BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 9999 06574 71
 UDYSSEY

Literary Lights

for Children 2011

Presented by the
Associates of the Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library —Bates Reading Room

Copley Square. Boston
Sunday, September 25. 2011

Books generously donated by the publisher

w w w. Tli e A ssocialcs.org
A GRAPHIC NOVEL BY Gareth Hinds

e
Candlewick Press
 Book 1 — Itlriaca an dol ympus

Sing to me, O Muse, of tbat man

of many troubles, Odysseus, skilled

in all ways of contending, wbo

wandered far after be helped sack tbe

great city of Troy. Sing tbrougb me,

and tell tbe story of bis suffering, bis

trials and adventures, and bis bloody
bomecoming.
2
 hese mo ove
ame heir sorrow?

Hut they cause most

of their own troubles!

Look at Aegisthus,

hilling King
Agamemnon atter

we warned him not to

What did he expect?

It’s true, Father. He was

justly slain by young Orestes
But w hat of that great man
Odysseus? Does he deserve
to 1 ive out his days trapped

and groaning on the island

of Ogygia, far from home,
held there by the nymph
Calypso? What do you have
him.

3
 My child, what strange remarks you
let escape your lips. Could I forget

that wily hero Odysseus? You know I

hear him no grudge — hut Poseidon

does, hates him for hlindin g k is son

Polypilemus the Cyclops.

But come now, let us take

up the matter of Odysseus’s
return. Poseidon must
relent; he cannot thwart the
will of a 11 the other gods.

O Father, if it now
please the blissful gods

that Odysseus should

reach his home again,

then let Hermes go

and tell Calypso to
send the hero home.

For my part, I’ll go

to Ithaca and see his

son
rouse the bo>
to resist that

ess suitors wl

is mo
consume his wine
cattle, feasting in
5
6
 I hope it won’t offend you if I speak But tell me, sir: Who are you?

frankly. It’s easy for these men Where are you from, and what
when brings you to Ithaca?
to be lighthearted

they feast on tbe goods

of another. A better
>
My name is Mentes,

man, too — my captain of tbe lapbians. I

fatb er. They’d b ave am an old friend o f Odys-

cause for grief if

seus. You must be bis son

be returned.

You knew my father? He left for tbe Your fatb er bad no equal for
Troj an War when I was only a baby. cunning, and few for strength
or s kill in battle.

^>h, I knew him.

I was at Troy
myself. We f ou gkt

together many
times, side by side,

against tbe best

men of Troy.

8
 I see the I wish I could
gods delay believe that. But

him. But its heen seventeen

come. years! He must
Never he dead, rotting
is great on some foreign
Odysseus shore, or his

dead. skeleton resting at

sea, picked clean hy
the fish.

Ok, no, not Odysseus. He’ll make it home. When my fatker didn t return from tke war, tkese
But tell me: wky do tkese dogs feast like lords of Itkaca and tke islands round akout came
in your fatker’s great kali, so greedy kere, seeking to marry my motker, so famed for
and arrog ant? ker wisdom and heauty. Ske refuses tkem, hut
tkey wdl not leave.

Ak, bitterly you need Odysseus, tken. But wky just wait? Get rid of tkese tkieves. Call

I wisk we saw kim standing armed and tke islanders to assembly! Invoke the gods; call on
kelmeted tkere in tke doorway, looking the suitors to disperse. Then take a good ship with
tke way ke did wken I first knew kim. twenty oars and go abroad for news of your lather.

Go to Pylos, home of
the wise king Nestor,
then to Menelaus at
Sparta — the red-

haired king, last of

all the Achaeans to

come home.

9
It you hear tysseus is alive, you can I must go now.
ko Id out ano ler year. Ori i ne’s (lead But remember
you can build a burial mound, burn his my words
gear, and give kim tke funeral konors
hero

10
—
12
13
 ounse

I here hasnt been an assembly called

since Odysseus left for 1 roy. Who ca
us together now?

rV 7 i W\K\ 1 ffn
VTv
V F'hk 1

\l Wvk.
Idjaj

I approve ot
your courage.
But why did
you bring us

14
 Ithacans, hear me. if a man
steals another man’s goods,
we ca 11 h im a thief and cut
off his hand. But there have
been a hundred suitors in my
house for seven long years now,
stealing our goats and ca ttle,
our fat sheep and our wine, to
feast themselves on whde they
pester my mother for her hand
in marriage. You all know this

is wrong, yet you let them get

away with it!

old words ame,

is your own mother who leads us on
oose a husband trom among us,

clever woman

!
I
i
if
jkl
mWM
1 m
v
£
l\Vv| k

Listen, I’ll

stretched a warp a eat our

oom ani ooses one o

shroud tor her husband s marry.
Laertes. She could not n value your
said, until she had comp
it would bring shame on
roui

e wove
oom
iy can
e wou unpic er wor

one
er mai

15
Antinoos, can I banish But if you are capable of shame, you should
against her will the mother my hall and take your dinners elsewhere.
leave

who hore me and took care Consume your own flocks, or you may face the
of me? Make an enemy of
her father, an db rin g tlae

Furies down on my
hea d? Never.

16
 Quiet Id man Not lit We fear no one, least of all you,

are omens an you on Telemacbus. if you want to be ritl

ma troubl or tb oy of us, tell your

you encourage im wi your motker to marry.

babbl mg

Eurymackus, I’ve made my

appeals, and now I’m done witl

arguing. But Itkacans, lend me

I

a fast skip and a crew of twent)

men to take me to sandy Pylos

tken to Sparta, to seek word

of my fatker. Mayke I will k ear
news of kim from tkose wko
were at Troy, if tkey can tell m
ke is dead, I'll raise a tomb for

bim, give kim funeral rites,

and tell my motker to take a

new kusband.

17
Hear me, Ithacans. Have you all forgotten the kindness and wisdom with
which Odysseus rul ed? Will you let his family suffer now? I fin d the

suitors less revolting — they

at least stake their lives when they pillage in

the house of Odysseus — hut what sickens me is to see all the rest of you
sitting hy, not a hand raised against them.

what if Odysseus did return? He Now let’s all go about our

couldn’t fight all these suitors; business. Mentor can help
he’d he killed, and never enjoy Tel emachus on his journey,
his homecoming! It’s madness to if in fact the hoy has the

talk of fighting in either case. heart to set out to sea.

Go on Lome and join the suitors,

hut gather up provisions, wine in

jars and harley meal— the staying

power of oarsmen — watertight in

hags. I’ll fi nd sailors to man

the oars.

It’s a rare son who

measures up to his
father, and only one
in a thousand is a

better man — hut you

have the heart and wit
to win through.

19
20
21
Book 3 — Pylos
t-

% '

22
23
 Agamemnon and Menelaus was calling fc
tor
Menelaus called a
the ships to sail homeward
meeting that night, immediately, hut Agamem-
when all were non wanted to stay and
drunk with wine offer hecatombs to honor
and hloody deeds. Athena. I he kings could
not agree, and all the men
went to hed angry.

In the morning, Menelaus an d half the fleet sai led off, myself
and Odysseus among them, while Agamemnon stayed to make
the sacrifice. But even among those who sai led, th ere was
disagreement, and at Odysseus’s urging, some of the ships
turned hack to make peace with Agamemnon.

I kept on, and Poseidon favored

me with a good wind, so that I

arrived home first, along wi th King

Diomedes o fArg os. 1 hus I know
nothing firsthand of the oth er
Argive captains, hut I wi 11 tell you

26
They say Achilles’

fierce Myrmidons
returned safely with
his son, Neoptolemus;
so too did Philoctetes,

idomenaus, and all

their followers.

No matter how far away

you live, you will have
heard the songs about
Agamemnon and his

gruesome death at the

hands o f Aegisth us. But

his son, Orestes, avenged
the murder, and proved
that the line of Atreus is

still strong.

The Achaeans applaud Orestes, and his name will Now that you remind me, I

live through all time, for he has avenged his father have heard that your mother
nohly. I wish that heaven might grant me such has many suitors, who are ill

vengeance on the insolent suitors of my mother, disposed toward you and are
who plot my ruin, hut the gods have no such making havoc of your estate.

happiness in store for me. Do you submit to this tamely,

or are the gods and islanders

all against you?

Who knows — Odysseus

may come hack after

all and repay these

scoundrels in full,

either single-handedly

or with a force of
Achaeans behind him.

27
 I wish he won Id. But I cannot
believe it will ever happen,
even if the gods willed

What foolish words,

Tel emachus! A god’s

will can save a man half

a world away. Besides,

suffering long years at

sea is better than getting

home quickly, only to find

a knife in your hack, as

Agamemnon did.

Well put, my friend. An d that’ s why you shouldn’t Good advice. Let’s slice

leave your house long in the hands of scoundrels. the hulls’ tongues, make
Nevertheless, before you sail home, I would advise our offerings, and he off
you to seek out Menelaus, the red-haired king, in his to our ship to rest.

palace at Sparta. He was the last o f all the Ach aeans

to return, and in his travels he may have heard
something more about your father.

Sail there tomorrow, or if

you 'd like, mi end you a

mariot to make the journey
by land, and one of my sons
dll go with you as a guide.

28
Well said, sir. Tel emachus

should do as you ash.

