Book XXIV

NOW were summoned the souls of the dead by Cyllenian Hermes,
Even the souls of the suitors. A rod in his hand he was holding,
Beautiful, golden, with which men's eyes he entranceth to slumber
Just as he wills, while others again from their sleep he awaketh.
Touched by the wand they awoke & obeyed him, & followed him squealing.
Even as bats in the dark mysterious depths of a cavern
Squeal as they flutter around, should one from the cluster be fallen
Where from the rock suspended they hung all clinging together,
So did the souls flock squealing behind him as Hermes the Helper
Guided them down to the gloom through dank and mouldering pathways.
Passing the Ocean's stream and the White Rock's glittering portal,
Passing the gates of the Sun and the shadowy regions of Dreamland,
Soon at the world of the dead they arrived and the asphodel meadow,
Where dwell spirits — the phantoms of those whose labour is ended.

Here they encountered the soul of the great Pelean Achilles,
Yea and the souls of Patroclus and Antilochus the unrivalled,
Ajax too, who excelled all others in form and in favour,
All of the Danaan chiefs save only the peerless Achilles.

Now these souls had assembled around him when slowly approaching,
Lo, drew nigh them the spirit of King Agamemnon Atrides
Sorrowing. Round him was gathered a throng of the others who likewise
Met with their destined doom and died in the house of Aegisthus.

First brake silence the soul of the great Pelean Achilles

"Verily, Atreus' son, of the heroes ever we deemed thee
Dearest by far to the Father of heaven who joyeth in thunder,
Seeing he set thee as lord o'er warriors many and mighty
There in the Trojans' land, where suffered the sons of Achaea.
Ah but, alas, thee too full early was fated to visit
Death's dark doom, which none that is born on the earth can escape from.
Would to the gods on the day of thy honour and glory and lordship
There in the land of the Trojans the night of thy death had arisen
Then had the hosts of Achaea erected a tomb to thy honour;

Yea and besides for thy son thou hadst left great glory behind thee.

Ah but thy fate by a death most pitiful doomed thee to perish."

Then gave answer the spirit of King Agamemnon Atrides
"Happy art thou, O peer of the gods, Pelean Achilles,

Slain — not at Argos, but far from thy home in the Troad; and round thee
Many another, the best of the Trojans and sons of Achaea,
Died as they fought for thy body; and under the eddying dust-cloud
Mighty and mightily fallen thou layst, of thy prowess forgetful.
All day long we had fought, nor ever at all had the combat
Ceased, but a tempest was sent by the god of the thunder and stayed us.
Then, when at last to the ships we had borne thee away from the battle,
Laying thee down in a bed, on thy beautiful body, to cleanse it,
Soft warm water we poured, and we salved it with oil, and around thee
Bitterly weeping and shearing their locks were standing the Grecians.
Suddenly then from the sea with her nymphs immortal thy mother
Rose — for the tidings had reached her; and over the ocean a wondrous
Wailing was heard, and a tremor of fear seized all the Achaeans
Yea, they had hasted away to the hollow ships and departed
Save for a man deep-versed in the wisdom of yore who restrained them,
Nestor, whose was the counsel that oft proved wisest aforetime.
Now with a kindly intent he addressed them and spake to them saying
'Argives, stay! I beseech you to fly not, princely Achaeans
Lo, from the depths of the sea with her nymphs immortal his mother
Cometh to look on the face of her son who is dead, and to mourn him.'
So was the panic allayed of the high-souled sons of Achaea.
Then stood Nereus' daughters, the ancient god of the ocean,
Round thee, and bitterly wailing in raiment ambrosial wrapped thee.
Also the Muses, the Nine, made answer the one to the other,
Chanting with beautiful voices the dirge, while none of the Argives
Tearless remained, so mightily moved them the song of the Muses.
Seven and ten long nights, and by day, we incessantly mourned thee
Wailing and weeping — immortals together with men that be mortal.
Then on the eighteenth day to the flames thou wast given, and round thee
Fatlings many of sheep and of crook-horned cattle we slaughtered.
So thou wast burnt in the raiment divine and in many an unguent,
Yea and in honey; and many a warrior prince of Achaea
Marching in armour encircled the pyre as thy body was burning,
Fighters on foot and on cars, and great was the din and the clangour.
Now when thy body at last was consumed in the flame of Hephaestus,
Early the morrow thy bones' white ashes we gathered, Achilles.
These in unwatered wine and in unguent we laid; and thy mother
Brought us an urn twy-handled and golden, that god Dionysus
Gave her the work, as she said, of the far-famed craftsman Hephaestus.

