s: was the skin stript from his strong hand against the rocks,


s: and the great wave closed over him. There of a truth would


s: luckless Odysseus have perished beyond that which was


s: ordained, had not grey-eyed Athene given him sure counsel.


s: He rose from the line of the breakers that belch upon the


s: shore, and swam outside, ever looking landwards, to find,


s: if he might, spits that take the waves aslant, and havens


s: of the sea. But when he came in his swimming over against


s: the mouth of a fair-flowing river, whereby the place seemed


s: best in his eyes, smooth of rocks, and withal there was a


s: covert from the wind, Odysseus felt the river running, and


s: 'Hear me, O king, whosoever thou art; unto thee am I come,


s: as to one to whom prayer is made, while I flee the rebukes


s: of Poseidon from the deep. Yea, reverend even to the


s: deathless gods is that man who comes as a wanderer, even as


s: I now have come to thy stream and to thy knees after much


s: travail. Nay pity me, O king; for I avow myself thy


s: So spake he, and the god straightway stayed his stream and


s: withheld his waves, and made the water smooth before him,


s: and brought him safely to the mouths of the river. And his


s: knees bowed and his stout hands fell, for his heart was


s: broken by the brine. And his flesh was all swollen and a


s: great stream of sea water gushed up through his mouth and


s: nostrils. So he lay without breath or speech, swooning,


s: such terrible weariness came upon him. But when now his


s: breath returned and his spirit came to him again, he loosed


s: from off him the veil of the goddess, and let it fall into


s: the salt flowing river. And the great wave bare it back


s: down the stream, and lightly Ino caught it in her hands.


s: Then Odysseus turned from the river, and fell back in the


s: reeds, and kissed earth, the grain-giver, and heavily he


s: 'Ah, woe is me! What is to betide me? What shall happen


s: unto me at the last? If I watch the river bed all through


s: the careful night, I fear that the bitter frost and fresh


s: dew may overcome me, as I breathe forth my life for


s: faintness, for the river breeze blows cold betimes in the


s: morning. But if I climb the hill-side up to the shady wood,


s: and there take rest in the thickets, though perchance the


s: cold and weariness leave hold of me, and sweet sleep may


s: come over me, I fear lest of wild beasts I become the spoil


s: So as he thought thereon this seemed to him the better way.


s: He went up to the wood, and found it nigh the water in a


s: place of wide prospect. So he crept beneath twin bushes


s: that grew from one stem, both olive trees, one of them wild


s: olive. Through these the force of the wet winds blew never,


s: neither did the bright sun light on it with his rays, nor


s: could the rain pierce through, so close were they twined


s: either to other; and thereunder crept Odysseus and anon he


s: heaped together with his hands a broad couch; for of fallen


s: leaves there was great plenty, enough to cover two or three


s: men in winter time, however hard the weather. And the


s: steadfast goodly Odysseus beheld it and rejoiced, and he


s: laid him in the midst thereof and flung over him the fallen


s: leaves. And as when a man hath hidden away a brand in the


s: black embers at an upland farm, one that hath no neighbours


s: nigh, and so saveth the seed of fire, that he may not have


s: to seek a light otherwhere, even so did Odysseus cover him


s: with the leaves. And Athene shed sleep upon his eyes, that


s: so it might soon release him from his weary travail,


s: Nausicaa, going to a river near that place to wash the


s: clothes of her father, mother, and brethren, while the


s: clothes were drying played with her maids at ball; and


s: Odysseus coming forth is fed and clothed, and led on his


s: way to the house of her father, King Alcinous.


s: So there he lay asleep, the steadfast goodly Odysseus,


s: fordone with toil and drowsiness. Meanwhile Athene went to


s: the land and the city of the Phaeacians, who of old, upon a


s: time, dwelt in spacious Hypereia; near the Cyclopes they


s: dwelt, men exceeding proud, who harried them continually,


s: being mightier than they. Thence the godlike Nausithous


s: made them depart, and he carried them away, and planted


s: them in Scheria, far off from men that live by bread. And


s: he drew a wall around the town, and builded houses and made


s: temples for the gods and meted out the fields. Howbeit ere


s: this had he been stricken by fate, and had gone down to the


s: house of Hades, and now Alcinous was reigning, with wisdom


s: granted by the gods. To his house went the goddess,


s: grey-eyed Athene, devising a return for the great-hearted


s: Odysseus. She betook her to the rich-wrought bower, wherein


s: was sleeping a maiden like to the gods in form and


s: comeliness, Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous, high of


s: heart. Beside her on either hand of the pillars of the door


s: were two handmaids, dowered with beauty from the Graces,


s: But the goddess, fleet as the breath of the wind, swept


s: towards the couch of the maiden, and stood above her head,


s: and spake to her in the semblance of the daughter of a


s: famous seafarer, Dymas, a girl of like age with Nausicaa,


s: who had found grace in her sight. In her shape the


s: grey-eyed Athene spake to the princess, saying:


s: 'Nausicaa, how hath thy mother so heedless a maiden to her


s: daughter? Lo, thou hast shining raiment that lies by thee


s: uncared for, and thy marriage day is near at hand, when


s: thou thyself must needs go beautifully clad, and have


s: garments to give to them who shall lead thee to the house


s: of the bridegroom! And, behold, these are the things whence


s: a good report goes abroad among men, wherein a father and


s: lady mother take delight. But come, let us arise and go


s: a-washing with the breaking of the day, and I will follow


s: with thee to be thy mate in the toil, that without delay


s: thou mayst get thee ready, since truly thou art not long to


s: be a maiden. Lo, already they are wooing thee, the noblest


s: youths of all the Phaeacians, among that people whence thou


s: thyself dost draw thy lineage. So come, beseech thy noble


s: father betimes in the morning to furnish thee with mules


s: and a wain to carry the men's raiment, and the robes, and


s: the shining coverlets. Yea and for thyself it is seemlier


s: far to go thus than on foot, for the places where we must


s: So spake the grey-eyed Athene, and departed to Olympus,


s: where, as they say, is the seat of the gods that standeth


s: fast for ever. Not by winds is it shaken, nor ever wet with


s: rain, nor doth the snow come nigh thereto, but most clear


s: air is spread about it cloudless, and the white light


s: floats over it. Therein the blessed gods are glad for all


s: their days, and thither Athene went when she had shown


s: Anon came the throned Dawn, and awakened Nausicaa of the


s: fair robes, who straightway marvelled on the dream, and


s: went through the halls to tell her parents, her father dear


s: and her mother. And she found them within, her mother


s: sitting by the hearth with the women her handmaids,


s: spinning yarn of sea-purple stain, but her father she met


s: as he was going forth to the renowned kings in their


s: council, whither the noble Phaeacians called him. Standing


s: close by her dear father she spake, saying: 'Father, dear,


s: couldst thou not lend me a high waggon with strong wheels,


s: that I may take the goodly raiment to the river to wash, so


s: much as I have lying soiled? Yea and it is seemly that thou


s: thyself, when thou art with the princes in council,


s: shouldest have fresh raiment to wear. Also, there are five


s: dear sons of thine in the halls, two married, but three are


s: lusty bachelors, and these are always eager for new-washen


s: garments wherein to go to the dances; for all these things


s: This she said, because she was ashamed to speak of glad


s: marriage to her father; but he saw all and answered,


s: 'Neither the mules nor aught else do I grudge thee, my


s: child. Go thy ways, and the thralls shall get thee ready a


s: high waggon with good wheels, and fitted with an upper


s: Therewith he called to his men, and they gave ear, and


s: without the palace they made ready the smooth-running


s: mule-wain, and led the mules beneath the yoke, and


s: harnessed them under the car, while the maiden brought


s: forth from her bower the shining raiment. This she stored


s: in the polished car, and her mother filled a basket with


s: all manner of food to the heart's desire, dainties too she


s: set therein, and she poured wine into a goat-skin bottle,


s: while Nausicaa climbed into the wain. And her mother gave


s: her soft olive oil also in a golden cruse, that she and her


s: maidens might anoint themselves after the bath. Then


s: Nausicaa took the whip and the shining reins, and touched


s: the mules to start them; then there was a clatter of hoofs,


s: and on they strained without flagging, with their load of


s: the raiment and the maiden. Not alone did she go, for her


s: Now when they were come to the beautiful stream of the


s: river, where truly were the unfailing cisterns, and bright


s: water welled up free from beneath, and flowed past, enough


s: to wash the foulest garments clean, there the girls


s: unharnessed the mules from under the chariot, and turning


s: them loose they drove them along the banks of the eddying


s: river to graze on the honey-sweet clover. Then they took


s: the garments from the wain, in their hands, and bore them


s: to the black water, and briskly trod them down in the


s: trenches, in busy rivalry. Now when they had washed and


s: cleansed all the stains, they spread all out in order along


s: the shore of the deep, even where the sea, in beating on


s: the coast, washed the pebbles clean. Then having bathed and


s: anointed them well with olive oil, they took their mid-day


s: meal on the river's banks, waiting till the clothes should


s: dry in the brightness of the sun. Anon, when they were


s: satisfied with food, the maidens and the princess, they


s: fell to playing at ball, casting away their tires, and


s: among them Nausicaa of the white arms began the song. And


s: even as Artemis, the archer, moveth down the mountain,


s: either along the ridges of lofty Taygetus or Erymanthus,


s: taking her pastime in the chase of boars and swift deer,


s: and with her the wild wood-nymphs disport them, the


s: daughters of Zeus, lord of the aegis, and Leto is glad at


s: heart, while high over all she rears her head and brows,


s: and easily may she be known,--but all are fair; even so the


s: But when now she was about going homewards, after yoking


s: the mules and folding up the goodly raiment, then grey-eyed


s: Athene turned to other thoughts, that so Odysseus might


s: awake, and see the lovely maiden, who should be his guide


s: to the city of the Phaeacian men. So then the princess


s: threw the ball at one of her company; she missed the girl,


s: and cast the ball into the deep eddying current, whereat


s: they all raised a piercing cry. Then the goodly Odysseus


s: awoke and sat up, pondering in his heart and spirit:


s: 'Woe is me! to what men's land am I come now? say, are they


s: froward, and wild, and unjust, or are they hospitable, and


s: of God-fearing mind? How shrill a cry of maidens rings


s: round me, of the nymphs that hold the steep hill-tops, and


s: the river-springs, and the grassy water meadows! It must


s: be, methinks, that I am near men of human speech. Go to, I


s: Therewith the goodly Odysseus crept out from under the


s: coppice, having broken with his strong hand a leafy bough


s: from the thick wood, to hold athwart his body, that it


s: might hide his nakedness withal. And forth he sallied like


s: a lion mountain-bred, trusting in his strength, who fares


s: out blown and rained upon, with flaming eyes; amid the kine


s: he goes or amid the sheep or in the track of the wild deer;


s: yea, his belly bids him go even to the good homestead to


s: make assay upon the flocks. Even so Odysseus was fain to


s: draw nigh to the fair-tressed maidens, all naked as he was,


s: such need had come upon him. But he was terrible in their


s: eyes, being marred with the salt sea foam, and they fled


s: cowering here and there about the jutting spits of shore.


