The Odyssey
Hospitality
Honor
Living in the present
​

The Odyssey
The Odyssey really begins when Odysseus leaves Ithaca to fight in the Trojan War. The Trojan War War was between the Greeks and Trojans, lasting 10 years. The Trojan War began when Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, kidnapped Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. When the Trojans refused to return her, the Greeks formed an army, led by Agamemnon, including Achilles, Odysseus and the two Ajaxes.

Trojan War, in Greek mythology, war between the Greeks and the people of Troy. The strife began after the Trojan prince Paris abducted Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. When Menelaus demanded her return, the Trojans refused. Menelaus then persuaded his brother Agamemnon to lead an army against Troy. At Aulis, troopships gathered, led by the greatest Greek heroes--Achilles, Patroclus, Diomedes, Odysseus, Nestor, and the two warriors named Ajax. In order to win favorable winds for the journey, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis. The winds came and the fleet set sail for Troy. For nine years the Greeks ravaged Troy's surrounding cities and countryside, but the city itself, well fortified and commanded by Hector and other sons of the royal household, held out. Finally the Greeks built a large hollow wooden horse in which a small group of warriors were concealed. The other Greeks appeared to sail for home, leaving behind only the horse and Sinon, who deceitfully persuaded the Trojans, despite the warnings of Cassandra and Laocoön, to take the horse within the city walls. At night the Greeks returned; their companions crept out of the horse and opened the city gates, and Troy was destroyed. The gods took great interest in the war. Poseidon, Hera, and Athena aided the Greeks, while Aphrodite and Ares favored the Trojans. Zeus and Apollo, although frequently involved in the action of the war, remained impartial. The events of the final year of the war constitute the main part of the Iliadof Homer. The Trojan War probably reflected a real war (c.1200 BC) between the invading Greeks and the people of Troas, possibly over control of trade through the Dardanelles. 


See C. Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War(2009).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvumeqSBUl4

​The Odyssey
English 9
Mr. McCoy
 
An odyssey/epic refers to any long wandering and eventful journey. But despite including encounters with an angry god, a one-eyed monster, and a man-changing witch, the ancient Greek poet Homer was not focused on a hero going out to seek adventures, but on a man trying to reunite with his family (homecoming) in his lyrical translation of the epic poem (12,000. Verses) 

The Odyssey Vocabulary Words:
​
valor
courage when facing danger
But not by will nor valor could he save them, for their own recklessness destroyed them all
affliction
a cause of great suffering and distress
My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their afflictions come from us, we hear.
baleful
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
But my own heart is broken for Odysseus, the master mind of war, so long a castaway upon an island in the running sea; a wooded island, in the sea’s middle, and there’s a goddess in the place, the daughter of one whose baleful mind knows all the deeps of the blue sea
din
a loud harsh or strident noise
To be amid the din, the suitors’ riot, would ruin his guest’s appetite, he thought, and he wished privacy to ask for news about his father, gone for years.
glutton
a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
How arrogant they seem, these gluttons, making free here in your house!
rapine
the act of despoiling a country in warfare
If you choose to slaughter one man’s livestock and pay nothing, this israpine
eligible
qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen
“Telemakhos, no doubt the gods themselves are teaching you this high and mighty manner. Zeus forbid you should be king in Ithaka, though you areeligible as your father’s son.”
havoc
violent and needless disturbance
But keep your property, and rule your house, and let no man, against your will, make havoc of your possessions, while there’s life on Ithaka.
lavish
bestow or expend profusely
Athena lavished on him a sunlit grace that held the eye of the multitude.
audacity
aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery
A wave of sympathy ran through the crowd, all hushed; and no one there had the audacity to answer harshly except Antmoos, who said: “What high and mighty talk, Telemakhos! No holding you!"
