George Herbert Palmer

George Herbert Palmer (March 9, 1842 – May 7, 1933) was an American scholar and author. Quotes Translations The Odyssey of Homer: Books I-XII (1884) Σοὶ πρῶτον σπένδω ἡ μοί ποτε δῶκας ἰδέσθαιΝαυσικάαν Ἑλένης τε χάριν καὶ Πηνελόπειαν. Epigraph Tell me, O Muse, of an adventurous man who wandered far, when he had overthrown the sacred hold of Troy. Many the men whose towns he saw, whose ways he proved; and many a pang he bore in his own breast at sea while struggling for his life and his men's safe return. But even so, by all his zeal, he did not save his men; for through their own perversity they perished — fools! who devoured the kine of the exalted sun. Wherefore he took away the day of their return. Of this, O goddess, daughter of Zeus, beginning where thou wilt, speak even to us. Book I, line 1 Now all the others who were saved from utter ruin were at home, safe both from war and sea. Him only, longing for his home and wife, a potent nymph, Kalypso, a heavenly goddess, held in her hollow grotto, desiring him to be her husband. Book I, line 13 Straightway she cast into the wine of which they drank a drug which quenches pain and strife, and brings forgetfulness of every ill. He who should taste it, mingled in the bowl, would not that day let tears fall down his cheeks although his mother and his father died, although before his door a brother or dear son were cut off by the sword, and his own eyes beheld. Book IV, line 220 Then gathered there spirits from out of Erebos of those now dead and gone, — brides, and unwedded youths, and worn old men, delicate maids with hearts but new to sorrow, and many pierced with brazen spears, men slain in fight, wearing their blood-stained armor. In crowds around the pit they flocked from every side, with awful wail. Book XI, lines 36–40 When then chaste Persephonê had scattered here and there those spirits of tender women, there came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sorrowing. Around thronged other spirits of such as by his side had died at the house of Aigisthos, and there had met their doom. He knew me as soon as he had tasted the dark blood; and then he wailed aloud and let the big tears fall, and stretched his hands forth eagerly to grasp me. But no, there was no strength or vigor left, such as was once within his supple limbs. I wept to see, and pitied him from my heart. Book XI, lines 386–95 The Odyssey of Homer (1894) Speak to me, Muse, of the adventurous man who wandered long after he sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. . . . Yet even so, by all his zeal, he did not save his men; . . . . Of this, O goddess, daughter of Zeus, beginning where thou wilt, speak to us also. Book I, line 1 But in her upper chamber heedful Penelope still lay fasting, tasting neither food nor drink, anxious whether her gentle son would escape death, or by the audacious suitors be borne down; as doubts a lion in a crowd of men, in terror as they draw the crafty circle round him. To her in such anxiety sweet slumber came, and lying back she slept and every joint relaxed. Book IV, lines 787–94 Papa dear, could you not have the wagon harnessed for me, — the high one, with good wheels, — to take my nice clothes to the river to be washed, which now are lying dirty? Book VI, line 57 (Nausicaä) External links Category:1842 births Category:1933 deaths Category:Non-fiction authors from the United States Category:Translators from the United States Category:Translators of Homer Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Harvard University faculty Category:People from Boston