s: And the daughter of Alcinous alone stood firm, for Athene


s: gave her courage of heart, and took all trembling from her


s: limbs. So she halted and stood over against him, and


s: Odysseus considered whether he should clasp the knees of


s: the lovely maiden, and so make his prayer, or should stand


s: as he was, apart, and beseech her with smooth words, if


s: haply she might show him the town, and give him raiment.


s: And as he thought within himself, it seemed better to stand


s: apart, and beseech her with smooth words, lest the maiden


s: should be angered with him if he touched her knees: so


s: straightway he spake a sweet and cunning word:


s: 'I supplicate thee, O queen, whether thou art a goddess or


s: a mortal! If indeed thou art a goddess of them that keep


s: the wide heaven; to Artemis, then, the daughter of great


s: Zeus, I mainly liken thee, for beauty and stature and


s: shapeliness. But if thou art one of the daughters of men


s: who dwell on earth, thrice blessed are thy father and thy


s: lady mother, and thrice blessed thy brethren. Surely their


s: souls ever glow with gladness for thy sake, each time they


s: see thee entering the dance, so fair a flower of maidens.


s: But he is of heart the most blessed beyond all other who


s: shall prevail with gifts of wooing, and lead thee to his


s: home. Never have mine eyes beheld such an one among


s: mortals, neither man nor woman; great awe comes upon me as


s: I look on thee. Yet in Delos once I saw as goodly a thing:


s: a young sapling of a palm tree springing by the altar of


s: Apollo. For thither too I went, and much people with me, on


s: that path where my sore troubles were to be. Yea, and when


s: I looked thereupon, long time I marvelled in spirit,--for


s: never grew there yet so goodly a shoot from ground,--even


s: in such wise as I wonder at thee, lady, and am astonied and


s: do greatly fear to touch thy knees, though grievous sorrow


s: is upon me. Yesterday, on the twentieth day, I escaped from


s: the wine-dark deep, but all that time continually the wave


s: bare me, and the vehement winds drave, from the isle


s: Ogygia. And now some god has cast me on this shore, that


s: here too, methinks, some evil may betide me; for I trow not


s: that trouble will cease; the gods ere that time will yet


s: bring many a thing to pass. But, queen, have pity on me,


s: for after many trials and sore to thee first of all am I


s: come, and of the other folk, who hold this city and land, I


s: know no man. Nay show me the town, give me an old garment


s: to cast about me, if thou hadst, when thou camest here, any


s: wrap for the linen. And may the gods grant thee all thy


s: heart's desire: a husband and a home, and a mind at one


s: with his may they give--a good gift, for there is nothing


s: mightier and nobler than when man and wife are of one heart


s: and mind in a house, a grief to their foes, and to their


s: friends great joy, but their own hearts know it best.'


s: Then Nausicaa of the white arms answered him, and said:


s: 'Stranger, forasmuch as thou seemest no evil man nor


s: foolish--and it is Olympian Zeus himself that giveth weal


s: to men, to the good and to the evil, to each one as he


s: will, and this thy lot doubtless is of him, and so thou


s: must in anywise endure it:--and now, since thou hast come


s: to our city and our land, thou shalt not lack raiment, nor


s: aught else that is the due of a hapless suppliant, when he


s: has met them who can befriend him. And I will show thee the


s: town, and name the name of the people. The Phaeacians hold


s: this city and land, and I am the daughter of Alcinous,


s: great of heart, on whom all the might and force of the


s: Thus she spake, and called to her maidens of the fair


s: tresses: 'Halt, my maidens, whither flee ye at the sight of


s: a man? Ye surely do not take him for an enemy? That mortal


s: breathes not, and never will be born, who shall come with


s: war to the land of the Phaeacians, for they are very dear


s: to the gods. Far apart we live in the wash of the waves,


s: the outermost of men, and no other mortals are conversant


s: with us. Nay, but this man is some helpless one come hither


s: in his wanderings, whom now we must kindly entreat, for all


s: strangers and beggars are from Zeus, and a little gift is


s: dear. So, my maidens, give the stranger meat and drink, and


s: bathe him in the river, where withal is a shelter from the


s: So she spake, but they had halted and called each to the


s: other, and they brought Odysseus to the sheltered place,


s: and made him sit down, as Nausicaa bade them, the daughter


s: of Alcinous, high of heart. Beside him they laid a mantle,


s: and a doublet for raiment, and gave him soft olive oil in


s: the golden cruse, and bade him wash in the streams of the


s: river. Then goodly Odysseus spake among the maidens,


s: saying: 'I pray you stand thus apart, while I myself wash


s: the brine from my shoulders, and anoint me with olive oil,


s: for truly oil is long a stranger to my skin. But in your


s: sight I will not bathe, for I am ashamed to make me naked


s: in the company of fair-tressed maidens.'


s: Then they went apart and told all to their lady. But with


s: the river water the goodly Odysseus washed from his skin


s: the salt scurf that covered his back and broad shoulders,


s: and from his head he wiped the crusted brine of the barren


s: sea. But when he had washed his whole body, and anointed


s: him with olive oil, and had clad himself in the raiment


s: that the unwedded maiden gave him, then Athene, the


s: daughter of Zeus, made him greater and more mighty to


s: behold, and from his head caused deep curling locks to


s: flow, like the hyacinth flower. And as when some skilful


s: man overlays gold upon silver--one that Hephaestus and


s: Pallas Athene have taught all manner of craft, and full of


s: grace is his handiwork--even so did Athene shed grace about


s: Then to the shore of the sea went Odysseus apart, and sat


s: down, glowing in beauty and grace, and the princess


s: marvelled at him, and spake among her fair-tressed maidens,


s: 'Listen, my white-armed maidens, and I will say somewhat.


s: Not without the will of all the gods who hold Olympus hath


s: this man come among the godlike Phaeacians. Erewhile he


s: seemed to me uncomely, but now he is like the gods that


s: keep the wide heaven. Would that such an one might be


s: called my husband, dwelling here, and that it might please


s: him here to abide! But come, my maidens, give the stranger


s: Thus she spake, and they gave ready ear and hearkened, and


s: set beside Odysseus meat and drink, and the steadfast


s: goodly Odysseus did eat and drink eagerly, for it was long


s: Now Nausicaa of the white arms had another thought. She


s: folded the raiment and stored it in the goodly wain, and


s: yoked the mules strong of hoof, and herself climbed into


s: the car. Then she called on Odysseus, and spake and hailed


s: him: 'Up now, stranger, and rouse thee to go to the city,


s: that I may convey thee to the house of my wise father,


s: where, I promise thee, thou shalt get knowledge of all the


s: noblest of the Phaeacians. But do thou even as I tell thee,


s: and thou seemest a discreet man enough. So long as we are


s: passing along the fields and farms of men, do thou fare


s: quickly with the maidens behind the mules and the chariot,


s: and I will lead the way. But when we set foot within the


s: city,--whereby goes a high wall with towers, and there is a


s: fair haven on either side of the town, and narrow is the


s: entrance, and curved ships are drawn up on either hand of


s: the mole, for all the folk have stations for their vessels,


s: each man one for himself. And there is the place of


s: assembly about the goodly temple of Poseidon, furnished


s: with heavy stones, deep bedded in the earth. There men look


s: to the gear of the black ships, hawsers and sails, and


s: there they fine down the oars. For the Phaeacians care not


s: for bow nor quiver, but for masts, and oars of ships, and


s: gallant barques, wherein rejoicing they cross the grey sea.


s: Their ungracious speech it is that I would avoid, lest some


s: man afterward rebuke me, and there are but too many


s: insolent folk among the people. And some one of the baser


s: sort might meet me and say: "Who is this that goes with


s: Nausicaa, this tall and goodly stranger? Where found she


s: him? Her husband he will be, her very own. Either she has


s: taken in some shipwrecked wanderer of strange men,--for no


s: men dwell near us; or some god has come in answer to her


s: instant prayer; from heaven has he descended, and will have


s: her to wife for evermore. Better so, if herself she has


s: ranged abroad and found a lord from a strange land, for


s: verily she holds in no regard the Phaeacians here in this


s: country, the many men and noble who are her wooers." So


s: will they speak, and this would turn to my reproach. Yea,


s: and I myself would think it blame of another maiden who did


s: such things in despite of her friends, her father and


s: mother being still alive, and was conversant with men


s: before the day of open wedlock. But, stranger, heed well


s: what I say, that as soon as may be thou mayest gain at my


s: father's hands an escort and a safe return. Thou shalt find


s: a fair grove of Athene, a poplar grove near the road, and a


s: spring wells forth therein, and a meadow lies all around.


s: There is my father's demesne, and his fruitful close,


s: within the sound of a man's shout from the city. Sit thee


s: down there and wait until such time as we may have come


s: into the city, and reached the house of my father. But when


s: thou deemest that we are got to the palace, then go up to


s: the city of the Phaeacians, and ask for the house of my


s: father Alcinous, high of heart. It is easily known, and a


s: young child could be thy guide, for nowise like it are


s: builded the houses of the Phaeacians, so goodly is the


s: palace of the hero Alcinous. But when thou art within the


s: shadow of the halls and the court, pass quickly through the


s: great chamber, till thou comest to my mother, who sits at


s: the hearth in the light of the fire, weaving yarn of


s: sea-purple stain, a wonder to behold. Her chair is leaned


s: against a pillar, and her maidens sit behind her. And there


s: my father's throne leans close to hers, wherein he sits and


s: drinks his wine, like an immortal. Pass thou by him, and


s: cast thy hands about my mother's knees, that thou mayest


s: see quickly and with joy the day of thy returning, even if


s: thou art from a very far country. If but her heart be


s: kindly disposed toward thee, then is there hope that thou


s: shalt see thy friends, and come to thy well-builded house,


s: She spake, and smote the mules with the shining whip, and


s: quickly they left behind them the streams of the river. And


s: well they trotted and well they paced, and she took heed to


s: drive in such wise that the maidens and Odysseus might


s: follow on foot, and cunningly she plied the lash. Then the


s: sun set, and they came to the famous grove, the sacred


s: place of Athene; so there the goodly Odysseus sat him down.


s: Then straightway he prayed to the daughter of mighty Zeus:


s: 'Listen to me, child of Zeus, lord of the aegis, unwearied


s: maiden; hear me even now, since before thou heardest not


s: when I was smitten on the sea, when the renowned


s: Earth-shaker smote me. Grant me to come to the Phaeacians


s: So he spake in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him; but she


s: did not yet appear to him face to face, for she had regard


s: unto her father's brother, who furiously raged against the


s: godlike Odysseus, till he should come to his own country.


