Odyssey — Book 2, passage by passage

The original Greek with a word-by-word English interlinear. Tap any passage.

2.1 When early-born Dawn appeared, rosy-fingered, Odysseus's dear son then rose from his bed, put… — Dawn; the son rises and arms
2.6 At once he ordered the clear-voiced heralds to summon to assembly the long-haired Achaeans.… — He calls the assembly
2.9 But when they had gathered and come together, he set out for the assembly,… — He walks to the assembly, and Athena gilds him
2.13 And all the people gazed at him as he came on; he took his… — The father's seat; old Aegyptius rises
2.17 For his dear son too, along with godlike Odysseus, had gone to Ilion of… — Aegyptius's son, eaten by the Cyclops
2.21 He had three others: one kept company with the suitors, Eurynomus; and two always… — Three living sons, one grief
2.25 Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in whatever I say. Neither has our assembly… — Aegyptius speaks: who called us?
2.31 —which he might tell us clearly, once he had learned it first? Or does… — The old man's blessing on a stranger
2.35 So he spoke, and the dear son of Odysseus rejoiced at the word, and… — The son rises and takes the staff
2.40 Old man, this man is not far off, and soon you will know him… — It was I who called you here
2.45 but my own need, that evils have fallen upon my house, two of them:… — Two evils on one house
2.50 Suitors beset my mother against her will—the dear sons of those men who here… — The suitors, and the law they dodge
2.55 But they, haunting our house day after day, slaughtering oxen and sheep and fat… — Eating the house alive
2.58 recklessly; and much of the goods is being consumed. For there is no man… — No man left to guard the door
2.61 We shall be both wretched and not schooled in defense. Surely indeed I would… — If only I had the strength
2.65 And feel shame before the neighboring people who dwell round about; and dread the… — Fear the gods' wrath
2.68 I beseech you by Olympian Zeus and by Themis, who dissolves and convenes the… — By Zeus and Themis
2.71 to be worn out— unless ever in any way my noble father Odysseus, in… — Unless my father wronged you
2.74 urging these men on. For me it would be more profitable that you devour… — Better you had eaten it yourselves
2.77 For then throughout the town we would press our claim, demanding back our goods,… — Now you cast hopeless pains in my heart
2.80 So he spoke in anger, and dashed the scepter to the ground, bursting into… — He dashed the scepter down
2.85 Telemachus, loud-mouth, unbridled in fury, what a thing you have said, shaming us; you… — Antinous blames the mother
2.89 For already it is the third year, and soon the fourth will come, since… — Three years of the trick
2.91 She gives hope to all of us, and makes each man a promise, sending… — The web she set upon the loom
2.96 Young men, my suitors, since noble Odysseus has died, hold back — though eager… — Penelope's plea: wait for the web
2.99 a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when the deadly doom of… — A shroud for Laertes
2.103 So she spoke, and our proud hearts were won over in turn. Then by… — By day she wove, by night unwove
2.106 So for three years she went undetected by her guile and kept beguiling the… — Three years, then betrayed
2.110 So she finished it, even against her will, under compulsion. And thus to you… — The suitors' demand: send her back
2.115 But if she will go on vexing the sons of the Achaeans a long… — Athena's gifts — a cunning past compare
2.121 Of those women not one knew devices to match Penelope's — yet this, at… — None had wits like Penelope's
2.127 But we will neither go to our works as before, nor anywhere else, until… — Until she weds, we will not stir
2.129 Him, in turn, wise Telemachus spoke in answer: “Antinous, there is no way to… — I cannot cast out my own mother
2.134 For from her father I shall suffer evils, and a god will give others… — The Furies a mother can summon
2.138 But if your own heart feels indignation at this, get out of my halls,… — If you have any shame, leave my halls
2.141 But if it seems to you more desirable and better that one man's single… — Then call the gods — you will die unavenged
2.146 So spoke Telemachus, and for him wide-thundering Zeus sent forth two eagles to fly… — Zeus sends two eagles
