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--- cynics:homer [2012/06/02 22:52] – frank
+++ cynics:homer [2014/03/02 13:08] (current) – [Homer, Odyssey Book 13.530-539] frank
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 ====== Homer ======
-===== Homer, Iliad Book 2.240-330 =====
+===== Homer, Iliad Book 2.211-270 =====
-<blockquote>Odysseus moved throughout the army, calming things.
+<blockquote> [211] Now the others sate them down and were stayed in their places, only there still kept chattering on **Thersites** of measureless speech, whose mind was full of great store of disorderly words, wherewith to utter revilings against the kings, idly, and in no orderly wise, but whatsoever he deemed would raise a laugh among the Argives. Evil-favoured was he beyond all men that came to Ilios: he was bandy-legged and lame in the one foot, and his two shoulders were rounded, stooping together over his chest, and above them his head was warped, and a scant stubble grew thereon. Hateful was he to Achilles above all, and to Odysseus, for it was they twain that he was wont to revile; but now again with shrill cries he uttered abuse against goodly Agamemnon. With him were the Achaeans exceeding wroth, and had indignation in their hearts.
-From ships and huts, soldiers rushed to reassemble,
-echoing like waves of the roaring sea crashing on shore,
-as Ocean thunders on. Men sat calmly in their places.
-But a single man kept on yelling out abuse—
-scurrilous **Thersites**, expert in various insults,
-vulgar terms for inappropriate attacks on kings,
-whatever he thought would make the Argives laugh.
-Of all the men who came to Troy, he was the ugliest—
-bow legged, one crippled foot, rounded shoulders
-curving in toward his chest. On top, his pointed head
-sprouted thin, scraggly tufts of hair. Achilles hated him,
-as did Odysseus, too, both subject to his taunts.
-But now Agamemnon was the target of his gibes.
-The Achaeans, despising **Thersites** in their hearts,
-were furious at him. But he kept shouting out,
-aiming noisy insults right at Agamemnon:
- “Son of Atreus, what’s your problem now?
-What do you lack? Your huts are stuffed with bronze,
-plenty of choice women, too—all presents
-we Achaeans give you as our leader,
-whenever we ransack some city.
-Or are you in need of still more gold,
-a ransom fetched by some horse-taming Trojan
-for his son tied up and delivered here
-by me or by some other Achaean?
-Or do you want a young girl to stash away,
-so you’re the only one who gets to screw her?
-It’s just not fair that you, our leader,
-have botched things up so badly for us,
-Achaea’s sons. But you men, you soldiers,
-cowardly comrades, disgraceful people,
-you’re Achaean women, not warriors.
-Let’s sail home in our ships, leave this man,
-our king, in Troy here to enjoy his loot.
-That way he might come to recognize
-whether or not we’re of some use to him.
-Now Agamemnon has even shamed Achilles,
-a much finer warrior than himself,
-stealing a prize, keeping it for his own use.
-Then there’s Achilles, no heart’s anger there,
-who lets it all just happen. If he didn’t,
-this bullying of yours, son of Atreus,
-would be your last.”
-**Thersites** yelled out these insults
+[224] Howbeit with loud shoutings he spake and chide Agamemnon: “Son of Atreus, with what art thou now again discontent, or what lack is thine? Filled are thy huts with bronze, and women full many are in thy huts, chosen spoils that we Achaeans give thee first of all, whensoe'er we take a citadel. Or dost thou still want gold also, which some man of the horse-taming Trojans shall bring thee out of Ilios as a ransom for his son, whom I haply have bound and led away or some other of the Achaeans? Or is it some young girl for thee to know in love, whom thou wilt keep apart for thyself? Nay, it beseemeth not one that is their captain to bring to ill the sons of the Achaeans. Soft fools! base things of shame, ye women of Achaea, men no more, homeward let us go with our ships, and leave this fellow here in the land of Troy to digest his prizes, that so he may learn whether in us too there is aught of aid for him or no—for him that hath now done dishonour to Achilles, a man better far than he; for he hath taken away, and keepeth his prize by his own arrogant act. Of a surety there is naught of wrath in the heart of Achilles; nay, he heedeth not at all; else, son of Atreus, wouldest thou now work insolence for the last time.”
-right at Agamemnon, the people’s shepherd,
-abusing him. Noble Odysseus stood up quickly,
-confronting **Thersites**. Scowling, he lashed out sternly:
- “Shut up, chatterbox. You’re a champion talker.
