Speaker 1: The twentieth Book of the Odyssees of Homer. 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 Phil Schamp. The twentieth Book of the Odyssees
of Homer, translated by George Chapman. The argument Ulysses in
the woer's beds, resolving first to kill the maids. That sentence,
giving off his care for other objects, doth prepare another
argument Upsalon Jove thundered, chides, but cheers the king. The
wooer's pride's discomfiting Ulysses in the entry laid his head,
and under him an oxide a newly flayed. Above him,
sheep fell store and over those urynemy cast mantles. His
repose would bring no sleep. Yet, studying the ill, he
wished the wars who came by him still with all
their wenches, laughing, wantoning, in mutual lightness, which his heart
did sting. Contending two ways. If all patients fled, he
should rush up and strike those strumpets dead, or let
that night be last and take the extreme of those
proud wars that were so supreme in pleasure of their
high fed fantasies, his heart did bark within him to
surprise their sports with spoils. No fell She mast if
can amongst her whelps fly eagerer on a man she
doth not know, yet sends him something near and fain
would come to please her tooth and tear that his
disdain to see his roof so filed with those foul
fashions grew within him wild to be in blood of them,
but finding best in his free judgment to let passion rest,
He chid his angry spirit and beat his breast, and said,
forbear my mind and think on this. There hath been
and time when bitter agonies have tried thy patience. Call
to mind the day in which the cyclop which passed
manly sway of violent strength, devoured thy friends. Thou then
stood'st firmly, bold, till from that hellish den thy wisdom
brought thee off, when nought but death. Thy thoughts resolved
on this discourse, did breathe the fiery boundings of his
heart that still lay in that esture without and his
ill yet manly suffering. But from side to side it
made him toss apace. You have not tried a fellow
roasting of a pig before a hasty fire. His belly,
yielding store of fat and blood, turned faster, labor more
to have it roast, and would not have it burn
than this, and that way his unrest made turn his
thoughts and body, would not quench the fire, and yet
not have it heighten his desire past his discretion, and
the fit enough of haste and speed that went to
all the proof his well laid plots and his exploits required.
Since he but one to all their deaths aspired in
this contention, Pallas stooped from heaven, stood over him, and
had her presence given a woman's form, who sternly thus began,
Why thou, most sour and wretched, fated man of all
that breathe yet liest thou thus awake the house in
which thy care so toss, and take thy quiet up?
Is thine? Thy wife is there, and such a son,
as if thy wishes were to be sufficed with one
they could not mend. Goddess said, he tis true, but
I contend to right their wrongs, And though I be
but one to lay unhelped and wreakful hand upon this
whole resort of impudence, that here their rude assemblies never
will forbear. And yet a greater doubt employs my care.
That if their slaughters in my reaches are, and I
perform them jove, and you not pleased, how shall I
fly their friends? And would stand seized of counsel to
resolve this care in me wretch, she replied, A friend
of worse degree might win thy credence, that immortal were
aye an used to second thee, though nothing near so
powerful in performance nor in care. Yet I a goddess
that have still had share in thy achievements, and thy
person's guard must still be doubted by thy brain, so
hard to credit anything above thy power, and that must
come from heaven. If every hour there be not personal
appearance made an aid direct given, that may sense invade.
I tell THEE Therefore, clearly, if there were of divers
languaged men, an army here of fifty companies, all driving
hence thy sheep and oxen, and with violence offered to
charge us and besiege us round, thou shouldst their prey
reprise and them confound. Let sleep, then seize thee to
keep watch all night consumes the spirits and makes dull
the sight. Thus poured the goddess Sleep into his eyes,
and reascended the Olympian skies. When care and lineament resolving
Sleep had laid his temples in his golden steep, his wise, chaste,
wit worthy wife did rise first, sitting up in her
soft bed, her eyes opened with tears in care of
her estate, which now her friends resolved to terminate to
more delays and make her merry one. Her silent tears
then ceased her orison. This queen of women to Diana, Maid,
Reverend Diana, let thy darts invade my woeful bosom, and
my life deprive now at this instant, or soon after.
