The Odyssey | Progressive Translation Books for Swedish A1 Learners

The Odyssey | Progressive Translation Books for Swedish A1 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

BOOKI
THEGODSINCOUNCIL—MINERVA’SVISITTOITHACA—THECHALLENGEFROMTELEMACHUSTOTHESUITORS.
Berätta
Tell
me,OMuse,ofthatingeniousherowhotravelled
långt
far
andwideafterhe
hade
had
sackedthefamoustownofTroy.
Många
Many
citiesdidhevisit,
och
and
manywerethenations
med
with
whosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted;
moreoverhesuffered
mycket
much
byseawhiletryingto
rädda
save
hisownlifeand
föra
bring
hismensafelyhome;
men
but
dowhathemighthe
kunde
could
notsavehismen,fortheyperished
genom
through
theirownsheerfollyin
äta
eating
thecattleoftheSun-godHyperion;
sothe
gud
god
preventedthemfromeverreaching
hem
home
.
Tellme,too,about
alla
all
thesethings,ohdaughterofJove,fromwhatsoeversourceyou
kan
may
knowthem.
Sonow
alla
all
whoescapeddeathinbattle
eller
or
byshipwreckhadgotsafely
hem
home
exceptUlysses,andhe,thoughhewaslongingto
återvända
return
tohiswifeand
land
country
,wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso,
som
who
hadgothiminto
en
a
largecaveandwantedtomarry
honom
him
.
Butasyearswentby,there
kom
came
atimewhenthegodssettledthatheshould
gick
go
backtoIthaca;
eventhen,however,
när
when
hewasamonghis
eget
own
people,histroubleswerenotyet
över
over
;
neverthelessallthegods
hade
had
nowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune,
som
who
stillpersecutedhimwithoutceasing
och
and
wouldnotlethim
komma
get
home.
NowNeptunehad
gått
gone
offtotheEthiopians,
som
who
areattheworld’send,
och
and
lieintwohalves,
den
the
onelookingWestand
den
the
otherEast.[1]Hehad
gått
gone
theretoacceptahecatombofsheep
och
and
oxen,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisfestival;
men
but
theothergodsmetin
de
the
houseofOlympianJove,
och
and
thesireofgods
och
and
menspokefirst.
Atthatmomenthewas
tänkte
thinking
ofAegisthus,whohadbeenkilledbyAgamemnon’s
son
son
Orestes;
sohesaidto
de
the
othergods:.
“Seenow,
hur
how
menlayblameuponusgodsforwhatisafterallnothingbuttheir
egen
own
folly.
LookatAegisthus;
he
måste
must
needsmakelovetoAgamemnon’s
fru
wife
unrighteouslyandthenkillAgamemnon,thoughhe
visste
knew
itwouldbethe
död
death
ofhim;
forI
skickade
sent
Mercurytowarnhimnotto
göra
do
eitherofthesethings,inasmuchasOrestes
ville
would
besuretotakehisrevenge
när
when
hegrewupand
ville
wanted
toreturnhome.
Mercury
sa
told
himthisinall
god
good
willbuthewouldnot
lyssna
listen
,andnowhehas
betalat
paid
foreverythinginfull.”
ThenMinerva
sa
said
,“Father,sonofSaturn,
Kung
King
ofkings,itservedAegisthus
rätt
right
,andsoitwouldanyoneelsewhodoesashedid;
men
but
Aegisthusisneitherherenor
där
there
;
itisforUlysses
att
that
myheartbleeds,whenI
tänker
think
ofhissufferingsin
att
that
lonelysea-girtisland,far
borta
away
,poorman,fromallhisfriends.
Itisanislandcoveredwithforest,intheverymiddleofthesea,
och
and
agoddesslivesthere,
dotter
daughter
ofthemagicianAtlas,wholooksafterthebottomoftheocean,
och
and
carriesthegreatcolumnsthat
håller
keep
heavenandearthasunder.