s: Odysseus being received at the house of the king Alcinous,


s: the queen after supper, taking notice of his garments,


s: gives him occasion to relate his passage thither on the


s: raft. Alcinous promises him a convoy for the morrow.


s: So he prayed there, the steadfast goodly Odysseus, while


s: the two strong mules bare the princess to the town. And


s: when she had now come to the famous palace of her father,


s: she halted at the gateway, and round her gathered her


s: brothers, men like to the immortals, and they loosed the


s: mules from under the car, and carried the raiment within.


s: But the maiden betook her to her chamber; and an aged dame


s: from Aperaea kindled the fire for her, Eurymedusa, the


s: handmaid of the chamber, whom the curved ships upon a time


s: had brought from Aperaea; and men chose her as a prize for


s: Alcinous, seeing that he bare rule over all the Phaeacians,


s: and the people hearkened to him as to a god. She waited on


s: the white-armed Nausicaa in the palace halls; she was wont


s: to kindle the fire and prepare the supper in the inner


s: At that same hour Odysseus roused him to go to the city,


s: and Athene shed a deep mist about Odysseus for the favour


s: that she bare him, lest any of the Phaeacians, high of


s: heart, should meet him and mock him in sharp speech, and


s: ask him who he was. But when he was now about to enter the


s: pleasant city, then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, met him,


s: in the fashion of a young maiden carrying a pitcher, and


s: she stood over against him, and goodly Odysseus inquired of


s: 'My child, couldst thou not lead me to the palace of the


s: lord Alcinous, who bears sway among this people? Lo, I am


s: come here, a stranger travel-worn from afar, from a distant


s: land; wherefore of the folk who possess this city and


s: Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him saying:


s: 'Yea now, father and stranger, I will show thee the house


s: that thou bidst me declare, for it lies near the palace of


s: my noble father; behold, be silent as thou goest, and I


s: will lead the way. And look on no man, nor question any.


s: For these men do not gladly suffer strangers, nor lovingly


s: entreat whoso cometh from a strange land. They trust to the


s: speed of their swift ships, wherewith they cross the great


s: gulf, for the Earth-shaker hath vouchsafed them this power.


s: Their ships are swift as the flight of a bird, or as a


s: Therewith Pallas Athene led the way swiftly, and he


s: followed hard in the footsteps of the goddess. And it came


s: to pass that the Phaeacians, mariners renowned, marked him


s: not as he went down the city through their midst, for the


s: fair tressed Athene suffered it not, that awful goddess,


s: who shed a wondrous mist about him, for the favour that she


s: bare him in her heart. And Odysseus marvelled at the havens


s: and the gallant ships, yea and the places of assembly of


s: the heroes, and the long high walls crowned with palisades,


s: a marvel to behold. But when they had now come to the


s: famous palace of the king, the goddess, grey-eyed Athene,


s: 'Lo, here, father and stranger, is the house that thou


s: wouldst have me show thee: and thou shalt find kings at the


s: feast, the fosterlings of Zeus; enter then, and fear not in


s: thine heart, for the dauntless man is the best in every


s: adventure, even though he come from a strange land. Thou


s: shalt find the queen first in the halls; Arete is the name


s: whereby men call her, and she came even of those that begat


s: the king Alcinous. First Nausithous was son of Poseidon,


s: the Earth-shaker, and of Periboea, the comeliest of women,


s: youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon, who once was


s: king among the haughty Giants. Howbeit, he destroyed his


s: infatuate people, and was himself destroyed; but Poseidon


s: lay with Periboea and begat a son, proud Nausithous, who


s: sometime was prince among the Phaeacians; and Nausithous


s: begat Rhexenor and Alcinous. While Rhexenor had as yet no


s: son, Apollo of the silver bow smote him, a groom new wed,


s: leaving in his halls one only child Arete; and Alcinous


s: took her to wife, and honoured her as no other woman in the


s: world is honoured, of all that now-a-days keep house under


s: the hand of their lords. Thus she hath, and hath ever had,


s: all worship heartily from her dear children and from her


s: lord Alcinous and from all the folk, who look on her as on


s: a goddess, and greet her with reverend speech, when she


s: goes about the town. Yea, for she too hath no lack of


s: understanding. To whomso she shows favour, even if they be


s: men, she ends their feuds. {*} If but her heart be kindly


s: disposed to thee, then is there good hope that thou mayest


s: see thy friends, and come to thy high-roofed home and thine


s: {* And for the women she favours, she ends the feuds of


s: Therewith grey-eyed Athene departed over the unharvested


s: seas, and left pleasant Scheria, and came to Marathon and


s: wide-wayed Athens, and entered the good house of


s: Erechtheus. Meanwhile Odysseus went to the famous palace of


s: Alcinous, and his heart was full of many thoughts as he


s: stood there or ever he had reached the threshold of bronze.


s: For there was a gleam as it were of sun or moon through the


s: high-roofed hall of great-hearted Alcinous. Brazen were the


s: walls which ran this way and that from the threshold to the


s: inmost chamber, and round them was a frieze of blue, and


s: golden were the doors that closed in the good house. Silver


s: were the door-posts that were set on the brazen threshold,


s: and silver the lintel thereupon, and the hook of the door


s: was of gold. And on either side stood golden hounds and


s: silver, which Hephaestus wrought by his cunning, to guard


s: the palace of great-hearted Alcinous, being free from death


s: and age all their days. And within were seats arrayed


s: against the wall this way and that, from the threshold even


s: to the inmost chamber, and thereon were spread light


s: coverings finely woven, the handiwork of women. There the


s: Phaeacian chieftains were wont to sit eating and drinking,


s: for they had continual store. Yea, and there were youths


s: fashioned in gold, standing on firm-set bases, with flaming


s: torches in their hands, giving light through the night to


s: the feasters in the palace. And he had fifty handmaids in


s: the house, and some grind the yellow grain on the


s: millstone, and others weave webs and turn the yarn as they


s: sit, restless as the leaves of the tall poplar tree: and


s: the soft olive oil drops off that linen, so closely is it


s: woven. For as the Phaeacian men are skilled beyond all


s: others in driving a swift ship upon the deep, even so are


s: the women the most cunning at the loom, for Athene hath


s: given them notable wisdom in all fair handiwork and cunning


s: wit. And without the courtyard hard by the door is a great


s: garden, off our ploughgates, and a hedge runs round on


s: either side. And there grow tall trees blossoming,


s: pear-trees and pomegranates, and apple-trees with bright


s: fruit, and sweet figs, and olives in their bloom. The fruit


s: of these trees never perisheth neither faileth, winter nor


s: summer, enduring through all the year. Evermore the West


s: Wind blowing brings some fruits to birth and ripens others.


s: Pear upon pear waxes old, and apple on apple, yea and


s: cluster ripens upon cluster of the grape, and fig upon fig.


s: There too hath he a fruitful vineyard planted, whereof the


s: one part is being dried by the heat, a sunny plot on level


s: ground, while other grapes men are gathering, and yet


s: others they are treading in the wine-press. In the foremost


s: row are unripe grapes that cast the blossom, and others


s: there be that are growing black to vintaging. There too,


s: skirting the furthest line, are all manner of garden beds,


s: planted trimly, that are perpetually fresh, and therein are


s: two fountains of water, whereof one scatters his streams


s: all about the garden, and the other runs over against it


s: beneath the threshold of the courtyard, and issues by the


s: lofty house, and thence did the townsfolk draw water. These


s: were the splendid gifts of the gods in the palace of


s: There the steadfast goodly Odysseus stood and gazed. But


s: when he had gazed at all and wondered, he passed quickly


s: over the threshold within the house. And he found the


s: captains and the counsellors of the Phaeacians pouring


s: forth wine to the keen-sighted god, the slayer of Argos;


s: for to him they poured the last cup when they were minded


s: to take rest. Now the steadfast goodly Odysseus went


s: through the hall, clad in a thick mist, which Athene shed


s: around him, till he came to Arete and the king Alcinous.


s: And Odysseus cast his hands about the knees of Arete, and


s: then it was that the wondrous mist melted from off him, and


s: a silence fell on them that were within the house at the


s: sight of him, and they marvelled as they beheld him. Then


s: 'Arete, daughter of god-like Rhexenor, after many toils am


s: I come to thy husband and to thy knees and to these guests,


s: and may the gods vouchsafe them a happy life, and may each


s: one leave to his children after him his substance in his


s: halls and whatever dues of honour the people have rendered


s: unto him. But speed, I pray you, my parting, that I may


s: come the more quickly to mine own country, for already too


s: long do I suffer affliction far from my friends.'


s: Therewith he sat him down by the hearth in the ashes at the


s: fire, and behold, a dead silence fell on all. And at the


s: last the ancient lord Echeneus spake among them, an elder


s: of the Phaeacians, excellent in speech and skilled in much


s: wisdom of old time. With good will he made harangue and


s: 'Alcinous, this truly is not the more seemly way, nor is it


s: fitting that the stranger should sit upon the ground in the


s: ashes by the hearth, while these men refrain them, waiting


s: thy word. Nay come, bid the stranger arise, and set him on


s: a chair inlaid with silver, and command the henchmen to mix


s: the wine, that we may pour forth likewise before Zeus,


s: whose joy is in the thunder, who attendeth upon reverend


s: suppliants. And let the housewife give supper to the


s: stranger out of such stores as be within.'


