Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Moira Fogerty. The Odyssey
by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler, book eighteen. Now there
came a certain common tramp who used to go begging
all over the city of Ithaca, and was notorious as
an incorrigible glutton and drunkard. This man had no strength
nor stay in him, but he was a great hulking fellow.
To look at. His real name, the one his mother
gave him, was Arnaeus, but the young men of the
place called him Iris, because he used to run errands
for any one who would send him. As soon as
he came, he began to insult Ulysses and to try
and drive him out of his own house. Be awful man,
he cried from the doorway, or you shall be dragged
out neck and heels. Do you not see that they
are all giving me the wink and wanting me to
turn you out by force? Only I do not like
to do. So. Get up, then and go of yourself,
or we shall come to blows. Ulysses frowned on him
and said, my friend, I do you no manner of harm.
People give you a great deal, but I am not jealous.
There is room enough in this doorway for the pair
of us, and you need not grudge me things that
are not yours to give. You seem to be just
such another tramp as myself, But perhaps the gods will
give us better luck by and by. Do not, however,
talk too much about fighting, or you will incense me
and old though I am, I shall cover your mouth
and chest with blood. I shall have more peace to
morrow if I do, for you will not come to
the house of Ulysses any more. Iris was very angry
and answered, you, filthy glutton, you run on trippingly like
an old fish. Fag. I have a good mind to
lay both hands about you and knock your teeth out
of your head like so many boars tusks. Get ready, therefore,
and let these people here stand by and look on.
You will never be able to fight one who is
so much younger than yourself. Thus roundly did they rate
one another on the smooth pavement in front of the doorway,
And when Antonus saw what was going on, he laughed
heartily and said to the others, this is the finest
sport that you ever saw. Heaven never yet sent anything
like it into this house. The stranger and heres have
quarreled and are going to fight. Let us set them
on to do so at once. The suitors all came up, laughing,
and gathered round the two ragged tramps. Listen to me,
said Antonus. There are some goat's paunches down at the fire,
which we have filled with blood and fat and set
aside for supper. He who is victorious and proves himself
to be the better man, shall have his pick of
the lot. He shall be free of our table, and
we will not allow any other beggar about the house
at all. The others all agreed, but ulysses to throw
them off the scent, said Sirs. An old man like myself,
worn out with suffering, cannot hold his own against a
young one. But my irrepressible belly urges me on, though
I know it can only end in my getting a drubbing.
You must swear, however, that none of you will give
me a foul blow, to favor Iris and secure him
the victory. They swore as he told them, and when
they had completed their oath. Telemachus put in a word
and said, stranger, if you have a mind to settle
with this fellow, you need not be afraid of any
one here. Whoever strikes you will have to fight more
than one. I am host, and the other chiefs Antonus
and Eurymachus, both of them men of understanding, are of
the same mind as I am. Every one assented, and
Ulysses girded his old rags about his loins, thus bearing
his stalwart thighs, his broad chest and shoulders, and his
mighty arms. But Minerva came up to him and made
his limbs even stronger. Still, the suitors were beyond measure astonished,
and one would turn towards his neighbor, saying, this stranger
has brought such a thigh out of his old rags,
that there will soon be nothing left of rius. Ers
began to be very uneasy as he heard them. But
the servants girded him by force and brought him into
the open part of the court in such a fright
that his limbs were all of a tremble. Antonus scolded
him and said, you swaggering bully, you ought never to
have been born at all. If you are afraid of
such an old, broken down creature as this tramp is,
I say therefore, and it shall surely be if he
beats you and proves himself the better man, I shall
pack you off on board ship to the mainland and
send you to King Echetus, who kills every one that
comes near him. He will cut off your nose and ears,
and draw out your entails for the dogs to eat.
This frightened heres still more. But they brought him into
the middle of the court, and the two men raised
their hands to fight. Then Ulysses considered whether he should
let drive so hard at him as to make an
end of him then and there, or whether he should
give him a lighter blow that should only knock him down.
In the end, he deemed it best to give the
lighter blow, for fear the Achaeans should begin to suspect
who he was. Then they began to fight, and Ears
hit Ulysses on the right shoulder. But Ulysses gave Earris
a blow on the neck under the ear that broke
in the bones of his skull, and the blood came
gushing out of his mouth. He fell groaning in the dust,
gnashing his teeth and kicking on the ground. But the
suitors threw up their hands and nearly died of laughter.
Ulysses caught hold of him by the foot and dragged
him into the outer court as far as the gatehouse.
