Warning About Wives

43“He spoke, and I replied: ‘O, how the God
Who wields the thunder, Zeus, must hate
The house of Atreus for the women’s sake!
At first we fell by myriads in the cause
Of Helen; Clytemnestra now has planned
This guile against you while you were afar.’

44“I spoke, and instantly his answer came: —
‘Therefore be not compliant to your wife,
Nor let her hear from you whatever lies
Within your knowledge. Tell her but a part,
And keep the rest concealed. Yet is your life,
Odysseus, in no danger from your spouse;
For wise and well instructed in the rules
Of virtuous conduct is Penelope,
The daughter of Icarius. When we went
To war, we left her a young bride; a babe
Was at her breast, a boy, who now must sit
Among grown men; and fortunate is he,
For certainly his father will behold
The youth on his return, and he embrace
His father, as is meet. But as for me,
My consort suffered not my eyes to feed
Upon the sight of my own son; for first
She slew me. This, then, I admonish you —
Heed you my words. Bring not your ship to land
Openly in your country, but by stealth,
Since now no longer can we put our trust
In woman. Meantime, tell me of my son,
And faithfully, if you have heard of him
As living, whether in Orchomenus,
Or sandy Pylos, or in the broad realm
Of Menelaus, Sparta; for not yet
Has my Orestes passed from earth and life.’

45“He spoke, and I replied: ‘Why ask of me
That question, O Atrides? I know not
Whether your son be living or be dead,
And this is not a time for idle words.’