Odysseus Meeting His Son Again in the Twenty Years Gone and I Am Back Again

Homer: The Odyssey

Book XVI

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Translated by A. S. Kline © Copyright 2004 All Rights Reserved

This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Weather and Exceptions apply.

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Contents

• Bk XVI:1-59 Telemachus at Eumaeus' hut
• Bk XVI:60-111 Odysseus expresses his stance
• Bk 16:112-153 Telemachus sends Eumaeus to Penelope
• Bk XVI:154-212 Odysseus reveals his identity to Telemachus
• Bk Sixteen:213-257 Odysseus and Telemachus make plans
• Bk Xvi:258-320 Odysseus gives Telemachus his orders
• Bk XVI:321-392 Telemachus' ship makes harbour
• Bk Xvi:393-451 Penelope rebukes the Suitors
• Bk XVI:452-481 Eumaeus brings Telemachus the latest news.

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Bk 16:one-59 Telemachus at Eumaeus' hut

Back at the hut, Odysseus and the noble swineherd had lit a dawn fire, and were making breakfast, after sending the other herdsmen off with the swine. As Telemachus approached, the guard dogs failed to bark, instead they fawned around him. Odysseus, hearing the sound of footsteps and realising the dogs were silent, spoke to Eumaeus with winged words: 'This must be some friend of yours, Eumaeus, or an old acquaintance. I hear footsteps, simply the dogs are serenity, fawning round your company.'

He had barely finished speaking when his own brave son stood on the threshold. The swineherd leapt upwards in amazement, and the bowls he was using to mix the glowing wine fell from his hands. He ran to meet his chief, and kissed his forehead, his sparkling eyes, and his easily, while the tears ran down his cheeks. The worthy swineherd clasped godlike Telemachus in his artillery and kissed him incessantly every bit if he were back from the dead, as a loving father greets a son returned from a furthermost land subsequently a nine-yr absence, a dear and only son for whom he has suffered much pain. And, in tears, he spoke to him with winged words: '

'Telemachus, sweet light of my eyes, you are hither! And I thought I would never run into you more, afterwards you sailed for Pylos. Come in, love boy, and permit me gladden my heart by gazing at you lot, home now from afar lands, and here, in my firm. You seldom visit the herdsmen and the subcontract: you are e'er in boondocks: I retrieve you must enjoy watching that hateful crowd of Suitors.'

Wise Telemachus replied: 'If you say so, old friend. I came hither to run across you, though, with my own eyes, and ask you whether my mother is nevertheless at home, or whether some homo has married her leaving Odysseus' bed un-slept in, hung with foul cobwebs.'

'Truly,' the master swineherd replied, 'she still suffers patiently in the palace, and while she weeps the nights and days laissez passer past in sadness.' With this he took the bronze spear from Telemachus, who crossed the stone threshold. His male parent, Odysseus, rose at his approach to relinquish his chair, merely Telemachus stopped him with a sign, and said: 'Sit down, friend, and I'll discover a seat here elsewhere. Here'southward a man who'll detect one for me.' With this, Odysseus sat downwards again, while the swineherd threw a fleece over a pile of brushwood then that Odysseus' steadfast son could be seated. Then the swineherd set out plates of roast meat from the previous twenty-four hour period's meal, and baskets piled with bread, and mixed honeyed wine in an ivy bowl, before sitting down opposite godlike Odysseus.

They stretched out their easily to the good food in front of them, and when they had quenched their hunger and thirst, Telemachus asked the worthy swineherd: 'Where does this stranger hail from, old friend? What ship brought him to Ithaca and who did the sailors merits to exist, since he couldn't become here on foot?'

'Odysseus and Telemachus in Eumaeus' hut'

Bk Sixteen:60-111 Odysseus expresses his opinion

Eumaeus, the swineherd, you answered him, saying: 'I'll tell you all near information technology, my boy. He says he was born on Crete's wide island, and has roamed through all the cities of men: such is the fate a god has spun for him. Now he's escaped a Thresprotian ship and found his fashion to the farm. I'll entrust him to you, to do equally you wish, equally he is your suppliant.'

