Imperious
Tales of Woe - The Journey of Odysseus - Part II: From Hades to Ithaca
1. Of Casualties (and the Further Way)
(Instrumental)
Liner Notes:
Enriched with Tereisias’ prophecy concerning his homeland and the disgrace brought by greedy suitors to his family and halls, Odysseus returned to Circe’s realm seeking her wisdom for his further way back home. She presaged the dangers which still impend and how they can be survived. Dangers he couldn’t ever imagine. Circe had warned Odysseus never to listen to the Siren’s song, as their magic will lead him and his men to their island, where they would be forever lost within an enchanted mind. But the forlorn traveller was curious: He advised his crew to seal their ears with wax while they should bind him to the mast, for that he can hear what the sirens will sing...
2. Sirens
Sirens:
“Oh stay, O pride of Greece! Odysseus, stay!
Oh cease thy course, and listen to our lay!
Blest is the man ordain’d our voice to hear,
The song instructs the soul, and charms the ear.
"Approach! thy soul shall into raptures rise!
Approach! and learn new wisdom from the wise!
Approach! thy soul shall into raptures rise!
Approach! and learn new wisdom from the wise!
"We know whate’er the kings of mighty name
Achieved at Ilion in the field of fame;
Whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies.
Oh stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise!”
3. The Isle of the Solar God
a: Passing Skylla and Charybdis
As they have passed the Sirens lure (and freed Odysseus from its bonds
And their ears from the wax) a terrifying roar they heard.
Which let them drop the oar and fear returned to them.
Odysseus:
“My friends don’t be afraid. To danger we are used.
We escaped the cyclops claws and we'll remember this here, too.
Come, steer straight towards...
Come, steer straight towards into the unknown!"
Charydbis, the whirling vortex, opened the ocean’s abyss.
Many ships fell victim to this gushing trap
As those brave men stared inside this pitch black grave
And tried to prevent their ship from drowning.
Skylla, the six-faced monstrosity, surfaced from the waves
And devoured six of the best right from the middle of the ship.
What chaos, what panic, but they escaped this mess.
b: The Isle
Maltreat were their bloody hands as they arrived at the sungod’s lands.
A splendid isle where Helios cattle grazed in peace.
Odysseus:
“Hear my words, ye faithful friends.
Our feet they must not touch that sand.
Misery we will cause out here.
The seer and Circe have presaged.”
Eurylochus:
“You cruel man, we all are starving,
But there’s a rest in sight.
Why should we sail again
Through that dark nocturnal night?
Let us obey this coming shadows.
Soon we’ll return back home.”
Odysseus:
“It shall be! But swear the oath:
Neither cow nor sheep may die!”
And before the night set in Zeus let the thunder cry.
From the south the winds did blow.
They forced Odysseus to bow
To the will of Cronion.
Father - king of kings.
One month they starved, no food remained,
Not anymore they were constrained
By doubts and fears,
So they did slaughter the cattle of the solar god.
While all together took the bait,
Laertes son he did awake.
In shame he fell on his knees
And prayed to the ones above.
Odysseus:
“O sire of men and gods. Immortal Jove!
O all ye blissful powers that reign above!
Why were my cares beguiled in short repose?
O fatal slumber paid with lasting woes!
A deed so dreadful all the gods alarms,
Vengeance is on the wing and heaven in arms!"
Helios:
"Vengeance ye powers!
And then whose hand aims the red bolt
And hurls the writhen brand!
Slain are those herds which I with pride survey!
When through the ports of heaven I pour the day,
Or deep in ocean plunge the burning ray.
Vengeance, ye gods! Or I the skies forego
And bear the lamp of heaven to shades below.
Vengeance! Ye gods! Vengeance! Ye gods!"
After seven days they left this mess on fortunate winds,
Assured to beat the waves.
At the open sea the dark clouds gathered again.
The sungods revenge it will be done.
Zeus in rage let violent lightning strike.
The mast did crack, the sail did burn,
Their loyal ship finally it had to drown
From the south the winds did blow.
They forced Odysseus to bow
To the will of Cronion.
Father - king of all kings.
One month they starved, no food remained,
Not anymore they were constrained
By doubts and fears.
So they did slaughter the cattle of the solar god.
Now Odysseus' careless men
Are crossing the river Styx in shame.
The burden of a condemned soul
Is what they have to bear.
(All men fell victim to this chaos but Odysseus did survive. A floating piece of wood did save his forlorn life. After 9 long days at the oceans hand he stranded on Callypso’s land.)
