Odyssey, Book 7: The House of Alcinous

1ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἠρᾶτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.

ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε,

στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς

5ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης

ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.

αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ

γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα,

τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·

10Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν

Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·

ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.

ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.

1So there much-enduring godlike Odysseus prayed,

while the strong mules bore the maiden toward the city.

When she reached her father's glorious halls,

she stopped in the forecourt. Her brothers gathered around her,

5like immortals; they freed the mules

from beneath the wagon and carried the clothes inside.

She herself went to her room, where an old woman lit a fire for her—

Eurymedusa of Apeira, her chamber attendant,

whom curved ships had once brought from Apeira.

10The Phaeacians had chosen her as a prize for Alcinous, because he

ruled over them all and the people listened to him like a god.

She had reared white-armed Nausicaa in the palace,

and now rekindled the fire and prepared her supper inside.

14καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη

15πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι,

μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας

κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν,

ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

20παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.

στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο

Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω

25τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα

ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμον, ὅν με κελεύεις,

δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.

30ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω,

μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.

οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται,

οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.

νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι

35λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·

τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.

τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν

40ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη

εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν

θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας

αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ

45ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.

14Then Odysseus rose to go to the city. Athena,

15thinking kindly of him, poured a dense mist around him,

so that none of the great-hearted Phaeacians might meet him,

mock him with words, and ask who he was.

When at last he was ready to enter the lovely city,

bright-eyed Athena met him there,

20appearing as a young girl with a water jar.

She stood before him, and godlike Odysseus asked her:

“Child, would you guide me to the house

of Alcinous, the man who rules among these people?

I have come here as a stranger, well acquainted with suffering,

25from a far and distant land; so I know no one

among the people who possess this city and country.”

The goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

“Then, father stranger, I will show you the house you ask for,

since it stands near the home of my blameless father.

30But follow in silence as you are; I will lead the way.

Do not look directly at anyone or question them,

for these people do not readily tolerate strangers,

nor do they welcome with affection a man who comes from elsewhere.

Trusting in their swift, speeding ships,

35they cross the great gulf, since the Earth-shaker gave them this gift.

Their ships are swift as a wing or a thought.”

So Pallas Athena spoke and led the way

quickly, while he followed in the goddess's footsteps.

The Phaeacians, famed for their ships, did not notice him

40walking through their city among them, for Athena

of the lovely hair, the formidable goddess, would not allow it:

with kindly purpose in her heart, she cast an uncanny haze over him.

Odysseus marveled at their harbors and balanced ships,

at the heroes' assembly grounds and the long walls,

45high and fitted with stakes—a wonder to behold.

46ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο,

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με κελεύεις

πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας

50δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ

τάρβει· θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων

ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.

δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν·

Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων

55τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.

Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη,

ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος,

ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.

60ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·

τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα

Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·

Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.

τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

65νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα

Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν,

καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη,

ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.

ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν

70ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο

καὶ λαῶν, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες

δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·

ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.

75εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

46But when they reached the king's glorious halls,

the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, began to speak:

“Here, father stranger, is the house you asked me

to point out. You will find the Zeus-nurtured kings

50feasting there. Go inside, and do not be afraid at heart,

for in every undertaking a bold man does better,

even when he has come from somewhere far away.

First seek out the mistress of the house in the hall.

Her name is Arete, and she comes from the same stock

55that also produced King Alcinous.

First Poseidon, shaker of the earth, fathered Nausithous

with Periboea, the most beautiful of women,

youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon,

who once ruled the overbearing Giants.

60But he brought his reckless people to ruin and perished himself.

Poseidon lay with Periboea, and she bore him a son,

great-hearted Nausithous, who ruled among the Phaeacians.

Nausithous fathered Rhexenor and Alcinous.

Silver-bowed Apollo struck Rhexenor down without a son,

65a bridegroom in his own hall, leaving only one child,

Arete. Alcinous made her his wife

and has honored her as no other woman on earth is honored

among all women who now manage a household under a husband's authority.

Thus she has been and remains honored from the heart—

70by her dear children, by Alcinous himself,

and by the people, who gaze on her as on a goddess

and greet her with words whenever she walks through the city.

She herself lacks nothing in sound judgment,

and with her good sense she resolves disputes even among men.

75If she holds kindly thoughts toward you in her heart,

then you may hope to see those you love and reach

your high-roofed house and your native land.”

78ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,

80ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,

δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ

ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

85δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.

χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·

χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·

σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,

90ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,

οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι

δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.