Here lie buried thy bones' white ashes, renowned Achilles,

Mingled with those o thy friend who had perished before thee, Patroclus;

Here, but apart, lie ashes of Antilochus, whom thou lovedst

More than the rest of thy mates, save only the fallen Patroclus.
Over them all we erected a monument mighty and splendid,
Piled by the infinite host of the Argive army of spearmen
High on a foreland that jutteth above broad Hellespontus,
So as afar from the sea to be visible ever to mortals,
Those now living as well as the men of the age that is coming.
Then did thy mother entreat from the gods magnificent prizes.
These in the place of the contests she set for the princely Achaeans.
Oft wast thou present, I ween, at the funeral rites of a hero,
Often hast seen, if perchance some prince of the people hath perished,
Young men girding their loins and preparing themselves for the contest
Yet had exceeding astonishment seized thee beholding the prizes,
All those exquisite gifts in thy honour bestowed by the goddess
Thetis of silvern foot — so dearly the deities loved thee.
Thus not even in death hast thou lost thy renown, and for ever
Unto the ends of the earth shall be honoured the name of Achilles,
While — what profits it me that I wound to an ending the warfare

Home I returned, but was whelmed in a pitiful death by the Father

Under the hands of that woman accursed, my wife, and Aegisthus."

Thus these warrior souls held converse one with the other.
Then drew nigh Hermeias the Messenger, Slayer of Argus,
Guiding to Hades the ghosts of the suitors Odysseus had smitten.
Marvelling much at the sight, those twain came forward to meet them,
Till was perceived by the soul of Atrides, King Agamemnon,
Amphimedon the renown'd, dear son of the Ithacan chieftain
Prince Melaneus, who of yore was the friend and the host of Atrides.

Then brake silence the soul of the hero King Agamemnon
"Amphimedon, what bringeth you down to the nethermost darkness,
All picked men, all equal in age? It is verily this wise
One might choose and collect in a city the prime of the manhood.
Whether did thee and thy ships o'erwhelm earth-shaking Poseidon,
Sending an adverse blast and the mountainous billows against you,
Or was it hostile men that on dry land wrought your destruction,
While that ye drave from the pasture the fair-fleeced sheep and the oxen,
Or as around some city ye fought for the spoil and the women
Answer me all that I ask, for thy guest-friend, lo, I avow me.

Hast thou forgotten that thither I came'to the home of thy fathers
Once with the prince Menelaus, to visit Odysseus and urge him
Unto the Ilian city with well-decked vessels to follow

Gone was the whole of a month when the sea's wide gulf we retraversed,
Since it was hard to persuade him, Odysseus the sacker of cities."

