μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,365
πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες,
νῦν μὲν δαινύμενοι τερπώμεθα, μηδὲ βοητὺς
ἔστω, ἐπεὶ τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ370
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀγορήνδε καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες
πάντες, ἵνʼ ὕμιν μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀποείπω,
ἐξιέναι μεγάρων· ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας,
ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες, ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.375
εἰ δʼ ὕμιν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι·
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.380
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευεν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή σε διδάσκουσιν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ὑψαγόρην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέως ἀγορεύειν·385
μὴ σέ γʼ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλῆα Κρονίων
ποιήσειεν, ὅ τοι γενεῇ πατρώιόν ἐστιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
καί κεν τοῦτʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διός γε διδόντος ἀρέσθαι.390
ἦ φῂς τοῦτο κάκιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τετύχθαι;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν· αἶψά τέ οἱ δῶ
ἀφνειὸν πέλεται καὶ τιμηέστερος αὐτός.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι
πολλοὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,395
τῶν κέν τις τόδʼ ἔχῃσιν, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἴκοιο ἄναξ ἔσομʼ ἡμετέροιο
καὶ δμώων, οὕς μοι ληίσσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,400
ὅς τις ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλεύσει Ἀχαιῶν·
κτήματα δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοις καὶ δώμασιν σοῖσιν ἀνάσσοις.
μὴ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἔλθοι ἀνὴρ ὅς τίς σʼ ἀέκοντα βίηφιν
κτήματʼ ἀπορραίσεἰʼ, Ἰθάκης ἔτι ναιετοώσης.
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω σε, φέριστε, περὶ ξείνοιο ἐρέσθαι,405
ὁππόθεν οὗτος ἀνήρ, ποίης δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι
γαίης, ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα.
ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην πατρὸς φέρει ἐρχομένοιο,
ἦ ἑὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος ἐελδόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνει;
οἷον ἀναΐξας ἄφαρ οἴχεται, οὐδʼ ὑπέμεινε410
γνώμεναι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακῷ εἰς ὦπα ἐῴκει.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Εὐρύμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστος ἀπώλετο πατρὸς ἐμοῖο·
οὔτʼ οὖν ἀγγελίῃ ἔτι πείθομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι,
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι, ἥν τινα μήτηρ415
ἐς μέγαρον καλέσασα θεοπρόπον ἐξερέηται.
ξεῖνος δʼ οὗτος ἐμὸς πατρώιος ἐκ Τάφου ἐστίν,
Μέντης δʼ Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχεται εἶναι
υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσει.
ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος, φρεσὶ δʼ ἀθανάτην θεὸν ἔγνω.420
notes
Telemachus is stirring now and shows his newfound confidence in a brisk exchange with the suitors who, fueled by lust for the queen, are filling the hall with their characteristic din.
read full essay
He tells them to hold down the noise so they can hear Phemius while they dine, then summons them to an assembly the next morning. He will have a blunt message for them then, he says: Go home and eat up somebody else’s food, perhaps trading off the hosting duties. If they keep devouring his household νήποινον, “without compensation,” (377) he will call on the gods to exact punishment. Then, a flourish of sarcastic wordplay and a prophetic wish:
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.
May you die then in this house, with no compensation.
Odyssey 1.380
Like Penelope, the suitors are amazed at Telemachus’s assertiveness. The poet now introduces the two leaders of the suitors, Antinous and Eurymachus, who will be his—and his father’s—principal antagonists. Antinous answers Telemachus’s sarcasm with some of his own: Surely the gods must have taught him how to be so high and mighty. Here’s hoping Zeus doesn’t arrange for him to be the ruler of Ithaka, though to be sure, the position would be part of his inheritance from his father (γενεῇ πατρώιόν, 387). The offhand tone of this last remark suggests that Antinous would rather not remind Telemachus of his inheritance, but now that the prince has stepped up, the murky question of succession inevitably arises. (see above, 23). He addresses it head-on in his reply:
τὸν δ᾽ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
‘Ἀντίνο᾽, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
καὶ κεν τοῦτ᾽ ἐθέλοιμι Διός γε διδόντος ἀρέσθαι.
