Odyssey 2.61 · Book 2, lines 61–64
If only I had the strength
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Telemachus — λευγαλέοι τʼ ἐσόμεσθα καὶ οὐ δεδαηκότες ἀλκήν. ἦ τʼ ἂν ἀμυναίμην, εἴ μοι δύναμίς γε παρείη. οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀνσχετὰ ἔργα τετεύχαται, οὐδʼ ἔτι καλῶς οἶκος ἐμὸς διόλωλε. νεμεσσήθητε καὶ αὐτοί,
We shall be both wretched and not schooled in defense. Surely indeed I would defend myself, if for me the power were only at hand. For no longer are bearable deeds done, nor any longer decently has my house been ruined. Be outraged, you yourselves also—
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The setting
Telemachus is finishing his speech to the Ithacan assembly. He and his house are helpless against the suitors; he wishes aloud he could fight them off, and calls on the men of Ithaca to be ashamed on his behalf.
A note on this passage
Telemachus lays his own weakness on the table. He is untrained in war, and would drive the suitors out if he had the power — but he does not. So the appeal turns outward: no longer are these bearable deeds, his house is being consumed past all decency, and the men of Ithaca should be outraged themselves.
The undercurrent is the honor economy. Telemachus cannot win by force, so he reaches for the only lever a powerless man has: public shame. νεμεσσήθητε, ‘be outraged,’ asks the bystanders to feel the indignation the wrongdoers will not. It is the boy learning to fight with words because he has no other weapon.
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