human
Can you write me a poem about aphrodite and menelaos?
assistant
Sure, here's a poem about aphrodite and menelaos:
  reading-books to consist of the classic tales of the country, the
traversed the ground, word by word and sentence by sentence. This
reading-book says:
little volume into three parts, the first of which gives a short
The Greek editor had never read the inane rat and cat stories of
American school "readers" when he wrote that. He continues:
"'The little boy is grieved when told that he is little. Nor does
imagination reaches out and beyond his environments. I find the
stories from Homer to be more suitable reading for young children
"Therefore these stories are held in as high esteem by the German
They were all handsome and heroic young men. One of the youngest,
But the youth was so persistent and unhappy that the king at last
Now, there was a mysterious reason for this strange desire of
royally if he gave his verdict in her favor.
Her husband was one of the most renowned heroes of Hellas, King
This was the chance which wily Aphrodite had contrived for Paris.
Then his heart was filled with great wrath. He set out at once to
After the two brothers had talked over this grave affair, they
But a soothsayer, or seer, had greatly disturbed him by informing
endless wanderings, and loss of comrades.
directing the young Greek warriors with all his heart and soul.
ambassadors and drove them out of their city.
gathered there under the leadership of the celebrated and heroic
chiefs. The commander-in-chief of the whole army was Agamemnon.
Among the renowned leaders were Menelaos, the sagacious Odysseus,
around which the mother circled as if overcome by grief.
So Agamemnon went to Calchas, the seer, and asked his advice,
whereupon the old prophet told him to send for his lovely young
daughter, Iphigeneia, and offer her up on the altar as the only
Menelaos was thrown by wind and waves on the island of Crete, and
But the saddest fate of all overtook Agamemnon, who met his death
Calypso saw him as he came in and knew him. She bade him sit down
Odysseus in the meantime sat by the shore mourning and gazing out
Odysseus was under water a long time, striving in vain to come to
plunged into the boiling waters.
Poseidon saw him, and shaking his head he said: "I verily believe
Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His knees
At the first dawn of day Nausicaä went in haste to her father and
maidens of her train following her on foot.
The repast over, they began to play ball. First the white-armed
Nausicaä sang a song as they frolicked on the sand.
So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding slender
"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar in
suppliant at thy feet, although I am in sore distress, for great
misfortunes have befallen me.
Nausicaä looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: "Stranger, thou
The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of the
After Nausicaä had mounted to her seat on the cart, she said to
Odysseus: "Get ready now, stranger, and we will lead thee to my
neighbor. Follow me, and I will lead thee thither. But on the way
ships, the great market-place, and the high walls of the city.
When they reached the palace, the girl stopped and said: "This is
"She is greatly honored by the king, and all the people treat her
bewildered by the splendor. The walls were of brass, the doors of
ripening their fruit.
Alkinoös had received from the gods.
supplication.
Odysseus remained in the hall with Aretè and Alkinoös. As they
sailors to escort him home.
Phæacians. All the princes instantly arose and walked down to the
When the chiefs had taken their seats a great number of young men
Then the friends of Laodamas advised him to challenge Odysseus to
"Methinks thou art the owner of some merchant-vessel. Thou art a
trader, whose head is full of bargains. Such men can take heed of
Having said this, Odysseus seized a much larger and heavier quoit
greatly admired the swift and rhythmical movements of their feet.
They both danced, going through intricate and rhythmical figures,
These words pleased Alkinoös greatly, and he said to his people:
fragrant oil and put on fresh garments.
Odysseus answered: "May the gods be as sure to favor my return to
destruction.
"And I cannot think of anything more delightful than the joy of a
"I am the chieftain Odysseus, son of Laertes, and widely known to
"Brisk handling of our oars soon carried us out into the sea, but
"Nine days and nine nights we were driven about on the sea by the
"When our hunger was satisfied, I sent out two of the best men to
bitterly when I commanded them to return to the ships, and I was
obliged to force them to go.
"There is a little woody island lying at the entrance to the land
"We were shaping our course toward this island, and a good breeze
"The next day I started with twelve men, the crew of my own ship,
towering above other mountains, than a human being.
