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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library - PinkMonkey.com - The Odyssey by Homer
BOOK II

NOW when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Telemachus rose and
dressed himself. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, girded his sword about
his shoulder, and left his room looking like an immortal god. He at once sent the criers
round to call the people in assembly, so they called them and the people gathered
thereon; then, when they were got together, he went to the place of assembly spear in
hand-not alone, for his two hounds went with him.

Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marvelled at
him as he went by, and when he took his place’ in his father’s seat even the oldest
councillors made way for him.

Aegyptius, a man bent double with age, and of infinite experience, the first to speak
His son Antiphus had gone with Ulysses to Ilius, land of noble steeds, but the savage
Cyclops had killed him when they were all shut up in the cave, and had cooked his last
dinner for him, He had three sons left, of whom two still worked on their father’s land,
while the third, Eurynomus, was one of the suitors; nevertheless their father could not
get over the loss of Antiphus, and was still weeping for him when he began his speech.
“Men of Ithaca,” he said, “hear my words. From the day Ulysses left us there has been
no meeting of our councillors until now; who then can it be, whether old or young, that
finds it so necessary to convene us? Has he got wind of some host approaching, and
does he wish to warn us, or would he speak upon some other matter of public moment?
I am sure he is an excellent person, and I hope Jove will grant him his heart’s desire.”
Telemachus took this speech as of good omen and rose at once, for he was bursting
with what he had to say. He stood in the middle of the assembly and the good herald
Pisenor brought him his staff. Then, turning to Aegyptius, “Sir,” said he, “it is I, as you
will shortly learn, who have convened you, for it is I who am the most aggrieved. I
have not got wind of any host approaching about which I would warn you, nor is there
any matter of public moment on which I would speak. My grieveance is purely
personal, and turns on two great misfortunes which have fallen upon my house. The
first of these is the loss of my excellent father, who was chief among all you here
present, and was like a father to every one of you; the second is much more serious,
and ere long will be the utter ruin of my estate. The sons of all the chief men among
you are pestering my mother to marry them against her will. They are afraid to go to
her father Icarius, asking him to choose the one he likes best, and to provide marriage
gifts for his daughter, but day by day they keep hanging about my father’s house,
sacrificing our oxen, sheep, and fat goats for their banquets, and never giving so much
as a thought to the quantity of wine they drink. No estate can stand such recklessness;
we have now no Ulysses to ward off harm from our doors, and I cannot hold my own
against them. I shall never all my days be as good a man as he was, still I would indeed
defend myself if I had power to do so, for I cannot stand such treatment any longer; my
house is being disgraced and ruined. Have respect, therefore, to your own consciences
and to public opinion. Fear, too, the wrath of heaven, lest the gods should be
displeased and turn upon you. I pray you by Jove and Themis, who is the beginning
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