Then did the spirit of Amphimedon thus answer him, saying

"Glorious monarch of men, O King Agamemnon Atrides,

Yea, I remember it all, Zeus-foster'd prince, as thou sayest
Wherefore in turn will I tell thee of all, and will truly relate it,
Touching the pitiful death that we died and how it was compassed.
Know that we sued for the wife of Odysseus, who long was unheard of.
She would neither reject our hated proposals nor end them,
Since she had plotted to bring on us all death's terrible darkness
Yea and besides in her heart this crafty device she invented
Raising a spacious loom in the hall, she betook her to weaving,
Working a broad and a delicate web; and anon she addressed us
Princes who sue for my hand — since dead is the godlike Odysseus
Patiently wait, though eager to hasten my marriage, till fully
Woven this web, lest vainly I forfeit the fruits of my spinning.
Lo, 'tis a shroud for the noble Laertes, to wrap him, whenever
Bringing his destined doom low-laying death overtakes him
Else in Achaea's land might well some woman reproach me
Were he to lie, who possessed such riches, in want of a grave-cloth.'
So did she speak, and within us the valiant heart was persuaded.
Thus then all of the day at the spacious loom she was weaving
During the night she unravelled the web with her torches beside her.
Three long years with her secret device she befooled the Achaeans,
Till, when the fourth year came, and as season was followed by season,
After the waning of months, and when many a day was accomplished,
Then at the last (since one of her women who knew it had told us)
While at the loom her magnificent web she unravelled we caught her.
So she was forced, though sorely unwilling, to finish her labour.
Now when the cloth she had shown us — the great broad web she had woven-
Washen anew and as bright as the moon or the sun in his glory.
Straight did Odysseus arrive — by the malice of heaven from somewhere
Brought to the farm at the end of the isle where dwelleth the swineherd.
Also the well-loved son of the noble Odysseus arrived there,
Newly returned with his black-hulled vessel from Pylos the sandy.
These twain plotted between them a pitiful death for the suitors.
Then to the far-famed town they descended — Odysseus was later

Thither arriving than Telemachus, who had started before him.
Led by the swineherd, Odysseus appeared, in a beggarly raiment,
Under the form of a vagrant, a man right wretched and aged,
Staying his steps with a stafFand invested in sorry apparel
Nor could any among us suspect that the man was Odysseus
Suddenly thus reappearing — not even the elder amongst us.
So we attacked him with insults and even assailed him with missiles.
Long while thus in the hall of his palace he suffered in silence,
Quietly bearing the blows and abuse with a heart of endurance,
Till he was roused by the will of the Father who beareth the aegis
Then, with the help of his son collecting the beautiful weapons,
Out of the hall to a chamber he bore them, and bolted the portals.
Also with crafty intent he had counselled his wife and had bid her
Offer his bow to the suitors and cold grey axes of iron,
Dooming us so to a trial that proved the beginning of slaughter.
None were able to master the might of the bow, and we could not
String it; the strength for the feat was in all of us utterly wanting.
Now when the weapon was just to be placed in the hands of Odysseus,
All of us raising together a din and a clamour forbade them
Give him the bow, how strongly soever he spake to demand it
Telemachus was alone in his favour and spake with insistence.
So he was given the bow, long-suffering godlike Odysseus.
Lightly he strung it and pierced with an arrow the axes, and leaping
On to the threshold he stood, with the swift shafts poured from the quiver,
Terribly peering around — then smote prince Antinous dead
Then at the others he loosened his arrows, the bringers of anguish,
Aiming unerringly. Thickly they fell, one over the other.
Then was it clearly perceived an immortal was present to help them,
Since all over the hall of the palace they chased us in fury,
Smiting around them to left and to right; and a horrible groaning
Rose midst lopping of heads, and the floor ran red with the life-blood.
Thus, O King Agamemnon, we perished, and e'en to the present
Lie our bodies uncared for anigh to the halls of Odysseus,
Seeing the friends and the kindred of none know aught that is happened,
Else they had come, and, washing the black blood out of the gashes,

Laid us on biers and bewailed — as is due to a man when he dieth."

Then gave answer the spirit of King Agamemnon Atrides
"Happy art thou, Laertes' son, deep-plotting Odysseus
Truly a wife thou wast granted to win surpassing in virtue
Such was the excellent wisdom of peerless Penelopeia,

Daughter of Icarius! So true she remained to Odysseus,
True to the love of her youth, that the story shall ne'er be forgotten,

'How she was wise and was good; and for earth-born men shall immortals
Fashion the exquisite song of the true-souled Penelopeia
Not as the daughter of Tyndareiis, who iniquity plotted,
Even the death of her lord and her husband. The song shall be hateful
Telling her story on earth, for on every woman for ever
Evil repute she hath brought, yea even on her that is upright."

Thus these souls of the dead held converse one with another

Down in the depths of the earth, in the mouldering mansion of Hades.