ἦ φῂς τοῦτο κάκιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τετύχθαι;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν: αἶψά τέ οἱ δῶ
ἀφνειὸν πέλεται καὶ τιμηέστερος αὐτός.
ἀλλ᾽ ἦ τοι βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι
πολλοὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,
τῶν κέν τις τόδ᾽ ἔχῃσιν, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἴκοιο ἄναξ ἔσομ᾽ ἡμετέροιο
καὶ δμώων, οὕς μοι ληίσσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
Telemachus answered him thoughtfully:
“Antinous, though you might be offended at what I say,
I would be happy to accept the crown if Zeus should offer it.
Do you think it’s the worst thing that could happen to a man?
Surely it is not so bad to be king. Quickly the house
is filled with prosperity, and the king himself has more honor.
But there are many other Achaean princes,
in seagirt Ithaka, both young and old, and one of these
might seize the crown when brilliant Odysseus dies.
But I will be the ruler of my own household
and servants, whom brilliant Odysseus won for me by force.”
Odyssey 1.388–98
Telemachus speaks with authority, clearly marking the limits of his own control over people and events, and by implication, that of the suitors. If the gods should offer him the kingship, he would happily accept; if not, the island is full of other worthy candidates; in neither case do the suitors have an obvious claim. In any event—and here his tone is defiant—he will control his own household, a warning shot across the suitors’ bow. He addresses the suitors as peers, not as a boy among men, reflecting with insouciant detachment on the nature and promise of kingship: being king is not the worst thing that could happen to a man. The tentative boy Athena found surrounded by his potential enemies has been replaced by a young man who knows that he is destined—and required—somehow to take control of his household in his father’s absence.
Telemachus has thrown down some markers and Eurymachus now steps in to defuse the incipient conflict. Who will become king is, as Telemachus says, up to the gods to decide. No one would dream of disputing his right to control his household! That this seeming concession to Telemachus’s authority is illusory is clear enough from the suitors’ later plot to murder him. For now, however, it suits Eurymachus to bide his time while events unfold. At verse 405, he changes the subject abruptly to ask about the mysterious guest: Who is he? Where is he from? What did he want and why did he disappear so abruptly? Eurymachus has observed how attentive Telemachus has been to Mentes and perhaps feels threatened. Telemachus, though he senses that “Mentes” was a god in disguise (323–24; 420), plays it straight in his response, perhaps sensing that now is not the time to draw any further lines in the sand. He reaffirms that he is sure his father is dead, something we have heard from him before, though we at least might suspect that Athena’s influence might be pushing him away from certainty. In any event, there is nothing to worry about: Mentes was just an old friend of his father’s, king of the Taphians.
Further Reading
Van Nortwick, T. 2008. The Unknown Odysseus: Alternate Worlds in Homer’s Odyssey, 4. n4. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
366 παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι: παραί (παρά), adverbial (“by her side”), goes with κλιθῆναι, with λεχέεσσι added as a dative of place (Smyth 1531a).
369 βοητύς: = βοή.
370 τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν: καλὸν is predicate, with an explanatory (epexegetic) infinitive ἀκουέμεν defining καλὸν. In translation, the infinitive can be preceded by “namely…” (Monro 234.2 and 258)
371 αὐδήν: accusative of respect.
374 ἐξιέναι μεγάρων: the infinitive may be explanatory (epexegetic), defining μῦθον, or it may be an infinitive used as an imperative, a possibility suggested by the imperative ἀλεγύνετε which follows in the second half of the line.
374 ἀλεγύνετε: see LSJ ἀλεγύνω.
375 ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους: “alternating among your houses” in a progressive feast (an ἔρανος), rather than feasting solely at Telemachus’s house on his provisions.
378 ἐπιβώσομαι: = ἐπιβοήσομαι > ἐπιβοάω.
379 αἴ κέ: = ἐάν, introducing the protasis of a future more vivid condition, or “on the chance that” (Smyth 2354).
379 δῷσι: 3rd sing. aor. act.subj. > δίδωμι.
380 κεν … ὄλοισθε: potential opt.
381 ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες: see LSJ ἐμφύω II.2, which assumes that ἐν … φύντες is a case of tmesis.
