The Odyssey Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

BOOKI

THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.

Tellme,O

Musa

Muse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehad

saqueado

sackedthefamoustownofTroy.

Manycitiesdidhevisit,andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;

moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome;

butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen,forthey

perecieron

perishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthe

ganado

cattleoftheSun-godHyperion;

sothegod

impidió

preventedthemfromeverreachinghome.

Tellme,too,aboutallthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.

SonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry,was

detenido

detainedbythegoddessCalypso,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;

forIsent

Mercurio

Mercurytowarnhimnottodoeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOresteswouldbesuretotakehisrevengewhenhegrewupandwantedtoreturnhome.

Mercurio

Mercurytoldhimthisinallgoodwillbuthewouldnotlisten,andnowhehaspaidforeverythinginfull.”

ThenMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusright,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;

butAegisthusisneitherherenorthere;

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

Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,anda

diosa

goddesslivesthere,daughterofthe

mago

magicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthatkeepheavenandearthasunder.

Thisdaughterof

Atlas

AtlashasgotholdofpoorunhappyUlysses,andkeepstryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimforgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemoreseethesmokeofhisownchimneys.

You,sir,takenoheedofthis,andyetwhenUlysseswasbeforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyouwithmanyaburntsacrifice?

Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”

AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyoutalkingabout?

HowcanIforgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisnomorecapablemanonearth,normore

liberal

liberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodsthatliveinheaven?

Bearinmind,however,thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforhavingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskingoftheCyclopes.

PolyphemusissontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;

thereforethoughhewillnotkillUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghome.

Still,letuslayourheadstogetherandseehowwecanhelphimtoreturn;

Neptunewillthenbepacified,forifweareallofamindhecanhardlystandoutagainstus.”

AndMinervasaid,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldgethome,weshouldfirstsend

Mercurio

MercurytotheOgygianislandtotellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsandthatheistoreturn.

Inthe

mientras tanto

meantimeIwillgotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’sonTelemachus;

IwillemboldenhimtocalltheAchaeansinassembly,andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismotherPenelope,whopersistineatingupanynumberofhissheepandoxen;

Iwillalso

conduciré

conducthimtoSpartaandtoPylos,toseeifhecanhearanythingaboutthereturnofhisdearfather—forthiswillmakepeoplespeakwellofhim.”

Sosayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,withwhichshecanflylikethewindoverlandorsea;

she

agarró

graspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostoutandsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohavedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthe

puerta

gatewayofUlysses’house,disguisedasa

visitante

visitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,andshehelda

bronce

bronzespearinherhand.

Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichtheyhadkilledandeaten,andplayingdraughtsinfrontofthehouse.

Men-servantsandpageswerebustlingabouttowaituponthem,somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,somecleaningdownthetableswithwetspongesandlayingthemoutagain,andsomecuttingupgreatquantitiesofmeat.

Telemachussawherlongbeforeanyoneelsedid.

Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitorsthinkingabouthisbravefather,andhowhewouldsendthemflyingoutofthehouse,ifheweretocometohisownagainandbehonouredasindaysgoneby.

Thusbroodingashesatamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaandwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthatastrangershouldbekeptwaitingforadmittance.

Hetookherrighthandinhisown,andbadehergivehimher

lanza

spear.

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

Heledthewayashespoke,andMinervafollowedhim.

Whentheywerewithinhetookher

lanza

spearandsetitinthespear-standagainstastrongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,andhe

condujo

conductedhertoarichly

decorado

decoratedseatunderwhichhethrewa

paño

clothofdamask.

Therewasafootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,awayfromthesuitors,thatshemightnotbe

molestara

annoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,andthathemightaskhermore

libremente

freelyabouthisfather.

Amaidservantthenbroughtthemwaterinabeautifulgoldenewerand

vertió

poureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,andshedrewacleantablebesidethem.

superior

upperservantbroughtthembread,andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse,the

tallador

carverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside,andamanservantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.

Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands,maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem.

Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofa

banquete

banquet,soaservantbroughtalyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem.

AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.

“Ihope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosay.

Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit,andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslie

pudren

rottinginsomewildernessorgrindingto

polvo

powderinthesurf.

IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthanalongerpurse,formoneywouldnotservethem;

buthe,alas,hasfallenonanillfate,andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming,wenolongerheedthem;

weshallneverseehimagain.

Andnow,sir,tellmeandtellmetrue,whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.

Tellmeofyourtownandparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,andofwhatnationthey

declararon

declaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannothavecomebyland.

Tellmealsotruly,forIwanttoknow,areyouastrangertothishouse,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stime?

Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”

AndMinervaanswered,“Iwilltellyoutrulyand

en particular

particularlyallaboutit.

IamMentes,sonofAnchialus,andIamKingoftheTaphians.

Ihavecomeherewithmyshipandcrew,ona

viaje

voyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]witha

carga

cargoofiron,andIshallbringback

cobre

copper.

Asformyship,itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus,asoldLaerteswilltellyou,ifyouwillgoandaskhim.

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

Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain,andthatwaswhyIcame,butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdeadyetnotonthe

continente

mainland.

Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,oraprisoneramongsavageswhoare

deteniendo

detaininghimagainsthiswill.

Iamno

profeta

prophet,andknowverylittleaboutomens,butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,and

aseguro

assureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger;

forheisamanofsuch

recursos

resourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain.

Buttellme,andtellmetrue,canUlyssesreallyhavesuchafinelookingfellowforason?

Youareindeed

maravillosamente

wonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes,forwewereclosefriendsbeforeheset

zarpara

sailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso.

Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother.”

“Mymother,”answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamsontoUlysses,butitisawisechildthatknowshisownfather.

WouldthatIweresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates,for,sinceyouaskme,thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather.”

AndMinervasaid,“Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet,whilePenelopehassuchafinesonasyouare.

Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting,andwhoarethesepeople?

Whatisitallabout?

Haveyousome

banquete

banquet,oristhereaweddinginthefamily—fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown?

Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;

what

alboroto

riottheymakeoverthewholehouse;

itisenoughtodisgustany

respetable

respectablepersonwhocomesnearthem.”

“Sir,”saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourquestion,solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise,andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythan

mortal

mortalmanwaseveryethidden.

Icouldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead,ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy,orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;

forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuilta

montículo

moundoverhisashes,andIshouldmyselfhavebeen

heredero

heirtohisrenown;

butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwhither;

heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,andI

heredo

inheritnothingbutdismay.

Nordoesthematterendsimplywith

dolor

griefforthelossofmyfather;

heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind;

forthechiefsfromallourislands,Dulichium,Same,andthe

boscosa

woodlandislandofZacynthus,asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother,whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry,[7]noryetbringmatterstoanend;

sotheyaremaking

estragos

havocofmyestate,andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself.”

“Isthatso?”

exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain.

Givehimhishelmet,shield,andacoupleoflances,andifheisthemanhewaswhenIfirstknewhiminourhouse,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors,werehetostandoncemoreuponhisown

umbral

threshold.

HewasthencomingfromEphyra,wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,sonofMermerus.

Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany,butmyfatherlethimhavesome,forhewasveryfondofhim.

IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftandasorrywedding.

“Butthere!

Itrestswithheavento

determinar

determinewhetherheistoreturn,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.

Youaretoooldto

alegar

pleadinfancyanylonger;

haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingkilledhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?

Youareafine,smartlookingfellow;

showyourmettle,then,andmakeyourselfanameinstory.

Now,however,Imustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;

thinkthematteroverforyourself,andrememberwhatIhavesaidtoyou.”

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

Iknowyouwanttobegettingonwithyour

viaje

voyage,butstayalittlelongertillyouhavetakenabathand

refrescado

refreshedyourself.

Iwillthengiveyouapresent,andyoushallgoonyourway

regocijado

rejoicing;

Iwillgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”

Minervaanswered,“Donottrytokeepme,forIwouldbeonmywayatonce.

