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The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. Vol. 10.

Author: Homer
Translator: Thomas Hobbes
Editor: Sir William Molesworth

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. XV.

Pallas sends home Telemachus from Lacedæmon with the presents given him by Menelaus. Telemachus landed, goes first to Eumæus.
And then to Lacedæmon Pallas went,
To urge Telemachus his leave to take
Of Menelaus, to whom she had him sent,
And home again what speed he could to make.
5Telemachus and Nestor’s son she found

Within the entrance of the house abed;
The son of Nestor in a sleep profound.
Sleep came not in Telemachus his head;
Thought of his father open kept his eyes.
10Then Pallas to him said: Telemachus,

To stay so long abroad you are not wise,
Leaving your goods with such men in your house,
As lawless there your substance do devour,
Lest afterward you to no purpose come.
15Importune Menelaus with all your pow’r,

Or else your mother you’ll not find at home:
Her father and her brethren bid her marry
Eurymachus. Of all he bids most high.
Take heed what goods out of your house they carry.
20You know what thoughts in female breasts do lie;

They will their present husband’s house promote,
But for their former children little care.
For he once dead, they have no longer thought
Of how his children after him shall fare.
25Therefore return you, and commit to some

Maid of your own, for faith and care well known,
Such goods as in your house you have at home,
Until you have a good wife of your own.
I tell you more; remember what I say;
30The bravest of the suitors lie in wait,

As you return to kill you by the way,
’Twixt Ithaca and Same, in the strait.
They’ll fail, I think, of what they go about,
And sooner some of them their graves shall find.
Telemachus sent home with presents.
35But, howsoever, steer the isles without,

The God that keeps you will provide a wind.
And when at Ithaca you are on land,
Unto the town your ship and fellows send,
But go you to Eumæus out of hand,
40Who, though he keep your swine, is much your friend.

Then Pallas mounted to the sky, and he
Pisistratus awakens with his foot.
’Tis time, said he, that on our way were we;
Let’s to the coach, and set the horses to’t.
45Then said Pisistratus: Too dark ’tis yet

To travel with a coach. Let’s therefore stay;
’Twill soon be morning. Let’s our presents get,
And by Atrides’ self be sent away;
For guests use always to remember those
50By whom they have been entertain’d with love.

This said, the morning by and by arose,
And Menelaus toward them did move.
Telemachus then puts on hastily
His coat and cloak to meet him on his way;
55And when they were to one another nigh,

Telemachus first spake, and thus did say:
O king, Atrides Menelaus, now,
Even now, dismiss me, let me go my way.
Then said Atrides: E’en now you shall go;
60I purpose not to make you longer stay;

For I conceive ’tis not a good man’s part,
To make too much or little of his guest,
To hold him when he gladly would depart,
Or press him to begone e’er he thinks best.
65In hospitality this rule is true:

Love him that stays, help forth the going guest.
Stay then and take my gift along with you,
And your breakfast of what we have the best.
For he that will a great day’s journey make,
70Will find both joy and profit in his meat.

And if to visit Greece you pleasure take,
I’ll with you go, and with you I’ll retreat;
And to the Argive cities be your guide,
And be presented by each princely man,
75With whomsoever we at night abide,

Two mules, a gold cup, a brave pot or pan.
Then said Telemachus: I needs must go,
(My father seeking lest myself I lose),
I have left none my goods to look unto,
80And robb’d my treasure may be by my foes.

