Homer, Odyssey

§ 11.355 “Your majesty Alcinous, most exalted of all men, If you ordered me to stay here even for a year, and urged a convoy and gave splendid gifts, I'd even prefer that, and it would be much better, to reach my fatherland with fuller hands,

§ 11.360 and I'd be more revered and welcome to all men who saw me coming home to Ithaca.” Alcinous in turn replied to him and said: “ Odysseus, looking at you, we in no way think that you're deceptive or dissembling, such as many

§ 11.365 that the dark earth breeds, men spread all about, who make up lies from what no one can see. But the grace of words is upon you, and a good heart in you, and you've told your story skillfully, as when a singer does, the wretched woes of yourself and all the Argives.

§ 11.370 But come, tell me this and recount it exactly, whether you saw any of your godlike comrades, who followed along with you to Ilium and met their fate there. This night is very long, marvelously long, and it's not yet the hour to sleep in my palace. Keep telling me of wondrous deeds.

§ 11.375 I'd even stay up until divine dawn, if in my hall you'd bring yourself to tell me the story of your sorrows.” Adroit Odysseus said to him in reply: “Your majesty Alcinous, most exalted of all men, there's time for many stories, and time for sleep, too.

§ 11.380 If you still desire to listen, I wouldn't begrudge telling you of things even more piteous than these, the troubles of my comrades, who perished afterwards, who escaped the Trojans' woeful battle cry, but were destroyed on their return by an evil woman's will.

§ 11.385 “Then after pure Persephone scattered the souls of the female women to one place and another, the soul of Atreides Agamemnon came near, in grief. Others gathered around him, all who'd died with him and met their fate in Aegisthus' house.

§ 11.390 He knew me immediately, after he drank the dark blood. He was weeping loudly, and shedding thick tears, and he spread out his hands toward me, eager to reach me. But he no longer had any strength or sinew as there was before in his supple limbs.

§ 11.395 I wept when I saw him, felt pity in my heart, and, voicing winged words, said to him:'Most glorious Atreides, lord of men Agamemnon, what doom of death that brings long woe has tamed you? Did Poseidon tame you on your ship

§ 11.400 by raising the miserable blast of grievous winds, or did hostile men harm you on dry land as you cut out for yourself cattle and fine flocks of sheep or as you battled over a city and women?' “So said I, and he immediately in answer said to me:

§ 11.405' Zeus -born Laertiades, resourceful Odysseus, neither did Poseidon tame me on my ship by raising the miserable blast of grievous winds, nor did hostile men harm me on dry land, but Aegisthus made death and doom for me,

§ 11.410 killed me with the help of my ruinous wife, called me to his house and made me dinner, as one kills an ox at a trough. So I died a most pitiful death. The rest of my comrades around me were killed without hesitation, like white-toothed pigs in the house of a rich, very powerful man,

§ 11.415 at a wedding or a shared meal or a luxurious feast. You've been present at the slaying of many men, killed them yourself in single combat and in mighty battle, but you'd have been most sad at heart to see those things, how we lay, around full tables and the mixing bowl,

§ 11.420 in the hall, and the whole floor ran with blood. I heard the most pitiful voice of Priam's daughter Cassandra, whom cunning Clytemnestra killed beside me. Then, on the ground, I raised my hands and threw them around the sword as I died, but the dog -eyed one

§ 11.425 turned away, and, though I was on my way to the house of Hades, she didn't dare close my eyes or shut my mouth with her hands. So nothing else is more dreadful or more dog -like than a woman who contrives such actions with her mind, just as that one devised her disgraceful deed,

§ 11.430 and made murder for her wedded husband. Indeed, I thought I'd come home welcomed by my children and my slaves, but she intended exceptional malice and poured shame on herself and on females, on women yet to be, even one who may be honorable.'

§ 11.435 “So said he, then I said to him in answer:'Ah yes, very surely far-seeing Zeus has strongly hated the race of Atreus from the beginning, because of women's designs. Many of us perished on account of Helen, and Clytemnestra devised a trap for you when you were far away.'