But I must go hack to
give orders and reassure
the crew. They’ re all as

young as Tel emachus here,

unused to the hardships of

sailing. Send Telemachus
on his way in a chariot

with swift horses, and one

of your sons for company.

My f riend, I have no fears for

you, if at such a young age you’re
so favored hy the gods. Why, that

can only have heen Athena, Zeus’s

gray-eyed daughter, who always
favored your father in battle!

O Lady, hear me: Grant fame

and good fortune to my wife
and sons. A nohle heifer, one
year old, that no man has ever
yoked or driven, will he yours
in sacrifice. I’ll sheath her
horns in gold and offer her
up to you.
Bool-; 4 — Sparta

30
31
 Look, Pisistratus — the gold, silver, and No man can rival Zeus,

precious stones, everything so richly for his palace and

wrought in hright-pohshed metal. Surely treasures are immortal.
this is what the palace of Zeus is like! But among mortal men,
few, if any, can hoast of
r~\r\ /-v vzii .hi
Tirn-i T

Still, I take little pleasure in it, for One man I miss above
while I was out at sea gathering these all others. He did more
treasures, my brother was slain in for our cause, suffered

his own palace — struck down hy his more on the sea than

wicked wife and her lover. any other, and we know

not whether he is alive

or dea d. He left only

ad come
sorrow for his wife,
ome with one ten
Penelope, and his young
son, felemachus.

32
 Do we know, Menelaus,
the names of these

guests? Shall I guess?

I may he wrong, hut
I must say I ve never
seen such a resem-
blance as this lad aas 1

to nohle Odysseus.

hmk so too, and just now

en I mentioned that great
man saw tears spring to
’s eyes.

Sir, you are right. I am Od ysseus s son.

Wise King Nestor advised me to come
here in hopes that you mig now
something of my fath er’s h

house an home. new

sure w aer is ever com
home or 1 buried

somewhere abroad

33
 So! rkese cowards would
usurp a kero’s bed? Ha! A
doe might as well leave her
newborn young in the 1 air of

a lion. When the lion comes

V'
V-
home, he will make short
wor k of th em But ! as for your

question, I will tell you truly

all that was revealed to me by
the Old Man of the Sea. . . .

I was returning from Troy by way of breeze stirred, and our provisions were
Egypt, and I stopped to make a sacrifice soon exhausted. The men would take
to the go ds. But my kecatomhs must books and spread out on tbe shore in
not have satisfied them, for one day out hope of catching fish while
,
I sat alone on
from Egypt, we were becalmed upon tke a rocky outcrop. Then a strange woman
island of Pkaros. For twenty days, not a Ted me.
approaci

34
Stranger, do you like You think I choose this? Some go
to starve? Why do you my ships here, and I cannot leave, new
sit here without food, whic h of the immortals I have o ff
instead of sailing away?

l can help you. I am

aughter of Proteus,
whom they c

Sea because
man

nows every inch ot the seabed and

all thath appens on the water or on

comp

But tell me, how can mortal omelan

men snare a god? That’s not
so easily done.

Listen, and do all as I tell you: PicL

of your hest men, stout of heart anc

will lead you to a certain cavern on e roc

35
36
He will transform into every
kind of animal that walks After that, Eidotlaea

the earth, and to fire and jumped into the sea

water too, hut you must and vanished beneath

squeeze him tighter and the waves. We did

tighter until he returns to all as she said, and

his original form. Then you cau ght the Old M an
may release him and ash of the Sea unawares.

him all your questions.

37
Back to Egypt?!

Very well, old man, I’ll

do as you say. But tell me

now: kave all tke Acl laean
keroes returned safely to
tkeir komes from Troy, or

did any come to a kad end

upon tke seaways?

38
 Ajax was wrecked. Poseidon
drove his ship upon the
rocks of Gyrae. He pulled

himself from the sea, and

might still have survived,
hut he boasted that even the
gods couldn’t drown him.
Poseidon heard this and split

the ledge he was standing on

so that he fell h ack into the
hrine and perished.

Your brother, Agamemnon, was blown His wife had taken a lover,

off course, hut he reached his native Aegisthus; he posted a man to

soil again safely, or so it seemed. watch for Agamemnon’s ships

and laid the king a hloody
amhush in his own hall.

wTv\

39
 lake comfort, tor your nephew
lie mid :ie welcome
Orestes tool? revenge and killed
:nis s men sprang out and slaugh
Aegisthus. if you sail quickly, you
tered your brother and his men. I hey
may arrive in time for tke funeral
fougkt well, kut all went down to deatk

Tke tliird man is Odysseus of

Itkaca. I kave seen kim on an
island, deep in sorrow, trapped in
tke caves of tke nympk Calypso.
/0 >, Ske keeps kim tkere for ker

pleasure, and ke kas no means of

escape, no skip or crew to take

kim kome.

40
“But no such fate awaits you,” he
said. “As the husband of Helen,
Zeus holds you as his son-in-law.
You will not die upon the earth
hut fi nd your ease in the Elysian
Fields, where eternal summer
breezes wa ft all cares away.”

So said the Old M an of

the Sea. I did all that he

instructed, an dth e winds

brought me swiftly home.

Now you must stay with me and he my

guests for ten or twelve days more. Then
I’ll send you home with rich gifts: a fine

chariot, horses, hammered cup, so

and a

that you may remember me whenever you Son of Atreus, I must

tip out the wine in your hall. return to my comrades
at Pylos. They’ve
waited long enough
for me already. As
for your gift, give me
something small that
I can carry home with
me. I can’t take horses

on my ship, and Ithaca

has no grassy plains to
run them in.

Very well, then, you shall have

the loveliest and most precious
treasure in my storerooms:
a mixing howl wrought in
silver and gold by Hephaestus
himself. It me by
was given to
the king of Sidon during my
journey hack f rom Troy. This
shall he my gift to you, that you
may remember me whenever
you feast in your hall at home.

41
 |

Antinoos, Jo you know wken

Telemachus is returning from
Pylos? He took my skip, anJ
I kappen to neeJ it for an

erranJ to Elis.

42

1
That insolent pup! When did he Why should I refuse a young man
leave, and who went with him? of his standing, with so much
And f or that matter, why did trouble on his mind? He ashed to

you give him your ship'' borrow my ship, and I lent it to

As for his crew, they’re the best

young men of the island, except for

us, of course. And Mentor went with

him too. Or at least I thou ght I saw
him hoard the ship that night, hut

two days later I passed him in the

street in broad daylight.

news, lads! We th ou ght

emachus would never

the voyage, and here
s carried it off beneath

our noses! T hat hoy is going

to give us trouble.

Quick, get me
a swift ship and
twenty men.
We ll catch him
in the straits

between Ithaca
an d the bluffs of
Same and sink

his ambitions.
I key are worse
tkan you know.
Itk ink tkey are
plannin g to kill

your son on kis

way kack from
Pylos.

44
45
46
Book 5 — Ogygia

47
Hermes, welcome, lo tell the truth, I’ve

What brings you heen sent here to order

to my island? you to release Odysseus.

48
You cruel, jealous gods! You never s no use
allow a goddess to 1 ove a mortal arguing
man. When rose-fingered Dawn fell \v i

in love with Orion, Artemis struck \\' 1

him down with her arrows. wh en Zeus.

Demeter lay with Iasion, Zeus
smote him with a lightning holt.

And now you will take my

lover away, even thou gh I

saved him from drowning,

nursed him to health, offered
him immortality . . . !

49
^Jh, toriorn man,
stop your tears. I am
ready to let you go.
Come, put your skill to use. Take
up tools, fell some tall trees for

mker, and kui Id yourself a sturdy

raft, strong enou gk to witkstand
tke ocean waves, i ll give you

^ stores of food and drink

d tell you kow to
reach your ome,
rest wil appen as

50
Set me free at last? Brave tlie
What a devil you are always
ocean on a ra ft?Og oddess,
so suspicious! Very well, I swear.
what mischief do you have in
Let Earth he my witness, with the
mind? I’ll never put to sea in
hroad Shy above and the darh
such a craft — unless you were waters of Styx helow: I will never
to swear me an oath to help
plot against you, and I’ll do all in
and not to hinder me with
my power to help you.
your magic or mahe any plot

against me!
Son of Laertes, are you it you had any idea ot th You d even give tip

really so determined to trials still in store for yo wife you pine for. 1 now
leave me and return to you would gladly stay wi she cann
your beloved Itliaca? ecome immor and or she is a mor
enjoy a

Now, don’t be angry, Calypso. Of

course no mortal woman can rival a

goddess for beauty of face an df orm.

My Penelope must age and die,

while you have unfading youth.

52
e gods wreck me again,

ore. Let it come,

53
 ^0-

s/

54
 ;\M\
^ $
r H
1 l r

55
56
57
58
59
We ll see

about tbat!