Denna
This
daughterofAtlashasgotholdof
stackars
poor
unhappyUlysses,andkeeps
försöker
trying
byeverykindofblandishmenttomakehim
glömma
forget
hishome,sothatheistiredoflife,
och
and
thinksofnothingbuthowhemayoncemore
se
see
thesmokeofhis
egna
own
chimneys.
You,sir,takenoheedof
detta
this
,andyetwhenUlysseswas
före
before
Troydidhenotpropitiateyou
med
with
manyaburntsacrifice?
Varför
Why
thenshouldyoukeeponbeingsoangrywithhim?”
Och
And
Jovesaid,“Mychild,whatareyou
snackar
talking
about?
HowcanI
glömma
forget
Ulyssesthanwhomthereis
inte
no
morecapablemanon
jorden
earth
,normoreliberalinhisofferingstotheimmortalgods
som
that
liveinheaven?
Bearinmind,however,
att
that
NeptuneisstillfuriouswithUlyssesfor
ha
having
blindedaneyeofPolyphemus
kung
king
oftheCyclopes.
Polyphemusis
son
son
toNeptunebythenymphThoosa,
dotter
daughter
tothesea-kingPhorcys;
thereforethoughhewillnot
döda
kill
Ulyssesoutright,hetormentshimbypreventinghimfromgetting
hem
home
.
Still,letuslayourheads
ihop
together
andseehowwe
kan
can
helphimtoreturn;
Neptune
kommer
will
thenbepacified,for
om
if
weareallof
ett
a
mindhecanhardly
stå
stand
outagainstus.”
AndMinervasaid,“Father,
son
son
ofSaturn,Kingofkings,
om
if
,then,thegodsnowmeanthatUlyssesshould
komma
get
home,weshouldfirst
sända
send
MercurytotheOgygianislandto
säga
tell
Calypsothatwehavemadeupourminds
och
and
thatheisto
återvända
return
.
InthemeantimeIwill
åka
go
toIthaca,toputheartintoUlysses’
son
son
Telemachus;
Iwillemboldenhimto
kalla
call
theAchaeansinassembly,
och
and
speakouttothesuitorsofhis
mor
mother
Penelope,whopersistin
äta
eating
upanynumberofhissheep
och
and
oxen;
IwillalsoconducthimtoSparta
och
and
toPylos,toseeifhe
kan
can
hearanythingaboutthereturnofhis
kära
dear
father—forthiswillmake
folk
people
speakwellofhim.”
So
säger
saying
sheboundonherglitteringgoldensandals,imperishable,
med
with
whichshecanflylikethewind
över
over
landorsea;
shegraspedtheredoubtablebronze-shodspear,sostout
och
and
sturdyandstrong,wherewithshequellstheranksofheroeswho
har
have
displeasedher,anddownshedartedfromthetopmostsummitsofOlympus,whereonforthwithshewasinIthaca,atthegatewayofUlysses’
hus
house
,disguisedasavisitor,Mentes,chiefoftheTaphians,
och
and
sheheldabronzespearinher
handen
hand
.
Thereshefoundthelordlysuitorsseatedonhidesoftheoxenwhichthey
hade
had
killedandeaten,and
spela
playing
draughtsinfrontofthe
huset
house
.
Men-servantsandpageswerebustling
om
about
towaituponthem,
vissa
some
mixingwinewithwaterinthemixing-bowls,
vissa
some
cleaningdownthetables
med
with
wetspongesandlayingthem
ut
out
again,andsomecutting
upp
up
greatquantitiesofmeat.
Telemachus
såg
saw
herlongbeforeanyoneelse
gjorde
did
.
Hewassittingmoodilyamongthesuitors
tänkte
thinking
abouthisbravefather,
och
and
howhewouldsendthemflying
ut
out
ofthehouse,ifhewereto
komma
come
tohisownagain
och
and
behonouredasindaysgoneby.
Thusbroodingashe
satt
sat
amongthem,hecaughtsightofMinerva
och
and
wentstraighttothegate,forhewasvexedthat
en
a
strangershouldbekept
vänta
waiting
foradmittance.
