- Then, in the dimly lit hall, the suitors began to make noise.
366. Each of them wished to lie down next to her bed.
367 Among them, Telemachus, who was thoughtful, opened his mouth first.
368 "To those who court a mother. You are arrogant and behaving excessively."
369 Now, let's enjoy the banquet. However, please do not make excessive noise.
It is wonderful to listen to songs sung by such a singer.
A singer with a voice like this person's, whose voice is similar to that of gods.
372 Tomorrow morning, let's all go to the plaza and take our seats.
373 Therefore, I will clearly tell you all:
"Leave this building," he said. "Prepare a different banquet from now on."
375 Use your own property and go from house to house, holding feasts.
376 If you think that would be a better thing,
377 It is good to devour a single man's property without paying back anything.
378 I appeal to the gods who will exist forever.
379 Someday, may Zeus be allowed to exact retribution.
380 If that happens, you will all die in this mansion without receiving any punishment.
381 When he said that, everyone bit their lips.
382 I was surprised at Telemachus when I saw him speaking so boldly.
383. Then, Antinoos, son of Eupheitos, said to him.
384 "Telemachus, even the gods themselves are speaking harshly to you,
385 It is teaching me to speak boldly.
386 Chronos's son, Zeus, may you never become a king of Ithaca surrounded by the sea.
387 The throne is something that you inherit from your ancestors."
388. The thoughtful Telemachus answered him.
389 "Antinous, when I say something, will you accuse me?"
I am 390 years old, but if Zeus were to grant it, I would gladly accept the throne.
391. Is becoming a king the worst thing that can happen to a person?
392 Being a king is not bad. Soon, that person's house will be...
393: You will become wealthy and your reputation will also increase.
394 However, in Itake, which is surrounded by the sea, there were other kings among the Akaiia people.
395 There are many people. There are both young and elderly people.
Now that the divine Odysseus has passed away, one of them will obtain the throne.
397 Even so, I still have our home and...
398 The divine Odysseus becomes the master of the slaves who were obtained as spoils of war.
399 Then, Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him.
400. "Telemachus, in a village surrounded by the sea, who will be the king of the Achaeans?"
401 Entrusted to the knees of the gods.
You have 402, but you may retain your own property and govern your own estate.
As long as people live in Itake, someone will come and do something against your wishes.
404. There is no violence to steal property, etc.
405 By the way, I would like to ask you about that guest. She seems like a respectable person.
406 Where did that man come from? What region does he say he is from?
407 Where is your family and hometown?
Did you come to inform me about my father, who is returning?
409 Or, did you come here because you had your own business to attend to?
410 Suddenly, she stood up and immediately left.
411, I didn't even wait to find out who it was. But from what I could see, he didn't look like a bad person."
412 Telemachus, who was thoughtful, replied to him in this way.
413 "Eurymachus, your father's return is something that has already been lost."
414 Even if I receive news from somewhere, I will no longer believe it.
415 Even if my mother asked a fortune teller who she invited to the house,
416 I don't care about that prophecy at all.
417 That guest is a visitor who has been coming to our family since my father's generation. He came from Tapos.
My name is 418 Mentos. I am said to be a wise child of Ankiros.
"Ruling over the Tapos people who love oars, number 419."
420 Telemachus said that, but in his heart, he knew she was an immortal goddess.
421 The suitors transitioned to dancing and captivating songs,
422 While enjoying that, I was waiting for evening to come.
423 While they were enjoying themselves, a dark evening arrived.
424 Therefore, everyone went back to their own homes in order to go to bed.
425. Telemachus's room was located in a beautiful courtyard.
426 It stood tall, in a location with good visibility.
427 He went there and lay down in bed, thinking about various things.
428 He was accompanied by a kind woman who held a burning torch.
429 Euricleia - Daughter of Ops, granddaughter of Peisenor.
430 She was once bought by Laertes with property.
431 She paid a price equivalent to twenty cows while she was still young.
432. Laertes was at his home, and he cherished her as much as he did his loyal wife.
433. However, I avoided my wife's anger and did not share a bed with her.
434 Even now, it was this Euricleia who followed him with a torch.
435 Among the female slaves, she loved him more than anyone else, and was the person who had raised him when he was a child.
