BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Tellme,OMuse,of
ese
thatingeniousherowhotravelledlejos
farandwideafterhehaber
hadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Manycitiesdidhevisit,
y
andmanywerethenationscon
withwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhile
tratando
tryingtosavehisownvida
lifeandbringhismensafelycasa
home;butdowhathe
pudo
mighthecouldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyincomer
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;so
el
thegodpreventedthemfromeverreachingcasa
home.Tellme,too,about
todas
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoupuedas
mayknowthem.Sonow
todos
allwhoescapeddeathinbattleo
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafelycasa
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,aunque
thoughhewaslongingtoregresar
returntohiswifeandpaís
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,whohadllegado
gothimintoalargecavey
andwantedtomarryhim.Pero
Butasyearswentby,therellegó
cameatimewhenthegodssettledthathedebía
shouldgobacktoIthaca;eventhen,however,
cuando
whenhewasamonghispropio
ownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetover;nevertheless
todos
allthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,whotodavía
stillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingy
andwouldnotlethimgetcasa
home.NowNeptunehadgoneofftotheEthiopians,whoareattheworld’s
extremo
end,andlieintwohalves,theonemirando
lookingWestandtheotherEast.[1]Hehabía
hadgonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepy
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;pero
buttheothergodsmetinthecasa
houseofOlympianJove,andthesireofgodsy
andmenspokefirst.At
ese
thatmomenthewasthinkingofAegisthus,whohabía
hadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’shijo
sonOrestes;sohesaidto
los
theothergods:.“Seenow,
cómo
howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisaftertodo
allnothingbuttheirownfolly.Mira
LookatAegisthus;hemustneeds
hacer
makelovetoAgamemnon’swifeunrighteouslyy
andthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhesabía
knewitwouldbethemuerte
deathofhim;forI
envié
sentMercurytowarnhimnottohiciera
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOrestesquisiera
wouldbesuretotakehisrevengecuando
whenhegrewupandquisiera
wantedtoreturnhome.Mercury
dijo
toldhimthisinallbuena
goodwillbuthewouldnotescuchar
listen,andnowhehaspagado
paidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
dijo
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Rey
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusbien
right,andsoitwouldcualquier
anyoneelsewhodoesashedid;pero
butAegisthusisneitherherenorallí
there;itisforUlysses
esa
thatmyheartbleeds,whenIpienso
thinkofhissufferingsinesa
thatlonelysea-girtisland,faraway,pobre
poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
y
andagoddesslivesthere,hija
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,y
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatmantienen
keepheavenandearthasunder.Esta
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofpobre
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepsintentando
tryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimolvidar
forgethishome,sothatheistiredofvida
life,andthinksofnothingbutcómo
howhemayoncemorever
seethesmokeofhisownchimneys.You,
señor
sir,takenoheedofesto
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyoucon
withmanyaburntsacrifice?Por qué
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrycon
withhim?”AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyou
hablando
talkingabout?HowcanI
olvidar
forgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisno
nomorecapablemanontierra
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatviven
liveinheaven?Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneis
todavía
stillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedun
aneyeofPolyphemuskingoflos
theCyclopes.PolyphemusissontoNeptuneby
la
thenymphThoosa,daughtertola
thesea-kingPhorcys;thereforethoughhewillnot
matará
killUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromllegar
gettinghome.Still,letuslayourheads
juntas
togetherandseehowwepodemos
canhelphimtoreturn;Neptunewillthenbepacified,for
si
ifweareallofamente
mindhecanhardlystandoutcontra
againstus.”AndMinervasaid,“Father,
hijo
sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,si
if,then,thegodsnowdijo
meanthatUlyssesshouldgetcasa
home,weshouldfirstsendMercurytotheOgygianislandtodijo
tellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsy
andthatheistoregresar
return.InthemeantimeI
iré
willgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’hijo
sonTelemachus;Iwillemboldenhimto
llamar
calltheAchaeansinassembly,y
andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismadre
motherPenelope,whopersistincomer
eatingupanynumberofhissheepy
andoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
y
andtoPylos,toseesi
ifhecanhearanythingsobre
aboutthereturnofhisquerido
dearfather—forthiswillmakegente
peoplespeakwellofhim.”So
diciendo
sayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,con
withwhichshecanflycomo
likethewindoverlando
orsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
y
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,y
anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’casa
