Odyssey BK 1: Athena Inspires the Prince

The Odyssey by Homer translated by Robert Fagels, read by Ian McKellen. Book 1 Athena inspires the Prince. Sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns, driven time and again off course once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy. Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, hearts it on the open sea, fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home. But he could not save them from disaster hard as he strove, the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all, the blind fools they devoured, the cattle of the sun, and the sun God blotted out the day of their return. Launch out on his story, muse, daughter of Zeus, start from where you will. Sing for our time too. By now all the survivors all who avoided headlong death were safe at home, escaped the wars and waves, but one man alone. His heart set on his wife and his return, Calypso, the bewitching nymph, the lustrous goddess, held him back, deepened her arching caverns, craving him for a husband. But then when the wheeling seasons brought the year around, that year spun out by the gods when he should reach his home, Ithaca, though not even there would he be free of trials, even among his loved ones, then every god took pity. All except Poseidon, he raged on, seething against the great Odysseus till he reached his native land. But now Poseidon had gone to visit the Ethiopians' worlds away. Ethiopians offered the farthest limits of mankind, a people split into one part where the sun god sets and part where the sun god rises. There Poseidon went to receive an offering, bulls and rams by the hundred, far away at the feast the sea-lord sat, and took his pleasure. But the other gods, at home in Olympian Zeus' halls, met foeful assembly there and among them now, the men and gods was first to speak, sorely troubled, remembering handsome majesticus, the man agamemnon son renowned arrestees kill. Recalling Egesus Zeus harangued the immortal powers, ah how shameless the way these mortals blame the gods. From us alone they say come all their miseries, yes but they themselves with their own reckless ways and their pains beyond their proper share. Look at Egesus now. Above and beyond his share he stole a tridys wife. He murdered the warlord coming home from Troy, though he knew it meant his own total ruin. Far in advance we told him so ourselves dispatching the guy the giant killer Hermes. Don't murder the man he said, don't court his wife. Beware revenge will come from arrestees agamemnon's son. Today he comes of age and longs for his native land. So Hermes warned with all the goodwill in the world, but would he just as hard and hard give way? Now he pays the price all at a single stroke and sparkling eyed Athena drove them at a home. Father, son of Kronus are high and mighty king. Surely he goes down to a death he earned in full, but he dies so all who do such things. But my heart breaks for a disuse. That seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long. Far from his loved ones still he suffers torments off on a wave washed island rising at the centre of the seas, a dark wooded island and there a goddess makes her home, daughter of Atlas, wicked Titan who sands the deep in all its depths, and lift on high the colossal pillars thrusting earth and sky apart. Atlas' daughter it is who holds a disuse captive, luckless man, despite his tears forever trying to spellbind his heart with swive seductive words and wipe all sort of idk of from his mind. But he is straining for no more than a glimpse of half-smoke drifting up from his own land, but disuse longs to die. Olympian Zeus, have you no care for him in your lofty heart? Did he never win your favour with sacrifices burned beside the ships on the broad plain of Troy? Why Zeus? Why so dead set against the disuse? My child Zeus, who marshals the thunderheads replied, "What nonsense you let slip through your teeth now, how on earth could I forget the disuse? "Todiseus, who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too, he gives the immortal gods who rule the vaulting skies. No, it s the earth shaker Poseidon unappeased, forever fuming against him for the Cyclops whose giant eye he blinded, God-like polyphemous, towering over all the Cyclops' clans in power. The nymph Thoosa bore him, daughter of Fossies, lord of the barren saltsy, she met Poseidon once in his vaulted caves and they made love. And now, for his blinded son, the earthquake God, though he won t quite killer disuse drives him far, of course, from native land. But come, all of us here put heads together now, work out his journey home so adissious can return. Lord Poseidon, I trust, will let his anger go, how can he stand his ground against the will of all the gods at once? Athena, her eyes flashing bright exalted. Father, son of Chronos, are high and mighty king. If now it really pleases the blissful gods that wise adissious shall return, home at last, let us dispatch the guide and giant killer Hermes, down toward Gidja Island, down to announce at once the nymph with lovely braids are fixed decree, or disuse journey's home, the exile must return. Myself go down to Ithaca, rouse his son to a braver pitch, inspire his heart with courage to summon the flowing hair dekeens to full assembly, speak his mind to all those suitors slaughtering on and on his droves of sheep and shambling longhorn cattle. Next I will send him off to Sparta and Sandy Pylos, there to learn of his dear father's journey home. Perhaps he will hear some news and make his name throughout the mortal world. So Athena vowed, and under her feet she fastened the supple sandals, ever glowing gold that wing her over the