78So spoke bright-eyed Athena and went away

over the barren sea, leaving lovely Scheria.

80She came to Marathon and Athens with its broad streets,

and entered Erechtheus' well-built house. Odysseus, meanwhile,

went toward Alcinous' glorious halls. His heart turned over many thoughts

as he stood there before crossing the bronze threshold.

For a radiance like the sun's or the moon's shone

85through the high-roofed house of great-hearted Alcinous.

Bronze walls ran on either side,

from the threshold to the innermost room, topped by a frieze of blue enamel.

Golden doors enclosed the well-built house within;

silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,

90the lintel above was silver, and the door handle gold.

On either side stood dogs of gold and silver,

fashioned by Hephaestus with knowing skill

to guard the house of great-hearted Alcinous,

immortal and ageless for all time.

95ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι

λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.

ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο

πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.

100χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν

ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,

φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.

πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες

αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,

105αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν

ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·

καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.

ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν

νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες

110ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη

ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.

95Inside, chairs were set against the wall on either side,

all the way from the threshold to the innermost room; over them lay

delicate, finely woven robes, the work of women.

There the Phaeacian leaders sat,

eating and drinking, for they had an unfailing abundance.

100Golden youths stood on well-built pedestals,

holding burning torches in their hands

to light the palace by night for the feasters.

Fifty enslaved women worked throughout the house:

some ground tawny grain at the mill,

105others wove at the looms and twisted yarn,

sitting there like the leaves of a tall poplar.

From the closely woven linen, liquid oil would drip.

As much as Phaeacian men surpass all others in skill

at driving a swift ship over the sea, so do their women

110excel at the loom. Athena above all has given them

knowledge of beautiful handiwork and good understanding.

112ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων

τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,

115ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι

συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.

τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει

χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.

120ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,

αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.

ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,

τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,

125ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν

ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.

ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον

παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·

ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα

130σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι

πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.

τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,

135καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.

112Outside the courtyard, close beside the doors, lay a great orchard

of four acres, with a fence driven all around.

There tall trees grew in luxuriance:

115pears, pomegranates, and apple trees bright with fruit,

sweet figs and flourishing olives.

Their fruit never perishes or fails,

winter or summer, but lasts through the year. Always

the West Wind blows, bringing some fruit on and ripening others.

120Pear ripens after pear and apple after apple,

cluster upon grape cluster, fig upon fig.

There a fruitful vineyard had been planted for him.

One part of it, a broad sunning-ground on level earth,

dried in the sun; grapes from another were being harvested,

125and others were being trodden. In front were unripe clusters

shedding their blossom, while others were just turning dark.

At the farthest row of vines, orderly garden beds

of every kind grew, fresh throughout the year.

Two springs were there: one spread through the whole garden,

130while the other ran in the opposite direction beneath the courtyard threshold

toward the high house, where the townspeople drew their water.

Such were the splendid gifts of the gods at Alcinous' house.

There much-enduring godlike Odysseus stood and marveled.

When he had taken in every sight to his heart,

135he quickly crossed the threshold and went into the house.

136εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας

σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,

ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

140πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,

ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,

καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.

οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες·

145θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·

Ἀρήτη, θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο,

σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας

τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας· τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν

ζωέμεναι, καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος

150κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ ὅ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν·

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι

θᾶσσον, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω.

ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν

πὰρ πυρί· οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

136He found the Phaeacian leaders and counselors

pouring libations from their cups to the keen-sighted slayer of Argus,

to whom they always poured the last offering before turning their thoughts to bed.

Much-enduring godlike Odysseus went through the hall,

140wrapped in the dense mist Athena had poured around him,

until he reached Arete and King Alcinous.

Odysseus threw his hands around Arete's knees,

and at that very moment the uncanny mist fell away from him.

At the sight of the man, they fell silent throughout the house

145and gazed in wonder. Then Odysseus made his plea:

“Arete, daughter of godlike Rhexenor,

after suffering greatly I come as a suppliant to your husband, to your knees,

and to these feasters. May the gods grant them prosperity

all their lives, and may each pass on to his children

150the possessions in his halls and the privilege the people gave him.

But for me, urge on an escort to bring me to my native land

quickly, since I have long suffered far from those I love.”

With that he sat down in the ashes at the hearth,

beside the fire, while everyone remained utterly silent.

155ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,

ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν

καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο, παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς·

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

Ἀλκίνοʼ, οὐ μέν τοι τόδε κάλλιον, οὐδὲ ἔοικε,

160ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν,

οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται.

ἄλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου

εἷσον ἀναστήσας, σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον

οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

165σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ·

δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

χειρὸς ἑλὼν Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην

ὦρσεν ἀπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν καὶ ἐπὶ θρόνου εἷσε φαεινοῦ,

170υἱὸν ἀναστήσας ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα,

ὅς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκεν.

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

175σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,

εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.

αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·

Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον

180πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.

155At last the old hero Echeneus spoke among them.

He was the eldest of the Phaeacian men

and excelled in speech, knowing many things from long ago.

With good judgment he addressed them and said:

“Alcinous, this is neither seemly for you nor fitting:

160the stranger sits on the ground in the ashes at the hearth,

while these men hold back, waiting for your word.

Come, raise the stranger and seat him on a silver-studded chair,

and tell the heralds

to mix wine, so that we may pour a libation to Zeus who delights in thunder,

165who attends upon suppliants deserving reverence.

And let the housekeeper give the stranger supper from what is here.”

When Alcinous in his sacred might heard this,

he took resourceful, discerning Odysseus by the hand,

raised him from the hearth, and seated him on a shining chair,

170making his valiant son Laodamas rise,

who sat beside him and whom he loved most.

A servant brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher

and poured it over a silver basin

for him to wash, then drew a polished table beside him.

175The respected housekeeper brought and set out bread,

adding many dishes and giving freely of what was at hand.

Much-enduring godlike Odysseus drank and ate.

Then the strength of Alcinous addressed the herald:

“Pontonous, mix a bowl and distribute wine

180to everyone through the hall, so that we may pour a libation to Zeus who delights in thunder,

who attends upon suppliants deserving reverence.”

182ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,

νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενος δεπάεσσιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

185τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·

ἠῶθεν δὲ γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες

190ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις ξεινίσσομεν ἠδὲ θεοῖσιν

ῥέξομεν ἱερὰ καλά, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ περὶ πομπῆς

μνησόμεθʼ, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἄνευθε πόνου καὶ ἀνίης

πομπῇ ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃ ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται

χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐστί,

195μηδέ τι μεσσηγύς γε κακὸν καὶ πῆμα πάθῃσι,

πρίν γε τὸν ἧς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα

πείσεται, ἅσσα οἱ αἶσα κατὰ κλῶθές τε βαρεῖαι

γιγνομένῳ νήσαντο λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.

εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθεν,

200ἄλλο τι δὴ τόδʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ περιμηχανόωνται.

αἰεὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος γε θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς

ἡμῖν, εὖτʼ ἔρδωμεν ἀγακλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας,

δαίνυνταί τε παρʼ ἄμμι καθήμενοι ἔνθα περ ἡμεῖς.

εἰ δʼ ἄρα τις καὶ μοῦνος ἰὼν ξύμβληται ὁδίτης,

205οὔ τι κατακρύπτουσιν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἐγγύθεν εἰμέν,

ὥς περ Κύκλωπές τε καὶ ἄγρια φῦλα Γιγάντων.

182So he spoke. Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine

and served it to everyone, first pouring an offering into each cup.

When they had poured libations and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

185Alcinous addressed them and said:

“Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,

while I say what the heart in my chest commands.

For tonight, now that you have feasted, go home and lie down.

At dawn we will summon more of the elders,

190receive the stranger in our halls, and offer the gods

fine sacrifices. Then we will turn our thoughts to his escort,

so that without toil or distress the stranger may,

under our escort, reach his native land

quickly and with joy, even if it lies very far away,

195and suffer no harm or trouble on the way

before he sets foot on his own soil. Once there,

he must meet all that his portion and the grim Spinners

spun into his thread as he came from his mother's womb.

Yet if some immortal has descended out of heaven,

200the gods must be devising a different turn here.

For until now the gods have always appeared plainly

among us whenever we offer splendid hecatombs,

and sit beside us at the feast where we ourselves sit.

Even if a lone traveler meets one of them on the road,

205they make no concealment, for we live close to them,

as the Cyclopes and the wild tribes of Giants are.”

207τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Ἀλκίνοʼ, ἄλλο τί τοι μελέτω φρεσίν· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε

ἀθανάτοισιν ἔοικα, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,

210οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλὰ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν.

οὕς τινας ὑμεῖς ἴστε μάλιστʼ ὀχέοντας ὀιζὺν

ἀνθρώπων, τοῖσίν κεν ἐν ἄλγεσιν ἰσωσαίμην.

