11.180-224

"ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ᾽ αὐτίκ᾽ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·180

‘καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ

σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν: ὀιζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ

φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.

σὸν δ᾽ οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐίσας185

δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρ᾽ ἀλεγύνειν·

πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνει

ἀγρῷ, οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται. οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶ

δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,

ἀλλ᾽ ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,190

ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τ᾽ ὀπώρη,

πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο

φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.

ἔνθ᾽ ὅ γε κεῖτ᾽ ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξει195

σὸν νόστον ποθέων, χαλεπὸν δ᾽ ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.

οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·

οὔτ᾽ ἐμέ γ᾽ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐύσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα

οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,

οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλιστα200

τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·

ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμ᾽ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

σή τ᾽ ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.’

ὣς ἔφατ᾽, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γ᾽ ἔθελον φρεσὶ μερμηρίξας

μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.205

τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,

τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳ

ἔπτατ᾽. ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·

‘μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μ᾽ οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν μεμαῶτα,210

ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντε

ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;

ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδ᾽ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια

ὤτρυν᾽, ὄφρ᾽ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;’

ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δ᾽ αὐτίκ᾽ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·215

‘ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, περὶ πάντων κάμμορε φωτῶν,

οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,

ἀλλ᾽ αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν·

οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,

ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο220

δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκ᾽ ὀστέα θυμός,

ψυχὴ δ᾽ ἠύτ᾽ ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.

ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο: ταῦτα δὲ πάντα

ἴσθ᾽, ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.’

notes

Antikleia tells Odysseus about the situation in Ithaka. Odysseus tries and fails to embrace her.

181 κείνη: = ἑκείνη, referring to Penelope.

181 τετληότι: "enduring," "suffering," adjectival, masc. dat. sing. pf. act. ptc. >τλάω.

182 ὀϊζυραὶ: modifying both νύκτες and ἤματα, though it agrees in gender (fem.) only with νύκτες.

182 οἱ: “for her,” dative of interest.

183 χεούσῃ: agrees with οἱ.

185 νέμεται: "possesses," or "holds sway over," in the middle with active, transitive meaning (LSJ νέμω A.III).

186 ἅς: rel. pron. The antecedent is δαῖτας.

186 ἐπέοικε: “it is fitting that…,” followed by an accusative and infinitive construction.

186 δικασπόλον ἄνδρ(α): "a judge," "a man who administers justice." According to Cunliffe, Autenrieth, and Brill, δικασπόλος is properly an adjective, though used substantively elsewhere, and treated by LSJ as a noun.

187 καλέουσι: “invite (him).” Understand Telemachus as the object.

188 ἀγρῷ: “on the farm,” dative of place where.

188 οἱ: dative of possession. Understand the verb εἰσίν.

188 εὐναὶ: “as places to lie down,” “as bedding,” predicate.

190 χεῖμα: "winter-long," "through the winter," accusative of extent of time.

190 ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ: understand the verb “sleep” (εὕδουσιν) in this relative clause.

191 χροΐ: dative of place where.

191 εἷται: 3rd sing. pf. pass. > ἕννυμι. The verb means “to clothe oneself in,” with an accusative of the thing worn. In the perfect, it can be translated “wears.”

192 ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι: general temporal clause.

192 ἔλθῃσι: 3rd sing. aor. subj. > ἔρχομαι. Although singular, it has as its subject both θέρος (summer) and ὀπώρη (late summer or harvest-time).

192 τεθαλυῖά: "abundant," adjectival, nom. sing. fem. pf. ptc. > θάλλω.

193 κατὰ γουνὸν: “along the slope.”

194 κεκλιμένων: “strewn,” "fallen" > κλίνω. The verb in the middle more commonly means "recline," and some editors emend the line to read κεκλιμένῳ, agreeing with οἱ.

194 βεβλήαται: “are laid out,” 3rd pl. pf. mid./pass. > βάλλω.

195 φρεσὶ: “in his heart,” dative of place where (Monro 145). For the use of the plural, see Monro 171.

196 ἐπὶ: “upon him.”

197 ὀλόμην: “I perished,” 1st sing. aor. mid. > ὀλλυμι.

197 πότμον ἐπέσπον: “I sought out my fate,” “I brought my fate upon myself” (Middle Liddell, ἐφἐπω IV).

198 ἐΰσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα: Artemis (see line 172, which this line answers).

199 οἷς: “with her…,” possessive adj., dative of means.

200 νοῦσος: Ion. form of νόσος, ἡ, “illness.” This line also answers line 11.172.