Now those others had got from the city and down to a farm-land
Beautiful, carefully tilled. 'Twas a farm that belonged to Laertes,
Even the farm he had won as the meed of his manifold labours.
Here was his home, and on all sides running around was an outhouse
This was the barrack allotted for meals, and for sitting and sleeping,
Unto the bondsmen who worked on the fields as he willed to command them.
Serving within was an aged Sicilian woman, who duly
Tended the poor old man on the farm-land far from the city.
Here when they came, to his son and his servants Odysseus addressed him
"Go to the well-built house of the steading and enter within it.
Slaughter a pig for the dinner, the best ye can find in the farmstead,
While I shall go and shall look for my father Laertes and test him

Whether he knows me again and recalls me as soon as he sees me,

Or if he fails to remember because of the years of my absence."

These words spoken, his weapons of war to the servants he handed.
Quickly they went to the house of the farm; but Odysseus betook him
Unto the rich-stocked orchard, to seek for his father and test him.
Here when he entered and wandered amidst long rows of the fruit-trees
Neither was Dolius seen nor his sons nor a thrall; they had gone thence
Gathering stones to be used for the wall of the garden enclosure
All had departed — the old man leading the way for the others.
So he discovered his father alone in the garden of fruit-trees
Spading the soil for a plant, in a doublet unseemly and filthy,
Ragged and patched, and with leggings of oxhide tattered and mended
Strapped to the calves of his legs, to afford a protection from scratches
Gloves too over his hands to defend them from thorns and a goatskin
Cap on his head he was wearing — and thus he was nursing his sorrows.
Now when his son, long-suffering godlike Odysseus, perceived him

Wasted by age and by care, with a heart sore stricken or sorrow,

Dropping a tear he remained in the shade of a high-branched pear-tree

Gazing and striving with doubt in the depths of his mind and his spirit
Whether to fall on the neck, of his father and kiss him, and tell him
All that had happened, and how he was come back safe to the homeland,
Or at the first to address him a question and thoroughly test him.
Thus as he pondered thereon this plan seemed surely the wiser,
First to accost him with words unkindly, in order to test him.
Purposing thus in his mind, came up to him godlike Odysseus,
While with his head low-bent he was spading the soil for the sapling.
Then spake thus the illustrious son as he stood by his father
"Gaffer, thou seemest to lack no knowledge in tending an orchard.
Verily well it is kept by thy care; there's nothing within it,
Whether a sapling, a fig or a vine, or an olive or pear-tree,
Ay or a plot in the garden, that shows not the care of thy tendance.
Still, one thing will I say — let it stir no wrath in thy spirit
No good care on thyself is bestowed. Thou art aged and also
Wretchedly withered and worn and clad in a shameful apparel.
Sure it is not for neglecting thy work that thy master neglects thee.
Nay and in truth there's nought of a slave to be seen in thy person,
Either in stature or face — Thou art like to a man that is kingly,
Even to one who is wont, when enough he hath bathed and hath eaten,
Softly to sleep, as is meet and is right for a man that is elder.
Come now, answer me this that I ask thee and clearly explain it
Who is thy master? For whom art thou working and tending this orchard
Tell me moreover exactly, that so I shall learn it for certain,
Whether I truly am here in the Ithacan island, as some one
Just now meeting me yonder, as here I was coming, informed me.
Rather a fool he appeared, and he seemed scarce willing to tell me
All that I wished, nor to listen at all to my words when I asked him
Touching a friend of my own, if he still was alive and existing,
Or if perchance he had died and had gone to the mansion of Hades.
Yea I will tell thee thereof. Do thou carefully listen and mark me.
Once I befriended a man in the well-loved land of my fathers,
One who had chanced to arrive at my house; and ne'er was a mortal
More to be loved who has come from afar as a guest to my homestead.
Ithaca — so he avowed — was the land of his birth; and he also
Named me a certain Laertes, Arceisius' son, as his father.

So I invited him unto my halls and entreated him kindly,

Letting him richly partake of the plentiful stores of my household.