2.151 There, wheeling round, the two eagles shook their thick wings, and looked upon the… — The eagles' omen, and the town that cannot read it
2.157 And among them also spoke the old hero Halitherses, son of Mastor; for he… — Halitherses, the one man who can read birds
2.161 Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in whatever I say; and to the suitors… — ‘A great woe is rolling on the suitors’
2.167 we who dwell in clear-seen Ithaca. But long before that, let us take thought… — The off-ramp offered — and already refused
2.170 For I prophesy not untested, but knowing well; and indeed I say that for… — ‘I do not prophesy untested’
2.174 I said that, suffering many evils, having lost all his companions, unknown to all,… — The twentieth year, and the man no one knows
2.177 But in turn Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered to his face: “O old man,… — Eurymachus mocks the seer
2.181 Many birds fly beneath the rays of the sun, and not all are fateful;… — Not every bird is a sign
2.187 But I speak out to you, and this too shall be fulfilled: if ever… — A threat dressed as a prophecy
2.192 And on you, old man, we will lay a fine, which, paying it, you… — A fine, and send the widow home
2.196 And they will arrange a marriage and prepare bride-gifts, very many, such as should… — They will make the match
2.200 Neither Telemachus, wordy though he is, nor do we heed the prophecy which you,… — We fear no seer
2.203 And the wealth, meanwhile, will be foully devoured, nor will there ever be recompense,… — The house bled dry
2.208 Then, in turn, wise Telemachus answered him: “Eurymachus, and also you others, all you… — Telemachus stops pleading
2.211 For already the gods know these things, and all the Achaeans. But come, give… — Give me a ship and twenty men
2.214 For I will go to Sparta and to sandy Pylos, to learn of the… — To Pylos and Sparta, for word of my father
2.218 If indeed I hear of my father's life and his return, then surely, worn… — A year's patience, or a tomb and a wedding
2.224 And truly, having thus spoken, he sat down; and among them rose Mentor, who… — Mentor rises
2.229 Hear me now, you Ithacans, whatever I shall say: let no sceptered king henceforth… — Then let no king be kind
2.233 since not one remembers divine Odysseus, of the people he ruled, and gentle as… — None remembers the gentle king
2.237 for they, risking their own heads, violently devour the house of Odysseus, whom they… — My anger is at the silent many
2.241 Restrain the suitors, few as they are, since you are many. — Mentor's last word: few against many
2.242 And Leocritus, son of Euenor, answered him: “Mentor, you baneful fool, crazed in your… — Leocritus answers: a brawl over dinner
2.246 For even if Odysseus the Ithacan himself, coming upon them as the proud suitors… — Even if Odysseus himself came home
2.249 not even then would his wife rejoice for him, greatly though she longs, at… — He would die on his own floor
2.252 But come, let the people scatter, each to his own tasks; and Mentor will… — The assembly dismissed
2.257 So he spoke, and broke up the assembly, short-lived as it was. They scattered,… — The gathering breaks up
2.260 But Telemachus, going off apart to the shore of the sea, having washed his… — Telemachus prays at the shore
2.262 Hear me, you who came yesterday as a god to our house, and bade… — The prayer to the unknown god
2.267 So he spoke, praying; and near to him came Athena, likened to Mentor both… — Athena draws near as Mentor
2.270 Telemachus, you will not hereafter be base, nor witless, — Athena begins: not base, not witless
2.271 If indeed your father's noble spirit is instilled in you — such as that… — If your father's spirit is in you
2.274 But if you are not his offspring and Penelope's, then I do not expect… — Few sons are the equal of their fathers
2.278 But since you will be neither base hereafter nor witless, nor has Odysseus's cunning… — Your father's cunning has not left you
2.281 Therefore now let be the counsel and purpose of the senseless suitors, since they… — Leave the suitors to their doom
2.285 And for you the journey which you long for shall not be far off… — I will find you a ship and sail with you
2.288 But you, for your part, go to the house and mingle with the suitors;… — The marrow of men