Hetookher
högra
right
handinhisown,
och
and
badehergivehimherspear.
“Welcome,”
sa
said
he,“toourhouse,
och
and
whenyouhavepartakenoffoodyoushall
berätta
tell
uswhatyouhave
kommit
come
for.”
Heledthe
vägen
way
ashespoke,andMinerva
följde
followed
him.
Whentheywerewithinhe
tog
took
herspearandsetitinthespear-stand
mot
against
astrongbearing-postalong
med
with
themanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather,
och
and
heconductedherto
en
a
richlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrew
en
a
clothofdamask.
Therewas
en
a
footstoolalsoforherfeet,[2]
och
and
hesetanotherseatnearherforhimself,
bort
away
fromthesuitors,thatshe
kunde
might
notbeannoyedwhile
åt
eating
bytheirnoiseandinsolence,
och
and
thathemightaskher
mer
more
freelyabouthisfather.
Amaidservantthen
förde
brought
themwaterina
vacker
beautiful
goldenewerandpoureditintoasilverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands,
och
and
shedrewacleantablebeside
dem
them
.
Anupperservantbroughtthembread,
och
and
offeredthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthe
huset
house
,thecarverfetchedthemplatesof
alla
all
mannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheir
sida
side
,andamanservantbroughtthemwine
och
and
poureditoutfor
dem
them
.
Thenthesuitorscamein
och
and
tooktheirplacesonthebenches
och
and
seats.[3]Forthwithmenservantspoured
vatten
water
overtheirhands,maids
gick
went
roundwiththebread-baskets,pagesfilledthemixing-bowls
med
with
wineandwater,andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthe
goda
good
thingsthatwerebefore
dem
them
.
Assoonastheyhadhad
tillräckligt
enough
toeatanddrinktheywanted
musik
music
anddancing,whicharethecrowningembellishmentsof
en
a
banquet,soaservantbrought
en
a
lyretoPhemius,whomtheycompelledperforceto
sjunga
sing
tothem.
Assoonashe
rörde
touched
hislyreandbeganto
sjunga
sing
TelemachusspokelowtoMinerva,
med
with
hisheadclosetohersthat
ingen
no
manmighthear.
“I
hoppas
hope
,sir,”saidhe,“thatyou
kommer
will
notbeoffendedwithwhatIamgoingto
säga
say
.
Singingcomescheapto
dem
those
whodonotpayforit,
och
and
allthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewilderness
eller
or
grindingtopowderinthesurf.
Om
If
thesemenwereto
se
see
myfathercomebacktoIthacathey
komma
would
prayforlongerlegsrather
än
than
alongerpurse,for
pengar
money
wouldnotservethem;
men
but
he,alas,hasfallenon
ett
an
illfate,andeven
när
when
peopledosometimessay
att
that
heiscoming,we
inte
no
longerheedthem;
weshall
aldrig
never
seehimagain.
And
nu
now
,sir,tellmeand
berätta
tell
metrue,whoyouare
och
and
whereyoucomefrom.
Berätta
Tell
meofyourtown
och
and
parents,whatmannerofshipyoucamein,
hur
how
yourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca,
och
and
ofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe—foryoucannot
ha
have
comebyland.
Tellme
också
also
truly,forIwantto
veta
know
,areyouastrangertothis
hus
house
,orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather’s
tid
time
?
Intheolddayswe
hade
had
manyvisitorsformy
far
father
wentaboutmuchhimself.”
Och
And
Minervaanswered,“Iwill
berätta
tell
youtrulyandparticularly
allt
all
aboutit.
IamMentes,
son
son
ofAnchialus,andIam
Kung
King
oftheTaphians.
I
har
have
comeherewithmyship
och
and
crew,onavoyagetomenofaforeigntonguebeingboundforTemesa[4]
med
with
acargoofiron,
och
and
Ishallbringbackcopper.