Presents I gave him as well — such gifts as we give to a guest-friend.
Talents of well-wrought gold I presented him seven, moreover
Gave him a bowl all solid of silver, engraven with flowers;

Also of one-fold cloaks and of wrappers I gave him a dozen,
Beautiful mantles as many, and added a dozen of tunics
Ay, and I gave him besides four women in exquisite handwork
Perfectly skilled, fair-favoured.. the ones he selected and wished for."

Wiping the tears from his eyes as he spake, thus answered his father

"Stranger, the land thou art come to is truly the Ithacan island

Ay, but 'tis held in possession by men outrageous and wicked.
Vainly moreover, alas, these numberless gifts thou bestowedst.
Hadst thou but found him alive in the land of the Ithacan people,
Richly with gifts he had made thee requital and sped thy departure,
E'en as was due to the friend who began by entreating him kindly.
Come now, answer me this that I ask thee and clearly explain it
What is the number of years since there in thy home thou receivedst
That poor man — who, alas, was my son — if he ever existed
Ah, he was born to misfortune, and far from his friends and his country
Drowned in the deep he is eaten of fishes, or else on the dry land
Lies as a spoil for the beasts and the birds; nor was able his mother,
Neither was I who begat him, to mourn him and wind him in grave-clothes
Nor did his wife, rich-dowered and true-souled Penelopeia,
Raise the lament for her lord when he lay on the bier, as beseemed her,
Nor close softly his eyes — as is due to a man when he dieth.
Tell me however exactly, that so I shall learn it for certain,
Who art thou? Whence art thou come? Tell too of thy city and parents.
Where is the swift ship lying in haven that hither conveyed thee
Thee and thy valiant mates? Or as passenger haply thou camest.
Brought on a vessel of others, who landed thee here and departed?"
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus
"Well, I will tell thee the whole of the truth and will clearly explain it.
Land Alybas is my home, and the palace I dwell in is famous,
Since I am son of Apheidas, the son of the prince Polypemon.
Also the name that I bear is Eperitus. Hither unwilling
Over the sea from Sicanian shores by a god I was driven.
Yonder my vessel is moored in a haven afar from the city.
Touching Odysseus, the year is already the fifth that is passing
Since from my home he departed and sailed from the land of my fathers.
Born to misfortune indeed! — for the omen was good when he started

Birds on the right — and I joyed when I saw them and sped his departure

Ay and he joyed to depart; and the spirit of both was elated,

Hoping to meet some day and exchange rich presents as guest-friends."

Thus as he spake on his father descended the darkness of sorrow.
Clutching at dust and at ashes with both of his hands he outpoured them
Over his white-haired head, while groanings incessant he uttered.
Moved was the soul of his son, and a pricking he felt in his nostrils
Throbbing and forcing its way as he looked on his dear old father.
Forward he sprang, and he fell on his neck and embraced him, exclaiming
"Father, 'tis I, yea even the son thou art longing to hear of,
Now in the twentieth year come back once more to my homeland
Nay but refrain, I beseech thee, from groans and from tearful lamenting
All will I tell thee — but great is the need no moment be wasted.
Every suitor is slain. In the hall of the palace I slew them,
Taking revenge on their bitter disdain and iniquitous actions,"

Then gave answer his father Laertes and spake to him saying

"Beest thou truly Odysseus my son come back to the homeland,

Show me a sure and a manifest token, to make me believe it."
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus
"First look hither, I pray, and behold this scar, and bethink thee
This was the wound that a boar's white tusk on Parnassus inflicted,
Whither I went at thy wish and the wish of the lady my mother
Unto her well-loved sire, prince Autolycus, to receive there
Presents, that once when he came to us here he had solemnly promised.
Come, I will show thee as well in the terraced orchard the fruit-trees,
Those that thou gavest me once for my own, when I begged, as a child will,
Asking for this and for that as I followed thee over the garden.
Through it we passed just here, and thou toldst me the names of the fruit-trees.
Thirteen trees of the pears thou didst give me, and ten of the apples,
Forty of figs; and of vines here also thou mad'st me a present,
Rows full fifty; and each of the rows bore fruit in succession,

So that upon these vines there hung all manner of clusters,

Did but the seasons of Zeus from above make heavy the fruitage."

