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"Here at your knees am I, Lady: are you some god or a mortal?
If indeed you are one of the gods who hold the broad heaven,
Artemis, daughter of powerful Zeus, is the goddess to whom I
liken you nearest of all in beauty and size and appearance.
If instead you are one of the mortals who dwell on the earth now,
blessčd for you thrice-told are your father and reverend mother,
thrice your brothers are blessčd: the hearts inside them are surely
always brightly aglow with benevolent gladness for your sake,
when they behold so budding a branch take part in the dancing.
He is indeed most blessčd in heart, above others distinguished,
who will prevail with his courtship presents and lead you homeward,
since with my eyes I never have seen such another as you are,
neither a woman nor man: I am held in wonder observing.
Yet one time, by Apollo's altar in Delos, I witnessed
something as lovely, the fresh young stem of a date-palm growing,
for I had gone there, too; and a numerous company followed
me on the journey, on which I would have many evil afflictions.
So in the same way, looking at that I marveled in spirit
long, since never had grown from the earth any shaft of such beauty.
So I admire you, Lady, and marvel, and feel dread terror
even to touch your knees, though harsh is the sorrow upon me,
since from the wine-dark sea I escaped on the twentieth day just
yesterday; ever the waves and the violent tempests were driving
me from the isle of Ogygia; and here some god has now cast me,
so that perhaps here too I can suffer affliction: I do not
think it will cease, but the gods will achieve yet more before that comes.
But now pity me, Lady; for suffering many afflictions
I first come to you here, and I do not know any other
person among all those who possess this city and country.
Show me the city and give me a rag to be fastened about me,
if, coming here, you brought some wrapper, perhaps, for the clothing.
Then may the gods grant you what you in your spirit are wishing,
may they endow you with blessings, a husband and house, and a noble
concord of mind: for than this there is no gift better or greater,
when both husband and wife in concord of mind and of counsel
peacefully dwell in a house--to their enemies greatest affliction,
joy to benevolent friends, but especially known to their
own hearts."
In Book 11, Odysseus tells his audience of Phaiákians how he went to the dwelling of Hades to ask the soothsayer Teirésias
about the way back home, and how he saw there the spirits of many noble women and men. In ll. 465-491, just after hearing
Agamemnon relate how he was killed, he meets and talks with the hero Achilles, who in his famous retort gives the quintessential
Greek view of life in the hereafter:
Listen to the passage (1 MB)
"So as we stood, each making reply to the other in somber
words and lamenting our woes, pouring out great tears in abundance,
then came near me the spirit of Peleus' scion Achilles,
that of Patróklos, and that of the noble Antílochos also,
then that of Ajax, the man who surpassed in beauty and stature
all of the Dánaäns other than Peleus' excellent scion.
When that soul of the swift-footed scion of Aíakos knew me,
sorrowing then he spoke, and in these winged words he addressed me:
'Zeus-sprung son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many devices,
what still mightier deed, rash man, will you plan in your spirit?
How did you dare come down into Hades' dominion, wherein live
dead men lacking their senses, the shadows of wornout mortals?'
So he spoke, and in turn I addressed him, giving an answer:
'Peleus' scion Achilles, far greatest among the Achaians,
I have come here in need of Teirésias, if any counsel
he might speak, that I might reach Ithaka, rugged and rocky,
since I have not yet neared the Achaian domain, nor have set foot
yet in my country, but ever have woe. But Achilles, there is no
man of the past more blessčd than you, nor yet of the future,
seeing that when you were living, we Argives granted you honors
equal the gods'; now here with the shades you are mighty in power.
So even though you are dead, be not too troubled, Achilles.'
So I spoke, and at once he addressed me, giving an answer:
'Speak to me not about death so soothingly, brilliant Odysseus;
I would prefer to be working the earth, hired out to another,
even a landless man whose living is far from abundant,
than to be lord over all of the phantoms of those who have perished.'"
One of the most dramatic moments of the epic--Plato mentions it as such in his dialogue Ion--occurs at the beginning of Book
22 (1-25), after Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, has proved himself in the contest of the bow and arrow that Penelope set
for the suitors:
Stripping the rags from his body, Odysseus of many devices
leapt on the great threshold; he was holding the bow and the quiver
still full-laden with arrows; the swift shafts quickly he poured out
there in front of his feet as he spoke these words to the suitors:
"This was indeed a decisive contest that now is completed!
As to another mark which no man has been able to hit yet,
now I will know if I strike it--Apollo bestow what I pray for!"
Thus he spoke; at Antínoös then he aimed a sharp arrow.
He was in fact just starting to lift up a beautiful goblet,
twin-eared, fashioned of gold--in his hands already he held it--
so he could drink of the wine; and he took no thought in his heart of
slaughter; for who could imagine that one sole man among many
men then banqueting there, even if he were mighty in power,
ever would bring upon him so evil a death and such black fate?
He was Odysseus' target--his throat he hit with the arrow
so that the point, penetrating the delicate neck, passed through it.
Off to the side he slumped, and the cup fell out of his hand, so
stricken he was; then out of his nostrils a jet of his mortal
blood came heavy and viscous; and quickly the table he pushed from
him, kicking it with his foot, on the ground thus spilling the victuals,
messing and fouling the bread and the roast meat. Then did the suitors
rouse an uproar in the house as they looked at the man who had fallen;
out of their chairs they sprang; through the house they rushed in a panic,
glancing around at the well-built walls in every direction;
nowhere at all was a shield or a stout spear there to be taken.
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