When that was said, forth Menelaus goes,
To give unto his wife and maids command
For breakfast of what then was in the house.
Then Boetheides, who lodg’d near at hand,
85Came in; and, bidden by Atrides, cleaves

The wood, makes fire, lays down the roast;
Him to his business then Atrides leaves,
And down came to his treasure of great cost,
He, and his son, and wife Helena. There
90Within a room lin’d with sweet-smelling wood,

A temperer to his son he gave to bear,
Of silver pure, which ’mongst the vessels stood;
And from a chest where robes for matrons were,
She took up one, with great variety
95Wrought by herself, which she herself did bear,

Shining and bright as any star i’ th’ sky;
And forth unto Telemachus they come.
Then said Atrides, Jove grant your request,
And safely may you t’ Ithaca come home;
100See here my gift, of all I have the best:

’Tis massy silver, gilt about the brim,
By Vulcan made; but then it was possess’d
By th’ king of Sidon: I had it of him
When by the way from Troy I was his guest.
105Then Helen said, This gift too take from me,

Of Helen’s handywork a monument,
To give to her that your dear wife shall be;
Think it meanwhile as to your mother sent;
Then gave it to Telemachus his hands.
110I’ th’ coach Pisistratus then placed all,

And at the goodly gifts amazed stands;
Atrides then led them into the hall,
And made them sit; and while they sitting were,
A grave maid-servant from a golden ewer,
115To wash their hands, pours on the water clear

Over a basin all of silver pure.
One tables sets, another lays on bread,
And from their store many good things brings out;
The messes Boetheides severed;
120Atrides’ son the wine delivered out.

When their desire of food was satisfied,
Up rose Telemachus and Nestor’s son,
And to their coach they the swift horses tied,
And in the coach were ready to be gone;
125And were already got the court without,

But after them Atrides followed,
And in his hand a gold cup he brought out
Of wine, and standing at the horses’ head,
Brave youths, said he, to Nestor me commend,
130That as a father was to me at Troy.

Farewell, and may you to your journey’s end
With safety travel and arrive with joy.
Then said Telemachus, all this I’ll say,
I wish at home I may so treated be
135Within my father’s house at Ithaca,

Besides the presents you have given me.
As he said this, an eagle dexter flew,
And seiz’d a great white tame goose grazing near;
The standers-by shouted and cried, Shue, shue,
140But yet away the eagle bore him clear;

And none but with the sight was well content.
Then to Atrides said Pisistratus,
This prodigy, unto you is it sent
From Jupiter? Or is it sent to us?
145While what to answer he was taking care,

Helen prevented him. I will, said she,
First tell you what hereon my own thoughts are,
And to my mind by th’ Gods infused be;
You saw the eagle come down from the hill,
150Where nature placed him to dwell and breed,

And kill that goose: so shall Ulysses kill
The suitors that upon his substance feed.
Or, it may be, already there he is
Devising for the suitors some ill end;
155O Gods, then said Telemachus, that this

Were so indeed! to you then should I send
As to a God my vows. This said, away
They whipp’d their willing horses through the town,
Which on the plain their harness shake all day,
160And were at Pheres when the sun went down.

There Diocles, Orsilochus his son,
(Orsilochus by Alphæus begot),
Dwelt, and of entertainment want was none,
Nor acceptable presents were forgot;
165And when the morning had herself array’d,

Again they put their horses to the coach,
Which when the whip they felt once, never stay’d,
Till to the town of Pyle they did approach.
Then said Telemachus to Nestor’s son,
170You promis’d, I your father should decline;

But since we here are, how can that be done?
And therefore let us both our counsels join.
Friends you and I, and friends our fathers were;
One age we have; this voyage is some tie;
175Draw me not from my ship, but leave me here,

Lest th’ old man force me at his house to lie,
In kindness, when I have such need to go.
This said, Pisistratus considered
What to make good his promise he should do.
180And then this counsel came into his head.

Turn off, said he, the coach to the sea-side,
And Menelaus’ gifts a-shipboard stow,
And get aboard; your small stay here I’ll hide.
So your departure shall my father know.
185For sure I am, if he know you are here,

So violent he is, he’ll hither come,
And call you to his house and stay you there,
And be a hindrance to your going home.
And though away you’ll not be empty sent,
190Yet will he doubtless very angry be.

This said, unto his father home he went.
Telemachus then bade his company
To see prepar’d all things for sailing fit,
And go aboard; aboard went also he.
195The rowers on their seats in order sit.

