The Odyssey

awesome one, Persephone

“My dears, heaven has been pleased to try me with more affliction than any other woman of my age and country.

poor creature stooped to drink, it dried up and vanished,

some way of taking my revenge and cove

Polybus lived in Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world;

to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are born, and the sheep lamb down three times a year. Every one in that country, whether master or man, has plenty of cheese, meat, and good milk, for the ewes yield all the year round. But while I was travelling and getting great riches among these people, my brother was secretly and shockingly murdered through the perfidy of his wicked wife, so that I have no pleasure in being lord of all this wealth.

and I inherit nothing but dismay.

The gods in council—Miverva’s visit to Ithaca—the challenge from Telemachus to the suitors.

Then, having done all this, think it well over in your mind how, by fair means or foul, you may kill these suitors in your own house.

No cries of triumph now.
It’s unholy to glory over the bodies of the dead.