382 ὃ: “because” (Smyth 2240a).
384 ἦ μάλα δή: see LSJ μάλα I.2. ἦ δή expresses “lively surprise” (Smyth 2865), and μάλα makes the expression of surprise even more emphatic.
386 μὴ … / ποιήσειεν: negative optative of wish.
387 τοι: dative of possession > σύ.
387 γενεῇ: dative of means.
387 πατρώιόν: pred.
389 ἦ καί: indicates an “animated question” (Smyth 2865).
389 νεμεσήσεαι: 2nd sing. fut. mid. indic. > νεμεσάω, with active sense and dative object (LSJ νεμεσάω II.2).
390 τοῦτ(ο): i.e., to be ruler of Ithaca.
390 Διός γε διδόντος: genitive absolute (Monro 246), with a conditional force.
391 τετύχθαι: in the perfect and pluperfect passive, the verb can be the equivalent of εἶναι (LSJ τεύχω ΙΙΙ).
392 οἱ: dat. pers. pron., standing in for βασιλῆι.
392 δῶ: shortened epic form of δῶμα, only present in the nominative and accusative (LSJ δῶ)
396 τῶν: rel. pron., partitive gen., with τις.
396 τόδ(ε): i.e., the kingship of Ithaca.
396 ἔχῃσιν: 3rd sing. pres. act. subj., in a future more vivid conditional relative clause. According to Monro, the subjunctive in this clause indicates the “emphatic assent” of the speaker to the statement being made (Monro 275b).
396 θάνε: unaugmented 3rd sing. aor. act. indic. > θνήσκω. The aorist aspect indicates that the action of the verb in the temporal clause (i.e., Odysseus’s death) precedes the action of the main verb (i.e., holding the kingship).
397 ἔσομ(αι): fut. > εἰμί.
401 Ἀχαιῶν: partitive gen., with ὅς τις.
402 ἔχοις … ἀνάσσοις: optatives of wish, perhaps with a concessive or permissive force: “you may …” (Smyth 1819).
403 μὴ … ἔλθοι: negative optative of wish.
403 βίηφιν: Epic dat. plu. fem.
404 ἀπορραίσει: the manuscripts read ἀπορραίσει (fut. act. indic.), but Bentley suggested the widely-accepted emendation ἀπορραίσει᾽ (ἀπορραίσειε, aor. opt.). The optative would be expected in a future less vivid conditional relative clause. The verb takes two accusatives: “to deprive (acc.) of (acc.)” (LSJ ἀπορραίω).
404 Ἰθάκης ἔτι ναιετοώσης: genitive absolute (LSJ ναιετάω II).
405 ξείνοιο: i.e., Mentes/Athena.
406 ὁππόθεν … ποίης: the construction shifts from a single indirect question to a series of direct questions.
409 ἑὸν αὐτοῦ: reflex. possessive pron.
409 χρεῖος: neut. acc. sing. (LSJ χρέος II)
409 ἐελδόμενος: pres. depon. ptc. (+ acc.) (LSJ ἔλδομαι)
409 τόδ(ε): adverbial. See LSJ ὅδε IV.2.a.
410 ὑπέμεινε: μένω and its compound ὑπομένω can take an accusative and infinitive construction” “wait for (accusative) to (infinitive).” See LSJ μένω II.2.
411 γνώμεναι: infinitive of purpose, with subject omitted (“for us to recognize”).
411 κακῷ: of persons. Similarly to how ἀγαθός can mean high-born/aristocrat, κακός can mean low-born in reference to one's social standing.
411 εἰς ὦπα: see LSJ ὤψ.
414 εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι: the implied subject of ἔλθοι is ἀγγελίη. A mixed condition, with a present indicative (πείθομαι) in the apodosis (present general), and an aorist optative in the protasis (future less vivid).