Wise Telemachus replied: 'Eumaeus your words cut me to the quick. How can I welcome a stranger to my house? I am all the same young, and not strong enough to defend myself confronting anyone who picks a quarrel at random. And my female parent's mind sways this way and that, whether to stay and continue firm for me out of respect for her husband's bed and for public opinion, or to go with whoever proves best of the Achaean suitors, and offers the finest marriage gifts. In truth, regarding this stranger, since he has come to you I volition requite him a fine tunic and cloak, a double-edged sword and a pair of sandals, and ship him on wherever he'south minded to become. Or you might wish to go on him on at the subcontract, and take care of him: I'll ship y'all clothes and sufficient food, so his presence doesn't ruin you. But I'll not let him mix with the oversupply of Suitors, whose mindless insolence runs to backlog, lest they taunt him, and distress me. It'southward difficult for i human being alone to practice anything in a crowd, however brave he is. They have the greater forcefulness, in truth.'

'Friend,' said noble long-suffering Odysseus, 'it is surely right for me to speak. It pains my middle to hear yous draw the outrage these Suitors commit in your firm, to spite you, a fine homo. Practise you take it? Do the people here detest yous, because of some oracle? Or is it the mistake of some blood brother, whom a human being should trust to fight for him in troubled times. I wish I had the youth to match my present feelings, or were myself a son of peerless Odysseus, or even Odysseus himself returned from his travels, of which there'southward e'er promise. Then some stranger would exist welcome to take my head if I failed to evidence their bane when I reached the palace of Laertes' son. And if they proved too many for a lone fighter, so if it were me I'd rather die the death in my own palace, than have to gaze forever at wickedness, strangers maltreated, the maids shamefully manhandled in those fine halls, vino wasted, and men gorging themselves on my nutrient, endlessly, without intendance or restraint.'

Bk XVI:112-153 Telemachus sends Eumaeus to Penelope

'Stranger,' wise Telemachus replied, 'let me confess the truth of the matter. On the whole the people have no hatred for me or grudge against me, nor is it the fault of whatever blood brother a human should trust to fight for him in troubled times. Zeus has preserved our house in a strict line. Laertes was Arceisius' just son, Odysseus in turn was his, and I am Odysseus'. He had little joy of me, leaving me behind, a kid, in his palace. As a consequence the house is full of enemies. All the princes who rule the islands, Dulichium, Same, and wooded Zacynthus, and those here in rocky Ithaca, all of them court my mother, and plunder my house. She neither rejects their wooing outright, nor chooses to accept re-marriage, the thought of which she hates, while they swallow my stores in feasting, and will ruin me soon. Yet all that'southward in the lap of the gods, erstwhile friend: become quickly and tell faithful Penelope that I am safely dorsum from Pylos. I volition look here till yous have told her your news, in individual, and returned. No one else must hear it, since many of them are hostile to me.'

Eumaeus, the swineherd, you lot answered him then, saying: 'I hear you, and I'll bear information technology in mind, you are speaking to one who understands. But tell me, now, shall I visit Laertes at the same fourth dimension. That man of ill fate continued to manage the estate for a while, and ate and drank with the men, when the spirit took him, though grieving securely for Odysseus. But since you left in your ship for Pylos they say he no longer eats or drinks, or oversees the piece of work, just sits there groaning and weeping, zippo but pare and os.'

Wise Telemachus replied: 'We're the sadder for that, merely nevertheless we will let him lonely, regardless of our sorrow. If it were possible for us mortals to take every wish fulfilled, our priority should be my begetter's render to a higher place all. No, speak your message and bustle back, and don't wander the fields in search of Laertes. Tell my mother instead to ship her maid to him, quickly and secretly: she tin can take the quondam human the news.'

Bk XVI:154-212 Odysseus reveals his identity to Telemachus

He sent the swineherd on his fashion, then picked up his sandals and jump them to his feet, and headed for boondocks. Athene, aware of Eumaeus' departure from the farm approached in the form of a tall, cute woman, skilled in fine handiwork. She stood past the archway to the hut and was visible to Odysseus, just Telemachus failed to come across or be aware of her: since the gods do non bear witness themselves openly to all. The dogs, as well equally Odysseus, saw her though, and slunk away whining, not barking, to the far side of the yard. She raised her eyebrows and seeing her signal Odysseus went out past the wall of the court and stood at that place, facing her. Then Athene spoke to him: 'Odysseus of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes, tell your son who you are no longer hide it, and when you have planned how to kill the Suitors, go on towards town. I will not be far from you lot, I am eager for the fight.'