"But I would not allow this. It was my wish to stay there and see
"After these words he fell asleep and, being very drunk, he began
"He called to the other Cyclops, who lived in divers caves on the
Polyphemus? Is anyone trying to kill thee?' 'Woe is me!' cried
"The rock fell in front of my ship, and the waves which it raised
excite the dangerous monster further; but when we were a long way
"When Polyphemus heard these words he gave a deep groan, and said
smooth rocks and guarded by a wall of shining brass.
"Æolus had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and they
"Æolus welcomed us hospitably and kept us with him a whole month.
"I took the great bag of winds and bound it fast to the main mast
"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking their
"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his
especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female,
"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had fallen
"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who had
"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love--thy wife, thy
"To all this my mother answered: 'My son, Penelope is in the home
"So spake my mother, and I longed to clasp her to my heart. Three
"Whereupon the king told me the dire story of his home-coming and
conjectures;' and we wept as I spoke."
"I answered: 'Godlike Achilles, I came here to consult the seer
Tiresias about my return to my own country, for I have never yet
reached Grecian soil, but have wandered about suffering great
"When we reached Circè's isle, we dragged our vessel up on to the
"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay the
"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and Charybdis
"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day and
indeed, any living creature that passes that way.
Charybdis seizes thy ship all must perish.
"Thus they sang, and their songs thrilled me. A great desire came
comrades to set me free. But they sprang up and bound other cords
"Hardly had we escaped from the Sirens when we beheld a black fog
hastened from one end of the boat to the other, speaking cheerful
outstretched toward me as they were lifted up into the air, and I
remembered the words of Tiresias and Circè, and I advised my
"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on the
starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these cattle and
sufficient redress, for the cattle were dead.
"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it nearly
All the guests had listened with deep attention to the recital of
banquet was spread for them.
When the morning star arose the ship reached Ithaca. It entered a
thwarted. He at once complained to Zeus that the Phæacians had
restored Odysseus to his native land, with gifts finer and more
The ship had gone, and it was broad daylight when Odysseus awoke.
There were tripods and vases of gold and brass and beautiful
welfare of his master than did all the rest of the servants whom
"The gods have already sent me trouble enough. Here I sit weeping
Odysseus followed the swineherd into the cabin. Eumaios threw an
Odysseus was gratified at this kind reception, and said to the
Odysseus replied: "Thou dost see that I am half naked for want of
Odysseus might come. But now, as if we had not troubles enough, a
"But tell me, dear old man, from what country dost thou come? Who
The time had not yet come when Odysseus thought it best to reveal
Returning, he wandered about, and, after many adventures, met
Odysseus again getting ready to return to Ithaca. As for himself,
Eumaios took a sharp sword and thick mantle and went out near the
Then Athena tied golden sandals under her feet and taking a long,
Telemachos asked the stranger his name and country.
"I am Mentor, son of the Taphian King," said Athena. "I came here
Athena grew angry at this, and said: "I would that Odysseus might
"Then launch thy finest ship. Man it with twenty good oarsmen and
"Thou art no longer a child, and it is not seemly to allow such
"Thou hast spoken to me as a father speaks to a son," answered
Then said Telemachos: "My mother, let thy heart be strong to bear
before they went home.
"I have not summoned you, my friends," he said, "in order that ye
"She went on in this way, weaving the great web by day, and every
Mentor, the stanch friend and adviser of Odysseus, sat among the
appeared to him the day before to come to his assistance. At once
Eurycleia, alone. He revealed to her his intention, and asked her
When the old nurse heard this she wept and beat her breast. "Dear
The Ithacans touched land. Telemachos and Athena disembarked,
Here they found many guests assembled at the wedding banquet of
One of the attendants of Menelaos saw the strangers drive up, and
strangers welcome to the feast.
Menelaos was heartily glad to hear that his guest was really
They spent the rest of the day in making the festival as cheerful
Menelaos was indignant over the young man's wrongs.
