The Odyssey by Homer. - HTML preview

BOOK XXIV

Danaans after the son of Peleus himself.

They gathered round the ghost of the son of THEN MERCURY OF CYLLENE summoned the ghosts of Peleus, and the ghost of Agamemnon joined them, the suitors, and in his hand he held the fair golden sorrowing bitterly. Round him were gathered also wand with which he seals men’s eyes in sleep or the ghosts of those who had perished with him in wakes them just as he pleases; with this he roused the house of Aeisthus; and the ghost of Achilles the ghosts and led them, while they followed whin-spoke first.

ing and gibbering behind him. As bats fly squealing

“Son of Atreus,” it said, “we used to say that Jove in the hollow of some great cave, when one of them had loved you better from first to last than any other has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang, hero, for you were captain over many and brave even so did the ghosts whine and squeal as Mer-men, when we were all fighting together before Troy; cury the healer of sorrow led them down into the yet the hand of death, which no mortal can escape, dark abode of death. When they had passed the was laid upon you all too early. Better for you had waters of Oceanus and the rock Leucas, they came you fallen at Troy in the hey-day of your renown, to the gates of the sun and the land of dreams, for the Achaeans would have built a mound over whereon they reached the meadow of asphodel your ashes, and your son would have been heir to where dwell the souls and shadows of them that your good name, whereas it has now been your lot can labour no more.

to come to a most miserable end.” Here they found the ghost of Achilles son of

“Happy son of Peleus,” answered the ghost of Peleus, with those of Patroclus, Antilochus, and Ajax, Agamemnon, “for having died at Troy far from Argos, who was the finest and handsomest man of all the while the bravest of the Trojans and the Achaeans 289

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

fell round you fighting for your body. There you lay raiment. The nine muses also came and lifted up in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and hugely, their sweet voices in lament—calling and answering heedless now of your chivalry. We fought the whole one another; there was not an Argive but wept for of the livelong day, nor should we ever have left off if pity of the dirge they chaunted. Days and nights Jove had not sent a hurricane to stay us. Then, when seven and ten we mourned you, mortals and immor-we had borne you to the ships out of the fray, we tals, but on the eighteenth day we gave you to the laid you on your bed and cleansed your fair skin flames, and many a fat sheep with many an ox did with warm water and with ointments. The Danaans we slay in sacrifice around you. You were burnt in tore their hair and wept bitterly round about you.

raiment of the gods, with rich resins and with honey, Your mother, when she heard, came with her immor-while heroes, horse and foot, clashed their armour tal nymphs from out of the sea, and the sound of a round the pile as you were burning, with the tramp great wailing went forth over the waters so that the as of a great multitude. But when the flames of heaven Achaeans quaked for fear. They would have fled had done their work, we gathered your white bones panic-stricken to their ships had not wise old Nestor at daybreak and laid them in ointments and in pure whose counsel was ever truest checked them saying, wine. Your mother brought us a golden vase to hold

‘Hold, Argives, fly not sons of the Achaeans, this is them—gift of Bacchus, and work of Vulcan himself; his mother coming from the sea with her immortal in this we mingled your bleached bones with those nymphs to view the body of her son.’

of Patroclus who had gone before you, and separate

“Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans feared no more.

we enclosed also those of Antilochus, who had been The daughters of the old man of the sea stood round closer to you than any other of your comrades now you weeping bitterly, and clothed you in immortal that Patroclus was no more.

290

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

“Over these the host of the Argives built a noble Agamemnon and Achilles were astonished at see-tomb, on a point jutting out over the open ing them, and went up to them at once. The ghost Hellespont, that it might be seen from far out upon of Agamemnon recognized Amphimedon son of the sea by those now living and by them that shall Melaneus, who lived in Ithaca and had been his be born hereafter. Your mother begged prizes from host, so it began to talk to him.

the gods, and offered them to be contended for by

“Amphimedon,” it said, “what has happened to the noblest of the Achaeans. You must have been all you fine young men—all of an age too—that you present at the funeral of many a hero, when the are come down here under the ground? One could young men gird themselves and make ready to con-pick no finer body of men from any city. Did Nep-tend for prizes on the death of some great chief-tune raise his winds and waves against you when tain, but you never saw such prizes as silver-footed you were at sea, or did your enemies make an end Thetis offered in your honour; for the gods loved of you on the mainland when you were cattle-lift-you well. Thus even in death your fame, Achilles, ing or sheep-stealing, or while fighting in defence has not been lost, and your name lives evermore of their wives and city? Answer my question, for I among all mankind. But as for me, what solace had have been your guest. Do you not remember how I I when the days of my fighting were done? For Jove came to your house with Menelaus, to persuade willed my destruction on my return, by the hands Ulysses to join us with his ships against Troy? It of Aegisthus and those of my wicked wife.” was a whole month ere we could resume our voy-Thus did they converse, and presently Mercury age, for we had hard work to persuade Ulysses to came up to them with the ghosts of the suitors who come with us.”

