트로이가 멸망한 지 벌써 10년이 되어 가나, 이타케의 군주인 오딧세우스는 바다 위를 떠다니며 아직도 귀국 허가가 없어 칼립소의 섬에 억류당한 채이다. 여러 신들이 이를 불쌍히 여겨, 제우스의 명령으로 헤르메스를 님프 칼립소에게로 보내오 그를 놓아 줄 것을 허락하는 한편, 고향 이타케 섬으로 아테네 여신이 몸소 찾아가, 오딧세우스의 아들 텔레마코스에게 부친의 행방을 찾으러 그리스 본토로 갈 것을 권고한다. 그 이타케 섬, 그의 성에서는 주인이 오랫동안 행방 불명된 동안에 이웃 여러 섬과 이타케에서 구혼자들이 몰려와, 그의 아내 페넬로페에게 구혼하며 그 아들의 나이 어림을 기화로 매일같이 향연을 계속해 오딧세우스의 재산을 탕진하고 있었다.
0
TELLME, O MUSE, ofthatingeniousherowhotravelledfarandwideafterhehadsackedthefamoustownofTroy. Manycitiesdidhevisit, andmanywerethenationswithwhosemannersandcustomshewasacquainted; moreoverhesufferedmuchbyseawhiletryingtosavehisownlifeandbringhismensafelyhome; butdowhathemighthecouldnotsavehismen, fortheyperishedthroughtheirownsheerfollyineatingthecattleoftheSun-godHyperion; sothegodpreventedthemfromeverreachinghome. Tellme, too, aboutallthesethings, O daughterofJove, fromwhatsoeversourceyoumayknowthem.
1
SonowallwhoescapeddeathinbattleorbyshipwreckhadgotsafelyhomeexceptUlysses, andhe, thoughhewaslongingtoreturntohiswifeandcountry, wasdetainedbythegoddessCalypso, whohadgothiminto a largecaveandwantedtomarryhim. Butasyearswentby, therecame a timewhenthegodssettledthatheshouldgobacktoIthaca; eventhen, however, whenhewasamonghisownpeople, histroubleswerenotyetover; neverthelessallthegodshadnowbeguntopityhimexceptNeptune, whostillpersecutedhimwithoutceasingandwouldnotlethimgethome.
Heledthewayashespoke, andMinervafollowedhim. Whentheywerewithinhetookherspearandsetitinthespear- standagainst a strongbearing-postalongwiththemanyotherspearsofhisunhappyfather, andheconductedherto a richlydecoratedseatunderwhichhethrew a clothofdamask. Therewas a footstoolalsoforherfeet, andhesetanotherseatnearherforhimself, awayfromthesuitors, thatshemightnotbeannoyedwhileeatingbytheirnoiseandinsolence, andthathemightaskhermorefreelyabouthisfather.
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A maidservantthenbroughtthemwaterin a beautifulgoldenewerandpoureditinto a silverbasinforthemtowashtheirhands, andshedrew a cleantablebesidethem. Anupperservantbroughtthembread, andofferedthemmanygoodthingsofwhattherewasinthehouse, thecarverfetchedthemplatesofallmannerofmeatsandsetcupsofgoldbytheirside, and a man-servantbroughtthemwineandpoureditoutforthem.
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Thenthesuitorscameinandtooktheirplacesonthebenchesandseats. Forthwithmenservantspouredwaterovertheirhands, maidswentroundwiththebread-baskets, pagesfilledthemixing-bowlswithwineandwater, andtheylaidtheirhandsuponthegoodthingsthatwerebeforethem. Assoonastheyhadhadenoughtoeatanddrinktheywantedmusicanddancing, whicharethecrowningembellishmentsof a banquet, so a servantbrought a lyretoPhemius, whomtheycompelledperforcetosingtothem. AssoonashetouchedhislyreandbegantosingTelemachusspokelowtoMinerva, withhisheadclosetohersthatnomanmighthear.
