The Odyssey

Chapter 24 Meanwhile Cyllenian Hermes was gathering in the souls of the Suitors, armed with the splendid golden wand that he can use at will to cast a spell on our eyes or wake us from the soundest sleep. He roused them up and marshalled them with this, and they obeyed his summons gibbering like […]

Chapter 23 Chuckling as she went, the old woman bustled upstairs to tell her mistress that her beloved husband was in the house. Her legs could hardly carry her fast enough, and her feet twinkled in their haste. As she reached the head of the bed­stead, she cried: “Wake up, Penelope, dear child, and see

Chapter 22 Shedding his rags, the indomitable Odysseus leapt onto the great threshold with his bow and his full quiver, and poured out the winged arrows at his feet.“That match is played and won!” he shouted to the Suitors. “Now for another target! No man has hit it yet; but with Apollo’s help I’ll try.”

Chapter 21 Athene, Goddess of the flashing eyes, now prompted that wise lady, Penelope, to confront the Suitors in the palace with the bow and the grey iron axes that were to test their skill and lead to their destruction. She descended the high staircase from her own apartments and with her shapely hand picked

Chapter 20 Meanwhile Odysseus prepared himself for sleep in tile portico. He spread an untanned ox-hide on the floor and piled it up with plenty of fleeces, from sheep that the young lords had slaughtered as their habit was; and Eurynome cast a mantle over him when he had settled down. As he lay there

Chapter 19 King Odysseus was left in the deserted hall to plot the destruction of the Suitors with Athene’s aid. His first step was to give his son some instructions.“Telemachus,” he said, “the arms must be stowed away, to the last weapon. When the Suitors miss them and ask you what has happened, you must

Chapter 18 There entered now upon the scene a common vagabond who used to beg for his living in the streets of Ithaca and was notorious for his insatiable greed and his ability to eat and drink all day. He was a big fellow, yet in spite of appearances he had no stamina or muscle.

Chapter 17 The tender dawn, flecking the East with red, found King Odysseus’ son Telemachus eager to set out for the city. He bound his strong sandals on his feet, and had a word with his swineherd as he picked up his big well-balanced spear.“Uncle,” he said, “I am going to town now, as you

Chapter 16 When Telemachus arrived, Odysseus and the worthy swine-herd were preparing their breakfast in the hut by the light of dawn, after stirring up the fire and sending the herdsmen off with the pigs to the pastures. The dogs, usually so obstreperous, not only did not bark at the newcomer but greeted him with

Chapter 15 Pallas Athene, meanwhile, went to the broad vale of Lacedaemon to warn King Odysseus’ noble son that it was time for him to return, and to hasten his departure.She found Telemachus and Prince Peisistratus sleeping in the great Menelaus’ portico. Nestor’s son, at all events, was lying sound asleep; but Telemachus was enjoying

Chapter 14 Meanwhile Odysseus turned his back on the harbour and followed a rough track leading up into the woods and through the hills towards the spot where Athene had told him he would meet the worthy swineherd, who of all the royal servants had shown himself to be his most faithful steward.He found him

Chapter 13 Odysseus’ tale was finished, and such was the spell he had cast on the whole company that not a sound was heard throughout the shadowy hall, till at last Alcinous turned to his guest and said: “Odysseus, you have suffered much. But now that you have set foot on the bronze floor of

Chapter 12 “From the flowing waters of the River of Ocean my ship passed into the wide spaces of the open sea, and so reached Aeaea, the Island of the Rising Sun, where tender Dawn has her home and her dancing-lawns. Here we beached her on the sands and climbed out onto the sea-shore, where

Chapter 11 “Our first task, when we came down to the sea and reached our ship, was to run her into the good salt water and put the mast and sails on board. We then picked up the sheep we found there, and stowed them in the vessel. After which we ourselves embarked. And a

Chapter 10 “Our next landfall was the floating island of Aeolia, the home of Aeolus son of Hippotas, who is a favourite of the immortal gods. All round this isle there runs an unbroken wall of bronze, and below it the cliffs rise sheer from the sea. Aeolus shares his house with his family of