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THE ODYSSEY based on Homer's epic poem

EPISODE SIX

The sea was quiet, a god had stopped the storms..

My shipmates rowed vigorously, and made the water white with foam.

Then, I cut wax into small pieces and softened them in my hands.

I plugged the ears of my shipmates, one after the other.

I knew the island of the Sirens was near.

- If he plugs our ears, how shall we hear his commands?

- I don't know if these Sirens exist, but if they do...

...I hope you hear their song and jump into the sea to join them...

- The men don't believe in you anymore. They say you are out of your wits.

- My mind is sane, as you will see for yourself, Eurylochus.

But I will listen to their song alone, only I can take the risk.

That's the place.

Follow me, time is short.

(Hear the words of Circe, heaven will recall them to you...)

(...but don't expect me tell you in detail how to act...)

(Two ways are possible, you decide which.)

(You mind must decide by itself.)

Tie me up tight, with this rope, and stay by my side.

However I implore you, or give you signs to untie me...

...pay no heed, and tighten me even more instead.

Come close. You must not hear either.

(Honor to the Greek, to the people of Ithaca, to Odysseus, the king...)

(Come to us, and listen to our voices.)

(...stop your ship...)

(...your place is here, among us...)

(...we send travelers back richer, happier...)

(...give up the dangers of the sea, the decay of the body...)

(...release yourself!)

(Odysseus!)

(Come, we will tell you about the past and the future!)

(...about the glory of men and cities on your way...)

(...leave your companions, give up this pointless journey...)

(...escape from the dark years of old age awaiting you...)

(...get off! get off!...)

(...come with us, come with us...)

(...stop your vessel, come!....)

(...show us the courage which you so often displayed...)

(...don't be a coward!....)

- Untie me, please Eurylochus!

- Quick! Let me go to the Sirens!

The Gods inflict me this cruel ordeal.... My destiny is fulfilled here...

It hurts, it hurts too much! Stop!

This pain is unbearable....

...I am close to madness...

The terrible song faded off and stopped tearing my soul apart

...I came back to myself aching and exhausted, like after a nightmare

There one the rocks, I could see the bones...

...of those who had listened to the song of the Sirens...

My shipmates too could see those frightful remains...,

...and pressed the oar to escape the awful sight.

The sky had become calm and clear again...

...and all I could hear was the birds and the sound of the waves....

- We should be far enough by now. Can you still hear it?

- No, it's over.

Circe was right. I survived the song of the Sirens...

...a man may overcome the divine forces...

Eurylochus, we still can be saved.

We'll avoid the rocks, and take the longer path without ever stopping.

We will make no more stops now.

No stops until we come to Ithaca, no matter the reason.

We'll be safe if we avoid the island of Sun.

Announce it to the comrades. Go, Eurylochus!

They would no longer obey, alas!

No one would speak to me, not even Eurylochus.

...they thought I was insane.

We arrived at an island. They disembarked although I forbade it.

I just hoped this wasn't the island of the Sun.

It would be our last stop. If only we had avoided it!

(You will come to the island of the Trident.)

(...cows are pasturing there, their horns are like half moons...)

(...the Sun God trusted them to two nymphs with long hair...)

...they are his daughters...

...their godly mother, Neera, sent them to the island of the Trident...

...to guard their father's herd.

You will not see the nymphs, but do not offend them...

...leave the black herd untouched, think about your return only...

...and you will return.

But you and your shipmates will be starving and tempted to trespass.

This is your last ordeal, Odysseus. Do not fail.

- Lets flee. - Wait for some wind first.

We are tired of rowing all the time.

- Listen to me.

If you still have some faith in Odysseus, you will listen once more.

There is food and drink on board..

I shall disclose you a heavy secret...

...look at these cows...

They are divine animals, the Sun cattle Never touch them, it would do great harm.

I tell you, my friends, this is our last ordeal.

If you touch them, the prophecy I had from Tiresias in Hades will fulfill.