200 ἥ τε: rel. pron., with νοῦσος as its antecedent. The τε is untranslatable (Monro 332; Smyth 2970).

201 τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ: dative of means.

201 μελέων: genitive of separation (Smyth 1392), governed by the ἐξ in ἐξείλετο.

201 ἐξείλετο: “takes away (from),” 3rd sing. aor. mid. > ἐξαιρέω. Gnomic aorist (Monro 78.1; Smyth 1931).

202 σός τε πόθος … : “longing for you …”

203 ἀπηύρα: 3rd sing. impf. > ἀπαυράω The verb governs both με (line 202) and θυμὸν, “to deprive someone (acc.) of something (acc.).”

205 ἑλέειν: “to embrace,” aor. infin. > αἱρέω.

206 ἐφορμήθην: “I rushed toward her,” 1st sing. aor. pass. > ἐφορμάω.

207 εἴκελον: with dative.

208 ἔπτατ(ο): 3rd sing. aor. mid. > πέτομαι.

208 ὀξὺ: pred. nom.

208 γενέσκετο: “there was," "there kept being,” unaugmented 3rd sing. aor. mid., iterative > γίγνομαι.

210 μεμαῶτα: “being eager,” pf. ptc. masc. acc. sing. > μάω.

211 ὄφρα … τεταρπώμεσθα: purpose clause.

211 εἰν Ἀΐδαο: ἐν δόμον Ἀΐδαο.

211 φίλας χεῖρε…ἀμφοτέρω: duals.

211 περὶ … βαλόντε: “putting (acc.) around each other,” dual, tmesis > περιβάλλω.

212 τεταρπώμεσθα: “we might have our fill of,” aor. mid. subj. > τέρπω (with reduplicated stem), with genitive.

213 τί ... εἴδωλον: "some phantom," the object of ὤτρυνε.

214 ὤτρυν(ε): aorist > ὀτρύνω.

214 ὄφρ᾽ … στεναχίζω: purpose clause.

216 περὶ: “beyond,” “above,” with genitive.

217 οὔ τί: “not at all.”

218 δίκη: "custom."

218 ὅτε … κε θάνῃσιν: general temporal clause.

218 θάνῃσιν: 3rd sing. aor. subj.

220 τὰ μέν: “but these things” (i.e., σάρκας, ὀστέα).

221 ἐπεί κε … λίπῃ: general temporal clause.

222 ἠΰτ᾽: ἠΰτε is followed by a nominatve.

222 ἀποπταμένη: aor. ptc. > ἀποπέτομαι.

223 λιλαίεο: imperat. > λιλαίομαι. Understand the complementary infinitive ἰέναι.

224 ἴσθ(ι): imperat. > οἶδα.

224 ἵνα … εἴπῃσθα: purpose clause.

224 εἴπῃσθα: 2nd sing. aor. act. subj. > εἶπον.

224 τεῇ: “your.”

vocabulary

ἀμείβω ἀμείψω ἤμειψα ἤμειφα ἤμειμμαι ἠμείφθην: to respond, answer; to exchange; (mid.) to take turns, alternate; to change, place, pass 180

πότνια –ας ἡ: mistress, queen

λίαν: a great deal, extremely; excessively, too much

τλάω τλήσομαι ἔτλην τέτληκα –––– ––––: to tolerate, endure, resist; to dare; to have the courage (+ infin.); (part.) τετληώς

μέγαρον –ου τό: a large room, hall, feast-hall

ὀιζυρός –ά –όν: woeful, pitiable, miserable

ἕ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

φθί(ν)ω φθίσω έφθίκα ––– έφθιμαι έφθίμην: to decay, wane, dwindle

ἦμαρ –ατος τό: day

δάκρυον –ου τό: a tear

χέω χέω ἔχεα or ἔχευα κέχυκα κέχυμαι ἐχύθην: to pour, shed

πω: up to this time, yet

γέρας –ως τό: prize, privilege, sovereignty

ἕκηλος –ον: at rest, at one's ease

Τηλέμαχος –ου ὁ: Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope 185

τέμενος –ους τό: sacred precinct

νέμω νεμῶ ἔνειμα νενέμηκα νενέμημαι ἐνεμήθην: to distribute, assign, give out; to pasture or tend flocks; (mid.) to possess, enjoy, inhabit, feed upon, manage

δαίς δαιτός ἡ: feast, banquet, meal

ἔισος –η –ον: alike, equal

δαίνυμι δαίσω ἔδαισα: (act.) to give a banquet, distribute (food); (mid.) to share a meal; to feast (on), eat (+ acc.)