Thus as he spake were loosened the knees and the heart of Laertes,
Since to himself he confessed that the token was sure that he gave him.
Stretching his arms to embrace him he sank in a swoon, but was holden
Clasped to the breast of his son, long-suffering godlike Odysseus.
Then, when at last he revived and the soul was recalled to the senses,

Once more unto Odysseus he spake and answered him, saying
"Zeus, great Father! — Ye gods still live in the heights of Olympus,

Should it be true that the insolent pride of the suitors is punished
Ah but I dreadfully fear that the whole of the Ithacan people
Soon will collect to attack us, and send forth messengers quickly
Hither and thither to call to their aid Cephallenian cities."
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus
"Be not afraid, nor allow these matters to trouble thy spirit
Come, let us go to the house that is standing anigh to the orchard.
Thither was Telemachus, with the cowherd and also the swineherd,
Sent by myself, and I bade them at once to prepare us a dinner."

These words ended, the twain to the fair-built mansion betook them.
Soon at the pleasant abodes of the farm they arrived, and within it
Found prince Telemachus and the cowherd and also the swineherd
Carving abundance of meat and mixing the fiery red wine.
Now when he came to the house was the old brave-hearted Laertes
Bathed and anointed with oil by the aged Sicilian house-dame.
Round him a beautiful mantle she cast, and the goddess Athene
Drawing anigh made stronger the limbs of the prince of the people
Taller she made him appear than before and greater in person.
Then from the bath he returned; and his well-loved son was astounded
Seeing his father before him in semblance like an immortal.
Opening therefore his lips these swift-winged words he addressed him
"Truly I ween, O father, that one of the gods everlasting
Taller in body hath made thee and goodlier too in appearance."
Him did Laertes the wise addressing in turn give answer
"Ay, and I would, O Zeus and Athena and Phoebus Apollo,
Such as of yore when I ruled Cephallenian people and captured
Nericus, strong-built fort that was set on a cliff of the mainland,
Even as such I had stood yestre'en in the hall of my homestead,
Clad in my armour, beside thee, to help thee in fighting the suitors,
Beating them back; and of many a man, as we fought in the palace,
Sure I had loosened the knees, and made thee rejoice to behold it."

Thus did the father and son hold converse one with another.

Then, when the others had finished the work of preparing the dinner,

All of them seating themselves on the chairs and the benches in order

Put forth hands to the food — And shortly thereafter the aged

Dolius drawing anigh they perceived and the sons of the old man,

Weary from work in the fields; for to call them had hastened their mother,

Even the aged Sicilian dame, who had reared them and alway

Lovingly tended their father when eld came creeping upon him.

These, when Odysseus they saw and had won in their hearts an assurance,

Stood there all dumbfoundered in silent amaze; but Odysseus
Quietly speaking with words right gentle and friendly addressed them
"Come, old man, and be seated! — and all of you cease from amazement.
Come! Though eagerly wishing to put forth hands on the viands,
Long in the hall we awaited thy coming, expecting you alway."

Thus did he speak; but with arms outstretched came Dolius forward

Straight to Odysseus, and grasping his hand he uplifted and kissed it,

Pressing his lips on the wrist; and with swift-winged words he addressed him
"Master belov'd, thou art come! and despite our longings and hopings
Never we thought to behold thee again! Now heaven hath brought thee
Welcome and hail to thee! hail! May the gods all happiness grant thee
Tell me however exactly, I beg thee, that so I shall learn it,
Whether already for certain the wise-souled Penelopeia
Knoweth of this thy return; or else shall we send her a message?"
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus
"Father, she knows it already — thou needst not to trouble about it."
So did he speak, and the other returned to his polished settle.
Likewise also his sons encompassed the famous Odysseus,

Giving him welcome in words and grasping the hand of the hero.

Then at the table in order they sat by the side of their father.

