Odyssey — Book 3, passage by passage

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

3.1 The Sun leapt up, leaving the lovely mere, into the brazen sky, so that… — The Sun leaps into the brazen sky
3.4 And they reached Pylos, the well-built citadel of Neleus; on the shore of the… — Landfall at Pylos, and Poseidon's black bulls
3.7 Nine companies there were, and five hundred men sat in each, and in each… — Nine companies, nine bulls apiece
3.9 When they had tasted the innards, and were burning the thigh-pieces to the god,… — Two crews, one shore
3.12 And then Telemachus stepped out of the ship, and Athena led the way. The… — Athena leads, and speaks first
3.14 Telemachus, no need have you any longer of shyness, not even a little. For… — 'No need of shyness'
3.17 But come now, go straight to Nestor, tamer of horses; let us find out… — 'Go straight to Nestor — entreat him yourself'
3.21 And prudent Telemachus spoke to her in turn in answer: Mentor, how then am… — Telemachus balks
3.25 And to him again the goddess spoke, grey-eyed Athena: Telemachus, some things you yourself… — 'A god will put it in your mind'
3.29 So having spoken, Pallas Athena led the way swiftly; and he then walked after… — In the footsteps of the god
3.31 They came to the gathering and seats of the Pylian men, where Nestor sat… — They come to Nestor's shore-feast
3.34 And when they saw the strangers, they all came together in a throng, and… — The whole company welcomes them
3.36 First Peisistratus, son of Nestor, coming near, took them both by the hand and… — Peisistratus seats them at the feast
3.40 And he gave them portions of the innards, and poured wine into a golden… — The golden cup, and a word to Athena
3.43 Pray now, stranger, to the lord Poseidon; for it is his feast that you… — 'Pray to Poseidon, stranger'
3.46 give also, then, to this man the cup of honey-sweet wine to pour a… — 'All men have need of the gods'
3.49 But he is younger, of an age with me myself; therefore to you first… — 'To you first, the golden cup'
3.51 So saying, he placed in her hand the cup of sweet wine; and Athena… — Athena is pleased with a just man
3.54 At once she prayed earnestly to the lord Poseidon: Hear me, Poseidon, holder of… — Athena's prayer: 'Hear me, Poseidon'
3.57 To Nestor first of all, and to his sons, grant glory; but then to… — 'Grant that Telemachus and I return'
3.61 ‘…because we came here with a swift, black ship.’ So then she prayed, and… — The prayer sealed, the cup goes round
3.65 But when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off, they divided… — The feast done, Nestor begins to speak
3.69 Now it is more fitting to inquire and to ask the strangers — who… — Nestor's question: guests or pirates?
3.75 And him in turn wise Telemachus answered in reply, taking courage; for Athena herself… — Athena puts courage in him
3.79 O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, you ask from where… — Telemachus names himself and his errand
3.83 I go after the wide fame of my father, if somewhere I may hear… — In search of his father's fame
3.86 For all the others, as many as warred with Troy, we have learned where… — His death, made unknown by Zeus
3.91 Or whether on the deep, amid the waves of Amphitrite — therefore now I… — To your knees: tell me how he died
3.96 And do not, out of respect, soften your words to me at all, nor… — Do not spare me — the oath of the father's service
3.102 Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: — The Gerenian horseman answers
3.103 O friend, since you have reminded me of the misery which in that land… — Nestor opens the wound: both sea and city
3.109 There lies warlike Ajax, there Achilles, there Patroclus, a counselor equal to the gods,… — There they lie: the roll of the dead
3.113 And many other evils besides these we suffered; who of mortal men could tell… — No one could tell it all
3.118 For nine years we stitched trouble for them, busy about it with every kind… — Nine years of wiles, and one unmatched mind
3.121 …none was willing, since godlike Odysseus far surpassed them all in every kind of… — No younger man could speak so well
3.126 There, indeed, so long as I and godlike Odysseus were together, never in the… — Of one mind at Troy
3.130 But when we had sacked Priam's steep city and gone aboard the ships, and… — Zeus plans a bitter homecoming
3.136 She it was who set strife between both the sons of Atreus. The two… — A meeting called at sundown
3.141 Then indeed Menelaus urged all the Achaeans to turn their minds to return over… — Sail now, or stay and sacrifice
3.145 so that he might appease the dread anger of Athena — fool, and he… — ‘Fool’ — the gods do not turn quickly
3.148 So the two of them stood exchanging harsh words; but the well-greaved Achaeans sprang… — The host splits in two
3.151 That night we passed brooding hard things in our hearts against one another; for… — The bitter night, and the launch at dawn
3.155 But half the host was held back, remaining there beside Agamemnon, son of Atreus,… — The host divides in half
