Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/49

383—420. But him Antinous, the son of Eupithes, addressed in answer: "O Telemachus, of a truth the gods themselves teach thee to be a lofty speaker, and to harangue boldly; but never may the son of Saturn make thee king in sea-girt Ithaca, which is hereditary to thee by descent."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Antinous, art thou amazed at what I say? Indeed I should wish to receive this, if Jove would grant it. Dost thou say that this is the worst thing amongst men? For it is by no means a bad thing to be a king; his house forthwith becomes opulent, and he himself more honoured. But indeed there are many other kings of the Grecians in sea-girt Ithaca, young and old; some one of these may possess this, since divine Ulysses is dead. But I will be king over mine own house, and my servants, whom divine Ulysses has obtained for me as his share of booty."

But him Eurymachus, son of Polybus, then answered: "Telemachus, these things of a certainty lie on the knees of the gods, [as to] who of the Grecians shall reign in sea-girt Ithaca; but thou mayest thyself have his possessions, and rule over his house. For never may the man come, who would waste thy possessions by force against thy will, when Ithaca is still inhabited. But I wish to inquire of thee, O most excellent one, about the stranger, from whence this man is, and from what land he boasts himself to be; and where are his race, and his paternal fields. Does he bring any news of thy father's coming, or desiring some debt of his own, does he come hither? For he went away immediately in haste, nor did he wait for us to know him; yet in countenance he was by no means like a mean person."

But him prudent Telemachus addressed in answer: "Eurymachus, truly the return of my father has perished; nor do I any longer give credit to any message, if one should come from any place: nor do I regard an oracle, if my mother, having called any prophet to the palace, should inquire of him. But this man is a guest of my father's from Taphos; he boasts himself to be Mentes, son of warlike Anchialus, but he reigns over the oar-loving Taphians."

Thus spoke Telemachus; but in his mind he knew the im-