καὶ δʼ ἔτι κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ κακὰ μυθησαίμην,

ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.

215ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν δορπῆσαι ἐάσατε κηδόμενόν περ·

οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο

ἔπλετο, ἥ τʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἕο μνήσασθαι ἀνάγκῃ

καὶ μάλα τειρόμενον καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,

ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ πένθος μὲν ἔχω φρεσίν, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

220ἐσθέμεναι κέλεται καὶ πινέμεν, ἐκ δέ με πάντων

ληθάνει ὅσσʼ ἔπαθον, καὶ ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἀνώγει.

ὑμεῖς δʼ ὀτρύνεσθαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν,

ὥς κʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐμῆς ἐπιβήσετε πάτρης

καί περ πολλὰ παθόντα· ἰδόντα με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν

225κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον

πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.

207Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Alcinous, let your mind attend to something else. I am not

like the immortals who hold broad heaven,

210neither in body nor stature, but like mortal human beings.

Whoever among humankind you know to carry the greatest misery,

I could match myself with them in suffering.

And I could tell of even more afflictions,

all the many things I have endured by the gods' will.

215But let me eat my supper, though I am full of grief.

For nothing is more shameless than the accursed belly:

by force it commands a man to remember it,

even when he is worn down and carries sorrow in his mind—

as I carry sorrow in my mind, yet always

220it bids me eat and drink, makes me forget

all that I have suffered, and orders me to fill it.

As for you, make ready with the coming dawn,

so that you may set me, miserable as I am, upon my native land,

though I have suffered much. Once I have seen my possessions,

225my enslaved people, and my great high-roofed house, may life leave me.”

So he spoke, and they all approved and urged

that the stranger be escorted, since he had spoken as was proper.

228αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,

230αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀρήτη τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοος θεοειδὴς

ἥσθην· ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἀπεκόσμεον ἔντεα δαιτός.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·

ἔγνω γὰρ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἰδοῦσα

235καλά, τά ῥʼ αὐτὴ τεῦξε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·

τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τίς τοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκεν;

οὐ δὴ φῆς ἐπὶ πόντον ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι;

228When they had poured libations and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

the others went home, each to his bed,

230but godlike Odysseus remained behind in the hall,

and beside him sat Arete and godlike Alcinous,

while the servants cleared away the gear of the feast.

White-armed Arete began the conversation,

for when she saw his cloak, tunic, and fine clothes, she recognized them:

235she herself had made them with her serving women.

She addressed him and spoke winged words:

“Stranger, I myself will first ask you this:

Who are you, and where are you from? Who gave you these clothes?

Did you not say that you reached us after wandering over the sea?”

240τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἀργαλέον, βασίλεια, διηνεκέως ἀγορεῦσαι

κήδεʼ, ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.

Ὠγυγίη τις νῆσος ἀπόπροθεν εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται·

245ἔνθα μὲν Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ, δολόεσσα Καλυψὼ

ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός· οὐδέ τις αὐτῇ

μίσγεται οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐφέστιον ἤγαγε δαίμων

οἶον, ἐπεί μοι νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ

250Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τρόπιν ἀγκὰς ἑλὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης

ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην· δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ

νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ

255ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ με λαβοῦσα

ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει τε καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε

θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·

ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν.

ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον ἔμπεδον, εἵματα δʼ αἰεὶ

260δάκρυσι δεύεσκον, τά μοι ἄμβροτα δῶκε Καλυψώ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὀγδόατόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,

καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἐποτρύνουσα νέεσθαι

Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ἀγγελίης, ἢ καὶ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτῆς.

πέμπε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε,

265σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ, καὶ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσεν,

οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.

ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέον ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,

ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα

γαίης ὑμετέρης, γήθησε δέ μοι φίλον ἦτορ

270δυσμόρῳ· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλον ἔτι ξυνέσεσθαι ὀιζυῖ

240Resourceful Odysseus answered her:

“Queen, it would be difficult to recount from beginning to end

my troubles, for the gods of heaven have given me many.

But I will tell you what you ask and inquire about.

There is an island, Ogygia, lying far out at sea.

245There lives the daughter of Atlas, the wily Calypso,

a lovely-haired and formidable goddess. No one

consorts with her, neither god nor mortal man.

But some divine power brought unhappy me alone to her hearth,

after Zeus struck my swift ship with his flashing bolt

250and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.