waves and boundless earth with the rush of gusting winds. She seized the rugged spear tipped with a bronze point, waited heavy, the massive shaft she wheels to break the lines of heroes the mighty father's daughter storms against. And down she swept from Olympus' craggy peaks and lit on Ithaca, sending tall at Odysseus's gates the threshold of his core. Ripping her bronze spear she looked for all the world like a stranger now, like mentees, lord of the taffyons. There she found the swaggering suitors, just then amusing themselves with rolling dice before the doors, lounging on hides of oxen they had killed themselves, while heralds and brisk attendants bustled round them, coming at the mixing bowls, mulling wine and water, others wiping the tables down with stopping sponges, setting them out in place, still other servants, jointed and carved the great sides of meat. First by far to see her was Prince Telemachus, sitting among the suitors, heart obsessed with grief. He could almost see his magnificent father here in the mines eye, drop from the clouds and drive these suitors all in a rout throughout the halls, and regain his pride of place and rule his own demands. Daydreaming so, as he sat among the suitors, he glimpsed the thinner now, and straight to the porch he went, mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors. Pausing beside her there he clasped her right hand, and relieving her at once of her long-wrong spear met her with winged words, "Being stranger, here in our house you find a royal welcome, have supper first, then tell us what you need." He led the way, palis Athena followed. Once in the high-roofed hall he took her lance and fixed it firm in a burnished rack against a sturdy pillar there where row on row of spears embattle the disuses spears stood stacked and waiting. Then he escorted her to a high elaborate chair of honor over it draped a cloth and here he placed his guest the stool to rest her feet. Before himself he drew up a low reclining chair beside her which lipainted clear of the press of suitors. Concerned his guest offended by their uproar might shrink from food in the midst of such a mob. He hoped what's more to ask him about his long-last father. A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden picture and over a silver basin tipped it out so they might rinse their hands and pulled a gleaming table to their side. A dayed housekeeper brought on bread to serve them appetizers a plenty too lavish with her bantie. A carver lifted platas of meat towards them meats of every sort and set beside them golden cups and time and again a page came round and poured them wine. But now the suitors chuped in with all their swagger and took their seats on low and high-backed chairs. Headles poured water over their hands for rinsing serving maids brought bread heaped high in trays and the young men brimmed the mixing bowls with wine. They reached out for the good things that lay at hand and when they put a side desire for food and drink the suitors set their minds on other pleasures, song and dancing all the crowns of feast. A herald placed an ornate liar in femeous his hands the bar to always performed among them there they forced the man to sing. A rippling prelude and no sooner had he struck up his rousing song then telemacus head close to a thinners sparkling eyes spoke low to his guests so no one else could hear. The stranger would you be shocked by what I say look at them over there not a care in the world just liars and tunes easy for them or right they feed on another's goods and go scot free a man whose white bones lie strewn in the rain somewhere rotting away on land or rolling down the ocean salt his swells but that man if they caught sight of him home in Ithaca by God they'd all pray to be faster on their feet than richer in bars of gold and heavy roads. But now no use he's died a wretched death no comforts left for us not even if someone somewhere says he's coming home the day of his return will never dawn enough. Tell me about yourself now clearly point by point who are you where are you from your city your parents what sort of vessel brought you why did the sailors land you here in Ithaca who did they say they are I hardly think you came this way on foot and tell me this for a fact I need to know is this your first time here or are you a friend of fathers a guest from the old days once crowds of other men would come to our house on visits visitor that he was when he walked among the living a eyes glinting goddess Athena answered my whole story of course I'll tell it point by point wise old and chialess was my father my own name is mentees lord of the taffy and men who love their ores and here I've come just now with ship and crew sailing the wine dark sea to foreign ports of coal to temmacy out for bronze arch cargo gleaming iron our ship lies more to farmlands far from town riding in right throng cove beneath Mount Nions Woods as for the ties between your father and myself we've been friends forever I'm proud to say and he would bear me out if you went and questioned old lord laerties he I gather no longer ventures into town but lives a life of hardship all to himself often his farm stirred with an aged serving woman who tends him well who gives him food and drink when weirdiness has taken hold of his withered limbs from hauling himself along his vineyard steep slopes and now I've come and why I heard that he was back your father that is but know the gods thought his passage yet I tell you greater disuse is not dead he's still alive somewhere in this wide world held captive out at sea on a wave washed island and hard men savages somehow hold him back against his will wait I'll make you a prophecy