archival ink jet print
odysseus
Book 11: Lines 102-104
Anticleia--daughter of that great heart Autolycus--
whom I had left alive when I sailed for sacred Troy.
I broke into tears to see her here, but filled with pity,
even throbbing with grief, I would not let her ghost
approach the blood till I had questioned Tiresias myself.
At last he came. The shade of the famous Theban prophet,
holding a golden scepter, knew me at once and hailed me:
'Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, master of exploits,to see this joyless kingdom of the dead?
man of pain, what now, what brings you here,
forsaking the light of day
Stand back from the trench--put up your sharp sword
so I can drink the blood and tell you all the truth.'
Moving back, I thrust my silver-studded sword
deep in its sheath, and once he had drunk the dark blood
the words came ringing from the prophet in his power:
'A sweet smooth journey home, renowned Odysseus,
that is what you seek
but a god will make it hard for you--I know--
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