Proverb this, Athene touched him with her golden wand. She clothed him in a clean tunic and cloak, increased his stature, and restored his youthful complexion. His colour returned, his cheeks filled out, and his bristles darkened. Then she departed, leaving Odysseus to return to the hut. There his son was amazed, and troubled, dropping his gaze, fearing he was in the presence of a god. He spoke with winged words: 'Stranger, you seem different at present than you were a moment ago. Your clothes are new, and your complexion has inverse. Surely yous are one of the gods that dominion the wide heavens? Exist gracious, and spare the states, and let us offering you fitting sacrifice, and fine gifts wrought with gold.'

Noble long-suffering Odysseus replied: 'I am no god: why compare me with the immortals? I am your father, on whose account yous endure many a sorrow that makes you groan, and suffer men's violence.' And then saying, he kissed his son, and shed the tear he had curbed till then. But Telemachus, unable to believe as withal that it was his father, addressed him once more, maxim: 'Y'all cannot be my father, Odysseus. Some god is deceiving me to make me endure more. No mortal man could achieve all this himself, but only if a god came to him and willed him hands immature or old. In truth, a moment ago you lot were an old man in rags, and at present you are like ane of those gods who rule the wide heavens.'

'Telemachus,' resourceful Odysseus replied, 'you shouldn't exist so surprised that your father is here, and so astounded. No second Odysseus will always bear witness himself here, that you can exist sure of. Hither I am, before your eyes, back in my own land again later nigh on twenty years of wretched wandering. Athene the leader of armies has worked all this, making me appear as she wishes. She it is who has the power to brand me look similar a ragamuffin ane minute, a well-dressed youngster the next. It'due south no problem for the gods who rule the wide heavens to glorify a man or to humble him.'

Bk 16:213-257 Odysseus and Telemachus make plans

With this he sat down, and Telemachus flung his arms effectually him and wept, and the longing to express their emotion rose in both their hearts. They keened aloud, and their cries rose, louder and more than frequent than those of birds of prey with curved talons, vultures or sea-eagles, whose nests take been robbed of their unfledged chicks by land folk. Tears streamed piteously from their eyes. And sunset would have institute them still weeping, if Telemachus had non of a sudden asked his begetter: 'What ship brought you to Ithaca, dear father, and who did the sailors claim to be, since you tin't have arrived on foot?'

Noble, long-suffering Odysseus answered him: 'My male child, rest assured I volition tell you exactly how it was. Phaeacians brought me here, famous seafarers, who provide passage for any strangers who reach them. While I slept they carried me in their swift ship over the sea, then gear up me ashore on Ithaca, with the fine gifts they gave me, bronze and gold items, and woven fabrics. That wealth, by the grace of the gods, is hidden in a cave. Now I am here at Athene's prompting to program how we will kill our enemies. Run through the listing of Suitors for me, and give me the count, so I know who they are and how many, and tin can judge with a clear mind whether we can handle them alone, or whether to seek for help.'

Wise Telemachus answered: 'Father, I know of your great fame, as a mighty spearman and a great strategist, but I am amazed at what you are considering. 2 men cannot fight so many brave opponents. There are not just ten or twenty Suitors, but far more. Let me number them for you at present. Fifty-two picked men, with their six servants, from Dulichium. Twenty-four from Same, and xx Achaean youths from Zacynthus. Then from Ithaca itself there are twelve noblemen, not counting the herald, Medon, and the divine minstrel, and the 2 men who cleave their meat. If we come upon them all in the palace, your path of vengeance will evidence a fierce and desperate one. No: think about anyone who might help, who would fight for the states eye and soul.'

Bk XVI:258-320 Odysseus gives Telemachus his orders

Noble, long-suffering Odysseus replied: 'Well: let me tell you: listen and pay attention: don't you think Athene and Male parent Zeus will exist help enough? Do I really need to think of other allies?' And wise Telemachus answered: 'High in the clouds sit those two helpers you speak of, and they are powerful indeed. Betwixt them they rule mankind and the deathless gods.'

'They won't concur back from a tearing fight,' said the noble, long-suffering Odysseus, 'not when the issue between us and the Suitors is decided in my palace. Firstly nevertheless, go to the house at dawn, and mingle with the insolent Suitors. The swineherd volition atomic number 82 me to the metropolis later, disguised equally a wretched erstwhile ragamuffin. If they mishandle me in the halls, steel your middle to their evil treatment. Endure the sight of it, even if they haul me outside, and bung things at me. Simply try to dissuade them with soothing words, and tell them to stop their foolishness. They'll not pay whatever attention, though, for their day of judgement is nigh.