one the immortal gods have planted in my mind it will come true I think though I'm hardly a seer or know the flights of birds he won't be gone long from the native land he loves not even if I and shackles bind your father down he's plotting away to journey home at last he's never done a lot but come please tell me about yourself now point by point your truly or disuse his son you sprung up so and can he resemblance the head and the fine eyes I see him now how often we used to meet in the old days before he embarked for Troy where other archived captains all the best men sailed in the long curved ships from then to this very day I'm not said eyes on a disuse or he on me and young telemaca's cautiously replied I'll try my friend if you a frank answer mother has always told me I'm his son it's true but I'm not so certain who on his own has ever really known who gave him life would to God I'd been the son of a happy man who mulled Joe were took in the midst of his possessions now think of the most unlucky mortal ever born since you asked me yes they say I am his son still the clear eyed goddess reassured him trust me the gods have not marked out your house for such an unsung future not if Penelope has born a son like you but tell me about all this and spare me nothing what's this banqueting this crowd carousing here and what part do you play yourself some wedding feast some festival hardly of poplux supper I would say how obscenely they lounge and swagger here look gorging in your house why any man of sense who chanced among them wouldn't be outraged seeing such behavior ready telemaca's took her up at once well my friend seeing you want to probe and press the question once this house was rich no doubt beyond reproach when the man you mentioned still lived here at home now the gods have reversed our fortunes with a vengeance wipe that man from the earth like no one else before I would never have grieved so much about his death if he'd gone down with comrades off in Troy or died in the arms of loved ones once he had wand down the long coil of war then all united a keer would have raised his tomb and he'd have won his son great fame for years to come but now the whirlwinds have ripped him away no fame for him he's lost and gone now out of sight out of mind and I he's left me tears and grief nor do I rack my heart and grief for him alone no longer now the gods have invented other miseries to plague me listen all the nobles who rule the islands round about dulycchian and sami and wooded zikynthes too and all who lord it in rocky icica as well down to the last man they caught my mother they lay waste my house and mother she neither rejects a marriage she despises or can she bear to bring the courting to an end while they continue to bleed my household white soon you wait they'll grind me down as well shameful brimming with indignation palis Athena broke out oh how much you need a discus gone so long how he'd lay hands on all these brazen suitors if only he would appear now at his houses out of gates and take his stand armed with his helmet shield and pair of spears as strong as the man I glimps that first time in our own house drinking wine and reveling there just come in from a firer visiting iless murmurous sun Odysseus sail that way you see in his swift trim ship hunting deadly poison to smear on his arrows bronze heads iless refused he feared the wrath of the everlasting gods but father so fond of him gave him all he wanted if only that Odysseus sported with these suitors a blood wedding a quick death would take the lot true but all lies in the lap of the great gods whether or not you come and pay them back here in his own house but you I urge you think how to drive these suitors from your halls come now listen closely take my words to heart a day break summon the islands lords to full assembly if your orders to all and call the gods to witness tell the suitors to scatter each to his own place as for your mother if the spirit moves at a marry let her go back to her father's house a man of power her kin will arrange the wedding provide the gifts the array that goes with the daughter dearly love for you I have some good advice if only you will accept it pit out a ship with twenty ores the best insight sailing quest of news of your long-lost father someone may tell you something or you may catch a rumour straight from Zeus rumor that carries news to men like nothing else first go down to pilus question Old King Nestor, then cross over to Sparta to red-head Menolias of all the bronze-armor de Keyens the last man back. Now if you hear your father's alive and heading home, hard-pressed as you are, brave out one more year. If you hear his dead, no longer among the living, then back you come to the native land you love, raise his grave manned, build his honors high with the full funeral rights that he deserves, and give your mother to another husband. Then once you've sealed those matters, seen them through, think hard, reach down deep in your heart and soul for a way to kill these suitors in your house by stealth or in open combat. You must not cling to your boyhood any longer. It's time you are a man. Haven't you heard what glory-princellristies one throughout the world when he killed that cunning murderous agisthus who'd killed his famous father? And you, my friend, have tall and handsome I see you now, be brave, you too, so men to come will sing your praises down the years. But now I must go back to my swift trim ship and all my shipmates chafing there I'm sure waiting for my return. It all rests with you. My words to heart. Oh stranger, heatful telemicus replied, indeed I will. You've cancelled me with so much kindness now, I go farther to a sun