BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Berätta
Tellme,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledlångt
farandwideafterhehade
hadsackedthefamoustownofTroy.Många
Manycitiesdidhevisit,och
andmanywerethenationsmed
withwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;moreoverhesuffered
mycket
muchbyseawhiletryingtorädda
savehisownlifeandföra
bringhismensafelyhome;men
butdowhathemighthekunde
couldnotsavehismen,fortheyperishedgenom
throughtheirownsheerfollyinäta
eatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;sothe
gud
godpreventedthemfromeverreachinghem
home.Tellme,too,about
alla
allthesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyoukan
mayknowthem.Sonow
alla
allwhoescapeddeathinbattleeller
orbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhem
homeexceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingtoåtervända
returntohiswifeandland
country,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,som
whohadgothimintoen
alargecaveandwantedtomarryhonom
him.Butasyearswentby,there
kom
cameatimewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgick
gobacktoIthaca;eventhen,however,
när
whenhewasamonghiseget
ownpeople,histroubleswerenotyetöver
over;neverthelessallthegods
hade
hadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,som
whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingoch
andwouldnotlethimkomma
gethome.NowNeptunehad
gått
goneofftotheEthiopians,som
whoareattheworld’send,och
andlieintwohalves,den
theonelookingWestandden
theotherEast.[1]Hehadgått
gonetheretoacceptahecatombofsheepoch
andoxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;men
buttheothergodsmetinde
thehouseofOlympianJove,och
andthesireofgodsoch
andmenspokefirst.Atthatmomenthewas
tänkte
thinkingofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’sson
sonOrestes;sohesaidto
de
theothergods:.“Seenow,
hur
howmenlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheiregen
ownfolly.LookatAegisthus;
he
måste
mustneedsmakelovetoAgamemnon’sfru
wifeunrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhevisste
knewitwouldbethedöd
deathofhim;forI
skickade
sentMercurytowarnhimnottogöra
doeitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOrestesville
wouldbesuretotakehisrevengenär
whenhegrewupandville
wantedtoreturnhome.Mercury
sa
toldhimthisinallgod
goodwillbuthewouldnotlyssna
listen,andnowhehasbetalat
paidforeverythinginfull.”ThenMinerva
sa
said,“Father,sonofSaturn,Kung
Kingofkings,itservedAegisthusrätt
right,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;men
butAegisthusisneitherherenordär
there;itisforUlysses
att
thatmyheartbleeds,whenItänker
thinkofhissufferingsinatt
thatlonelysea-girtisland,farborta
away,poorman,fromallhisfriends.Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
och
andagoddesslivesthere,dotter
daughterofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,och
andcarriesthegreatcolumnsthathåller
keepheavenandearthasunder.Denna
ThisdaughterofAtlashasgotholdofstackars
poorunhappyUlysses,andkeepsförsöker
tryingbyeverykindofblandishmenttomakehimglömma
forgethishome,sothatheistiredoflife,och
andthinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemorese
seethesmokeofhisegna
ownchimneys.You,sir,takenoheedof
detta
this,andyetwhenUlysseswasföre
beforeTroydidhenotpropitiateyoumed
withmanyaburntsacrifice?Varför
Whythenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”Och
AndJovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyousnackar
talkingabout?HowcanI
glömma
forgetUlyssesthanwhomthereisinte
nomorecapablemanonjorden
earth,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgodssom
thatliveinheaven?Bearinmind,however,
att
thatNeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesforha
havingblindedaneyeofPolyphemuskung
kingoftheCyclopes.Polyphemusis
son
sontoNeptunebythenymphThoosa,dotter
daughtertothesea-kingPhorcys;thereforethoughhewillnot
döda
killUlyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgettinghem
home.Still,letuslayourheads
ihop
togetherandseehowwekan
canhelphimtoreturn;Neptune
kommer
willthenbepacified,forom
ifweareallofett
amindhecanhardlystå
standoutagainstus.”AndMinervasaid,“Father,
son
sonofSaturn,Kingofkings,om
if,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshouldkomma
