‘Come hither, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans! Stop your ship so you may hear our sweeter voice. None has ever passed this way in a black ship before hearing the honey-sweet voice from our lips, but he returns having delighted in it and knowing more. For we know all that happened in wide Troy, what the Achaeans and Trojans suffered by the gods’ will, and we know all that happens on the bountifully yielding earth.’
“‘Come closer, dearest Odysseus, the most famous of the Akhaians—send your ship in nearer to the shore so you may listen to our voices more closely, since no one’s ever sailed his ship past this place before hearing our voices pass sweetly from our lips. And yes, each person finds such satisfaction from us, and then goes on his way so much the wiser. We sympathize with all the sorrows the Argives and the Trojans suffered in spacious Troy, through the will of the gods, as well as what is still to surface in this bounteous world.’
“‘Over here, far-famed Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans. Bring your ship in here and listen to the soft sounds of our duet. No man has ever kept his black ship going and passed by this place. They all stop to listen to the sweet sounds that come from our lips. Then they go their way filled with joy and knowing much more. We know everything that happened on the wide plains of Troy. We know the grind the gods put Argives and Trojans through. We know everything that happens on the wide bountiful earth.’
“Famous Odysseus, great glory of Achaea, draw near, and bring your ship to rest, and listen to our voices. No man rows past this isle in his dark ship without hearing the honeysweet sound from our lips. He delights in it and goes his way a wiser man. We know all the suffering the Argives and the Trojans endured, by the gods’ will, on the wide plains of Troy. We know everything that comes to pass on the fertile Earth.”
‘Ah, there you are, man of masquerades!
Come! Many men have visited us and stayed
Here on our verdant shores. Beach your ship
And listen to the songs from our lips
That you most want to hear. No man sails
Past this point without hearing the tales
He most wants to hear. We know how
Armies fought at Troy and how men plow
The fruitful earth. Our songs will delight
All and leave the listener with greater sight
Than he had before. So pause and pay
Attention to our words. Hear what we say!’
“Come here now, famed Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians, and stop your ship, to hear the song we sing. No man has yet passed by here in his black ship without hearing the honey-sweet voice from our lips. No, he has his pleasure in it and goes on a wiser man. We know all that the Argives and the Trojans suffered through the will of the gods in the broad land of Troy. We know all that happens on the nourishing earth.”
“Come hither on your way, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans; stop your ship that you may listen to the voice of us two. For never yet has any man rowed past the island in his black ship until he has heard the sweet voice from our lips; instead, he has joy of it, and goes his way a wiser man. For we know all the toils that in wide Troy the Argives and Trojans endured through the will of the gods, and we know all things that come to pass upon the fruitful earth.’
‘Come here, much-praised Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians; halt your ship so that you can hear the voice of us two. No one has ever driven past this way in a black ship before hearing our honey-toned voice from our mouths: people enjoy <the sound> and go on their way, knowing more. You see, we know everything, all the hardships undergone through the gods’ will by the Argives and Trojans at broad Troy, and we know everything that happens on the richly-providing earth.’
‘“Draw near, illustrious Odysseus, man of many tales, great glory of the Achaeans, and bring your ship to rest so that you may hear our voices. No seaman ever sailed his black ship past this spot without listening to the honey-sweet tones that flow from our lips and no one who has listened has not been delighted and gone on his way a wiser man. For we know all that the Argives and Trojans suffered on the broad plain of Troy by the will of the gods, and we know whatever happens on this fruitful earth.”
“Come hither, renowned Odysseus, hither, you pride and glory of all Achaea! Pause with your ship; listen to our song. Never has any man passed this way in his dark vessel and left unheard the honey-sweet music from our lips; first he has taken his delight, then gone on his way a wiser man. We know of all the sorrows in the wide land of Troy that Argives and Trojans bore because the gods would needs have it so; we know of all things that come to pass on the fruitful earth.”
“‘Come hither in your journey, much praised Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans. Steer your boat here that you may listen to our twin voices. Never yet has any one passed here in his black ship without listening to the honey-sweet voice from our lips, and, having enjoyed it, gone their way richer in knowledge. For we know all the toils which, through the will of the gods, plagued the Argives and Achaeans in wide Troy. We know also all that is to happen on the all-nourishing earth.’
‘“Draw near,” they sang, “illustrious Odysseus, flower of Achaean chivalry, and bring your ship to rest so that you may hear our voices. No seaman ever sailed his black ship past this spot without listening to the sweet tones that flow from our lips, and none that listened has not been delighted and gone on a wiser man. For we know all that the Argives and Trojans suffered on the broad plain of Troy by the will of the gods, and we have foreknowledge of all that is going to happen on this fruitful earth.”
“‘Come this way, most admirable Odysseus, glory of the nation! stay your ship, and listen to our voice! No man ever yet sailed past this place, without first listening to the voice which sounds from our lips sweet as honey! No, he has a great treat and goes home a wiser man. For we know all that the Argives and Trojans endured on the plains before Troy by the will of Heaven; and we know all that shall come to pass on the face of mother earth!’
