Telemachus responds to Antinous.
Telemachus replied to Antinous that he could not force his mother to leave the house against her will. His father is in another land, and it is unknown whether he is alive or dead. If she were to leave on her own accord, she would have to pay a large sum to her maternal grandfather Icarus, and she would also incur misfortune from his father and the gods. He said that if his mother leaves the house, she will pray to the Erinyes, and she will be blamed by the people. Therefore, Telemachus asked the suitors to leave the hall and hold their feast in their own homes. If they think it is better to consume one man's property without compensation, then let them do so. He appealed to the eternal gods, hoping that Zeus would punish their actions. Then he said that if they continue on this path, they will perish within his house without receiving any retribution.
| Words and phrases. | Translation note. |
|---|---|
| Erynus and others. | They are goddesses who exact revenge for crimes and misdeeds, especially those related to family. Telemachus fears that if his mother is forced to leave the house against her will, she will pray to these goddesses. |
When Telemachus said that, Zeus released two eagles from the top of the mountain. The two birds rode the wind, spread their wings, and flew close to each other. They came to the middle of the noisy gathering, turned around, flapped their wings, and looked down at the people's heads. With a gaze that seemed to foretell death, they tore at each other's cheeks and necks with their claws, then turned towards the right and flew away over the houses and towns.