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,y
andsheheldabronzespearinhermano
hand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichthey
habían
hadkilledandeaten,andjugando
playingdraughtsinfrontofthecasa
house.Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,
algunos
somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,algunos
somecleaningdownthetablescon
withwetspongesandlayingthemoutde nuevo
again,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachus
vio
sawherlongbeforeanyoneelsevio
did.Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
pensando
thinkingabouthisbravefather,y
andhowhewouldsendthemflyingfuera
outofthehouse,ifheweretovenir
cometohisownagainy
andbehonouredasindaysfuera
goneby.Thusbroodingashe
sentaba
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervay
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatun
astrangershouldbekeptesperar
waitingforadmittance.Hetookher
derecha
righthandinhisown,y
andbadehergivehimherspear.“Welcome,”saidhe,“toour
casa
house,andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushalltelluswhatyouhavecomefor.”Heled
el
thewayashespoke,y
andMinervafollowedhim.Whentheywerewithinhe
tomó
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-standcontra
againstastrongbearing-postalongcon
withthemanyotherspearsofhisunhappypadre
father,andheconductedhertoun
arichlydecoratedseatundercual
whichhethrewaclothofdamask.Therewas
un
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]y
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,lejos
awayfromthesuitors,thatshepudiera
mightnotbeannoyedwhilecomía
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,y
andthathemightaskhermás
morefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthen
trajo
broughtthemwaterinahermoso
beautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,y
andshedrewacleantablebesideles
them.Anupperservantbroughtthembread,
y
andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthecasa
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesoftoda
allmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirlado
side,andamanservantbroughtthemwiney
andpoureditoutforthem.Thenthesuitors
vino
cameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesy
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredagua
waterovertheirhands,maidswentroundcon
withthebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlscon
withwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.As
pronto
soonastheyhadhadsuficiente
enoughtoeatanddrinktheyquerían
wantedmusicanddancing,whicharelos
thecrowningembellishmentsofabanquet,soaservanttrajo
broughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.As
pronto
soonashetouchedhislyrey
andbegantosingTelemachushabló
spokelowtoMinerva,withhiscabeza
headclosetohersthatningún
nomanmighthear.“Ihope,sir,”said
él
he,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedcon
withwhatIamgoingtodecir
say.Singingcomescheapto
aquellos
thosewhodonotpayforit,y
andallthisisdoneatlas
thecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernesso
orgrindingtopowderinlas
thesurf.Ifthesemenwereto
vieran
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherde
thanalongerpurse,fordinero
moneywouldnotservethem;pero
buthe,alas,hasfallenonun
anillfate,andevencuando
whenpeopledosometimessaythatheisviniendo
coming,wenolongerheedles
them;weshallneverseehimagain.
Y
Andnow,sir,tellmey
andtellmetrue,whoyouarey
andwhereyoucomefrom.Tellmeofyour
ciudad
townandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucameen
in,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,y
andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothaber
havecomebyland.Tellme
también
alsotruly,forIwanttosaber
know,areyouastrangertoesta
thishouse,orhaveyoubeenaquí
hereinmyfather’stime?In
los
theolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformypadre
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”Y
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilldiré
tellyoutrulyandparticularlytodo
allaboutit.IamMentes,
hijo
sonofAnchialus,andIamRey
KingoftheTaphians.I
he
havecomeherewithmyshipy
andcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]con
withacargoofiron,y
andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,itliesoveryonderoffthe
abierto
opencountryawayfromtheciudad
town,intheharbourRheithron[5]bajo
underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsantes
beforeus,asoldLaerteswilldirá
tellyou,ifyouwillir
goandaskhim.They
dicen
say,however,thatheneverviene
comestotownnow,andlivesbyhimselfinthecampo
country,faringhardly,withanoldwomantolookafterhimy
andgethisdinnerforhim,cuando
whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard.They
dijeron
toldmeyourfatherwasatcasa
homeagain,andthatwaswhyIvenido
came,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotmuerto
deadyetnotonthemainland.Itis
más
morelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,o
oraprisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimcontra
againsthiswill.Iam
no
noprophet,andknowverypoco
littleaboutomens,butIhablo
speakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,y
andassureyouthathewillnotbelejos
awaymuchlonger;forheis
un
amanofsuchresourcethatincluso
eventhoughhewereinchainsofironhees
wouldfindsomemeansofgettingcasa
homeagain.Buttellme,
y
andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallytener
havesuchafinelookingfellowforun