wield
handle effectively
Now Zeus who views the wide world sent a sign to him, launching a pair of eagles from a mountain crest in gliding flight down the soft blowing wind, wing-tip to wing-tip quivering taut, companions, till high above the assembly of many voices they wheeled, their dense wings beating, and in havoc dropped on the heads of the crowd—a deathly omen— wieldingtheir talons, tearing cheeks and throats
virtuous
morally excellent
Let no man holding scepter as a king be thoughtful, mild, kindly, orvirtuous; let him be cruel, and practice evil ways; it is so clear that no one here remembers how like a gentle father Odysseus ruled you.
lucid
transparently clear; easily understandable
Athena was nearby and came to him, putting on Mentor’s figure and his tone, the warm voice in a lucid flight of words
prudence
discretion in practical affairs
The son is rare who measures with his father, and one in a thousand is a better man, but you will have the sap and wit and prudence—for you get that from Odysseus—to give you a fair chance of winning through.
libation
the act of pouring a liquid offering as a religious ceremony
Now they made all secure in the fast black ship, and, setting out the winebowls all a-brim, they made libation to the gods, the undying, the ever-new, most of all to the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus.
interrogate
pose a series of questions to
I have no practice in elaborate speeches, and for a young man tointerrogate an old man seems disrespectful
precedence
status established in order of importance or urgency
Athena liked his manners, and the equity that gave her precedence with the cup of gold
harangue
address forcefully
Menelaos harangued them to get organized—time to ride home on the sea’s broad back, he said; but Agamemnon wouldn’t hear of it.
insidious
working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
I’d be revenged for outrage on my insidious and brazen enemies.
pauper
a person who is very poor
Now Zeus forbid, and the other gods as well, that you should spend the night on board, and leave me as though I were some pauper without a stitch, no blankets in his house, no piles of rugs, no sleeping soft for host or guest!
scion
a descendent or heir
And that day, too, he brought Alektor’s daughter to marry his tall scion, Megapenthes, born of a slave girl during the long war
desolation
sadness resulting from being forsaken or abandoned
You must have heard your fathers tell my story, whoever your fathers are; you must know of my life, the anguish I once had, and the great house full of my treasure, left in desolation.
maleficent
harmful or evil in intent or effect
It had been supplied her by Polydamna, mistress of Lord Thon, in Egypt, where the rich plantations grow herbs of all kinds, maleficent and healthful; and no one else knows medicine as they do, Egyptian heirs of Paian, the healing god.
infallible
incapable of failure or error
let me tell you what the Ancient of the Sea, who is infallible, said to me—every word.
bestial
resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
But here the nymph, again, came to our rescue, dabbing ambrosia under each man’s nose—a perfume drowning out the bestial odor.
feign
give a false appearance of
Old one, you know the reason—why feign not to know?
promontory
a natural elevation
One is alive, a castaway at sea; the other, Aias, perished with all hands—though first Poseidon landed him on Gyrai promontory, and saved him from the ocean.
ruffian
a cruel and brutal fellow
I would be seen among those ruffians, hateful as they are. I might well say a word, then, to my son, for his own good—tell him to shun that crowd
chastise
censure severely
And show more grace in your obedience, or be chastised by Zeus.
versatile
changeable or inconstant
Son of Laertes, versatile Odysseus, after these years with me, you still desire your old home?
malignant
dangerous to health
What a dear welcome thing life seems to children whose father, in the extremity, recovers after some weakening and malignant illness
derelict
worn and broken down by hard use
O hear me, lord of the stream: how sorely I depend upon your mercy!derelict as I am by the sea’s anger.
succumb
be fatally overwhelmed
In vigil through the night here by the river how can I not succumb, being weak and sick, to the night’s damp and hoarfrost of the morning?
remiss
failing in what duty requires
How so remiss, and yet thy mother’s daughter? leaving thy clothes uncared for, Nausikaa, when soon thou must have store of marriage linen
buffet
strike against forcefully
so came out rustling, like a mountain lion, rain-drenched, wind- buffeted, but in his might at ease, with burning eyes
averse
strongly opposed
The Olympian gods cannot be all averse to this man’s coming here among our islanders. Uncouth he seemed, I thought so, too, before; but now he looks like one of heaven’s people.