s: Now when the mighty king Alcinous heard this saying, he


s: took Odysseus, the wise and crafty, by the hand, and raised


s: him from the hearth, and set him on a shining chair, whence


s: he bade his son give place, valiant Laodamas, who sat next


s: him and was his dearest. And a handmaid bare water for the


s: hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it forth over a


s: silver basin to wash withal, and drew to his side a


s: polished table. And a grave dame bare wheaten bread and set


s: it by him and laid upon the board many dainties, giving


s: freely of such things as she had by her. So the steadfast


s: goodly Odysseus did eat and drink: and then the mighty


s: 'Pontonous, mix the bowl and serve out the wine to all in


s: the hall, that we may pour forth likewise before Zeus,


s: So spake he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,


s: and served it out to all, when he had poured for libation


s: into each cup in turn. But when they had poured forth and


s: had drunken to their heart's content, Alcinous made


s: 'Hear me, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,


s: that I may speak as my spirit bids me. Now that the feast


s: is over, go ye home and lie down to rest; and in the


s: morning we will call yet more elders together, and


s: entertain the stranger in the halls and do fair sacrifice


s: to the gods, and thereafter we will likewise bethink us of


s: the convoy, that so without pain or grief yonder stranger


s: may by our convoy reach his own country speedily and with


s: joy, even though he be from very far away. So shall he


s: suffer no hurt or harm in mid passage, ere he set foot on


s: his own land; but thereafter he shall endure such things as


s: Fate and the stern spinning women drew off the spindles for


s: him at his birth when his mother bare him. But if he is


s: some deathless god come down from heaven, then do the gods


s: herein imagine some new device against us. For always


s: heretofore the gods appear manifest amongst us, whensoever


s: we offer glorious hecatombs, and they feast by our side,


s: sitting at the same board; yea, and even if a wayfarer


s: going all alone has met with them, they use no disguise,


s: since we are near of kin to them, even as are the Cyclopes


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:


s: 'Alcinous, that thought be far from thee! for I bear no


s: likeness either in form or fashion to the deathless gods,


s: who keep wide heaven, but to men that die. Whomsoever ye


s: know of human kind the heaviest laden with sorrow, to them


s: might I liken myself in my griefs. Yea, and I might tell of


s: yet other woes, even the long tale of toil that by the


s: gods' will I endured. But as for me, suffer me to sup,


s: afflicted as I am; for nought is there more shameless than


s: a ravening belly, which biddeth a man perforce be mindful


s: of him, though one be worn and sorrowful in spirit, even as


s: I have sorrow of heart; yet evermore he biddeth me eat and


s: drink and maketh me utterly to forget all my sufferings,


s: and commandeth me to take my fill. But do ye bestir you at


s: the breaking of the day, that so ye may set me, hapless as


s: I am, upon my country's soil, albeit after much suffering.


s: Ah, and may life leave me when I have had sight of mine own


s: possessions, my thralls, and my dwelling that is great and


s: So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and bade send


s: the stranger on his way, for that he had spoken aright. Now


s: when they had poured forth and had drunken to their hearts'


s: content, they went each one to his house to lay them to


s: rest. But goodly Odysseus was left behind in the hall, and


s: by him sat Arete and godlike Alcinous; and the maids


s: cleared away the furniture of the feast; and white-armed


s: Arete first spake among them. For she knew the mantle and


s: the doublet, when she saw the goodly raiment that she


s: herself had wrought with the women her handmaids. So she


s: uttered her voice and spake to him winged words:


s: 'Sir, I am bold to ask thee first of this. Who art thou of


s: the sons of men, and whence? Who gave thee this raiment?


s: Didst thou not say indeed that thou camest hither wandering


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her, and said:


s: ''Tis hard, O queen, to tell my griefs from end to end, for


s: that the gods of heaven have given me griefs in plenty. But


s: this will I declare to thee, whereof thou dost question and


s: inquire. There is an isle, Ogygia, that lies far off in the


s: sea; there dwells the daughter of Atlas, crafty Calypso, of


s: the braided tresses, an awful goddess, nor is any either of


s: gods or mortals conversant with her. Howbeit, some god


s: brought me to her hearth, wretched man that I am, all


s: alone, for that Zeus with white bolt crushed my swift ship


s: and cleft it in the midst of the wine-dark deep. There all


s: the rest of my good company was lost, but I clung with fast


s: embrace about the keel of the curved ship, and so was I


s: borne for nine whole days. And on the tenth dark night the


s: gods brought me nigh the isle Ogygia, where Calypso of the


s: braided tresses dwells, an awful goddess. She took me in,


s: and with all care she cherished me and gave me sustenance,


s: and said that she would make me to know not death nor age


s: for all my days; but never did she win my heart within me.


s: There I abode for seven years continually, and watered with


s: my tears the imperishable raiment that Calypso gave me. But


s: when the eighth year came round in his course, then at last


s: she urged and bade me to be gone, by reason of a message


s: from Zeus, or it may be that her own mind was turned. So


s: she sent me forth on a well-bound raft, and gave me


s: plenteous store, bread and sweet wine, and she clad me in


s: imperishable raiment, and sent forth a warm and gentle wind


s: to blow. For ten days and seven I sailed, traversing the


s: deep, and on the eighteenth day the shadowy hills of your


s: land showed in sight, and my heart was glad,--wretched that


s: I was--for surely I was still to be the mate of much


s: sorrow. For Poseidon, shaker of the earth, stirred up the


s: same, who roused against me the winds and stopped my way,


s: and made a wondrous sea to swell, nor did the wave suffer


s: me to be borne upon my raft, as I made ceaseless moan. Thus


s: the storm winds shattered the raft, but as for me I cleft


s: my way through the gulf yonder, till the wind bare and the


s: water brought me nigh your coast. Then as I strove to land


s: upon the shore, the wave had overwhelmed me, dashing me


s: against the great rocks and a desolate place, but at length


s: I gave way and swam back, till I came to the river, where


s: the place seemed best in mine eyes, smooth of rocks, and


s: withal there was a shelter from the wind. And as I came out


s: I sank down, gathering to me my spirit, and immortal night


s: came on. Then I gat me forth and away from the heaven-fed


s: river, and laid me to sleep in the bushes and strewed


s: leaves about me, and the god shed over me infinite sleep.


s: There among the leaves I slept, stricken at heart, all the


s: night long, even till the morning and mid-day. And the sun


s: sank when sweet sleep let me free. And I was aware of the


s: company of thy daughter disporting them upon the sand, and


s: there was she in the midst of them like unto the goddesses.


s: To her I made my supplication, and she showed no lack of a


s: good understanding, behaving so as thou couldst not hope


s: for in chancing upon one so young; for the younger folk


s: lack wisdom always. She gave me bread enough and red wine,


s: and let wash me in the river and bestowed on me these


s: garments. Herein, albeit in sore distress, have I told thee


s: And Alcinous answered again, and spake saying: 'Sir, surely


s: this was no right thought of my daughter, in that she


s: brought thee not to our house with the women her handmaids,


s: though thou didst first entreat her grace.'


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered, and said unto him:


s: 'My lord, chide not, I pray thee, for this the blameless


s: maiden. For indeed she bade me follow with her company, but


s: I would not for fear and very shame, lest perchance thine


s: heart might be clouded at the sight; for a jealous race


s: upon the earth are we, the tribes of men.'


s: And Alcinous answered yet again, and spake saying: 'Sir, my


s: heart within me is not of such temper as to have been wroth


s: without a cause: due measure in all things is best. Would


s: to father Zeus, and Athene, and Apollo, would that so


s: goodly a man as thou art, and like-minded with me, thou


s: wouldst wed my daughter, and be called my son, here


s: abiding: so would I give thee house and wealth, if thou


s: wouldst stay of thine own will: but against thy will shall


s: none of the Phaeacians keep thee: never be this


s: well-pleasing in the eyes of father Zeus! And now I ordain


s: an escort for thee on a certain day, that thou mayst surely


s: know, and that day the morrow. Then shalt thou lay thee


s: down overcome by sleep, and they the while shall smite the


s: calm waters, till thou come to thy country and thy house,


s: and whatsoever place is dear to thee, even though it be


s: much farther than Euboea, which certain of our men say is


s: the farthest of lands, they who saw it, when they carried


s: Rhadamanthus, of the fair hair, to visit Tityos, son of


s: Gaia. Even thither they went, and accomplished the journey


s: on the self-same day and won home again, and were not


s: weary. And now shalt thou know for thyself how far my ships


s: are the best, and how my young men excel at tossing the


s: So spake he, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced;


s: and then he uttered a word in prayer, and called aloud to


s: Zeus: 'Father Zeus, oh that Alcinous may fulfil all that he


s: hath said, so may his fame never be quenched upon the


s: earth, the grain-giver, and I should come to mine own


s: Thus they spake one to the other. And white-armed Arete


s: bade her handmaids set out bedsteads beneath the gallery,


s: and cast fair purple blankets over them, and spread


s: coverlets above, and thereon lay thick mantles to be a


s: clothing over all. So they went from the hall with torch in


s: hand. But when they had busied them and spread the good


s: bedstead, they stood by Odysseus and called unto him,


s: 'Up now, stranger, and get thee to sleep, thy bed is made'


s: So spake they, and it seemed to him that rest was wondrous


s: good. So he slept there, the steadfast goodly Odysseus, on


s: the jointed bedstead, beneath the echoing gallery. But


s: Alcinous laid him down in the innermost chamber of the high


s: house, and by him the lady his wife arrayed bedstead and


s: The next day's entertainment of Odysseus, where he sees


s: them contend in wrestling and other exercises, and upon


s: provocation took up a greater stone than that which they


s: were throwing, and overthrew them all. Alcinous and the


s: lords give him presents. And how the king asked his name,


s: Now when early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then


s: the mighty king Alcinous gat him up from his bed; and


s: Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, likewise uprose, the waster


s: of cities. And the mighty king Alcinous led the way to the


s: assembly place of the Phaeacians, which they had


s: established hard by the ships. So when they had come


s: thither, and sat them down on the polished stones close by


s: each other, Pallas Athene went on her way through the town,


s: in the semblance of the herald of wise Alcinous, devising a


s: return for the great-hearted Odysseus. Then standing by


s: 'Hither now get ye to the assembly, ye captains and


s: counsellors of the Phaeacians, that ye may learn concerning


s: the stranger, who hath lately come to the palace of wise


s: Alcinous, in his wanderings over the deep, and his form is


s: Therewith she aroused the spirit and desire of each one,


s: and speedily the meeting-places and seats were filled with


s: men that came to the gathering: yea, and many an one


s: marvelled at the sight of the wise son of Laertes, for


s: wondrous was the grace Athene poured upon his head and


s: shoulders, and she made him greater and more mighty to


s: behold, that he might win love and worship and honour among


s: all the Phaeacians, and that he might accomplish many


s: feats, wherein the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus. Now


s: when they were gathered and come together, Alcinous made


s: 'Harken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians, and


s: I will say that which my spirit within me bids me utter.


s: This stranger, I know not who he is, hath come to my house


s: in his wandering, whether from the men of the dawning or


s: the westward, and he presses for a convoy, and prays that


s: it be assured to him. So let us, as in time past, speed on


s: the convoy. For never, nay never, doth any man who cometh


s: to my house, abide here long in sorrow for want of help


s: upon his way. Nay, come let us draw down a black ship to


s: the fair salt sea, for her first voyage, and let them


s: choose fifty and two noble youths throughout the township,


s: who have been proved heretofore the best. And when ye have


s: made fast the oars upon the benches, step all a shore, and


s: thereafter come to our house, and quickly fall to feasting;


s: and I will make good provision for all. To the noble youths


s: I give this commandment; but ye others, sceptred kings,


s: come to my fair dwelling, that we may entertain the


s: stranger in the halls, and let no man make excuse.


