The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 18

by Homer

BOOK XVIII.

 

ARGUMENT.

While Ulysses is begging among the suitors, another beggar named Irus comes; they fight, and the latter is conquered by a single blow. Having cast out Irus, Ulysses threatens Amphinomus with vengeance, asserting that the king will shortly appear. Penelope comes to the suitors, and reminds them of the presents she ought to receive from each; and they accordingly send their servants for presents. Eurymachus casts a stool at Ulysses, which hits the cup-bearer; a confusion ensues, and the suitors depart to their own dwellings.

And there also^[1] came a public beggar, who begged through the city of Ithaca, and he surpassed others^[2] in his raving belly, to eat and drink without ceasing:^[3] nor had he might or force; but he was very large in form to behold. And Arnasus was his name; for this his venerable mother gave him from his birth: but all the young men called him Irus, because he went as a messenger,^[4] whenever any one ordered him any where. Who coming wished to drive Ulysses from his own house, and chiding him, he spoke winged words:

"Go, old man, from the portico, lest thou soon be drawn by the foot: dost not thou perceive that all are winking at me, and desire me to drag thee out? but I however am ashamed. But rise, lest soon between us there be contention even with our hands."

But him much-planning Ulysses regarding, sternly addressed: "Sirrah, I neither do nor speak any evil to thee, nor do I grudge that any one should give to thee, although thou receivest much. This threshold will contain us both; nor is it fit that thou shouldst grudge what belongs to others: but thou seemest to me to be a wanderer, even as I; but the gods have the power to bestow wealth.^[5] But do not challenge me too much to [strife of] of hands, lest thou shouldst make me wroth, lest, although being aged, I shall defile thy breast and lips with blood; and to-morrow there would be still more quiet for me: for I do not at all think that thou wilt return a second time to the house of Ulysses, son of Laertes."

But him the wanderer Irus enraged addressed: "O gods! how glibly this gluttonous fellow harangues, like unto an old woman covered with soot;^[6] against whom I would devise evil, smiting him with both [hands], and would drive all the teeth out of his jaws upon the ground, as of a swine that eats the wheat in the field. Now gird thyself, that all these may behold us fighting; but how wouldst thou contend with a younger man?"

Thus they before the lofty gates on the polished threshold were irritated [each other] with all their mind. And the sacred might of Antinous set them twain together, and laughing out pleasantly, he addressed the suitors:

"O friends, such a thing has never before been done: what a delight has the deity brought to this house! The stranger and Irus are contending with one another, so as to come to blows with their hands; and we will soon set them together."

Thus he spoke; and they all rose up laughing; and they formed a ring round the ill-clad beggars. And them Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed:

"Hear me, noble suitors, whilst I say something. These paunches of goats are cooking on the fire; and having filled them with fat and blood, we lay them aside for supper: but whichever conquers, and is the superior, let him, rising up, take whichever of them he chooses; and afterwards he shall always feast amongst us, nor will we suffer any other beggar to come amongst us to ask alms."

Thus spoke Antinous; and his discourse pleased them. But them much-planning Ulysses, thinking cunningly, addressed:

"O friends, it is not possible for an old man, spent with toil, to fight with a younger man; but my ill-working belly excites me, that I should be subdued by blows. But come now, all of you swear a strong oath to me, that no one gratifying Irus will wickedly strike me with his stout hand, and violently subdue me for him."

Thus he spoke; and they all swore that they would not [do so], as he desired them. But when they had sworn, and had concluded the oath, them the sacred might of Telemachus addressed in turn:

"O stranger, if thy heart and noble mind incites thee to drive him out, do not fear any one else of the Grecians: since whoever strikes thee will contend with greater numbers. I am the host, and the kings Eurymachus and Antinous, both prudent men, agree with me."

Thus he spoke; and they all approved: but Ulysses girded his middle around with rags, and showed his beautiful and large thighs; and his broad shoulders, and breast, and strong arms appeared: but Minerva, standing near him, increased the limbs of the shepherd of the people. And all the suitors were excessively astonished, and thus some one said, looking to another near him:

"Soon indeed will Irus, unhappily so called,^[7] have evil drawn on himself, such a thigh does the old man show from out his rags."

