| Homer, Odyssey (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry; hexameter] [word count] [lemma count] [Hom. Od.]. | ||
| <<Hom. Od. 14.299 | Hom. Od. 14.390 (Greek English(2)) | >>Hom. Od. 14.490 |
14.360To this you answered, O swineherd
Eumaios, "Poor unhappy stranger, I have found the story of your
misfortunes extremely interesting, but that part about Odysseus is
not right [kosmos ]; and you will never get me to
believe it. Why should a man like you go about telling lies in this
way? I know all about the return [nostos ] of my
master. The gods one and all of them detest him, or they would have
taken him before Troy , or let him die with friends around him when
the days of his fighting were done; for then the Achaeans would have
built a mound over his ashes and his son would have been heir to his
kleos , but now the storm winds have spirited him away we know
not where.
daimôn has brought you to my door, do not try to flatter
me in this way with vain hopes. It is not for any such reason that I
shall treat you kindly, but only out of respect for Zeus the god of
hospitality, as fearing him and pitying you."
aretê famed
among men would be minehôra ] and I hope my men will come in directly,
that we may cook something savory for supper."
psukhê
left it, while the others slaughtered and singed it. Then they
cut it up, and Eumaios began by putting raw pieces from each joint on
to some of the fat; these he sprinkled with barley meal, and laid
upon the embers; they cut the rest of the meat up small, put the
pieces upon the spits and roasted them till they were done; when they
had taken them off the spits they threw them on to the dresser in a
heap. The swineherd, who was a most equitable man, then stood up to
give every one his share. He made seven portions; one of these he set
apart for Hermes the son of Maia and the nymphs, praying to them as
he did so; the others he dealt out to the men man by man. He gave
Odysseus some slices cut lengthways down the loin as a mark of
especial honor, and Odysseus was much pleased. "I hope, Eumaios,"
said he, "that Zeus will be as well disposed towards you as I am, for
the respect you are showing to an outcast like myself."
Laertes . They then laid their hands upon the good things that were
before them, and when they had had enough to eat and drink, Mesaulios
took away what was left of the bread, and they all went to bed after
having made a hearty supper.
14.372"As for me I live out of the way here with the pigs, and never go to the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the arrival of some news about Odysseus. Then they all sit round and ask questions, both those who grieve over the king's absence, and those who rejoice at it because they can eat up his property without paying for it. For my own part I have never cared about asking anyone else since the time when I was taken in by an Aetolian, who had killed a man and come a long way till at last he reached my station, and I was very kind to him. He said he had seen Odysseus with Idomeneus among the Cretans, refitting his ships which had been damaged in a gale. He said Odysseus would return in the following summer or autumn with his men, and that he would bring back much wealth. And now you, you unfortunate old man, since a
14.390Odysseus answered, "I see that you are of an unbelieving mind; I have given you my oath, and yet you will not credit me; let us then make a bargain, and call all the gods in heaven to witness it. If your master comes home, give me a cloak and shirt of good wear, and send me to Dulichium where I want to go; but if he does not come as I say he will, set your men on to me, and tell them to throw me from yonder precipice, as a warning to tramps not to go about the country telling lies."
14.401"And
14.409Thus did they converse, and presently the swineherds came up with the pigs, which were then shut up for the night in their sties, and a tremendous squealing they made as they were being driven into them. But Eumaios called to his men and said, "Bring in the best pig you have, that I may sacrifice for this stranger, and we will take toll of him ourselves. We have had trouble enough this long time feeding pigs, while others reap the fruit of our labor."
14.418On this he began chopping firewood, while the others brought in a fine fat five year old boar pig, and set it at the altar. Eumaios did not forget the gods, for he was a man of good principles, so the first thing he did was to cut bristles from the pig's face and throw them into the fire, praying to all the gods as he did so that Odysseus might return home again. Then he clubbed the pig with a billet of oak which he had kept back when he was chopping the firewood, and its
14.441To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Eat, my good fellow, and enjoy your supper, such as it is. A god grants this, and withholds that, just as he thinks right, for he can do whatever he chooses."
14.446As he spoke he cut off the first piece and offered it as a burnt sacrifice to the immortal gods; then he made them a drink-offering, put the cup in the hands of Odysseus, and sat down to his own portion. Mesaulios brought them their bread; the swineherd had bought this man on his own account from among the Taphians during his master's absence, and had paid for him with his own wealth without saying anything either to his mistress or
| Homer, Odyssey (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry; hexameter] [word count] [lemma count] [Hom. Od.]. | ||
| <<Hom. Od. 14.299 | Hom. Od. 14.390 (Greek English(2)) | >>Hom. Od. 14.490 |