4. At the Shores of Ithaca
(Instrumental)
Liner Notes:
The gods had compassion with Odysseus, who now mourned the loss of his family and his homeland after 9 years of dwelling in comfort at Callypso’s island, as they sent their messenger Hermes to order the nymph of the ocean to let the forlorn traveller leave. But Poseidon, still mad at Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus, smashed Odysseus’ raft with a mighty storm.
More dead than alive he casted away at king Alcinous’ realm, who granted him the return to Ithaca on one of his ships. After arriving at Ithaca in the shape of an old worn-out beggar, he revealed himself to the loyal swineherd Eumaeus and his son Telemachus, before they forged a deadly and vengeful plan to take back their world...
5. Scorn
Odysseus:
”Oh beloveth Ithaca... the king returned in rags.
You traitors on my throne: my bitter revenge will come!
The king returned! The righteous king returned!
And all of you will die by my hand and I will rule again!”
Melanthios (to Odysseus and Eumaeus):
"Look at you, two of a kind.
Do you mean to cross this precious land?
Scallawags you are!
Stay away from the suitor’s palace
Or you’ll have to dry deep wounds!”
Odysseus (in mind):
”So swear at me! Insult me!
And in the end I will prevail!
Spit into my eyes and hurt me!
‘Cause your deeds I will unveil!
You’ve exploited me and you’ve taunted me
With all of your scorn!”
Eumaeus:
”Daughters of Zeus, nymphs of the holy source!
Let Odysseus return home!
Guarded by a divine one
He will come to judge them for their crimes!”
Melanthios:
”All you gods hear his ridiculous words.
Full of menace they were spoken out.
Shall Apollons bow strike his son to death,
Like the king was striken far from home.”
Odysseus (in mind):
”So swear at me! Insult me!
And in the end I will prevail!
Spit into me eyes and hurt me
‘Cause your deeds I will unveil!
So swear at me! Insult me!
And in the end I will prevail!
You’ve exploited me and you’ve taunted me
But all of your scorn is my gain!”
Odysseus (begging to Antinous):
”My dearest friend, some help I seek
From your archaean hands!
Bless me with a gift and I will spread your praise
Throughout the lands.
‘Cause I was a fortunate man and I gave to those who begged.
But father Zeus took all of my prosperaty
And loaded me with grief.”
Suitors:
”Behold!
Behold!
Behold!”
Antinous:
”Leave this hall you fool!"
Odysseus:
”Your heart is like a stone.”
Antinous:
”Outrageous you behave!”
Odysseus:
”Is mercy unknown to you?”
Antinous:
”Without conscience you are and without conscience you’re done!”
Odysseus:
”My conscience is undefiled!”
Antinous:
”A plague you are, nothing more!”
Odysseus:
”I'm poor and nothing more!”
Odysseus (in mind):
”Let them taunt, let them joke, I will stay patient!
You traitors on my throne, my bitter revenge will come!
Bloody, angry, merciless! I will regain my throne!
United at last with my wife and my son!
My time will come!
”Behold!
Behold!
Behold!
Behold!
Behold!”
6. Bloodbound - The Bow of Odysseus
a: Penelopes Challenge
Penelope:
“Hear! Ye suitors so brave!
You! Who revel in my halls!
Who among you succeed
In stringing Odysseus’ bow
And shooting the arrow
Through those twelve axes
I'll devotedly follow as bride.”
Odysseus (in mind):
“I, I have returned to regain my throne
And they, they will run away from my bloodbound hands!
Taunt and scorn will turn to pain and fear.
And fear and pain will turn to perdition and bane.
They can‘t avert their fate.”
With trembling hands they rose to this challenge
To bend this splendid bow,
But all their effort ended in vain.
This weapon obeys only its lord.
And while they struggled for love,
A beggar in disguise approached.
Vengeance and wrath let sparkle his eyes.
To the swineherd he revealed himself.
Odysseus:
”I, I have returned to regain my throne
And they, they will run away from my bloodbound hands!
Loyal you have been while I had to roam.
I must take revenge on those preyed my halls.
Now hear my command!”
(As the suitors wouldn’t have left the precious bow to an old beggar, Odysseus instructed Eumaeus to grab it and hand it over to him in a
favorable moment. To make sure that not one single traitor would flee from Odysseus’ revenge, he furthermore advised Philotios to close all the doors when the right time has come.)
b: Approaching Doom
(Inside the palace)
Odysseus:
“Ambitious suitors, rest from your strain,
Tomorrow the gods will grant you strength.
Give me that bow that I can attempt
If in my old hands life does still dwell.”