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"I hope, sir," saidhe, "thatyouwillnotbeoffendedwithwhat I amgoingtosay. Singingcomescheaptothosewhodonotpayforit, andallthisisdoneatthecostofonewhoseboneslierottinginsomewildernessorgrindingtopowderinthesurf. IfthesemenweretoseemyfathercomebacktoIthacatheywouldprayforlongerlegsratherthan a longerpurse, formoneywouldnotservethem; buthe, alas, hasfallenonanillfate, andevenwhenpeopledosometimessaythatheiscoming, wenolongerheedthem; weshallneverseehimagain. Andnow, sir, tellmeandtellmetrue, whoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom. Tellmeofyourtownandparents, whatmannerofshipyoucamein, howyourcrewbroughtyoutoIthaca, andofwhatnationtheydeclaredthemselvestobe- foryoucannothavecomebyland. Tellmealsotruly, for I wanttoknow, areyou a strangertothishouse, orhaveyoubeenhereinmyfather's time? Intheolddayswehadmanyvisitorsformyfatherwentaboutmuchhimself."
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AndMinervaanswered, "I willtellyoutrulyandparticularlyallaboutit. I amMentes, sonofAnchialus, and I amKingoftheTaphians. I havecomeherewithmyshipandcrew, on a voyagetomenof a foreigntonguebeingboundforTemesawith a cargoofiron, and I shallbringbackcopper. Asformyship, itliesoveryonderofftheopencountryawayfromthetown, intheharbourRheithronunderthewoodedmountainNeritum. Ourfatherswerefriendsbeforeus, asoldLaerteswilltellyou, ifyouwillgoandaskhim. Theysay, however, thathenevercomestotownnow, andlivesbyhimselfinthecountry, faringhardly, withanoldwomantolookafterhimandgethisdinnerforhim, whenhecomesintiredfrompotteringabouthisvineyard. Theytoldmeyourfatherwasathomeagain, andthatwaswhy I came, butitseemsthegodsarestillkeepinghimback, forheisnotdeadyetnotonthemainland. Itismorelikelyheisonsomesea-girtislandinmidocean, or a prisoneramongsavageswhoaredetaininghimagainsthiswill I amnoprophet, andknowverylittleaboutomens, but I speakasitisborneinuponmefromheaven, andassureyouthathewillnotbeawaymuchlonger; forheis a manofsuchresourcethateventhoughhewereinchainsofironhewouldfindsomemeansofgettinghomeagain. Buttellme, andtellmetrue, canUlyssesreallyhavesuch a finelookingfellowfor a son? Youareindeedwonderfullylikehimabouttheheadandeyes, forwewereclosefriendsbeforehesetsailforTroywheretheflowerofalltheArgiveswentalso. Sincethattimewehavenevereitherofusseentheother."
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"Mymother," answeredTelemachus, tellsme I amsontoUlysses, butitis a wisechildthatknowshisownfather. Wouldthat I weresontoonewhohadgrownolduponhisownestates, for, sinceyouaskme, thereisnomoreill-starredmanunderheaventhanhewhotheytellmeismyfather."
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AndMinervasaid, "Thereisnofearofyourracedyingoutyet, whilePenelopehassuch a finesonasyouare. Buttellme, andtellmetrue, whatisthemeaningofallthisfeasting, andwhoarethesepeople? Whatisitallabout? Haveyousomebanquet, oristhere a weddinginthefamily- fornooneseemstobebringinganyprovisionsofhisown? Andtheguests- howatrociouslytheyarebehaving; whatriottheymakeoverthewholehouse; itisenoughtodisgustanyrespectablepersonwhocomesnearthem."