had been killed by Ulysses. The ghosts of And the ghost of Amphimedon answered, 291

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

“Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of men, I remem-three years without our finding it out, but as time ber everything that you have said, and will tell you wore on and she was now in her fourth year, in the fully and accurately about the way in which our waning of moons and many days had been accom-end was brought about. Ulysses had been long gone, plished, one of her maids who knew what she was and we were courting his wife, who did not say point doing told us, and we caught her in the act of un-blank that she would not marry, nor yet bring mat-doing her work, so she had to finish it whether she ters to an end, for she meant to compass our de-would or no; and when she showed us the robe she struction: this, then, was the trick she played us.

had made, after she had had it washed, its splendour She set up a great tambour frame in her room and was as that of the sun or moon.

began to work on an enormous piece of fine needle-

“Then some malicious god conveyed Ulysses to work. ‘Sweethearts,’ said she, ‘Ulysses is indeed the upland farm where his swineherd lives. Thither dead, still, do not press me to marry again immedi-presently came also his son, returning from a voy-ately; wait—for I would not have my skill in needle-age to Pylos, and the two came to the town when work perish unrecorded—till I have completed a pall they had hatched their plot for our destruction.

for the hero Laertes, against the time when death Telemachus came first, and then after him, accom-shall take him. He is very rich, and the women of panied by the swineherd, came Ulysses, clad in rags the place will talk if he is laid out without a pall.’

and leaning on a staff as though he were some mis-This is what she said, and we assented; whereupon erable old beggar. He came so unexpectedly that we could see her working upon her great web all none of us knew him, not even the older ones among day long, but at night she would unpick the stitches us, and we reviled him and threw things at him. He again by torchlight. She fooled us in this way for endured both being struck and insulted without a 292

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

word, though he was in his own house; but when groaning as our brains were being battered in, and the will of Aegis-bearing Jove inspired him, he and the ground seethed with our blood. This, Telemachus took the armour and hid it in an inner Agamemnon, is how we came by our end, and our chamber, bolting the doors behind them. Then he bodies are lying still un-cared for in the house of cunningly made his wife offer his bow and a quan-Ulysses, for our friends at home do not yet know tity of iron to be contended for by us ill-fated suit-what has happened, so that they cannot lay us out ors; and this was the beginning of our end, for not and wash the black blood from our wounds, mak-one of us could string the bow- nor nearly do so.

ing moan over us according to the offices due to When it was about to reach the hands of Ulysses, the departed.”

we all of us shouted out that it should not be given

“Happy Ulysses, son of Laertes,” replied the ghost him, no matter what he might say, but Telemachus of Agamemnon, “you are indeed blessed in the pos-insisted on his having it. When he had got it in his session of a wife endowed with such rare excellence hands he strung it with ease and sent his arrow of understanding, and so faithful to her wedded lord through the iron. Then he stood on the floor of the as Penelope the daughter of Icarius. The fame, there-cloister and poured his arrows on the ground, glar-fore, of her virtue shall never die, and the immor-ing fiercely about him. First he killed Antinous, and tals shall compose a song that shall be welcome to then, aiming straight before him, he let fly his deadly all mankind in honour of the constancy of Penelope.

darts and they fell thick on one another. It was plain How far otherwise was the wickedness of the daugh-that some one of the gods was helping them, for ter of Tyndareus who killed her lawful husband; her they fell upon us with might and main throughout song shall be hateful among men, for she has brought the cloisters, and there was a hideous sound of disgrace on all womankind even on the good ones.” 293

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

Thus did they converse in the house of Hades gathering thorns to make a fence for the vineyard, deep down within the bowels of the earth. Mean-at the place where the old man had told them; he while Ulysses and the others passed out of the town therefore found his father alone, hoeing a vine. He and soon reached the fair and well-tilled farm of had on a dirty old shirt, patched and very shabby; Laertes, which he had reclaimed with infinite labour.

his legs were bound round with thongs of oxhide to Here was his house, with a lean-to running all round save him from the brambles, and he also wore sleeves it, where the slaves who worked for him slept and of leather; he had a goat skin cap on his head, and sat and ate, while inside the house there was an old was looking very woe-begone. When Ulysses saw Sicel woman, who looked after him in this his coun-him so worn, so old and full of sorrow, he stood try-farm. When Ulysses got there, he said to his still under a tall pear tree and began to weep. He son and to the other two:

doubted whether to embrace him, kiss him, and

“Go to the house, and kill the best pig that you tell him all about his having come home, or whether can find for dinner. Meanwhile I want to see whether he should first question him and see what he would my father will know me, or fail to recognize me say. In the end he deemed it best to be crafty with after so long an absence.”

him, so in this mind he went up to his father, who He then took off his armour and gave it to was bending down and digging about a plant.

