HOMER
ODYSSEY

Translated by Ian Johnston, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.

This document is in the public domain (released January 2024). For a brief publication history see Odyssey: Table of Contents. For an RTF or PDF format of this translation use the following links: Odyssey [RTF]; Odyssey [PDF]

 BOOK EIGHTEEN
ODYSSEUS AND IRUS THE BEGGAR

[Irus the beggar arrives at the palace and starts abusing Odysseus; the suitors encourage them to fight; in the scrap Odysseus knocks Irus out; Odysseus warns Amphinomus of trouble ahead; Athena makes Penelope want to appear before the suitors; Athena puts Penelope to sleep and makes her more beautiful; Penelope wakes up and goes downstairs to mix with the suitors; Telemachus and Penelope talk about the stranger; Penelope encourages the suitors to bring presents for her, and they do so; Odysseus talks to the female servants, criticizing them for assisting the suitors; Odysseus holds up the lamps for the suitors at their feast; Eurymachus makes fun of Odysseus, and Odysseus give him a heated reply; Eurymachus throws a stool at Odysseus but misses and hits the wine steward; Telemachus and Amphinomus restore order; the suitors continue feasting and then leave.]

Then a vagrant from the community arrived,
who used to beg through all the town of Ithaca,
a beggar famous for his gluttonous stomach,
with an incessant appetite for food and drink.
He looked huge, but had little energy or strength.
This man was called Arnaeus—his honoured mother
had given him that name when he was born, but now
all young men called him Irus, since he ran around
carrying messages for anyone who asked.(1)
Entering the hall, he tried to drive Odysseus                                          10
away from his own home by shouting out abuse—
his words had wings:

                         “Get out of the door, old man,                                              [10]
or you’ll be hauled off by your feet. You see
how they’re all winking at me, telling me
to pull you out? As far as I’m concerned,
I’d be ashamed to do it. So get up,
or else we’ll fight this quarrel with our fists.”

Resourceful Odysseus frowned, looked at him, and said:

“My good man, I am not bothering you,
nor am I shouting insults. I don’t mind                                          20
if someone gives you something, even if
he offers a generous portion. This door
has room for both of us, and there’s no need
to care about what someone else may get.
You seem to be a vagrant, just like me—
gods are supposed to make us happy men.
But don’t provoke me too much with your fists,                                   [20]
in case you make me angry. Though I’m old,
I might spatter your lips and chest with blood.
If so, I could enjoy more peace tomorrow,                                       30
for I don’t think you’d come a second time
to Odysseus’ home, son of Laertes.”

That made the beggar Irus angry, so he said:

“Well, how nicely this filthy beggar talks,
like an old woman from the baking ovens.
But I’ll make trouble for him. I’ll punch him
with both fists on the jaw, smash all his teeth
into the ground, and treat him like a sow
who’s been devouring the crop. Come now,
tighten your belt, so all these people here                                     40    [30]
can recognize that we’re about to fight.
How can you go against a younger man?”

As their tempers heated up, they both grew angry
on the polished threshold beside the lofty doors.
Strong and powerful Antinous observed them there,
and, laughing cheerfully, shouted to the suitors:

“My friends, here’s something we’ve not seen before.
A god has sent this house some entertainment!
There’s a quarrel—Irus and the stranger.
They’re going to fight each other with their fists.                          50
Let’s get them started now!”

                                                                     Antinous’s words                       [40]
made the suitors jump up laughing. They gathered there,
around the shabby beggars. Then Eupeithes’ son,
Antinous, said to them:

                                                    “Listen to me,
you brave suitors. I’ve something to suggest.
We’ve got goats’ bellies lying by the fire,
stuffed full of fat and blood, our dinner meal.
Whichever of these two men wins this fight
and proves the better man, let him stand up
and take the one he wishes for himself.                                          60
And he will always eat his meals with us.
Nor will we allow another beggar
to come into our group and ask for food.”

Antinous finished. They were pleased with what he said.                            [50]
Then, resourceful Odysseus with his crafty mind
spoke to them:

                    “My friends, there’s no way an old man
weighed down with grief can fight a younger man.
But that trouble-making stomach of mine
urges me to try, so he may beat me
with his blows. But come now, let all of you                                  70
swear a binding oath that not one of you
supporting Irus will use his heavy fists
to strike at me unfairly, and by force
overpower me on Irus’s behalf.”