There all my good companions perished,

but I clasped the keel of my curved ship in my arms

and drifted for nine days. On the tenth black night,

the gods brought me to the island Ogygia, where Calypso lives,

255the lovely-haired and formidable goddess. She took me in,

cared for me devotedly and kept me fed; she said

she would make me immortal and ageless for all time,

but she never persuaded the heart within my chest.

I remained there seven years, fixed in place, and continually

260soaked with tears the deathless clothes Calypso gave me.

But when the eighth year came round,

she urged and commanded me to return,

whether at Zeus's message or because her own mind had turned.

She sent me on a tightly bound raft and gave me ample supplies—

265bread and sweet wine—and clothed me in deathless garments.

She sent behind me a harmless, balmy wind.

For seventeen days I sailed over the sea,

and on the eighteenth the shadowed mountains

of your land appeared, and my heart rejoiced.

270Wretched as I was, I was still to meet with great misery,

271πολλῇ, τήν μοι ἐπῶρσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

ὅς μοι ἐφορμήσας ἀνέμους κατέδησε κέλευθον,

ὤρινεν δὲ θάλασσαν ἀθέσφατον, οὐδέ τι κῦμα

εἴα ἐπὶ σχεδίης ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα φέρεσθαι.

275τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα θύελλα διεσκέδασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

νηχόμενος τόδε λαῖτμα διέτμαγον, ὄφρα με γαίῃ

ὑμετέρῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.

ἔνθα κέ μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βιήσατο κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,

πέτρῃς πρὸς μεγάλῃσι βαλὸν καὶ ἀτερπέι χώρῳ·

280ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος νῆχον πάλιν, ἧος ἐπῆλθον

ἐς ποταμόν, τῇ δή μοι ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,

λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο.

ἐκ δʼ ἔπεσον θυμηγερέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀμβροσίη νὺξ

ἤλυθʼ. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπάνευθε διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

285ἐκβὰς ἐν θάμνοισι κατέδραθον, ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλα

ἠφυσάμην· ὕπνον δὲ θεὸς κατʼ ἀπείρονα χεῦεν.

ἔνθα μὲν ἐν φύλλοισι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ

εὗδον παννύχιος καὶ ἐπʼ ἠῶ καὶ μέσον ἦμαρ.

δείλετό τʼ ἠέλιος καί με γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.

290ἀμφιπόλους δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ τεῆς ἐνόησα θυγατρὸς

παιζούσας, ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ ἔην ἐικυῖα θεῇσι·

τὴν ἱκέτευσʼ· ἡ δʼ οὔ τι νοήματος ἤμβροτεν ἐσθλοῦ,

ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἔλποιο νεώτερον ἀντιάσαντα

ἐρξέμεν· αἰεὶ γάρ τε νεώτεροι ἀφραδέουσιν.

295ἥ μοι σῖτον ἔδωκεν ἅλις ἠδʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον

καὶ λοῦσʼ ἐν ποταμῷ καί μοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκε.

ταῦτά τοι ἀχνύμενός περ ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.

271which Poseidon, shaker of the earth, raised against me.

He drove the winds upon me and barred my way,

stirring the sea to an unspeakable fury; no wave

would let me ride my raft, though I groaned without pause.

275Then the storm scattered it, while I

swam across this gulf until wind and water

carried me close to your land.

As I came ashore, a wave would have overpowered me on the coast,

flinging me against the great rocks in a joyless place.

280But I drew back and swam again until I came

to a river, where the place seemed best to me—

clear of rocks and sheltered from the wind.

I came out, gathering breath, and immortal night

fell. Leaving the heaven-fed river,

285I lay down in the bushes and heaped leaves around me.

A god poured boundless sleep over me.

There among the leaves, my heart burdened with care,

I slept all night, through morning, and into midday.

The sun was sinking when sweet sleep released me.

290I saw your daughter's attendants playing on the shore,

and among them she was like the goddesses.

I appealed to her, and she showed unfailing good sense,

beyond what you might expect on meeting someone younger;

for the young are always prone to thoughtlessness.

295She gave me abundant food and glowing wine,

had me bathe in the river, and gave me these clothes.

Though grieved, I have told you the truth of it.”

298τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν τοῦτο γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε

300παῖς ἐμή, οὕνεκά σʼ οὔ τι μετʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν

ἦγεν ἐς ἡμέτερον, σὺ δʼ ἄρα πρώτην ἱκέτευσας.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἥρως, μή τοι τοὔνεκʼ ἀμύμονα νείκεε κούρην·

ἡ μὲν γάρ μʼ ἐκέλευε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕπεσθαι,

305ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔθελον δείσας αἰσχυνόμενός τε,

μή πως καὶ σοὶ θυμὸς ἐπισκύσσαιτο ἰδόντι·

δύσζηλοι γάρ τʼ εἰμὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.