Asformyship,it
ligger
lies
overyonderoffthe
öppna
open
countryawayfromthe
staden
town
,intheharbourRheithron[5]underthewoodedmountainNeritum.[6]Ourfatherswerefriends
före
before
us,asoldLaerteswill
berätta
tell
you,ifyouwill
go
andaskhim.
Theysay,however,thathe
aldrig
never
comestotownnow,
och
and
livesbyhimselfin
det
the
country,faringhardly,with
en
an
oldwomantolookafterhim
och
and
gethisdinnerfor
honom
him
,whenhecomesintiredfrompottering
om
about
hisvineyard.
Theytoldmeyour
far
father
wasathomeagain,
och
and
thatwaswhyI
kom
came
,butitseemsthegodsare
fortfarande
still
keepinghimback,forheisnot
död
dead
yetnotonthemainland.
Itis
mer
more
likelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean,
eller
or
aprisoneramongsavages
som
who
aredetaininghimagainsthis
vilja
will
.
Iamnoprophet,
och
and
knowverylittleaboutomens,
men
but
Ispeakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven,
och
and
assureyouthathe
kommer
will
notbeawaymuchlonger;
forheis
en
a
manofsuchresource
att
that
eventhoughhewereinchainsofironhe
komma
would
findsomemeansof
komma
getting
homeagain.
Buttell
mig
me
,andtellmetrue,
kan
can
Ulyssesreallyhavesuch
en
a
finelookingfellowfor
en
a
son?
Youareindeedwonderfully
lik
like
himaboutthehead
och
and
eyes,forwewere
nära
close
friendsbeforehesetsailforTroywhere
det
the
flowerofalltheArgives
gick
went
also.
Sincethattimewe
har
have
nevereitherofus
sett
seen
theother.”
“Mymother,”
svarade
answered
Telemachus,“tellsmeIam
son
son
toUlysses,butitis
ett
a
wisechildthatknowshis
egen
own
father.
WouldthatIwere
son
son
toonewhohadgrown
gammal
old
uponhisownestates,
för
for
,sinceyouaskme,
det
there
isnomoreill-starredman
under
under
heaventhanhewhothey
säger
tell
meismyfather.”
Och
And
Minervasaid,“Thereis
ingen
no
fearofyourrace
dör
dying
outyet,whilePenelope
har
has
suchafinesonasyouare.
Men
But
tellme,andtellmetrue,whatisthemeaningofall
denna
this
feasting,andwhoare
dessa
these
people?
Whatisitall
om
about
?
Haveyousomebanquet,
eller
or
isthereaweddinginthefamily—for
ingen
no
oneseemstobe
ta
bringing
anyprovisionsofhis
egen
own
?
Andtheguests—howatrociouslytheyarebehaving;
whatriotthey
gör
make
overthewholehouse;
itis
räcker
enough
todisgustanyrespectable
person
person
whocomesnearthem.”
“Sir,”
sade
said
Telemachus,“asregardsyour
fråga
question
,solongasmy
far
father
washereitwas
bra
well
withusandwiththe
huset
house
,butthegodsintheirdispleasure
har
have
willeditotherwise,and
har
have
hiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden.
I
kunnat
could
haveborneitbetter
även
even
thoughheweredead,
om
if
hehadfallenwithhismen
före
before
Troy,orhaddied
med
with
friendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone;
forthentheAchaeanswould
ha
have
builtamoundoverhisashes,
och
and
Ishouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown;
men
but
nowthestorm-windshavespiritedhim
bort
away
weknownotwhither;
heisgonewithout
lämna
leaving
somuchasatracebehindhim,
och
and
Iinheritnothingbutdismay.
Nordoes
det
the
matterendsimplywithgrieffor
det
the
lossofmyfather;
heaven
har
has
laidsorrowsuponmeof
ännu
yet
anotherkind;
forthechiefsfrom
alla
all
ourislands,Dulichium,Same,
och
and
thewoodlandislandofZacynthus,as
också
also
alltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself,are
äter
eating
upmyhouseunderthepretextof
betala
paying
theircourttomy
mor
mother
,whowillneitherpointblank
säga
say
thatshewillnotmarry,[7]nor
ännu
yet
bringmatterstoan
slut
end
;
sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate,
och
and
beforelongwilldoso
också
also
withmyself.”