There he propped him up against the wall and put
his staff in his hands. Sit here, said he, and
keep the dogs and pigs off. You are a pitiful creature,
and if you try to make yourself king of the
beggars any more, you shall fare still worse. Then he
threw his dirty old wallet, all tattered and torn, over
his shoulder with the cord by which it hung, and
went back to sit down upon the threshold. But the
suitors went within the cloisters, laughing and saluting him. May
Jove and all the other gods said, they grant you
whatever you want for having put an end to the
importunity of this insatiable tramp. We will take him over
to the mainland presently to King Ecatus, who kills every
one that comes near him. Ulysses hailed this as of
good omen and Antonus set a great goat's paunch before him,
filled with blood and fat. Amphinymus took two loaves out
of the bread basket and brought them to him, pledging
him as he did so, in a golden goblet of wine.
Good luck to you, he said, father stranger, you are
very badly off at present, but I hope you will
have better times by and by. To this, Ulysses answered ampheminus,
you seem to be a man of good understanding, as
indeed you may well be. Seeing whose son you are,
I have heard your father well spoken of. He is
Nysus of Dulichium, a man both brave and wealthy. They
tell me you are his son, and you appear to
be a considerable person. Listen, therefore, and take heed to
what I am saying. Man is the vainest of all
creatures that have their being upon earth. As long as
Heaven vouchsafes him health and strength, he thinks that he
shall come to no harm hereafter. And even when the
blessed Gods bring sorrow upon him, he bears it as
he needs must and makes the best of it. For
God Almighty gives men their daily minds day by day.
I know all about it, for I was a rich
man once and did much wrong in the stubbornness of
my pride, and in the confidence that my father and
my brothers would support me. Therefore, let a man fear
God in all things always, and take the good that
Heaven may see fit to send him without vainglory. Consider
the infamy of what these suitors are doing. See how
they are wasting the estate and doing dishonor to the
wife of one who is certain to return some day,
and that too not long. Hence, nay, he will be
here soon. May Heaven send you home quietly first, that
you may not meet with him in the day of
his coming. For once he is here, the suitors, and
he will not part bloodlessly. With these words, he made
a drink offering, and when he had drunk, he put
the gold cup again into the hands of Ampheminus, who
walked away, serious and bowing his head, for he foreboded evil.
But even so he did not escape destruction, for Minerva
had doomed him fall by the hand of Telemachus. So
he took his seat again at the place from which
he had come. Then Minerva put it into the mind
of Penelope to show herself to the suitors, that she
might make them still more enamored of her and win
still further honor from her son and husband. So she
feigned a mocking laugh and said, your enemy, I have
changed my mind and have a fancy to show myself
to the suitors. Although I detest them, I should like
also to give my son a hint that he had
better not have anything more to do with them. They
speak fairly enough, but they mean mischief. My dear child answered, Eurynymy,
all that you have said is true. Go and tell
your son about it. But first wash yourself and anoint
your face. Do not go about with your cheeks all
covered with tears. It is not right that you should
grieve so incessantly for Telemachus, whom you have always prayed
that you might live to see with the beard, is
already grown up. I know, Eurynymy, replied Penelope, that you
mean well, but do not try and persuade me to
wash and to anoint myself, for Heaven rob me of
all my beauty on the day my husband sailed. Nevertheless,
tell Autonoe and Hippodamia that I want them. They must
be with me when I am in the cloister. I
am not going among the men alone. It would not
be proper for me to do so. On this, the
old woman went out of the room to bid the
maids go to their mistress. In the meantime, Minerva bethought
her of another matter and sent Penelope off into a
sweet slumber. So she lay down on her couch, and
her limbs became heavy with sleep. Then the goddess shed
grace and beauty over her, that all the Achaeans might
admire her. She washed her face with the ambrosial loveliness
that Venus wears when she goes dancing. With the graces,
she made her taller and of a more commanding figure,
while as for her complexion, it was whiter than san ivory.
When Minerva had done all this, she went away, whereon
the maids came in from the women's room and woke
Penelope with the sound of their talking. Oh what an
exquisitely delicious sleep I have been having, said she as
she passed her hands over her face. In spite of
all my misery, I wish Diana would let me die
so sweetly now at this very moment, that I might
no longer waste in despair for the loss of my
dear husband, who possessed every kind of good quality and
was the most distinguished man among the Achaeans. With these words,
she came down from her upper room, not alone, but
attended by two of her maidens, And when she reached
the suitors, she stood by one of the bearing posts
supporting the roof the cloister, holding a veil before her face,
and with a staid maid servant on either side of her.