aloof
remote in manner
O listen to me now—thou so aloof while the Earthshaker wrecked and battered me.
deference
courteous regard for people's feelings
He prayed for that, and Pallas Athena heard him—although in deferenceto her father’s brother she would not show her true form to Odysseus, 
at whom Poseidon smoldered on until the kingly man came home to his own shore.
auspicious
auguring favorable circumstances and good luck
But cliffs and rock shoals made that place forbidding, so I turned back, swimming off shore, and came in the end to a river, to auspicious water, with smooth beach and a rise that broke the wind.
provender
a stock or supply of foods
But she gave me good provender and good red wine, a river bath, and finally this clothing.
 
conveyance
the act of moving something from one location to another
Our guest and new friend—nameless to me still—comes to my house after long wandering in Dawn lands, or among the Sunset races. Now he appeals to me for conveyance home.
inept
generally incompetent and ineffectual
Inept at combat, am I? Not entirely. Give me a smooth bow; I can handle it, and I might well be first to hit my man amid a swarm of enemies, though archers in company around me drew together.
munificence
liberality in bestowing gifts
The goddesses stayed home for shame; but these munificences ranged there in the doorway, and irrepressible among them all arose the laughter of the happy gods.
peerless
eminent beyond or above comparison
O majesty, model of all your folk, your promise was to show me peerless dancers
paramount
having superior power and influence
Here are twelve princes of the kingdom—lords paramount, and I who make thirteen; let each one bring a laundered cloak and tunic, and add one bar of honorable gold.
blithely
in a joyous, carefree, or unconcerned manner
He turned to give the broadsword to Odysseus, facing him, saying blithely: “Sir, my best wishes, my respects; if I offended, I hope the seawinds blow it out of mind.
immersion
the act of wetting something by submerging it
And soon a call came from the Bathing Mistress who led him to a hip-bath, warm and clear—a happy sight, and rare in his immersions after he left Kalypso’s home—where, surely, the luxuries of a god were ever his.
citadel
a stronghold for shelter during a battle
For when the Trojans pulled it in, themselves, up to the citadel, they sat nearby with long-drawn-out and hapless argument
decorum
propriety in manners and conduct
Let everyone be easy, host and guest; there’s more decorum in a smiling banquet!
suppliant
one praying humbly for something
We had prepared here, on our friend’s behalf, safe conduct in a ship, and gifts to cheer him, holding that any man with a grain of wit will treat a decent suppliant like a brother.
congenial
suitable to your needs
Some kin of yours, then, died at Ilion, some first rate man, by marriage near to you, next your own blood most dear? Or some companion of congenialmind and valor?
squall
sudden violent winds, often accompanied by precipitation
Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships, and driving veils of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
teeming
abundantly filled with especially living things
Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea before dangerous high winds.
appalled
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
We cried aloud, lifting our hands to Zeus, powerless, looking on at this,appalled; but Kyklops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey
avowal
a statement asserting the truth of something
Come back, Odysseus, and I’ll treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you—his son I am, for he by his avowal fathered me, and, if he will, he may heal me of this black wound
rueful
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
Down in the bilge I lay, pulling my sea cloak over my head, while the rough gale blew the ships and rueful crews clear back to Aiolia.
converge
move or draw together at a certain location
Here, then, we found a curious bay with mountain walls of stone to left and right, and reaching far inland,—a narrow entrance opening from the sea where cliffs converged as though to touch and close.
limpid
clear and bright
Black prow by prow those hulls were made fast in a limpid calm without a ripple, stillness all around them.
foreboding
a feeling of evil to come
But working with dry lips to speak a word he could not, being so shaken; blinding tears welled in his eyes; foreboding filled his heart.
assuage
cause to be more favorably inclined
Thus to assuage the nations of the dead I pledged these rites, then slashed the lamb and ewe, letting their black blood stream into the wellpit.