Recollect too, what I say side by side. When Athene, ripe in judgement, tells me, I will nod to you lot, and when you lot see my signal, take all the weapons in the hall, and put them away in the darkest corner of the high storeroom. If the Suitors miss them and question you, deceive them with placatory words, and say: "I've moved them out of the fume from the burn, since they no longer look as they did when Odysseus left them behind and sailed for Troy, but are all grimy where the draught from the hearth has reached them. Zeus, son of Cronos, has filled my heart with an even greater fear, that y'all might start a quarrel amongst yourselves, and wound each other, and then bring shame on the feast and your cause. Iron itself draws a homo towards information technology."

But leave a couple of swords and spears, and a pair of ox-hide shields, gear up for us to run and seize them, while Pallas Athene and Zeus the Wise distract the Suitors. Remember too, what I say next. If you lot are the son of my blood in truth, let no one know Odysseus is back, not Laertes or the swineherd, nor anyone of the household, not even Penelope herself. We ourselves will estimate the mood of the women, and sound out the men, and notice who honours u.s.a. and fears united states, and who gives zippo for us, and scorns your manhood.'

'Father,' 'his first-class son replied, 'you'll know I'm non brusk of spirit, later, and you lot'll meet no lack of will on my office. But I ask you lot to re-consider: I don't see that idea volition benefit us. You'll waste material a deal of time sounding out men on the farms, while the insolent Suitors waste product your wealth, at their ease, sparing nothing. Yes, discover out which of the women are disloyal and which are honest, just forget about proving the men, we can do that later, if you have indeed been shown the will of aegis-begetting Zeus.'

Bk 16:321-392 Telemachus' ship makes harbour

And then they debated, while the good ship that carried Telemachus and his friends from Pylos, made Ithaca. When its crew had navigated the deep harbour and drawn the black ship on shore, their squires took their equipment, and carried the fine gifts proudly to Clytius' house. At the aforementioned time they sent a herald to Odysseus' palace, to give Penelope news of Telemachus' arrival in the island and his guild to sail round to the metropolis, in case the noble queen grew anxious, and took to weeping. And so this herald and the noble swineherd met, as each, on the same errand, carried the news to Odysseus' wife. When they reached the royal palace the herald spoke in the presence of her handmaids, saying: 'My queen, your dearest son has just returned.' But Eumaeus approached Penelope and gave her the words of her loyal son, as he had been commanded. When he had relayed the whole bulletin he left the hall and court and returned to his swine.

The Suitors were surprised and troubled, and they went out of the hall, past the high courtyard wall, and sabbatum downwards in front of the gates. There Eurymachus, Polybus' son, was commencement to speak: 'My friends, Telemachus has accomplished something dandy in his airs, a journey we never thought to see him consummate. Come up, let united states of america launch a black send, and coiffure information technology with oarsmen, so we can transport word to the others to render swiftly,'

His words were hardly out, when Amphinomus, turning round, saw a send enter the harbour, men at the oars, and others furling sheet. He laughed gaily, and addressed his friends: 'At that place's no demand for a message, hither they are! Either a god told them, or they saw Telemachus' send sail by and failed to catch her.'

They all rose at this, and went down to the shore. The crew quickly dragged the black ship on land, and their proud squires removed the equipment. So the Suitors went in a crowd to the meeting place, and prevented anyone else attention, young or old. Antinous, Eupeithes' son spoke: 'Alas, the gods take rescued that man from destruction. Mean solar day after mean solar day, men were at lookout man on the windy heights, and at sunset we headed offshore for the night, and waited out at sea for gleaming Dawn, hoping to catch and kill Telemachus: meanwhile some god has seen him home. Don't let him slip through our hands: let usa plan a sad death for him here, since I say while he lives our business organisation volition fail. He is wise and shrewd, and the people no longer support us. Let us act earlier he calls on the Achaeans to assemble. I don't believe he'll look a moment, but he'll tell them all in his anger how we planned his utter ruin, so failed. We'll get no praise for it when they hear of the evil we plotted: accept intendance they don't offer us damage, and drive u.s. into exile in some foreign land. No: we must act showtime: accept him in the fields outside the urban center, or on the road, then divide his wealth and possessions fairly between us, leaving his mother and whoever marries her with the palace. If this idea displeases you, and you lot make up one's mind to let him live and allow him to keep his ancestral wealth, then I advise we disperse, and cease consuming his store of luxuries, and let each human woo her and try to win her from his own house: and then she can marry the one that offers well-nigh, and is fated to exist her husband.'