Eumaeus and Philoetius, who went straight on to

“I see, sir,” said Ulysses, “that you are an excel-the house, while he turned off into the vineyard to lent gardener—what pains you take with it, to be make trial of his father. As he went down into the sure. There is not a single plant, not a fig tree, vine, great orchard, he did not see Dolius, nor any of his olive, pear, nor flower bed, but bears the trace of sons nor of the other bondsmen, for they were all your attention. I trust, however, that you will not 294

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

be offended if I say that you take better care of ther was Laertes, son of Arceisius. I received him your garden than of yourself. You are old, unsavoury, hospitably, making him welcome to all the abun-and very meanly clad. It cannot be because you are dance of my house, and when he went away I gave idle that your master takes such poor care of you, him all customary presents. I gave him seven tal-indeed your face and figure have nothing of the slave ents of fine gold, and a cup of solid silver with flow-about them, and proclaim you of noble birth. I ers chased upon it. I gave him twelve light cloaks, should have said that you were one of those who and as many pieces of tapestry; I also gave him should wash well, eat well, and lie soft at night as twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair old men have a right to do; but tell me, and tell me mantles, and an equal number of shirts. To all this true, whose bondman are you, and in whose garden I added four good looking women skilled in all use-are you working? Tell me also about another mat-ful arts, and I let him take his choice.” ter. Is this place that I have come to really Ithaca? I His father shed tears and answered, “Sir, you have met a man just now who said so, but he was a dull indeed come to the country that you have named, fellow, and had not the patience to hear my story but it is fallen into the hands of wicked people. All out when I was asking him about an old friend of this wealth of presents has been given to no pur-mine, whether he was still living, or was already pose. If you could have found your friend here alive dead and in the house of Hades. Believe me when I in Ithaca, he would have entertained you hospita-tell you that this man came to my house once when bly and would have required your presents amply I was in my own country and never yet did any when you left him—as would have been only right stranger come to me whom I liked better. He said considering what you have already given him. But that his family came from Ithaca and that his fa-tell me, and tell me true, how many years is it since 295

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

you entertained this guest—my unhappy son, as heaven drove me off my course as I was leaving ever was? Alas! He has perished far from his own Sicania, and I have been carried here against my country; the fishes of the sea have eaten him, or he will. As for my ship it is lying over yonder, off the has fallen a prey to the birds and wild beasts of open country outside the town, and this is the fifth some continent. Neither his mother, nor I his fa-year since Ulysses left my country. Poor fellow, yet ther, who were his parents, could throw our arms the omens were good for him when he left me. The about him and wrap him in his shroud, nor could birds all flew on our right hands, and both he and I his excellent and richly dowered wife Penelope be-rejoiced to see them as we parted, for we had every wail her husband as was natural upon his death hope that we should have another friendly meeting bed, and close his eyes according to the offices due and exchange presents.”

to the departed. But now, tell me truly for I want to A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he know. Who and whence are you—tell me of your listened. He filled both hands with the dust from town and parents? Where is the ship lying that has off the ground and poured it over his grey head, brought you and your men to Ithaca? Or were you groaning heavily as he did so. The heart of Ulysses a passenger on some other man’s ship, and those was touched, and his nostrils quivered as he looked who brought you here have gone on their way and upon his father; then he sprang towards him, flung left you?”

his arms about him and kissed him, saying, “I am

“I will tell you everything,” answered Ulysses, he, father, about whom you are asking—I have re-

“quite truly. I come from Alybas, where I have a turned after having been away for twenty years. But fine house. I am son of king Apheidas, who is the cease your sighing and lamentation—we have no son of Polypemon. My own name is Eperitus; time to lose, for I should tell you that I have been 296

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

killing the suitors in my house, to punish them for convincing proofs which his son had given him. He their insolence and crimes.” threw his arms about him, and Ulysses had to sup-

“If you really are my son Ulysses,” replied Laertes, port him, or he would have gone off into a swoon;

“and have come back again, you must give me such but as soon as he came to, and was beginning to manifest proof of your identity as shall convince me.” recover his senses, he said, “O father Jove, then you

“First observe this scar,” answered Ulysses, “which gods are still in Olympus after all, if the suitors have I got from a boar’s tusk when I was hunting on really been punished for their insolence and folly.