60
61
62
63
Here, take my veil and wind it around your
waist. It will protect you. When you reach
the shore, toss it hack into the sea.

ft\
%M \ , j i

1/ $
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
hank you, goddess
ou brought me
hrougk alive —
but you cannot
protect me from
freezing if I stay on
hroui

72
 Book 6 — Pliaeacia

i s ./

5 .
a 'kkf

73
orward in
condition

74
-

Tell me: are you a goddess or a

Yesterday the storm
mortal maiden? I’ve never seen a wrecked me and left
girl so fair as you. You seem like
me stranded upon
Artemis, great Zeus’s daughter. I’m this sh ore. I pray you,
afraid to hold your knees and heg take pity on me. Tell
you for mercy — yet my plight is
me where I am, and
desperate. give me some scrap of

clothing to wear, and

I’ve heen on the
in return, may the
sea twenty days,
gods grant you all
riding the great
that you desire.
swells through
gale winds, to

escape the island

of Ogygia.

Strang er, I can tell My name is Nausicaa. We

your words that you are the Phaeacians, and
are neither a fool nor this is our island, which is
C .1 tr.
a rasca 1. if the gods
wish you to suffer,
there is nothing to
he done hut endure
it — hut here on this

island, you will not

lack for hospitality.

75
Come Lack, cowardly Let me wash
maids! Remember that myself, princess.

all beggars are sent by m embarrassed to

Zeus. Let’s feed this let any high-born

man, bathe him in the women touch my

river, and give him a wrinkled skin and

clean, dry tunic and salt-caked hair.

cloak to wear.

I'll lead you partway, but when we approack

the town, you must wait — if you followed

76
Just go straight across the

causeway, enter the palace, and

go into the great hall. Looh for

my mother, sitting hesi de the

king, weaving hy the light of

the hearth fire. She’s th e one

you should approach — speah

fairly and ask her mercy. Once
you have her sympathy, you
can he sure that you will soon
see your home again.

ear my prayer.

ome.

77
Bool-e 7 — Kin£ Al cinoos

78
79
Nokle queen, kear my plea! Skow your great

generosity. A more piteous man you kave never

seen tkan I wko kneel kefore you now. Years of
troukles, countless keartackes I’ve endured upon
tke sea, and now I’m wrecked upon your skore.
All I want is to see my komeland again
family and my kigk-roofed kali.

80
 Fear no more. Our snips Stranger, it’s true. I will

and our sailors have no command a ship to he

equal among mortals, readied tomorrow, hut

and they will speed first, enjoy our hospital-

you safely home ity. Join our feast, and

across the sea. when you have eaten,

you can tell us your

name and where you

And where you got those O great king and queen, you are matchless in your generosity,
clothes, for I’d swear I myself heauty, and wisdom. May the gods hless you always with health,
wove that cloak for my son. Ion g life, and happiness for all your children — especially your

lovely daughter, Nausicaa. It was she I first encountered on this

island, and when I hegged

for her help, she gave me
these clothes and helped
me find your palace.

She would have brought

me here herself, hut
the wise girl knew that

tongues would wa£.

81
As tor the rest ot Friends, our guest is tired. Let’s go
my story, it is long to Led. 1 omorrow we will ready a
ave
and weary, painful and 11 feast f<
my servants
for me even to ancing, an
prepare a
Led for you.

82
Bool? 8 — Games

Phaeacians! This stranger was wrecked on our

island and came to me seeking help. We will

take him home, hut first, let’s show him that we

excel not only in shiphuildin g hut al so in sports,

games, dancing . . . and celebrating!

83
Friend, you look like
a sporting man; look
at tkose tkigks, tkose

kan ds! Would you

care to join in, try
your strength?

Tkose are foolisk

words, my friend.

A man may look

lik e nothing muck,
hut he gifted ky
the gods in song,
or strategy — who
knows? As for

84
85
Ancl I 11 throw another just as far, or farther, Peace, now. Rest easy, stranger. I don’t
if you lihe. For that matter, if anyone here hlame you for your anger; Euryalus
cares to test his strength in wrestling or spoke like a fool, and you’ve shown
hoxing, I’ll hnock him clown. him up. It’s time to put aside these
contests and show
you wnax
hat w
else we’re
eise

famous for

86
King Alcinoos, you bragged of btranger, your manners are godlike. Lome,
your young men’s dancing, and princes and nobles! Let’s send our new
you were right to do so. They are friend borne witb ricb gifts to amaze bis

magnificent! countrymen. Bring tbem to my kali, and

we ll bave a farewell feast. ^

1 /
"I

*
\V, | vL
.
) id
i « /
k \ y
\' :W j
1

I was wrong to taunt you, stranger, an

sorry. Please accept my apology, an dt

tbis sword, of bronze and silver, witb <

ivory s remember my rien

Well spok en, Euryalus.

I return your friend-
ship and wish the gods
blessings on you. May
you never bave need
ms sword

87
 — '»

Demodocus, your skill is divine!

lit comes trom the Wken you kave eaten your fill, I

we skould konor it. pray you, sin; or us again.

88
 Tell me now, f rien
is son: and hold nc
to our guest, hack:What i

name ?wh I

rom
o you weep
at these

comrai

Alcmoos, it pams me to tell my

story. But it seems you must pry into son
it, intensify my grief. Where s hall I
whole world knows o
start, for the account of my troubles my stratagems, and
is long. I suppose I should begin by my fame has risen
telling you my name. s\ to the h eavens. My
home is under the

INow, I will tell you

of the misfortunes
that Zeus has sent

me during my long
voyage home from

89
 Bool? 9 — Odysseus’s Story Begfiins

The same wind that launched me m .-

./" -

i We sacked their rich city

from the beaches of windy ilium, for plunder, dividing the

after Troy’s fall, hlew my

ships to the land of the Cicones.
fleet of
4^
i

1
i®
,

'

, 1
J
.

r
,
.

.
'

>-***,
>-
r
>
*
V
.
./
\
MMtTBD
. ,

tvdfh
- riches so each

his proper share.

man had

'iT-MV-i-L'

.en I comman ded the men to While 1 argued with them and
board our ships and sail tor home, they loitered, ignoring me,
hut they resisted. They wanted those Cicones who had escape
to stay and drin kf rom the great the city went quickly to their
casks of wine, gorge themselves nei ghh ors and gathered up an
on plundered delicacies. army to take revenge on us.

90
They attached with a force

so numerous, they were like

the leaves in autumn. They

drove us hac k to our ships,
and I feared we might meet
our end there. But we held
them o ff long enou gh to

launch our fleet and escape,

though we lost six men
from each ship’s crew.

We mourned the loss of our comrades, We sighted land and found

hut we made good speed and would have a good harhor with fresh
reached Ithaca soon enough, except that water. I sent a group of
a north wind stirred up hy Zeus pushed men out to see if any sort
us off course, and we found ourselves in of people inhabited this
unknown waters. sunny shore.

91
 But they didn’t come
hack. You see, this was
the land of the Lotus
Eaters. I hey made my
men friendly offers of

the fruit from the lotus

plant, which made them

forget all their cares,

forget their homes too,

and want nothing more

When I saw what had happened,

I was dismayed, an d I had to
drag them forcibly hac k to the
ships, ordering my other men
to tie them beneath the benches
ann mn? i

92
In the morning, we saw that As we ate, we eyed the rocky
we were on a small hut lush shore that stood across a nar-
island, with wild goats jumping row channel from us, and saw
amon g the rocks and a fresh cooking fires and other signs
stream running down the hill. of habitation. I determine d to
We had soon brought down go and see what sort of people
enough game for a fine feast, lived there, and ordered my ship
accompanied hy the wine we readied w bile the rest of the fleet
had taken from the Cicones. stayed securely in the harbor.

93
 7

As we approached., we saw a
great cave near the shore, with

sheep-pens surrounding it.

Something made me uneasy,

so I picked twelve of my hest

fighters, armed myself well,

an dhy some inspiration,

brought with me a cask of our

hest and strongest wine.

We tound tl

deserted an
explored it.

< yj sJrWt
s/jsF w i

i /dr
L ¥1

It was huge inside. Some of my men wanted to

Part o fit was steal the fine cheeses and return

divided into pens, swiftly to the ship, hut I was
which were filled curious to meet the owner o fth is
wi thl amhs and kids. cave, see ifh e would o ffer his

There was a great hospitality. It would have been

fire-pit and an array better if I had listened to them.
of pails and baskets
for making cheese.

* m

94
boon enougn we saw wh en he had them inside,
1 m le returned to tl he picked up a massive
cave er mg oc stone slah that was lying
eep an rams hy the entrance an d slid it

easily across the opening.

His strength an dh ulk terrified

us, so that we cringed in the

shadows as one hy one he milked

his fat ewes, curdling some of the

milk for cheese and leaving two

great pails to drin kf rom.

(
h

. .
fm!
v\ .
v •
' * J

When In- had pul a I

mm im the sheep in their

%'t / ’
It pens, each suckling
|
/>
dam, he
1

Sirpv under its lit

a fire and suddenly

spied us.

95
Sir, we are travelers from
afar who chanced upon
your shore and found you
cave. We humbly beg you
hospitality. Remember

that guests are under the

protection of Zeus.

96
 .

Wkat skip k rougkt you kere?