Bk Xvi:393-451 Penelope rebukes the Suitors

They were all silent when his oral communication ended. Then Amphinomus, the glorious son of prince Nisus, Aretias' son, addressed the gathering. He was the leader of the suitors from Dulichium'due south wheat and grasslands, whose conversation pleased Penelope, because of his understanding heart. He spoke to the meeting, with adept intent, saying: 'Friends, I would not be 1 to decide on killing Telemachus: it is a fearful thing to murder a rex'south son. No, permit us get-go consult the volition of the gods. If Zeus' oracle approves it, I will urge it on others, and destroy him myself. Just if the gods propose against the action, I enquire y'all to hold off.'

And then said Amphinomus, and the idea pleased them. They rose at once and went to Odysseus' palace, and in one case across the threshold sat at their gleaming benches.

It was and then a thought occurred to wise Penelope, to show herself to the Suitors in all their airs. She knew of the death threats to her son, since Medon the herald had overheard the plans and warned her. Now she led her handmaids to the hall, and drawing her shining veil beyond her face up, placed herself by a door pillar of the first-class room, near to the Suitors. From there she aimed her rebuke at Antinous: 'Filled with violence, Antinous, you program your wickedness! Yet they call you the most eloquent and intelligent man in Ithaca. That seems incorrect to me. A madman, you are, plotting Telemachus' death, and trampling on suppliants Zeus vouches for! It'due south impious to plot confronting others. Are you ignorant of that occasion when your father fled to this firm, in terror of the mob? They were wild with acrimony against him because he was in league with the Taphian pirates, harrying the Thesprotians, our allies. They meant to offer him violence, kill him and seize the whole of his vast and delightful property. Odysseus it was who restrained them, and turned them away despite the passion they were in. At present you waste his wealth without bounty, courtroom his wife, and plan to murder his son. I, who am in cracking distress, beg you, and all the rest of yous: desist.'

It was Eurymachus, Polybus' son, who answered her: 'Wise Penelope, Icarius' daughter, let me reassure you lot, and don't exist broken-hearted almost these things. No man lives or shall live, no human being shall always be born, who dare lay hands on Telemachus, your son, while I exist to gaze on the calorie-free of mean solar day. I say it to you, and time will prove it and then. That man's black claret will coat my spear. For when I was a child Odysseus, sacker of cities, often ready me on his knee, and fed me roast meat, and wetted my lips with wine. So, Telemachus is love of all men to me, and he demand not fear decease at the Suitors' hands: as for the gods, none tin escape them.'

His words were designed to placate her, yet in his heart he plotted Telemachus' death. Then Penelope climbed the stairs to her shining sleeping accommodation, and there she wept for Odysseus her dear husband, till bright-eyed Athene sealed her eyelids in sweet sleep.

Bk XVI:452-481 Eumaeus brings Telemachus the latest news.

That evening the worthy swineherd returned, while Odysseus and his son were busy making supper, having killed a yearling pig. Athene approached Odysseus, Laertes' son, once more than and touched him with her wand, disguising him once more as an onetime man, wearable him in foul rags, to prevent the swineherd recognising him on sight and running to loyal Penelope with the news, instead of keeping it undercover.

Telemachus greeted him first: 'Worthy Eumaeus, here y'all are! What news from the city? Are those proud Suitors back from their ambush, or are they still out there lying in wait for me on my manner home?'

Eumaeus, the swineherd, you answered then, proverb: 'I didn't have time to inquire about information technology, in the city: my heart was urging me to hurry back here afterward delivering my bulletin. Merely I met a herald, a speedy messenger sent by your friends, who bankrupt the news to your mother. And ane affair more I did see with my own eyes. From high in a higher place the city, on Hermes' Hill every bit I came back, I saw a swift ship making harbour, filled with men, glittering with shields and two-edged spears. I thought that might be them, but I'm not certain.'

At this, regal Telemachus glanced towards his father with a smiling, while avoiding the swineherd'southward eye.

When they had finished preparing the repast, they sat and ate, and were not disappointed by their shared supper. Then, having quenched hunger and thirst, they idea of their beds, and sought the gift of slumber.

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