ignoble
completely lacking nobility in character or purpose
Son of great Laertes, Odysseus, master mariner and soldier, bad luck shadowed me, and no kindly power; ignoble death I drank with so much wine.
bereft
sorrowful through loss or deprivation
Though you survive alone, bereft of all companions, lost for years, under strange sail shall you come home, to find your own house filled with trouble
impalpable
not perceptible to the touch
I bit my lip, rising perplexed, with longing to embrace her, and tried three times, putting my arms around her, but she went sifting through my hands,impalpable as shadows are, and wavering like a dream.
unwitting
not aware or knowing
I saw the mother of Oidipous, Epikaste, whose great unwitting deed it was to marry her own son.
indomitable
impossible to subdue
And I saw Leda, wife of Tyndareus, upon whom Tyndareus had sired twinsindomitable: Kastor, tamer of horses, and Polydeukes, best in the boxing ring.
largesse
a gift or money given, usually ostentatiously
“Alkinoos, king and admiration of men, even a year’s delay, if you should urge it, in loading gifts and furnishing for sea—I too could wish it; better far that I return with some largesse of wealth about me—I shall be thought more worthy of love and courtesy by every man who greets me home in Ithaka.”
clangor
a loud resonant repeating noise
Other and sadder tales there are to tell, of my companions, of some who came through all the Trojan spears, clangor and groan of war, only to find a brutal death at home—and a bad wife behind it.
bastion
a stronghold for shelter during a battle
I cannot help him under the sun’s rays, cannot be that man I was on Troy’s wide seaboard, in those days when I made bastion for the Argives and put an army’s best men in the dust.
calamitous
having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
Aias, dear son of royal Telamon, you would not then forget, even in death, your fury with me over those accurst calamitous arms?
perilous
fraught with danger
He made me hunt this place one time to get the watchdog of the dead: no more perilous task, he thought, could be
pandemonium
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
I should have met, then, god-begotten Theseus and Peirithoos, whom both I longed to see, but first came shades in thousands, rustling in apandemonium of whispers, blown together
eddy
flow in a circular current, of liquids
The girls unhitched the mules, and sent them down along the eddyingstream to crop sweet grass.
felicity
state of well-being characterized by contentment
Live in felicity, and make this palace lovely for your children, your countrymen, and your king, Alkinoos.
reprisal
a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
But if some mortal captain, overcome by his own pride of strength, cuts or defies you, are you not always free to take reprisal?
unearthly
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
The landscape then looked strange, unearthly strange to the Lord Odysseus: paths by hill and shore, glimpses of harbors, cliffs, and summer trees.
meager
deficient in amount or quality or extent
No one would use this ground for training horses, it is too broken, has no breadth of meadow; but there is nothing meager about the soil, the yield of grain is wondrous, and wine, too, with drenching rains and dewfall.
dissimulation
the act of deceiving
Whoever gets around you must be sharp and guileful as a snake; even a god might bow to you in ways of dissimulation.
hinterland
a remote and undeveloped area
But after we had sacked the shrines of Priam and put to sea, God scattered the Akhaians; I never saw you after that, never knew you aboard with me, to act as shield in grievous times—not till you gave me comfort in the richhinterland of the Phaiakians and were yourself my guide into that city.
cache
a hidden storage space
We go to make a cache now, in the cave, to keep your treasure hid.
colloquy
a conversation especially a formal one
 
 
 
mourn
express grief after the death of a loved one
As though I had not trouble enough already, given me by the gods, my master gone, true king that he was. I hang on here, still mourning for him, raising pigs of his to feed foreigners
sojourn
a temporary stay
Seven years, then, my sojourn lasted there, and I amassed a fortune, going about among the openhanded Egyptians.
inveigle
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
The cold is making a corpse of me. Some god inveigled me to come without a cloak.
ominous
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Listen, lads, I had an ominous dream, the point being how far forward from our ships and lines we’ve come.
benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
Homage to Nestor, the benevolent king; in my time he was fatherly to me, when the flower of Akhaia warred on Troy.
