The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION THE ODYSSEY BOOK I. BOOK II. BOOK III. BOOK IV....

Tell me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the...

2 The story of Penelope and the suitors, with the episode of Telemachus voyage to Pylos. This poem...

On page 153 of The Authoress Butler says. No great poet would compare his hero to a paunch full of...

Now Neptune had gone off to the Ethiopians, who are at the worlds end, and lie in two halves, the...

Telemachus saw her long before any one else did. He was sitting moodily among the suitors thinking...

My mother, answered Telemachus, tells me I am son to Ulysses, but it is a wise child that knows his...

Minerva answered, Do not try to keep me, for I would be on my way at once. As for any present you...

Then Telemachus spoke, Shameless, he cried, and insolent suitors, let us feast at our pleasure now,...

Now when the child of morning, rosy fingered Dawn, appeared Telemachus rose and dressed himself. He...

This was what she said, and we assented; whereon we could see her working on her great web all day...

With these words he sat down, and Mentor20 who had been a friend of Ulysses, and had been left in...

Antinous, answered Telemachus, I cannot eat in peace, nor take pleasure of any kind with such men...

Fear not, nurse, answered Telemachus, my scheme is not without heavens sanction; but swear that you...

but as the sun was rising from the fair sea24 into the firmament of heaven to shed light on mortals...

When she had thus made an end of praying, she handed the cup to Telemachus and he prayed likewise....

That night we rested and nursed our anger, for Jove was hatching mischief against us. But in the...

Mentor, answered Telemachus, do not let us talk about it any more. There is no chance of my fathers...

Thus spoke the daughter of Jove, and they obeyed her saying. Men servants poured water over the...

My sons, said he, make haste to do as I shall bid you. I wish first and foremost to propitiate the...

So the neighbours and kinsmen of Menelaus were feasting and making merry in his house. There was a...

On this he handed them39 a piece of fat roast loin, which had been set near him as being a prime...

Then Pisistratus said, Menelaus, son of Atreus, you are right in thinking that this young man is...

Menelaus, son of Atreus, and you my good friends, sons of honourable men which is as Jove wills,...

Menelaus on hearing this was very much shocked. So, he exclaimed, these cowards would usurp a brave...

First he will look over all his seals, and count them; then, when he has seen them and tallied them...

I was broken hearted when I heard that I must go back all that long and terrible voyage to Egypt;47...

The third man, he answered, is Ulysses who dwells in Ithaca. I can see him in an island sorrowing...

Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark on the levelled ground in...

It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were plotting; for a man servant, Medon,...

Then the dear old nurse Euryclea said, You may kill me, Madam, or let me live on in your house,...

Then Minerva bethought her of another matter, and made a vision in the likeness of Penelopes sister...

What, my dear, are you talking about. replied her father, did you not send him there yourself,...

Calypso trembled with rage when she heard this, You gods, she exclaimed, ought to be ashamed of...

Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, so you would start home to your own land at once. Good luck go with...

As he spoke a sea broke over him with such terrific fury that the raft reeled again, and he was...

Thereon he floated about for two nights and two days in the water, with a heavy swell on the sea...

Alas, he cried to himself in his dismay, what ever will become of me, and how is it all to end. If...

By and by morning came and woke Nausicaa, who began wondering about her dream; she therefore went...

Alas, said he to himself, what kind of people have I come amongst. Are they cruel, savage, and...

On this the maids left off running away and began calling one another back. They made Ulysses sit...

If, therefore, you want my father to give you an escort and to help you home, do as I bid you; you...

On this she led the way, and Ulysses followed in her steps; but not one of the Phaeacians could see...

Outside the gate of the outer court there is a large garden of about four acres with a wall all...

Aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians, hear my words. You have had your supper, so now go...

Pray do not scold her, replied Ulysses; she is not to blame. She did tell me to follow along with...

Hear me, said he, aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians, that I may speak even as I am...

The foot races came first. The course was set out for them from the starting post, and they raised...

Ulysses was glad when he found he had a friend among the lookers on, so he began to speak more...