Wkere is it anckore d? A re
ere more o you

our s linterecl

upon we swam
our comra'
rowne'

wm
mm

# .

97
98
In the morning, the cyclops hilled two more men I racked my hrain for a plan

for his break fast, then drove his sheep outside and wou Id et us escape

replaced the stone across the entrance as easily as a alive from re lute les

man might cap a quiver of arrows. that hrute anc 11s was
seeme hest to me

ere was a massive star! o

wood lying m the cave, an-

this down to a sharp point

le cave. 1 picked tour

men to help me wielc

Once again I had to stand hy and watch

as he killed two more of my men to make
inner hen he had devoure hem
approache

99
100
101
Deeper!
Twist!

103
Well, then, if nobody’s in there,
you must he sick. There’s nothing
to he done about that except pray
r ,1 • 1

104
105
Now I cast akout for a way to hem
slip past Kim, and my eye fell one o
on tke great, fleecy rams. my men s

them ail tor myselt, ant

digging my fingers into

Kis tkick wool, I swung

beneath t Kelly and
waited as e young
Dawn’s fi ers toucked
tke eastern sk

Tke animals were jostling and kleating to go out into

tkeir pasture, kut Polypkemus care fully ran kis kands
over eack one’s kack kefore ke let it out. He couldn’t
feel my men, tkou gk, sk ielded as tkey were.
Old friend, why are Is it because you grieve
you last of all? You for my eye, put out by
always lead the way. that accursed Nobody
after be got me drunk?
Ob, if only you bad
Le power or speec
and could tell me
where he's biding, i d
smash bis brains out!

107
108
 I he splash raised a swell that
drove our ship almost hach to tlae

shore. My men rowed furiously,

keeping silent now, until we were

twice as far away. Then, ignoring
their desperate pleas, I called

hack to the cyclops again.

Cyclops, if anyone asks who put

out your eye, tell them it was
Odysseus of Ithaca!

Ok, no, tke old

C
,
r*- <r ,
£
.

propkecy kas come

true! I was told
Od^lysseus wou Id rok
me of my si gkt, kut
I akLways expected
some giant of a

man, not a puny

trickster like you!

109
 But I am Poseidon's Po seidon, earth-shaker, god of
son, and he will the sahle locks, if I am indeed
hear my prayer: .your son, grant me revenge on
Odysseus of Ithaca! Let him
never reach his home, or if the
other gods decree that he must,
let him come late, after long suf-
fering, with all of his comrades
dead, and let him find trouble

waiting for him at home!

So he prayed, and the god heard him. Then

he seized another houlder, even bigger than
before, and hurled it after us. But this time it

landed behind our ship, and the wave pushed

us swiftly forward until we came to the little

island where our comrades were waiting.

'

/ ^

V/
i

y? /Oo '

? /
' -

/ ) r

110
 Bool? 10 Aeolus and Circe

is, we discovered, was He had twelve perfect sons and dau ght ers,
us, whom the whom he had married to each other, and
e winds they lived at ease within their hronze
palace, feasting all day long. Aeolus
welcomed me to th eir feast, and when I

departed, he gave me a godly gift.

Ill
He captured the winds an dh oun dth em I stayed up for nine days without a
up in a great hag made from the hide of rest, manning the helm myself, for I

a full-grown ox, sealing the nec k tight was determined that nothing would
with wire so nothing could escape. But stop me reaching home now.
he left the west wind free to blow us
straight on our course for home.

We sighted land — Ithaca! I thought my They took it into their heads that the

troubles were over, and I left the helm to hag Aeolus gave me must contain gold
sit and rest my legs. But sleep overcame and riches, which I planned to keep all

me, and as soon as my eyes were closed, for myself. The fools! Mad with jealousy,
mischief erupted among my crew. they decided to open the hag and see.
 In my grief I thought that I should
cast myself overboard and drown,
rather than suffer such tragedy. But
my spirit held me, made me cling to

the rail and endure it all.

The winds, unleashed,

battered our ship and blew
us, wailing, hack from our
homes, all the way hack
across the sea to Aeolia.
 What, Od How can this he? I sent you

hack again on your way with all you

needed to reach your home!

Sir, my crew betrayed me. Tf ey opene

the hag and released the wm
you, great king, save me again
have the power to d o it easily.

Pitiful man. The gods must truly So we sailed on, cursing our fate. Six

despise you, and I will not go days we rowed, and on the seventh we
against their will. Leave my hall came to a shore of tall cliffs encircling
and never return! aim natural harhor.

114
My captains all sai led in, but I climbed to tbe top of
some instinct warned me to tbe cliff and saw smoke
moor my skip outside tbe cliffs, rising in tbe distance.

tying ber fast to tbe rocks.

f / y
Two of my men volunteered i bey bad not gone far wben tbey met a great,
to go and see wbat manner strapping young woman. Sbe brou gbt tb em
-
of people lived there. to tbe ball of ber parents, wbo were king and
queen of these people, tbe Laestrygomans.
-h
r
:
- .S
'
-4

115
116
So we sailed on, mourning We were all afraid to explore, LI

our comrades, and we came to after our experiences with

another island, where we moored the cyclops and the
our ship and took on water. Laestrygonians. However,
our food supply was get-
ting low, so I strapped on
my sword, took hold of my
hronze spear, and ignoring
my crew’s protestations, I

set off to find some game.

118
wk en I told tke men tkat tke island

looked inkakited, tkey groaned,

kut I quickly divided tkem into two

Lands, one led ky myself, tke otker

ky my captain, Eurylockus.

We cast lots f rom a kelmet, and

Eurylockus’s lot came krst, so ke
an dk is Land set off grimly to see
wLo migLt live kere.

119
They aeard
1 a beautiful

voice singing within.

Drawn hy her song, my
men went to the door

an dh ailed her, and

she came out at once
to greet them — the
bewitching queen Circe.
 Eurylochus returned, raving about tbe
men being transformed. His story was
bard to believe, but it made me burn with
curios ity. Tb ou gb tbe men wanted to put

to sea at once and escape, I made up my

min d to see wbat bad happened to my
comrades — and rescue tbem 1 f I could!

P-Vp.

Oreat Odysseus.
Looking for
trouble again?

U — ...

121
Let me give you some This island belongs if you would seek her
friendly advice, then. to Circe, a powerful out, then take this herb

immortal. She has with you. Chew it up

enslaved your men hy and swallow it, and it

magic. will protect you from

When her magic tails, she will try t

seduce you. Threaten her with youi

sword — make her swear never to

harm you, and to release your men

1 hen you can lie s

bed and enjoy the

delights of the isla

long as you please.

123
Just as Hermes had said, she tried

to seduce me, hut I made her

swear hy all the gods not to harm
me, and to release my men.

( t\(// ,
' V ' <• •

'

/ r,-v ,
!>//(

124
 ZLU1
So we stayed, savoring all these Then some of my men urged me to resume the
pleasures, while elsewhere the voyage home, and I knew that they were ri ght.

seasons turned and a full year

125
I will not hold you hac h. But No ship can sail to the Land
if you wish to reach your home of the Dead, nor can living

safely, you must have the advice men return from that shore!

of the great seer Tiresias.

Do not fear. Remember, I have

sworn an eternal oa th to you.
Yes, you must journey It is neither so far nor so hard as
to Erehus, the Land you think, and I wi 11 tell you how
of the D ea d, to to make the journey. Go now,
consult him. and gather up your men. I will

provision the ship for you.

 Bool? 11 — Tl ie Land of the Dead

“Just spread your sail,” Circe told me,

”an dth e north wind will carry you
directly to the klack shore.”
mB.

"Beach your ship and go inland,

looking for the lake where the river
of fi re an dth river of tears meet.”
 “The spirits o ftl le dead will

soon appear, drawn hy the

smell of hlood. Have your men
quickly hurn the carcasses in
sacrifice to the twelve gods,

while you draw your sword and

stand over the trench.
You may see spirits you know,
hut let none touch the hlood
until Tiresias appears. Question
him about your journey, and he
will tell you everything.”

Cipenor: now did

get here? You were
with us yesterday! am

roui

more swi

I had drunk too much and gone to sleep Capt am, I know you must go hack that way

on Circe’s roof, in the fresh night air. I was again, and I — hy the love you hear me
pray you
roused hy the sounds of the men marching and the long years we served together — hurn
out to the ship, hut in my confusion I my hod y, raise a monument of stones for
missed the ladder and fell headlong, me, and plant atop it the long oar I

snapping my neck. pulled in life.

128
I promised him, and his spirit faded hack into
the darkness. But then came another shade I

knew too well: Anticleia, my own hel oved mother,

who had still 1 ived when I sailed for 1 roy.

You come to me Yes, great sage.

for prophecy and Tell me what

advice. You want you see. How
to know how you can I complete
can return home to the journey?
your beloved island
o f Ith aca.

129
 ,

can only reach your home by out it you allow your men to kill an
isciphmng yourse your men of Hel ios’s cattle, then your ship am
crew will he destroyed, and you will
Heed my words. You must not suffer more long years at sea. You’ll
toucli the ca ttl e of Helios, the return at last, hut under a strange
sun god, who sees all! If you sail, unrecognized at home,
\ leave those sacred heasts your palace overrun by
i
\ unharmed, your ship and nies — suitors who seel;

|h all your crew will read

\ Ithaca safely.