2.291 in close-sewn skins. Meanwhile I, through the district, will quickly gather willing companions. And… — A crew and a ship from Ithaca
2.296 So spoke Athena, daughter of Zeus. And no longer did Telemachus linger long, once… — Home to a house full of enemies
2.301 And Antinous, laughing, went straight up to Telemachus, and clung fast onto his hand,… — Antinous takes his hand
2.303 Telemachus, big talker, of unchecked fury, let no other evil weigh in your breast,… — Eat and drink, as before
2.309 And to him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer: Antinous, in no way… — I cannot sit and eat with you
2.314 But now, when at last I am indeed grown, and learn by hearing the… — Now I am grown
2.318 I will go, indeed, and not in vain shall be the journey of which… — As a passenger, then
2.321 So he spoke, and snatched his own hand out of the hand of Antinous,… — He pulls his hand free
2.323 And they jeered and taunted him with words. And thus one of the overbearing… — The young men jeer
2.325 Surely Telemachus is plotting murder for us. Either he will bring some avengers from… — He means to poison us all
2.331 Another in turn would say, one of the overbearing youths: “Who knows if he… — A suitor wishes the son dead
2.337 So they spoke; but he went down into his father's storeroom, high-roofed and wide,… — Down into the storeroom
2.340 And there stood jars of old sweet wine, holding within the unmixed divine drink,… — The wine kept for his return
2.344 Lockable doors, closely fitted, folding double, were set to it; and a housekeeping woman… — Eurycleia, keeper of the store
2.349 “Nurse, come now, draw off wine for me in jars — sweet wine, whichever,… — Telemachus: draw off the wine
2.354 And therein pour me barley-meal in well-sewn skins; let there be twenty measures of… — …and the barley, in secret
2.357 For at evening I will take them up, once at last my mother goes… — To Pylos and Sparta, for word of his father
2.361 So he spoke, and the dear nurse Eurycleia wailed aloud, and lamenting she spoke… — The nurse cries out
2.367 And at once, as you go, they will contrive evils for you hereafter, so… — They will plot against you
2.371 Then in turn wise Telemachus answered her: Take heart, nurse, since this very plan… — A god is in this plan
2.377 So he spoke, and the old woman swore a great oath of the gods.… — The old woman swears
2.381 And Telemachus, going into the halls, mingled with the suitors. There in turn the… — Athena works the town
2.386 And she in turn asked Noemon, glorious son of Phronius, for a swift ship;… — The ship goes down to the sea
2.391 She stationed it at the harbor's far edge, and round about it the noble… — The ship stationed, the crew gathered
2.394 She set out to go to the house of divine Odysseus; there upon the… — Sleep poured on the suitors
2.399 But bright-eyed Athena spoke to Telemachus, having called him forth from the well-built halls,… — Athena calls Telemachus out, as Mentor
2.402 Telemachus, already your well-greaved comrades sit at their oars, awaiting your setting-out; but let… — “Let us not delay”
2.405 So speaking, Pallas Athena led the way swiftly; and he then walked after the… — Down to the ship
2.410 Come, friends, let us fetch the provisions; for everything is already gathered in the… — “One alone heard the plan”
2.413 So speaking he led the way, and they followed together with him. And they,… — The stores brought aboard
2.416 Then Telemachus stepped up onto the ship, and Athena led; she sat down at… — Aboard, and the wind sent
2.421 [She sent] a fresh West Wind, singing over the wine-dark sea. But Telemachus urged… — A following wind, and the crew to the tackle
2.424 They lifted up the fir mast and set it within the hollow mast-box, and… — They raise the mast and spread the white sail
2.427 The wind filled the middle of the sail, and about the stem the dark… — The wind fills the sail, the wave sings
2.430 Then, when they had lashed fast the tackle throughout the swift black ship, they… — Libations, and the ship holds her way through the night

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:

Plato's Phaedrus — complete, ancient Greek
Heraclitus, the Fragments — complete
Dante's Inferno — Italian, canto I
Dom Casmurro — Brazilian Portuguese

❦