Father Jove, he cried, and all you other blessed gods who live for ever, come here and see the...

The king was delighted at this, and exclaimed to the Phaeacians, Aldermen and town councillors, our...

When Ulysses heard this he put the lid on the chest and made it fast with a bond that Circe had...

Aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians, let Demodocus cease his song, for there are those...

Thence we sailed onward with sorrow in our hearts, but glad to have escaped death though we had...

I went on board, bidding my men to do so also and loose the hawsers; so they took their places and...

He said this to draw me out, but I was too cunning to be caught in that way, so I answered with a...

I then gave him some more; three times did I fill the bowl for him, and three times did he drain it...

My good ram, what is it that makes you the last to leave my cave this morning. You are not wont to...

On this he groaned, and cried out, Alas, alas, then the old prophecy about me is coming true. There...

Aeolus entertained me for a whole month asking me questions all the time about Troy, the Argive...

When we reached the harbour we found it land locked under steep cliffs, with a narrow entrance...

Their hearts sank as they heard me, for they remembered how they had been treated by the...

With this I left the ship and went up inland. When I got through the charmed grove, and was near...

Meanwhile her four servants, who are her housemaids, set about their work. They are the children of...

On this the men would have come with me at once, but Eurylochus tried to hold them back and said,...

I was dismayed when I heard this. I sat up in bed and wept, and would gladly have lived no longer...

When I had got the men together I said to them, You think you are about to start home again, but...

Thus, then, did we sit and hold sad talk with one another, I on the one side of the trench with my...

Mother, said I, I was forced to come here to consult the ghost of the Theban prophet Teiresias. I...

Then he dived under the sea, and she in due course bore Pelias and Neleus, who both of them served...

Then I saw Phaedra, and Procris, and fair Ariadne daughter of the magician Minos, whom Theseus was...

Ulysses, replied Alcinous, not one of us who sees you has any idea that you are a charlatan or a...

As we two sat weeping and talking thus sadly with one another the ghost of Achilles came up to us...

He would not answer, but turned away to Erebus and to the other ghosts; nevertheless, I should have...

After him I saw mighty Hercules, but it was his phantom only, for he is feasting ever with the...

So far so good, said she, when I had ended my story, and now pay attention to what I am about to...

Here she ended, and dawn enthroned in gold began to show in heaven, whereon she returned inland. I...

My friends, said I, this is not the first time that we have been in danger, and we are in nothing...

They all swore as I bade them, and when they had completed their oath we made the ship fast in a...

By this time my deep sleep had left me, and I turned back to the ship and to the sea shore. As I...

The gale from the West had now spent its force, and the wind got into the South again, which...

Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in turn; the others each from his own seat made...

But Neptune did not forget the threats with which he had already threatened Ulysses, so he took...

This was how they talked, but they knew nothing about it; and Alcinous said, I remember now the old...

I heard of Ithaca, said he, when I was in Crete beyond the seas, and now it seems I have reached it...

Therewith she went down into the cave to look for the safest hiding places, while Ulysses brought...

Ulysses now left the haven, and took the rough track up through the wooded country and over the...

This was his story, but Ulysses went on eating and drinking ravenously without a word, brooding his...

My house grew apace and I became a great man among the Cretans, but when Jove counselled that...

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, Poor unhappy stranger, I have found the story of your...

As he spoke he cut off the first piece and offered it as a burnt sacrifice to the immortal gods;...

Thus did Ulysses sleep, and the young men slept beside him. But the swineherd did not like sleeping...

Menelaus, replied Telemachus, I want to go home at once, for when I came away I left my property...

Menelaus was thinking what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Helen was too quick...

His son, Theoclymenus, it was who now came up to Telemachus as he was making drink offerings and...

Eumaeus, and all of you, to morrow I want to go away and begin begging about the town, so as to be...

You may have heard of an island called Syra that lies over above Ortygia,134 where the land begins...

At any other time, replied Telemachus, I should have bidden you go to my own house, for you would...

So you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos I...