Mount Parnassus. You and my mother had sent me Nevertheless, I am much afraid that I shall have all to Autolycus, my mother’s father, to receive the the townspeople of Ithaca up here directly, and they presents which when he was over here he had prom-will be sending messengers everywhere throughout ised to give me. Furthermore I will point out to you the cities of the Cephallenians.” the trees in the vineyard which you gave me, and I Ulysses answered, “Take heart and do not trouble asked you all about them as I followed you round yourself about that, but let us go into the house the garden. We went over them all, and you told hard by your garden. I have already told Telemachus, me their names and what they all were. You gave Philoetius, and Eumaeus to go on there and get din-me thirteen pear trees, ten apple trees, and forty fig ner ready as soon as possible.” trees; you also said you would give me fifty rows of Thus conversing the two made their way towards vines; there was corn planted between each row, and the house. When they got there they found they yield grapes of every kind when the heat of Telemachus with the stockman and the swineherd heaven has been laid heavy upon them.” cutting up meat and mixing wine with water. Then Laertes’ strength failed him when he heard the the old Sicel woman took Laertes inside and washed 297

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

him and anointed him with oil. She put him on a by old Dolius and his sons left their work and came good cloak, and Minerva came up to him and gave up, for their mother, the Sicel woman who looked him a more imposing presence, making him taller after Laertes now that he was growing old, had been and stouter than before. When he came back his to fetch them. When they saw Ulysses and were son was surprised to see him looking so like an im-certain it was he, they stood there lost in astonish-mortal, and said to him, “My dear father, some one ment; but Ulysses scolded them good-naturedly and of the gods has been making you much taller and said, “Sit down to your dinner, old man, and never better-looking.”

mind about your surprise; we have been wanting to Laertes answered, “Would, by Father Jove, begin for some time and have been waiting for you.” Minerva, and Apollo, that I were the man I was Then Dolius put out both his hands and went up when I ruled among the Cephallenians, and took to Ulysses. “Sir,” said he, seizing his master’s hand Nericum, that strong fortress on the foreland. If I and kissing it at the wrist, “we have long been wish-were still what I then was and had been in our house ing you home: and now heaven has restored you to yesterday with my armour on, I should have been us after we had given up hoping. All hail, therefore, able to stand by you and help you against the suit-and may the gods prosper you. But tell me, does ors. I should have killed a great many of them, and Penelope already know of your return, or shall we you would have rejoiced to see it.” send some one to tell her?”

Thus did they converse; but the others, when they

“Old man,” answered Ulysses, “she knows already, had finished their work and the feast was ready, left so you need not trouble about that.” On this he off working, and took each his proper place on the took his seat, and the sons of Dolius gathered round benches and seats. Then they began eating; by and Ulysses to give him greeting and embrace him one 298

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

after the other; then they took their seats in due Cephallenians. Let us be up and doing before he order near Dolius their father.

can get away to Pylos or to Elis where the Epeans While they were thus busy getting their dinner rule, or we shall be ashamed of ourselves for ever ready, Rumour went round the town, and noised afterwards. It will be an everlasting disgrace to us if abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suit-we do not avenge the murder of our sons and broth-ors; as soon, therefore, as the people heard of it ers. For my own part I should have no mote plea-they gathered from every quarter, groaning and sure in life, but had rather die at once. Let us be up, hooting before the house of Ulysses. They took the then, and after them, before they can cross over to dead away, buried every man his own, and put the the mainland.”

bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board He wept as he spoke and every one pitied him.

the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take each But Medon and the bard Phemius had now woke of them to his own place. They then met angrily in up, and came to them from the house of Ulysses.

the place of assembly, and when they were got to-Every one was astonished at seeing them, but they gether Eupeithes rose to speak. He was overwhelmed stood in the middle of the assembly, and Medon with grief for the death of his son Antinous, who said, “Hear me, men of Ithaca. Ulysses did not do had been the first man killed by Ulysses, so he said, these things against the will of heaven. I myself saw weeping bitterly, “My friend, this man has done the an immortal god take the form of Mentor and stand Achaeans great wrong. He took many of our best beside him. This god appeared, now in front of him men away with him in his fleet, and he has lost encouraging him, and now going furiously about both ships and men; now, moreover, on his return the court and attacking the suitors whereon they he has been killing all the foremost men among the fell thick on one another.”