Drive my soul with tempests forth, and give it way
to those far off dark vaults, where never day hath
power to shine, And let them cast it down where
refulent Oceanus doth crown his curled head, where Pluto's orchard did,
and entrance to our after miseries, and such stern whirlwinds
ravished to that stream. Pandarius's daughters, when the gods to
them had reft their parents and left them alone, poor
orphaned children in their mansion whose desolate life did love
sweet Queen inclined to nurse with pressed milk and sweetest wine,
whom Juno decked beyond all other dames with wisdom's light
and beauty's moving flames, whom Phoebe, goodliness of stature rendered,
and to whose fair hands wise Minerva tendered the loom
and needle in their utmost skill. And while Love's Empress
scaled the Olympian hill to beg of lightning, loving Jove,
since he the means to all things knows and doth
decree fortunes in fortunes to the mortal race for those
poor virgins, the accomplished grace of sweet nuptials. The fierce
harpies preyed on every good and miserable maid, and to
the hateful furies gave them all in horrid service. Yet
may such fate fall from steep olepus on my loathed
head or fair chaired Phoebe, strike me instant dead, that
I may undergo the gloomy shore to visit great Ulysses soul,
before I soothe my idle blood and wed a worse
And Yet beneath how desperate a curse do I live? Now?
It is an ill that may be well endured to
mourn the whole long day. So night's sweet sleeps that
make a man forget both bad and good, in some degree,
would let my thoughts leave grieving. But both day and night,
some cruel God gives my sad memory sight this night,
methought Ulysses graced my bed in all the goodly state
with which he led the Grecian army, which gave joy's
extreme to my distress, esteeming it no dream but true indeed,
and that conceit I had, that when I saw it false,
I might be mad. Such cruel fates command in my
life's guide. By this the morning's orient dews had dyed
the earth in all her color. When the king, in
his sweet sleep suppose the sorrowing that she used waking
in her plaintive bed to be her mourning, standing by
his head, as having known him there, who straight arose
and did again within the hall dispose the carpets and
the cushions where before they serve the seats. The hide
without the door he carried back, and then withheld up
hands he prayed to him that heaven and Earth commands
O Father Jove. If through the moist and dry, you
willing brought me home, when misery had punished me enough
by your free dooms. Let some of these within those
inner rooms startled with horror of some strange astent. Come
here and tell me that Great Jove hath bent threatenings
without at some lewd men within to this his prayer.
Jove shook his sable chin and thundered from those pure clouds,
that above the breathing air in bright olympus move divine ulysses.
Joy to hear it roar, report of which a woman
miller bore straight to his ears, for near to him
their ground mills for his corn. That twice six women
found continual motion grinding barley meal and wheat man's marrow sleep.
The eyes did seal of all the other women, having
done their usual task, which yet this dame alone had
scarce given end to, being of all the rest least
fit for labor. But when these sounds pressed her ears
above the rumbling of her mill, she let that stand
looked out, and heaven steep hill saw clear and temperate,
which made her unaware of giving any comfort to his care.
In that strange sign he prayed for thus, invoke, O,
King of Men, and gods a mighty stroke, thy thundering
hand laid on the cope of stars, no cloud in
all the air. And therefore War's thou bidst some men
in thy sure ostent, perform to me poor rich the
main event, and make this day the last and most
extreme in which the woar's pride shall solace them with
horash banquets in Ulysses roof that with sad toil to
grind them meal enough have quite dissolved my knees vouchsafe.
Then now thy thunders made their latest feast foreshow this
was the boone Ulysses begged of Jove, which with his
thunder through his bosom, drove a joy that this wunt breathed.
Why now these men, despite their pride, will Jove make
pay me pain by this? And other maids than those
that lay mixed with the woars made a fire like
day amidst the hearth of the illustrious hall. And then
the Prince, like a celestial rose from his bed to
his embalmed feet, tied fair shoes, his sword about his breast, applied,
took to his hand his sharp piled glance, and met
amidst the entry his old nurse that set his haste
at sudden stand, to whom he said, Oh, my love, nurse,
with what grace have you laid and fed my guest here?
Could you so neglect his age to lodge him? Thus,
though all respect I give my mother's wisdom, I must
yet affirm it failed in this, for she hath set
at much more price a man of much less worth
without his person's note, and yet casts forth with ignominious
hands for his form's sake, a man much better, do
not fault make good son the faultless. He was given
his seat close to her side, and food till he
would eat, wine till his wish was served. For she
requir'd his wants and willed him all things he desired.
Commanded her chief maids to make his bed, But he,
as one whom sorrow only fed and all in fortune,
would not take his rest in bed and coverings fit
for any guest. But in the entry on an Ox's hide,
never at Tanner's, his old limbs implied in warm sheep felves.