As they beheld her, the suitors were so overpowered and
became so desperately enamored of her, that each one prayed
he might win her for his own bed. Fellow Telemachus,
said she, addressing her son, I fear you are no
longer so discreet and well conducted as you used to be.
When you were younger, you had a greater sense of propriety. Now, however,
that you are grown up, though a stranger to look
at you would take you for the son of a
well to do father. As far as sighs and good
looks go, your conduct is by no means what it
should be. What is all this disturbance that has been
going on? And how came you to allow a stranger
to be so disgracefully ill treated? What would have happened
if he had suffered serious injury while a suppliant in
our house. Surely this would have been very discreditable to you.
I am not surprised, my dear mother, at your displeasure,
replied Telemachus. I understand all about it, and no one
thinks are not as they should be, which I could
not do when I was younger. I cannot, however, behave
with perfect propriety at all times. First one and then
another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out
of my mind, and I have no one to stand
by me. After all. However, this fight between Iris and
the Stranger did not turn out as the suitors meant
it to do, for the Stranger got the best of it.
I wish Father Jove, Minerva and Apollo would break the
neck of every one of these wooers of yours, some
inside the house and some out, And I wish they
might all be as limp as eresses over yonder in
the gait of the outer court. See how he nods
his head like a drunken man. He has had such
a thrashing that he cannot stand on his feet, nor
get back to his home, wherever that may be, for
he has no strength left in him. Thus did they converse.
Eurymachus then came up and said, Queen Penelope, daughter of Vicarius,
if all the Achaeans in Yeasian Argos could see you
at this moment, you would have still more suitors in
your house by tomorrow morning, for you are the most
admirable woman in the whole world, both as regards personal
beauty and strength of understanding. To this, Penelope replied Eurymachus.
Heaven robbed me of all my beauty, whether of face
or figure, when the archives set sail for Troy, and
my dear husband with them. If he were to return
and look after my affairs, I should both be more
respected and show a better presence to the world. As
it is, I am oppressed with care and with the
afflictions which Heaven has seen fit to heap upon me.
My husband foresaw it all, and when he was leaving home,
he took my right wrist in his hand. Wife, he said,
we shall not all of us come home safe from Troy,
for the Trojans fight well, both with Beau and spear.
They are excellent also at fighting from chariots, and nothing
decides the issue of a fight sooner than this. I
know not, therefore, whether Heaven will send me back to you,
or whether I may not fall over there at Troy.
In the meantime, do you look after things here? Take
care of my father and mother as at present, and
even more so during my absence. But when you see
our son growing a beard, then marry whom you will,
and leave this your present home. This is what he said,
and now it is all coming true. A night will
come when I shall have to yield myself to a
marriage which I detest, for Jove has taken from me
all hope of happiness. This further grief moreover cuts me
to the very heart. You suitors are not wooing me,
after the custom of my country, when men are courting
a woman whom they think will be a good wife
to them, and who is of noble birth, and when
they are each trying to win her for himself, they
usually bring oxen and sheep to feast the friends of
the lady, and they make her magnificent presents instead of
eating up other people's property without paying for it. This
was what she said, and Ulysses was glad when he
heard her trying to get presents out of the suitors
and flattering them with fair words, which he knew she
did not mean. Then Antonus said, Queen Penelope, daughter of Vicarius,
take as many presents as you please from any one
who will give them to you. It is not well
to refuse a present, But we will not go about
our business, nor stir from where we are till you
have married the best man among us, whoever he may be.
The others applauded what Antonus had said, and each one
sent his servant to bring his present. Antonus's man returned
with a large and lovely dress, most exquisitely embroidered. It
had twelve beautifully made brooch pins of pure gold with
which to fasten it. Eurymachus immediately brought her a magnificent
chain of gold and amber beads that gleamed like sunlight.
Eurydamis's two men returned with some earrings fashioned into three
brilliant pendants, which glistened most beautifully, while King Pissander, son
of Polyctor, gave her a necklace of the rarest workmanship,
and everyone else brought her a beautiful present of some kind.
Then the queen went back to her room upstairs, and
her maids brought the presents after her. Meanwhile, the suitors
took to singing and dancing, and stayed till evening came.
They danced and sang till it grew dark. Then they
brought in three braziers to give light, and pile them
up with chopped firewood, very old and dry, and they
lit torches from them, which the maids held up in
turn and turn about. Then, Ulysses said, maids, servants of Ulysses,
who has so long been absent, go to the queen
inside the house, sit with her and amuse her, or
spin and pick wool. I will hold the light for
all these people. They may stay till morning, but shall
not beat me, for I can stand a great deal.
