Simple Japanese
Leokritos retorted to Mentor, "Mentor, you are a reckless and foolish person. What are you saying? You want us to stop the feast. Even if there are many of them, it is difficult for men to fight over a feast. Even if Odysseus himself were to return and try to drive away the suitors at his own house, his wife would not be happy about it, no matter how much she longs for her husband. If he fights against so many people, he will meet a terrible end here. Mentor's words were unreasonable."
| Words and phrases. | Translation note. |
|---|---|
| Leocritos | She is a child of Euenor, and one of the suitors. Here, she refutes Menthor's remarks and dissolves the assembly. |
"Now, everyone should return to their own work. Menthor and Halitherses can encourage Telemachus to go on a journey if they wish. They are his father's companions from the beginning. But Telemachus will remain in Ithaka for a long time, waiting for news, and he will never actually undertake this journey." With these words, Leocritus dismissed the assembly. The people returned home, and the suitors went back to Odysseus's hall.
Telemachus went to the seashore, away from people, and washed his hands in the white water, praying to Athena. "Goddess, please listen to me. Yesterday, you came to our house as a god, boarded a ship with me, crossed the misty sea, and instructed me to inquire about my long-absent father. However, the Achaeans are delaying everything. Especially the suitors are behaving very arrogantly."
As Telemachus was praying, Athena came to him, appearing as Mentor. She said, "Telemachus, if you possess even a fraction of your father's strength, then from this point forward, you will not be foolish or wicked. Your father was an excellent man in both word and deed. Therefore, this journey will not end prematurely. If you were not the son of Odysseus and Penelope, I would not believe that you could accomplish what you desire. Few are like their fathers; most are inferior to them, and only a few surpass them. But you are neither foolish nor wicked, and you have not completely lost your father's wisdom. Therefore, there is hope that you will succeed in your plan."
| Words and phrases. | Translation note. |
|---|---|
| Mentoru. | Athena, appearing in the form and voice of Odysseus, speaks to Telemachus. |
"I don't care about those suitors. They are foolish and lack wisdom or justice. Death and a dark fate await them, and they do not even know that one day, all of them will perish. The journey you desire is also not far off. I am your father's companion from long ago. Prepare a fast ship, and I will go with you. You return to the hall and tell the suitors to prepare food. Have them put barley flour and wine into amphorae, and make sure the leather bags are tightly closed. I will travel around town and gather companions who wish to join us immediately. Ithaka has many ships, both old and new. Choose the best one among them, quickly equip it, and set sail for the open sea."