Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 22. THE SLAYING, by HOMER


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THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 22. THE SLAYING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: But about his house peered odysseus, if yet a man there were
Last Line: So through their wanton folly met they loathly end to-day.'
Subject(s): Mythology - Classical


But about his house peered Odysseus, if yet a man there were
Who shunning the black doom-day was left a-lurking there;
But adown in the dust and the blood he beheld them all lying about
Yea, as many as the fishes which the fishers have drawn out
With a net of many meshes from out the hoary sea
Up on to the hollow sea-beach; there heaped up all they be
Cast up upon the sea-sand, desiring the waves of the brine;
But the sun their life is taking with the glory of his shine.
Thus then in heaps the Wooers on one another lay.
Then at last into Telemachus did all-wise Odysseus say:
'Telemachus, go and call thou the nurse Euryclea here,
That somewhat I may tell her which on my mind I bear.'
So he spake, and Telemachus straightway his loved father obeyed,
And smote on the door and a word to the nurse Euryclea said:
'Up hither, O ancient of days, who over the womenthralls
Art ever the ward and the watcher within our house and halls;
Come! for my father calls thee, and hath a word to tell.'
So he spake; and the word was wingless, and by her yet did dwell,
And therewith she opened the doors of the hall of the pleasant place,
And went her ways; but the youngling led on before her face.
And there she found Odysseus amidst the men dead slain,
With blood and gore bedabbled, as a lion stalketh amain,
Who cometh from devouring an ox of the meadowy place,
And all his breast is bloody and either side his face,
And fearful is he fashioned to look upon with eyes:
So befouled were the feet of Odysseus and his hands in e'en such wise.
But she, when she saw the corpses and that abundant blood,
Was setting up a joy-shout, so great seemed the work and so good;
But Odysseus refrained and withheld her, though yearning sore indeed,
And sent his voice out toward her, and this winged word fell to speed:
'Rejoice in thy soul, O goodwife, and thy shout of joy refrain,
For nowise is it righteous to boast above the slain.
But these men the Fate of the Gods and their wanton deeds did quell,
Whereas they honoured no man of men on the earth that dwell,
Were he good or were he evil, whosoever came their way.
So through their wanton folly met they loathly end to-day.'





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