Yet over all we cast a mantle fitting for a
man more graced. He took her answer, left the house,
and went attended with his dogs to sift the event
of private plots betwixt him and his sire in common council.
Then the crew entire of all the household maids euryclea
bad bestir them through the house and see it clad
in all best form, gave all their parts. And one
she set to furnish every seat and throne with needleworks
and purple cloths of state. Another set to scour and
cleanse the plate, another all the tables to make proud
with poorous sponges. Others she bestowed in all speed to
the spring to fetch from thence fit store of water.
All at all expense of pains she willed to be
for this to all should be a day of common festival,
and not a wooer now should seek his home elsewhere
than there. But all were bid to come exceeding early,
and to be raised to heaven with all the entertainment
could be given. They heard with greedy ears, and everything
put straight in practice. Twenty to the spring made speed
for water. Many in the house took pains, and all
were both laborious and skilled in labor. Many fell to
fell and cleave their wood, and all did more than well.
Then trooped the lusty wooers in, and then came all
from spring at their heels, loaded men with slaughtered bronze.
Of all that heard the prize that had been long
fed up in several styles. Eumius and his men conveyed
them there. He, seeing now the king, began to cheer,
and thus saluted him. How now, my guest, have yet
your virtues found more interest in these great war's good respects,
or still pursue they you with all their wanted too?
I would to heaven Eumius, he replied, The deities once
would take in hand their pride, that such unseemly fashions
put in frame and others roofs as show no spark
of shame. Thus the and to these came Melanthius, great
guardian of the most egregious rich wooer's herds, consisting all
of goats, which he with two more drave and made
their coats the sounding porticos of that fair court. Melanthius,
seeing the king this former sort of upland language, gave
what still stay here and dull these woers with thy
wretched cheer? Not gone forever yet? Why now I see
this strife of cuffs betwixt the beggary, that yesterday is
sayed to get thee gone, and thy more roguery needs
will fall upon my hands to arbitrate. Thou wilt not
hence till I set on thee. Thy ragged impudence is
so fast footed. Are there not beside other great banquetuns.
But you must tide at anchor still with us? He
said nothing, but thought ill enough, and shook his head.
Then came Pelethius, a chief of men, that to the
wooers all devouring den a baron, steered rave and fat goats.
For they, in custom, were with traffickers by sea, that
who they would scent, and had utterance there. And for
these likewise the fair porches were hurdles and sheep pins,
as in any fair. Pheletius took note in his repair
of seen Ulysses, being a man as well given to
his mind's use as to buy and sell, or do
the drudgery that the blood desired, And standing near Eumaeus,
this inquired, what guest is this that makes our house
of late his entertainer? Whence claims he the state his
birth in this life holds, what nation, what race? What country?
Stands his speech upon or hardly portioned by the terrible fates.
The structure of his lineaments relates a king's resemblance in
his pomp of rain. Even thus in these rags, but
poorring men that have no firm home, but range here
and there as need compels. God keeps in this earth's
sphere as under water. And this too he sings when
he is spinning, even the cares of kings. Thus, coming
to him with a kind of fear, he took his
hand and touched exceeding near with mere imagination of his worth.
This salutation he sent loudly forth health, father, stranger in
another world, be rich and happy, Though thou here art
hurled at feet of never such insulting need. O Jove,
there lives no one god of thy seed, more ill
to man than thou. Thou takest no ruth. When thou
thyself hast got him in most truth, to wrap him
in the straits of most distress, and in the curse
of others wickedness, My brows have swept to see it,
and mine eyes broke all in tears. When this, being
still the guise of worthiest men, I have but only
thought that down to these ills was ulysses wrought, and
that thus clad even he is here driven, if yet
he live and sees the light of heaven. But if
now dead, and in the house of hell O me
o good ulysses that my weeel did ever wish. And
when but half a man amongst the people, Capphellenian is
bounty to his Oxen's charge preferred one in that youth
which now has grown a herd unspeakable for number, and
feed there with their broad heads as thick as of
his ear a field of corn is to a man.
Yet these some men advise me with this noted priests
of oars may devour and wish me drive up to
their feasts with them that neither give his son respect
though in his own free roof, nor have the wit
to fear the infallible proof of heavenly vengeance. But make
offer now this long lacked king's possessions to bestow in
their self shares. Methinks the mind in me doth turn
as fast as in a flood or sea, a raging whirlpit,
doth to gather in to fishy death, those swimmers in
their sin or feeds a motion as circular to drive
my herds away. But while the sun bears up with life.