Thus they about their going busy be.
Then came a stranger, that a prophet was,
And fled from Argos then for homicide,
And by descent was of Melampus’ race,
200And stood near to Telemachus his side.

For this Melampus once had dwelt in Pyle,
And rich, but fled, by Neleus oppress’d,
And bound he lay in prison for awhile.
But afterward, he got himself releas’d,
205And brought to Neleus his herds again,

And had his daughter Pero for reward;
But left her with his brother to remain
For wife. And then did Pyle no more regard,
But went to Argos, where a wife he got,
210And children twain had: first, Antiphates.

And he the valiant Oicleus begot,
And Oicleus begat Amphlareus,
That was belov’d by Pallas and by Jove,
And yet he lived not till he was old.
215He died at Thebes, betrayed by his love,

That him discover’d for a chain of gold.
Alcmæon and Amphilochus he got.
But Mantius, Melampus’ second son,
Cleitus and Polyphides then begot.
220Cleitus was fair, but children he had none;

Aurora snatch’d him from the earth when young,
For mortals he in beauty did excel,
And placed him th’ immortal Gods among.
And Polyphides, Phœbus loved well;
225And to him gave the gift of prophecy.

And since Amphiraus was dead and gone,
To foretell anything with certainty
Upon the whole earth like him there was none.
Displeased by his father, Mantius,
230At Hyperesia he prophecied.

His son it was, call’d Theoclymenus,
That then stood by Telemachus his side,
When he the blessed Gods was praying to.
And said, Since worshipping I find you here,
235By him you worship, tell me truly who

You are, your father who, and dwelling where?
Stranger, then said Telemachus, I dwell
At Ithaca, born there; my father’s name
Ulysses, if he live; but who can tell?
240And to hear news of that, I hither came.

Then answer’d Theoclymenus, And I,
From Argos town, for killing of a man,
Pursued by his kin, am forc’d to fly;
Take me aboard that only save me can.
245Welcome you are, then said Telemachus;

Aboard let’s go, where you shall have such cheer
As we can make, and hath contented us.
Then took and on the deck he laid his spear;
And up into the ship he went, and at
250The stern he plac’d himself, and close by him

The stranger Theoclymenus down sat.
Then bids Telemachus, the ship to trim.
And straight the mast upright they set and bind,
And hoist their sails with ropes of good cow-hide;
255And Pallas sent them a good strong forewind,

And swiftly did the ship the sea divide.
The sun was down, and doubtful was the light,
When he to Pheræ came and passed by;
And then by Elis coasted he all night,
260And came unto the Thoæ Islands nigh;

And thought upon the suitors in his way.
Ulysses and Eumæus supping sat,
And when their hunger they had put away,
The tables gone, they leisure had to chat.
265And then Ulysses had a mind to know,

Whether Eumæus rather had he stayed
I’ th’ lodge with him, or to the city go;
And to the company he spake, and said:
Hear me, Eumæus, and you all, his friends;
270I stay here helping to consume your meat,

My mind me to the city rather bends;
For bread and wine there begging I shall get.
But I must then entreat you to provide
Some good man to go with me. Being there,
275Necessity itself will be my guide

To find the houses where there is good cheer.
And if I go unto Ulysses’ doors,
Unto Penelope I can tell news,
And make myself well known unto the woo’rs,
280And they to give me meat will not refuse.

I can do any service that they will,
(Thank Mercury, to whom I owe that good),
Few be they can compare with me for skill
To make a fire, or to cleave out wood,
285To roast and carve meat, or wine to give out,

Or anything that great men’s servants do.
Ay me, Eumæus said, poor man, what thought
Is this of yours? D’ ye long to perish so?
As you must do, if you among them stay;
290Their insolence is known up to the sky.

You are not like their serving men; for they
Are young, and are apparell’d handsomely
With coat and vest; their heads and faces shine
With unguents sweet. Stay therefore here with me;
295There’s none that at your staying doth repine,

Nor I, nor any of my company.
Telemachus, when he comes home again,
Shall give you garments, a fair coat and vest,
And good shoes also to your feet, and then
300See you convoy’d to what place you think best.