s: Moreover, bid hither the divine minstrel, Demodocus, for


s: the god hath given minstrelsy to him as to none other, to


s: make men glad in what way soever his spirit stirs him to


s: He spake and led the way, and the sceptred kings


s: accompanied him, while the henchmen went for the divine


s: minstrel. And chosen youths, fifty and two, departed at his


s: command, to the shore of the unharvested sea. But after


s: they had gone down to the ship and to the sea, first of all


s: they drew the ship down to the deep water, and placed the


s: mast and sails in the black ship, and fixed the oars in


s: leathern loops, all orderly, and spread forth the white


s: sails. And they moored her high out in the shore water, and


s: thereafter went on their way to the great palace of the


s: wise Alcinous. Now the galleries and the courts and the


s: rooms were thronged with men that came to the gathering,


s: for there were many, young and old. Then Alcinous


s: sacrificed twelve sheep among them, and eight boars with


s: flashing tusks, and two oxen with trailing feet. These they


s: flayed and made ready, and dressed a goodly feast.


s: Then the henchman drew near, leading with him the beloved


s: minstrel, whom the muse loved dearly, and she gave him both


s: good and evil; of his sight she reft him, but granted him


s: sweet song. Then Pontonous, the henchman, set for him a


s: high chair inlaid with silver, in the midst of the guests,


s: leaning it against the tall pillar, and he hung the loud


s: lyre on a pin, close above his head, and showed him how to


s: lay his hands on it. And close by him he placed a basket,


s: and a fair table, and a goblet of wine by his side, to


s: drink when his spirit bade him. So they stretched forth


s: their hands upon the good cheer spread before them. But


s: after they had put from them the desire of meat and drink,


s: the Muse stirred the minstrel to sing the songs of famous


s: men, even that lay whereof the fame had then reached the


s: wide heaven, namely, the quarrel between Odysseus and


s: Achilles, son of Peleus; how once on a time they contended


s: in fierce words at a rich festival of the gods, but


s: Agamemnon, king of men, was inly glad when the noblest of


s: the Achaeans fell at variance. For so Phoebus Apollo in his


s: soothsaying had told him that it must be, in goodly Pytho,


s: what time he crossed the threshold of stone, to seek to the


s: oracle. For in those days the first wave of woe was rolling


s: on Trojans and Danaans through the counsel of great Zeus.


s: This song it was that the famous minstrel sang; but


s: Odysseus caught his great purple cloak with his stalwart


s: hands, and drew it down over his head, and hid his comely


s: face, for he was ashamed to shed tears beneath his brows in


s: presence of the Phaeacians. Yea, and oft as the divine


s: minstrel paused in his song, Odysseus would wipe away the


s: tears, and draw the cloak from off his head, and take the


s: two-handled goblet and pour forth before the gods. But


s: whensoever he began again, and the chiefs of the Phaeacians


s: stirred him to sing, in delight at the lay, again would


s: Odysseus cover up his head and make moan. Now none of all


s: the company marked him weeping, but Alcinous alone noted it


s: and was ware thereof as he sat by him and heard him


s: groaning heavily. And presently he spake among the


s: 'Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,


s: now have our souls been satisfied with the good feast, and


s: with the lyre, which is the mate of the rich banquet. Let


s: us go forth anon, and make trial of divers games, that the


s: stranger may tell his friends, when home he returneth, how


s: greatly we excel all men in boxing, and wrestling, and


s: He spake, and led the way, and they went with him. And the


s: henchman hung the loud lyre on the pin, and took the hand


s: of Demodocus, and let him forth from the hall, and guided


s: him by the same way, whereby those others, the chiefs of


s: the Phaeacians, had gone to gaze upon the games. So they


s: went on their way to the place of assembly, and with them a


s: great company innumerable; and many a noble youth stood up


s: to play. There rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus, and Elatreus,


s: Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tekton, and likewise


s: Euryalus, the peer of murderous Ares, the son of Naubolus,


s: who in face and form was goodliest of all the Phaeacians


s: next to noble Laodamas. And there stood up the three sons


s: of noble Alcinous, Laodamas, and Halius, and god-like


s: Clytoneus. And behold, these all first tried the issue in


s: the foot race. From the very start they strained at utmost


s: speed: and all together they flew forward swiftly, raising


s: the dust along the plain. And noble Clytoneus was far the


s: swiftest of them all in running, and by the length of the


s: furrow that mules cleave in a fallow field, {*} so far did


s: he shoot to the front, and came to the crowd by the lists,


s: while those others were left behind. Then they made trial


s: of strong wrestling, and here in turn Euryalus excelled all


s: the best. And in leaping Amphialus was far the foremost,


s: and Elatreus in weight-throwing, and in boxing Laodamas,


s: the good son of Alcinous. Now when they had all taken their


s: pleasure in the games, Laodamas, son of Alcinous, spake


s: {* The distance here indicated seems to be that which the


s: mule goes in ploughing, without pausing to take breath.}


s: 'Come, my friends, let us ask the stranger whether he is


s: skilled or practised in any sport. Ill fashioned, at least,


s: he is not in his thighs and sinewy legs and hands withal,


s: and his stalwart neck and mighty strength: yea and he lacks


s: not youth, but is crushed by many troubles. For I tell thee


s: there is nought else worse than the sea to confound a man,


s: And Euryalus in turn made answer, and said: 'Laodamas,


s: verily thou hast spoken this word in season. Go now thyself


s: and challenge him, and declare thy saying.'


s: Now when the good son of Alcinous heard this, he went and


s: stood in the midst, and spake unto Odysseus: 'Come, do thou


s: too, father and stranger, try thy skill in the sports, if


s: haply thou art practised in any; and thou art like to have


s: knowledge of games, for there is no greater glory for a man


s: while yet he lives, than that which he achieves by hand and


s: foot. Come, then, make essay, and cast away care from thy


s: soul: thy journey shall not now be long delayed; lo, thy


s: ship is even now drawn down to the sea, and the men of thy


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying;


s: 'Laodamas, wherefore do ye mock me, requiring this thing of


s: me? Sorrow is far nearer my heart than sports, for much


s: have I endured and laboured sorely in time past, and now I


s: sit in this your gathering, craving my return, and making


s: my prayer to the king and all the people.'


s: And Euryalus answered, and rebuked him to his face: 'No


s: truly, stranger, nor do I think thee at all like one that


s: is skilled in games, whereof there are many among men,


s: rather art thou such an one as comes and goes in a benched


s: ship, a master of sailors that are merchantmen, one with a


s: memory for his freight, or that hath the charge of a cargo


s: homeward bound, and of greedily gotten gains; thou seemest


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him and


s: said: 'Stranger, thou hast not spoken well; thou art like a


s: man presumptuous. So true it is that the gods do not give


s: every gracious gift to all, neither shapeliness, nor


s: wisdom, nor skilled speech. For one man is feebler than


s: another in presence, yet the god crowns his words with


s: beauty, and men behold him and rejoice, and his speech runs


s: surely on his way with a sweet modesty, and he shines forth


s: among the gathering of his people, and as he passes through


s: the town men gaze on him as a god. Another again is like


s: the deathless gods for beauty, but his words have no crown


s: of grace about them; even as thou art in comeliness


s: pre-eminent, nor could a god himself fashion thee for the


s: better, but in wit thou art a weakling. Yea, thou hast


s: stirred my spirit in my breast by speaking thus amiss. I am


s: not all unversed in sports, as thy words go, but methinks I


s: was among the foremost while as yet I trusted in my youth


s: and my hands, but now am I holden in misery and pains: for


s: I have endured much in passing through the wars of men and


s: the grievous waves of the sea. Yet even so, for all my


s: affliction, I will essay the games, for thy word hath


s: bitten to the quick, and thou hast roused me with thy


s: He spake, and clad even as he was in his mantle leaped to


s: his feet, and caught up a weight larger than the rest, a


s: huge weight heavier far than those wherewith the Phaeacians


s: contended in casting. With one whirl he sent it from his


s: stout hand, and the stone flew hurtling: and the


s: Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned,


s: crouched to earth beneath the rushing of the stone. Beyond


s: all the marks it flew, so lightly it sped from his hand,


s: and Athene in the fashion of a man marked the place, and


s: 'Yea, even a blind man, stranger, might discern that token


s: if he groped for it, for it is in no wise lost among the


s: throng of the others, but is far the first; for this bout


s: then take heart: not one of the Phaeacians shall attain


s: So spake she; and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced


s: and was glad, for that he saw a true friend in the lists.


s: Then with a lighter heart he spake amid the Phaeacians:


s: 'Now reach ye this throw, young men, if ye may; and soon,


s: methinks, will I cast another after it, as far or yet


s: further. And whomsoever of the rest his heart and spirit


s: stir thereto, hither let him come and try the issue with


s: me, in boxing or in wrestling or even in the foot race, I


s: care not which, for ye have greatly angered me: let any of


s: all the Phaeacians come save Laodamas alone, for he is mine


s: host: who would strive with one that entreated him kindly?


s: Witless and worthless is the man, whoso challengeth his


s: host that receiveth him in a strange land, he doth but maim


s: his own estate. But for the rest, I refuse none and hold


s: none lightly, but I fain would know and prove them face to


s: face. For I am no weakling in all sports, even in the feats


s: of men. I know well how to handle the polished bow, and


s: ever the first would I be to shoot and smite my man in the


s: press of foes, even though many of my company stood by, and


s: were aiming at the enemy. Alone Philoctetes in the Trojan


s: land surpassed me with the bow in our Achaean archery. But


s: I avow myself far more excellent than all besides, of the


s: mortals that are now upon the earth and live by bread. Yet


s: with the men of old time I would not match me, neither with


s: Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia, who contended even


s: with the deathless gods for the prize of archery. Wherefore


s: the great Eurytus perished all too soon, nor did old age


s: come on him in his halls, for Apollo slew him in his wrath,


s: seeing that he challenged him to shoot a match. And with


s: the spear I can throw further than any other man can shoot


s: an arrow. Only I doubt that in the foot race some of the


s: Phaeacians may outstrip me, for I have been shamefully


s: broken in many waters, seeing that there was no continual


s: sustenance on board; wherefore my knees are loosened.'


s: So spake he and all kept silence; and Alcinous alone


s: 'Stranger, forasmuch as these thy words are not ill-taken


s: in our gathering, but thou wouldest fain show forth the


s: valour which keeps thee company, being angry that yonder


s: man stood by thee in the lists, and taunted thee, in such


s: sort as no mortal would speak lightly of thine excellence,


s: who had knowledge of sound words; nay now, mark my speech;


s: so shalt thou have somewhat to tell another hero, when with


s: thy wife and children thou suppest in thy halls, and


s: recallest our prowess, what deeds Zeus bestoweth even upon


s: us from our fathers' days even until now. For we are no


s: perfect boxers, nor wrestlers, but speedy runners, and the


s: best of seamen; and dear to us ever is the banquet, and the


s: harp, and the dance, and changes of raiment, and the warm


s: bath, and love, and sleep. Lo, now arise, ye dancers of the


s: Phaeacians, the best in the land, and make sport, that so


s: the stranger may tell his friends, when he returneth home,


s: how far we surpass all men besides in seamanship, and speed


s: of foot, and in the dance and song. And let one go quickly,


s: and fetch for Demodocus the loud lyre which is lying


s: So spake Alcinous the godlike, and the henchman rose to


s: bear the hollow lyre from the king's palace. Then stood up


s: nine chosen men in all, the judges of the people, who were


s: wont to order all things in the lists aright. So they


s: levelled the place for the dance, and made a fair ring and


s: a wide. And the henchman drew near bearing the loud lyre to


s: Demodocus, who gat him into the midst, and round him stood


s: boys in their first bloom, skilled in the dance, and they


s: smote the good floor with their feet. And Odysseus gazed at


s: the twinklings of the feet, and marvelled in spirit.