ason?Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimaboutthe
cabeza
headandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroydonde
wheretheflowerofalltheArgivesfue
wentalso.Sincethattimewe
hemos
havenevereitherofusvisto
seentheother.”“Mymother,”
respondió
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,pero
butitisawisechildthatconoce
knowshisownfather.WouldthatIwere
hijo
sontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyoupreguntas
askme,thereisnomás
moreill-starredmanunderheavende
thanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”Y
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisno
nofearofyourracedyingoutyet,mientras
whilePenelopehassuchafinehijo
sonasyouare.Buttellme,
y
andtellmetrue,whatisthesignificado
meaningofallthisfeasting,y
andwhoarethesepeople?Whatisit
todo
allabout?Haveyousomebanquet,
o
oristhereaweddinginla
thefamily—fornooneseemstobetrayendo
bringinganyprovisionsofhistienes
own?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
hacen
makeoverthewholehouse;itis
suficiente
enoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersona
personwhocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”
dijo
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourpregunta
question,solongasmypadre
fatherwashereitwasbien
wellwithusandwiththecasa
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehan
havewilleditotherwise,andhan
havehiddenhimawaymorecloselyde
thanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.I
podría
couldhaveborneitbetterevenaunque
thoughheweredead,ifhehadcaído
fallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,o
orhaddiedwithfriendsalrededor
aroundhimwhenthedaysofhislucha
fightingweredone;forthen
los
theAchaeanswouldhavebuiltun
amoundoverhisashes,y
andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;pero
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimlejos
awayweknownotwhither;heis
ido
gonewithoutleavingsomuchasun
atracebehindhim,andIinheritnada
nothingbutdismay.Nordoesthe
asunto
matterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmypadre
father;heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyet
otro
anotherkind;forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,
y
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,astambién
alsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmycasa
houseunderthepretextofpagar
payingtheircourttomymadre
mother,whowillneitherpointblankdirá
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetllevará
bringmatterstoanend;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,
y
andbeforelongwilldosotambién
alsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyou
hecho
doindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.Givehimhishelmet,shield,
y
andacoupleoflances,y
andifheisthehombre
manhewaswhenIprimera
firstknewhiminourcasa
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldpronto
soonlayhishandsaboutestos
theserascallysuitors,werehetostanduna vez
oncemoreuponhisownthreshold.Hewasthen
venía
comingfromEphyra,wherehehabía
hadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,hijo
sonofMermerus.Ilusfeared
los
theever-livinggodsandwouldnotdaría
givehimany,butmypadre
fatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.Si
IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasestos
thesesuitorswillhaveashortshrifty
andasorrywedding.“Butthere!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
regresar
return,andtakehisrevengeinhisowncasa
houseorno;Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabout
tratar
tryingtogetridofestos
thesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,
llama
calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblymañana
to-morrowmorning—layyourcasebeforeellos
them,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.Bid
los
thesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohisownlugar
place,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingde nuevo
again,lethergobacktoherpadre
father,whowillfindheramarido
husbandandprovideherwithtodos
allthemarriagegiftsthatsodearahija
daughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,letmeprevailuponyouto
tomes
takethebestshipyoupuedas
canget,withacrewoftwentymen,y
andgoinquestofyourpadre
fatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Someone
puede
maytellyousomething,or(andgente
peopleoftenhearthingsinesta
thisway)someheaven-sentmessagepuede
maydirectyou.FirstgotoPylos
y
andaskNestor;thencegoontoSparta
y
andvisitMenelaus,forhellegó
gothomelastofalltheAchaeans;si
ifyouhearthatyourpadre
fatherisaliveandonhiscamino
wayhome,youcanputupwithel
thewastethesesuitorswillharán
makeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Si
Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhismuerte
death,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralritescon
withallduepomp,builduna
abarrowtohismemory,y
andmakeyourmothermarryde nuevo
again.Then,havingdoneall
esto
this,thinkitwelloverinyourmente
mindhow,byfairmeanso
orfoul,youmaykillestos
thesesuitorsinyourowncasa
house.Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger;
haber
haveyounotheardhowgente
peoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
un
afine,smartlookingfellow;muestra
showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfun
anameinstory.Now,however,I
debo
mustgobacktomyshipy
andtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientsi
ifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;piensa
thinkthematteroverforyourself,y
andrememberwhatIhavedicho
saidtoyou.”“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“ithasbeen
muy
verykindofyoutotalktomeinesta
thisway,asthoughIwereyourpropio
ownson,andIwillharé
doallyoutellme;I
sé
knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage,pero
butstayalittlelongertillyouhayas
havetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthen
daré
giveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourcamino
wayrejoicing;Iwillgiveyouoneof
gran
greatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchassólo
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minerva
respondió
answered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmycamino
wayatonce.Asfor
cualquier
anypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,y
andIwilltakeitcasa
homewithme.Youshallgivemea
muy
verygoodone,andIwillgiveyouuno
oneofnolessvalueinreturn.”Con
Withthesewordssheflewawaycomo
likeabirdintotheaire
air,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,y
andhadmadehimthinkmás
morethaneverabouthispadre
father.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,
y
andknewthatthestrangerhabía
hadbeenagod,sohefue
wentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.Phemiuswasstill
cantando
singing,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashecontaba
toldthesadtaleoftheregreso
returnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahabía
hadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
hija
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherhabitación
roomupstairs,andcamedownbyla
thegreatstaircase,notalone,sino
butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.Cuando
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]con
withastaidmaidenoneithersideofher.She
sostenía
heldaveil,moreover,beforeherrostro
face,andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“you
conoces
knowmanyanotherfeatofgodsy
andheroes,suchaspoetsaman
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssome
uno
oneofthese,andletthembeben
drinktheirwineinsilence,pero
butceasethissadtale,foritrompe
breaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmyperdido
losthusbandwhomImourneversin
withoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatsobre
overallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
respondió
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardcante
singwhathehasamente
mindto;bardsdonot
hacen
maketheillstheysingde
of;itisJove,notthey,who
hace
makesthem,andwhosendswealo
orwoeuponmankindaccordingtohispropio
owngoodpleasure.Thisfellowmeans
no
noharmbysingingtheill-fatedregreso
returnoftheDanaans,forgente
peoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmás
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
y
andbearit;Ulyssesisnot
el
theonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,pero
butmanyanotherwentdownaswellasél
he.Go,then,withinthe
casa
houseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,y
andtheorderingofyourservants;forspeechisman’s
asunto
matter,andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIwhoammasterhere.”She
fue
wentwonderingbackintothecasa
house,andlaidherson’sdicho
sayinginherheart.Then,goingupstairs
con
withherhandmaidsintoherhabitación
room,shemournedherdearmarido
husbandtillMinervashedsweetsueño
sleepoverhereyes.But
los
thesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutlos
thecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachuno
onethathemightbehercama
bedfellow.ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasure
ahora
now,andlettherebeno
nobrawling,foritisararethingtoescuchar
hearamanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushaya
has;butinthemorning
reúnanse
meetmeinfullassemblythatImaydé
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,y
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,girando
turnandturnabout,atyourpropio
owncost.Ifonthe
otro
otherhandyouchoosetopersistinspunginguponun
oneman,heavenhelpme,pero
butJoveshallreckonwithyouinfull,y
andwhenyoufallinmyfather’scasa
housethereshallbenohombre
mantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
escuchaban
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.Then,Antinous,
hijo
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtohavedado
givenyoulessonsinblustery
andtalltalking;mayJove
nunca
nevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourpadre
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
respondió
answered,“Antinous,donotchidecon
withme,but,godwilling,Iseré
willbechieftooifIpuedo
can.Isthistheworstfateyou
puedes
canthinkofforme?Itis
no
nobadthingtobeun
achief,foritbringsbothrichesy
andhonour.Still,nowthatUlyssesis
muerto
deadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacatanto
botholdandyoung,andalgunos
someothermaytaketheleadamongellos
them;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmyown
casa
house,andwillrulethosewhomUlyssesha
haswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
hijo
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidequién
whoshallbechiefamongnosotros
us,butyoushallbemasterinyourowncasa
houseandoveryourownpossessions;noone
mientras
whilethereisamaninIthacashallhará
doyouviolencenorrobyou.Y
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Iquiero
wanttoknowaboutthisstranger.What
país