L.

i.u- .Yd
1

S, iA‘v
3^ \ ,

‘t,

There you must plant

these men, whether in your oar and make a

open comhat or hy stealth rich sacrifice to Lord

and put your house in Poseidon a ram, a
order, you must take your
oar with you and travel oar

inland until you reach a or putting

cou ere men know his son

rolyphemus. 1 1

know you ve return home am

reached the place when
a stranger asks you whai
is on your shoulder and
thinks it a flail or some come upon you peace
tool for threshing gram age, with your
ove< ones aroun

130
Your words mix the
hitter and the sweet.
But tell me this too: I

think I see my mother

there, shadowy and
insubstantial. Is she

really among the dead,

or do my eyes play

tricks in this place?

Can I speak with her?

My son, my son. Are you

jli k •

still at sea? Have you not

set foot on your native
1--^ f
Ithaca or
comforted
your wife?

No. Is she well, Mother? Is my Your son is well, stout and

son well? And what of my father, strong of limb and mind.
your husband, Laertes? Your wife pines for you,
v soaking the floors with
salt tears. So does your
father; he has exiled
himself to the hills,

where he sleeps with

the shepherds.

131
And you, Mottier I too pined away, waiting for
How did you your return, until in my grief

I tool? my own life.

Iphimedeia, who bore

Alcmene, Epicaste, who
the twin giants Otus and
mother of unwittingly married
My mother’s the mighty her son Oed ipus.
Eph laltes, so strong they

shade faded away, challenged the gods of

Heracl es.
and through Olympus.
my tears I saw a
crowd of famous
ladies approach. I

let them taste the

blood one by one

and as bed th em

who they were.

ousan< ^Jdysseus, my triend, look around

name em wou you. You h old us spellbound. It’s

more. not yet midnight, and we all want

to bear the rest. Go on; sleep
>ut come, Alcinoos, great
will wait. Tell me, did you see the
:ing. You must all he weary
ghosts of any heroes, your famous
f my long tale by now.
comrades at Troy?

f
 I did. First of them to approach was the high k ing,
•
Then came the greatest
Agamemnon. He related the story, so familiar now to all
Achaean hero of all: Achilles.
the world, of the treachery his wife had planned for him
when he returned to Mycenae. His good advice to me:

*
'

O great Achilles, Flattering words as always,

fortunate you arc Odysseus, hut spare me your
even amoa praise of death. You don’t know
w hat it s like on this side. I’d

rather he plowing a furrow, or the

lowest servant in some peasant
king’s employ, than a lord among
these empty souls.

But since you are still among the

living, tell me of my son. Did he
prove himself in the war, uphold
the line of Peleus?

When we waited in the

wooden horse, he alone

moved not a muscle,

never grew pale or

showed the whites of
his eyes, hut gripped

his spear and silently

implored me to open
the door and command
the attack.

133
he sailed away
wi th tl le Myrmi
ons, his

unmar

Now I saw past th I saw King Minos, sitting in judgment over

gathering of dead damned. I saw the great hunter Orion, and
men and into the torments of 1 ityos, Sysiphus, and Tantalus,
depths o f Had es.

I saw the mighty Hercules tower

mg over all. It must have heen
a vision, for his soul feasts with

the gods on Olympus.

(I

I wished to see still

farther, to meet I heseus

and other heroes of
ancient days. But the
gath ered spirits began
a shrill keening and
pressed in on all sides,

and a sudden terror

seized me. I called to my
men, and we broke and
fled for the ship.

134
 Bool? 1 2 — Scylla an cl Chary bd is

We returned to Aeaea
1 he next morning
iurne<
sent us on our way.
penor.
provisions an
OWlll:

'he also warne^

angers that 1 a ' on our route.

mtorme e crew o
one,

come near

song lures sai

j
certain doom

135
 ^

tf-
- JT

stem rl |

v ,
'
~
~ - -

— ft

“After you pass the sirens, you will have to Steer well clear of this, for no ship that
make a choice. You will come in si ght of approaches can avoid being wrecked. Even
an unbroken line of jagged cliffs, where birds who try to pass that way are caught
the sea rages and hoils on sharp rocks. in down drafts and perish in the spray.”

137
 :

Tu lling hard to clear those rocks, you will have to go

between a steep, mist-shrouded mountain and a headland,
o n the headland you will see an olive tree growing, and
helow it the sucking mouth called Charyhdis. Three times
each day the sea is swallowed down into this pit, and then
vomited forth in a steaming geyser.”

“if you go that way, your ship will

surely he pulled down and broken

to splinters — so stay close to the

mountain, even though it too is

home to a horror.

“Scylla she is called, the six-headed

monster who lives in a cave high up
on that rocky cliff, ah ove the reach
of the strongest bowshot. But her
long necks can reach down a 11 the

way to the sea to snap up dolphins,

seals, and fish who swim helow.”

“She’ll snatch “Tell me, Circe: How can I kill this Scylla, and

away six of your save my men? Surely sshe h as a weakness

men, one in each

mouth, hut if “Stubb orn old campaigner,

you row hard, the put that idea out of your
rest of you will min d. She is too terrible
escape with your by far. if you stop to fight,

ship intact.” she will take six more.

No, tell your men to row
for their lives. That is

your only chance.”

138
139
 Row! Row for

140
141
 wmmm he island
hrinacia, where
s ;5
he sun go
keeps his divine
cattle, tended by two
immortal nymphs.”

Kemember 1 iresias s won

clear of that island, and 1

remem.

en we came
sunny

meadows and bubbling

streams, my exhausted
men clamored to land.

They were mutinous, an< Just as we beached our ship,

wou a storm blew up. This cursed

hey wou win dbl ew continuously by
provisions iven us an day and nigbt for thirty days,

trapping us on the island.

142
 As long as Circe’s food and wine keld out, tke I prayed to all tke god s of Olympus,
men were content. But wken at last it was gone, kut tkeir answer was to close my eyes

and starvation kegan to wrack tkeir kodies, all witk an accursed sleep, wkile down
eyes turned toward tkose magnificent ca ttle. on tke skore Eurylockus katcked a

fateful plan.
I reminded tkem of tkeir oatk, tken went to
climk tke kigkest peak and ask tke gods for kelp.

fa *<<<

Comrades, kear me! All men fear deatk, kut tke worst deatk of

all is starvation. It is repugnant, painful, and slow. We skould

not die pitifully on tkis keack, witk tkese fat, majestic cattle so
near at kand. We ll make sacrikces to tke Sun God, promise
im ran tempi on aca an

stroy us m stead at least we own kt in

143
 crue

P V

I returned to the ship, racking my

hrain for a way to set things ri gkt,

hut it was no use.

lfwy {

rjSjf’ V-}\l wi\

/

144
 I knew we were doomed,
and soon fearful omens
confirmed it.

s#e*3at>'
'
\r\
Tke kides kegan to crawl,
'•v>&. |n
:

and tke meat on tke spits to Vk

'
>dJ
L J&ur

kellow like a kerd of oxen. q kf

^f i

Tk e wind turned, and we

launc ked our skip once more
onto tke wine-dark sea.

No sooner was tke island out

of sigkt kekind us tkan giant

tkunderkeads kegan to mass

overkead, and tke sun was
klotted out.

-MrS VZ+iJa

# * .. •. ..'V ;

W'^.. '
V- ..

145
 In a moment, squalls hit us
from the west, so powerful that

the mast snapped and crashed

down in the stern, hilling the

helmsman instantly.

of the mast floated hy,

I was able to pull it in

an dh ind it fast.

146
147
148
For Fours I clung to that trunk, unahle to reac
the firm ground or even get a good foothold,
while Charyhdis gulped the ocean down.

149
 tor nine days

e gods cast me

ome o e nymp

Tkere I was stranded rieni

for seven long years. we ve kept you here long enough. 1 he ship is

Calypso wanted to keep ready. Come, princes, let’s go and stow nokle
me tkere forever, make Odysseus’s goods keneatk tke kenckes, pile up
me immortal —
kut I rugs so ke may rest in tke kow.

wept every day for my

kome, and at last ske ome soon,

set me free. /

the open sea

seventeen da

wrec

150
Book 1 3 — Home at Last
-

151
152
153
 rain is s clear away
fog. Now Jo 1 here is

you recognize Mount

your kome? Neriton.

now w. Tiresias spoke truly. O

sacred to the nymphs, and here we wi goJJess, tell me, kow skall
conceal your treasure until you kave I Jefeat tkem? By stealtk,

reclaimed your kouse from tke pack c or in open comkat? Will

arrogant suitors wko court your wife.

154
What, old campaigner, Use those tamous isguise

Sac her o f Troy, are you wits of yours to u that no one wi

worried about a pack of make a plan. I wil rough, not even

young pups? *
help you w
battle comi

lou shou Idg o hrst to your old swineherd, numaeus. Don’t worry; he is under
His heart is loyal. Meanwhil e, I wih go to make sure my protection. Even
your son returns safely from Sparta, where he has though some of the suitors
gone to searc or news o he in wait for him in the
Strait of Same, he’ll have
no trouble from them.

lm soon

155
Bool? 14 — I lie Swineherd

156
May the gods reward I would not turn away a man
you for this hind in nee J,f or all beggars come
welcome, my friend. in Zeus’s name.