Twere Highness wrong to run to other people with them,
and to trust men of another earth, And yet more
just it were to venture their laws the main right
made still their masters than at home lose quite their
right in them, and sit and grieve to see the
wrong authorized by their gluttony. And I had long since
fled and tried the event with other proud kings, since
more insolent these are than can be borne. But that
even still I had a hope that this, though born
to ill, would one day come from some coast, and
their last in his roofs strew with ruins, red and
vast herdsman, said he, because thou art in show, nor lewd,
nor indiscreet, and that I know their rules in thee,
in understanding soul, I'll take an oath that in THEE
shall control all doubt of what I swear be witness
Jove that swayeth the first seat of the throne, above
this hospitable table, and this house that's still hold title
for the strenuous son of Laertes, that if so you please,
your eyes shall witness Laertiaddes arriv'd at home, and all
these men that reign in such excesses. Here shall here
lie slain? He answered, stranger would just jove would sign
what you have sworn. In your eyes beams should shine,
what powers I manage? And how these my hands would
rise and follow where he first commands, So said Eumaeus,
praying all the sky that wise ulysses might arrive and try.
Thus while they vowed, the wooer sat his hard on
his son's death. But had their counsels scared, For on
their left hand did an eagle soar, and in her
sears a fearful pigeon bore which scene and Finnamus presag'd
o friends, our counsels never will receive their ends in
this man's slaughter. Let us therefore ply our bloody feast
and make his oxen die. Thus came they in cast
off on seats their cloaks, and fell to giving sacrificing
strokes of sheep and goats. The chiefly fat and great
slew fed up swine, and from the herd at eat
the inwards roasted. They disposed betwixt their then observers, wine
and flagons mixed the bulls. Eumius brought Peletius bread Melanthius
filled the wine. Thus drank and fed the feastful wars.
Then the prince, in grace of his close project, did
his father place amidst a paved entry, in a seat seamless,
an abject, a small board, and meat of the only
inwards in a cup of gold. Yet set him wine
and bade him now drink bold. All his approaches, he
himself would free against all the wooers, since he would
not see his court made popular, but that his sire
built it to his use. Therefore, all the fire blown
in the wooer's spleens he bade suppress, and that in
hands nor words should they digress from that set peace
his speech. Did then proclaim, they bit their lips, and
wondered at his aim in that brave language, when Antinous said,
though this speech, grecians, be a mere upbraid, Yet this
time give it pass. The will of Jove forbids the
violence of our hands to move, but of our tongues
we keep the motion free. And therefore, if his further
jollity tempt our encounter with his braves, let's check his
growing insolence. Though pride to speak, fly passing high with him,
the wise prince made no more spring of his speech,
but let it fade. And now the heralds bore about
the town the sacred hecatomb, to whose renown the fair
haired Greeks assembled, and beneath Apollo's shady wood the holy
Death they put to fire, which made enough they drew,
divided all that did in the end a crue to
glorious satisfaction. Those that were disposers of the feast did
equal cheer, bestow un wretchedly Aertiades with all the war's souls.
It so did pleased Alemachus to charge them. And for
these Minerva would not see the malices. The wars bore
too much contained that so Ulysses moved heart might yet
higher flow in wreakful anguish. There was wooing there amongst
the rest a gallant that did bear the name of
one well learned in jess profane. His name Catessipus, born
a Samian, who proud because his father was so rich,
had so much confidence, as did bewitch his heart with
hope to wed Ulysses wife. And this man said, hear me,
my lords in strife for this great widow, this her
guest did share even feast with us, with very comely
care of him that ordered it, for tis not good
nor equal to deprived guests of their food, and specially
whatever guest makes way to that house where Telemachus doth sway.
And therefore I will add to his receipt a gift
of very hospitable weight, which he may give again to
any maid that bathes his grave feet and her pain
see paid, or any servant else that the divine Ulysses
lofty battlements confine. Thus snatched he with a valiant hand,
from out the poor folk's common basket a neat's foot,
and threw it at Ulysses, who his head shrunk quietly aside,
and let it shed his malice on the wall the
suffering man a laughter, raising most Sardinian with scorn and
wrath mixed at the Samian whom thus the prince reprov'd
your valor wan much grazed Catessipus, and hath eased your
mind with mighty prophet. Yet you see it fine, no
market aimed at the poor stranger's part himself made good
enough to escape your dart. But should I serve thee worthily,
my lance should strike thy heart through and in place
to advance thyself in nuptials with his wealth. Thy sire
should make thy tomb here, that the foolish fire of
all such valors may not dare to show these foul
indecencies to me. I now have years to understand my strength,
and know the good and bad of things, and am
no more at your large sufferance to behold my stark
consum'd with patience, see my cattle slain, my wine exhausted,
and my bread in vain spent on your license for
to one then young. So many enemies were matched too strong.
