Odyssey 8.199 · Book 8, lines 199–203
Now match that, young men
Read the full text in our reader
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, χαὶρων, οὕνεχʼ ἑταῖρον ἐνηέα λεῦσσʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι. καὶ τότε κουφότερον μετεφώνεε Φαιήκεσσιν·
Odysseus — τοῦτον νῦν ἀφίκεσθε, νέοι. τάχα δʼ ὕστερον ἄλλον ἥσειν ἢ τοσσοῦτον ὀίομαι ἢ ἔτι μᾶσσον.
So she spoke, and much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced, glad, because he saw a kindly comrade in the contest. And then he spoke more lightly among the Phaeacians: Now reach this one, young men. And soon, afterward, I think I shall send another either as far, or even farther.
Word by word
The setting
Cheered to hear a friendly voice in the crowd, Odysseus relaxes and speaks more easily to the young Phaeacians, half in play: reach that throw if you can.
A note on this passage
Much-enduring Odysseus is glad, for he takes the kindly voice for a comrade in the crowd. He speaks more lightly now, telling the young men to match that cast first; another, he says, he could send as far or even farther.
The mood turns from stung pride to something like sport. The word 'more lightly' marks the change: he no longer answers an insult, he plays. But the boast is still a boast, and it is about to widen into a challenge to the whole company — the ease of a man who has just remembered what he can do.
Read the full commentary — and tap any word for its dictionary entry — in the interlinear reader.
Open Odyssey 8.199 in the full reader
Always open passages in the reader
From the Great Library
You are reading a page of the Odyssey — the whole book is free in our interlinear reader.
The Great Library Project presses the classics in their original languages, glossed word by word — free to read, always. Browse the whole library.
Also on our shelves:
Odyssey 8.199 — The Great Library Project interlinear edition · greatlibraryproject.com/book/odyssey/8.199/