I won't forget a word. But come, stay longer keen as you are to sail so you can bathe and rest and lift your spirits, then go back to your ship, delighted with a gift. A prize of honor, something rare and fine as a keepsake from myself, the kind of gift a host will give a stranger, friend to friend. The eyes glinting palestic lined in haste. Not now, don't hold me here, I long to be on my way as for the gift, whatever you'd give in kindness, save it from my return so I can take it home. Choose something rare and fine and a good reward that gift is going to bring you. And that promise, off and away a thinner the bright-eyed goddess flew like a bird in soaring flight, but left his spirit filled with nerve and courage, charged with his father's memory more than ever now, he felt his senses quick and overwhelmed with wonder. This was a God. He knew it well and made at once for the suitors a man like a God himself. It's them still the famous bar sang on and they sat in silence listening as he performed the Akeans journey home from Troy, all the blows a thinner doomed them to endure. And now, from high above in her room and deep in thought, she caught his inspired strains. Icarios's daughter Penelope, wary and reserved. And Dan, the steep stare from her chamber she descended, not alone to of her women followed close behind. That radiant woman, once she reached her suitors, drawing her glistening veil across her cheeks, pause now where a column propped the sturdy roof with one of her loyal handmade station either side. Suddenly, dissolving in tears and bursting through the bar's inspired voice she cried out, "Femius, so many other songs you know to hold a spellbound works of the gods and men that sing us celebrate, sing one of those as you sit beside them here and they drink their wine in silence. But break off this song, the unindiodable song that always rend the heart inside of me, the unforgettable grief it wounds me most of all. How I long for my husband alive in memory always that great man whose fame resounds through hellous right to the depths of our ghosts. Why, mother?" Poised to Lemmuckus put in sharply, "Why deny our devoted bar the chance to entertain us anyway the spirit stirs him on?" "Bards are not the blame, Zeus is the blame. He deals to each and every laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases. Why fault the bar if he sings the archives harsh fate? It's always the latest song the one that echoes last in the listeners ears that people praise the most. "Marriage, mother, heart in your heart and listen. Odysseus was scarcely the only one you know whose journey home was blotted out at Troy, others so many others died there too, so mother, go back to your quarters, tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom and keep the women working hard as well, as for giving orders men will see to that, but I most of all, I hold the reins of power in this house." "A stonish?" She withdrew to her own room. She took to heart the clear good sense in what her son had said, climbing up to the lofty chamber with her women she fell to weeping for Odysseus her beloved husband, till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with welcome sleep. But the suitors broke into uproar through the shadowed halls, all of them lifting prayers to lie beside her, share her bed, until discreet Telemachus took command. You suitors, who plague my mother, you, you insolent, overweaning. "For this evening let us dine and take our pleasure, no more shouting now. What a fine thing it is to listen to such a bard as we have hear the man sings like a god. But at first light, we all march forth to assemble it, take our seats, so I can give my orders and say to you straight out, you must leave my palace, seat your feasting elsewhere, and vow your own possessions, house to house by turns. But if you decide the fair is better, richer here, destroying one man's goods and going Scott-free, all right then, carve away. But I'll cry out to the everlasting gods, in hopes that Zeus will pay you back with a vengeance, all of you, destroyed in my house while I go Scott-free myself." So Telemachus declared, "And they all bid their lips, amazed the prince would speak with so much daring." You pithes, son, and Tinnuous broke their silence. "Well, Telemachus, only the gods could teach you to sound so high and mighty, such brave talk. I pray that Zeus will never make you King of Ithaca, though your father's crown is no doubt yours by birth. That cool headed Telemachus can't ad firmly, and Tinnuous, even though my words may offend you, I'd be happy to take the crown if Zeus presents it, you think that nothing worse could befall a man." "It's really not so bad to be a King, all at once your palace grows in wealth, your honors grow as well. But there are hosts of other Achaean princes, look, young and old, crowds of them on our island here, and anyone of the lot might hold the throne now greater this year's is dead. And I'll be Lord of my own house and servants, all that King Odysseus won for me by force." And now your Remacus, Polybus, son, stepped in. Surely this must lie in the God's lap, Telemachus, which Achaean will lauded overseas Gert Ithaca. "Who hold on to your own possessions, rule your house. God forbid that anyone tell your holdings from your hands while men still live in Ithaca. And about your guests, dear boy, I have some questions, where does he come from? Where's his country, his birth, his father's old estates? Did he bring some news of your father, his return? Or did he come on business of his own? How he leapt to his feet and off he went, awaiting a round for proper introductions and no mean man, not by the looks of him, I'd say?" "You're