The maids looked at one another and laughed, while pretty
Melantho began to gibe at him contemptuously. She was daughter
to Dolius, but had been brought up by Penelope, who
used to give her toys to play with and looked
after her when she was a child. But in spite
of all this, she showed no consideration for the sorrows
of her mistress, and used to misconduct herself with Eurymachus,
with whom she was in love. Poor wretch, said she,
are you gone clean out of your mind? Go and
sleep in some smithy or place of public gossips instead
of chattering here, Are you not ashamed of opening your
mouth before your betters so many of them too? Has
the wine been getting into your head? Or do you
always babble in this way? You seem to have lost
your wits because you beat the tramp. Heiress, take care
that a better man than he does not come and
cudgel you about the head till he pack you bleeding
out of the house. Vixen replied Ulysses, scowling at her,
I will go and tell Telemachus what you have been saying,
and he will have you torn limb from limb. With
these words, he scared the women, and they went off
into the body of the house. They trembled all over,
for they thought he would do as he said. But
Ulysses took his stand near the burning braziers, holding up
torches and looking at the people, brooding the while on
things that should surely come to pass. But Minerva would
not let the suitors for one moment cease their insolence,
for she wanted Ulysses to become even more bitter against them.
She therefore sent Eurymachus, son of Polybus, on to gibe
at him, which made the others laugh. Listen to me,
said he you, suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may
speak even as I am minded. It is not for
nothing that this man has come to the house of Ulysses.
I believe the light has not been coming from the torches,
but from his own head, for his hair is all gone,
every bit of it. Then, turning to Ulysses, he said, stranger,
will you work as a servant? If I send you
to the wolds and see that you are well paid?
Can you build a stone fence or plant trees? I
will have you fed all the year round, and will
find you in shoes and clothing. Will you go then,
not you, for you have got into bad ways and
do not want to work. You would rather fill your
belly by going round the country begging Youuremachus answered Ulysses.
If you and I were to work one against the
other in early summer, when the days are at their longest,
give me a good scythe and take another yourself, and
let us see which will fast the longer, or mow
the stronger from dawn till dark when the mowing grass
is about, Or if you will plow against me. Let
us each take a yoke of tawny oxen, well mated
and of great strength and endurance. Turn me into a
four acre field, and see whether you or I can
drive the straight or furrow. If again war were to
break out this day, give me a shield and a
couple of spears, and a helmet fitting well upon my temples,
you would find me foremost in the fray, and would
cease your gibes about my belly. You are insolent and cruel,
and think yourself a great man, because you live in
a little world, and that a bad one. If Ulysses
comes to his own again, the doors of his house
are wide, but you will find them narrow when you
try to fly through them. Eurymachus was furious at all this.
He scowled at him and cried, you wretch, I will
soon pay you out for daring to say such things
to me, and in public too. Has the wine been
getting into your head? Or do you always babble in
this way? You seem to have lost your wits because
you beat the tramp eress With this he caught hold
of a footstool, but Ulysses saw protection at the knees
of Amphinymus of Dulcium, for he was afraid. The stool
hit the cupbearer on his right hand and knocked him down.
The man fell with a cry, flat on his back,
and his wine jug fell ringing to the ground. The
suitors in the covered cloister were now in an uproar,
and one would turn towards his neighbor, saying, I wish
the stranger had gone somewhere else, bad luck to hide
for all the trouble he gives us, we cannot permit
such disturbance about a beggar. If such ill counsels are
to prevent, we shall have no more pleasure at our banquet.
On this Telemachus came forward and said, sirs, are you mad?
Can you not carry your meat and your liquor decently?
Some evil spirit has possessed you. I do not wish
to drive any of you away, but you have had
your suppers, and the sooner you all go home to bed,
the better. The suitors bit their lips and marveled at
the boldness of his speech. But Amphinymus, the son of Nisus,
who was son to Aretius, said, do not let us
take offense. It is reasonable, so let us make no answer,
neither let us do violence to the stranger, nor to
any of ulysses servants. Let the cup bearer go round
with the drink offerings, that we may make them, and
go home to our rest. As for the stranger, let
us leave Telemachus to deal with him, for it is
to his house that he is come. Thus did he speak,
and his saying pleased them well. So Mulius of Delicium,
servant to Amphinymus, mix them a bowl of wine and water,
and handed it round to each of them man by man,
whereon they made their drink offerings to the blessed gods. Then,
when they had made their drink offerings and had drunk
each one as he was minded, they took their several ways,
each of them to his own abode. End of Book eighteen,
read by Moira Foggerty in Toronto, Ontario, October two thousand six,