George Chapman

ἱρὸν Ἀθηναίης, ἵνʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

Sacred to Pallas; where the god-like good Ulysses rested, and to Pallas pray’d: “Hear me, of goat-kept Jove th’ unconquer’d Maid! Now throughly

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

me by the heels about Mine own free earth, and after hurl me out, Do thou still suffer. Nay, though with their darts They beat and bruise me, bear. But these foul parts Persuade them

δὴ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἀλκίνοον προσεφώνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

danc’d ground tricks, oft mix’d hand in hand, And did so gracefully their change command, That all the other youth that stood at pause, With deaf’ning shouts,

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Telemachus accosts him, who begun Speech of his journey’s proposition: “And what, my young Ulyssean

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

In mean space, mark this: When the chiefly-wise Minerva prompts me, I’ll inform thine eyes With some giv’n sign, and then all th’ arms that are Aloft thy roof in some near room prepare

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Of soul aspir’d to)’ thou mak’st nothing good Thy fate, nor fortune, nor thy height of blood, In manage of thy actions.

δός, φίλος· οὐ μέν μοι δοκέεις ὁ κάκιστος Ἀχαιῶν

Bent to the door to eat. Yet could not leave Antinous so, but said: “Do you too give, Lov’d lord; your presence makes a show to me As you

ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός,

empty heat and appetite to food, His knees afflicted with his spirit-spent blood) At length the long-expected sunset sees,

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

Aurora, that the golden hills repose. And Menelaus, good-at-martial-cries, From Helen’s bed rais’d, to his guest applies

ἦλθον ἀπὸ κρήνης· ἐπὶ δέ σφισιν ἦλθε συβώτης

Then troop’d the lusty Wooers in; and then Came all from spring; at their heels loaded men With slaughter’d brawns, of all the herd the prize, That had been long

κρητῆρσιν κερόωντο· κύπελλα δὲ νεῖμε συβώτης.

roasted they dispos’d bewixt Their then observers, wine in flagons mixt. The bowls Eumæus brought, Philœtius bread, Melanthius fill’d the wine. Thus drank and fed The feastful Wooers. Then the prince, in grace Of

ἦ τοι μέν οἱ δεῦρο συβώτης ἡγεμόνευεν,

who least, had learn’d humanity. However, no thought touch’d Minerva’s mind, That anyone should ’scape his wreak design’d. He handsomely became all, crept about To

μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο

well compos’d and great, his parents good? And therefore give the bow to him, to try His birth and breeding by his chivalry. If his arms draw it, and that Phœbus stands So great a glory to his

ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.

of sects Amongst the people would breed shame and fear, Lest any worst Greek said: ‘See, men that were Of mean deservings will presume t’ aspire To his wife’s bed, whom all men did admire For

ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον

reach to, sit, and all things hear That we speak freely,—which no begging guest Did ever yet,—but thou must make request To mix with us in merit of the Queen. But wine inflames thee, that hath