper.

Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewooded

montagna

mountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.

Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.

Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.

Itismore

probabile

likelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,ora

prigioniero

prisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.

Iamnoprophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;

forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.

Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?

Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywherethe

fiore

flowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.

Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”

“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisa

saggio

wisechildthatknowshisownfather.

WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”

AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.

Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?

Whatisitallabout?

Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?

Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyare

comportano

behaving;

whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;

itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”

“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.

Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;

forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;

butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;

heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasa

traccia

tracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.

Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthe

perdita

lossofmyfather;

heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;

forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;

sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”

“Isthatso?”

exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.

Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold.

HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobeg

veleno

poisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.

Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.

IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.

“Butthere!

Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;

Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.

Takemy

consiglio

advice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyou

testimone

witness.

Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandand

fornirà

provideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayexpect.

Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebestshipyoucanget,witha

equipaggio

crewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.

Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.

FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;

thencegoontoSpartaandvisitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;

ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.

Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,

celebrate

celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,buildabarrowtohismemory,andmakeyourmothermarryagain.

Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.

Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;

haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?

Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;

showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.

Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomy

equipaggio

crew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;

thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”

“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;

Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakena

bagno

bathandrefreshedyourself.

Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;

Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”

Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.

Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.

Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnoless

valore

valueinreturn.”

Withthesewordssheflewawaylikea

uccello

birdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachus

coraggio

courage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.

Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthe

sconosciuto

strangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.

Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptin

silenzio

silenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.

Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.

Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedthe

tetto

roofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.

Sheheldaveil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.

“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetsloveto

celebrare

celebrate.

Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwinein

silenzio

silence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,and

ricorda

remindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].

“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;

bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;

itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.

Thisfellowmeansno

male

harmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.

Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;

UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.

Go,then,withinthehouseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,andtheorderingofyourservants;

forspeechisman’smatter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”

Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.

Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,shemournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.

Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.

ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;

butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.

Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”

Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhis

discorso

speech.

Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterand

alto

talltalking;

mayJovenever

conceda

grantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”

Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.

Isthistheworst

destino

fateyoucanthinkofforme?

Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.

Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytakethelead

tra

amongthem;

neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”

ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechief

tra

amongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;

noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyou

violenza

violencenorrobyou.

Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthis

sconosciuto

stranger.

Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?

Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishisestate?

Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?

Heseemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”

“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.

Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.

Asforthe

sconosciuto

stranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”

Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.

Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;

butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontotheoutercourt;

hither,then,hehied,broodingandfullofthought.

Agoodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thesonofPisenor,wentbeforehimwithacoupleofblazingtorches.

Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung;

hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedwife,buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehadnursedhimwhenhewasababy.

Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed;

BOOKII

ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.

Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,

apparve

appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.

legò

boundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhis

spada

swordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.

Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;

then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.

Minervaendowedhimwitha

presenza

presenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.

Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.

HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthe

grotta

cave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;

neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthe

perdita

lossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhis

discorso

speech.

“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.

FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;

whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?

Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?

Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewill

conceda

granthimhisheart’sdesire.”

Telemachustookthis

discorso

speechasofgoodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.

HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.

Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwillshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.

IhavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.

Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.

Thefirstoftheseisthe

perdita

lossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschief

tra

amongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;

thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutter

rovina

ruinofmyestate.

Thesonsofallthechiefmen

tra

amongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.

TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andto

fornire

providemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,

sacrificando

sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.

Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;

wehavenownoUlyssestowardoff

male

harmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.

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