No one will see his home ever again.

No matter that you believe it or not.

You must swear.

On your knees, all of you!

You unfortunate, combat and fight are always on your mind

For a whole month, only the South wind blew, preventing us from sailing...

...and as long as there was food on board, my comrades kept their oath.

They refrained touching the Sun cattle.

But one day, hunger started to torment them.

..they tried in vain to find food between the rocks...

And the Sun cattle stood there, inert and tempting.

(You'll get hungry and hopeless...)

(You will be tempted to trespass...)

(...and you will fail the last ordeal...)

(...and you will fail the last ordeal...)

So I moved away, I wanted to pray:

Father Zeus and you the blessed immortal gods...

...restore my men's trust in their king, so that they see their home again...

...or else, after so much hardship I would loose my mind...

...along with all things dear to me.

Almighty Gods, rather take my life instead.

- Should we starve because of some oath extorted by Odysseus?

- He sees magic everywhere since his alleged return from the Hades!

- Just look at these cows! Do they look divine?

- Well, Odysseus says they are, but is he trustworthy?

- All deaths are bad enough, but none so bad as famine.

- Wait a minute. What If Odysseus was right?

What if the black cows indeed belonged to the Sun? What would become of us?

- What do I care? Rather drink salt water once and for all...

...than be starved by inches on this deserted island!

- Eurylochus is right. Let's eat our fill! Let's go!

( Don't expect me to tell you in detail how to act.)

(You must decide by yourself.)

I ran to my friends...

...but it was too late, and useless to quarrel.

The cows had been slaughtered.

The feast lasted all night.

At dawn, we set sail, and I looked at the doomed with sympathy...

...the voice of Tiresias resounded to my ears...

...Tiresias saying : - You will lose them...all...

(And the Sun said : I will descend into the Hades to shine among the dead...)

- The sun is blighted... Where is the sun going?

Eurylochus was right, a black veil spread over us...

...and the sea grew dark beneath it.

- Quick, drop the sail! Philetor, Heraclius, faster!

- We cannot hear you, Odysseus! Is this the revenge of the Sun God? ...

...we are finished! - No, not as long we are alive!

Look, Eurylochus!

What are you doing?

Don't despair!

Row! Quick! Come on, my friends, don't give up!

Pull on the oars! Row harder!

Don't resign! You pull with them!

Don't stop!

A massive rogue wave submersed our boat...

...and all my companions fell into the sea and drowned.

I watched them powerless, driven away by the raging waves.

For nine days, I went along with the currents,

...on the tenth, Calypso saved me, and she kept me for seven years...

Then one day, she let me build a raft...

- This man was saved, not only by his persistence or ingenuity ...

...nor by his deep desire to return to his island...

...it was a superior force who drove him here...no one can help it!

No one will know which fate brought him to us....

...but after all the perils he met on his way, he came alone...

Thus, noble Phaeacians, I decided to provide him the ship he requests...

...and take responsibility in front of the Gods!.

At dawn, one of my ships will be at your disposal, Odysseus...

- Don't forget that I saved your life too.

- Once in Delos, near the Apollo temple I saw a young palmtree.

I was bedazzled by its beauty, just as I was by yours.

- Are you sure that your wife still is waiting?

...without news for so long, was she so patient?

Is there no new king on Ithaca?

Hasn't another taken your place, while you were away?

Go back to your beloved island, among your own...

...and remember Nausicaa...

(The ship reached the coasts of Ithaca...)

(...where sharp cliffs sheltered the island from the winds.)

(At long last, Odysseus was back in the land of his fathers)

(He could already see his house on the hill.])

(But everything looked so different, after being away so long.)

(He was caught by sudden suspicion...)

(...and, instead of heading to the city, he fled towards the fields...)

- You are the first I meet here. The shore where I landed was deserted...

...please tell me, is this an island or the mainland?

- Where can you be from to ask this? This country is small but famous.