Antinous:
“Miserable stranger, why are you still here?
Amongst us, kindly, we let you dine.
Does your greed know no end at all?
Your life is in danger, our mercy is consumed!”
(Odysseus had enough of the suitors words. He signed to Eumaeus to fetch his bow...)
Antinous (to Eumaeus):
“What are you up to, malignant fool!?
Lay down that bow or my wrath will strike you!”
Telemachus:
“Swineherd, proceed with your task!
Fulfill the orders given to you!”
Eumaeos:
“I am not daunted. Here it is.
Take what has always been yours.”
(to Eurycleia and Philotios:)
"Close all the doors
And keep them locked at all events!”
(The loyal servants fulfilled their orders and the king’s bow lay in Odysseus’ hands again...)
Odysseus (in mind):
“All you traitors! Now my time has come!
All you traitors! Revenge will be done!
All you traitors! You will die by my hand!
All you traitors! Now we come to an end!“
"My faithful friend in hand,
Let me know that I am home!
This feeling of which I dreamt so long...
I will not fail. No mercy I will show.
I can rely myself on my bow with my hand on the string!
”This is the moment
When my journey has come to an end.
I fought, I triumphed, I mourned the dead.
All the misery has come to an end.
For me, not for them.
They have to pay, there is no option.
For exploting and defiling my realm
And abusing my kin!”
(With easiness Odysseus stringed his bow like a bard restrings his lute. Fear appeared in every suitor’s eyes and their skin turned pale.)
Hand off of the string, see the arrow fly.
Passing those axes in a row, one after one.
All the voices hushed and fear arose.
Nobody knew what was going on, noone believed what he’s seen.
In this moment - uncertainty.
c: The Palace of Vengeance
(Then fierce the hero o’er the threshold strode;
Stripp’d of his rags, he blazed out like a god.
Full in their face the lifted bow he bore,
And quiver’d deaths, a formidable store;
Before his feet the rattling shower he threw,
And thus, terrific, to the suitor-crew.)
Odysseus:
“One venturous game this hand hath won to-day,
Another, princes! Yet remains to play;
Another mark our arrow attains.
Phoebus, assist! Nor be the labour vain.”
At first Antinous fell
Speared by an arrow through his throat.
The leader of the suitors drowned
In his own malicious blood.
Eurymachus and Amphinomus,
They tried to stop Odysseus,
But Telemachus and his father
Sent them into the Erebus.
Both loyal herds did aid them
In shining armour and lances strong.
While Melanthios the gutless goatherd
Armed the enemies with swords
(out of the king's chambers).
Athena appeared
In the shape of Mentor the wise.
Odysseus:
“Bestead me in this battle,
True friend of mine.”
Athena:
“Don't lose your courage
And keep up your revenge.”
As a swallow she vanished,
But left protection behind.
(As she guarded Odysseus from the spears the suitors threw at him.)
Odysseus:
“Now it's our turn to throw
Our javelins at the foes.
Now it's our turn to throw
Our javelins at the foes.
Their sacrilege must end.
Our home we must defend!
Their sacrilege must end.
Our home we must defend!”
(All of the remaining suitors were killed by Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philotios in a savage and cruel carnage after the foes had insulted and cursed heavily at the king and his family.)
Now injustice is redeemed.
The righteous king returned.
Peace is about to rise again
Out of this bloodsoaked ground.
Oh what a joy there was,
He was reckoned by his friends,
Embraced by his beloveth family,
Tears filled his foreworn eyes.
(Medon the herald they spared and also Phemius the blind bard and all 12 wicked maids were hanged outside the halls. At last Melanthios died without feet, nose, ears and hands. The king smoked out his hall from greed and with this his work was done.)
7. At the Olive Tree
(Penelope couldn’t believe that this beggar really was her beloveth husband even after her son Telemachos revealed the truth to her. As Odysseus stood in front of her, she tested him with a secret, only he could know...
Odysseus:
“My queen, which god above freezes thy heart and love.
I only want to lay my tired body down.”
Penelope:
”Oh no, for sure I see my Odysseus in thee.
Maid! Translate his bed that he can rest from strain.”
Odysseus:
“Alas! What mortal strength can move that bed by hands.
Around that olive tree it must withstand all times.”)
While yet he speaks, her powers of life decay;
She sickens, trembles, falls and faints away.
Nor had they ended till the morning ray,
But Pallas backward held the rising day.
The wheels of night retarding,
To detain Aurora in the wavy main;
Whose flaming steeds, emerging through the night.
Beam over the eastern hills with streaming light.
- the end -
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