BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tellme,O
Muza
Muse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismen
varno
safelyhome;butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthe
živino
cattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome.
Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
Sonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgot
varno
safelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,wasdetainedbytheboginja
goddessCalypso,whohadgothimintoalargecaveandwantedtomarryhim.Butasyearswentby,therecameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca;
eventhen,however,whenhewasamonghisownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;
neverthelessallthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.
NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’send,andlieintwohalves,theonelookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepandoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
buttheothergodsmetinthehouseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsandmenspokefirst.
AtthatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’ssonOrestes;
sohesaidtotheothergods:.
“Seenow,howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheirownfolly.
LookatAegisthus;
hemustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughheknewitwouldbethedeathofhim;
forIsentMercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.
Merkur
Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;
itisforUlyssesthatmyheartbleeds,whenIthinkofhissufferingsinthatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,anda
boginja
goddesslivesthere,daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.
You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?
HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?
Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.
PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.
Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;
Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.
Inthe
medtem
meantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,who
vztrajajo
persistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”
Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shod
kopje
spear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andsheheldabronzekopje
spearinherhand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.
Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimher
kopje
spear.“Welcome,”saidhe,“toourhouse,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”
Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.
Whentheywerewithinhetookher
kopje
spearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andheconductedhertoarichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermore
svobodno
freelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.
Anupper
služabnik
servantbroughtthembread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.
Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soa
služabnik
servantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.
Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingto
prah
powderinthesurf.IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotservethem;
buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;
weshallneverseehimagain.
Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.
Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.
Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?
Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyand
posebej
particularlyallaboutit.IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.
Ihavecomeherewithmyshipandcrew,ona
potovanje
voyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]withacargoofiron,andIshallbringbackbaker
copper.Asformyship,itliesover
tam
yonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.Theysay,however,thathenevercomestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.
Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland.
Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandin
sredi
midocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill.Iamno
prerok
prophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheisamanofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?
Youareindeed
čudovito
wonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.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,andhavehiddenhimawaymore
tesno
closelythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuiltamoundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeen
dedič
heirtohisrenown;butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;
heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andIinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmyfather;
heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;
forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;
sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.
Givehimhis
čelado
helmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownpragu
threshold.HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.
Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.
“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn,andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce.
Takemyadvice,calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.
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;
Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyour
potovanje
voyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.
Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”
Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherroomupstairs,andcamedownbythegreatstaircase,notalone,butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.
Shehelda
tančico
veil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;
itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeupon
človeštvo
mankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.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,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushas;
butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyou
uradno
formalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.Ifontheotherhandyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomanto
maščeval
avengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavegivenyoulessonsinblusterandtalltalking;
mayJovenevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfatherwasbeforeyou.”
Telemachusanswered,“Antinous,donotchidewithme,but,godwilling,IwillbechieftooifIcan.
Isthistheworstfateyoucanthinkofforme?
Itisnobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbothrichesandhonour.
Still,nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung,andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem;
neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyownhouse,andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongus,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions;
noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou.
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iwanttoknowaboutthisstranger.
Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom?
Ofwhatfamilyishe,andwhereishisestate?
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,orwasheonbusinessofhisown?
Heseemedawelltodoman,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinamomentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim.”
“Myfatherisdeadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIputnomorefaithinitnow.
Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendforasoothsayerandquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsnoheed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,sonofAnchialus,chiefoftheTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthe
boginja
goddess.Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening;
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashighupinatower[13]thatlookedontothe
zunanji
outercourt;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,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikeanimmortalgod.
Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.
Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventhe
najstarejši
oldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,amanbentdoublewithage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasthefirsttospeak.
HissonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,butthesavageCyclopshadkilledhimwhentheywereallshutupinthecave,andhadcookedhislastdinnerforhim.[17]Hehadthreesonsleft,ofwhomtwostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasoneofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheirfathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,andwasstillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”hesaid,“hearmywords.
FromthedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilnow;
whothencanitbe,whetheroldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,anddoeshewishtowarnus,orwouldhespeakuponsomeothermatterofpublicmoment?
Iamsureheisanexcellentperson,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachustookthisspeechasofgood
znamenje
omenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.
Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhe,“itisI,asyouwill
kmalu
shortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemostaggrieved.IhavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceis
čisto
purelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;
thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.
TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.
Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.