157
Here, help yourself to this. I wish My master owned a dozen herds of cattle on the
I could give you more, hut we mainland, and as many more of sheep, goats, and
servants must make do. I he fatted pigs. But slowly the suitors are bleeding his estate

hoars are for Odysseus’s hall, and dry, demanding animals every day for their reck-
the suitors there devour them less feasting.

quickly enough. I

Now, don’t try to tell

me any tales, stranger.

Oft en before, beggars

have come here spout-

ing news of Odysseus’s

return, hoping for rich

rewards from Queen

r -f

I heard a similar
tale from another
traveler who came
here. Odysseus was
in Crete, he said,

ou tfitting his ship

and gathering rich

gifts to bring home.

hat was three years

go. No, you’ll never
et me to believe tales

f Odysseus’s return.

158
Let us make a bargain. 1 he go man wou
witness it: if Odysseus returns, ive a man
me a good cloak an d skirt, and row
swiftly to Dulichion, the place

But if it does not come to pass row

no more ot this;
me off the cliff, as warning to
es my heart ache
heggar who comes along.
)eah of that man.

rom
oun
yourse ere on our

kJh, triend, it we could

undisturbed, and the fo wine my mother was a slave —still, hi

held out, I could spend treated me with affection all his

you all my trials, the en days, until death took him.

ave given me.

is sons carve'
land among them and ler

me only a small house an

pittance to live on.

is, 1 won
myselt a wite trom a
rom wealthy landowner. .

was
man s son

159
 Book 15 — Telemackus Returns

emac
rien i

W hen my ratr
kears we re La
Lie’ll insist on
eepmg you
or more

160
 :rom

son o
ome is

rr
' 'j
.^**£Z*'
1

1 am 1 heociymenus, won on a man m peri

son of tfie propfiet L limb aboard, and 1 will give yc

Polypbides. Please w bat b ospitality I can in Itb aca

forgive me for being

blunt, but Iam being

bunted by men from
Pylos, friends of a

man I killed. Will yo

161
162
163
 6
Book 1 — Fatl aer an on

I’ve just returned. Tell me,

has my mother married any
of the suitors, or does she

still delay them?

This man hails from Crete, and

has led ah ard life at sea. He

escaped from slavers when they

put in here and made his way to
my hut.

I’ve heen listening to his

tale all ni ght, an d I told

him he should

164
1 11 speak with him.
Eumaeus, will you go to atterward and tak
town and tell my motker news to your gran
tkat I ve returned safely? fatk er Laertes?

I don’t want ker to worry

any longer.

3n t tell anyone
i tke kousekold
tie less tke suitors

now, tke ketter.

No, kurry kack kere.

But tell my motker

to send a trustworth

mai
e news

yourse
your son and
togetker plot
your revenge.

165
 d! ! Your

ome

lou can t be!

No mortal man
can change Athena, who used her
lmselt trom a power to disguise me.
ecrepit beggar Come now, do not
argue, for I swear to
you tlaat I am tire only
Odysseus who wil

ever return to you

166
 Too many, Father. Oh, I have
wishe cl this for so long, hut it

is madness to tall? of hilling

them all — just the two of us

against over a hundred!

There are fifty-two from Dulichion Tell me, then: will

alone, plus their six servants, twenty- Athena an dz eus do,

?
four from Same, twenty from Zacyn-
thus, and the twelve hest lords from
Ith aca itself, as well as their heralds

and serving men.

if we pit ourselves against all

these, I fear our revenge will

come hack on our own heads.

We need allies, men-at-arms
to help us.

167
 Ye 1 rust me.

But now you should return to

the palace and mingle with the
suitors. 1 he swineherd will hrins

me down presently to heg.

If the suitors abuse me, you

must steel yourself and endure
it. 1 ry to win them over with
friendly words, hut don’t raise

a hand to defend me.

One more thing : When it is Let no one know I’m

time, I will give you a nod. At home, not even your
that signal, gather up all the mother. We must find
weapons from the hall and out which of the servants
loc kth em in the storeroom. an d field h ands are loyal

de you wny you

anyone asks and which side wi th the
tool? them away, say they were

getting dark with soot from

the fire.

Just stow two sets of gear

close at hand for the two

of us — swords, spears, an*

oxhide shields.

168
169
 I Jon t know kow he JiJ it. Our ookouts
1

watcheJ for Telemachus all Jay 1 ong from

the heights, then at night we’J patrol the
channel without a rest. But somehow he
slippeJ past!

170
Friends, we must We should consult the gods,
not let lelemachus to learn their wi 11. if z eus
live. He stands in approves, I’ll hill him myself,

the way of all our hut if not . . .

plans.

Best to take
him now, out
on the road
somewhere,
before he can
accuse us. Do
?

171
 Mother, I’ll tell you everything about my travels

soon — hut as to my father, King Menelaus told

me he heard from the Old Man of the Sea that

Odysseus is stranded on an island, with no ship

172
Lady, listen to me. I have the si
yjh, sir, it your won

to read portents, an d I tell you prove true, you will

that Menelaus was misinformed know my gratitude.

or else Odysseus has escaped But it cannot he so

since then. All the signs —

everything 1 ve seen since we

came here — tell me clearly

that Odysseus is in Ithaca at

this very moment. He will

The suitors are

coming in.

wf ^ i f ; , f /kg
'

lly t- if ;; §
K
/
m; v /Jx iff?*
\ ,
/
\! 1 iii

.... 4* T :
iAT A v
'
mm

;f
\

_
- m
/Mi

173
 Book 1 7 — St ranker at tlie Gates

Eumaeus, wkere did you find Be careful in tke palace,

suck a beggar? Give kim to me; beggar! if you try your Here s a

I’ll put kim to work scraping tricks there, you may get taste!

stalls. Ha! No, ke’s 1 earned kis blows instead of alms.

dodges too well. He’d ratker

keg tkan do konest work.

fig.

Fatb er Zeus, bear my prayer: Your bark’s worse than

bring Odysseus back to teacb all your bite, swineherd.

these swine proper manners. As for me, I pray

Apoll o brings down
felemachus with a

golden shaft. I ben I’ll

have you off in a slave

skip in no time!

174
 rriend, I m sure thi
must be Odysseus’s
It’s magnificent! shortly. I hope you
find tbe suitors in

a generous mood.

ows
Why does this dog he in Argos is his name. Odysseus raised Kim from a pup,

the dung here? He ooks

1
and lie was not full-grown when his master left for

like he might once have I roy — yet he was the fastest and bravest in the hunt.

heen a fine hound.

Old age and misery
are his masters now.

He’s waited almost

twenty years for
Odysseus to return.

176
177
178
 Listen to me a moment, my lords. Wkat, Eumaeus, kringmg foreign
I’ve seen tins man Let ore, outside keggars kere to scavenge? Are we
on tke road. I don’t know liis name not eating your pigs fast enougk,
or wkere lie kails from, kut tke witkout inviting more mou tks to

swmekerd krougkt kim kere. tke takle?

179
Lank you, Antmoos, tor your md concern each man gave
about my goods, but don 'egrudge tke as muc
[ ask you all to soon
give generously to bim.

Tberes plenty bere.

Come, sir, you re not the poorest man here, hy

your looks. No, I’d say you’re tbe no blest, and so

you should give tbe most. I, too, was a rick man,
tdl fortune brou gbt me a crew o men
to Egypt once —
evil wind blew
in this pest? Get
away from me!

180
 You shouldn’t have done that,

Antinoos. What if 1 le was a

god in disguise?

you ve escaped trom

ave any news slavers, hut he
:rom a roa says that once
he was a rich
man in Crete.

His stories are

marvelous.
I stayed up
listening to him

never grew
nem

181
claims to have heard news ot Bring him here.
r husband, too — near at hand wis h to h ear us

he rich land of i hesprotia, he story f or inyse

i. The gods grant it may he so.

No, hut he is afraid — and wisely too, I think — to

stir the suitors’ jealous violence. He says it is better

to wait until ni ght, when the suitors leave and you

That beggar
is no fool.

He sees how
it might go
with these
bullies.

182
 Book 18 — Beauty and Blows

man, an 1 here s room here tor two, and \

ove o re sitting plenty of food to be bad for a J

m my place. fell ow beggar. ~ i i

Only drop your

7 talk of fighting. It

^ ,r l might annoy me.

Ob o! Listen
to him! Rough
talk. I’ll knock
every tooth out
of your bead,

— LiL

183
Friends, what have we here? T he gods Listen now, whoever wins this hout

have sent us such an entertainment as will have the choicest dinner meat:

we never could have hoped for: Irus and the goat’s stomach stuffed with hlood

the stranger wi 11 fight f or their supper! and fat, lying there on the fi re. And
the loser will never come begging
round here again! s'

An old man has no business

fighting a young hue k, hut my
stomach drives me on. I’ll do it;

only let no one

intervene to
help either
of us.

184
What a

build!

You spineless sack of guts! Afraid of an old

man? Listen to me: if you let him heat you, I’ll

ship you off to King Echitus in Epirus. I hear

he likes to skin men alive, after he rips out
their guts to feed to his hunting dogs.
186
 May Zeus fill

your pouch
an a grant your

You are Amphino- You seem like a sensible lad

mus, son of Nisus Why not quit the company

of Dulichion, are of these vultures? Mark my
you not? words: if you keep on like

this, some catastrophe will

187
188
 Book 19 — Penelope
Now is the time to Jcurycleia, keep the maids It’s good that you’ve
e weapons in their quarters while I :en an interest in such
move Fath er’s arms to the

storeroom. They’ve gotten one long ago

dark with the smoke.