Asforanypresentyoumaybe

dispuesto

disposedtomakeme,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltakeithomewithme.

Youshallgivemeaverygoodone,andIwillgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn.”

Withthesewordssheflewawaylikeabirdintotheair,butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather.

Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,andknewthatthestrangerhadbeenagod,sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.

Phemiuswasstillsinging,andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesad

historia

taleofthereturnfromTroy,andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.

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

Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisters[8]withastaid

doncella

maidenoneithersideofher.

Shehelda

velo

veil,moreover,beforeherface,andwasweepingbitterly.

“Phemius,”shecried,“youknowmanyanotherfeatofgodsandheroes,suchaspoetslovetocelebrate.

Singthesuitorssomeoneofthese,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,butceasethissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulheart,andremindsmeofmylosthusbandwhomI

lloro

mourneverwithoutceasing,andwhosenamewasgreatoverallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].

“Mother,”answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsingwhathehasamindto;

bardsdonotmaketheillstheysingof;

itisJove,notthey,whomakesthem,andwhosendswealorwoeupon

humanidad

mankindaccordingtohisowngoodpleasure.

Thisfellowmeansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forpeoplealways

aplaude

applaudthelatestsongsmostwarmly.

Makeupyourmindtoitandbearit;

UlyssesisnottheonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,butmanyanotherwentdownaswellashe.

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

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

Shewentwonderingbackintothehouse,andlaidherson’ssayinginherheart.

Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoherroom,she

lloró

mournedherdearhusbandtillMinervashedsweetsleepoverhereyes.

Butthesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutthecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachonethathemightbeherbedfellow.

ThenTelemachusspoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,letusfeastatourpleasurenow,andlettherebenobrawling,foritisararethingtohearamanwithsucha

divina

divinevoiceasPhemiushas;

butinthemorningmeetmeinfullassemblythatImaygiveyou

formal

formalnoticetodepart,andfeastatoneanother’shouses,turnandturnabout,atyourowncost.

Ifontheotherhandyouchooseto

persistir

persistinspungingupononeman,heavenhelpme,butJoveshall

cuentas

reckonwithyouinfull,andwhenyoufallinmyfather’shousethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”

Thesuitorsbittheirlipsastheyheardhim,and

maravillaron

marvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.

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

diosa

goddess.

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—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDAS

Mentor

MENTOR.

Nowwhenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseanddressedhimself.

Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,andlefthisroomlookinglikean

inmortal

immortalgod.

Heatoncesentthecriersroundtocallthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemandthepeoplegatheredthereon;

then,whentheyweregottogether,hewenttotheplaceofassembly

lanza

spearinhand—notalone,forhistwohoundswentwithhim.

Minervaendowedhimwithapresenceofsuch

divina

divinecomelinessthatallmarvelledathimashewentby,andwhenhetookhisplaceinhisfather’sseateventheoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhim.

Aegyptius,aman

doblado

bentdoublewithage,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

presagio

omenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehadtosay.

HestoodinthemiddleoftheassemblyandthegoodheraldPisenorbroughthimhisstaff.

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

IhavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingaboutwhichIwouldwarnyou,noristhereanymatterofpublicmomentonwhichIwouldspeak.

Mygrievanceis

puramente

purelypersonal,andturnsontwogreatmisfortuneswhichhavefallenuponmyhouse.

Thefirstoftheseisthelossofmyexcellentfather,whowaschiefamongallyouherepresent,andwaslikeafathertoeveryoneofyou;

thesecondismuchmoreserious,anderelongwillbetheutterruinofmyestate.

Thesonsofallthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymothertomarrythemagainstherwill.

TheyareafraidtogotoherfatherIcarius,askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbest,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdaughter,butdaybydaytheykeephangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,andnevergivingsomuchasathoughttothequantityofwinetheydrink.

Noestatecanstandsuchrecklessness;

wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,andIcannotholdmyownagainstthem.

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