While these men in the hall of the farm were busily dining,
Swiftly the messenger Rumour had sped through all of the city
Bearing the news of the fate and the terrible end of the suitors.
All at the same time heard it, and thronging from every quarter
Gathered with groans and with moaning in front of the house of Odysseus.
Each then bare from the palace his dead to be buried; the others,
Those that had come from a distance, they sent each one to his city,
Giving them over to fishers on swift-winged ships to convey them.
Then in a body they went to the square, o'ermastered by sorrow.
Here when they all had collected together and formed an assembly,
Prince Eupeithes rose to address them, the heart in his bosom
Heavy with inconsolable grief for his son, his beloved,
Antinous, who was smitten the first by the godlike Odysseus
Yea and in tears as he thought of his son he arose to address them
"Friends, 'tis a terrible wrong that Odysseus hath done the Achaeans.
Many a good brave fellow he took in his ships — and he lost them.

AH of the hollow vessels he lost and all of his shipmates.

Now he has come and has murdered the best Cephallenian nobles.
Up then, ere he escape and shall gain him a refuge at Pylos,
Or peradventure in Elis divine, where rule the Epeians
Up! let us go, lest shame o'erwhelm us for ever hereafter
Yea, for with bitter disdain would unborn ages recount it
Should we refrain us in fear and on slayers of sons and of brothers
Fail to avenge us. For me would life lose all of its sweetness.
Sweeter I hold it to die on the spot and to join the departed.
Come, let us go — lest crossing the sea these fellows escape us!"

Thus did he speak and his tears moved all the Achaeans to pity.
Now drew nigh them the singer divine and Medon the herald.
Issuing forth from the halls of Odysseus (for sleep had released them)
Unto the council they came; and all were seized with amazement.

Then did the wise old Medon the herald begin to address them
"Ithacans, listen, I pray, to my words, for I deem that Odysseus
Nought hath designed and fulfilled but the will of the gods everlasting.
Yea I beheld it myself.. 'twas a god immortal that stood there
Close to the side of Odysseus, in all things likened to Mentor
Now in the front of Odysseus appearing the heavenly presence
Onward incited him; — now it was raging around as a tempest
Frighting the suitors; and thickly they fell one over another."

Thus did he speak. Forthwith pale dread seized all the Achaeans.
Then uprose in the midst to address them the old Halitherses,
Mastor's son, who alone saw clearly the past and the future.
So with a kindly intention he openly spake and addressed them
"Ithacans, listen, I pray! Give heed to the words I shall utter
Your own cowardly folly, my friends, caused all that has happened.
Neither myself did ye heed nor Mentor the prince of the people,
Begging you stay your sons from their senseless, iniquitous actions.
Thus great evil they wrought in their wicked infatuate madness,
Wasting the wealth of a man and treating his wife with dishonour,
Even the lord of the land — for they thought he was vanished for ever.
Now let it thus be determined: accept the advice that I give you
None of you go! — that he find not the doom that he planned for another."
Thus as spake upleapt to their feet with a vehement clamour
More than the half of the council; the rest kept quietly seated.
Not to the mind of the most was the word he had spoken, but rather

Eupeithes they approved; and they hastily ran for their armour.

So when they now on their bodies had buckled the glittering harness,

Marshalled together in front of the wide-wayed town they assembled,

Eupeithes at the head of them all — in his ignorant folly.
Hoping to wreak, his revenge for the death of his son, he was fated
Never again from the fray to return, but to meet with his doom there.

Now did Athena to Zeus, great Father Cronion, address her

"Father of gods, O mighty Cronion, the highest of monarchs,

Tell me a thing that I ask: what counsel is hidden within thee

Say, is it further of war and the terrible din of the battle

Now thou art thinking, or planning for peace and for friendship between them?"