§ 11.440 “So said I, and he immediately in answer said to me:'So, you, too, never be gentle, even to your wife, or declare to her each and every thought you might know well, but tell her some and let the rest be hidden. But, you, Odysseus, won't have murder from your wife,

§ 11.445 for Icarius' daughter, prudent Penelope, has exceedingly good sense and good intentions in her mind. Indeed, we left her a young bride when we went to war, and she had a child at her breast, a boy, who now no doubt sits numbered among men,

§ 11.450 happy, for his dear father will see him when he comes, and he'll embrace his father, as is right. But that one, my wife, didn't let my eyes be filled by my son, but she murdered me, even me, beforehand. I'll tell you something else, and, you, put it in your mind.

§ 11.455 Take your ship to your beloved fatherland secretly, not openly, since there's faithfulness in women no more. But come, tell me this and recount it exactly, if you've heard somewhere that my son's still alive, perhaps in Orchomenus, or sandy Pylos,

§ 11.460 or maybe in wide Sparta at Menelaus' side, for divine Orestes has not yet died on earth.' “So said he, then I said to him in answer:' Atreides, why do you ask me this? I don't know at all whether he's dead or alive. It's bad to talk like empty wind.'

§ 11.465 “So we sat taking turns with dreadful words, in grief, shedding thick tears. Then the soul of Peleides Achilles came near, and of Patroclus and noble Antilochus, and of Ajax, who was best in form and figure

§ 11.470 of the other Danaans after Peleion. The soul of fleet-footed Aeacides knew me, and spoke winged words to me in lamentation:' Zeus -born Laertiades, resourceful Odysseus, you reckless one, what still greater deed will your mind devise?

§ 11.475 How dared you come down to Hades' house, where the numb dead live, phantoms of exhausted mortals?' “So said he, and I said to him in answer:' Achilles, son of Peleus, by far mightiest of Achaeans, I came on business with Teiresias, in hope he'd speak

§ 11.480 some plan, by which I might reach rocky Ithaca. For I never came near Achaean land, or ever set foot on my own, but always had sorrow. But no man, before or after, is more blessed than you, Achilles, for we Argives valued you alive as equal to the gods,

§ 11.485 and you now again wield great power, among the dead, since you're here. So don't at all be sorry that you're dead, Achilles.' “So said I, and he immediately in answer said to me:'Don't console me about death, brilliant Odysseus. I'd rather be a hired farmhand, slaving for another,

§ 11.490 for a landless man who hasn't much substance, than rule all the dead who've perished. But come, tell me word of my illustrious son, whether he went to war to be a chief or not. Tell me of noble Peleus, if you've found anything out,

§ 11.495 whether he still has honor among all the Myrmidons or whether they dishonor him thoughout Hellas and Phthia because old age holds back his hands and feet, for I'm not his protector under the bright light of the sun, as I was when, once upon a time, in wide Troy,

§ 11.500 I slew the best men to protect the Argives. If only I could come like that to my father's house, even for a while, in that case I'd make my fury and invincible hands bitter to anyone who did him violence or barred him from his honor.' “So said he, then I said to him in answer:

§ 11.505'In truth, I've found out nothing about noble Peleus, but of your dear son Neoptolemus I'll tell you the whole truth, as you bid me, for I myself brought him on my balanced hollow ship from Scyrus to the well-greaved Achaeans.

§ 11.510 In truth, when we considered counsels around the Trojan city, he was always first to speak and did not miss with his words. Only godlike Nestor and I bested him. But whenever we Achaeans fought on the Trojan plain, he never stayed in the crowd or in the throng of men,

§ 11.515 but ran far forward and yielded to no one in his fury. He slew many men in the dread hostilities. I could not tell about or name them all, he slew so many to protect the Argives, but what a one was that Telephides whom he killed with the bronze,

§ 11.520 the hero Eurypylos! Many of his comrades, the Ceteians, died about him because of gifts made to a woman. He was the handsomest I ever saw after divine Memnon. Then when we, the best of the Argives, went into the horse that Epeius made, and all was laid upon me,

§ 11.525 both to open and to close our close-packed ambush, then the other Danaan leaders and commanders wiped away their tears, and each one's limbs trembled under him, but my eyes never ever saw his fair complexion pale or him wipe tears

§ 11.530 from his cheeks. He many times implored me to let him leave the horse, as he clutched his sword hilt and his spear heavy with bronze, bent on evil for the Trojans. But when we sacked Priam's lofty city, he boarded his ship with his portion and a good prize,