s: Now as the minstrel touched the lyre, he lifted up his


s: voice in sweet song, and he sang of the love of Ares and


s: Aphrodite, of the fair crown, how at the first they lay


s: together in the house of Hephaestus privily; and Ares gave


s: her many gifts, and dishonoured the marriage bed of the


s: lord Hephaestus. And anon there came to him one to report


s: the thing, even Helios, that had seen them at their


s: pastime. Now when Hephaestus heard the bitter tidings, he


s: went his way to the forge, devising evil in the deep of his


s: heart, and set the great anvil on the stithy, and wrought


s: fetters that none might snap or loosen, that the lovers


s: might there unmoveably remain. Now when he had forged the


s: crafty net in his anger against Ares, he went on his way to


s: the chamber where his marriage bed was set out, and strewed


s: his snares all about the posts of the bed, and many too


s: were hung aloft from the main beam, subtle as spiders'


s: webs, so that none might see them, even of the blessed


s: gods: so cunningly were they forged. Now after he had done


s: winding the snare about the bed, he made as though he would


s: go to Lemnos, that stablished castle, and this was far the


s: dearest of all lands in his sight. But Ares of the golden


s: rein kept no blind watch, what time he saw Hephaestus, the


s: famed craftsman, depart afar. So he went on his way to the


s: house of renowned Hephaestus, eager for the love of crowned


s: Cytherea. Now she was but newly come from her sire, the


s: mighty Cronion, and as it chanced had sat her down; and


s: Ares entered the house, and clasped her hand, and spake,


s: 'Come, my beloved, let us to bed, and take our pleasure of


s: love, for Hephaestus is no longer among his own people;


s: methinks he is already gone to Lemnos, to the Sintians, men


s: So spake he, and a glad thing it seemed to her to lie with


s: him. So they twain went to the couch, and laid them to


s: sleep, and around them clung the cunning bonds of skilled


s: Hephaestus, so that they could not move nor raise a limb.


s: Then at the last they knew it, when there was no way to


s: flee. Now the famous god of the strong arms drew near to


s: them, having turned him back ere he reached the land of


s: Lemnos. For Helios had kept watch, and told him all. So


s: heavy at heart he went his way to his house, and stood at


s: the entering in of the gate, and wild rage gat hold of him,


s: and he cried terribly, and shouted to all the gods:


s: 'Father Zeus, and ye other blessed gods, that live for


s: ever, come hither, that ye may see a mirthful thing and a


s: cruel, for that Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, ever


s: dishonours me by reason of my lameness, and sets her heart


s: on Ares the destroyer, because he is fair and straight of


s: limb, but as for me, feeble was I born. Howbeit, there is


s: none to blame but my father and mother,--would they had


s: never begotten me! But now shall ye see where these have


s: gone up into my bed, and sleep together in love; and I am


s: troubled at the sight. Yet, methinks, they will not care to


s: lie thus even for a little while longer, despite their


s: great love. Soon will they have no desire to sleep


s: together, but the snare and the bond shall hold them, till


s: her sire give back to me the gifts of wooing, one and all,


s: those that I bestowed upon him for the hand of his


s: shameless girl; for that his daughter is fair, but without


s: So spake he; and lo, the gods gathered together to the


s: house of the brazen floor. Poseidon came, the girdler of


s: the earth, and Hermes came, the bringer of luck, and prince


s: Apollo came, the archer. But the lady goddesses abode each


s: within her house for shame. So the gods, the givers of good


s: things, stood in the porch: and laughter unquenchable arose


s: among the blessed gods, as they beheld the sleight of


s: cunning Hephaestus. And thus would one speak, looking to


s: 'Ill deed, ill speed! The slow catcheth the swift! Lo, how


s: Hephaestus, slow as he is, hath overtaken Ares, albeit he


s: is the swiftest of the gods that hold Olympus, by his craft


s: hath he taken him despite his lameness; wherefore surely


s: Ares oweth the fine of the adulterer.' Thus they spake one


s: to the other. But the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spake to


s: 'Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger and giver of good things,


s: wouldst thou be fain, aye, pressed by strong bonds though


s: it might be, to lie on the couch by golden Aphrodite?'


s: Then the messenger, the slayer of Argos, answered him: 'I


s: would that this might be, Apollo, my prince of archery! So


s: might thrice as many bonds innumerable encompass me about,


s: and all ye gods be looking on and all the goddesses, yet


s: So spake he, and laughter rose among the deathless gods.


s: Howbeit, Poseidon laughed not, but was instant with


s: Hephaestus, the renowned artificer, to loose the bonds of


s: Ares: and he uttered his voice, and spake to him winged


s: 'Loose him, I pray thee, and I promise even as thou biddest


s: me, that he shall himself pay all fair forfeit in the


s: Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:


s: 'Require not this of me, Poseidon, girdler of the earth.


s: Evil are evil folk's pledges to hold. How could I keep thee


s: bound among the deathless gods, if Ares were to depart,


s: Then Poseidon answered him, shaker of the earth:


s: 'Hephaestus, even if Ares avoid the debt and flee away, I


s: Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him: 'It


s: may not be that I should say thee nay, neither is it meet.'


s: Therewith the mighty Hephaestus loosed the bonds, and the


s: twain, when they were freed from that strong bond, sprang


s: up straightway, and departed, he to Thrace, but


s: laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Paphos of Cyprus, where


s: is her precinct and fragrant altar. There the Graces bathed


s: and anointed her with oil imperishable, such as is laid


s: upon the everlasting gods. And they clad her in lovely


s: This was the song the famous minstrel sang; and Odysseus


s: listened and was glad at heart, and likewise did the


s: Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned.


s: Then Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamas dance alone, for


s: none ever contended with them. So when they had taken in


s: their hands the goodly ball of purple hue, that cunning


s: Polybus had wrought for them, the one would bend backwards,


s: and throw it towards the shadowy clouds; and the other


s: would leap upward from the earth, and catch it lightly in


s: his turn, before his feet touched the ground. Now after


s: they had made trial of throwing the ball straight up, the


s: twain set to dance upon the bounteous earth, tossing the


s: ball from hand to hand, and the other youths stood by the


s: lists and beat time, and a great din uprose.


s: Then it was that goodly Odysseus spake unto Alcinous: 'My


s: lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, thou


s: didst boast thy dancers to be the best in the world, and


s: lo, thy words are fulfilled; I wonder as I look on them.'


s: So spake he, and the mighty king Alcinous rejoiced and


s: spake at once among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar:


s: 'Hearken ye, captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,


s: this stranger seems to me a wise man enough. Come then, let


s: us give him a stranger's gift, as is meet. Behold, there


s: are twelve glorious princes who rule among this people and


s: bear sway, and I myself am the thirteenth. Now each man


s: among you bring a fresh robe and a doublet, and a talent of


s: fine gold, and let us speedily carry all these gifts


s: together, that the stranger may take them in his hands, and


s: go to supper with a glad heart. As for Euryalus, let him


s: yield amends to the man himself, with soft speech and with


s: So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and would have


s: it so. And each one sent forth his henchman to fetch his


s: gift, and Euryalus answered the king and spake, saying:


s: 'My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, I


s: will make atonement to thy guest according to thy word. I


s: will give him a hanger all of bronze, with a silver hilt


s: thereto, and a sheath of fresh-sawn ivory covers it about,


s: and it shall be to him a thing of price.'


s: Therewith he puts into his hands the hanger dight with


s: silver, and uttering his voice spake to him winged words:


s: 'Hail, stranger and father; and if aught grievous hath been


s: spoken, may the storm-winds soon snatch and bear it away.


s: But may the gods grant thee to see thy wife and to come to


s: thine own country, for all too long has thou endured


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'Thou


s: too, my friend, all hail; and may the gods vouchsafe thee


s: happiness, and mayst thou never miss this sword which thou


s: hast given me, thou that with soft speech hast yielded me


s: He spake and hung about his shoulders the silver-studded


s: sword. And the sun sank, and the noble gifts were brought


s: him. Then the proud henchmen bare them to the palace of


s: Alcinous, and the sons of noble Alcinous took the fair


s: gifts, and set them by their reverend mother. And the


s: mighty king Alcinous led the way, and they came in and sat


s: them down on the high seats. And the mighty Alcinous spake


s: 'Bring me hither, my lady, a choice coffer, the best thou


s: hast, and thyself place therein a fresh robe and a doublet,


s: and heat for our guest a cauldron on the fire, and warm


s: water, that after the bath the stranger may see all the


s: gifts duly arrayed which the noble Phaeacians bare hither,


s: and that he may have joy in the feast, and in hearing the


s: song of the minstrelsy. Also I will give him a beautiful


s: golden chalice of mine own, that he may be mindful of me


s: all the days of his life when he poureth the drink-offering


s: So spake he, and Arete bade her handmaids to set a great


s: cauldron on the fire with what speed they might. And they


s: set the cauldron for the filling of the bath on the blazing


s: kindled them beneath. So the fire began to circle round the


s: belly of the cauldron, and the water waxed hot. Meanwhile


s: Arete brought forth for her guest the beautiful coffer from


s: the treasure chamber, and bestowed fair gifts therein,


s: raiment and gold, which the Phaeacians gave him. And with


s: her own hands she placed therein a robe and goodly doublet,


s: and uttering her voice spake to him winged words:


s: 'Do thou now look to the lid, and quickly tie the knot,


s: lest any man spoil thy goods by the way, when presently


s: thou fallest on sweet sleep travelling in thy black ship.'


s: Now when the steadfast goodly Odysseus heard this saying,


s: forthwith he fixed on the lid, and quickly tied the curious


s: knot, which the lady Circe on a time had taught him. Then


s: straightway the housewife bade him go to the bath and bathe


s: him; and he saw the warm water and was glad, for he was not


s: wont to be so cared for, from the day that he left the


s: house of fair-tressed Calypso, but all that while he had


s: Now after the maids had bathed him and anointed him with


s: olive oil, and had cast a fair mantle and a doublet upon


s: him, he stept forth from the bath, and went to be with the


s: chiefs at their wine. And Nausicaa, dowered with beauty by


s: the gods, stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof, and


s: marvelled at Odysseus, beholding him before her eyes, and


s: she uttered her voice and spake to him winged words:


s: 'Farewell, stranger, and even in thine own country bethink


s: thee of me upon a time, for that to me first thou owest the


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:


s: 'Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, yea, may


s: Zeus, the thunderer, the lord of Here, grant me to reach my


s: home and see the day of my returning; so would I, even


s: there, do thee worship as to a god, all my days for


s: evermore, for thou, lady, hast given me my life.'