“Isthatso?”
exclaimedMinerva,“thenyoudoindeedwantUlysses
hem
home
again.
Givehimhishelmet,shield,
och
and
acoupleoflances,
och
and
ifheisthe
man
man
hewaswhenI
först
first
knewhiminour
hus
house
,drinkingandmakingmerry,hewould
snart
soon
layhishandsabout
dessa
these
rascallysuitors,wereheto
stå
stand
oncemoreuponhis
egen
own
threshold.
Hewasthen
kom
coming
fromEphyra,wherehe
hade
had
beentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus,
son
son
ofMermerus.
Ilusfeared
de
the
ever-livinggodsandwouldnot
ge
give
himany,butmy
far
father
lethimhavesome,forhewas
mycket
very
fondofhim.
IfUlyssesis
den
the
manhethenwas
dessa
these
suitorswillhaveashortshrift
och
and
asorrywedding.
“But
där
there
!
Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheisto
återvända
return
,andtakehisrevengeinhis
eget
own
houseorno;
Iwould,however,urgeyoutosetabout
försöka
trying
togetridof
dessa
these
suitorsatonce.
Takemyadvice,
kalla
call
theAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrowmorning—layyour
fall
case
beforethem,andcallheaventobearyouwitness.
Bid
de
the
suitorstakethemselvesoff,eachtohis
eget
own
place,andifyourmother’smindissetonmarrying
igen
again
,lethergobacktoher
far
father
,whowillfindher
en
a
husbandandprovideherwith
alla
all
themarriagegiftsthatsodear
en
a
daughtermayexpect.
Asforyourself,
låt
let
meprevailuponyouto
ta
take
thebestshipyou
kan
can
get,withacrewoftwentymen,
och
and
goinquestofyour
far
father
whohassolongbeenmissing.
Some
ett
one
maytellyousomething,
eller
or
(andpeopleoftenhearthingsin
detta
this
way)someheaven-sentmessage
kan
may
directyou.
FirstgotoPylos
och
and
askNestor;
thencegoontoSparta
och
and
visitMenelaus,forhe
kom
got
homelastofalltheAchaeans;
ifyou
hör
hear
thatyourfatheris
lever
alive
andonhisway
hem
home
,youcanputup
med
with
thewastethesesuitors
kommer
will
makeforyetanothertwelvemonths.
Ifontheother
sidan
hand
youhearofhis
död
death
,comehomeatonce,celebratehisfuneralrites
med
with
allduepomp,build
en
a
barrowtohismemory,
och
and
makeyourmothermarry
igen
again
.
Then,havingdoneallthis,
tänka
think
itwelloverinyour
sinne
mind
how,byfairmeans
eller
or
foul,youmaykillthesesuitorsinyour
eget
own
house.
Youaretoo
gammal
old
topleadinfancyanylonger;
haveyounot
hört
heard
howpeoplearesingingOrestes’praisesforhaving
dödat
killed
hisfather’smurdererAegisthus?
Youare
en
a
fine,smartlookingfellow;
visa
show
yourmettle,then,and
göra
make
yourselfanamein
historien
story
.
Now,however,Imustgobacktomyship
och
and
tomycrew,whowillbeimpatient
om
if
Ikeepthemwaitinglonger;
tänk
think
thematteroverforyourself,
och
and
rememberwhatIhave
sagt
said
toyou.”
“Sir,”answeredTelemachus,“it
har
has
beenverykindofyoutotalktomein
detta
this
way,asthoughIwereyour
egen
own
son,andIwill
göra
do
allyoutellme;
I
vet
know
youwanttobegettingon
med
with
yourvoyage,butstay
ett
a
littlelongertillyou
har
have
takenabathandrefreshedyourself.
Iwillthen
ge
give
youapresent,andyoushall
go
onyourwayrejoicing;
Iwillgiveyouoneof
stor
great
beautyandvalue—akeepsakesuchas
bara
only
dearfriendsgivetooneanother.”
