BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THE
Izziv
CHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.
Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;
butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoever
vira
sourceyoumayknowthem.SonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.
Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewas
med
amonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;neverthelessallthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.
NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombof
ovc
sheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”
ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,andagoddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthe
dno
bottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?
Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
zato
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.
InthemeantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;
IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhis
ovc
sheepandoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzespearinherhand.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodily
med
amongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashesat
med
amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothevrat
gate,forhewasvexedthatatujec
strangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.
Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheir
hrupa
noiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.A
služkinja
maidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.Anupperservantbroughtthem
kruh
bread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.
Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.
AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomes
poceni
cheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf.IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotservethem;
buthe,alas,hasfallenonanill
usodo
fate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.
Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyoua
tujec
strangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit.
IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipandcrew,onavoyagetomenofa
tujega
foreigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofželeza
iron,andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewooded
goro
mountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faring
komaj
hardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.
Itismore
verjetno
likelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,oraujetnik
prisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamnoprophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;
forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywherethe
cvet
flowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”
“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.
WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?
Whatisitallabout?
Haveyousomebanquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse;
itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmyfather;
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoallthe
glavni
principalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudo
res
indeedwantUlysseshomeagain.Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold.
HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobeg
strup
poisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemy
nasvet
advice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyoupriča
witness.Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingagain,lethergobacktoherfather,whowillfindherahusbandandprovideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodearadaughtermayexpect.
Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebestshipyoucanget,withacrewoftwentymen,andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.
Someonemaytellyousomething,or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsinthisway)someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou.
FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor;
thencegoontoSpartaandvisitMenelaus,forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans;
ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome,youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp,buildabarrowtohismemory,andmakeyourmothermarryagain.
Then,havingdoneallthis,thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow,byfairmeansorfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse.
Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;
thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway,asthoughIwereyourownson,andIwilldoallyoutellme;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachus
pogum
courage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthe
tujec
strangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedthe
streho
roofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.Sheheldaveil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.
Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-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,foritisa
redka
rarethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.
Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhis
govora
speech.Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthistheworst
usoda
fateyoucanthinkofforme?Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytakethelead
med
amongthem;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechief
med
amongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyou
nasilja
violencenorrobyou.Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishis
posestvo
estate?Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
Heseemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.
Mymotherdoes
res
indeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.Asforthe
tujca
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-fingered
Dawn
Dawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhis
meč
swordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.
Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.
HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthe
jami
cave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?
Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgoodomenand
vstal
roseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwillshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.
IhavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.
Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschief
med
amongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmy
posestvo
estate.Thesonsofallthechiefmen
med
amongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,
ovce
sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.No
posestvo
estatecanstandsuchrecklessness;wehavenownoUlyssestowardoff
škodo
harmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.