The scene then changed abruptly. Hermes led the souls of the suitors, crying like bats, into Hades. Agamemnon and Achilles argued over who had the better death. Agamemnon described Achilles’ funeral in detail. They saw the suitors coming in and asked how so many noble young men met their end. The suitor Amphimedon, whom Agamemnon knew in life, gave a brief account of their ruin, pinning most of the blame on Penelope and her indecision. How dare they blame my wife for their deaths? They just had it coming to them! Agamemnon contrasted the constancy of Penelope with the treachery of Clytemnestra. Back in Ithaca, I traveled to father's farm. I sent my servants into the house so that I could be alone with my father in the gardens. I found that found had aged prematurely out of grief for his son and wife. He didn’t recognize me, and I didn’t immediately reveal myself, pretending instead that I was someone who once knew and befriended myself, Odysseus. But when Laertes began to cry at the memory of Odysseus, I threw my arms around Laertes and kissed him. I proved my identity with the scar and with my memories of the fruit trees that Laertes gave me when I was a little boy. I told Laertes how I has avenged myself upon the suitors. Laertes and I had lunch together. Dolius, the father of Melanthius and Melantho, joined us. While we ate, the goddess Rumor flew through the city spreading the news of the massacre at the palace. The parents of the suitors held an assembly at which they assessed how to respond to what happened. Halitherses, the elder prophet, argued that the suitors merely got what they deserved for their wickedness, but Eupithes, Antinous' father, encouraged the parents to seek revenge on me. Their small army tracked me to Laertes’ house, but Athena, disguised again as Mentor, decided to put a stop to the violence. Antinous’s father was the only one killed, felled by one of Laertes’ spears. Athena made the Ithacans forget the massacre of their children and recognized me as king. Peace was thus restored. It was all over.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Book 24 - Warriors, Farewell
The scene then changed abruptly. Hermes led the souls of the suitors, crying like bats, into Hades. Agamemnon and Achilles argued over who had the better death. Agamemnon described Achilles’ funeral in detail. They saw the suitors coming in and asked how so many noble young men met their end. The suitor Amphimedon, whom Agamemnon knew in life, gave a brief account of their ruin, pinning most of the blame on Penelope and her indecision. How dare they blame my wife for their deaths? They just had it coming to them! Agamemnon contrasted the constancy of Penelope with the treachery of Clytemnestra. Back in Ithaca, I traveled to father's farm. I sent my servants into the house so that I could be alone with my father in the gardens. I found that found had aged prematurely out of grief for his son and wife. He didn’t recognize me, and I didn’t immediately reveal myself, pretending instead that I was someone who once knew and befriended myself, Odysseus. But when Laertes began to cry at the memory of Odysseus, I threw my arms around Laertes and kissed him. I proved my identity with the scar and with my memories of the fruit trees that Laertes gave me when I was a little boy. I told Laertes how I has avenged myself upon the suitors. Laertes and I had lunch together. Dolius, the father of Melanthius and Melantho, joined us. While we ate, the goddess Rumor flew through the city spreading the news of the massacre at the palace. The parents of the suitors held an assembly at which they assessed how to respond to what happened. Halitherses, the elder prophet, argued that the suitors merely got what they deserved for their wickedness, but Eupithes, Antinous' father, encouraged the parents to seek revenge on me. Their small army tracked me to Laertes’ house, but Athena, disguised again as Mentor, decided to put a stop to the violence. Antinous’s father was the only one killed, felled by one of Laertes’ spears. Athena made the Ithacans forget the massacre of their children and recognized me as king. Peace was thus restored. It was all over.
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