Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/52

16 has our assembly, nor our sitting together, taken place, since divine Ulysses went in the hollow ships. But now who has assembled us here? upon whom does so great a necessity come, whether of young men, or of those who are more advanced? Whether has any one heard some intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed he can declare clearly to us since he heard it first? or does he bring forward and advise something else which is public? He appears to me to be a good man, and may he be fortunate. May Jove accomplish for him whatever good he is anxious for in his mind."

Thus he spoke; but the beloved son of Ulysses rejoiced in the omen; nor did he sit still much longer, but was anxious to harangue; and he stood in the middle of the assembly; and the herald Pisenor, who understood prudent counsels, placed the sceptre in his hand. First then, turning towards the old man, he spoke [thus]:

"O old man, not far off is this man who assembled the people (and thou thyself wilt soon know him); but grief comes especially upon me; I have neither heard any intelligence of an army coming against us, which indeed I can clearly declare to thee, since I have heard it first nor do I bring forward or advise any thing else which is public. But my own necessity, the evil which has fallen upon mine house, which is two-fold. First, I have lost my excellent sire, who was formerly a king amongst you who are here, and he was mild as a father. But now again even a much greater [evil has befallen], which will soon altogether break up my whole house, and will entirely destroy my whole livelihood. Suitors are urging my mother against her will, the sons of the men who are the chief here: they dread to go to the house of her Icarian father, so that he may endow his daughter, and give her to whom he chooses, and to whomsoever should come acceptable to him. But they, spending all their days at my house, sacrificing oxen, and sheep, and fat goats, feast, and drink my ruddy wine to no purpose: but many things are