Odysseus spoke. They all vowed to act as he had asked.
After they had promised and finished with the oath,
Telemachus spoke up with strength and confidence,                                   [60]
so all could hear:

                            “Stranger, if your proud spirit
and your heart drive you on to beat this man,
don’t fear a single one of these Achaeans.                                       80
Whoever strikes at you will have to fight
with many more as well. I am your host,
and the two princes here agree with me,
Antinous and Eurymachus, both men
who understand things well.”

                                                      Telemachus spoke,
and everyone endorsed his words. Then Odysseus,
while hitching up the rags around his private parts,
exposed his fine large thighs, and they could also see
his well muscled shoulders, chest and powerful arms.
Athena stood beside that shepherd of his people                                    90    [70]
and enlarged his limbs. Each suitor, quite astonished,
glanced quickly at the man beside him and muttered
words like these:

                                “Irus will soon be in trouble,
something he brought on himself—he won’t be
Irus any more, judging from the thighs
that old man shows under those rags of his.”

That’s how they talked. Irus’s heart was badly shaken.
The servants girded up his clothes and led him out.
He was afraid—flesh quivering on every limb—
but they pushed him forward. Antinous sneered at him,                      100
addressing him right to his face:

                                      “You bragging fool,
if you’re afraid and tremble at this man,                                               [80]
you should not live or ever have been born.
He’s an old man worn down by misfortunes
that have made him feeble. I’ll tell you this,
and what I say will happen—if this beggar
beats you and proves himself the better man,
I’ll throw you in a black ship and take you
over to the mainland to king Echetus,
who tortures everyone.(2) With pitiless bronze                              110
he’ll cut off your nose and ears, slice away
your cock and balls and throw them to the hounds,
raw meat for his dogs to rip to pieces.”

Antinous spoke. An even greater trembling seized
the vagrant’s legs, as they led him to the middle.
Both men raised their fists. At that point lord Odysseus,                             [90]
who had endured so much, was of two minds—should he
hit Irus so his life would leave him where he fell,
or should he strike him with a less destructive blow
and stretch him on the ground? As he thought about it,                      120
this seemed the better choice—to hit him with less force,
so Achaeans would not look at him too closely.
They both raised their fists, and Irus struck Odysseus
on his right shoulder, but Odysseus then struck him
on his neck, just below his ear, and crushed the bones.
Immediately blood came flowing from his mouth.
He fell down moaning in the dirt, grinding his teeth.
His feet kept kicking at the ground. The brave suitors
all threw up their hands and almost died of laughter.                                  [100]
Odysseus grabbed Irus by the foot and dragged him                             130
out the entranceway until he reached the courtyard
and the portico gate. There he left him, leaning
against the courtyard wall with his stick in his hands.
Odysseus then spoke to Irus—his words had wings:

“Sit there and scare away the pigs and dogs.
And do not, in your miserable state,
try to bully foreigners and strangers.
You may end up in even worse distress.”

As he spoke, he threw his tattered bag full of holes
across his shoulders, hanging by a twisted strap.                                   140
Then he went back into the doorway and sat down.
The suitors went inside, laughing uproariously,                                           [110]
and threw him words of greeting as they passed him.
One of the arrogant young men said something like:

“May Zeus and the other eternal gods
give you, stranger, the thing you most desire,
what fills your heart—since now you will prevent
that greedy vagrant begging in this place.
We’ll soon take him over to the mainland,
to Echetus, who mutilates all men.”                                                150

That is how they talked. Odysseus was happy
at such friendly words. Antinous set down by him
the immense goat stomach stuffed full of blood and fat,
and Amphinomus picked two loaves from the basket,                                   [120]
placed them before Odysseus, and then toasted him
with a golden cup, saying:

                          “Greetings, honoured stranger,
though right now you’re facing many miseries,
may happiness be yours in future days.”

Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:

“Amphinomus, you seem to be a man                                             160
with true intelligence. Your father, too,
had the same quality. I’ve heard about
his noble name—Nisus of Dulichium,
a brave and wealthy man. And people say
you come from him, and you do seem discreet.
I’ll tell you something you should keep in mind.
Listen to me. Of all the things that breathe
and move along the ground, Earth does not raise                                [130]
any creature more powerless than man.
He thinks he’ll never suffer any harm                                             170
in days to come, as long as gods provide
prosperity and his knees stay supple.
But when blessed gods bring on misfortunes,
he bears those, too, though much against his will.
The father of gods and men brings us days
which shape the hearts of earth’s inhabitants.
Among men I was set to be successful,
but, yielding to my strength and influence,
I did many reckless things, relying
on my father and my family. No man                                               180    [140]
should ever practise any lawlessness.
He should hold his gifts from gods in silence,
whatever they may give. I see suitors here
planning desperate acts, wasting the wealth
and dishonouring the wife of a man who,
I think, will not remain away for long,
not from his family and native soil.
He is close by. May some god lead you home,
and may you not have to confront the man
whenever he comes back to his own house.                                    190
For I do not believe, once he returns
under his own roof, he and the suitors
will separate until much blood is shed.”                                               [150]

Odysseus spoke. After pouring a libation,
he drank some honey wine, then handed back the cup
to Amphinomus. That leader of the people
went through the house, head bowed, with foreboding
in his heart—he had a sense that many troubles
still lay in store. Still, he did not escape his fate.
Athena had ordained that he would be destroyed                                  200
by a spear in the strong hand of Telemachus.
He moved away, sitting where he had sat before.

Then goddess Athena with the glittering eyes
put an idea in the mind of wise Penelope,
Icarius’s daughter—to approach the suitors,
so she might truly stir the feeling in their hearts                                           [160]
and acquire more honour from her son and husband
than she had before.(3) With an unnatural laugh
she spoke out and said:

                   “Eurynome, though my heart
has never once desired to show myself                                            210
before these suitors, it does now, shameless
though they may be. And I’ve got words to say
to my own son—he would be better off
not mingling with those arrogant suitors.
They may say nice things, but they’re making plans
for nasty schemes in future.”

                                                           Old Erynome,
her housekeeper, then answered her and said:

                                                                    “My child,                         [170]
all these things you say make sense. You must go
and say that to your son. Do not hide it.
But first of all, you should wash your body                                    220
and rub ointment on your face. Don’t leave here,
not like this, showing both cheeks stained with tears.
It’s not right to show your grief forever
and never stop. Your son is old enough
to grow a beard—and you prayed very hard
to gods that you would see him reach that age.”

Then wise Penelope answered her and said:

“Eurynome, although you care for me,
don’t tell me I should rinse my body off
or rub oil on my skin. Gods on Olympus                                         230   [180]
have ravaged all my beauty, since the day
Odysseus went off in his hollow ships.
Tell Hippodameia and Autonoe
to come in here—they can stand beside me
in the hall. For I won’t go there alone
among the men. I’d be ashamed.”

                                                            Once she said this,
the old woman went through the chamber to instruct
the women and urge them to appear. Then once again,
Athena, bright-eyed goddess, thought of something else.
She poured sweet sleep over Icarius’s child,                                            240
who leaned back and closed her eyes, lying on the couch,
all her limbs relaxed. Meanwhile, the lovely goddess                                   [190]
gave her immortal gifts, so those Achaean men
would be enchanted with her. First, she cleansed her face
with a divine ointment made from ambrosia,
like lotion lovely Cythera rubs on her skin
when she attends the joyful dancing of the Graces.(4)
She made her seem taller, too, and changed her figure,
so she looked more like a queen, and whitened her skin—
it shone more pale than fresh-cut ivory. That done,                               250
the lovely goddess left, and white-armed servants came,
all chattering as they moved there from their chambers.
Then sweet Sleep released Penelope. With her hands
she rubbed her cheeks and said:                                                                      [200]

                            “In spite of my great grief,
a deep sweet sleep has held me in its arms.
I wish pure Artemis would quickly bring
a gentle death to me right now, so I
no longer waste my life away, mourning
in my heart and craving my dear husband,
a man with every form of excellence,                                               260
the finest of Achaeans.”