Thus they spoke; but the mind of Irus was sadly moved, but even so the attendants, having girded him, brought him by force, although afraid: and his flesh trembled on his limbs. But Antinous chided him, and spoke and said:

"Now, O mighty boaster,^[8] mayest thou no longer live, or exist, if indeed thou tremblest at and greatly fearest this old man, overcome with the toil which comes upon him. But I tell thee plainly, and this shall be accomplished; if he conquers thee, and is superior to thee, I will send thee to Epirus, casting you into a black ship, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals; who will cut off thy nose and ears with the cruel brass, and drawing out thy privy parts, will give them raw to the dogs to feed upon."

Thus he spoke: but trembling still more seized upon his limbs: and they brought him into a middle spot, and both held up their hands. Then much-enduring divine Ulysses meditated, whether he should strike him so that life should leave him falling there; or should strike him lightly, and prostrate him on the earth. And thus to him considering it seemed to be better to strike him lightly, that the Grecians might not have any notion of him.^[9] Then both uplifting [their hands], Irus struck him on his right shoulder; but he struck his neck under the ear, and broke his bones within: and the purple blood immediately came through his mouth, and he fell stretched in the dust groaning, and gnashed his teeth together, kicking the earth with his feet: but the noble suitors lifting up their hands were ready to die with laughter: but Ulysses, taking him by the foot, dragged him through out of the portico, until he reached the court and the doors of the portico; and he set him down, reclining him against the fence of the court; and he put his staff in his hand, and addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Sit now here, and keep off the dogs and swine; nor do thou, being a pitiful wretch, be the prince of strangers and beggars, lest by chance thou shouldst reap some even greater evil."

He spoke; and threw his unseemly satchel around his shoulders, very tattered; and there was a twisted cord to hold it.^[10] And going back to the threshold, he sat down; but they went within laughing pleasantly, and greeted him with words:

"May Jove and the other immortal gods grant thee, O stranger, whatever thou most desirest, and is dear to thy mind, thou, who hast made this insatiable fellow cease to beg amongst the people; for we will soon take him over to Epirus, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals."

Thus they spoke; but divine Ulysses rejoiced in the omen; and Antinous placed a large paunch near him, full of fat and blood; and Amphinomus, taking two loaves out of a basket, placed them near him, and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:

"Hail, father stranger! may there be happiness for thee hereafter, but now thou art possessed by many ills."

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O Amphinomus, thou seemest to me to be very prudent: for [thou art] of such a sire: since I have heard his excellent renown, that he is Dulichian Nisus, both brave and opulent: from him they say that thou art born; but thou art like unto an eloquent man. Therefore I tell thee; and do thou consider it, and listen to me. The earth nourishes nothing weaker than man, of all the things, whatever breathe and creep upon the earth. For he says that he shall never suffer any ill hereafter, while the gods give him excellence, and his knees move; but when the blessed gods bring to pass grievous things also, then he bears them too, unwillingly, with a suffering mind. For such is the mind of men upon the earth, as is the day which the father of men and of gods brings on.^[11] For I once was prosperous amongst men, and did many infatuate things, yielding to violence and strength, trusting in my father and my brothers. Therefore let not any man be at all lawless, but let him in silence keep the gifts of the gods, whatever they give him. What impious things I perceive the suitors devising, wasting the possessions and dishonouring the wife of a man, whom I do not think will be long absent from his friends and his paternal land; but [he is] very near! yet may the deity take thee out away homeward in secret, nor mayest thou meet him, when he returns to his dear paternal land; for I do not think that the suitors and he will separate without blood, when he comes under the roof."

Thus he spoke; and having poured out a libation, he drank sweet wine: and again he placed the cup in the hands of the leader of the people. But he went through the house, grieving in his dear heart, nodding with his head: for his mind already foreboded. But not thus did he escape Fate; for Minerva bound him, so that he should be bravely overcome by the hand and spear of Telemachus. And he sat down again on the throne from whence he rose. But the blue-eyed goddess Minerva put it in the mind of the daughter of Icarus, prudent Penelope, to appear to the suitors, that as much as possible she might lay open the mind of the suitors, and be more honoured by her husband and son, than she was before. And she laughed feignedly, and spoke and said:

"Eurynome, my mind desires, though [it did not] before, to appear to the suitors, however detested. But I would speak a word to my son, which would be better, not altogether to associate with the overbearing suitors, who speak well indeed, but intend evilly afterwards."

But her the housekeeper Eurynome addressed in turn: "Of a truth indeed, my child, thou hast spoken all these things rightly; but go, and tell thy son, nor conceal it, having washed thy body and anointed thy cheeks. Do not go thus, defiled as to thy face with tears; since it is worse to grieve for ever without ceasing. For now thy son is of such an age, as thou especially didst pray to the immortals, when he was born, that thou shouldst see him with a beard."