Minerva
svarade
answered
,“Donottryto
hålla
keep
me,forIwouldbeonmy
väg
way
atonce.
Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomake
mig
me
,keepittillIcomeagain,andIwill
tar
take
ithomewithme.
Youshall
ge
give
meaverygoodone,
och
and
Iwillgiveyouoneof
inte
no
lessvalueinreturn.”
Med
With
thesewordssheflew
bort
away
likeabirdintotheair,
men
but
shehadgivenTelemachuscourage,
och
and
hadmadehimthink
mer
more
thaneverabouthis
far
father
.
Hefeltthechange,wonderedatit,
och
and
knewthatthestranger
hade
had
beenagod,sohe
gick
went
straighttowherethesuitorswere
satt
sitting
.
Phemiuswasstillsinging,
och
and
hishearerssatraptinsilenceashe
berättade
told
thesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy,
och
and
theillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans.
Penelope,
dotter
daughter
ofIcarius,heardhissongfromher
rum
room
upstairs,andcamedownby
den
the
greatstaircase,notalone,
utan
but
attendedbytwoofherhandmaids.
När
When
shereachedthesuitorsshe
stod
stood
byoneofthebearingposts
som
that
supportedtheroofof
de
the
cloisters[8]withastaidmaidenoneither
sidor
side
ofher.
Sheheld
en
a
veil,moreover,beforeherface,
och
and
wasweepingbitterly.
“Phemius,”shecried,“you
känner
know
manyanotherfeatofgods
och
and
heroes,suchaspoets
älskar
love
tocelebrate.
Singthesuitorssomeoneof
dessa
these
,andletthemdrinktheirwineinsilence,butcease
denna
this
sadtale,foritbreaksmysorrowful
hjärta
heart
,andremindsmeofmy
förlorade
lost
husbandwhomImourneverwithoutceasing,
och
and
whosenamewasgreat
över
over
allHellasandmiddleArgos.”[9].
“Mother,”
svarade
answered
Telemachus,“letthebard
sjunga
sing
whathehasamindto;
bardsdonotmaketheillsthey
sjunger
sing
of;
itisJove,not
de
they
,whomakesthem,and
som
who
sendswealorwoeuponmankindaccordingtohis
egen
own
goodpleasure.
Thisfellow
menar
means
noharmbysingingtheill-fatedreturnoftheDanaans,for
folk
people
alwaysapplaudthelatestsongs
mest
most
warmly.
Makeupyourmindtoit
och
and
bearit;
Ulyssesisnot
den
the
onlymanwhonevercamebackfromTroy,
men
but
manyanotherwentdownas
väl
well
ashe.
Go,then,withinthe
huset
house
andbusyyourselfwithyourdailyduties,yourloom,yourdistaff,
och
and
theorderingofyourservants;
forspeechisman’smatter,
och
and
mineaboveallothers[10]—foritisI
som
who
ammasterhere.”
She
gick
went
wonderingbackintothe
huset
house
,andlaidherson’ssayinginher
hjärta
heart
.
Then,goingupstairswithherhandmaidsintoher
rum
room
,shemournedherdear
man
husband
tillMinervashedsweet
sömn
sleep
overhereyes.
But
de
the
suitorswereclamorousthroughout
de
the
coveredcloisters[11],andprayedeach
en
one
thathemightbeherbedfellow.
ThenTelemachus
talade
spoke
,“Shameless,”hecried,“andinsolentsuitors,
låt
let
usfeastatourpleasure
nu
now
,andlettherebe
inte
no
brawling,foritis
en
a
rarethingtohear
en
a
manwithsuchadivinevoiceasPhemius
har
has
;
butinthemorning
möt
meet
meinfullassemblythatI
kan
may
giveyouformalnoticetodepart,
och
and
feastatoneanother’shouses,
vända
turn
andturnabout,atyour
egen
own
cost.