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"Sir," saidTelemachus, "asregardsyourquestion, solongasmyfatherwashereitwaswellwithusandwiththehouse, butthegodsintheirdispleasurehavewilleditotherwise, andhavehiddenhimawaymorecloselythanmortalmanwaseveryethidden. I couldhaveborneitbettereventhoughheweredead, ifhehadfallenwithhismenbeforeTroy, orhaddiedwithfriendsaroundhimwhenthedaysofhisfightingweredone; forthentheAchaeanswouldhavebuilt a moundoverhisashes, and I shouldmyselfhavebeenheirtohisrenown; butnowthestorm-windshavespiritedhimawayweknownotwither; heisgonewithoutleavingsomuchas a tracebehindhim, and I inheritnothingbutdismay. Nordoesthematterendsimplywithgriefforthelossofmyfather; heavenhaslaidsorrowsuponmeofyetanotherkind; forthechiefsfromallourislands, Dulichium, Same, andthewoodlandislandofZacynthus, asalsoalltheprincipalmenofIthacaitself, areeatingupmyhouseunderthepretextofpayingtheircourttomymother, whowillneitherpointblanksaythatshewillnotmarry, noryetbringmatterstoanend; sotheyaremakinghavocofmyestate, andbeforelongwilldosoalsowithmyself."
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"Isthatso?" exclaimedMinerva, "thenyoudoindeedwantUlysseshomeagain. Givehimhishelmet, shield, and a couplelances, andifheisthemanhewaswhen I firstknewhiminourhouse, drinkingandmakingmerry, hewouldsoonlayhishandsabouttheserascallysuitors, werehetostandoncemoreuponhisownthreshold. HewasthencomingfromEphyra, wherehehadbeentobegpoisonforhisarrowsfromIlus, sonofMermerus. Ilusfearedtheever-livinggodsandwouldnotgivehimany, butmyfatherlethimhavesome, forhewasveryfondofhim. IfUlyssesisthemanhethenwasthesesuitorswillhave a shortshriftand a sorrywedding.
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"Butthere! Itrestswithheaventodeterminewhetherheistoreturn, andtakehisrevengeinhisownhouseorno; I would, however, urgeyoutosetabouttryingtogetridofthesesuitorsatonce. Takemyadvice, calltheAchaeanheroesinassemblyto-morrow -layyourcasebeforethem, andcallheaventobearyouwitness. Bidthesuitorstakethemselvesoff, eachtohisownplace, andifyourmother's mindissetonmarryingagain, lethergobacktoherfather, whowillfindher a husbandandprovideherwithallthemarriagegiftsthatsodear a daughtermayexpect. Asforyourself, letmeprevailuponyoutotakethebestshipyoucanget, with a crewoftwentymen, andgoinquestofyourfatherwhohassolongbeenmissing. Someonemaytellyousomething, or (andpeopleoftenhearthingsinthisway) someheaven-sentmessagemaydirectyou. FirstgotoPylosandaskNestor; thencegoontoSpartaandvisitMenelaus, forhegothomelastofalltheAchaeans; ifyouhearthatyourfatherisaliveandonhiswayhome, youcanputupwiththewastethesesuitorswillmakeforyetanothertwelvemonths. Ifontheotherhandyouhearofhisdeath, comehomeatonce, celebratehisfuneralriteswithallduepomp, build a barrowtohismemory, andmakeyourmothermarryagain. Then, havingdoneallthis, thinkitwelloverinyourmindhow, byfairmeansorfoul, youmaykillthesesuitorsinyourownhouse. Youaretoooldtopleadinfancyanylonger; haveyounotheardhowpeoplearesingingOrestes' praisesforhavingkilledhisfather's murdererAegisthus? Youare a fine, smartlookingfellow; showyourmettle, then, andmakeyourself a nameinstory. Now, however, I mustgobacktomyshipandtomycrew, whowillbeimpatientif I keepthemwaitinglonger; thinkthematteroverforyourself, andrememberwhat I havesaidtoyou."
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"Sir," answeredTelemachus, "ithasbeenverykindofyoutotalktomeinthisway, asthough I wereyourownson, and I willdoallyoutellme; I knowyouwanttobegettingonwithyourvoyage, butstay a littlelongertillyouhavetaken a bathandrefreshedyourself. I willthengiveyou a present, andyoushallgoonyourwayrejoicing; I willgiveyouoneofgreatbeautyandvalue- a keepsakesuchasonlydearfriendsgivetooneanother."