To this, Ulysses answered, and said,
Oh! that Jove lov’d you but as well as I.
You have me from a wretched wand’ring stayed.
The belly brings to men such misery.
305Then said Ulysses, Since I am to stay,

Say, of Ulysses’ parents, if you know
His father and his mother, whether they
Be both remaining yet alive or no.
To this, Eumæus said: Laertes lives,
310But woefully and weary of his life;

Still for the absence of his son he grieves;
But more lamenteth the death of his wife.
The loss of her was that first made him old.
She died for grief, thinking her son was dead;
315As sad a death it was as can be told.

May we from such death be delivered.
While she was living, though she grieved were,
When cause there was, I could have asked her mind
Freely. For why, with her own daughter dear
320She brought me up, and never was but kind.

This daughter Ctimene, when come of age
(For she the youngest was) to Same went,
To a rich man given in marriage.
But I, well clad in coat and vest, was sent
325(And shoes upon my feet) into the field;

For she a purpose had to do me good.
But now the time does no such kindness yield,
And yet the blessed Gods provide me food;
For they so well have multiplied my swine,
330That we have still enough of meat and drink,

And wherewithal to make a poor man dine,
Although the suitors’ riot make them shrink;
But since this woe Penelope befel,
’Tis harsh to her to hear of business:
335Yet servants need her both to ask and tell

All that belongeth to their offices,
And also sometimes, maybe, need they had
I’ th’ house to eat, and carry somewhat home,
Of that whereof servants are most part glad,
340And which unto their lodges never come.

Ho, said Ulysses, since it doth appear
You were a traveller when but a boy,
Tell me, I pray you, what your adventures were,
And what your sufferings were upon the way.
345Was your town plunder’d by the enemies,

And you brought hither as a part o’ th’ prey?
Or been by thieves (for you were no ill prize),
As you kept sheep or cattle, brought away?
Then said Eumæus, Since to hear the story
350Of how I hither came it is your pleasure,

Sit patiently, the wine there stands before ye;
For sleep and joy the long nights give us leisure,
It is not good too soon to go to bed;
For too much sleep is but a weariness;
355The rest that will may go, and, morning spread,

Drive forth the swine, which is their business.
Meanwhile let us sit here, and drink and chat,
And stories of our sad adventures tell;
For much contentment there is ev’n in that,
360To them that suffer’d have and come off well.

But to my story now. An isle there is
Under the tropic of the sun, not great,
Call’d Syria, but very fertile ’tis,
Well stor’d with kine, and sheep, and wine and wheat,
365Where famine never enter’d, nor disease

Amongst the people. When a man was aged,
Dian’ and Phœbus made him die with ease,
And gentle shafts the pain of death assuaged.
Two towns it had; their laws were not the same;
370But of them both my father was the king.

Phœnician merchants, rats, then thither came,
And in their ships did many baubles bring.
There then was in my father’s house a maid,
Phœnician born, that well could sow and spin;
375As washing clothes she at the sea-side stayed,

One of these merchants sooth’d her into sin,
(For good workwomen may be made to do that,
If flatter’d well), and then he ask’d her name,
And whence she was. And truth she told the rat.
380From Sidon, said she, a rich town, I came,

And daughter am of wealthy Arybas;
But Taphian thieves took me by force away,
As homewards from the field I going was,
And sold me to this man with whom I stay.
385Then said the merchantman that did her wive,

Will you to Sidon home return with me,
And see your parents? They are still alive,
And rich as heretofore. I will, said she,
If you and all your company will swear,
390At Sidon you will set me safe ashore.