ἐπέοικε: to be like, to suit, to be fitting (+ infin.)

δικασπόλος –ου ὁ: one who administers law, a judge

ἀλεγύνω – – – – –: to furnish, prepare; to partake of

αὐτόθι: on the spot, right there

μίμνω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to remain, wait

ἀγρός –οῦ ὁ: field, arable land

πόλινδε: into or to the city

κατέρχομαι κατελεύσομαι/κάτειμι κατῆλθον κατελήλυθα ––– –––: to go down, descend; to go towards the shore

ἕ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

εὐνή εὐνῆς ἡ: pallet, bed, den; (pl.) stones (to anchor a ship), anchors

δέμνιον –ου τό: bed

χλαῖνα –ης ἡ: cloak, mantle

ῥῆγος –ους τό: a rug, blanket

σιγαλόεις –εσσα –εν: glossy, glittering, shining, splendid

χεῖμα –ατος τό: winter-weather, cold, frost 190

εὕδω εὑδήσω εὕδησα: sleep, lie down to sleep

ὅθι: where

δμώς –ωός ὁ: an enslaved person, especially one taken in war

κόνις –ιος/–εως ἡ: ashes

ἄγχι: near

χρώς χρωτός ὁ: the surface of the body, the skin

εἷμα –ατος τό: clothing

ἕννυμι ἕσσω ἕσσα: clothe, put on clothing

ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet

ἐπήν = ἐπεὶ ἄν: when, after

θέρος –ους τό: summer

θάλλω θαλλήσω ἔθηλα τέθηλα ––– –––: to bloom, abound, to be luxuriant

ὀπώρα –ας ἡ: late summer, early autumn

πάντῃ: every way, on every side

ἕ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

γουνός –οῦ ὁ: a hill

ἀλωή –ῆς ἡ: a threshing-floor

οἰνόπεδος –ον: with soil fit to produce wine, wine-producing

φύλλον –ου τό: a leaf

κλίνω κλινῶ ἔκλινα κέκλικα κέκλιμαι ἐκλίνην/ἐκλίθην: bend

χθαμαλός –ή –όν: near the ground, low, flat

εὐνή εὐνῆς ἡ: pallet, bed, den; (pl.) stones (to anchor a ship), anchors

ἀχεύω (or ἀχέω), aor. 2 ἤκαχε, pf. pass. ἀκάχημαι: to be afflicted, be grieved 195

φρήν φρενός ἡ: diaphragm; heart, mind, wits

πένθος –ους τό: grief, sadness, sorrow

ἀέξω ἀεξήσω ἠέξησα ἠέξηκα ἠέξημαι ἀεξήθην: to increase, enlarge, foster, strengthen

νόστος –ου ὁ: return (home)

ποθέω ποθήσω ἐπόθησα πεπὀθηκα πεπόθημαι ἐποθήθην: to desire, to miss

γῆρας –ως τό: old age

ἱκάνω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to come to, arrive at, reach

ὄλλυμι ὀλῶ ὤλεσα (or ὠλόμην) ὀλώλεκα (or ὄλωλα) ––– –––: to demolish, kill; to lose, suffer the loss of (+ acc.); (mid.) to die, perish, be killed

πότμος –ου ὁ: that which befalls one, one's lot, destiny; death

ἐφέπω ἐφέψω ἔπεσπον ––– ––– –––: to follow, pursue; to frequent, go often to, range over

μέγαρον –ου τό: a large room, hall, feast-hall

εὔσκοπος –ον: sharp-seeing, keen-sighted, watchful

ἰοχέαιρα –ας ἡ: arrow-pourer, shooter of arrows

ἑός ἑή ἑόν: his, her, own

ἀγανός –ή –όν: mild, gentle, kindly

βέλος –ους τό: arrow

ἐποίχομαι ἐποιχήσομαι ἐπῴχημαι: to go towards, approach; to ply (the loom)

καταφένω ––– κατέπεφνον: to kill, slay

ἐπέρχομαι ἔπειμι ἐπῆλθον ἐπελήλυθα ––– –––: to approach, arrive; to encounter, come up against, attack 200

τηκεδών –όνος ἡ: a melting away: a wasting away, consumption, decline

στυγερός –ά –όν: hated, abominated, loathed; chilling

μέλος –ους τό: a limb

ἐξαιρέω ἐξαιρήσω ἐξεῖλον ἐξῄρηκα ἐξῄρημαι ἐξῃρέθην: to take out, choose, deliver; to set aside for (+ dat.)