436 Telemachus opened the door to a meticulously crafted room,
437 I lowered myself into bed and took off my soft clothes.
438 She handed it over to the hands of a thoughtful old woman.
439 She folded and arranged her clothes,
I hung it on a nail next to the bed with holes, number 440.
441. Leaving the room, I pulled the door towards me with a silver handle.
442. The knot was securely fastened with leather laces.
443 He wrapped himself in wool and slept all night.
444 Athena was showing me a path for my journey, and I was thinking about it in my mind.
Simple Japanese.
| The suitors began to make noise in the dimly lit hall. Each of them wanted to lie next to Penelope's bed. First, Telemachus speaks: "Suitors who are vying for my mother's hand. You behave too arrogantly. For now, let us enjoy the feast. However, do not cause any trouble. The voice of this singer is like that of the gods. It is worth listening to. Tomorrow morning, gather in the courtyard and listen to what I have to say. I will clearly tell you to leave this house. From now on, use your own wealth to hold feasts and move from house to house. If you think it is right to consume the property of one man without paying for it, then do so. I appeal to the eternal gods that Zeus may someday repay you for your actions. Then, you will die in this hall without receiving any punishment."
They bit their lips, surprised at how boldly Telemachus had spoken. Antinoos retorted, "Telemachus, it seems the gods themselves are teaching you to speak out and be bold. May Zeus, son of Cronus, not make you king of Ithaca, surrounded by the sea. The throne is inherited from father to son." Telemachus replied, "Antinous, are you rebuking me for what I said? If Zeus wills it, I would gladly accept the kingship. It is not wrong to be a king; immediately, one's household becomes prosperous, and one's own honor increases. However, in Ithaca, which is surrounded by the sea, there are many other suitors who desire the kingship, from young men to old men. Now that the revered Odysseus has passed away, someone among them will obtain the kingship. Nevertheless, I will become the master of our house and of the slaves that Odysseus acquired as spoils of war." Next, Eurymaeus replied, "Telemachus, the gods will decide who becomes king of the Achaeans in Ithaca. But you should keep your own property and rule your own house. As long as there are people living in Ithaca, no one will come and seize your possessions by force against your will. By the way, noble sir, I would like to ask about that guest. Where did he say he came from, and what land was he from? What is his family and homeland? Did he come to announce your father's return, or did he come for his own reasons? That man suddenly stood up and left immediately. He didn't even wait to be told who he was. But he didn't seem like a bad person." Telemachus replied, "Eurymachus, I do not believe that my father will return. No matter what news comes from anywhere, I will no longer trust it. Even if I ask the soothsayer whom my mother summoned to the house, I will not worry about her prophecy. That guest is a guest of our family, who has been coming since my father's time. He came from Taphe. His name is Mentor, and he said that he is the son of wise Anchialus. He rules over the people of Taphe, who love rowing." Telemachus answered in this way, but in his heart, he knew that she was an immortal goddess. The suitors enjoyed dancing and singing, waiting for evening. While they were having fun, it grew dark, and each went home to sleep. Telemachus went to a high room in the courtyard, located in a place with a good view. As he lay down to sleep, pondering things, the thoughtful Eurycleia came to attend him with a burning torch. She is the daughter of Ops, and the granddaughter of Peisenor. Laertes bought her for a price equivalent to twenty head of cattle when she was still young. In the house, she was treated as highly as his faithful wife, but she never shared a bed with his wife to avoid angering her. Now, it was Eurycleia who brought the torch to attend Telemachus. Among all the female slaves, she loved him more than anyone else, and she had raised him since he was a child. Telemachus opened the elaborately carved door to his chamber and settled into bed, removing his soft garments. He handed them to the thoughtful old woman, who folded and smoothed the clothes before hanging them on a nail beside the worn mattress. Then she left the room, pulling the door shut with its silver handle and securing it with leather thongs. Telemachus wrapped himself in wool blankets and spent the night contemplating the path of his journey, as Athena had shown him. |
Translation note.
Headword Translation and Notes Soukai mo sezu This means "without receiving punishment or compensation." Telemachus states that if the suitors continue to use up the property, they should seek retribution.
Headword Translation Note The price equivalent to twenty cows This represents the amount that Laertes paid to buy her when Eurydice was young.
Headword Translation Note Bed with holes The specific structure of the bed is unclear, so in the text, it was translated as "bed with holes."