gethome,weshouldfirstsända
sendMercurytotheOgygianislandtosäga
tellCalypsothatwehavemadeupourmindsoch
andthatheistoåtervända
return.InthemeantimeIwill
åka
gotoIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’son
sonTelemachus;Iwillemboldenhimto
kalla
calltheAchaeansinassembly,och
andspeakouttothesuitorsofhismor
motherPenelope,whopersistinäta
eatingupanynumberofhissheepoch
andoxen;IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
och
andtoPylos,toseeifhekan
canhearanythingaboutthereturnofhiskära
dearfather—forthiswillmakefolk
peoplespeakwellofhim.”So
säger
sayingsheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,med
withwhichshecanflylikethewindöver
overlandorsea;shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
och
andsturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswhohar
havedispleasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’hus
house,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,och
andsheheldabronzespearinherhanden
hand.Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichthey
hade
hadkilledandeaten,andspela
playingdraughtsinfrontofthehuset
house.Men-servantsandpageswerebustling
om
abouttowaituponthem,vissa
somemixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,vissa
somecleaningdownthetablesmed
withwetspongesandlayingthemut
outagain,andsomecuttingupp
upgreatquantitiesofmeat.Telemachus
såg
sawherlongbeforeanyoneelsegjorde
did.Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
tänkte
thinkingabouthisbravefather,och
andhowhewouldsendthemflyingut
outofthehouse,ifheweretokomma
cometohisownagainoch
andbehonouredasindaysgoneby.Thusbroodingashe
satt
satamongthem,hecaughtsightofMinervaoch
andwentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthaten
astrangershouldbekeptvänta
waitingforadmittance.Hetookher
högra
righthandinhisown,och
andbadehergivehimherspear.“Welcome,”
sa
saidhe,“toourhouse,och
andwhenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushallberätta
telluswhatyouhavekommit
comefor.”Heledthe
vägen
wayashespoke,andMinervaföljde
followedhim.Whentheywerewithinhe
tog
tookherspearandsetitinthespear-standmot
againstastrongbearing-postalongmed
withthemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,och
andheconductedhertoen
arichlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrewen
aclothofdamask.Therewas
en
afootstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]och
andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,bort
awayfromthesuitors,thatshekunde
mightnotbeannoyedwhileåt
eatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence,och
andthathemightaskhermer
morefreelyabouthisfather.Amaidservantthen
förde
broughtthemwaterinavacker
beautifulgoldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,och
andshedrewacleantablebesidedem
them.Anupperservantbroughtthembread,
och
andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehuset
house,thecarverfetchedthemplatesofalla
allmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirsida
side,andamanservantbroughtthemwineoch
andpoureditoutfordem
them.Thenthesuitorscamein
och
andtooktheirplacesonthebenchesoch
andseats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspouredvatten
waterovertheirhands,maidsgick
wentroundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowlsmed
withwineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoda
goodthingsthatwerebeforedem
them.Assoonastheyhadhad
tillräckligt
enoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusik
musicanddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsofen
abanquet,soaservantbroughten
alyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforcetosjunga
singtothem.Assoonashe
rörde
touchedhislyreandbegantosjunga
singTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,med
withhisheadclosetohersthatingen
nomanmighthear.“I
hoppas
hope,sir,”saidhe,“thatyoukommer
willnotbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingtosäga
say.Singingcomescheapto
dem
thosewhodonotpayforit,och
andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernesseller
orgrindingtopowderinthesurf.Om
Ifthesemenweretose
seemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheykomma
wouldprayforlongerlegsratherän
thanalongerpurse,forpengar
moneywouldnotservethem;men
buthe,alas,hasfallenonett
anillfate,andevennär