298Alcinous answered him:

“Stranger, in this one matter my daughter did not judge fittingly,

300because she did not bring you here with her serving women,

though she was the first person to whom you appealed.”

Resourceful Odysseus answered him:

“Hero, do not rebuke the blameless maiden on that account.

She did tell me to follow with her serving women,

305but I was unwilling, afraid and ashamed,

in case your own heart might grow angry at the sight.

We human beings on earth are quick to suspicion.”

308τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ

310μαψιδίως κεχολῶσθαι· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ἐσσι, τά τε φρονέων ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ,

παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν ἐχέμεν καὶ ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι

αὖθι μένων· οἶκον δέ κʼ ἐγὼ καὶ κτήματα δοίην,

315εἴ κʼ ἐθέλων γε μένοις· ἀέκοντα δέ σʼ οὔ τις ἐρύξει

Φαιήκων· μὴ τοῦτο φίλον Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιτο.

πομπὴν δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἐγὼ τεκμαίρομαι, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,

αὔριον ἔς· τῆμος δὲ σὺ μὲν δεδμημένος ὕπνῳ

λέξεαι, οἱ δʼ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι

320πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν,

εἴ περ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἑκαστέρω ἔστʼ Εὐβοίης,

τήν περ τηλοτάτω φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οἵ μιν ἴδοντο

λαῶν ἡμετέρων, ὅτε τε ξανθὸν Ῥαδάμανθυν

ἦγον ἐποψόμενον Τιτυὸν Γαιήιον υἱόν.

325καὶ μὲν οἱ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον καὶ ἄτερ καμάτοιο τέλεσσαν

ἤματι τῷ αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπήνυσαν οἴκαδʼ ὀπίσσω.

εἰδήσεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὅσσον ἄρισται

νῆες ἐμαὶ καὶ κοῦροι ἀναρρίπτειν ἅλα πηδῷ.

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

330εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἴθʼ ὅσα εἶπε τελευτήσειεν ἅπαντα

Ἀλκίνοος· τοῦ μέν κεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν

ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη, ἐγὼ δέ κε πατρίδʼ ἱκοίμην.

308Alcinous answered him:

“Stranger, the heart in my chest is not such

310as to grow angry without cause. What is fitting is always better.

If only—Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo—

being the man you are and thinking as I do,

you would marry my daughter and be called my son-in-law,

remaining here! I would give you a house and possessions,

315if you chose to stay. But no Phaeacian will detain you

against your will; may such a thing never please Father Zeus.

I set the time of your escort so that you may know it clearly:

tomorrow. Then, overcome by sleep, you will

lie at rest while they row over the calm sea, until you reach

320your native land and house, or whatever place is dear to you,

even if it lies far beyond Euboea,

which those among our people who have seen it say is the farthest land,

when they carried fair-haired Rhadamanthus

to visit Tityus, son of Earth.

325They reached that place, accomplished their purpose without toil

that same day, then made their way home again.

You will learn for yourself how far my ships surpass all others,

and how my young men can fling up the sea with their oar blades.”

So he spoke, and much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced.

330He prayed aloud and said:

“Father Zeus, may Alcinous bring to fulfillment

everything he has said. Then his fame would be unquenchable

across the grain-giving earth, and I would reach my native land.”

334ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

335κέκλετο δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἀμφιπόλοισιν

δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας

χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.

αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι·

340αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,

ὤτρυνον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα παριστάμεναι ἐπέεσσιν·

ὄρσο κέων, ὦ ξεῖνε· πεποίηται δέ τοι εὐνή.

ὣς φάν, τῷ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

345τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ·

Ἀλκίνοος δʼ ἄρα λέκτο μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,

πὰρ δὲ γυνὴ δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.

334So they spoke these things with one another.

335White-armed Arete told her attendants

to set a bed under the portico, spread fine

purple blankets upon it, lay rugs over them,

and place fleecy cloaks on top for him to cover himself.

They left the hall carrying a torch in their hands.

340When they had hurriedly made the sturdy bed,

they stood by Odysseus and urged him with words:

“Rise and go to bed, stranger. Your resting place is ready.”

So they spoke, and the thought of sleep seemed welcome to him.

There much-enduring godlike Odysseus slept

345on a corded bed beneath the echoing portico,

while Alcinous lay down in the inner room of the high house,

and beside him his lady wife prepared the bed and bedding.