                                                          Once she said this,
she made her way from her shining upper chambers.
She was not alone—two attendants went with her.
When the noble lady reached the suitors, she stood
beside a pillar holding up the well-made roof,
with a bright veil across her face. Loyal servants                                           [210]
stood there with her, one on either side. The suitors
in their hearts felt immediately overwhelmed,
consumed by sexual desire. Their legs grew weak.
Each of them prayed that he could go to bed with her.                         270
She began to speak, first addressing her dear son:

“Telemachus, your wit and understanding
are not as steady as they used to be.
While still a child, the way you used to think
was more astute. But now you’re fully grown,
on the verge of being a man. Anyone
from somewhere far away who looked at you
and only saw your beauty and your size
might well observe that you’re a rich man’s son.
Yet your mind and thoughts are no longer wise.                           280   [220]
What sort of actions are going on here,
in this house, when you allow a stranger
to be mistreated in this way? And now,
what if this stranger, sitting in our home,
should suffer harm from such severe abuse?
You’d be disgraced among all men and shamed.”

Prudent Telemachus then answered her and said:

“Mother, I don’t take issue with you now
for being angry. I know about these things.
My heart understands them, all the details,                                  290
good and bad. I was still a child before.
But I can’t think through everything correctly,                                    [230]
with these men sitting round me on all sides—
they strike at me, devising evil plans,
and I have no one here to guard me. Still,
this battle between Irus and the stranger
did not turn out the way the suitors wished.
The stranger’s strength made him the better man.
By Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo,
I wish these suitors now inside our home                                       300
could be defeated, just as Irus was,
their heads drooping down inside the courtyard
and inside the hall, each man’s arms and legs
gone limp—that’s how Irus is now sitting
beside the courtyard gate, nodding his head,                                      [240]
like some drunken fool. He can’t stand upright
or wander home, wherever his home is,
because his precious limbs have all gone slack.”

As they were talking to each other in this way,
Eurymachus spoke to Penelope and said:                                                 310

“Child of Icarius, wise Penelope,
if all Argives in Iasian Argos
saw you now, more suitors would be feasting
in your home from tomorrow on, since you
excel all women for your form, your poise,
and for the wisdom you have in your heart.”(5)

Wise Penelope then answered him:                                                                 [250]

                                                    “Eurymachus,
what’s excellent about my form and beauty
the gods destroyed when Argives left for Troy
and Odysseus, my husband, sailed with them.                             320
If he would come and organize my life,
then I’d be more beautiful and famous.
But now I’m grieving. A god has sent me
so much trouble! You know, when he went off
and left his native land, he held the wrist
on my right hand and said to me:

                                                          ‘Dear wife,
I don’t believe that all well-armed Achaeans
will make it safely back from Troy unharmed.                            [260]
For Trojans, people say, are warriors,
who know how to fight with spears and arrows                   330
and guide swift-footed horses, all those skills
which soon decide the outcome of a battle
in impartial war. So I do not know
if gods will get me back or I’ll be killed
over there in Troy. You must take control
of everything back here. While I’m away,
take care of my parents in the palace
the way you do right now, but even more.
But when you see our son has grown a beard,
then marry whom you wish, and leave the house.’             340    [270]

That’s what he said. Now it’s all happening.
The night will come when some hateful marriage
will be my lot, for now I am accursed—
Zeus has deprived me of my happiness,
and painful grief has come into my heart,
into my spirit. The way you men behave
was not proper for suitors in the past.
Those who wish to court a noble lady,
daughter of a wealthy man, and compete
against each other, bring in their cattle,                                        350
their own rich flocks, to feast the lady’s friends,
and offer splendid gifts. They don’t consume
another’s livelihood and pay him nothing.”                                           [280]

Penelope finished. Long-suffering Odysseus
was pleased that she was getting them to give her gifts,
with charming, soothing words, her mind on other things.

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to her:

“Child of Icarius, wise Penelope,
if one of the Achaeans wants to bring
a gift for you in here, you should accept it.                                    360
It’s not good if you refuse a present.
But we will not return to our estates
or any other place, until you marry
whoever is the best of the Achaeans.”