§ 11.535 unscathed, neither struck by sharp bronze nor wounded in hand-to-hand fighting, as so often happens in war, as Ares rages indiscriminately.' “So said I, and the soul of fleet-footed Aeacides went with long strides through the asphodel meadow,

§ 11.540 joyous that I'd said his son was outstanding. “The other souls of the dead who'd died stood grieving, and each told of its troubles. Only the soul of Ajax Telamoniades kept away, angry because of the victory

§ 11.545 I won over him, when I sought judgment by the ships for Achilles' armor. His lady mother set it as a prize. The sons of the Trojans and Pallas Athena decided. I so wish I hadn't won in such a contest, for the earth covered such a head because of it,

§ 11.550 Ajax, who surpassed in form and surpassed in deeds the rest of the Danaans after noble Peleion. I spoke to him with words meant to win him:' Ajax, son of noble Telamon, weren't you, even in death, going to forget your anger toward me because of the ruinous

§ 11.555 armor? The gods gave this as a misery to the Argives, that such a tower for them as you perished, and we Achaeans grieve ceaselessly for you as much as for the head of dead Peleides Achilles. And no one else is to blame but Zeus, who hated the army of Danaan spearmen

§ 11.560 terribly, and laid doom upon you. But come here, lord, so you can hear our word and speech. Tame your manly spirit and your fury.' “So said I, but he answered me nothing, and went with the other souls of the dead who'd died to Erebus.

§ 11.565 There, though angry, he would have spoken to me, or I to him, but my heart in my dear chest wanted to see the souls of others who had died. “Then I indeed saw Minos, splendid son of Zeus, holding a golden scepter, seated and giving judgment

§ 11.570 to the dead, who sought judgments from the lord, as they sat and stood about him throughout the wide-gated house of Hades. “After him I looked at monstrous Orion herding wild beasts together through the asphodel meadow, ones he'd killed himself in the lonely mountains,

§ 11.575 holding in his hands a club of solid bronze, ever unbroken. “I also saw Tityus, Gaea's most glorious son, lying on the ground. He sprawled over nine acres, and two vultures, one on each side, sat and tore at his liver and dove into his bowels, and he couldn't repel them with his hands.

§ 11.580 For he'd assaulted Leto, Zeus's glorious spouse, as she went to Pytho through fine-lawned Panopeus. “I even beheld one who had hard sorrows, Tantalus, standing in a pool that dashed against his chin. He thirsted and tried to drink, but had nothing to take,

§ 11.585 for as often as the old man bent and meant to drink, that often the water was swallowed up and vanished, and about his feet dark earth appeared, and a divine one dried it up. Trees, lofty and leafy, poured fruit down on his head, splendid-fruited pear, pomegranate, and apple,

§ 11.590 sweet fig, and luxuriant olive. Whenever the old man straightened to touch them with his hands, the wind cast them to the shadowy clouds. “I even beheld one who had mighty sorrows, Sisyphus, raising a monstrous stone with both his hands.

§ 11.595 Yes, thrusting with his hands and feet, he'd push the stone upward toward a hilltop, but when it was about to go over the top, a mighty force at that time turned it back, then the shameless stone rolled back down to the ground. But he'd strain and push it once again, as sweat poured

§ 11.600 from his limbs and dust rose from his head. “After him I caught sight of mighty Heracles, a phantom. He himself delights among the gods immortal, in their festivities, and has for his wife fair-ankled Hebe, daughter of great Zeus and golden-sandaled Hera.

§ 11.605 The clamor of the dead about him was like that of birds fleeing in every direction in fright. He was like dark night, holding his naked bow, and an arrow on the bowstring, glaring dreadfully, like one just about to shoot. Round about his chest was a horrifying belt,

§ 11.610 a golden baldric, where wondrous things were fashioned: bears, wild boars, and lions with bright eyes, fights and battles, murders and manslaughters. Would that he hadn't made it and that he make no other, he who designed that baldric with his art.

§ 11.615 Heracles knew me immediately, when he saw me with his eyes, and spoke winged words to me in lamentation:' Zeus -born Laertiades, resourceful Odysseus, ah, wretched one, do you too endure an evil destiny, just like the one I suffered beneath the bright light of the sun?

§ 11.620 I was the son of Zeus Cronion, but had immeasurable misery, for I was made subject to a very much worse man, who laid hard trials upon me. He even sent me here once, to fetch the dog, for he thought there'd never be any trial more difficult than that for me.