417 πατρώιος: implied ξένος
vocabulary
μνηστήρ –ῆρος ὁ: a suitor365
ὁμαδέω ὁμαδήσω ὠμάδησα: to make a noise
μέγαρον –ου τό: a large room
σκιόεις –εσσα –εν: shadowy, dark
ἀράομαι ἀράσομαι (Ion. ἀρήσομαι) ἠρησάμην ἤρᾱμαι: to pray to
λέχος –ους τό: a couch, bed
κλίνω κλινῶ ἔκλινα κέκλικα κέκλιμαι ἐκλίνην/ἐκλίθην: to lie down
Τηλέμαχος –ου ὁ: Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope
πέπνυμαι (old Epic perf. pass. of πνέω with pres. sense): to be wise, be prudent
ἄρχω ἅρξω ἦρξα ἦρχα ἦργμαι ἦρχθην: to begin, rule
μῦθος –ου ὁ: word, speech, plan
ὑπέρβιος –ον: excessive, excessively violent
ὕβρις –εως ἡ: violence, insolence, lust
δαίνυμι δαίσω ἔδαισα: to dine
τέρπω τέρψω ἔτερψα ––– ––– ἐτάρφθην/ἐτέρφθην: to satisfy, delight, gladden, cheer
βοητύς –ύος ἡ: a shouting, clamour
ἀοιδός –οῦ ὁ: a singer, minstrel, bard370
οἷος –α –ον: (such a kind) as; οἷός τε + inf., fit or able to do
ἐναλίγκιος [–η] –ον: like, resembling
αὐδή –ῆς ἡ: voice, speech
ἠῶθεν: in the morning
ἀγορήνδε: to the meeting place
καθέζομαι καθεδοῦμαι/καθεδήσομαι κάθημαι ἐκαθέσθην: to sit down, take one's seat
κίω – – – – –: to go
ἀπηλεγέως: bluntly
ἀπεῖπον: to speak out
ἐξίημι ἐξήσω ἐξῆκα ἐξεῖκα ἐξεῖμαι ἐξείθην: to send away, throw out
ἀλεγύνω – – – – –: to find, care for
δαίς δαιτός ἡ: feast, banquet, meal
ὑμός –ή –όν: your375
κτῆμα –ατος τό: a possession
ἔδω ἔδομαι ἤδα ἔδηδα ἐδήδοται ἠδέσθην: to eat
ἀμείβω ἀμείψω ἤμειψα ἤμειφα ἤμειμμαι ἠμείφθην: change, alternate, respond
λωΐων ὁ or ἡ λώϊον τό gen –ονος: more desirable, more agreeable
βίοτος –ου ὁ: wealth, livelihood
νήποινος –ον: unavenged
ὄλλυμι ὀλῶ ὤλεσα (or ὠλόμην) ὀλώλεκα (or ὄλωλα) ––– –––: to destroy, lose, (mid.) perish
κείρω κερῶ ἔκειρα κέκαρκα κέκαρμαι ἐκέρθην: to waste, consume
ἐπιβοάω ἐπιβοήσομαι (Ion. ἐπιβώσομαι) ἐπεβωσάμην: to call upon
ποθι: possibly, anywhere
Ζεύς Διός ὁ: Zeus
παλίντιτος –ον: requited, avenged
δόμος –ου ὁ: a house380
ἔντοσθε: within, inside
ἄρα: particle: 'so'
ὀδάξ: bite
χεῖλος –ους τό: lip
θαρσαλέος –α –ον: bold, courageous
ἀγορεύω ἀγορεύσω ἠγόρευσα ἠγόρευκα ἠγόρευμαι ἠγορεύθην: to speak, speak in the assembly
αὖτε: again
Ἀντίνοος –ου ὁ: Antinous, one of the leaders among suitors of Penelope, he is outspoken and bold
πρόσφημι πρόσφησω προσέφησα: to speak to, address
Εὐπείθης –ους ὁ: Eupeithes, father of the suitor Antinous, slain by Laertes
ὑψαγόρας –ου ὁ: a big talker, boaster, braggart385
ἀμφίαλος –ον: sea-girt
Ἰθάκη –ης ἡ: Ithaca, the home of Odysseus, an island on the West coast of Greece
Κρονίων –ωνος ὁ: son of Cronus
γενεά ᾶς Ion. γενεή ῆς ἡ: family, lineage
πατρῷος –α –ον (Ion. πατρώϊος): of or belonging to the father, hereditary
ἀντίος –α or –ιη –ον: set against, opposite, facing (+ gen.); in reply
αὐδάω (ηὔδων) αὐδήσω ηὔδησα ηὔδηκα ηὔδημαι ηὔδάθην: to speak