s: He spake and sat him in the high seat by king Alcinous. And


s: now they were serving out the portions and mixing the wine.


s: Then the henchmen drew nigh leading the sweet minstrel,


s: Demodocus, that was had in honour of the people. So he set


s: him in the midst of the feasters, and made him lean against


s: a tall column. Then to the henchman spake Odysseus of many


s: counsels, for he had cut off a portion of the chine of a


s: white-toothed boar, whereon yet more was left, with rich


s: 'Lo, henchman, take this mess, and hand it to Demodocus,


s: that he may eat, and I will bid him hail, despite my


s: sorrow. For minstrels from all men on earth get their meed


s: of honour and worship; inasmuch as the Muse teacheth them


s: the paths of song, and loveth the tribe of minstrels.'


s: Thus he spake, and the henchman bare the mess, and set it


s: upon the knees of the lord Demodocus, and he took it, and


s: was glad at heart. Then they stretched forth their hands


s: upon the good cheer set before them. Now after they had put


s: from them the desire of meat and drink, then Odysseus of


s: many counsels spake to Demodocus, saying:


s: 'Demodocus, I praise thee far above all mortal men, whether


s: it be the Muse, the daughter of Zeus, that taught thee, or


s: even Apollo, for right duly dost thou chant the faring of


s: the Achaeans, even all that they wrought and suffered, and


s: all their travail, as if, methinks, thou hadst been


s: present, or heard the tale from another. Come now, change


s: thy strain, and sing of the fashioning of the horse of


s: wood, which Epeius made by the aid of Athene, even the


s: guileful thing, that goodly Odysseus led up into the


s: citadel, when he had laden it with the men who wasted


s: Ilios. If thou wilt indeed rehearse me this aright, so will


s: I be thy witness among all men, how the god of his grace


s: hath given thee the gift of wondrous song.'


s: So spake he, and the minstrel, being stirred by the god,


s: began and showed forth his minstrelsy. He took up the tale


s: where it tells how the Argives of the one part set fire to


s: their huts, and went aboard their decked ships and sailed


s: away, while those others, the fellowship of renowned


s: Odysseus, were now seated in the assembly-place of the


s: Trojans, all hidden in the horse, for the Trojans


s: themselves had dragged him to the citadel. So the horse


s: stood there, while seated all around him the people spake


s: many things confusedly and three ways their counsel looked;


s: either to cleave the hollow timber with the pitiless spear,


s: or to drag it to the brow of the hill, and hurl it from the


s: rocks, or to leave it as a mighty offering to appease the


s: gods. And on this wise it was to be at the last. For the


s: doom was on them to perish when their city should have


s: closed upon the great horse of wood, wherein sat all the


s: bravest of the Argives, bearing to the Trojans death and


s: destiny. And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans poured


s: forth from the horse, and left the hollow lair, and sacked


s: the burg. And he sang how and where each man wasted the


s: town, and of Odysseus, how he went like Ares to the house


s: of Deiphobus with godlike Menelaus. It was there, he said,


s: that Odysseus adventured the most grievous battle, and in


s: the end prevailed, by grace of great-hearted Athene.


s: This was the song that the famous minstrel sang. But the


s: heart of Odysseus melted, and the tear wet his cheeks


s: beneath the eyelids. And as a woman throws herself wailing


s: about her dear lord, who hath fallen before his city and


s: the host, warding from his town and his children the


s: pitiless day; and she beholds him dying and drawing


s: difficult breath, and embracing his body wails aloud, while


s: the foemen behind smite her with spears on back and


s: shoulders and lead her up into bondage, to bear labour and


s: trouble, and with the most pitiful grief her cheeks are


s: wasted; even so pitifully fell the tears beneath the brows


s: of Odysseus. Now none of all the company marked him


s: weeping; but Alcinous alone noted it, and was ware thereof,


s: as he sat nigh him and heard him groaning heavily. And


s: presently he spake among the Phaeacians, masters of the


s: 'Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,


s: and now let Demodocus hold his hand from the loud lyre, for


s: this song of his is nowise pleasing alike to all. From the


s: time that we began to sup, and that the divine minstrel was


s: moved to sing, ever since hath yonder stranger never ceased


s: from woeful lamentation: sore grief, methinks, hath


s: encompassed his heart. Nay, but let the minstrel cease,


s: that we may all alike make merry, hosts and guest, since it


s: is far meeter so. For all these things are ready for the


s: sake of the honourable stranger, even the convoy and the


s: loving gifts which we give him out of our love. In a


s: brother's place stand the stranger and the suppliant, to


s: him whose wits have even a little range, wherefore do thou


s: too hide not now with crafty purpose aught whereof I ask


s: thee; it were more meet for thee to tell it out. Say, what


s: is the name whereby they called thee at home, even thy


s: father and thy mother, and others thy townsmen and the


s: dwellers round about? For there is none of all mankind


s: nameless, neither the mean man nor yet the noble, from the


s: first hour of his birth, but parents bestow a name on every


s: man so soon as he is born. Tell me too of thy land, thy


s: township, and thy city, that our ships may conceive of


s: their course to bring thee thither. For the Phaeacians have


s: no pilots nor any rudders after the manner of other ships,


s: but their barques themselves understand the thoughts and


s: intents of men; they know the cities and fat fields of


s: every people, and most swiftly they traverse the gulf of


s: the salt sea, shrouded in mist and cloud, and never do they


s: go in fear of wreck or ruin. Howbeit I heard upon a time


s: this word thus spoken by my father Nausithous, who was wont


s: to say that Poseidon was jealous of us for that we give


s: safe escort to all men. He said that the god would some day


s: smite a well-wrought ship of the Phaeacians as she came


s: home from a convoy over the misty deep, and would


s: overshadow our city with a great mountain. Thus that


s: ancient one would speak, and thus the god may bring it


s: about, or leave it undone, according to the good pleasure


s: of his will. But come now, declare me this and plainly tell


s: it all; whither wast thou borne wandering, and to what


s: shores of men thou camest; tell me of the people and of


s: their fair-lying cities, of those whoso are hard and wild


s: and unjust, and of those likewise who are hospitable and of


s: a god-fearing mind. Declare, too, wherefore thou dost weep


s: and mourn in spirit at the tale of the faring of the Argive


s: Danaans and the lay of Ilios. All this the gods have


s: fashioned, and have woven the skein of death for men, that


s: there might be a song in the ears even of the folk of


s: aftertime. Hadst thou even a kinsman by marriage that fell


s: before Ilios, a true man, a daughter's husband or wife's


s: father, such as are nearest us after those of our own stock


s: and blood? Or else, may be, some loving friend, a good man


s: and true; for a friend with an understanding heart is no


s: Odysseus relates, first, what befell him amongst the


s: Cicones at Ismarus; secondly, amongst the Lotophagi;


s: thirdly, how he was used by the Cyclops Polyphemus.


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'King


s: Alcinous, most notable of all the people, verily it is a


s: good thing to list to a minstrel such as this one, like to


s: the gods in voice. Nay, as for me, I say that there is no


s: more gracious or perfect delight than when a whole people


s: makes merry, and the men sit orderly at feast in the halls


s: and listen to the singer, and the tables by them are laden


s: with bread and flesh, and a wine-bearer drawing the wine


s: serves it round and pours it into the cups. This seems to


s: me well-nigh the fairest thing in the world. But now thy


s: heart was inclined to ask of my grievous troubles, that I


s: may mourn for more exceeding sorrow. What then shall I tell


s: of first, what last, for the gods of heaven have given me


s: woes in plenty? Now, first, will I tell my name, that ye


s: too may know it, and that I, when I have escaped the


s: pitiless day, may yet be your host, though my home is in a


s: far country. I am ODYSSEUS, SON OF LAERTES, who am in men's


s: minds for all manner of wiles, and my fame reaches unto


s: heaven. And I dwell in clear-seen Ithaca, wherein is a


s: mountain Neriton, with trembling forest leaves, standing


s: manifest to view, and many islands lie around, very near


s: one to the other, Dulichium and Same, and wooded Zacynthus.


s: Now Ithaca lies low, furthest up the sea-line toward the


s: darkness, but those others face the dawning and the sun: a


s: rugged isle, but a good nurse of noble youths; and for


s: myself I can see nought beside sweeter than a man's own


s: country. Verily Calypso, the fair goddess, would fain have


s: kept me with her in her hollow caves, longing to have me


s: for her lord; and likewise too, guileful Circe of Aia,


s: would have stayed me in her halls, longing to have me for


s: her lord. But never did they prevail upon my heart within


s: my breast. So surely is there nought sweeter than a man's


s: own country and his parents, even though he dwell far off


s: in a rich home, in a strange land, away from them that


s: begat him. But come, let me tell thee too of the troubles


s: of my journeying, which Zeus laid on me as I came from


s: 'The wind that bare me from Ilios brought me nigh to the


s: Cicones, even to Ismarus, whereupon I sacked their city and


s: slew the people. And from out the city we took their wives


s: and much substance, and divided them amongst us, that none


s: through me might go lacking his proper share. Howbeit,


s: thereafter I commanded that we should flee with a swift


s: foot, but my men in their great folly hearkened not. There


s: was much wine still a drinking, and still they slew many


s: flocks of sheep by the seashore and kine with trailing feet


s: and shambling gait. Meanwhile the Cicones went and raised a


s: cry to other Cicones their neighbours, dwelling inland, who


s: were more in number than they and braver withal: skilled


s: they were to fight with men from chariots, and when need


s: was on foot. So they gathered in the early morning as thick


s: as leaves and flowers that spring in their season--yea and


s: in that hour an evil doom of Zeus stood by us, ill-fated


s: men, that so we might be sore afflicted. They set their


s: battle in array by the swift ships, and the hosts cast at


s: one another with their bronze-shod spears. So long as it


s: was morn and the sacred day waxed stronger, so long we


s: abode their assault and beat them off, albeit they


s: outnumbered us. But when the sun was wending to the time of


s: the loosing of cattle, then at last the Cicones drave in


s: the Achaeans and overcame them, and six of my


s: goodly-greaved company perished from each ship: but the


s: remnant of us escaped death and destiny.


s: 'Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as men


s: saved from death, albeit we had lost our dear companions.