But her prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "O Eurynome, do not advise me this, although anxious for me, to wash my body and anoint myself with oil: for the gods who possess Olympus, have destroyed my beauty, since he departed in his hollow ships. But command Autonoe and Hippodamia to come to me, that they may stand near me in the palace, for I will not go alone amongst men; for I am ashamed."

Thus she spoke; and the old woman went through out of the palace, to bear word to the women, and to urge them to return. Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva meditated something else; she shed sweet sleep upon the daughter of Icarus, and lying down she slumbered, and all her limbs were loosed there in the couch: in the mean time the divine one of goddesses gave her immortal gifts, that the Grecians might admire her: first she anointed her beauteous face with ambrosial loveliness, such as that with which beautiful-crowned Venus is anointed, when she goes to the delightful chorus of the Graces. And she made her taller and larger to look upon: and she made her whiter than sawn ivory. The divine one of goddesses thus having done, departed. And the white-armed handmaidens came from the palace, talking as they came:^[12] but sweet sleep left her, and she wiped her cheeks with her hands, and spoke:

"Truly a very soft slumber has covered me who suffer grievous things; would that chaste Diana would now immediately give me as soft a death, that no longer lamenting in my mind, I might waste away my life, regretting the various excellence of a dear husband: since he was conspicuous among the Grecians."

Thus having spoken, she descended from the splendid^[13] upper-rooms, not alone: [for] two handmaidens followed with her. But when the divine one of women reached the suitors, she stood near the pillar of the strong-made roof, holding up a slender veil before her cheeks: and a prudent handmaiden stood on each side of her. And their knees were loosed, and their minds were soothed with love: and all desired to lie near her on her couch.

But she then addressed her dear son Telemachus: "O Telemachus, no longer is thy mind firm, nor thy counsel: when thou wert still a child, thou didst even more meditate what was profitable in thy mind: but now, when thou art large, and hast reached the measure of youth, and a foreign man would say, that thou art the offspring of a happy man, looking at thy size and beauty; thy mind and thy counsel are no longer proper. What a deed is this which has now been done in the palace, thou who hast suffered a stranger to be treated thus in an unseemly way? How now? if any stranger sitting in our house, thus suffer from terrible violence, it would be a shame and disgrace to thee amongst men."

But her prudent Telemachus addressed in answer: "My mother, I am not indignant that thou shouldst be angry; but I consider and know every thing in my mind, both what is good and what is worse: (but before I was still a babe:) but I cannot perceive all things that are prudent; for these astound me, meditating evils, sitting one with another; and I have no assistants. The conflict however between the stranger and Irus was not made by the will of the suitors; but he was superior in strength. Would that, O father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, the suitors may now thus nod their heads, overcome in our palace, some in the court, and some within the house, and the limbs of each were loosed; as now that Irus sits at the court gates nodding with his head, like unto a drunken man, nor can he stand upright on his feet, nor return home, wherever he has to return: since his limbs are loosed."

Thus then they spoke to one another, but Eurymachus addressed Penelope in words:

"O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, if all the Grecians in Iasian Argos should behold thee, more suitors would feast in thine house in the morning, since thou excellest women, in form and size, and equal mind within."

But him prudent Penelope then answered: "O Eurymachus, the immortals indeed destroyed my excellence, and form, and person, when the Grecians embarked for Troy: and amongst them was my husband Ulysses. If he should come and manage my household, so would my fame be greater and more noble; but now I am grieved, for so many evils has the deity made to rush upon me. When indeed he went away, leaving his paternal land, taking my right hand by the wrist, he addressed me: 'O lady, I think not that all the well-greaved Greeks will return from Troy unharmed, for they say that the Trojans are warriors, both javelin-men, and drawers of arrows, and mounters on swift-footed steeds, who would very soon determine the great contest of equal war. Therefore I know not, whether God will let me return, or whether I shall be taken there in Troy: but let all things here be a care to thee. Be mindful of my father and mother in the palace, as now, or still more, when I am away. But when thou seest our son with a beard, marry whom thou wilt, leaving him in thine house.' Thus he spoke; but all these things are now accomplished. It shall be night when hateful marriage shall meet with me undone; from whom Jove has taken away fortune. But this severe grief comes upon my heart and mind: nor was this the usual custom of suitors hitherto, who wish to woo a good wife, and the daughter of a rich man, and contend with each other: they indeed bring oxen and rich sheep, as a feast for the friends of the damsel, and give glorious gifts; but do not consume the livelihood of others with impunity."