fury
a feeling of intense anger
The beaked eagle flew from the wild mountain of his fathers to take for prey the tame house bird. Just so, Odysseus, back from his hard trials and wandering, will soon come down in fury on his house.
imperious
having or showing arrogant superiority
If you delay, he will not let you go, but he’ll descend on you in person andimperious; no turning back with empty hands for him, believe me, once his blood is up.
sequester
requisition forcibly, as of enemy property
And Neleus for a year’s term sequestered Melampous’ fields and flocks, while he lay bound hand and foot in the keep of Phylakos.
enlighten
make understand
I pray you by the wine you spend, and by your god, your own life, and your company; enlighten me, and let the truth be known.
patron
someone who supports or champions something
By grace of Hermes the Wayfinder, patron of mortal tasks, the god who honors toil, no man can do a chore better than I can.
minion
a servile or fawning dependant
Slaves they have, but not like you. No—theirs are boys in fresh cloaks and tunics with pomade ever on their sleek heads, and pretty faces. These are their minions, while their tables gleam and groan under big roasts, with loaves and wine.
respite
a relief from harm or discomfort
Respite from pain you give me—and from homelessness.
vagabond
a wanderer with no established residence or means of support
In life there’s nothing worse than knocking about the world, no bitterness wevagabonds are spared when the curst belly rages!
renowned
widely known and esteemed
Now one day some of those renowned seafaring men, sea-dogs, Phoinikians, came ashore with bags of gauds for trading.
berth
secure in or as if in a dock
“Pull for the town,” he said, “and berth our ship, while I go inland across country.
courier
a person who carries a message
The words were barely spoken, when a hawk, Apollo’s courier, flew up on the right, clutching a dove and plucking her
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforward
Telemakhos with his clear candor said: “I am with you, Uncle. See now, I have come because I wanted to see you first, to hear from you if Mother stayed at home—or is she married off to someone and Odysseus’ bed left empty for some gloomy spider’s weaving?”
quandary
state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
Besides, mother is in a quandary, whether to stay with me as mistress of our household, honoring her lord’s bed, and opinion in the town, or take the best Akhaian who comes her way—the one who offers most.
rancor
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
There is no rancor in the town against me, no fault of brothers, whom a man should feel behind him when a fight is in the making
incredulity
doubt about the truth of something
Only Telemakhos, uncomprehending, wild with incredulity, cried out: “You cannot be my father Odysseus!
squelch
suppress or crush completely
We were prepared to cut him off and catch him, squelch him for good and all.
righteous
morally justified
I say, act now, before he brings the whole body of Akhaians to assembly—and he would leave no word unsaid, in righteous anger speaking out before them all of how we plotted murder, and then missed him.
patrimony
an inheritance coming by right of birth
but if, my friends, you want that boy to live and have his patrimony, then we should eat no more of his good mutton, come to this place no more.
ravage
cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
It is Odysseus’ house you now consume, his wife you court, his son you kill, or try to kill. And me you ravage now, and grieve.
surmise
infer from incomplete evidence
As I climbed above the town to where the sky is cut by Hermes’ ridge, I saw a ship bound in for our own bay with many oarsmen in it, laden down with sea provisioning and two-edged spears, and I surmised those were the men.
forsake
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
Mother must see me there, with her own eyes, or she will weep and feelforsaken still, and will not set her mind at rest.
portent
a sign of something about to happen
He has it in him to bring a black hour on the suitors. Yesterday, still at the ship, I saw this in a portent.
mendicant
a pauper who lives by begging
At no long interval, Odysseus came through his own doorway as amendicant, humped like a bundle of rags over his stick.
goad
stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
With his unpleasantness, he will forever make strife where he can—andgoad the others on.
qualm
uneasiness about the fitness of an action
And spare your qualms as to my mother’s loss, or anyone’s—not that in truth you have such care at heart: your heart is all in feeding, not in giving.
alms
money or goods contributed to the poor
I, too, you know, had fortune once, lived well, stood well with men, and gavealms, often, to poor wanderers like this one that you see—aye, to all sorts, no matter in what dire want.
