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"Antinoos," answered Telemakhos,
"I cannot eat in peace, nor take pleasure of any kind with such men
as you are. Was it not enough that you should waste so much good
property of mine while I was yet a boy? Now that I am older and know
more about it, I am also stronger, and whether here among this people
[dêmos], or by going to Pylos, I will do you all
the harm I can. I shall go, and my going will not be in vain though,
thanks to you suitors, I have neither ship nor crew of my own, and
must be passenger not leader."
As he spoke he snatched his hand
from that of Antinoos. Meanwhile the others went on getting dinner
ready about the buildings, jeering at him tauntingly as they did
so.
"Telemakhos," said one youngster,
"means to be the death of us; I suppose he thinks he can bring
friends to help him from Pylos, or again from Sparta, where he seems
bent on going. Or will he go to Ephyra as well, for poison to put in
our wine and kill us?"
Another said, "Perhaps if
Telemakhos goes on board ship, he will be like his father and perish
far from his friends. In this case we should have plenty to do, for
we could then divide up his property amongst us: as for the house we
can let his mother and the man who marries her have that."
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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