Thus she spoke; and much-enduring divine Ulysses rejoiced, because she drew gifts from them, and soothed their mind with mild words; but his^[14] thoughts meditated other things.

But her Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed in turn: "O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, receive gifts from whoever of the Greeks chooses to bring them hither; for it is not well to refuse a present. But we will neither go to our employments, or any where else, before thou art wedded to whoever is the best of the Grecians."

Thus spoke Antinous, and his discourse pleased them: and each sent a herald to bring presents. For Antinous indeed, he brought a large, beautiful, variegated robe; and there were twelve golden clasps in all upon it, fitted with well-bent eyes.^[15] And for Eurymachus, he immediately brought a much-variegated necklace of gold set with amber, like as the sun. And two servants brought ear-rings for Eurydamus, set with triple eye-like drops, beautifully wrought, and much beauty shone from them. And the servants of Pisander, the king, son of Polyctor, brought a collar, a very beautiful ornament. And different of the Grecians brought different handsome gifts. The divine one of women then ascended to the upper rooms; and with her the handmaidens carried the very beautiful presents. But they turning themselves to the dance and lovely song were delighted; and they remained until evening came: and black evening came over them while being delighted. Immediately they placed three braziers^[16] in the palace, that they might give light: and they put dry wood around, dried some time ago, very arid, lately cleft with brass: and they mixed brands with them: and the women-servants of patient Ulysses lit them up by turns; but the noble much-planning Ulysses himself addressed them:

"Ye women-servants of Ulysses, the long-absent king, go to the house, where is the venerable queen: and near her turn the distaff; and sitting in the palace, delight her, or comb the wool with your hands. But I will give light to all these. For even if they desire to wait till beautiful-throned morn, they shall not overcome me: for I am able to endure much."

Thus he spoke; but they laughed, and looked at one another. But fair-cheeked Melantho chided him shamefully: her Dolius indeed begot, but Penelope brought her up, and nurtured her as her own child, and gave her play-things to delight her mind: but not even thus did she possess the grief of Penelope in her breast. But she was mingled with Eurymachus and loved him; she then chided Ulysses with reproachful words:

"Wretched stranger, thou art some one stricken out of thy senses: thou dost not wish to sleep, going to a brazier's house, or to the public meeting-place; but here thou [boldly speakest much amongst many men; nor dost thou fear at all in thy mind: either wine has laid hold of thine understanding, or thou hast always such a disposition, thou who utterest vain words]. Dost thou exult vainly, because thou hast conquered the vagrant Irus? [Take care], lest some other better than Irus should soon rise up, who, cutting thee about the head with his sturdy hands, will send thee out of the house, besmearing thee with much blood."

But her much-planning Ulysses, sternly beholding, addressed: "Surely I will soon go thither, impudent one, and tell Telemachus, what things thou speakest, that he may forthwith cut thee up limb by limb."

Thus having spoken, he terrified^[17] the women with his words: and they went through the house; and the limbs of each were loosed under them through fear; for they said [within themselves] that he spoke truly. But he stood looking upon all, giving light near to the burning hearths: moreover his heart meditated in his breast things which were not to be unaccomplished. But Minerva did not suffer the haughty suitors altogether to refrain from their mind-paining insolence, that grief might still more come upon the heart of Ulysses, son of Laertes. And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak to them, scoffing at Ulysses; and he caused laughter amongst his companions.

"Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen, whilst I speak the things which the mind in my breast commands me. This man does not come to the house of Ulysses without the will of some god: to me however the flame of the torches seems to be from him, and his head; since he has no hair, not even a little."

He spoke, and at the same time addressed city-destroying Ulysses: "Stranger, art thou willing to serve, if I would take thee, at the extreme part of the country, (but thou shalt have sufficient pay,) collecting heaps of stones, and planting tall trees? There indeed I would supply thee with food for a whole year, and would put garments on thee, and would give thee sandals for thy feet. But since indeed thou hast learnt evil works, thou wilt not be willing to hasten to work; but thou desirest to beg through the people, until thou hast wherewith to feed thine insatiable belly."