Her then in turn gave answer the Father who gathers the storm-clouds
"Nay but, my child, what makes thee to ask and to urge me with questions
Surely the plan was devised, and by none but thyself, that Odysseus
Safely returned to his home should wreak his revenge on the suitors.
Act as thou wilt! Natheless I will tell thee the way that is wisest.
Now that the godlike Odysseus hath punished the sins of the suitors,
Peace at the altar be made! Let Odysseus hereafter be monarch.
Then let us make in their hearts this slaying of sons and of brothers
Wholly forgot: let them live henceforward in love and in friendship
E'en as in days long past, and let peace and prosperity bless them."

Thus as he spake still more he incited the zeal of Athene

Flashing she fell to the earth from the glittering heights of Olympus.

Now when at last they had lost the delight in the pleasure of eating
Unto the others began long-suffering godlike Odysseus
"One of you go and observe lest any approach to attack us."
So did he speak, and a son of the old man Dolius rising
Went to the threshold, and looked— and already at hand he beheld them.

Quickly he turned to Odysseus, and swift-winged words he addressed him

"Here be the men, quite close! Quick, quick! Let us hasten to arm us!"

Thus did he speak, and they ran for their arms and arrayed them in harness.
Six were Dolius' sons and three were those with Odysseus
Also the aged Laertes himself and Dolius armed them,
White-haired warriors, forced once more to equip them for battle.
So, when they now on their bodies had buckled the glittering armour,
Flinging the door wide open they came forth, led by Odysseus.

Now did the daughter of Zeus draw nigh them, the goddess Athene,
Once more likened to Mentor in voice and in bodily semblance.

Seeing her there he rejoiced, long-suffering godlike Odysseus.

Quickly to Telemachus his beloved he turned and addressed him

"Telemachus, thou shalt learn — since now thou art come to the battle
Where men mix in the fray and the victory falls to the bravest
Not to dishonour the race of thy fathers, who ever aforetime
Unto the ends of the earth were famous for might and for manhood."
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer
"Yea, if thou wilt, thou shalt see me, my father (for passion incites me),
Nowise bringing dishonour on those of thy race, as thou sayest."
Thus spake Telemachus, and Laertes exulted, exclaiming
"Ah, how blessed a day, dear gods! Of a truth I am happy,
Hearing my son and the son of my son thus vying in valour."

Then drew nigh and addressed him the grey-eyed goddess Athene

"Son of Arceisius, dearest by far of my friends and my comrades,

Offer the grey-eyed Maiden a prayer and the Father of heaven,
Then poise quickly above thee thy spear long-shafted and hurl it."
Thus as she spake vast strength to his arm lent Pallas Athene.
Uttering therefore a prayer to the daughter of Zeus the Almighty
Quickly above him his spear long-shafted he poised, and he hurled it.
Eupeithes was the foe that it struck — on the bronzen cheek-piece.
Nor did the helmet defend him. The blade passed through it completely.
Over he fell with a crash, and his armour rattled upon him.
Then on the foremost ranks with his glorious son did Odysseus
Fall with the edge of the sword, and with spears twy-bladed they smote them
Yea, they had wholly despoiled them of hope of return and had slain them
Had not Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis,
Loudly uplifting her voice, called out to the fighters and stayed them
"Ithacans, stay, I command you, this fatal and furious warfare
Speedily settle the quarrel without more shedding of life-blood!"
Thus as Athene spake pale dread seized all of the foemen.
Out of their hands, as in terror they stood, went flying the weapons,
All of them dropping to earth at the sound of the voice of the goddess.
Then, o'erwhelmed by the longing for life, to the city they turned them,
While with a terrible cry long-suffering godlike Odysseus
Gathering strength swooped down on the men as an eagle from heaven.
Just at the selfsame moment the sulphurous bolt of Cronion
Fell at the feet of the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus the Almighty.

Then to Odysseus addressed her the grey-eyed goddess Athene

"Zeus-born son of Laertes, thou wise and wary Odysseus,

Hold! and refrain from the strife and the horror of mutual bloodshed,

Lest thou shalt anger Cronion the Father who speaketh in thunder."
Thus as Athene spake he obeyed and rejoiced in his spirit.
Then at the altar between them a treaty was made by the goddess
Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis,
Once more likened to Mentor in voice and in bodily semblance.