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song from her room upstairs； and came down by the great staircase； not
alone； but attended by two of her handmaids。 When she reached the
suitors she stood by one of the bearing posts that supported the
roof of the cloisters with a staid maiden on either side of her。 She
held a veil； moreover； before her face； and was weeping bitterly。
〃Phemius；〃 she cried； 〃you know many another feat of gods and
heroes； such as poets love to celebrate。 Sing the suitors some one
of these； and let them drink their wine in silence； but cease this sad
tale； for it breaks my sorrowful heart； and reminds me of my lost
husband whom I mourn ever without ceasing； and whose name was great
over all Hellas and middle Argos。〃
〃Mother；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃let the bard sing what he has a mind
to； bards do not make the ills they sing of； it is Jove； not they； who
makes them； and who sends weal or woe upon mankind according to his
own good pleasure。 This fellow means no harm by singing the
ill…fated return of the Danaans； for people always applaud the
latest songs most warmly。 Make up your mind to it and bear it； Ulysses
is not the only man who never came back from Troy； but many another
went down as well as he。 Go； then； within the house and busy
yourself with your daily duties； your loom； your distaff； and the
ordering of your servants； for speech is man's matter； and mine
above all others… for it is I who am master here。〃
She went wondering back into the house； and laid her son's saying in
her heart。 Then； going upstairs with her handmaids into her room；
she mourned her dear husband till Minerva shed sweet sleep over her
eyes。 But the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered cloisters；
and prayed each one that he might be her bed fellow。
Then Telemachus spoke； 〃Shameless；〃 he cried； 〃and insolent suitors；
let us feast at our pleasure now； and let there be no brawling； for it
is a rare thing to hear a man with such a divine voice as Phemius has；
but in the morning meet me in full assembly that I may give you formal
notice to depart； and feast at one another's houses； turn and turn
about； at your own cost。 If on the other hand you choose to persist in
spunging upon one man； heaven help me； but Jove shall reckon with
you in full； and when you fall in my father's house there shall be
no man to avenge you。〃
The suitors bit their lips as they heard him； and marvelled at the
boldness of his speech。 Then； Antinous； son of Eupeithes； said； 〃The
gods seem to have given you lessons in bluster and tall talking； may
Jove never grant you to be chief in Ithaca as your father was before
you。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃Antinous； do not chide with me； but； god
willing； I will be chief too if I can。 Is this the worst fate you
can think of for me？ It is no bad thing to be a chief； for it brings
both riches and honour。 Still； now that Ulysses is dead there are many
great men in Ithaca both old and young； and some other may take the
lead among them； nevertheless I will be chief in my own house； and
will rule those whom Ulysses has won for me。〃
Then Eurymachus； son of Polybus； answered； 〃It rests with heaven
to decide who shall be chief among us； but you shall be master in your
own house and over your own possessions； no one while there is a man
in Ithaca shall do you violence nor rob you。 And now； my good
fellow； I want to know about this stranger。 What country does he
come from？ Of what family is he； and where is his estate？ Has he
brought you news about the return of your father； or was he on
business of his own？ He seemed a well…to…do man； but he hurried off so
suddenly that he was gone in a moment before we could get to know
him。〃
〃My father is dead and gone；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃and even if some
rumour reaches me I put no more faith in it now。 My mother does indeed
sometimes send for a soothsayer and question him； but I give his
prophecyings no heed。 As for the stranger； he was Mentes； son of
Anchialus； chief of the Taphians； an old friend of my father's。〃 But
in his heart he knew that it had been the goddess。
The suitors then returned to their singing and dancing until the
evening； but when night fell upon their pleasuring they went home to
bed each in his own abode。 Telemachus's room was high up in a tower
that looked on to the outer court； hither； then； he hied； brooding and
full of thought。 A good old woman； Euryclea； daughter of Ops； the
son of Pisenor； went before him with a couple of blazing torches。
Laertes had bought her with his own money when she was quite young； he
gave the worth of twenty oxen for her； and shewed as much respect to
her in his household as he did to his own wedded wife； but he did
not take her to his bed for he feared his wife's resentment。 She it
was who now lighted Telemachus to his room； and she loved him better
than any of the other women in the house did； for she had nursed him
when he was a baby。 He opened the door of his bed room and sat down
upon the bed； as he took off his shirt he gave it to the good old
woman； who folded it tidily up； and hung it for him over a peg by
his bed side； after which she went out； pulled the door to by a silver
catch； and drew the bolt home by means of the strap。 But Telemachus as
he lay covered with a woollen fleece kept thinking all night through
of his intended voyage of the counsel that Minerva had given him。
BOOK II。
NOW when the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared；
Telemachus rose and dressed himself。 He bound his sandals on to his
comely feet； girded his sword about his shoulder； and left his room
looking like an immortal god。 He at once sent the criers round to call
the people in assembly； so they called them and the people gathered
thereon； then； when they were got together； he went to the place of
assembly spear in hand… not alone； for his two hounds went with him。
Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all
marvelled at him as he went by； and when he took his place' in his
father's seat even the oldest councillors made way for him。
Aegyptius； a man bent double with age； and of infinite experience；
the first to speak His son Antiphus had gone with Ulysses to Ilius；
land of noble steeds； but the savage Cyclops had killed him when
they were all shut up in the cave； and had cooked his last dinner
for him； He had three sons left； of whom two still worked on their
father's land； while the third； Eurynomus； was one of the suitors；
nevertheless their father could not get over the loss of Antiphus； and
was still weeping for him when he began his speech。
〃Men of Ithaca；〃 he said； 〃hear my words。 From the day Ulysses
left us there has been no meeting of our councillors until now； who
then can it be； whether old or young； that finds it so necessary to
convene us？ Has he got wind of some host approaching； and does he wish
to warn us； or would he speak upon some other matter of public moment？
I am sure he is an excellent person； and I hope Jove will grant him
his heart's desire。〃
Telemachus took this speech as of good omen and rose at once； for he
was bursting with what he had to say。 He stood in the middle of the
assembly and the good herald Pisenor brought him his staff。 Then；
turning to Aegyptius； 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃it is I； as you will shortly
learn； who have convened you； for it is I who am the most aggrieved。 I
have not got wind of any host approaching about which I would warn
you； nor is there any matter of public moment on which I would
speak。 My grieveance is purely personal； and turns on two great
misfortunes which have fallen upon my house。 The first of these is the
loss of my excellent father； who was chief among all you here present；
and was like a father to every one of you； the second is much more
serious； and ere long will be the utter ruin of my estate。 The sons of
all the chief men among you are pestering my mother to marry them
against her will。 They are afraid to go to her father Icarius；
asking him to choose the one he likes best； and to provide marriage
gifts for his daughter； but day by day they keep hanging about my
father's house； sacrificing our oxen； sheep； and fat goats for th