a Remacus," Telemachus answered, shrewdly, "clearly my father's journey home is lost forever. I no longer trust in rumors, rumors from the blue, nor bother with any prophecy when Mother Carlson wizard into the house to ask him questions. As for the stranger, though, a man's an old family friend from Taffos, wise and chialess is son. He says his name is Mentees, Lord of the Taffy and men who love their ores, so he said, but deep in his mind he knew the immortal goddess. Now the suit has turned to dance and song to the lovely beaten sway, waiting for dusk to come upon them there, and the dark night came upon them lost in pleasure. Finally to bed, each to his own house." Telemachus, after his bedroom built in the fine courtyard a commanding lofty room said well apart, retired too, his spirit swarming with misgivings. His devoted nurse attended him bearing a glowing torch, yoricklier, the daughter of Ops, Pysino's son. Learty's had paid a price for the woman years ago still in the bloom of youth. He traded twenty oxen, honoured her on a par with his own loyal wife at home but fearing the queen's anger never shed her bed. She was his grand son's escort, Nah, and bought a torch. But she was the one of all the maids who loved the prince the most. He had a witness to him as a baby. He sped the doors of his snug well-made room, sat down on the bed and pulled his soft shirt off, tossed it into the old woman's conscientious hands, and after folding in neatly, patting it smooth, she hung it up on a peg beside his corded bed, then padded from the bed room, drawing the door shut with the silver hook, sliding the door-bolt home with its raw hide strap. They're all night long wrapped in the sheep's wool. warm fleece. He weighed in his mind the course of Thiener charted. Book 2. Telemaca's set sail. When young dawn with her rose red fingers shone once more, the true son of Odysseus sprang from bed and dressed. Over his shoulder he slung his well-honed sword, fastened raw hide sandals under his smooth feet and stepped from his bedroom handsome as a guard. At once he ordered herols to cry out loud and clear and summon the flowing hair dequeens to full assembly, their cries rang out, the people filed in quickly. When they'd grouped, crowding the meeting-grounds telemaca strode in two a bronze spear in his grip and not alone two sleek hands went trotting at his heels. And Athena lavished a marvelous splendor on the prince so the people all gazed in wonder as he came forward, the elders making ways he took his father's seat. The first to speak was an old-law digipchus, stooped with age who knew the world by heart. The one dear son had sailed with King Odysseus bound in the hollow ships to the stallion land of Troy, the spearmen antifus. But the brutal cyclops killed him, trapped in his vaulted cave the last man the monster had. The other sons he had, one who had mixed with the suitors, uronimbus, and two kept working their fathers' farms. Still he never forgot the soldier, desolate in his grief. In tears for the son he lost he rose and said among them, "Hare me men of Ithaca, here what I have to say." At once have we held assembly met in session since King Odysseus sailed in the hollow ships. Who has summoned us now, one of the young men, one of the old timers, what crisis spurs him on? Some news he's heard of an army on the march, word he's caught first ham so he can warn us now, or some other public matter he'll disclose and argue. He's a brave man I'd say, God be with him too, may zeal speed him on to a happy end whatever his heart desires. Winning words with a lucky ring. Odysseus's son rejoiced, the boy could sit no longer, fired up to speak, he took his stand among the gathered men. The herald Pisino, skilled in customs ways, put the staff in his hand and then the prince addressing old egyptious first, led off with "Sir?" "That man is not far off, you'll soon see for yourself. I was the one who called us all together, something wounds me deeply. Not news I've heard of an army on the march, word I've caught first ham so I can warn you now, or some other public matter I'll disclose and argue, know the crisis is my own. Trouble has struck my house, a double blow. First I have lost my noble father who ruled among you years ago each of you here and kindly as a father to his children. But now this, a worst disaster that soon will grind my house down, ruin it all and all my worldly goods in the bargain, suit us plague my mother against her will, sons of the very men who are your finest here. They'd soon ady the n' approach her father's house, so I carry us himself might see to his daughter's bridal, hand at whom he likes, whoever meets his fancy. Out there, they infest our palace day and night, they butcher our cattle, our sheep, our fat goats, feasting themselves sick, swilling our glowing whine as if there's no tomorrow all of its squandered. Now we have no man like Odysseus in command to drive this curse from the house. We ourselves, we are hard in the ones to fight them off, all we do is parade our wretched weakness, a boy inept at battle. Oh, I'd swing to attack if I had the power in me by God it's intolerable what they do is grace my house as shambles. You should be ashamed yourselves, mortified in the face of neighbors living round about. Fear the God's wrath before they wheel it out rage and make these crimes recoil on your heads, I beg you by Olympian Zeus, by Thymis too, who sets assemblies free and calls us into session, stop my friends. Leave me alone to pine away in anguish unless of course you think my noble father Odysseus did the Akin army damage, delivered at harm and to pay me back you do me in deliberately setting these parasites against me.