Ifontheother
sidan
hand
youchoosetopersistinspungingupononeman,heaven
hjälpa
help
me,butJoveshallreckon
med
with
youinfull,and
när
when
youfallinmyfather’s
hus
house
thereshallbenomantoavengeyou.”
Thesuitorsbittheirlipsasthey
hörde
heard
him,andmarvelledattheboldnessofhisspeech.
Then,Antinous,
son
son
ofEupeithes,said,“Thegodsseemto
ha
have
givenyoulessonsinbluster
och
and
talltalking;
mayJove
aldrig
never
grantyoutobechiefinIthacaasyour
far
father
wasbeforeyou.”
Telemachus
svarade
answered
,“Antinous,donotchide
med
with
me,but,godwilling,I
kommer
will
bechieftooifI
kan
can
.
Isthistheworstfateyou
kan
can
thinkofforme?
Itis
ingen
no
badthingtobeachief,foritbrings
både
both
richesandhonour.
Still,
nu
now
thatUlyssesisdeadthereare
många
many
greatmeninIthaca
både
both
oldandyoung,and
några
some
othermaytaketheleadamong
dem
them
;
neverthelessIwillbechiefinmy
eget
own
house,andwillrule
dem
those
whomUlysseshaswonforme.”
ThenEurymachus,
son
son
ofPolybus,answered,“Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamong
oss
us
,butyoushallbemasterinyourown
hus
house
andoveryourownpossessions;
ingen
no
onewhilethereisamaninIthacashall
göra
do
youviolencenorrobyou.
Och
And
now,mygoodfellow,I
vill
want
toknowaboutthisstranger.
What
land
country
doeshecomefrom?
Ofwhat
familj
family
ishe,andwhereishisestate?
Har
Has
hebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather,
eller
or
washeonbusinessofhis
egen
own
?
Heseemedawelltodo
man
man
,buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgoneina
ögonblick
moment
beforewecouldgetto
känna
know
him.”
“Myfatheris
död
dead
andgone,”answeredTelemachus,“and
även
even
ifsomerumourreachesmeI
sätter
put
nomorefaithinit
nu
now
.
Mymotherdoesindeed
ibland
sometimes
sendforasoothsayer
och
and
questionhim,butIgivehisprophecyings
inte
no
heed.
Asforthestranger,hewasMentes,
son
son
ofAnchialus,chiefof
det
the
Taphians,anoldfriendofmyfather’s.”
Men
But
inhishearthe
visste
knew
thatithadbeenthegoddess.
De
The
suitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinging
och
and
dancinguntiltheevening;
men
but
whennightfellupontheirpleasuringthey
gick
went
hometobedeachinhis
egen
own
abode.[12]Telemachus’sroomwas
högt
high
upinatower[13]that
såg
looked
ontotheoutercourt;
hither,then,hehied,brooding
och
and
fullofthought.
A
god
good
oldwoman,Euryclea,daughterofOps,the
son
son
ofPisenor,wentbeforehim
med
with
acoupleofblazingtorches.
Laertes
hade
had
boughtherwithhis
egna
own
moneywhenshewas
ganska
quite
young;
hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher,
och
and
shewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashe
gjorde
did
tohisownwedded
hustru
wife
,buthedidnot
tog
take
hertohisbedforhefearedhiswife’sresentment.[14]Sheitwaswho
nu
now
lightedTelemachustohis
rum
room
,andshelovedhim
bättre
better
thananyofthe
andra
other
womeninthehouse
gjorde
did
,forshehadnursedhim
när
when
hewasababy.
He
öppnade
opened
thedoorofhis
sängen
bed
roomandsatdownuponthe
sängen
bed
;
BOOKII
ASSEMBLYOFTHEPEOPLEOFITHACA—SPEECHESOFTELEMACHUS
Och
AND
OFTHESUITORS—TELEMACHUSMAKESHISPREPARATIONS
Och
AND
STARTSFORPYLOSWITHMINERVADISGUISEDASMENTOR.
Now
när
when
thechildofmorning,rosy-fingeredDawn,appearedTelemachusrose
och
and
dressedhimself.