It is both rugged and mild, rich in olives and wine.

Stranger, its name has even reached to Troy.

It is Ithaca, stranger.

- Ithaca, oh yes! I heard this name before, in Egypt....

...because I was a long time in Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs...

...I led a large fleet, with twenty proud ships under my command...

...but I was captured...

...and kept prisoner for seven years, after all my companions were killed...

...twenty ships lost, and so many friends....

- You shameless storyteller!

Must you always lie, even once back home?

You would even trick the Gods!

I know you, deceiver, you are Odysseus, the greatest bluffer of all!

You don't recognize me?

I am Athena! and I will help you as I always did.

- Recognize you?

Who could recognize you, appearing each time with a new face?

Alright, you protected me in Troy during combat....

...but after that, you were more the observer than the protector!

...and you blame me for defending myself with lies, after so many years in danger?

- You never changed, and that's why I am endeared to you....

Another would rush to see his wife and child, but you beware...

...you want to know without others knowing, see without being seen...

...now you will look like an old beggar...

...and no one will recognize you, since this is what you want.

(Athena made Odysseus look like an old wrinkled man ...)

(...and on his back, she put on old rags darkened with smoke...)

First go to Eumaeus, the swineherd...

...he remained faithful to you, and loves your son and your wife Penelope.

(Odysseus walked the path...)

(trying to remember the house of Eumaeus...)

(whom he once entrusted to guard his cattle...)

You have been lucky, old man. They could bite you

Let's go now. Come inside my house.

(Odysseus was surprised by the well built fencing...)

(made with solid rock, and surrounded by thorny bushes..)

(...it was not there when he had left Ithaca...)

(Eumaeus built it himself to guard the herds while his master was away...)

(He had remained a loyal servant and Odysseus rejoiced....)

Come share my bread and wine.

Then tell me who you are and what you want.

Let Zeus protect you, you who guards his guests.

Let Zeus protect you too, Zeus who sens me a guest. Sit down!

(Odysseus rejoiced again...)

(...even though he looked miserable...)

(...Eumaeus welcomed him with respect and kindness.)

We'll eat better tonight, forgive this meager meal.

That's all I have, cheese.

In my master's time, it was something else.

I could have treated you with more dignity....

...today I mourn him, he went to Troy and never returned.

Take it. He was a great king.

(Telemachus left Sparta...)

(...and found his boat on the shores of Pylos.)

(His voyage was in vain. No one could give him news about his father.)

(He was only advised to return home as soon as he could.)

- My friend, listen to me! I implore you in the name of the Gods...

...I beg you for your life's sake and your companions...

...take me with you on your boat, in the name of Zeus, don't abandon me!

I killed a man in self defense, but now I can't stay in my city anymore.

Friends and family of the dead, are after me, I will be killed if they find me.

- Who are you? - My name is Theoclymenus, I am a prophet.

I know you are Telemachus and you have enemies back home.

Maybe you planned to sail between the strait of Samos and Ithaca...

...but your foes are waiting for you there on a ship...

...they will sink you, unless you make a wide deviation..

Land on the opposite side, and go home through the fields!

- Come on, I am taking you. - Thank you. May Zeus bless you.

- I'm feeding these animals to preserve...

...my master's wealth the way I can.

Almost all say he died, but if he showed up I would tell him:

...I always knew you would return, and the proof is here......

...I guarded your cattle so that the enemy could not devour it.

- Enemy? What enemy?

- Where have you been?

You don't know how we live here?

Or are you part of this arrogant bunch?

No, that can't be. You are a poor man like me and the poor don't betray each other.

Since you don't know, I will tell you what goes on here in Ithaca...

...so you learn something and I will relieve my grief...

...I never talk to anyone.

(Night was falling slowly on Ithaca..)

(...after eating the meat from the swine killed by Eumaeus in his guest's honor...)

(...they laid down to sleep.)

If your master returned, could your recognize him?