"'I will perform that rite speedily, oh prophet,' I replied. 'But
"He was welcome to the ship," replied Noëmon. "Who would not have
This wicked plot of the suitors was betrayed to the queen, by her
In the meantime the suitors spoke among themselves, for they were
Telemachos urged a hasty departure and Menelaos did not think it
All day the horses bounded on shaking their splendid harness. The
wagged their tails without barking.
"Thy mother is still at home," replied the sturdy swineherd. "She
"Thy words are sharp, dear stranger, and I shall answer them with
"My father," answered Telemachos, "thy sweet fame has resounded
When Telemachos came into the public square the suitors thronged
around him with smooth speeches, but in their hearts they kept on
But Eumaios grew angry and said: "Melanthios, wait till Odysseus
After awhile Odysseus and Eumaios came to the house. As they drew
Eumaios replied: "True, my friend, this is the house of Odysseus.
They were standing near the stable doors while talking. The filth
The swineherd passed on into the hall where the suitors sat, but
Melanthios, the goatherd, and the favorite of Eurymachos, wishing
Eumaios answered him most courteously: "Antinoös, though thou art
Antinoös made response: "Telemachos, thou boaster, if each suitor
Antinoös spoke again with insulting words, and one of the guests
rebuked him. He was so angry, however, that he did not heed it.
inquire."
The queen thought the beggar's answer was a prudent one, and was
dining-hall awaiting the arrival of Penelope. She was not long in
Odysseus: "Art thou here, thou beggar! Begone, or I will take a
"Strong ties of friendship bind me to Odysseus. Twenty years ago,
thirteenth a favorable wind arose and they went on to Troy."
"He was accompanied by a herald named Eurybates, a hunchback with
Penelope admired the prudence of the poor old beggar, and called
"Stranger, I will wash thy feet for the sake of my absent master,
"There are from day to day assembled in my home all the young men
"Dreams do not always come to pass," rejoined Penelope, "but I
Odysseus was lying on his bed, but he could not sleep, for he was
Penelope now entered the great hall and took her seat upon a
magnificent throne, right in front of the suitors. She heard the
maudlin laughter and saw the gluttonous feasting as the revel ran
Antinoös lifted up his voice and chid them: "Ye foolish peasants,
Then Telemachos took up the bow and laughed. "I must have lost my
Telemachos took off his cloak and laid his sword aside. He placed
Odysseus begged them to desist, lest the suitors should notice it
Eurymachos and Antinoös were the last to make trial of the bow.
"Nay, Eurymachos," replied Penelope, "real shame comes on him who
Even yet they were blind to the fact that the stranger had slain
"Dogs," cried Odysseus, "ye little thought your chief would ever
A dreadful frown spread over Odysseus' face, and he replied:
Melanthios, the goatherd, had sneaked in and was slyly bringing
banquet." They locked the doors and left him there and took their
Odysseus and Telemachos and their faithful servants hurled their
lances, and the weapons always hit the mark. The cowherd struck
Four of the wooers fell to the ground at once and the remainder
Odysseus searched up and down the hall to see if any suitor could
When this was done, they were driven like a flock of birds into a
chieftain and welcomed him with glad salutations. They kissed his
Penelope rose from her couch and seized Eurycleia by the hands.
"My daughter," said the aged nurse, "what words are these? I
Penelope descended from her royal bower uncertain how to meet her
Odysseus smiled and said: "My son, be patient, and let thy mother
"And let the minstrel bring his lyre and strike up such music as
prompts the dance, so that those living near us may report that a
Thus spoke the monarch, and his commands were gladly obeyed.
dancing.
After awhile those outside were heard to say: "Shame on Penelope!
Meantime Odysseus followed a servant to the bath, and when he had
There Odysseus saw his father working around a young tree that he
deserves better things. Thy face does not look like the face of a
Odysseus was overcome with pity, and invented a tale to prepare
Penelope in all the coming ages."
Then Odysseus cried out to Telemachos: "Now is the moment to show
A chil' les--also called Pelides, the hero of the "Iliad." He was
Æ gē' an--a sea east of Greece.
Æ' o lus--the keeper of the winds, and king of Lipara, one of the
Ag a mem' non--leader of all the Greek chiefs in the Trojan war.