s: Nor did my curved ships move onward ere we had called


s: thrice on each of those our hapless fellows, who died at


s: the hands of the Cicones on the plain. Now Zeus, gatherer


s: of the clouds, aroused the North Wind against our ships


s: with a terrible tempest, and covered land and sea alike


s: with clouds, and down sped night from heaven. Thus the


s: ships were driven headlong, and their sails were torn to


s: shreds by the might of the wind. So we lowered the sails


s: into the hold, in fear of death, but rowed the ships


s: landward apace. There for two nights and two days we lay


s: continually, consuming our hearts with weariness and


s: sorrow. But when the fair-tressed Dawn had at last brought


s: the full light of the third day, we set up the masts and


s: hoisted the white sails and sat us down, while the wind and


s: the helmsman guided the ships. And now I should have come


s: to mine own country all unhurt, but the wave and the stream


s: of the sea and the North Wind swept me from my course as I


s: was doubling Malea, and drave me wandering past Cythera.


s: 'Thence for nine whole days was I borne by ruinous winds


s: over the teeming deep; but on the tenth day we set foot on


s: the land of the lotus-eaters, who eat a flowery food. So we


s: stepped ashore and drew water, and straightway my company


s: took their midday meal by the swift ships. Now when we had


s: tasted meat and drink I sent forth certain of my company to


s: go and make search what manner of men they were who here


s: live upon the earth by bread, and I chose out two of my


s: fellows, and sent a third with them as herald. Then


s: straightway they went and mixed with the men of the


s: lotus-eaters, and so it was that the lotus-eaters devised


s: not death for our fellows, but gave them of the lotus to


s: taste. Now whosoever of them did eat the honey-sweet fruit


s: of the lotus, had no more wish to bring tidings nor to come


s: back, but there he chose to abide with the lotus-eating


s: men, ever feeding on the lotus, and forgetful of his


s: homeward way. Therefore I led them back to the ships


s: weeping, and sore against their will, and dragged them


s: beneath the benches, and bound them in the hollow barques.


s: But I commanded the rest of my well-loved company to make


s: speed and go on board the swift ships, lest haply any


s: should eat of the lotus and be forgetful of returning.


s: Right soon they embarked, and sat upon the benches, and


s: sitting orderly they smote the grey sea water with their


s: 'Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart. And we came to


s: the land of the Cyclopes, a froward and a lawless folk, who


s: trusting to the deathless gods plant not aught with their


s: hands, neither plough: but, behold, all these things spring


s: for them in plenty, unsown and untilled, wheat, and barley,


s: and vines, which bear great clusters of the juice of the


s: grape, and the rain of Zeus gives them increase. These have


s: neither gatherings for council nor oracles of law, but they


s: dwell in hollow caves on the crests of the high hills, and


s: each one utters the law to his children and his wives, and


s: 'Now there is a waste isle stretching without the harbour


s: of the land of the Cyclopes, neither nigh at hand nor yet


s: afar off, a woodland isle, wherein are wild goats


s: unnumbered, for no path of men scares them, nor do hunters


s: resort thither who suffer hardships in the wood, as they


s: range the mountain crests. Moreover it is possessed neither


s: by flocks nor by ploughed lands, but the soil lies unsown


s: evermore and untilled, desolate of men, and feeds the


s: bleating goats. For the Cyclopes have by them no ships with


s: vermilion cheek, not yet are there shipwrights in the


s: island, who might fashion decked barques, which should


s: accomplish all their desire, voyaging to the towns of men


s: (as ofttimes men cross the sea to one another in ships),


s: who might likewise have made of their isle a goodly


s: settlement. Yea, it is in no wise a sorry land, but would


s: bear all things in their season; for therein are soft water


s: meadows by the shores of the grey salt sea, and there the


s: vines know no decay, and the land is level to plough;


s: thence might they reap a crop exceeding deep in due season,


s: for verily there is fatness beneath the soil. Also there is


s: a fair haven, where is no need of moorings, either to cast


s: anchor or to fasten hawsers, but men may run the ship on


s: the beach, and tarry until such time as the sailors are


s: minded to be gone, and favourable breezes blow. Now at the


s: head of the harbour is a well of bright water issuing from


s: a cave, and round it are poplars growing. Thither we


s: sailed, and some god guided us through the night, for it


s: was dark and there was no light to see, a mist lying deep


s: about the ships, nor did the moon show her light from


s: heaven, but was shut in with clouds. No man then beheld


s: that island, neither saw we the long waves rolling to the


s: beach, till we had run our decked ships ashore. And when


s: our ships were beached, we took down all their sails, and


s: ourselves too stept forth upon the strand of the sea, and


s: there we fell into sound sleep and waited for the bright


s: 'So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, in


s: wonder at the island we roamed over the length thereof: and


s: the Nymphs, the daughters of Zeus, lord of the aegis,


s: started the wild goats of the hills, that my company might


s: have wherewith to sup. Anon we took to us our curved bows


s: from out the ships and long spears, and arrayed in three


s: bands we began shooting at the goats; and the god soon gave


s: us game in plenty. Now twelve ships bare me company, and to


s: each ship fell nine goats for a portion, but for me alone


s: 'Thus we sat there the livelong day until the going down of


s: the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and on sweet wine. For


s: the red wine was not yet spent from out the ships, but


s: somewhat was yet therein, for we had each one drawn off


s: large store thereof in jars, when we took the sacred


s: citadel of the Cicones. And we looked across to the land of


s: the Cyclopes, who dwell nigh, and to the smoke, and to the


s: voice of the men, and of the sheep and of the goats. And


s: when the sun had sunk and darkness had come on, then we


s: laid us to rest upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn


s: shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then I called a gathering


s: '"Abide here all the rest of you, my dear companions; but I


s: will go with mine own ship and my ship's company, and make


s: proof of these men, what manner of folk they are, whether


s: froward, and wild, and unjust, or hospitable and of


s: 'So I spake, and I climbed the ship's side, and bade my


s: company themselves to mount, and to loose the hawsers. So


s: they soon embarked and sat upon the benches, and sitting


s: orderly smote the grey sea water with their oars. Now when


s: we had come to the land that lies hard by, we saw a cave on


s: the border near to the sea, lofty and roofed over with


s: laurels, and there many flocks of sheep and goats were used


s: to rest. And about it a high outer court was built with


s: stones, deep bedded, and with tall pines and oaks with


s: their high crown of leaves. And a man was wont to sleep


s: therein, of monstrous size, who shepherded his flocks alone


s: and afar, and was not conversant with others, but dwelt


s: apart in lawlessness of mind. Yea, for he was a monstrous


s: thing and fashioned marvellously, nor was he like to any


s: man that lives by bread, but like a wooded peak of the


s: towering hills, which stands out apart and alone from


s: 'Then I commanded the rest of my well-loved company to


s: tarry there by the ship, and to guard the ship, but I chose


s: out twelve men, the best of my company, and sallied forth.


s: Now I had with me a goat-skin of the dark wine and sweet


s: which Maron, son of Euanthes, had given me, the priest of


s: Apollo, the god that watched over Ismarus. And he gave it,


s: for that we had protected him with his wife and child


s: reverently; for he dwelt in a thick grove of Phoebus


s: Apollo. And he made me splendid gifts; he gave me seven


s: talents of gold well wrought, and he gave me a mixing bowl


s: of pure silver, and furthermore wine which he drew off in


s: twelve jars in all, sweet wine unmingled, a draught divine;


s: nor did any of his servants or of his handmaids in the


s: house know thereof, but himself and his dear wife and one


s: housedame only. And as often as they drank that red wine


s: honey sweet, he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty


s: measures of water, and a marvellous sweet smell went up


s: from the mixing bowl: then truly it was no pleasure to


s: 'With this wine I filled a great skin, and bare it with me,


s: and corn too I put in a wallet, for my lordly spirit


s: straightway had a boding that a man would come to me, a


s: strange man, clothed in mighty strength, one that knew not


s: {* Literally, knowing neither dooms, nor ordinances of


s: 'Soon we came to the cave, but we found him not within; he


s: was shepherding his fat flocks in the pastures. So we went


s: into the cave, and gazed on all that was therein. The


s: baskets were well laden with cheeses, and the folds were


s: thronged with lambs and kids; each kind was penned by


s: itself, the firstlings apart, and the summer lambs apart,


s: apart too the younglings of the flock. Now all the vessels


s: swam with whey, the milk-pails and the bowls, the


s: well-wrought vessels whereinto he milked. My company then


s: spake and besought me first of all to take of the cheeses


s: and to return, and afterwards to make haste and drive off


s: the kids and lambs to the swift ships from out the pens,


s: and to sail over the salt sea water. Howbeit I hearkened


s: not (and far better would it have been), but waited to see


s: the giant himself, and whether he would give me gifts as a


s: stranger's due. Yet was not his coming to be with joy to my


s: 'Then we kindled a fire, and made burnt-offering, and


s: ourselves likewise took of the cheeses, and did eat, and


s: sat waiting for him within till he came back, shepherding


s: his flocks. And he bore a grievous weight of dry wood,


s: against supper time. This log he cast down with a din


s: inside the cave, and in fear we fled to the secret place of


s: the rock. As for him, he drave his fat flocks into the wide


s: cavern, even all that he was wont to milk; but the males


s: both of the sheep and of the goats he left without in the


s: deep yard. Thereafter he lifted a huge doorstone and


s: weighty, and set it in the mouth of the cave, such an one


s: as two and twenty good four-wheeled wains could not raise


s: from the ground, so mighty a sheer rock did he set against


s: the doorway. Then he sat down and milked the ewes and


s: bleating goats, all orderly, and beneath each ewe he placed


s: her young. And anon he curdled one half of the white milk,


s: and massed it together, and stored it in wicker-baskets,


s: and the other half he let stand in pails, that he might


s: have it to take and drink against supper time. Now when he


s: had done all his work busily, then he kindled the fire


s: '"Strangers, who are ye? Whence sail ye over the wet ways?


s: On some trading enterprise or at adventure do ye rove, even


s: as sea-robbers over the brine, for at hazard of their own


s: lives they wander, bringing bale to alien men."


s: 'So spake he, but as for us our heart within us was broken


s: for terror of the deep voice and his own monstrous shape;


s: yet despite all I answered and spake unto him, saying:


s: '"Lo, we are Achaeans, driven wandering from Troy, by all


s: manner of winds over the great gulf of the sea; seeking our


s: homes we fare, but another path have we come, by other


s: ways: even such, methinks, was the will and the counsel of


s: Zeus. And we avow us to be the men of Agamemnon, son of


s: Atreus, whose fame is even now the mightiest under heaven,


s: so great a city did he sack, and destroyed many people; but


s: as for us we have lighted here, and come to these thy


s: knees, if perchance thou wilt give us a stranger's gift, or


s: make any present, as is the due of strangers. Nay, lord,


s: have regard to the gods, for we are thy suppliants; and


s: Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and sojourners, Zeus, the