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,whohadgothimintoalargegrotta
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,wholooksafterthefondo
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
amongthesuitorsthinkingabouthiscoraggioso
bravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashesat
tra
amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothecancello
gate,forhewasvexedthatasconosciuto
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,andofwhatnazione
nationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyoua
sconosciuto
strangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipand
equipaggio
crew,onavoyagetomenofaforeignlingua
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,oraprigioniero
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,andcallheaventobearyoutestimone
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,butshehadgivenTelemachuscoraggio
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,andricorda
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.He
legò
boundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisspada
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,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisdiscorso
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,whowaschieftra
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.