-Yes, if bad luck brings him back. -Bad luck?...

- A people who finds his king after so long has reason to rejoice!

- The people would probably rejoice, but I told you what goes on at the court.

- If Odysseus returned, he should rather disguise as a beggar..

- I think so too. But there is still the queen, and his son...

- No, Telemachus went away from the court, no one knows where he is.

As for the queen, she is sad and harassed. And hardly ever appears.

Now I live on my own and I think about Odysseus, my dear master..

I knew he would have rewarded my dedication...

...and given me a wife.

(Eumaeus had got up before dawn...)

(...he had lit the fire and made breakfast.)

- Do you want some olives? - No, thanks.

Today you pasture the flock. I stay here to talk with my guest.

- We are going. -Have a good day. - Thanks.

You can prune a tree, but you don't have the hands of a peasant.

- You are right. I'm not a peasant....

...I once had a large fleet and many soldiers under my command...

...it was at the time I left for Troy leaving my homeland...

...it was alike this place....

...twenty years ago.

- What are you trying to tell me? That you left from this land?

No! ...Is this vineyard yours?

I think only the landlord can have planted it...

...only he knew that the sea winds did not arrive here.

- This is correct, my friend. Yes, It was Odysseus.

Continue talking. You cannot know what joy your words give me.

- Have you finish pruning? - What? No, not yet.

You are right, it's no time for talking, when the work is not finished.

You know there is another way to prune a tree...

Look!

(The same evening Telemachus returned to Ithaca...)

(...and he asked Theoclymenus to go and wait for him at the court.)

You go to the harbour, and I'm going to Eumaeus.

See you tomorrow, Theoclymenus. - See you.

(Odysseus woke up at night and saw Eumaeus was no longer at his side...)

(he heard steps outside...)

(...and the dogs barked as though they were greeting a familiar person...)

Telemachus, it's you! You've returned at last.

Let me have a look at you, we were so worried by your departure.

Has your mother seen you yet?

I came here first, even before going to her...

What happened while I was away? Did my mother chose a husband?

- No, nothing happened at the court. Come in!

- No please, remain seated. Who is he?

- I don't know. He says he is a sailor.

I trust him to your hospitality

- To me, Telemachus? ...who cannot defend himself from insults?

...who cannot help whoever?

Do you know who I am?

If only I had sunk in the sea , I would not tremble to go home.

I'm afraid to go back, this is why I'm here...

...and I think my should mother give up and marry again.

(Then Athena appeared in the room...)

(...visible only to Odysseus, to whom she spoke...)

(...Offspring of the gods, show yourself to your son...)

(...time has come to stop hiding)

- Young prince, let me tell you something...

...not about your mother, you wouldn't let me...

I know what happens at your home. Tell me why you endure it?

Do your people support them, do your brothers refuse to help you?

Ah, if only I was like you young and strong, and Odysseus's son...

...I would live hoping for his return. Have you lost all faith in your father?

- Stranger, the truth is...the people is not against me, quite the opposite...

...I am cherished and considered in Ithaca...

...but I have no siblings, Odysseus had no other children...

...I am an only son, just like he was himself...

...and if my enemies succeed, our line will disappear...

Eumaeus, who is this stranger who talks like only my father could...

- Better die in your own home defending it...

...than being weak and suffering hate and arrogance from usurpers!

- For heaven's sake, who are you?

- Yes, it is Odysseus, your father.

Forgive me I didn't recognize you earlier and give you due honor.

- You recognized me, Eumaeus and honored me with your silence.

My son, I know your heart is in amazement now...

....I look different from what you imagined...

...but don't think it's easier for me to hug an unknown son.

I often tried to picture your face but to no avail.

Let me look at you.

No, don't go, stay with us.

(And thus Telemachus finally understood he was hugging his father...)

(...the father he had searched for, whom he saw for the first time...)

(...they cried together..)

(...louder than sea eagles...)