whenpeopledosometimessayatt
thatheiscoming,weinte
nolongerheedthem;weshall
aldrig
neverseehimagain.And
nu
now,sir,tellmeandberätta
tellmetrue,whoyouareoch
andwhereyoucomefrom.Berätta
Tellmeofyourtownoch
andparents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,hur
howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,och
andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannotha
havecomebyland.Tellme
också
alsotruly,forIwanttoveta
know,areyouastrangertothishus
house,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’stid
time?Intheolddayswe
hade
hadmanyvisitorsformyfar
fatherwentaboutmuchhimself.”Och
AndMinervaanswered,“Iwillberätta
tellyoutrulyandparticularlyallt
allaboutit.IamMentes,
son
sonofAnchialus,andIamKung
KingoftheTaphians.I
har
havecomeherewithmyshipoch
andcrew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]med
withacargoofiron,och
andIshallbringbackcopper.Asformyship,it
ligger
liesoveryonderofftheöppna
opencountryawayfromthestaden
town,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriendsföre
beforeus,asoldLaerteswillberätta
tellyou,ifyouwillgå
goandaskhim.Theysay,however,thathe
aldrig
nevercomestotownnow,och
andlivesbyhimselfindet
thecountry,faringhardly,withen
anoldwomantolookafterhimoch
andgethisdinnerforhonom
him,whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringom
abouthisvineyard.Theytoldmeyour
far
fatherwasathomeagain,och
andthatwaswhyIkom
came,butitseemsthegodsarefortfarande
stillkeepinghimback,forheisnotdöd
deadyetnotonthemainland.Itis
mer
morelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,eller
oraprisoneramongsavagessom
whoaredetaininghimagainsthisvilja
will.Iamnoprophet,
och
andknowverylittleaboutomens,men
butIspeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,och
andassureyouthathekommer
willnotbeawaymuchlonger;forheis
en
amanofsuchresourceatt
thateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhekomma
wouldfindsomemeansofkomma
gettinghomeagain.Buttell
mig
me,andtellmetrue,kan
canUlyssesreallyhavesuchen
afinelookingfellowforen
ason?Youareindeedwonderfully
lik
likehimabouttheheadoch
andeyes,forwewerenära
closefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheredet
theflowerofalltheArgivesgick
wentalso.Sincethattimewe
har
havenevereitherofussett
seentheother.”“Mymother,”
svarade
answeredTelemachus,“tellsmeIamson
sontoUlysses,butitisett
awisechildthatknowshisegen
ownfather.WouldthatIwere
son
sontoonewhohadgrowngammal
olduponhisownestates,för
for,sinceyouaskme,det
thereisnomoreill-starredmanunder
underheaventhanhewhotheysäger
tellmeismyfather.”Och
AndMinervasaid,“Thereisingen
nofearofyourracedör
dyingoutyet,whilePenelopehar
hassuchafinesonasyouare.Men
Buttellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofalldenna
thisfeasting,andwhoaredessa
thesepeople?Whatisitall
om
about?Haveyousomebanquet,
eller
oristhereaweddinginthefamily—foringen
nooneseemstobeta
bringinganyprovisionsofhisegen
own?Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
gör
makeoverthewholehouse;itis
räcker
enoughtodisgustanyrespectableperson
personwhocomesnearthem.”“Sir,”
sade
saidTelemachus,“asregardsyourfråga
question,solongasmyfar
fatherwashereitwasbra
wellwithusandwiththehuset
house,butthegodsintheirdispleasurehar
havewilleditotherwise,andhar
havehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.I
kunnat
couldhaveborneitbetteräven
eventhoughheweredead,om
ifhehadfallenwithhismenföre
beforeTroy,orhaddiedmed
withfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;forthentheAchaeanswould
ha
havebuiltamoundoverhisashes,och
andIshouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;men
butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimbort
awayweknownotwhither;heisgonewithout
lämna
leavingsomuchasatracebehindhim,och
andIinheritnothingbutdismay.Nordoes
det
thematterendsimplywithgrieffordet
thelossofmyfather;heaven
har
haslaidsorrowsuponmeofännu
yetanotherkind;forthechiefsfrom
alla
allourislands,Dulichium,Same,och
andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus,asockså
alsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,areäter
eatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofbetala
payingtheircourttomymor
mother,whowillneitherpointblanksäga
saythatshewillnotmarry,[7]norännu
yetbringmatterstoanslut
