Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Homer -- Translations into English; Odysseus, King of Ithaca (Mythological character)
Then godlike Theoclymenus spake to him again: “Even so I too have fled
from my country, for the manslaying of one of mine own kin. And many
brethren and kinsmen of the slain are in Argos, the pastureland of
horses, and rule mightily over the Achaeans. Wherefore now am I an
exile to shun death and black fate at their hands, for it is my doom
yet to wander among men. Now set me on board ship, since I supplicate
thee in my flight, lest they slay me utterly; for methinks they follow
hard after me.”
And wise Telemachus answered him, saying: “Surely I will not drive thee
away from our good ship, if thou art fain to come. Follow thou with us
then, and in Ithaca thou shalt be welcome to such things as we have.”
Therewith he took from him his spear of bronze, and laid it along the
deck of the curved ship, and himself too climbed the seafaring ship.
Then he sat him down in the stern and made Theoclymenus to sit beside
him; and his company loosed the hawsers. Then Telemachus called unto
his company, and bade them lay hands on the tackling, and speedily they
hearkened to his call. So they raised the mast of pine tree, and set it
in the hole of the cross plank and made it fast with forestays, and
hauled up the white sails with twisted ropes of ox-hide. And grey-eyed
Athene sent them a favouring breeze, rushing violently through the
clear sky that the ship might speedily finish her course over the salt
water of the sea. So they passed by Crouni and Chalcis, a land of fair
streams.
And the sun set and all the ways were darkened. And the vessel drew
nigh to Pheae, being sped before the breeze of Zeus, and then passed
goodly Elis where the Epeans bear rule. From thence he drave on again
to the Pointed Isles, pondering whether he should escape death or be
cut off.
Now Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were supping in the hut, and the
other men sat at meat with them. So when they had put from them the
desire of meat and drink, Odysseus spake among them, to prove the
swineherd, whether he would still entertain him diligently, and bid him
abide there in the steading or send him forward to the city:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account