Heboundhissandalsontohiscomelyfeet,girdedhisswordabouthisshoulder,
och
and
lefthisroomlooking
som
like
animmortalgod.
Heatonce
sände
sent
thecriersroundto
kalla
call
thepeopleinassembly,sotheycalledthem
och
and
thepeoplegatheredthereon;
then,
när
when
theyweregottogether,he
gick
went
totheplaceofassemblyspearinhand—not
ensam
alone
,forhistwohounds
gick
went
withhim.
Minervaendowedhim
med
with
apresenceofsuchdivinecomeliness
att
that
allmarvelledathimashe
gick
went
by,andwhenhe
tog
took
hisplaceinhisfather’sseateven
de
the
oldestcouncillorsmadewayfor
honom
him
.
Aegyptius,amanbentdouble
med
with
age,andofinfiniteexperience,was
den
the
firsttospeak.
His
son
son
AntiphushadgonewithUlyssestoIlius,landofnoblesteeds,
men
but
thesavageCyclopshad
dödat
killed
himwhentheywere
alla
all
shutupinthecave,
och
and
hadcookedhislast
middag
dinner
forhim.[17]Hehad
tre
three
sonsleft,ofwhom
två
two
stillworkedontheirfather’sland,
medan
while
thethird,Eurynomus,was
en
one
ofthesuitors;
neverthelesstheir
far
father
couldnotgetoverthelossofAntiphus,
och
and
wasstillweepingforhim
när
when
hebeganhisspeech.
“MenofIthaca,”he
sa
said
,“hearmywords.
Fromthe
dag
day
Ulyssesleftusthere
har
has
beennomeetingofourcouncillors
till
until
now;
whothencanitbe,whether
gammal
old
oryoung,thatfindsitsonecessarytoconvene
oss
us
?
Hashegotwindofsomehostapproaching,
och
and
doeshewishtowarn
oss
us
,orwouldhespeakuponsome
annan
other
matterofpublicmoment?
Iam
säker
sure
heisanexcellent
person
person
,andIhopeJovewillgranthimhisheart’sdesire.”
Telemachus
tog
took
thisspeechasof
gott
good
omenandroseatonce,forhewasburstingwithwhathe
hade
had
tosay.
Hestoodin
den
the
middleoftheassembly
och
and
thegoodheraldPisenor
förde
brought
himhisstaff.
Then,
vände
turning
toAegyptius,“Sir,”said
han
he
,“itisI,asyou
kommer
will
shortlylearn,whohaveconvenedyou,foritisIwhoamthe
mest
most
aggrieved.
Ihavenotgotwindofanyhostapproachingabout
som
which
Iwouldwarnyou,noris
det
there
anymatterofpublicmomenton
som
which
Iwouldspeak.
Mygrievanceispurelypersonal,
och
and
turnsontwogreatmisfortunes
som
which
havefallenuponmy
hus
house
.
Thefirstoftheseis
den
the
lossofmyexcellent
far
father
,whowaschiefamong
alla
all
youherepresent,andwaslikea
far
father
toeveryoneofyou;
den
the
secondismuchmoreserious,
och
and
erelongwillbe
den
the
utterruinofmyestate.
Thesonsof
alla
all
thechiefmenamongyouarepesteringmy
mor
mother
tomarrythemagainsther
vilja
will
.
Theyareafraidto
go
toherfatherIcarius,
be
asking
himtochoosetheonehelikes
bäst
best
,andtoprovidemarriagegiftsforhis
dotter
daughter
,butdaybydaytheykeep
hänger
hanging
aboutmyfather’shouse,sacrificingouroxen,sheep,
och
and
fatgoatsfortheirbanquets,
och
and
nevergivingsomuchasa
tycker
thought
tothequantityofwinethey
dricker
drink
.
Noestatecanstand
sådan
such
recklessness;
wehavenownoUlyssestowardoffharmfromourdoors,
och
and
Icannotholdmy
egen
own
againstthem.