Antinous spoke. The suitors all agreed with him,                                          [290]
and each man sent a herald out to fetch some gifts.
One of them brought back, at Antinous’s bidding,
a large and lovely robe with rich embroidery.
On it hung golden brooches, twelve in all, each one
fitted with graceful curving clasps. Another man                                  370
brought in a chain of gold made for Eurymachus,
a finely crafted pendant strung with amber beads
glowing like the sun. Two attendants carried back
some earrings for Eurydamas, with three droplets
in a stylish shining cluster. For Peisander,
Polyctor’s son, an attendant brought a necklace,                                           [300]
a splendid piece of jewellery. All Achaeans
offered her some sort of gorgeous, costly gift.

Noble Penelope then left and went upstairs.
Her servants carried up the lovely gifts for her.                                      380
Then the suitors turned to joyful songs and dances,
enjoying themselves and waiting for the sunset,
and as they entertained themselves, black evening came.
They set up three braziers in the hall for light
and stacked hard seasoned wood around them, dry kindling
freshly split by axe, placing torches in between.                                            [310]
Odysseus’s servants held up the blazing flames.
Then Odysseus, born from Zeus, man of many schemes,
addressed those slaves in person:

                                  “Servants of Odysseus,
your master, who has been away so long,                                       390
go to the rooms the honoured queen lives in,
and twist the yarn beside her. Sit down there.
Make her happy, by staying in the room
or combing wool by hand. As for these lamps,
I’ll keep providing light for all these men.
Even if they wait here for fair-throned Dawn,
they cannot wear me down, for I’m a man
who can endure much suffering.”

                                                                  Odysseus spoke.                                [320]
The slaves looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Then fair-cheeked Melantho, daughter of Dolius,                                   400
spoke out shamelessly. Penelope had raised her,
treating her as her own daughter, providing toys,
whatever she desired. And yet, in spite of this,
her heart was never sorry for Penelope,
for she loved Eurymachus and had sex with him.
In an abusive speech, she rebuked Odysseus:

“You idiotic stranger, you’re a man
whose mind has had all sense knocked out of it.
You’ve no desire to sleep just anywhere,
not in a blacksmith’s home or public house.                                 410
Instead you’re here and babbling all the time.
Around these throngs of men, you’re far too brash.                             [330]
There’s no fear in your heart. In fact, the wine
has stolen your wits, or else your spirit
has always been that way and forces you
to prattle on. Are you playing the fool
because you beat up that beggar Irus?
Take care another man, better than him,
does not quickly come to stand against you.
His heavy fists will punch you in the head,                                    420
stain you with streams of blood, and shove you out,
send you packing from this house.”

                                                     With an angry frown,
crafty Odysseus then answered her and said:

“You bitch! I’ll go and tell Telemachus
the way you talk, so he can cut you up,
limb from limb, right here.”

                                                      Once Odysseus spoke,                                 [340]
his words made the women afraid, and they scattered,
moving off and fleeing through the hall. Each of them
could feel her limbs grow slack with fear—they all believed
he was telling them the truth. Then Odysseus stood                             430
by the flaming braziers, keeping them alight.
He looked at all the men. But in his chest his heart
was making other plans, which he would act upon.

There was no way Athena would allow the suitors,
those arrogant men, to stop behaving badly,
so even more distress would sink into the heart
of Laertes’ son, Odysseus. So Eurymachus,
son of Polybus, began shouting to the suitors,
insulting Odysseus, to make his comrades laugh.                                         [350]

“Listen to me now, those of you courting                                        440
the splendid queen, so I may speak to you
of what the heart here in my chest is urging.
The gods were not unwilling this man came
into Odysseus’ home. In fact, I think
the torchlight emanates from his own head
because he’s got no hair up there at all.”(6)

Once he had said this, he then called to Odysseus,
destroyer of cities:

                         “Stranger, do you like work?
What if I hired you for some distant farm—
I guarantee I’d pay—gathering stones                                             450
to build up walls or planting lofty trees?
I’d bring some food there for you all year round,                                  [360]
clothe you, and get some sandals for your feet.
But since you’ve only learned to misbehave,
you won’t want to acquaint yourself with work.
No. You’d prefer to beg throughout the land,
collecting food for your voracious gut.”

