The Odyssey Page 0,19

the son of wise Anchialus, and he is lord of the oar-loving Taphians.”

So spoke Telemachus, but in his mind he knew the immortal goddess. Meanwhile the suitors to dancing and the boisterous song turned merrily, and waited for the evening to come on. And on their merriment dark evening came. So then, desiring rest, they each departed homeward.

But off the beautiful court where a chamber was built high upon commanding ground, Telemachus now went to bed with many doubts in mind. And walking by his side, with blazing torch, went faithful Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, Peisenor’s son, whom once Laeärtes bought for himself when she was but a girl, and paid the price of twenty oxen. He gave her equal honor with the mistress of his house, but never touched her person or annoyed his wife.

She it was now who bore the blazing torch beside Telemachus; for she of all the handmaids loved him most and was his nurse when little. He opened the doors of the strong chamber, sat down upon the bed, pulled his soft tunic off, and laid it in the wise old woman’s hands. Folding and smoothing out the tunic, she hung it on a peg beside the well-bored bedstead, then left the chamber, and by its silver ring pulled to the door, drawing the bolt home by its strap. So there Telemachus, all the night long, wrapped in a fleece of wool, pondered in mind the course Athene counseled.

BOOK II

The Assembly at Ithaca and the Departure of Telemachus

Soon as the early, rosy-fingered dawn appeared,9 the dear son of Odysseus rose from bed, put on his clothes, slung his sharp sword about his shoulder, under his shining feet bound his fair sandals, and came forth from his chamber in bearing like a god. At once he bade the clear-voiced heralds summon to an assembly the long-haired Achaeans.10 Those summoned, and these gathered very quickly. So when they were assembled and all had come together, he went himself to the assembly, holding in hand a bronze spear,—yet not alone, two swift dogs followed after,—and marvelous was the grace Athene cast about him, that all the people gazed as he drew near. He sat down in his father’s seat; the elders made him way.

The first to speak was lord Aegyptius, a man bowed down with age, who knew a thousand things. His dear son Antiphus, a spearman, had gone with godlike Odysseus in the hollow ships to Ilios, famed for horses. The savage Cyclops killed him in the deep cave and on him made a supper last of all. Three other sons there were; one joined the suitors,—Eurynomus,—and two still kept their father’s farm. Yet not because of these did he forget to mourn and miss that other. With tears for him, he thus addressed the assembly, saying:

“Listen now, men of Ithaca, to what I say. Never has our assembly once been held, no single session, since royal Odysseus went away in hollow ships. Who is it calls us now so strangely? Who has such urgent need? Young or old is he? Has he heard tidings of the army’s coming and here brings news which he was first to learn? Or has he other public business to announce and argue? At any rate, a true, good man he seems. Good luck attend him! May Zeus accomplish all the good his mind intends!”

As thus he spoke, the dear son of Odysseus rejoiced at what was said and kept his seat no longer. He burned to speak. He rose up in the midst of the assembly, and in his hand a herald placed the sceptre,—a herald named Peisenor, discreet of understanding. Then turning first to the old man, he thus addressed him:

“Sir, not far off is he, as you full soon shall know, who called the people hither; for it is I on whom has come sore trouble. No tidings of the army’s coming have I heard, which I would plainly tell to you so soon as I have learned; nor have I other public business to announce and argue. Rather it is my private need, ill falling on my house in twofold ways. For first I lost my noble father, who was formerly your king,—kind father as ever was,—and now there comes a thing more grievous still, which soon will utterly destroy my home and quite cut off my substance. Suitors beset my mother sorely against her will, sons of the very men who are the leaders here. They