Father! Where d <

that light come rom

f:

189
 re you still here? Lreepy
old man, stop watching
he maids: go outside and

e your inner

iVlelantho! Are you mad

insulting my guest? You
o see Euryma
knew I was waiting to
us; Ik now he
speak to him. Get out!
your lover.

Eurynome, Now, stranger,

spread a tell me who you

sheepskin are, of what
here for my ramily and
guest. what land?

190
 ady, your name is known throughout now
your reputation for wisdom, beauty, amous
lness. That being so, I appeal to your now only tor my su erm
mercy — do not make me
- relive tl
om
pains of my life by recounting the
unwanted suitors
all for you now.

wove a s rou

e wor
wor

mai
ar 1 11 be torced to marry,
ougb it is against my will

lou see, we both have miseries Very well, gentle lady. I

aplenty. Tell me your story, pray it may suffice to tell

stranger, and wbat you know you tbat I am from tbe

of my busband. broad land o f Crete, where
I was once a prosperous
and fortunate man, until

tbat cursed expedition to

Troy. It was tben I first

met Odysseus, for be came

to Crete to raise a fleet of

ships for Agamemnon. I

hosted him for nine days,

while sea winds blustered
and I gathered my crews
together to join tbe
Achaean army.

if it is so, friend,

give me some
proof tbat you
saw him; tell me
wbat be wore.
He had a purple cloak, lined with fleece, But then, I don’t know if he brought
double thick. There was a hrooch upon it, these things from Ithaca or if some
wondrous workmanship — a hound pinning lord gave them to him as a guest gift.

a fawn, all in gold. And a fine, close- fitt mg

tunic, marvelously soft.
Now you nave
won my thanks.
I put that tunic
and cloak on his

shoulders myself
and fastened it

wi th that pin.

I hear d this f rom the king

of the Thesprotians, who
had sent him on his way in

a good ship. 1 he man had

been lost at sea for years,

because his crew devoured

the cattle of Helios, and
so Zeus destroyed his ship

and stranded him. But

he escaped and made his
way hack here, gathering

treasure as he came. I got

here first only because
Odysseus had gone to
consult the oracle.

It only what you say could

prove true, you would know ream
my gratitude and any man
would count you blessed. Bi

urms

:s, no man like

192
 Great queen, no bed
for me. I’ve not had one
since the day I sai led

off and saw the moun-

tains of Crete shrink-

ing behind me. And no

bathing either, not even
a foo thath — none of
these maids should
touch my feet.

Unless, perhaps, there is one as old Never before did man so humble and well
a

and withered as myself, who has lived spoken come to beg at my house. I have just
through suffering as I have. I would such an old maidservant —
she nursed my
not mind letting my feet ke touched us a n en was
by that old servant. Eurycl eia
come ere

Give our
guest
oo thath

Stranger, of all the travelers wl

I
come to our door, none was so

i
much like our master Odysseu

are almost alike in

build and feature.

193
194
 silk! Will you destroy me, i lou know me — my blood and bones
nurse? No one can know o are yours. I will never ketray you.
my return, until I kave kill
When you have
honor my house.
suitors, I can te

he mai
which shou

jood, thou gh I h ave seen them Listen, stanger,

or myself. But for now, trust in I kave one more

ke gods and keep silent. question. Can
you interpret
tkis dream?
From a lake, twenty fat geese come to feed
keside my kouse. But tken a great mountain
eagle swoops down and breaks tkeir necks,

every one. He flies away, and I weep over tke

slau gkt er. But tk en ke returns and perckes on
tke roofkeam. He speaks, and says “Be glad.

Tkose geese were your suitors, and I am your

kuskand, returned to bring dea tk to tkem all.”

Ak, but not all d reams

are true. Tkere are two
gates by wkick a dream
may enter: one of shinny
ivory, one of plain born.
Tke dreams from tke
ivory gate are gkmmerin
illusions tkat signify

nothing. But tkose from

tke born gate can come
true — if only we know
wkick is wkick!

No, it s a false kope tkat tk is Web ave twelve axkeads in omorrow

dream comes from konest tke storeroom. My kuskand he suitors anu

born. Tke day I d read is upon used to line tkem up, all marry the one wt
me; I must leave Odysseus’s twelve, at intervals like a in stringing tlie 1:

kouse witk a new kuskand. skip’s ribbing. Tken be d putting an arrow .roil

take k is great bow, stand

Listen,
back, and wkip an arrow
kere is w kat
tkrougk all twelve.
I’ll do: I’ll

declare a
contest.

196
 Bool-? 20 — Si^ns ancl Visions

aw a ?e? Wbat Anotk er man wou Id put k is

trust in some mortal, but not

you; no, even

Tne odds are strong witli a god as

against us. But more your guardian,

tban tkat — after tke still you mistrust
kat
suitors are billed, wk, every tk m
tk ell Tk en in wi

come or reven too

197
198
 Welcome, May good luck lie akead for you.
sir.

You remind me of my old master, the lord of

this house. He may he wearing rags too, now,

if he hasn’t gone down to the house of Death.

How I wish he’d return and show these arrogant
jacks a thing or two!

Sir, you seem to he no fool, no coward

either. So I’ll tell you truly: I swear hy
Zeus above, Oysseus will return — and
you’ll he here to see it, if you care

199
 man harm you

-”-
7
-

rien

200
 Ctessipus, try that again

and you life nd my spear

in your fat stomach!

oomed men ! Lan’t

2 what the gods hav

201
202
 Book 2l — Tke Bow
Listen, all you suitors. It is This is my lord Odysseus’s how,

time to test your quality with given him hy the master archer

a contest. The man who wins Iphitus, who was slam hy Heracles.
will take me away as his wife.
Often my husband would demon-
strate his skill hy setting up twelve
axheads in a line and shooting an
arrow clean through all twelve.

The man who

can string the
how and make
that same shot
will win me.

There you have it, my lords. This is the chance

you’ve heen waiting for. The prize is a woman
without peer anywhere in these islands, as you
all know. Let’s set up the axhea ds. Then I’ ve a
mind to try the how myself — see how I measure
up to my great father!
 AHA

I can’t Jo it. Let some other At last! Frien Js, now is our chance to show how we
man show his strength. compare to the great man. Let each try the how in the
or Jer the wine cups go rounJ. LeoJes, you first!

NT" !

204
205
206
 Never fear, Eurymachus an
gentlemen. Today is i

rawn
f
ait until morning,
ap sacrifices to tke

|od. rk en we ll see

avors to string tke

f
kow and make
tke skot.

Good pr Seeing all tkis

I must k kas given me a

your keen desire to
avor. test my strengtk
against tke great
kow of Odysseus,

Wkat gall! Quiet, keggar, or

we ll drag you out of kere.
Don’t he rude to our guest, Antinoos. It’s not that, Lady, hut
I’m sure he doesn’t imagine that he if he did it, we ’d he the
can claim my hand if he wins, so you laughingstock of the
needn’t worry about that. islands.

Mother, please
go up to your
room. Leave this

matter to me.

What are you doing,

swineherd? Put down that

208
209
 creak

210
211
 Book 22 — Deatli in tke Hall

It seems I still h ave Now, Apollo guide

some strength left in my next shot!

212
\ou curs! You til ougkt you’d get away witli your
rapacious ways, consuming my goods, seducing
my maids, and courting my wife wliile I was away
at I roy. You tliouglit your king would never come
tack alive. Now LI ac kd eatk will take you all.

Wait. Stranger, if you

truly are Odysseus, tken

we Lave wronged you. . . .

213
But oo k, the ringleader,
1 Let’s make amends
the man who spurred us now. We'll replace all

on to our actions, was that we have consumed,

Antinoos, and here he and make gifts above
lies in the dust. You have and beyond — twenty
already killed h im. oxen and as many sheep
and goats from each
man here, and gold too.

Let there he no more

bloodshed.

Eurymachus, not even if each Well, tken, lad s, we

man gave me his entire fortune outnumber him a

would I stay my hand. hundred to one. .

214
 1

I’ll get more arms

Quickly! 1 11

from the storeroom them here as

as the arrows

Down
216
Mel anthius, quick, climh It’s no good. 1 he exit is narrow, and I

out the postern anil rouse saw that filthy swineherd standing armed
the men of the town. ou tside. I’ll swear he’s with Odysseus.

But I think I

can get to the

storeroom and
get you weapons
and armor.

217
218
 .

3
K;(y
1
n.

— - -

\> 1
A o f).

They’ve gotten weapons It s my tauit, rather

from somewhere One of

!
I left the storeroom

the maids, or that rogue unlocked.

Melanthius, brought then

Eumaeus!
Philoetius!

219
 d
rtf’;/

—v .-

220
 ether now, lads.
irmi em down
now.