end;sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,
och
andbeforelongwilldosoockså
alsowithmyself.”“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysses
hem
homeagain.Givehimhishelmet,shield,
och
andacoupleoflances,och
andifheistheman
manhewaswhenIförst
firstknewhiminourhus
house,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewouldsnart
soonlayhishandsaboutdessa
theserascallysuitors,werehetostå
standoncemoreuponhisegen
ownthreshold.Hewasthen
kom
comingfromEphyra,wherehehade
hadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,son
sonofMermerus.Ilusfeared
de
theever-livinggodsandwouldnotge
givehimany,butmyfar
fatherlethimhavesome,forhewasmycket
veryfondofhim.IfUlyssesis
den
themanhethenwasdessa
thesesuitorswillhaveashortshriftoch
andasorrywedding.“But
där
there!Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
återvända
return,andtakehisrevengeinhiseget
ownhouseorno;Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabout
försöka
tryingtogetridofdessa
thesesuitorsatonce.Takemyadvice,
kalla
calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyourfall
casebeforethem,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.Bid
de
thesuitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohiseget
ownplace,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarryingigen
again,lethergobacktoherfar
father,whowillfindheren
ahusbandandprovideherwithalla
allthemarriagegiftsthatsodearen
adaughtermayexpect.Asforyourself,
låt
letmeprevailuponyoutota
takethebestshipyoukan
canget,withacrewoftwentymen,och
andgoinquestofyourfar
fatherwhohassolongbeenmissing.Some
ett
onemaytellyousomething,eller
or(andpeopleoftenhearthingsindetta
thisway)someheaven-sentmessagekan
maydirectyou.FirstgotoPylos
och
andaskNestor;thencegoontoSparta
och
andvisitMenelaus,forhekom
gothomelastofalltheAchaeans;ifyou
hör
hearthatyourfatherislever
aliveandonhiswayhem
home,youcanputupmed
withthewastethesesuitorskommer
willmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths.Ifontheother
sidan
handyouhearofhisdöd
death,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralritesmed
withallduepomp,builden
abarrowtohismemory,och
andmakeyourmothermarryigen
again.Then,havingdoneallthis,
tänka
thinkitwelloverinyoursinne
mindhow,byfairmeanseller
orfoul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyoureget
ownhouse.Youaretoo
gammal
oldtopleadinfancyanylonger;haveyounot
hört
heardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhavingdödat
killedhisfather’smurdererAegisthus?Youare
en
afine,smartlookingfellow;visa
showyourmettle,then,andgöra
makeyourselfanameinhistorien
story.Now,however,Imustgobacktomyship
och
andtomycrew,whowillbeimpatientom
ifIkeepthemwaitinglonger;tänk
thinkthematteroverforyourself,och
andrememberwhatIhavesagt
saidtoyou.”“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“it
har
hasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeindetta
thisway,asthoughIwereyouregen
ownson,andIwillgöra
doallyoutellme;I
vet
knowyouwanttobegettingonmed
withyourvoyage,butstayett
alittlelongertillyouhar
havetakenabathandrefreshedyourself.Iwillthen
ge
giveyouapresent,andyoushallgå
goonyourwayrejoicing;Iwillgiveyouoneof
stor
greatbeautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchasbara
onlydearfriendsgivetooneanother.”Minerva
svarade
answered,“Donottrytohålla
keepme,forIwouldbeonmyväg
wayatonce.Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomake
mig
me,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwilltar
takeithomewithme.Youshall
ge
givemeaverygoodone,och
andIwillgiveyouoneofinte
nolessvalueinreturn.”Med
Withthesewordssheflewbort
awaylikeabirdintotheair,men
butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage,och
andhadmadehimthinkmer
morethaneverabouthisfar
father.Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,
och
andknewthatthestrangerhade
hadbeenagod,sohegick
wentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresatt
sitting.Phemiuswasstillsinging,
och
andhishearerssatraptinsilenceasheberättade
toldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,och
andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.Penelope,
dotter
daughterofIcarius,heardhissongfromherrum
roomupstairs,andcamedownbyden
thegreatstaircase,notalone,utan
butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids.När
Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestod
stoodbyoneofthebearingpostssom
thatsupportedtheroofofde
thecloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneithersidor
sideofher.Sheheld
en
aveil,moreover,beforeherface,och
andwasweepingbitterly.“Phemius,”shecried,“you
känner
knowmanyanotherfeatofgodsoch
andheroes,suchaspoetsälskar
lovetocelebrate.Singthesuitorssomeoneof
dessa
these,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,butceasedenna
thissadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowfulhjärta
heart,andremindsmeofmyförlorade
losthusbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,och
andwhosenamewasgreatöver
overallHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].“Mother,”
svarade
answeredTelemachus,“letthebardsjunga
singwhathehasamindto;bardsdonotmaketheillsthey
sjunger
singof;itisJove,not
de
they,whomakesthem,andsom
whosendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohisegen
owngoodpleasure.Thisfellow
menar
meansnoharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,forfolk
peoplealwaysapplaudthelatestsongsmest
mostwarmly.Makeupyourmindtoit
och
andbearit;Ulyssesisnot
den
theonlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,men
butmanyanotherwentdownasväl
wellashe.Go,then,withinthe
huset
houseandbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,och
andtheorderingofyourservants;forspeechisman’smatter,
och
andmineaboveallothers[10]—foritisIsom
whoammasterhere.”She
gick
wentwonderingbackintothehuset
house,andlaidherson’ssayinginherhjärta
heart.Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoher
rum
room,shemournedherdearman
husbandtillMinervashedsweetsömn
sleepoverhereyes.But
de
thesuitorswereclamorousthroughoutde
thecoveredcloisters[11],andprayedeachen
onethathemightbeherbedfellow.ThenTelemachus
talade
spoke,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,låt
letusfeastatourpleasurenu
now,andlettherebeinte
nobrawling,foritisen
ararethingtohearen
amanwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemiushar
has;butinthemorning
möt
meetmeinfullassemblythatIkan
maygiveyouformalnoticetodepart,och
andfeastatoneanother’shouses,vända
turnandturnabout,atyouregen
owncost.Ifontheother
sidan
handyouchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heavenhjälpa
helpme,butJoveshallreckonmed
withyouinfull,andnär
whenyoufallinmyfather’shus
housethereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
hörde
heardhim,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.Then,Antinous,
son
sonofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemtoha
havegivenyoulessonsinblusteroch
andtalltalking;mayJove
aldrig
nevergrantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyourfar
fatherwasbeforeyou.”Telemachus
svarade
answered,“Antinous,donotchidemed
withme,but,godwilling,Ikommer
willbechieftooifIkan
can.Isthistheworstfateyou
kan
canthinkofforme?Itis
ingen
nobadthingtobeachief,foritbringsbåde
bothrichesandhonour.Still,
nu
nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemånga
manygreatmeninIthacabåde
botholdandyoung,andnågra
someothermaytaketheleadamongdem
them;neverthelessIwillbechiefinmy
eget
ownhouse,andwillruledem
thosewhomUlysseshaswonforme.”ThenEurymachus,
son
sonofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongoss
us,butyoushallbemasterinyourownhus
houseandoveryourownpossessions;ingen
noonewhilethereisamaninIthacashallgöra
doyouviolencenorrobyou.Och
Andnow,mygoodfellow,Ivill
wanttoknowaboutthisstranger.What
land
countrydoeshecomefrom?Ofwhat
familj
familyishe,andwhereishisestate?Har
Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,eller
orwasheonbusinessofhisegen
own?Heseemedawelltodo
man
man,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneinaögonblick
momentbeforewecouldgettokänna
knowhim.”“Myfatheris
död
deadandgone,”answeredTelemachus,“andäven
evenifsomerumourreachesmeIsätter
putnomorefaithinitnu
now.Mymotherdoesindeed
ibland
sometimessendforasoothsayeroch
andquestionhim,butIgivehisprophecyingsinte
noheed.Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
son
sonofAnchialus,chiefofdet
theTaphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”Men
Butinhishearthevisste
knewthatithadbeenthegoddess.De
Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsingingoch
anddancinguntiltheevening;men
butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheygick
wenthometobedeachinhisegen
ownabode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwashögt
highupinatower[13]thatsåg
lookedontotheoutercourt;hither,then,hehied,brooding
och
andfullofthought.A
god
goodoldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,theson
sonofPisenor,wentbeforehimmed
withacoupleofblazingtorches.Laertes
hade
hadboughtherwithhisegna
ownmoneywhenshewasganska
quiteyoung;hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
och
andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashegjorde
didtohisownweddedhustru
wife,buthedidnottog
takehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswhonu
nowlightedTelemachustohisrum
room,andshelovedhimbättre
betterthananyoftheandra
otherwomeninthehousegjorde
did,forshehadnursedhimnär
whenhewasababy.He
öppnade
openedthedoorofhissängen
bedroomandsatdownuponthesängen
bed;BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
Och
ANDOFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONSOch
ANDSTARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.Now
när
whenthechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusroseoch
anddressedhimself.Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
och
andlefthisroomlookingsom
likeanimmortalgod.Heatonce
sände
sentthecriersroundtokalla
callthepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthemoch
andthepeoplegatheredthereon;then,
när
whentheyweregottogether,hegick
wenttotheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—notensam
alone,forhistwohoundsgick
wentwithhim.Minervaendowedhim
med
withapresenceofsuchdivinecomelinessatt
thatallmarvelledathimashegick
wentby,andwhenhetog
tookhisplaceinhisfather’sseatevende
theoldestcouncillorsmadewayforhonom
him.Aegyptius,amanbentdouble
med
withage,andofinfiniteexperience,wasden
thefirsttospeak.His
son
sonAntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,men
butthesavageCyclopshaddödat
killedhimwhentheywerealla
allshutupinthecave,och
andhadcookedhislastmiddag
dinnerforhim.[17]Hehadtre
threesonsleft,ofwhomtvå
twostillworkedontheirfather’sland,medan
whilethethird,Eurynomus,wasen
oneofthesuitors;neverthelesstheir
far
fathercouldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,och
andwasstillweepingforhimnär
whenhebeganhisspeech.“MenofIthaca,”he
sa
said,“hearmywords.Fromthe
dag
dayUlyssesleftustherehar
hasbeennomeetingofourcouncillorstill
untilnow;whothencanitbe,whether
gammal
oldoryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconveneoss
us?Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,
och
anddoeshewishtowarnoss
us,orwouldhespeakuponsomeannan
othermatterofpublicmoment?Iam
säker
sureheisanexcellentperson
person,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”Telemachus
tog
tookthisspeechasofgott
goodomenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathehade
hadtosay.Hestoodin
den
themiddleoftheassemblyoch
andthegoodheraldPisenorförde
broughthimhisstaff.Then,
vände
turningtoAegyptius,“Sir,”saidhan
he,“itisI,asyoukommer
willshortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthemest
mostaggrieved.Ihavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingabout
som
whichIwouldwarnyou,norisdet
thereanymatterofpublicmomentonsom
whichIwouldspeak.Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
och
andturnsontwogreatmisfortunessom
whichhavefallenuponmyhus
house.Thefirstoftheseis
den
thelossofmyexcellentfar
father,whowaschiefamongalla
allyouherepresent,andwaslikeafar
fathertoeveryoneofyou;den
thesecondismuchmoreserious,och
anderelongwillbeden
theutterruinofmyestate.Thesonsof
alla
allthechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmymor
mothertomarrythemagainsthervilja
will.Theyareafraidto
gå
gotoherfatherIcarius,be
askinghimtochoosetheonehelikesbäst
best,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhisdotter
daughter,butdaybydaytheykeephänger
hangingaboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,och
andfatgoatsfortheirbanquets,och
andnevergivingsomuchasatycker
thoughttothequantityofwinetheydricker
drink.Noestatecanstand
sådan
suchrecklessness;wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,
och
andIcannotholdmyegen
ownagainstthem.