Book 18 Recognition - Anagnorisis

1. Book 18 Recognition - Anagnorisis

2. Odysseus as BeggarArnaeus/Irus [15] “Are you possessed? I do not harm you in deed or word, nor do I begrudge what any man should give you, even if the portion he gave you were a large one. This threshold will hold us both, and you have no need to be jealous for the goods of other folk. You seem to me to be a vagrant, even as I am; and as for happy fortune, it is the gods who give us that. [20] But with your fists do not provoke me too much . . .Antinous “contrary minded” son of Eupeithes “good at persuasion” “Friends, never before has such a thing come to pass, that a god has brought sport like this to this house. Yon stranger and Irus are provoking one another to blows. Come, let us quickly set them on.”If this fellow conquers you and proves the better man, I will fling you into a black ship and send you to the mainland [85] to King Echetus, the maimer of all men, who will cut off your nose and ears with the pitiless bronze, and will draw forth your vitals and give them raw to dogs to rend.” [105] “Sit there now, and scare off swine and dogs, and do not be lord of strangers and beggars, miserable as you are, so that you don’t meet with some worse thing yet.”

3. [130] Nothing feebler does earth nurture than a human (anthropos), of all things that on earth are breathing and moving. For he thinks that he will never suffer evil in time to come, so long as the gods give him prosperity and his knees are quick; but when again the blessed gods decree him sorrow, [135] this too he bears in sore despite with steadfast heart; for the spirit of men upon the earth is even such as the day which the father of gods and men brings upon them. For I, too, was once like to be prosperous among men, but many reckless deeds I wrought, yielding to my might and my strength, [140] and trusting in my father and my brethren. Wherefore let no man at all be lawless at any time, but let him keep in silence whatever gifts the gods give.

4. Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, put it in the heart of the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, [160] to show herself to the wooers, so that she might set their hearts a-flutter and win greater honor from her husband and her son than before.

5. Penelope raises the stakes:Now when the fair lady reached the wooers she stood by the doorpost of the well-built hall, [210] holding before her face her shining veil; and a faithful handmaid stood on either side of her. Straightway then the knees of the wooers were loosened and their hearts enchanted with love, and they all prayed, each that he might lie by her side. But herein has bitter grief come upon my heart and soul, [275] for such as yours was never the way of wooers before. They who want to woo a lady of worth and the daughter of a rich man and vie with one another, these bring of themselves cattle and goodly flocks, a banquet for the friends of the bride, and give to her glorious gifts; [280] but they do not devour the livelihood of another without atonement.” So she spoke, and the much-enduring, goodly Odysseus was glad, because she drew from them gifts, and beguiled their souls with gentle words, but her mind was set on other things.

6. Melantho:[320] So he spoke, and the maids broke into a laugh, and glanced at one another. And fair-cheeked Melantho rated him shamefully, Melantho, whom Dolius begot, but whom Penelope had reared and cherished as her own child, and gave her playthings to her heart's desire. Yet even so she had at heart no sorrow for Penelope, [325] but she loved Eurymachus and was accustomed to lie with him. Telemachus [405] “Strange sirs, you are mad, and no longer hide that you have eaten and drunk; some god surely is moving you. Nay, now that you have well feasted, go to your homes and take your rest, when your spirits bid you. Yet do I drive no man forth.”