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "Eurymachus, if there were to be a contention of work between us in the spring season, when the days are long, in the grass, and I had a well-bent sickle, and thou also hadst such a one, that we might make trial of our work, fasting until dark, and there was grass at hand; or if again there were oxen to drive, which are the best, sleek, large, both well fed with grass, of equal age, bearing equal burdens, whose strength was not weak, and there was a field of four acres, and the glebe yielded to the plough, then thou wouldst see me, if I would cut through continual furrows. If again the son of Saturn should to-day raise up war from any place, but I had a shield and two spears, and a helmet, all brass, fitted upon my temples; then thou shouldst see me mixed amongst the first fore-fighters; nor wouldst thou speak, reproaching my belly. But thou insultest me very much, and thy mind is cruel; and thou thinkest that thou art some great and mighty person, because thou dost associate with few, and those not excellent: but if Ulysses should come and reach his paternal land, soon the gates, although they are very wide, would be narrow for thee when flying out of doors through the portico."

Thus he spoke; but Eurymachus was more wroth at heart, and sternly regarding him, he addressed to him winged words:

"Ah! wretched one, surely I will soon accomplish some evil upon thee, such things dost thou speak boldly amongst men; nor dost thou at all fear in thy mind; wine in truth has laid hold of thine understanding, or thou hast always such a disposition, thou who utterest vain words. [Dost thou exult vainly, because thou hast conquered the wanderer Irus?"]

Thus having spoken, he took a stool: but Ulysses sat down at the knees of Dulichian Amphinomus, fearing Eurymachus: and he struck the cup-bearer on his right hand; and the bowl, falling on the ground, resounded; but he, groaning, fell supine in the dust. And the suitors made a tumult in the dark palace; and thus some one said, looking to another near him:

"Would that the stranger, wandering, had perished elsewhere, before he came [here]; then would he not have caused so great a tumult. But now we are contending about a beggar; nor will there be any delight in an excellent banquet, since the worst things prevail."

Then the sacred might of Telemachus addressed them: "Sirs, ye are mad, and no longer eat and drink in quiet: some one of the gods irritates you. But having feasted well, go home, and lie down, when your mind commands you; but I drive no one away."^[18]

Thus he spoke; and they all biting their lips with their teeth, marvelled at Telemachus for what he boldly spoke. But Amphinomus, the illustrious son of king Nisus, son of Aretias, harangued and addressed them:

"My friends, no one surely attacking [him] with hostile words, would be angry with what has been spoken justly. Neither insult the stranger any more, nor any other of the servants who are in the house of divine Ulysses. But come, let the cup-bearer make the first offerings with the cups, that having made libations, we going home may lie down: and let us leave the stranger in the palace of Ulysses for Telemachus to take care of: for he has come to his kind house."

Thus he spoke; and he spoke words pleasing to all of them. And the hero Mulius, the Dulichian herald, mixed a bowl for them; but he was the servant of Amphinomus; and he distributed to all in succession: and they having made libations to the blessed gods, drank sweet wine. But when they had made libations, and drunk as much as their mind wished, each went to his own home to lie down to rest.

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1. ἐπὶ = besides Ulysses.
2. The notion of "others" is implied in μετά.
3. Hesych. ἀζηχὲς, διηνεκές, ἀδιάλειπτον. The word also means dry, parched. Cf. Alberti, t. i. p. 119, intpp. on Apoll. Rhod. ii. 99.
4. "Verte: quia pro nuncio ibat. Irus ergo sonat nuncium, atque Iris ergo nunciam." Ernesti. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 71.
5. This seems the best way of expressing μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν. Mr. Burges would render it, "delay to give," quoting Orest. 420, Μέλλει τὸ θεῖον γ' ἔστι τοιοῦτον φύσει.
6. Perhaps, "an old cinder-wench." See Eustathius, with Hesych. t. i. p. 858, and t. ii. p. 132.
7. Literally, "Irus no-Irus."
8. From βοῦς = great, large, (see note on Æsch. Ag. p. 96, n. 7, ed. Bohn,) and γαίω or γάω = to boast, brag. Cf. Apollon. Lex. s. v. and Hesych. βουγάϊον, μεγάλως ἐφ' ἑαυτῷ γαυριῶντα.
9. i. e. guess who he really was.
10. See on xvii. 199.
11. Thus translated by Cicero apud August. de Civ. Dei, v. 8:
    "Tales sunt hominum menteis, qualis pater ipse
    Jupiter auctiferus lustravit lumine terras."
    
    

    Cf. Max. Tyr. Diss. i. p. 6, and Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 252, sq.

12. Literally, "coming with talking."
13. See note on xvi. 445.
14. It is doubtful whether the νόος refers to Penelope or Ulysses.
15. See Loewe.
16. λαμπτῆρας, ἐσχάρας μετεώρους. Scholiast.
17. Literally, "fluttered."
18. i. e. go when you choose.