And when all sworn, and agreed on it were,
The woman spake again, and this said more:
If any of you see me in the street,
Or at the well, speak not at all to me,
395Lest any of the house should chance to see’t,

And tell my master. Jealous he will be,
Put me in bonds, and seek you to destroy;
Buy quickly what you buy, and ready be,
And secret. When you mean to go away,
400Then send a privy messenger to me;

For all the gold I can lay hand upon
I’ll bring, and somewhat else boat-hire to pay;
For I the charge have of my master’s son;
Much profit he will yield if brought away.
405Playing without, I’ll take him by the hand

And lead him to the ship; much worth he’ll be,
Transported into whatsoever land.
And home again, this said, returned she.
A year it was before these merchants went.
410Meanwhile they buy and lade the ship; and when

They had their freight, straightway a man they sent
To bid the maid make haste away. And then
A man unto my father’s house they sent;
A crafty merchant, with a chain of gold
415And shining amber, on which were intent

My mother and her maids; they much behold,
And take into their hands, and for it bid.
Meanwhile the man a nod gave with his head,
The woman quickly understand him did,
420And by the hand me out a-door she lead.

Aboard went he. The woman look’d about,
Saw standing on the tables many a cup,
Left by my father and his guests gone out,
And presently she three of them took up;
425Out went she, leading me, that simple was.

The sun went down, and dusky was the way,
And to the ship we unpursued pass,
To th’ haven where the merchants’ vessel lay.
And then go they, and with them we aboard,
430And sail’d before the wind six days and nights,

And to us Jove a fair gale did afford,
Diana on the seventh the woman smites,
And suddenly into the sink she fell;
And her they throw into the sea for cheer
Telemachus landed, goes first to Eumæus.
435To fishes; but the rest arrived well

At Ithaca. Laertes bought me there.
You see now how I hither came. Then said
Ulysses, Truly you have pass’d much woe;
But Jove in part your sorrows hath allay’d,
440That in a good man’s house at ease are now,

That gives you meat and drink with a good will;
With him you live a happy life. But I
Have longer wand’ring been, and must be still.
Thus ’twixt themselves did they say and reply,
445Then went to sleep. The night was almost past,

And with the morn Telemachus was nigh;
Quickly his mates take down the sails and mast,
And row the ship to land, and there her tie;
Then on the beach they quickly break their fast,
450And with fresh water temper their old wine.

And when desire of meat and drink was past,
I’ll, said Telemachus, go to my swine,
But to the city will return at night,
Next morn I’ll feast you with good flesh and wine,
455Your labour in my passage to requite.

And then said Theoclymenus divine,
What will you do meanwhile, I pray, with me?
Unto your mother’s house must I go too,
Or to some other man commended be?
460Then answered Telemachus: No, no,

To bring you to my house in vain it were.
My mother in my absence you’ll not see,
She seldom to the suitors doth appear,
At top o’ th’ house at work still sitteth she.
465But I will recommend you to another,

In Ithaca of best repute; his name
Eurylochus, and best he loves my mother,
And what my father did would do the same;
But folded up it lies yet in Jove’s lap,
470Whether he first shall married be or dead.

As he this said, there did a falcon hap
(Apollo’s bird) to fly above his head
Dexter, and in his pounces held a dove;
And as he plumed her the feathers fell
475Scatter’d as they descended from above

(Which Theoclymenus observed well)
Betwixt Telemachus and the ship’s side;
And to Telemachus said secretly:
This from the Gods is, and doth good betide
480Both to yourself and your posterity.

I knew that it portended at first sight,
No family but yours was here to reign.
O, said Telemachus, that that were right,
Such love, such gifts, you then should from me gain,
485As men that saw you should your fortune bless.

Pyræus then his friend was standing by,
To him he then his stranger did address:
You are my best friend of the company;
Unto your care this stranger I commend,
490To be well treated till I come again.

Though long you stay, said he, I do intend
The best I can your friend to entertain,
And with some gift. Then to the ship he goes,
He and his mates. They on their benches sit.
495Telemachus then putteth on his shoes,

And takes a spear that for his hand was fit;
The ship about they to the city row.
Telemachus pursuing his design,
On foot unto Eumæus forth did go,
His faithful servant, master of the swine.

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LIB. XV. - Homer, The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey) [1839]

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Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. XV.