3.159 And to Tenedos coming, we made offerings to the gods, longing for home; but… — Tenedos, and Zeus withholds the homecoming
3.162 Some turned back their curved ships and went — around lord Odysseus, the battle-wise,… — Some turn back to Agamemnon
3.165 But I, with the close-gathered ships that followed me, kept fleeing on, since I… — Nestor and Diomedes flee
3.168 And late, at last, fair-haired Menelaus came after us two, and in Lesbos caught… — Menelaus overtakes us at Lesbos
3.173 And we asked the god to show a sign; but he showed it to… — A sign, and the open-sea crossing
3.176 And there rose up a shrill fair wind to blow; and the ships, very… — The run to Geraestus, and the sacrifice to Poseidon
3.181 …the comrades of Tydeus' son Diomedes, tamer of horses, drew up their ships; but… — Nestor holds his course for Pylos
3.184 So I came home, dear child, without news, nor do I know anything of… — What is right to tell a guest
3.188 Safely, men say, the spear-famed Myrmidons came home, whom the glorious son of great-hearted… — The captains who came home safe
3.193 And of Atreus' son you yourselves have heard, far away though you are —… — Even you have heard of Agamemnon
3.195 But surely, I tell you, that man paid wretchedly. How good a thing it… — How good that a son is left behind
3.199 And you, friend — for I see you are very handsome and tall —… — Be brave, that men to come speak well of you
3.201 Then wise Telemachus addressed him in turn in answer: — Wise Telemachus answers
3.202 O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, indeed that man took… — The fame the Achaeans will carry
3.205 Would that the gods might put such power around me, to take vengeance on… — Would that I had such power
3.208 But the gods have spun no such happiness for me, both for my father… — Now I must endure it
3.210 Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: — The Gerenian horseman answers
3.211 O friend, since you have reminded me of these things and spoken them, they… — Tell me the truth: willing, or hated?
3.216 And who knows if he may come and someday make them pay for their… — If only Athena loved you as she loved your father
3.221 for never yet have I seen the gods so openly loving a man, as… — I never saw a god stand so openly by a man
3.225 Then wise Telemachus answered him in turn: — Telemachus answers in turn
3.226 O old man, I do not think at all this word will be fulfilled;… — That word is too great for hope
3.229 Then the goddess addressed him in turn, bright-eyed Athena: — The goddess answers
3.230 Telemachus, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth. Easily a god,… — A god could bring a man home from anywhere
3.234 than, having come home, perish at my own hearth, as Agamemnon perished by the… — Better the road home than death at the hearth
3.239 Then wise Telemachus answered her in turn: Mentor, let us no longer speak of… — Enough of this, Mentor
3.241 For that man there is no sure homecoming now; but already the immortals have… — For that man, no homecoming left
3.247 O Nestor, son of Neleus, tell me the truth: how did he die, the… — How did Agamemnon die?
3.253 Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: — The old king takes up the question
3.254 Well then, child, I will tell you all the truth. Indeed you yourself can… — I'll tell you all, child
3.258 Then not even for him, dead, would they have heaped a mound of earth… — No mound, no mourning
3.262 For we, on our part, sat there carrying through many struggles; but he, at… — We toiled at Troy; he wooed at home
3.265 She at first refused the shameful deed, noble Clytemnestra; for she was gifted with… — She refused at first
3.269 But when at last the doom of the gods bound her to be mastered,… — Fate binds her; the bard is marooned
3.271 He left him for the birds to become prey and spoil, and he, willing,… — Aegisthus gives thanks
3.276 For we sailed together, coming from Troy, the son of Atreus and I, knowing… — Apollo kills the helmsman at Sunium
3.281 holding the steering-oar in his hands as the ship ran on — Phrontis, son… — The helmsman's due
3.286 But when he too, sailing over the wine-dark sea in his hollow ships, reached… — Zeus looses the storm at Malea
3.291 There, splitting the fleet, he drove some ships to Crete, where the Cydonians lived… — The fleet split — the cliff at Gortyn
3.297 These ships came there, and the men just barely escaped destruction; but the waves… — Wreck on the reefs; five ships to Egypt
3.301 So he, gathering much substance and gold, wandered with his ships among men of… — Aegisthus rules his seven years
3.306 But in that eighth year there came, as his bane, noble Orestes, back from… — Orestes comes home and kills
3.309 Truly, having slain him, he gave a funeral feast for the Argives, over his… — A funeral feast, and Menelaus lands
3.313 And you, friend, do not wander long far away from home, leaving your possessions… — Do not stay away too long
3.317 But to Menelaus I urge and command you to go; for he has lately… — Go to Menelaus, back from the ends of the earth