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
familia
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?Ha
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutel
thereturnofyourfather,o
orwasheonbusinessofhisown?Heseemed
un
awelltodoman,pero
buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasfue
goneinamomentbeforewepudiéramos
couldgettoknowhim.”“My
padre
fatherisdeadandgone,”respondió
answeredTelemachus,“andevenifsomerumourreachesmeIpongo
putnomorefaithinitnow.My
madre
motherdoesindeedsometimessendforun
asoothsayerandquestionhim,pero
butIgivehisprophecyingsno
noheed.Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
hijo
sonofAnchialus,chiefoflos
theTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Pero
Butinhishearthesabía
knewthatithadbeenla
thegoddess.Thesuitorsthen
regresaron
returnedtotheirsingingandbaile
dancinguntiltheevening;but
cuando
whennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheyfueron
wenthometobedeachinhisownabode.[12]Telemachus’shabitación
roomwashighupinuna
atower[13]thatlookedontotheoutercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
y
andfullofthought.A
buena
goodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,thehijo
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimcon
withacoupleofblazingtorches.Laertes
había
hadboughtherwithhispropio
ownmoneywhenshewasquitejoven
young;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
y
andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedesposa
wife,buthedidnotllevó
takehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswhoahora
nowlightedTelemachustohishabitación
room,andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid,forshehabía
hadnursedhimwhenhewasun
ababy.Heopenedthe
puerta
doorofhisbedroomy
andsatdownuponthecama
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOF
Los
THEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUSY
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSY
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.Ahora
Nowwhenthechildofmañana
morning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrosey
anddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
y
andlefthisroomlookinglikeun
animmortalgod.Heatonce
envió
sentthecriersroundtocallthegente
peopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemy
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
cuando
whentheyweregottogether,hewenttola
theplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notsolo
alone,forhistwohoundswentcon
withhim.Minervaendowedhimwith
una
apresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessthattodos
allmarvelledathimashewentby,y
andwhenhetookhislugar
placeinhisfather’sseatincluso
eventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.Aegyptius,
un
amanbentdoublewithage,y
andofinfiniteexperience,wastheprimero
firsttospeak.HissonAntiphushad
ido
gonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,pero
butthesavageCyclopshadmatado
killedhimwhentheyweretodos
allshutupinthecave,y
andhadcookedhislastcena
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtres
threesonsleft,ofwhomdos
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasuno
oneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
padre
fathercouldnotgetoverla
thelossofAntiphus,andwastodavía
stillweepingforhimwhenhebeganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
dijo
said,“hearmywords.From
el
thedayUlyssesleftustherehasbeenno
nomeetingofourcouncillorsuntilahora
now;whothencanitbe,whether
viejo
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneus?Ha
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,y
anddoeshewishtowarnus,o
orwouldhespeakuponsomeotro
othermatterofpublicmoment?Iam
seguro
sureheisanexcellentpersona
person,andIhopeJovees
willgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
tomó
tookthisspeechasofgoodomeny
androseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathetenía
hadtosay.Hestoodinthemiddleoftheassembly
y
andthegoodheraldPisenortrajo
broughthimhisstaff.Then,turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”
dijo
saidhe,“itisI,asyousoy
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemás
mostaggrieved.Ihavenotgotwindof
ningún
anyhostapproachingaboutwhichIquisiera
wouldwarnyou,norishay
thereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIquisiera
wouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
y
andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhan
havefallenuponmyhouse.The
primero
firstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentpadre
father,whowaschiefamongallyouaquí
herepresent,andwaslikeapadre
fathertoeveryoneofyou;the
segundo
secondismuchmoreserious,y
anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.Los
Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymadre
mothertomarrythemagainsthervoluntad
will.Theyareafraidto
ir
gotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosela
theonehelikesbest,y
andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhishija
daughter,butdaybydaytheymantienen
keephangingaboutmyfather’scasa
house,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,y
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,y
andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttola
thequantityofwinetheybeben
drink.Noestatecanstand
tal
suchrecklessness;wehavenow
no
noUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,y
andIcannotholdmypropio
ownagainstthem.