(...when peasants rob their half-fledged young from their nests...)

You come back alone, with no weapons.

They will ask for those who left with you twenty years ago...

...once you summon the assembly... - I will not summon it

Men are sheep following the stronger. Who are those suitors?

- I think the worst are Antinous and Eurymachus.

- Are they? They are so young...

- They were twenty years ago.

- Right, of course. Who else?

- Leocrites, Amphinomus... - Ctesippus...

...and Amphimedontes, the son of Melaneus.

- I see. How many altogether?

- Just from Samos, already a dozen.

- They are many, Ulysses. Too many.

- No one must know I am here.

- And my mother?

- No, not even her.

(The ship launched by the suitors to catch Telemachus...)

(...came back to the harbor.)

- He took another route. He was lucky to be informed.

- We must eliminate him before he summons another assembly.

- Attack him in the fields and slay him!

- Yes, plundering his wealth is no longer enough.

(When Penelope heard that the suitors were on their way...)

(...she decided to precede them into the court room...)

(...she took her seat next to the royal throne...)

(...to speak to them.)

- What have you done with my son? - Your son?

His ship is in the harbor. I thought he was here.

- I'm asking you where he is! - I don't know. Am I his tutor?

- I know your schemes, Antinous. - You are badly informed.

- I once saw your father kneeling before the king...

...he was begging for protection, in this very room!

Ulysses saved his life then, now his son plots against mine!

Leave the palace!

You are a coward, just like your father!

No one is threatening your son, Penelope...

...and as long as I live, I will watch over him and protect him.

- Telemachus! Telemachus is back!

(Penelope rushed to meet her son...)

(She hugged him and kissed his face repeating:)

(...you are here, Telemachus, my sunshine...)

(Theoclymenus had also come the court.)

(...the maids hurried to wash and anoint the two men.)

Your journey transformed you. You are more determined, and quieter too...

...I feel proud of you. - I am pleased.

I wish I could give you an even greater joy, mother...

- When your father went to war, do you know what he told me?

In case I had bad luck, I trust you with everything: home, servants, herds...

...and my son. As soon as his beard grows, you will give him regency.

- And in this case, did he say you should marry again?

- You know this stranger? - You said his name was Theoclymenus.

- He asked for my protection when I boarded in Pylos. He killed a man.

- Why did you bring a murderer in this house?

- He is a prophet. He advised me to change my course.

I might owe him my life...

- You come back with a strange guest, you talk about the future...

...yet you say nothing about the one you searched for.

After traveling far and wide and gone through such perils...

...do you at least come back with news of your father?

Telemachus...

In Pylos, Nestor welcomed me kindly...

...but I got no news of Ulysses from him.

In Sparta, I met Helen and Menelaus.

I also told them what happens in Ithaca...

...they admire your patience, but can do nothing for us.

They ignore where my father is.

- Faithful lady, what could Menelaus tell your son?

Why not ask me when I can see the future?

I do not see men, but heavenly signs...

...and I know you must keep waiting for the king, you must...

...trick the suitors a little bit more, you know how to deal with them...

Odysseus would not act any different, you know that...

- How was he? - Who?

- My father...how was he when you married?

- Odysseus...how was he?

He was the last one to propose me.

My father despised him. He was not rich nor daring.

When my father refused him, Odysseus looked down and left ...

...not even turning around...

...then...

...I followed him...

...when he saw me, he packed his cart. He said nothing...

...he let Penelope sit down, and the cart moved off...

...then my father... wanted to stop us...

...he stood in the way, and wanted me to get off...

...but I took the folds of my veil and covered my face...

...Odysseus whipped the horses...

...and we went.

(Odysseus and Eumaeus headed to the city...)

(The swineherd had given his master a satchel and a stick...)

(...to complete his disguise...)

(...and all whom they came across thought :...)

(...see how heaven brings birds of a feather to another...)

(...look at the swineherd taking this beggar to the court...)