rummage
search haphazardly
You sit here, fat on others’ meat, and cannot bring yourself to rummageout a crust of bread for me!
famished
extremely hungry
A poor show, that—hitting this famished tramp—bad business, if he happened to be a god.
squander
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
But these men spend their days around our house killing our beeves, our fat goats and our sheep, carousing, drinking up our good dark wine; sparing nothing, squandering everything.
farce
a comedy characterized by broad satire
What a farce heaven has brought this house!
wily
marked by skill in deception
But now that wily man, Odysseus, muttered: “An old man, an old hulk, has no business fighting a young man, but my belly nags me; nothing will do but I must take a beating.
waif
a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
You can give up your habit of command over poor waifs and beggarmen—you swab.
indignity
an affront to one's self-esteem
Here, in our house, a guest, can any man suffer indignity, come by such injury? What can this be for you but public shame?
distinguished
standing above others in character or attainment
“Suitors of our distinguished queen,” he said, “hear what my heart would have me say.
loam
a rich soil consisting of sand, clay and organic materials
Or we could try our hands behind a plow, driving the best of oxen—fat, well-fed, well-matched for age and pulling power, and say four strips apiece of loam the share could break: you’d see then if I cleft you a straight furrow
chattel
personal as opposed to real property
I wish you’d put your mind on all your house and chattels.
brazen
unrestrained by convention or propriety
And now a second time Melantho’s voice rang brazen in Odysseus’ ears
equity
conformity with rules or standards
Your name has gone out under heaven like the sweet honor of some god-fearing king, who rules in equity over the strong: his black lands bear both wheat and barley, fruit trees laden bright, new lambs at lambing time—and the deep sea gives great hauls of fish by his good strategy, so that his folk fare well.
stripling
a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity
Two sons Deukalion had: Idomeneus, who went to join the Atreidai before Troy in the beaked ships of war; and then myself, Aithon by name—astripling next my brother.
bounty
generosity evidenced by a willingness to give freely
You would soon know our love! Our bounty, too: men would turn after you to call you blessed.
wry
humorously sarcastic or mocking
Dear guest, no foreign man so sympathetic ever came to my house, no guest more likeable, so wry and humble are the things you say.
odium
hate coupled with disgust
Well you know, my hand has been against the world of men and women;odium and distrust I’ve won.
impervious
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
Before them a great boar lay hid in undergrowth, in a green thicket proof against the wind or sun’s blaze, fine soever the needling sunlight,impervious too to any rain, so dense that cover was, heaped up with fallen leaves.
anguish
extreme distress of body or mind
Then joy and anguish seized her heart; her eyes filled up with tears; her throat closed, and she whispered, with hand held out to touch his chin: “Oh yes! You are Odysseus!
chide
censure severely or angrily
And out of the night sky Athena came to him; out of the nearby dark in body like a woman; came and stood over his head to chide him: “Why so wakeful, most forlorn of men? Here is your home, there lies your lady; and your son is here, as fine as one could wish a son to be.”
vigil
a period of sleeplessness
Now you, too, go to sleep. This all night vigil wearies the flesh.
reign
rule or have supreme power
Evil may be endured when our days pass in mourning, heavy-hearted, hard beset, if only sleep reign over nighttime, blanketing the world’s good and evil from our eyes.
adversity
a state of misfortune or affliction
“O Father Zeus, if over land and water, after adversity, you willed to bring me home, let someone in the waking house give me good augury, and a sign be shown, too, in the outer world.”
loiter
linger, remain, or wait around for no apparent reason
You others go fetch water from the spring; no loitering; come straight back.
tether
restraint consisting of a rope used to restrain an animal
My own feelings keep going round and round upon this tether: can I desert the boy by moving, herds and all, to another country, a new life among strangers?
hector
be bossy towards
“It goes against the grain, my lords, but still I say we take this hectoring by Telemakhos. You know Zeus balked at it, or else we might have shut his mouth a long time past, the silvery speaker.”