299

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

On this pale fear laid hold of them, and old met together in front of the city, and Eupeithes led Halitherses, son of Mastor, rose to speak, for he them on in their folly. He thought he was going to was the only man among them who knew both past avenge the murder of his son, whereas in truth he and future; so he spoke to them plainly and in all was never to return, but was himself to perish in honesty, saying,

his attempt.

“Men of Ithaca, it is all your own fault that things Then Minerva said to Jove, “Father, son of Sat-have turned out as they have; you would not listen urn, king of kings, answer me this question- What to me, nor yet to Mentor, when we bade you check do you propose to do? Will you set them fighting the folly of your sons who were doing much wrong still further, or will you make peace between them?” in the wantonness of their hearts- wasting the sub-And Jove answered, “My child, why should you stance and dishonouring the wife of a chieftain who ask me? Was it not by your own arrangement that they thought would not return. Now, however, let Ulysses came home and took his revenge upon the it be as I say, and do as I tell you. Do not go out suitors? Do whatever you like, but I will tell you against Ulysses, or you may find that you have been what I think will be most reasonable arrangement.

drawing down evil on your own heads.” Now that Ulysses is revenged, let them swear to a This was what he said, and more than half raised solemn covenant, in virtue of which he shall con-a loud shout, and at once left the assembly. But the tinue to rule, while we cause the others to forgive rest stayed where they were, for the speech of and forget the massacre of their sons and brothers.

Halitherses displeased them, and they sided with Let them then all become friends as heretofore, and Eupeithes; they therefore hurried off for their let peace and plenty reign.” armour, and when they had armed themselves, they This was what Minerva was already eager to bring 300

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

about, so down she darted from off the topmost tors, who were eminent for their strength and cour-summits of Olympus.

age all the world over.”

Now when Laertes and the others had done din-

“You say truly, my dear father,” answered ner, Ulysses began by saying, “Some of you go out Telemachus, “and you shall see, if you will, that I and see if they are not getting close up to us.” So am in no mind to disgrace your family.” one of Dolius’s sons went as he was bid. Standing Laertes was delighted when he heard this. “Good on the threshold he could see them all quite near, heavens, he exclaimed, “what a day I am enjoying: and said to Ulysses, “Here they are, let us put on I do indeed rejoice at it. My son and grandson are our armour at once.”

vying with one another in the matter of valour.” They put on their armour as fast as they could-On this Minerva came close up to him and said, that is to say Ulysses, his three men, and the six

“Son of Arceisius—best friend I have in the world—

sons of Dolius. Laertes also and Dolius did the same-pray to the blue-eyed damsel, and to Jove her fa-warriors by necessity in spite of their grey hair.

ther; then poise your spear and hurl it.” When they had all put on their armour, they opened As she spoke she infused fresh vigour into him, the gate and sallied forth, Ulysses leading the way.

and when he had prayed to her he poised his spear Then Jove’s daughter Minerva came up to them, and hurled it. He hit Eupeithes’ helmet, and the having assumed the form and voice of Mentor.

spear went right through it, for the helmet stayed it Ulysses was glad when he saw her, and said to his not, and his armour rang rattling round him as he son Telemachus, “Telemachus, now that are about fell heavily to the ground. Meantime Ulysses and to fight in an engagement, which will show every his son fell the front line of the foe and smote them man’s mettle, be sure not to disgrace your ances-with their swords and spears; indeed, they would 301

The Odyssey – Book XXIV

have killed every one of them, and prevented them from ever getting home again, only Minerva raised To read more Electronic

her voice aloud, and made every one pause. “Men of Ithaca,” she cried, cease this dreadful war, and Classics from the Penn State settle the matter at once without further bloodshed.” On this pale fear seized every one; they were so series, go to our web site:

frightened that their arms dropped from their hands and fell upon the ground at the sound of the

http://www2.hn.psu.edu/fac-

goddess’s voice, and they fled back to the city for their lives. But Ulysses gave a great cry, and gather-

ulty/jmanis/jimspdf.htm

ing himself together swooped down like a soaring eagle. Then the son of Saturn sent a thunderbolt of fire that fell just in front of Minerva, so she said to To return to our Homer site, Ulysses, “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, stop this warful strife, or Jove will be angry with you.” go to:

Thus spoke Minerva, and Ulysses obeyed her gladly. Then Minerva assumed the form and voice

http://www2.hn.psu.edu/fac-

of Mentor, and presently made a covenant of peace

ulty/jmanis/homer.htm

between the two contending parties.

THE END

302