Odyssey 4.23

Odyssey · translated by Samuel Butler

Then Menelaus said, “All that you have been saying, my dear wife, is true. I have travelled much, and have had much to do with heroes, but I have never seen such another man as Ulysses. What endurance too, and what courage he displayed within the wooden horse, wherein all the bravest of the Argives were lying in wait to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans.43 At that moment you came up to us; some god who wished well to the Trojans must have set you on to it and you had Deiphobus with you. Three times did you go all round our hiding place and pat it; you called our chiefs each by his own name, and mimicked all our wives—Diomed, Ulysses, and I from our seats inside heard what a noise you made. Diomed and I could not make up our minds whether to spring out then and there, or to answer you from inside, but Ulysses held us all in check, so we sat quite still, all except Anticlus, who was beginning to answer you, when Ulysses clapped his two brawny hands over his mouth, and kept them there. It was this that saved us all, for he muzzled Anticlus till Minerva took you away again.”

Odyssey 4.23 · Odyssey · 4

Themes in this passage

Marriage Courage Death The Divine Liberation Patience

Marriage in other traditions

The same theme, as Hinduism and Christianity address it.

I am a wife devoted to my husband. I have come of my own accord, it is true. But do not, on that account, treat me with disrespect. I am thy wife and, therefore, deserve to be treated respectfully. Wilt thou not treat me so, because I have come hither of my own accord? In the presence of so many, why dost thou treat me like an ordinary woman? I am not certainly crying in the wilderness. Dost thou not hear me? But if thou refuse to do what I supplicate thee for, O Dushmanta, thy head this moment shall burst into a hundred pieces! The husband entering the womb of the wife cometh out himself in the form of the son. Therefore is the wife called by those cognisant of the Vedas as Jaya (she of whom one is born). And the son that is so born unto persons cognisant of the Vedic Mantras rescueth the spirits of deceased ancestors. And because the son rescueth ancestors from the hell call Put, therefore, hath he been called by the Self-create himself as Puttra (the rescuer from Put). By a son one conquereth the three worlds. By a son’s son, one enjoyeth eternity. And by a grandson’s son great-grand-fathers enjoy everlasting happiness. She is a true wife who is skilful in household affairs. She is a true wife who hath borne a son. She is a true wife whose heart is devoted to her lord. She is a true wife who knoweth none but her lord. The wife is a man’s half. The wife is the first of friends. The wife is the root of religion, profit, and desire. The wife is the root of salvation. They that have wives can perform religious acts. They that have wives can lead domestic lives. They that have wives have the means to be cheerful. They that have wives can achieve good fortune. Sweet-speeched wives are friends on occasions of joy. They are as fathers on occasions of religious acts. They are mothers in sickness and woe. Even in the deep woods to a traveller a wife is his refreshment and solace. He that hath a wife is trusted by all. A wife, therefore, is one’s most valuable possession.

Mbh 1.74.3b · Mahabharata · ADI PARVA

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3 · Bible · 1 Corinthians

1. I call the name of him that comes here, that hath come here, and is arriving; I crave (the name) of Indra, Vritra's slayer, the Visava, of hundredfold strength. 2. The road by which the Asvins carried away as a bride Sûryâ, Savitar's daughter,'by that road,' Bhaga (fortune) told me, 'thou shalt bring here a wife'! With thy wealth-procuring, great, golden hook, O Indra, husband of Sakî, procure a wife for me that desireth a wife!

AV 6.78 · Atharva Veda · 6

27 Happy be thou and prosper witlh thy children here: be vigilant to rule thy household in this home. 28 Her hue is blue and red: the fienod who clingeth close is driven off. 29 Give thou the woollen robe away: deal treasure to the Brahman priests. 30 Unlovely is his body when it glistens with this wicked fiend, 31 Consumptions, from her people, which follow the bride's resplendent train,− 32 Let not the highway thieves who lie in ambush find the wedded pair. 33 Signs of good fortune mark the bride come all of you and look at her. 34 Pungent is this, and bitter this, filled, as it were, with arrow−barbs, Empoisoned and.not fit for use. 35 The fringe, the cloth that decks her head, and then the triply parted robe,− 36 I take thy hand in mine for happy fortune that thou mayst reach old age with me thy husband. 37 O Pusan, send her on as most auspicious, her who shall be the sharer of my pleasures; 38 For thee, with bridal train, they, first, escorted Surya to her home. 39 Agni hath given the bride again with splendour and with ample life. 40 Soma obtained her first of all; next the Gandharva was her lord. 41 Soma to the Gandharva, and to Agni the Gandharva gave: 42 Be ye not parted; dwell ye here reach the full time of human life. 43 So may Prajapati bring children forth to us; may Aryaman adorn us till old age come nigh. 44 Not evil−eyed, no slayer of thy husband, bring weal to cattle, radiant, gentlehearted; 45 O Bounteous Indra, make this bride blest in her sons and fortunate. 46 Over thy husband's father and thy husband's mother bear full sway. 47 So may the Universal Gods, so may the Waters join our hearts.

RV 85 (6)b · Rig Veda · null

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