But let me never more be witness to your hostile minds,
nor those base deeds ye do. For should ye kill
me and my offer'd reek, I wish it rather, and
my death would speak much more good of me than
to live and see indignity upon indignity. My guests provoked
with bitter words and blows, My women servants dragg'd about
my house to lust and rapture. This made silence sees
the house throughout, till the masterietes at length the calm break,
and said friend forbear to give a just speech a
disdainful ear. The guest no more touch nor no servant
here myself will to the Prince and Queen command a
motion grateful if they please to lend grateful receipt, as
long as any hope left wise ulysses any passage op
to his return in our conceits, So long the Queen's
delays to our demand stood strong in cause and reason,
and our quarrels thus with guests the Queen or her
Telemachus set never foot amongst our liberal feast. For should
the king return, though thought deceased, it had been gained
to us in finding him to lose his wife. But
now since nothing dim the day's break out that show
he never more shall reach the dear touch of his
country shore, sit by your mother in persuasion that now
it stands her honor much upon to choose the best
of us, and who gives most to go with him home,
For so all things lost in sticking on our hats,
so you shall clear recover in our no more concourse.
Here possess your birthright, holy eat and drink, and never
more on our disgraces. Think by Jove no ajelius, for
I swear by all my father's sorrows. Who doth air
far off from his or rests in death. I am
so far from spending but my breath to make my
mother any more defer her wished nuptials, that I'll counsel
her to make her free choice, and besides will give
large gifts to move her. But I fear to drive
or charge her. Hence or God will not give way
to any such course. If I should, as say, at
this Minerva made for foolish joy. The wooer's mad and
roused their late annoy to such a laughter as would
never down. They laughed with others, cheeks ate meat overflown
with their own bloods. Their eyes stood full of tears
for violent joys. Their souls yet thought of fears which
Thioclaminus expressed, and said, oh wretches, why sustain ye will
appaid your imminent ill? A knight with which death sees
your heads and faces hides beneath your knees. Shrieks burn
about you, your eyes thrust out tears. These fixed walls,
and that beam that bears the whole house up in
bloody torrents fall, the entry full of ghosts stands fuld
the hall of passengers to hell, and under all the
dismal shades, the sun sinks from the poles and troubled
air pours bane about your souls. They sweetly laughed at this.
Eurymicus to mocks disposed, and said, this new come to
us is surely mad. Conduct him forth to light in
the open market place. He thinks tis night within the house.
Eurymicus said he, I will not ask for any guide
of thee. I both my feet and joy have ears
and eyes, and no mad soul within me. And with
these will I go forth the doors, because I know
that imminent mischief must abide with you, which not a
man of all the wars here shall fly or scape.
Ye all too highly bear your uncurbed heads. Impieties ye commit,
and every man affect with forms unfit. This said, he
left the house and took his way home to Pyrieus, who,
as free as day, was of his welcome. When the
wooer's eyes changed looks with one another, and their guise
of laughter still held on, still eased their breasts of
will to set the prince against his guests, affirming that
of all the men alive, he worst luck had, and
proved it worst to give guests entertainment, for he had
won there a wandering hunter out of provender, an errant
beggar every way, yet thought he was so hungry that
he needed not but wine and victuals. Nor knew how
to do, nor had a spirit to put a knowledge to,
but lived an idle burthen to the earth. Another then
stepped up and would lay forth his lips in prophecy. Thus,
but would he hear his friend's persuasions, he should find
it were more profit for him to put both abroad
for the Sicilian people that afford these feet of men
good price, and this would bring good means for better guests.
These were made wing to his ears idly, who had
still his eye upon his father, looking fervently when he
would lay his long withholding hand on those proud wars.
And within command of all this speech that passed Ecarius's heir,
the wise Penelope, her royal chair had placed of purpose
their high dinner. Then, with all pleased pallets, these ridiculous
men fell sweetly too, as joying they had slain such
store of banquet. But there did not rain a bitterer
banquet planet in all heaven than that which Pallas had
to that day driven and with her able friend now
meant to oppose, since they till then were in deserts
so gross end of the twentieth book