+[243] So spake **Thersites**, railing at Agamemnon, shepherd of the host. But quickly to his side came goodly Odysseus, and with an angry glance from beneath his brows, chid him with harsh words, saying: “**Thersites** of reckless speech, clear-voiced talker though thou art, refrain thee, and be not minded to strive singly against kings. For I deem that there is no viler mortal than thou amongst all those that with the sons of Atreus came beneath Ilios. Wherefore 'twere well thou shouldst not take the name of kings in thy mouth as thou protest, to cast reproaches upon them, and to watch for home-going. In no wise do we know clearly as yet how these things are to be, whether it be for good or ill that we sons of the Achaeans shall return. Therefore dost thou now continually utter revilings against Atreus' son, Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, for that the Danaan warriors give him gifts full many; whereas thou pratest on with railings. But I will speak out to thee, and this word shall verily be brought to pass: if I find thee again playing the fool, even as now thou dost, then may the head of Odysseus abide no more upon his shoulders, nor may I any more be called the father of Telemachus, if I take thee not, and strip off thy raiment, thy cloak, and thy tunic that cover thy nakedness, and for thyself send thee wailing to the swift ships, beaten forth from the place of gathering with shameful blows.”
-But don’t try to have it out with kings,
-all by yourself. Let me tell you something—
-of all those who came to Troy with Atreus’ sons,
-you’re the most disgraceful. So shut your mouth.
-No more words from you abusing our kings,
-seeking to sneak back home. How this war will end,
-we’ve no idea—whether Achaea’s sons
-will go back home successful or will fail.
-You sit here, railing at Agamemnon,
-Atreus’ son, leader of his people,
-because Danaan heroes have given him
-so many gifts—but that’s a cheap insult.
-So I’ll tell you how things are going to be.
-If I find you being so foolish any more,
-then let Odysseus’ head no longer stay
-upon his shoulders, let him no longer
-be called the father of Telemachus,
-if I don’t grab you, rip off all your clothes,
-cloak and tunic, down to your cock and balls,
-and beat you back to the fast ships in tears,
-whipping you in shame from our assembly.”
-Saying this, Odysseus lashed out with the sceptre,
+[265] So spake Odysseus, and with his staff smote his back and shoulders; and **Thersites** cowered down, and a big tear fell from him, and a bloody weal rose up on his back beneath the staff of gold. Then he sate him down, and fear came upon him, and stung by pain with helpless looks he wiped away the tear. But the Achaeans, sore vexed at heart though they were, broke into a merry laugh at him, and thus would one speak with a glance at his neighbour: “Out upon it! verily hath Odysseus ere now wrought good deeds without number as leader in good counsel and setting battle in army, but now is this deed far the best that he hath wrought among the Argives, seeing he hath made this scurrilous babbler to cease from his prating. Never again, I ween, will his proud spirit henceforth set him on to rail at kings with words of reviling.”
-hitting **Thersites** hard across his back and shoulders.
-He doubled up in pain, shedding many tears.
-In the middle of **Thersites**’ back sprang up
-bloody welts beneath the golden sceptre.
-He sat down, afraid and hurt, peering around,
-like an idiot, and rubbing away his tears.
-The soldiers, though discontent, laughed uproariously,
-saying to one another:
-“Comrades,
-before now Odysseus has done good things
-thinking up fine plans and leading us in war.
-But that’s the best thing he’s done by far
-to help the Argives, shutting up that rabble-rouser.
-**Thersites**’ bold spirit won’t urge him on
-to trash our kings again with his abuse.”
 \\
-[[http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/iliad2.htm|Source]]</blockquote>
+\\
+Source: Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Murray, A T. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1924. </blockquote>
-<blockquote>[Athena] dressed [Odysseus] in different clothes—a ragged cloak,
+===== Homer, Odyssey Book 13.429-end =====
-a dirty tunic, ripped and disheveled, stained
-with stinking smoke.  Then she threw around him
+<blockquote>[429] So saying, Athena touched him with her wand. She withered the fair flesh on his supple limbs, and destroyed the flaxen hair from off his head, and about all his limbs she put the skin of an aged old man. And she dimmed his two eyes that were before so beautiful, and clothed him in other raiment, a vile ragged cloak and a tunic, tattered garments and foul, begrimed with filthy smoke. And about him she cast the great skin of a swift hind, stripped of the hair, and she gave him a staff, and a miserable wallet, full of holes, slung by a twisted cord. So when the two had thus taken counsel together, they parted; and thereupon the goddess went to goodly Lacedaemon to fetch the son of Odysseus.
-a large hairless hide from a swift deer and gave him
+\\
-a staff and a tattered leather pouch, full of holes
-and with a twisted strap.
 \\
-[[http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Texts/Odyssey/Odyssey13.html|Source]]</blockquote>
+Source: Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Murray, A T. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1919. </blockquote>