νεμεσάω νεμεσήσω ἐνεμέσησα: to feel resentment, to be wroth at undeserved390
τεύχω τεύξω ἔτευξα τέτευχα τέτυγμαι ἐτύχθην: to make ready, make, build, work
βασιλεύω βασιλεύσω ἐβασίλευσα βεβασίλευκα βεβασίλευμαι ἐβασιλήθην: to be king, to rule, reign
αἶψα: quick, with speed, on a sudden
οὗ, οἷ, ἕ and encl. οὑ, οἱ, ἑ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself
δῶμα –ατος τό: a house
ἀφνειός [–ά] –όν: rich, wealthy
πέλω ––– ἔπλον ––– ––– –––: to be, become
τιμήεις –εσσα –εν: honoured, esteemed
τοι: let me tell you, surely, verily
Ἀχαιός –ά –όν: Achaian
ἠδέ: and395
δῖος –α –ον: god-like
Ὀδυσσεύς –έως ὁ: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, hero of the Odyssey
ἀτάρ: but, yet
ἄναξ –ακτος ὁ: a lord, master
δμώς –ωός ὁ: an enslaved person, especially one taken in war
ληΐζομαι ληΐσσομαι ληΐσσομαι λέλῃσμαι: seize, carry off as booty
Εὐρύμαχος –ου ὁ: Eurymachus, son of Polybus, suitor of Penelope, he is smart and cunning
Πόλυβος –ου ὁ: Polybus, an Ithacan, the father of Eurymachus
γόνυ γόνατος τό: the knee400
ἀνάσσω ἀνάξω ἤναξα: to be lord, master, owner, to rule, in
ἀέκων –ουσα –ον: against one's will, unwilling
βία –ας ἡ: violence, force
ἀπορραίω ἀπορραίσω ἀπέρραισα: to bereave
ναιετάω νάσσομαι ἐνασσάμην ––– νένασμαι ἐνάσθην: to dwell, exist, stand
φέρτερος -α -ον (comp.; superl. φέριστος, φέρτατος): better, braver, more valiant405
ὁπόθεν: from where, from what place
ποῖος –α –ον: of what nature/kind?
εὔχομαι εὔξομαι ηὐξάμην ηὖγμαι: to claim, pray
γαῖα –ας ἡ: a land, country
ἄρουρα –ας ἡ: tilled or arable land, ground, fatherland
ἀγγελία –ας ἡ: a message, tidings, news
ἑός ἑή ἑόν: his, her own
χρέος –ους τό: business, need, obligation
ἔλδομαι – – – – –: to wish, long
ἱκάνω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to come, arrive
ἀναΐσσω/ἀνᾴσσω/ἀνᾴττω ἀνᾴξω ἀνῇξα: to start up, rise quickly410
ἄφαρ: straightway, forthwith, at once, quickly, presently
οἴχομαι οἰχήσομαι ––– ––– ––– –––: to be gone, to have gone
ὑπομένω ὑπομενῶ ὑπέμεινα ὑπομεμένηκα ––– –––: to stay behind, wait
τι: at all
ὤψ ὠπός ἡ: the eye, face
νόστος –ου ὁ: a return home
ποθεν: from some place
θεοπροπία –ας ἡ: a prophecy, oracle
ἐμπάζομαι – – – – –: to take heed of, care for
θεοπρόπος –ου ὁ: prophet, oracle, messenger to an oracle415
ἐξέρομαι ἐξερήσομαι ἐξηρόμην ––– ––– –––: to inquire into
Τάφος –ου ἡ: Island on the coast of northwestern Greece, home of Mentes
Μέντης –ου ὁ: Mentes, leader of the Ciconians, king of the Taphians, under whose form Athena visits Telemachus
Ἀγχίαλος –ου ὁ: Anchialus
δαίφρων –ον: fiery-hearted, warlike
Τάφιοι –ων οἱ: the Taphians, inhabitants of Taphos, notorious for their piracy
φιλήρετμος –ον: loving the oar
φρήν φρενός ἡ: heart, mind420
ἀθάνατος –ον: undying, immortal