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Minervaanswered, "Donottrytokeepme, for I wouldbeonmywayatonce. Asforanypresentyoumaybedisposedtomakeme, keepittill I comeagain, and I willtakeithomewithme. Youshallgiveme a verygoodone, and I willgiveyouoneofnolessvalueinreturn."
21
Withthesewordssheflewawaylike a birdintotheair, butshehadgivenTelemachuscourage, andhadmadehimthinkmorethaneverabouthisfather. Hefeltthechange, wonderedatit, andknewthatthestrangerhadbeen a god, sohewentstraighttowherethesuitorsweresitting.
22
Phemiuswasstillsinging, andhishearerssatraptinsilenceashetoldthesadtaleofthereturnfromTroy, andtheillsMinervahadlaidupontheAchaeans. Penelope, daughterofIcarius, heardhissongfromherroomupstairs, andcamedownbythegreatstaircase, notalone, butattendedbytwoofherhandmaids. Whenshereachedthesuitorsshestoodbyoneofthebearingpoststhatsupportedtheroofofthecloisterswith a staidmaidenoneithersideofher. Sheheld a veil, moreover, beforeherface, andwasweepingbitterly.
Telemachusanswered, "Antinous, donotchidewithme, but, godwilling, I willbechieftooif I can. Isthistheworstfateyoucanthinkofforme? Itisnobadthingtobe a chief, foritbringsbothrichesandhonour. Still, nowthatUlyssesisdeadtherearemanygreatmeninIthacabotholdandyoung, andsomeothermaytaketheleadamongthem; nevertheless I willbechiefinmyownhouse, andwillrulethosewhomUlysseshaswonforme."
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ThenEurymachus, sonofPolybus, answered, "Itrestswithheaventodecidewhoshallbechiefamongus, butyoushallbemasterinyourownhouseandoveryourownpossessions; noonewhilethereis a maninIthacashalldoyouviolencenorrobyou. Andnow, mygoodfellow, I wanttoknowaboutthisstranger. Whatcountrydoeshecomefrom? Ofwhatfamilyishe, andwhereishisestate? Hashebroughtyounewsaboutthereturnofyourfather, orwasheonbusinessofhisown? Heseemed a well-to-doman, buthehurriedoffsosuddenlythathewasgonein a momentbeforewecouldgettoknowhim."
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"Myfatherisdeadandgone," answeredTelemachus, "andevenifsomerumourreachesme I putnomorefaithinitnow. Mymotherdoesindeedsometimessendfor a soothsayerandquestionhim, but I givehisprophecyingsnoheed. Asforthestranger, hewasMentes, sonofAnchialus, chiefoftheTaphians, anoldfriendofmyfather's." Butinhisheartheknewthatithadbeenthegoddess.
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Thesuitorsthenreturnedtotheirsinginganddancinguntiltheevening; butwhennightfellupontheirpleasuringtheywenthometobedeachinhisownabode. Telemachus's roomwashighupin a towerthatlookedontotheoutercourt; hither, then, hehied, broodingandfullofthought. A goodoldwoman, Euryclea, daughterofOps, thesonofPisenor, wentbeforehimwith a coupleofblazingtorches. Laerteshadboughtherwithhisownmoneywhenshewasquiteyoung; hegavetheworthoftwentyoxenforher, andshewedasmuchrespecttoherinhishouseholdashedidtohisownweddedwife, buthedidnottakehertohisbedforhefearedhiswife's resentment. SheitwaswhonowlightedTelemachustohisroom, andshelovedhimbetterthananyoftheotherwomeninthehousedid, forshehadnursedhimwhenhewas a baby. Heopenedthedoorofhisbedroomandsatdownuponthebed; ashetookoffhisshirthegaveittothegoodoldwoman, whofoldedittidilyup, andhungitforhimover a pegbyhisbedside, afterwhichshewentout, pulledthedoortoby a silvercatch, anddrewthebolthomebymeansofthestrap. ButTelemachusashelaycoveredwith a woollenfleecekeptthinkingallnightthroughofhisintendedvoyageofthecounselthatMinervahadgivenhim.