252 Then, Pallas Athena became angry and said to him.
253 "Ah, Odysseus has been gone for so long, and you really need his help."
254 I hope that he will take action against those shameless suitors.
255 If he were to return now and stand at the entrance of the main building,
A figure with 256 helmets and shields, holding two spears.
257 That was exactly how he looked when I first saw him.
258 He was drinking alcohol and enjoying himself at our house.
I was on my way back from the house of Ilus, son of Melmeros, which is located in Epira 259.
260 Odysseus also went there by a swift ship, and...
He was searching for a poison that could kill 261 people. He intended to coat bronze arrows with it.
262, but Iruse did not give it to him.
263. This was because I feared the wrath of the gods, which would last forever.
264 But my father gave it to him. This was because he loved him deeply.
265 When Odysseus, possessing such power, confronts the suitors,
266 They all died young, and their proposals would end in a bitter conclusion.
267, but whether Odysseus returns home and takes revenge on the suitors in the hall is a question of...
268 Under the will of the gods.
269 Nevertheless, I want you to think about it.
270 How can I get rid of the suitors from the house?
271 Now, please listen carefully and remember my words.
272 Tomorrow, gather the heroes of the Akaiia forces in the plaza,
273 Declare it clearly in front of everyone. Take the gods as witnesses.
274. Tell all the suitors to go back to their own homes.
275 If my mother truly wants to get married,
Return to your father's strong and powerful house.
277 The fathers will prepare for the wedding and provide gifts for the marriage.
278. Many items suitable for sending off a beloved daughter.
279 To yourself, I will try to give well-considered advice, if you are willing to listen.
280. Choose the best ship, gather twenty rowers, and...
281 Go and inquire about your father, who has been without news for a long time.
Whether to hear news from someone among the 282 people, or to hear Zeus's voice.
283. Zeus's voice brings news to people more widely than anything else.
284 First, go to Phryos and ask Nestor, who is a respected person.
285 From there, I went to Sparta and to Menelaus, who had blond hair.
286 He was among the Achaean warriors who wore bronze armor, and he was the last to return home.
287 If my father were still alive, and if he heard that I was about to return,
288 Even in times of suffering, you will be able to endure for another year.
289 If I heard that my father had passed away and was no longer in this world,
290 At that time, return to your beloved hometown.
291 I built a tomb for my father and prepared offerings for the funeral.
292 Offer as many sacrifices as are appropriate. And let your mother remarry.
293 After completing all of these and accomplishing them,
294 Think with all your heart.
295 How can I have suitors come to my house?
296. Whether it is possible to kill someone through strategy, or openly. You are already...
297. You should not behave like a child. You are no longer that age.
Have you heard how much fame Orestes, who is so divine, has gained?
Among 299 people, the one who became known was the person who killed his father.
I have defeated 300 cunning Aigisthos warriors because he killed my father, who was a famous figure named Oreste.
301 You too, my beloved. I see you as beautiful and tall.
302 Be courageous. So that future generations will praise you.
303 I no longer want a fast boat, and...
Return to your companions who have been waiting for a long time.
305 You are you, and please keep my words in your heart.
Simple Japanese.
| Then, Pallas Athena said to Telemachus:
"You truly need the help of Odysseus, who has been away for so long. He is needed to deal with those shameless suitors. If he were standing now at the front door of the hall, wearing his helmet and shield, carrying two spears, that would be exactly how I saw him the first time. At that time, he was drinking wine and enjoying himself in our hall. He was returning from the house of Ilus, son of Meremos, which is located in Epulon." Odysseus went there in a fast ship and searched for a poisonous drug to kill people. He intended to apply it to bronze arrows. Iris, fearing the wrath of the gods, refused to give him the drug. However, my father loved him deeply and gave him the drug. If Odysseus had possessed such power at that time, all the suitors would have quickly lost their lives, and the courtship would have ended in a bitter conclusion. However, whether Odysseus will return and take revenge on the suitors in his hall is up to the gods. Nevertheless, you must think about how to drive the suitors away from the house. Listen carefully, and remember my words. Tomorrow, gather the heroes of Akaiia in the square and declare it clearly before everyone. Take the gods as witnesses. Afterwards, order each suitor to return to their own home. If your mother wishes to marry, she should return to her father's estate. There, the people of the house will prepare for the wedding and provide many appropriate gifts for a daughter who is about to be sent off into marriage. I will give you advice that I have carefully considered. If you are willing to listen, choose the best ship and gather twenty rowers, and go inquire about your father who has been missing for a long time. You may hear news of your father from someone human, or perhaps from the voice of Zeus. That voice is one that reaches people better than any other message. First, go to Pylos and ask Nestor, who is distinguished. Then, go to Sparta and visit Menelaus, who has golden hair. He was the last person among the Achaeans wearing bronze armor to return home. If your father is alive and will be returning, even in the midst of suffering, you can endure for another year. If you hear that your father has died and is no longer in this world, return to your beloved homeland. Build a tomb for your father, offer abundant funeral offerings worthy of him, and remarry your mother. After completing all of these things, think carefully with your own heart: how can you kill the suitors at your house, either through trickery or openly? You must no longer behave like a child. You are already old enough. Have you not heard of the revered Orestes who avenged his father by killing Aegisthus, the cunning man who killed him, and gained such fame among the people? Aegisthus was the one who killed your famous father. You too, my dear, must have courage. You are beautiful and tall in stature, so that future generations may praise you. I am returning to the fast ship now, to go to my companions who are waiting for me. You should remember my words. |
Translation note.
Item Content Wedding gift According to the notes in the original edition, some editors place part of the text on line 278 in parentheses. Also, there are difficulties in interpreting the meaning of this gift and who gives it to whom. Here, we follow the main text printed in the fixed base text.