humiliation
state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
Granted you mean at last to cut me down: I welcome that—better to die than have humiliation always before my eyes, the stranger buffeted, and the serving women dragged about, abused in a noble house.
reproach
express criticism towards
as long as hope remained in you to see Odysseus, that great gifted man, again, you could not be reproached for obstinacy, tying the suitors down here
commandeer
take arbitrarily or by force
My lords, hear me: suitors indeed, you commandeered this house to feast and drink in, day and night, my husband being long gone, long out of mind.
plunder
steal goods; take as spoils
he, Antmoos, destined to be the first of all to savor blood from a biting arrow at his throat, a shaft drawn by the fingers of Odysseus whom he had mocked and plundered, leading on the rest, his boon companions.
postpone
hold back to a later time
Today the islanders held holiday, a holy day, no day to sweat over a bowstring. Keep your head. Postpone the bow.
prospect
belief about the future
Suppose this exile put his back into it and drew the great bow of Odysseus—could he then take me home to be his bride? You know he does not imagine that! No one need let that prospect weigh upon his dinner! How very, very improbable it seems.
contempt
open disrespect for a person or thing
Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide heaven, contemptfor what men say of you hereafter.
glower
look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
Odysseus glowered under his black brows and said: “Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others, would I hold my hand. There will be killing till the score is paid.
gird
prepare oneself for action or a confrontation
Odysseus, when he saw his adversaries girded and capped and long spears in their hands shaken at him, felt his knees go slack, his heart sink, for the fight was turning grim.
superficial
of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
Amphi'medon’s point bloodied Telemakhos’ wrist, a superficial wound, and Ktesippos’ long spear passing over Eumaios’ shield grazed his shoulder, hurtled on and fell.
scruples
motivation deriving from ethical or moral principles
I had no part in what they did: my part was visionary—reading the smoke of sacrifice. Scruples go unrewarded if I die.
throes
violent pangs of suffering
Think of a catch that fishermen haul in to a halfmoon bay in a fine-meshed net from the white-caps of the sea: how all are poured out on the sand, inthroes for the salt sea, twitching their cold lives away in Helios’ fiery air: so lay the suitors heaped on one another.
vanquish
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
To glory over slain men is no piety. Destiny and the gods’ will vanquishedthese, and their own hardness.
pell-mell
in a wild or reckless manner
When the great room was cleaned up once again, at swordpoint they forced them out, between the roundhouse and the palisade, pell-mell to huddle in that dead end without exit.
abyss
a bottomless gulf or pit
Few men can keep alive through a big surf to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches in joy, in joy, knowing the abyss behind: and so she too rejoiced, her gaze upon her husband, her white arms round him pressed as though forever.
prophecy
knowledge of the future, as from a divine source
The moment of revelation he foretold was this, for you may share theprophecy
replenish
fill something that had previously been emptied
Take care of what is left me in our house; as to the flocks that pack of wolves laid waste they’ll be replenished: scores I’ll get on raids and other scores our island friends will give me till all the folds are full again.
venerable
profoundly honored
They would have boarded ship that night and fled except for one man’s wisdom— venerable Nestor, proven counselor in the past.
squalor
sordid dirtiness
But I might add—don’t take offense—your own appearance could be tidier. Old age yes—but why the squalor, and rags to boot?
bewail
regret strongly
His mother at his bier never bewailed him, nor did I, his father, nor did his admirable wife, Penelope, who should have closed her husband’s eyes in death and cried aloud upon him as he lay.
swoon
pass out from weakness or physical or emotional distress
Odysseus held him swooning until he got his breath back and his spirit and spoke again
query
pose a question
At this point, querying Zeus, Athena said: “O Father of us all and king of kings, enlighten me. What is your secret will?
yield
give in, as to influence or pressure
He yielded to her, and his heart was glad.
arbiter
someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
Both parties later swore to terms of peace set by their arbiter, Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the stormcloud as a shield—though still she kept the form and voice of Mentor.