‘Hither, come hither, O much-praised Odysseus : come to us, O Glory of Achaea. Bring your ship to land that you may listen to our twin voices. Never yet has any man in a dark ship passed us by without lending ear to the honey-sweet music of our lips—to go away spirit-gladdened and riper in knowledge. For we know all the toils wherewith the Gods did afflict Argives and Trojans in the broad Troad : and we know all things which shall be hereafter upon the fecund earth.’
“‘Hither! Come hither, Odysseus, whom all praise—great pride of the Achaeans!
Here stay thy barque, that thou may’st list to the song of us twain; for
Ne’er yet hath mortal passed by us within his black-hulled vessel
Till he hath heard from our lips our honey-sweet song and, rejoicing
Gone on his way much the wiser. For, lo, we have knowledge of all things—
All that the Argives and Trojans by hest of the gods e’er have suffered
In the wide region of Troy. We know whatever things happen
Here on the boundless earth.’
“‘Come hither, far-famed Odysseus, pride of the Achæans; bring your ship to shore to hear ourvoice. For never yet hath any man passed by here in his black ship before hearing the sweet song from our lips, and with increase of wisdom he goes joyously on his way. For we know all that the Argives and Trojans suffered on the plain of Troy by the will of the gods, and we know all that befalls on the fruitful earth.’
“Come hither, as thou farest, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans; stay thy ship that thou mayest listen to the voice of us two. For never yet has any man rowed past this isle in his black ship until he has heard the sweet voice from our lips. Nay, he has joy of it, and goes his way a wiser man. For we know all the toils that in wide Troy the the Achaeans and Trojans suffered by the will of the gods, and all that comes to pass on the bounteous earth.”
“‘Come here,’ they sang, ‘renowned Ulysses, honour to the Achaean name, and listen to our two voices. No one ever sailed past us without staying to hear the enchanting sweetness of our song—and he who listens will go on his way not only charmed, but wiser, for we know all the ills that the gods laid upon the Argives and Trojans before Troy, and can tell you everything that is going to happen over the whole world.’
“ ‘Come here, come, Odysseus, whom all praise, great glory of the Achaeans! Bring in your ship, and listen to our song. For none has ever passed us in a black-hulled ship till from our lips he heard ecstatic song, then went his way rejoicing and with larger knowledge. For we know all that on the plain of Troy Argives and Trojans suffered at the gods’ behest; we know whatever happens on the bounteous earth.’
“‘Hither, come hither, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans, here stay thy barque, that thou mayest listen to the voice of us twain. For none hath ever driven by this way in his black ship, till he hath heard from our lips the voice sweet as the honeycomb, and hath had joy thereof and gone on his way the wiser. For lo, we know all things, all the travail that in wide Troy-land the Argives and Trojans bare by the gods’ designs, yea, and we know all that shall hereafter be upon the fruitful earth.’
‘“Come hither as you pass along [lit. going], O much
praised Ulysses, great glory of the Grecians! stay your ship, that you may hear our voice; for never yet has any one passed by here in a black ship, before he has heard from our lips [lit. mouths] the voice as sweet as honey; but he goes away delighted, and knowing more things. For, indeed, we know all things whatever the Grecians and Trojans suffered by the will of the gods in spacious Troy; and we know whatever things are done on the multitude-feeding earth.”
“Δευρ’ ἄγε come hither ἴων on thy way, πολυαιν’ Ὀδυσσεῦ much-praised Ulysses, μέγα κῦδος great glory Ἀχαιῶν of the Achaeans, κατάστησον stay νῆα thy ship, ἵνα that ἀκούσῃς thou mayest hear ἑοῖτέρην ὄπα our voice. Οὐ γάρ πω for never yet τις has any one παρήλασε passed by τῇδε this way νηῒ μελαίνῃ in a black ship, πρὶν γε ἀκοῦσαι before hearing μελιγηρυν ὄπα the sweet voice ἡμέων ἀπὸ στομάτων from our mouths: ἀλλὰ but ὅγε he νεῖται goes on his way τερψάμενος delighted κἀὶ and εἰδὼς knowing πλείονα more things Ἴδμεν γάρ τοι for truly we know πάντα all things, ὅσα as many as Ἀργεῖοι the Argives, Τρῶες τε and the Trojans ἴδητι by the will θεῶν of the gods μόγησαν endured ἐν Τροίῃ ευρειη in wide Troy; ιδμεν δε and we know οσα what things γενηται are done επι χθονι on the earth πολυβοτειρη nurse of many.”
“‘Come hither, O much-praised Ulysses, great glory of the Grecians, stop thy ship, that thou mayest hear our voice; for no one has yet passed by here in a black ship, before he has heard the sweet voice from our mouths; but he goes away delighted, and acquainted with more things. For we ken all things, whatever the Grecians and Trojans suffered by the will of the gods in spacious Troy; and we know whatever things are done in the food-abounding earth.’
“‘Come hither, O much praised Ulysses, great glory of the Grecians, stop your ship, that you may hear our voice; for no one has yet passed by here in a black ship, before he has heard the sweet voice from our mouths; but he goes away delighted, and acquainted with more things. For we know all things whatever the Grecians and Trojans suffered by the will of the Gods in spacious Troy; and we know whatever things are done in the foodful earth.’