Mentor’s Rebuke

12He spoke and took his seat, and then arose
Mentor, once comrade of the excellent chief
Odysseus, who, departing with his fleet,
Consigned his household to the aged man,
That they should all obey him, and that he
Should safely keep his charge. He rose amid
The assembly, and addressed them wisely thus: —

13“Hear and attend, you men of Ithaca,
To what I say. Let never sceptred king
Henceforth be gracious, mild, and merciful,
And righteous; rather be he deaf to prayer
And prone to deeds of wrong, since no one now
Remembers the divine Odysseus more,
Among the people over whom he ruled
Benignly like a father. Yet I bear
No envy to the haughty suitors here,
Moved as they are to deeds of violence
By evil counsels, since, in pillaging
The substance of Odysseus, who they say
Will nevermore return, they risk their lives.
But I am angry with the rest, with all
Of you who sit here mute, nor even with words
Of stern reproof restrain their violence,
Though you so many are and they so few.”

14Leiocritus, Evenor’s son, rejoined: —
“Malicious Mentor, foolish man! what talk
Is this of holding us in check? It were hard
For numbers even greater than our own
To drive us from a feast. And should the prince
Of Ithaca, Odysseus, come himself,
Thinking to thrust the illustrious suitors forth
That banquet in these palace halls, his queen
Would have no cause for joy at his return,
Greatly as she desired it. He would draw
Sure death upon himself in strife with us
Who are so many. You have spoken ill.
Now let the people who are gathered here
Disperse to their employments. We will leave
Mentor and Halitherses, who were both
His father’s early comrades, to provide
For the youth’s voyage. He will yet remain
A long time here, I think, to ask for news
In Ithaca, and never will set sail.”

15Thus having said, he instantly dismissed
The people; they departed to their homes;
The suitors sought the palace of the prince.