Then Ulysses said, Sir, it is right that I should say something myself. I am much shocked about...

As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand. First she threw a fair clean shirt and cloak...

To this Telemachus answered, Father, I have always heard of your renown both in the field and in...

He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place and saw the ship inside the...

To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered, Take heart, Queen Penelope daughter of Icarius, and do...

Then Ulysses said, Sir, I do not want to stay here; a beggar can always do better in town than...

With these words he took Theoclymenus to his own house. When they got there they laid their cloaks...

I know, and understand you, replied Ulysses; you need say no more. Let us be going, but if you have...

With this he left them to come on at their leisure, while he went quickly forward and soon reached...

This hound, answered Eumaeus, belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was...

Then turning to Antinous he said, Antinous, you take as much care of my interests as though I were...

This made Antinous very angry, and he scowled at him saying, You shall pay for this before you get...

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, If these Achaeans, Madam, would only keep quiet, you...

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, The stranger is quite reasonable. He is avoiding the...

Irus was very angry and answered, You filthy glutton, you run on trippingly like an old fish fag. I...

Irus began to be very uneasy as he heard them, but the servants girded him by force, and brought...

Then Minerva put it into the mind of Penelope to show herself to the suitors, that she might make...

Telemachus, said she, addressing her son, I fear you are no longer so discreet and well conducted...

Then the queen went back to her room upstairs, and her maids brought the presents after her....

Then turning to Ulysses he said, Stranger, will you work as a servant, if I send you to the wolds...

Ulysses was left in the cloister, pondering on the means whereby with Minervas help he might be...

Then Penelope came down from her room looking like Venus or Diana, and they set her a seat inlaid...

Then Penelope answered, Stranger, heaven robbed me of all beauty, whether of face or figure, when...

May it be even so, answered Penelope; if your words come true you shall have such gifts and such...

Ulysses, therefore, went to Parnassus to get the presents from Autolycus, who with his sons shook...

Stranger, I should like to speak with you briefly about another matter. It is indeed nearly bed...

For shame, replied Minerva, why, any one else would trust a worse ally than myself, even though...

Then Telemachus went out of the court to the place where the Achaeans were meeting in assembly; he...

Thus did they converse. Meanwhile the suitors were hatching a plot to murder Telemachus. but a bird...

As he spoke he picked up a heifers foot from the meat basket in which it lay, and threw it at...

Meanwhile the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, had had a rich seat placed for her facing the...

Then Telemachus spoke. Great heavens. he exclaimed, Jove must have robbed me of my senses. Here is...

Leiodes, what are you talking about. Your words are monstrous and intolerable; it makes me angry to...

Cease your weeping, lest some one should come outside and see us, and tell those who are within....

Penelope then spoke to him. Antinous, said she, it is not right that you should ill treat any guest...

Thus did he speak, and they all of them laughed heartily, which put them in a better humour with...

On this he aimed a deadly arrow at Antinous, who was about to take up a two handled gold cup to...

Then Amphinomus drew his sword and made straight at Ulysses to try and get him away from the door;...

Thus did they converse. Meanwhile Melanthius was again going to the store room to fetch more...

But she would not give him full victory as yet, for she wished still further to prove his own...

Leiodes then caught the knees of Ulysses and said, Ulysses I beseech you have mercy upon me and...

Ulysses smiled at him and answered, Fear not; Telemachus has saved your life, that you may know in...

So saying he made a ships cable fast to one of the bearing posts that supported the roof of the...

My dear child, answered Euryclea, I am not mocking you. It is quite true as I tell you that Ulysses...

On this she came down from her upper room, and while doing so she considered whether she should...

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. First they washed and put their shirts on,...

At last, however, Ulysses said, Wife, we have not yet reached the end of our troubles. I have an...

Then Minerva bethought her of another matter. When she deemed that Ulysses had had both of his wife...

Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans feared no more. The daughters of the old man of the sea stood round...

Happy Ulysses, son of Laertes, replied the ghost of Agamemnon, you are indeed blessed in the...

A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened. He filled both hands with the dust from...