221
Let s return
that vollev.

i >

(a fV- »HE • v-w '

Grvh f
W fa ' '
|T ^ ‘ ‘
•
r'J
:

j&J&K .r
1

)
r
, W.-'-- ^VL-. 'cl8k S V ,
£$.<*- 11 •

222
 a1 /
y
'

i
V ’
\

\\% ||

224
Great Ocl
A priest who prayed that I would
wronged a woman ot never return and that you might
this house, and I tried take my wife for your own.
to hold th e suitors hack

trom their wron j

I am a priest!

225
 King Odysseus, I throw myself
on your mercy. I am a minstrel,

gifted by tbe gods witk song. I

never wanted to come kere but

was forced by tke suitors.

Don’t kill kim, ere s ano

He speaks trul

p-‘

ttwi
w, dm

226
227
 ere s much 1 lelemachus, make those harlots help you
done. First, carry the dead outside. Clean the tables
summon and chairs with sponges soahed in water,

mar and scrape out the gore from under foot.

i wake your wit
Some god gave
When everything is
the gift of sleep
clean, take the women
outside and put them
Not yet. 1 he
to the sword.
hall sh ould he

cleansed first.

228
229
230
Book 23 — Odysseus and Penelope

231
 Meanwhile, we should
consider what to do next
The h in of these suitors
will certainly come
looking for revenge.
come to me in

her own time.

fee up a melody
ihy wi 11 think that

232
You must be tbe hardest woman Well, nurse, make
alive. Who else could refuse up a bed for me
to welcome her hushan dh ome in the hall, since

after almost twenty years at sea? it seems I won’t

What?! Move my
bed? Impossible,
for any hut a

skilled craftsman!

Ih ui It that bed myself, an dit

holds a secret.

There was a full-grown

olive tree kere, where this

palace stands. I cut it down

to a waist-high post, plane d it

smooth, an dl ai dth e wa 11s of

our bedroom aroun dit. I made
the other three bedposts to
match and built a sturdy frame
between them, inlaid it with
silver, and strung it with straps
of dyed oxhide.

233
1 liis is our secret, ancl I have shown
you that I hnow it. Now you must tell

me whether our hed still stands as it

did, or if some man has cut it apart.

Odysseus, forgive me You k now the

! reason But now our secret proves it;

for my caution. The gods gave us so much you are home, and I am yours.
pain — they kept us apart throu gh the
summer of our lives.

I armed myself long ago against false-

hoo ds: the lies and seductions of so many

strangers who came seeking to win me over.

Never would I let myself suffer Helen’s fate.

234
 But the hour is late. That sweet rest awaits Very we 11, tllen. I’ll tell you that,

We should go to hed; whenever you wish it, an d all the rest, too, if the ni ght
rest will he sweet for now that the gods have holds out long enou gh. But in
us brought you home. But hed, my love, in hed.

tell me, since it is in

your mind — what trial

235
 Yes, but she’ll rise

from ber coucb soon.

I must go to see my
father and settle tbe

matter of tbe suitors,

236
Book 24 — Peace

Friends, wkat kind of king

lakes all tke Lest young
men of kis country away to

perisk on foreign skores,

tken comes Lack and

slau gkt ers tke next genera-

tion? He s notking kut a

murderer, and we must
catck kirn before ke flees to
some ally on tke mainland!

237
 Ithacans, listen to me
a moment. I was in the
hall, an dl saw with my
own eyes some immortal
standing over Odysseus
in battle. He has the
gods on his side, if you
follow him up-country,
you may meet the same
fate as your sons.

I tell you too that this tragedy

could have heen avoi ded if you

had listened to Mentor and
restrained your sons from
despoiling Odysseus’s household.

238
 Do you recognize mei No, ook. Here’s
1

the scar I got

from that b oar’s
tusk on Mount
Parnassus.

And I recognize all

tke trees you gave me

wlien I was a boy. T bere

thirteen pear, ten apple,

and forty fig trees.

Father, lb ave
returned. Already the
suitors are gone, slain

to the last man.

239
 Truly the gods have not deserted
us, if the suitors are dead.

But w hat of
the towns-

come

Don't worry, I’m arm

er up old Uolius,
set a pig roasting

discuss our plan

arm ourselves

240
 j*' V
cV i._

, C'.tf'V

241
I wish you’d seen me when I led the

Cephallemans and sacked the city of

Nericus. Or that

I’d heen at your

side last ni ght

to wield a spear

against the
suitors!

242
243
ji

riifv

244
men o
hter now.
between 1

245
--TrtS*
L I
1
f
/ •
\ N
v \ \ ft

Pt*
f
1: .
1
fe L s. ; M

Dtop, son
of Laertes!

246
You must put away your sword if you would
live in peace. Fulfill the prophecy of Tiresias,

and you will die gently in old age, and your

name will live forever in story and song.
248
Here ends the story of Odysseus, as it has heen
passed down since the age of gods and monsters.
 NOTES
Very little is known about Homer, tbe composition of bis epic poems,
or even tbe Bronze Age itself. In my research I encountered open
questions and scholarly disagreement at every turn. Luckily The
Odyssey is a ratber fantastic story, so I didn’t feel I needed to be
one-bundred-percent historically accurate. In fact, after researching
tbe history pretty thoroughly, I opted to break from realism in most
of my designs, while preserving just enough historical touches to give

Odysseus’s world a ring of authenticity.

My favorite translation of The Odyssey is that of Robert Fitzgerald,

closely followed by Robert Fagles. I like the balance of poetry and
readability that these two translations offer. However, in adapting and
abridging Homer to tbe graphic-novel format, I had to rewrite most
of the material for brevity, and for this purpose it was more useful
to work from the plainer prose of Samuel Butler’s an d E. V. Rieu’s

translations — with frequent reference to Fagles and Fitzgerald, and

to a lesser extent Lattimore, Lawrence, Cowper, and Chapman. I also

admire Rodney Merrill’s metrically correct verse translation, which I

discovered partway through this project (thanks, Laura).

I have used near-direct quotes in a few cases where I really admired

the translator’s art, and those passages appear in this hook as

follows — Fagles: page 170. Fitzg erald: pages 12, 16, 18, 180, 187,
192, 193, 196 and 199- Rieu: pages 89, 90, and 91.

I don’t think you need a full glossary to understand The Odyssey,

hut there are a few words that might trip you up if you haven’t been
reading your Greek classics. Achaeans and Argives botb refer to the
inhabitants of ancient Greece. A hecatomb is a religious sacrifice of
one hundred cattle (as shown in chapter 3). The Myrmidons are

Achilles’ followers.
 ,

THANKS
I d particularly like to thank my wonderfu 1 editor, Deh Wayshak, and
all the other excellent folks at Candlewick who have heen a delight to

work with.

I’d also like to thank: Eric Shanower (author of A.ge of Bronze an

excellent, meticulously researched graphic retelling of the Irojan War)

for sharing his expertise on Mycenaean archaeology, James Sturm
(author of one of my favorite graphic novels, Satchel Paige: Striking

Out Jim Crow) for excellent advice, Heather Glista for costuming,
Mark Tsai for computer help, and Boh Ehener for modeling.

Many of my friends and colleagues took me up on the offer to use their

likenesses, in whole or in part, for some of the hundreds of supporting

characters in the story. Thanks to Dennis Bachman, Bill Ball ard,

Rafael Baptista, Iohy Bazarnick, John Beauchemin, Kurt Bickenhach,

Chris Bruser, Wes Carro 11, D lane Cowan, Juan Diaz, Matt Ed wards,
Bill Farquhar, Mike Lamenzo, Mat MacKenzie, Andy Meuse,
Pat McElhatton, E ric Orr, Margaret Ryding, Jim Vincent, Chris Yona,
an dch ris Zirpoli. I hope you all recognize yourselves, thoug hi did n’t
always capture the likeness.

Special thanks to Joyce DeForge, who first introduced me to

The Odyssey.

And of course, I give extra-special thanks to my #1 supporter and

constant companion, the lovely and talented Alison Morris.
 j

J4o long*. ? ,
tw ©£ the
Boston F •- :
:
x&ty.
iale of this material benefits the Library

For my parents, Steven and Ju dith,

who set me on my creative odyssey

G\jg/^

ifo
Copyright © 2010 by Garetb Hinds
(w
All ri gbt s reserved. No part o ftb is boob may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an
information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,
including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

First edition 2010

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is avai table.

Library of Congress Catalog Car d Numb er 2010007512

ISBN 978-0-7636-4266-2 (b ardcover)

ISBN 978-0-7636-4268-6 (paperback)

11 12 13 14 15 16 CCP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

Printed in Shenzhen, Guangdong, cb ina

This b ook was typeset in Bernbar d Mod ern.

The illustrations were done in pencil and watercolor.

Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

visit us at www.candlewick.com
 *
"
'

' V i \\- ••• v -

*v
.

7
/* .*"• -:••
“!* $";? As-V?;-AO."' .*>•

--

, -X- -
r V V-, - -•*:

y
-

&& y* •'

>;

M
.
,V. ;;• vv i

Gk V?
•
A '
^,JSv' 'x

- .». ^ •> .
./% -- •.

*Gareth Hinds brings The Odyssey to life in a masterful blend

of art and storytelling. Vivid and exciting, tkis graphic novel

is a worthy new interpretation of Homer s epic.”

Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

CAN
U.S. $14.99/ $17.00

ISBN 978-0-7636-4268-6