3.323 But go now with your own ship and your companions; but if you wish… — By ship, or by chariot to Sparta
3.327 And entreat him yourself, so that he may tell you the plain truth; and… — He will tell you the truth
3.329 So he spoke, and the sun went down and darkness came on. And among… — The sun goes down; Athena speaks
3.331 O old man, truly you have told these things rightly. But come, cut the… — Athena calls the evening to a close
3.337 So spoke the daughter of Zeus, and they heard her as she spoke. For… — The libation that ends the feast
3.342 But when they had poured libation and drunk as much as the heart wished,… — Nestor will not let them go to the ship
3.346 May Zeus ward that off, and the other immortal gods, that you should go… — 'As if from some poor man' — Nestor's protest
3.351 But I have cloaks and fine rugs. Surely, indeed, the dear son of this… — A host's vow, sworn on Odysseus's name
3.356 To him in turn the goddess spoke, gleaming-eyed Athena: Well indeed have you said… — Athena yields — and turns toward the ship
3.361 I will go, so that I may hearten my comrades and tell each thing.… — Mentor's parting word: eldest among the young
3.365 There I would lie down beside the hollow black ship now; but at dawn… — The excuse completed: a debt, a night, a request for horses
3.371 So speaking, grey-eyed Athena departed in the likeness of a sea-eagle; and wonder seized… — Athena flies off as a sea-eagle
3.375 O friend, I do not think you will prove base and cowardly, if indeed,… — Nestor reads the omen: Athena herself
3.380 But be gracious, O queen, and grant me good renown, to myself and my… — Nestor's vow: a gilded heifer
3.385 So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena hearkened to him. And for them… — Prayer heard; back to the palace and the wine-bowl
3.391 The jar of sweet wine — which the housekeeper opened in the eleventh year… — An eleven-year wine, poured to Athena
3.395 But when they had poured libations and drunk as much as their heart desired,… — The guest bedded in the echoing portico
3.400 and beside him Peisistratus of the good ash spear, leader of men, who alone… — Peisistratus beside him; Nestor to the inner chamber
3.404 And when rosy-fingered Dawn, early-born, appeared, the Gerenian horseman Nestor rose from his bed,… — Dawn, and Nestor takes his seat
3.407 which stood for him before the high doors, white and glistening with oil; on… — The stones where Neleus once sat
3.411 Now Nestor the Gerenian sat there in turn, guardian of the Achaeans, holding his… — Nestor enthroned, ringed by his sons
3.415 And then sixth to them came the hero Peisistratus; and leading godlike Telemachus they… — Telemachus seated among the brothers
3.418 Quickly, my dear children, fulfill my desire, so that first of the gods I… — 'Fulfill my wish — I must honor Athena first'
3.421 But come: let one man go to the plain for an ox, so it… — Nestor dispatches the men
3.425 And another, in turn, bid the goldsmith Laerkes come here, to overlay the ox's… — The goldsmith, and the feast made ready
3.430 Thus he spoke, and all bustled about. The ox came from the plain, and… — All hands: the ox, the crew, the smith
3.436 partaking in the rites. And the old horseman Nestor gave the gold; and he… — The horns gilded for the goddess
3.439 Stratios and noble Echephron led the ox by the horns. And Aretos came for… — The attendants take their places
3.444 Perseus held the blood-bowl. And old horseman Nestor began the rite with lustral water… — Nestor opens the rite
3.447 When they had prayed and scattered the barley, at once Nestor's son, high-spirited Thrasymedes,… — The blow, and the women's cry
3.451 The daughters too and the daughters-in-law and the revered wife of Nestor — Eurydice,… — The women, and the throat cut
3.455 And when the black blood had flowed out of it, and the life left… — The blood, the thigh-pieces, the fat
3.459 And the old man burned them on the split wood, and over them poured… — The old man burns the god's portion
3.464 Meanwhile fair Polycaste bathed Telemachus, the youngest daughter of Nestor, son of Neleus. — Polycaste bathes Telemachus
3.466 But when she had bathed him and anointed him richly with oil, and cast… — He steps out like a god
3.470 And when they had roasted the outer meat and drawn it off the spits,… — The feast, and wine in golden cups
3.473 But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food, among… — Desire for food put away
3.475 My sons, come, yoke the fair-maned horses for Telemachus under the chariot, leading them,… — Nestor: yoke the horses
3.477 So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed; and swiftly they… — So he spoke — the horses yoked
3.481 Telemachus stepped up into the beautiful chariot; and at his side Peisistratus, son of… — The chariot leaves Pylos
3.486 And all day long they held the yoke steady on both sides, and shook… — All day they run — night at Pherae
3.491 And when Dawn appeared, early-born and rosy-fingered, they yoked the horses and mounted up… — Dawn, and on toward Sparta — Book 3 ends

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