Al ex ăn' drŏs--Paris, son of Priam.
Al kin' ŏ ös--king of Scheria, father of Nausicaä. He gave aid to
An tin' o ös--the boldest of the suitors.
A re' tè (ä rā' tā)--wife of Alkinoös and queen of Scheria.
Ar e thū' sa--a spring "where the swine of Eumaios ate 'abundance
Greece--Ithaca.) Arethusa was also the name of a water-nymph
inhabiting the spring.
flowers.
A thē' nē, or Athena; Latin, Minerva--the patron deity of Athens.
A' treus (a' trūse)--son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon.
Greeks and the knowledge of working in metals.
Cal' chas, or Kalchas--a soothsayer. He offended Agamemnon by
Cir' cè, or Kirkē--the daughter of Hēlios, the Sun. She was an
Dē mod' o kos--a bard at the court of Alkinoös.
E' lis--a district and a city in the northwestern part of the
Eu mai' os, or Eumæus--the swineherd of Odysseus.
Eu rō' tas--a river of southern Greece.
Eu ry' a los--a son of Alkinoös.
Eu ry' lŏ chos, or Eurylochus--one of the companions of Odysseus.
Eu ry' ma chos, or Eurymachus--one of the suitors of Penelope.
Hel' en, or Helenē--a daughter of Tyndareus and Leda. She was the
Hel' las--Greece, the land of the Hellenes.
Hē' li os--the god of the Sun.
Her mi' ŏ ne--the daughter of Menelaos and Helen.
I' da--a mountain of Asia Minor, east of Troy.
I' no, or Leucothea--a daughter of Cadmus, a sea-nymph who helped
famous woman one must read the "Iphigeneia in Aulis" of Euripides
consequence of the raids of pirates and the Turkish wars, and did
Ktes ip' pos, or Ctesippus--one of the suitors of Penelope.
Lak e dai' mon, or Lacedæmon--a district in southeastern Greece.
Sparta was its capital.
La ër' tes--the father of Odysseus.
La o' da màs--a son of Alkinoös.
La o' co ön, or Laokoön--a young priest of Apollo. He warned the
Trojans not to accept the wooden horse left by the Greeks and was
Me lăn' thi os--a servant of Odysseus, a goatherd who sympathized
Men' tor--the wise counsellor of Telemachos.
Mi' nos--a son of Zeus and ruler over Crete.
Mo' ly--a fabulous plant having magic properties. It had a white
blossom and a black root.
Nau sic' a ä--the daughter of Alkinoös.
Nē ŏp tŏl' ĕ mŏs--the son of Achilles.
O ke' a nos, or Oceanus--the god of the river Oceanus, and son of
O rĕs' tēs--the son of Agamemnon.
Par' is, or Alexandros--a son of Priam. At his birth there was a
Peloponnesus, and even Mount Korax.
Pei sis' tra tos--a son of Nestor.
Pē' leus--the father of Achilles.
Pel op on nēs' us--the peninsula of lower Greece.
Baedeker's Greece--Eleusis.)
Phē' mi os--a bard at the court of Odysseus.
Phor' kys--the harbor where the Phæacians landed Odysseus on his
Pol y phe' mus, or Polyphemos or Cyclops--the son of Poseidon. He
Pri' am, or Priamos--king of Troy and father of Paris.
Skyl' la--a rock in southwestern Italy. It was supposed to be the
Sky' ros--a large island east of Greece.
Sim' o is--a river in the Troad, and a branch of the Scamander.
Spar' ta--a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the
ancient greatness.
Tan' ta los--a king of Phrygia punished by the gods for treachery
Tē lĕ' ma chos--the son of Odysseus and Penelope.
Ten' e dos--an island in the neighborhood of Troy or Ilium.
ruler of Athens.
Thes' sa ly--a large province of northern Greece.
Thĕ' tis--a sea-nymph, the mother of Achilles.
Ti res' ias, or Teiresias--a Theban seer. He retained his
consciousness after death, and Odysseus descended into Hades to
consult with him before he could reach Ithaca.
Za' kyn thos, or Zante--an island near Corfù.