πόθος –ου ὁ: a longing, yearning, fond desire

μῆδος –ους τό: counsels, plans, arts, schemes

φαίδιμος –ον: shining

Ὀδυσσεύς –έως ὁ: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, hero of the Odyssey

ἀγανοφροσύνη –ης ἡ: gentleness, kindliness

μελιηδής –ές: honey-sweet

ἀπαυράω ἀπουρήσω ἀπαύρησα: to take away

ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet

φρήν φρενός ἡ: diaphragm; heart, mind, wits

μερμηρίζω μερμηρίξω ἐμερμήριξα: to ponder, wonder, stress over, debate, have it in mind

καταθνῄσκω καταθανοῦμαι κατέθανον κατατέθνηκα ––– –––: to die 205

τρίς: thrice

ἐφορμάω ἐφορμήσω ἐφώρμησα ἐφώρμηκα ἐφώρμημαι ἐφωρμήθην: to stir up, rouse against; to be eager, desire

ἄνωγα (pf. as pres.), ἠνώγεα (plupf. as impf.): to command, invite, exhort

τρίς: thrice

σκιά –ᾶς ἡ: a shadow

εἴκελος –η –ον: like

ὄνειρος –ου ὁ or ὄνειρον –ου τό: a dream

πέτομαι πετήσομαι ἐπτόμην πέπτηκα πέπτημαι ἐπετάσθην: to fly

ἄχος –ους τό: anguish, distress

κηρόθι: in the heart, with all the heart, heartily

μιν: (accusative singular third person pronoun) him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

φωνέω φωνήσω ἐφώνησα πεφώνηκα πεφώνημαι ἐφωνήθην: to make a sound, speak

πτερόεις πτερόεσσα πτερόεν: winged

προσαυδάω προσαυδήσω προσηύδησα προσηύδηκα προσηύδημαι προσηυδήθην: to speak to, address, accost

μίμνω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to remain, wait 210

μάω – – – – –: be eager, press on

ὄφρα: while; until; so that; ὄφρα … τόφρα, while … for so long

ᾍδης –ου ὁ: Hades

κρυερός –ά –όν: icy, chilling

τέρπω τέρψω ἔτερψα ––– ––– ἐτάρφθην/ἐτέρφθην: to delight; (mid./pass.) to have one's full of

γόος –ου ὁ: wailing, lamentation

εἴδωλον –ου τό: an image, a phantom

ἀγαυός –ή –όν: illustrious, noble

Περσεφόνη –ης ἡ: Persephone, Proserpine

ὀτρύνω ὀτρυνῶ ὤτρυνα ––– ––– –––: to urge on

ὄφρα: while; until; so that; ὄφρα … τόφρα, while … for so long

ὀδύρομαι ὀδυροῦμαι ὠδυράμην ––– ––– κατωδύρθην/ὠδύρθην: grieve

στεναχίζω – – – – –: to sigh, groan, wail

ἀμείβω ἀμείψω ἤμειψα ἤμειφα ἤμειμμαι ἠμείφθην: to respond, answer; to exchange; (mid.) to take turns, alternate; to change, place, pass 215

πότνια –ας ἡ: mistress, queen

κάμμορος –ον: ill-fated

φώς φωτός ὁ: man

Περσεφόνη –ης ἡ: Persephone, Proserpine

Ζεύς Διός ὁ: Zeus

ἀπαφίσκω ἀπαφήσω ἤπαφον: cheat, beguile

βροτός –οῦ ὁ: mortal

σάρξ σαρκός ἡ: flesh

ὀστέον –ου τό: a bone

ἴς ἰνός ἡ: strength, force; sinew, tendon

κρατερός –ά –όν: strong, powerful, mighty 220

μένος –ους τό: might

αἴθω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to light up, kindle

δαμνάω/δαμάζω δαμάσω ἐδάμασα δεδάμακα δεδάμασμαι/δέδμημαι ἐδαμάσθην/ἐδμήθην: to overpower, tame, conquer, subdue

λευκός –ή –όν: white; light, bright

ὀστέον –ου τό: a bone

ἠΰτε: as, like as

ὄνειρος –ου ὁ or ὄνειρον –ου τό: a dream

ἀποπέτομαι ἀποπτήσομαι ἀποπεπόταμαι/ἀποπεπότημαι ἀπεπετάσθην: to fly off

ποτάομαι ποτήσομαι πεπότημαι ἐποτήθην: to fly about

φόωσδε: to the light, to the light of day

λιλαίομαι – – – – –: to desire, to miss; to long for (+ gen. or infin.)

μετόπισθε: behind, in back of; afterwards; toward the west

τεός –ή –όν: = σός, 'your'

Suggested Citation