Resourceful Odysseus then answered him and said:

“Eurymachus, I wish the two of us
could have a contest working in the spring,                                   460
when long days come, both mowing down the grass.
I’d have a curved scythe in my hands, and you
with one just like it. Then we’d test ourselves,
in lush grass, with no food to eat till dusk.                                           [370]
If we had oxen there, the best there are,
massive tawny beasts, both well fed on grass,
with strength that never tires, and in a field
measuring four acres and holding soil
which turns beneath the plough, then you would see
if I could cut a straight unbroken furrow.                                      470
If today the son of Cronos stirred up
a battle somewhere and I had a shield,
a pair of spears, and helmet made of bronze,
well fitted to my temples, then you’d see
how I’d join in with fighters at the front.
And you’d not chatter on, insulting me                                                 [380]
about my stomach. But you’re much too proud,
and your mind’s unfeeling. You really think
you have great influence and power,
because you mingle with a few weak men.                                     480
But if Odysseus ever got back here,
to his native land, those doors over there,
although they’re really wide, would quickly seem
too narrow for you, as you fled outside.”

Odysseus finished. Eurymachus in his heart
grew even angrier, and, with scowl, he spoke—
his words had wings:

                                         “You miserable man,
I’ll bring you trouble soon enough. You talk
brashly in this way when you’re in a crowd,                                          [390]
no fear in your heart! Wine has seized your wits,                         490
or else your mind has always been like this,
and prattles vainly on. Have you gone mad
just because you beat that beggar Irus?”

As he said this, he picked up a stool. Odysseus
took a seat beside the knee of Amphinomus
from Dulichium, avoiding Eurymachus.
So Eurymachus struck a person serving wine
on his right hand. The wine jug fell and hit the ground
with a resounding clang. The server gave a groan,
then fell over, backwards in the dirt. The suitors                                  500
broke into an uproar in the shadowy halls,
and one man, glancing at the person next to him,                                         [400]
said something like these words:

                                                       “How I wish
that wandering stranger there had perished
somewhere else before he reached this place.
He’d not be causing such a fuss among us.
We are brawling over beggars. This meal,
this splendid feast, will bring us no delight,
now this dispute has got the upper hand.”

Telemachus then spoke with royal authority:                                         510

“You fools, you’ve gone insane and in your hearts
no longer hide how much you eat and drink.
You must be being incited by some god.
So, now you’ve feasted well, return back home.
When the spirit bids, you can get some rest.
Still, I’m not chasing anyone away.”

Telemachus spoke. The suitors all bit their lips,                                            [410]
astonished that he had spoken out so boldly.
Then Amphinomus, the splendid son of Nisus,
son of lord Aretias, spoke to them and said:                                             520

“Friends, when what a man says is something just,
no one should get enraged and answer him
with hostile words. Don’t abuse this stranger
or any slaves in the home of lord Odysseus.
But come, let the wine server pour some drops
into our cups so we can make libations,
and then go home and rest. This stranger here,                                    [420]
we’ll leave him in Odysseus’s palace,
and Telemachus can cater to him—
after all, it is his home he came to.”                                                 530

Amphinomus finished. They were all delighted
with what he said. A herald from Dulichium,
lord Mulius, attending on Amphinomus,
mixed wine in a bowl for them and served the suitors,
every one in turn. Then they poured libations
to the sacred gods and drank wine sweet as honey.
Once they had poured libations and had drunk more wine
to their heart’s content, they all went on their way,
each man going to his own house to get some sleep.

ENDNOTES

(1) The name Irus is probably a masculine version of Iris, the name of the goddess who carries messages for the gods. [Back to Text]

(2) Echetus was king of Epirus and notorious for his extreme cruelty. [Back to Text]

(3) This entire incident (lines 203 to 380) has been the subject of much scholarly discussion, especially concerning Penelope’s motivation and the style of the writing. [Back to Text]

(4) Cythera is another name for Aphrodite, the goddess of sexual attraction and beauty. [Back to Text]

(5) The phrase Iasian Argos sseems to mean the entire Peloponnese (i.e., all of mainland Greece south of the Isthmus of Corinth). In Homer, the term Argos is often rather imprecise. [Back to Text]

(6) The point seems to be that Odysseus, who is standing by the burning braziers, must be radiating light (hence must be divine or getting divine help) because he has no hair on his head which might burn to produce a flame. [Back to Text]

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