Oh. ye Gods. hear my name earlier than I’m going down within the mud. for although I’m responsible. I might non take all of my wrongs in opposition to the home of Laertes with me all the way down to Hades.
I used to be a suer in Ithaca. one who for previous ages has abused the cordial reception of Penelope. married lady to nice Odysseus. We thought him lifeless who had non come place for 10s previous ages since nice Troy fell. When Penelope relented. conveying out Odysseus’ bow and the 12 axes. I hoped I’d perchance prevail. or at the least to please on the nuptials. Oh. I did non anticipate the blood now spilt round me. Telemachus. so oft a butt of our maltreatment. may non threading the bow. or at the least did non. Leodes failed. and proper he was to state that many would decease by that bow. Antinous. loudest in our determine. may non flex it.
Eurymachus failed when his bend got here. and I. and all of the others. Antinous mentioned the trial ought to wait. boulder clay we may give to Apollo for the bowman god’s energy.
Then the mendicant spoke. the wretch on the pes of the tabular array. whom we had hardly tolerated in our thick. How we laughed at his petition. Outdated and decrepit as he regarded. it appeared a all proper joke. I raised my cup in toast to the bunk. And heard the clank of the pointer on the far stairss.
Then Antinous fell. an pointer by his pharynx. and as we reeled. we noticed the mendicant revealed. Nice Odysseus. Oh. Gods. I knew in order that our wrongs had been introduced again upon us. Eurymachus tried to speak smooth phrases. however naught would consolation him. Telemachus stepped beside him. armed. and his pointers flew. Apollo does non set up shafts extra lifelessly. Our extravagance. piquing wholly as we wasted his wealth. now got here place as one after the other we fell. Melanthius discovered arms within the storage room. to no Help. Certainly Athena sided with the artful male monarch to strike us down.
An pointer Pierces my facet. I watch as Leodes. priest among the many rakes. dies at Odysseus’ manus. However higher to decease speedy than like at bay Melanthius. or the grownup females who helped us. Dying and disgrace are theirs. Higher that this shaft drains my life blood than to confront what waits them. I’m justly slain. oh Gods. a invitee who abused the cordial reception of his host. a disgrace to the Achaeans. However know that I really feel my disgrace as I’m going down. Oh Gods. hear me as I die.
Starting:
Lattimore. Richmond A. ( 1967 ) .The Odyssey of Homer. New York. New York: Harper & A ; Row.