§ 11.625 I fetched him and brought him up out of Hades, and Hermes and bright-eyed Athena guided me.' “So saying, he went back into the house of Hades, but I stayed in place where I was, in hope that someone of the hero men, those who'd died before, would still come.

§ 11.630 And I would still have seen earlier men, whom I really wanted to, Theseus and Peirithous, glorious children of gods, but before that countless tribes of dead ones gathered with an awful sound. Green terror seized me, lest illustrious Persephone send to me out of Hades

§ 11.635 the head of Gorgon, the dread monster. Then I went aboard my ship at once and bid my comrades get aboard themselves and free up the stern cables. Then they went aboard at once and sat down at the oarlocks, and the current's wave carried her through river Ocean,

§ 11.640 rowing first, then afterwards a beautiful fair wind.

§ 12.1 BOOK 12 “Then after our ship left river Ocean's current, it reached the waves of the wide-wayed sea and the island of Aeaea, where early-born Dawn's house and dancing places and Helios' risings are.

§ 12.5 We beached the ship on the sand when we got there, and went ashore ourselves at the edge of sea's surf. Falling asleep there, we awaited divine Dawn. “When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, I sent my comrades then to Circe's home,

§ 12.10 to bring the corpse, Elpenor, dead. At once cutting timber, where the beach jutted farthest, we held his rites in grief, shedding tears profusely. Then when the corpse and corpse's trappings burned, we heaped a burial mound, dragged a tombstone on it,

§ 12.15 and at the mound's top stuck a well-made oar. “While we went about our business, Circe was not unaware that we'd come back from Hades, but very quickly came, adorned, and her handmaids brought with her food, much meat, and sparkling red wine.

§ 12.20 The goddess divine stood in our midst and said:'You reckless ones, who entered Hades' home alive, you're twice to die, when other men die once! But come, eat food and drink wine here all day. When Dawn appears

§ 12.25 you'll sail. I'll show the way and specify each thing, so you won't in any way, through a woefully bad plan, suffer misery and pain on either land or sea.' “So said she, and our manly spirit yielded in turn. So then all day until the sun went down,

§ 12.30 we sat feasting on boundless meat and sweet wine. When the sun went down and dusk came on, while my men lay down to sleep beside the ship's stern cables, she took me by the hand, sat me down apart from my dear comrades, lay beside me, and asked about each thing.

§ 12.35 Then I duly recounted everything for her. And right then lady Circe spoke these words to me:'All this has been accomplished in this way, but listen, as I'll tell you, and a god himself will remind you, too. You'll first come to the Sirens, who enchant

§ 12.40 all men that come upon them. Whoever comes in ignorance and hears the Sirens' voice, his wife and little children don't ever stand beside him or rejoice when he comes home, but the Sirens enchant him with their clear song,

§ 12.45 as they sit in a meadow, a big pile of bones about them, of rotting men, skin shriveling around them. So drive on past them. Knead honey-sweet wax and anoint your comrades' ears, lest any of the others hear, but you listen if you'd like to.

§ 12.50 Have them tie you on the swift ship by your hands and feet, upright in the mast step, and let ropes be fastened from it, so you can hear, and enjoy, the Sirens' voice. If you beg and bid your comrades free you, let them bind you then in more bonds.

§ 12.55'Then after your comrades have driven past them, I'll no longer tell you distinctly there and then which way of two you'll take, but you yourself must think it over in your mind, and I'll tell you about both. For one way, there are overhanging rocks, and against them

§ 12.60 the great wave of dark-eyed Amphitrite clashes with a roar. The blessed gods call them the Planctae. Not even winged things pass by there, not even the timid doves that carry ambrosia to father Zeus, but the smooth rock always snatches even one of them away,

§ 12.65 then our father sends in another to keep the count complete. No ship of men has ever escaped there, any one that's come there, but waves of sea and storms of destructive fire carry ships' planks and men's bodies off together. The only seafaring ship that ever passed that place

§ 12.70 was the Argo, known to all, sailing from Aeates, and waves would have swiftly thrown even her against the great rocks, but Hera guided her past them, since Jason was dear to her.'The other way are two cliffs. One reaches wide heaven with its sharp peak, and dark cloud surrounds it

§ 12.75 and never streams off it, and clear air never holds its peak in either summer or harvest time. And no mortal man could climb it or step upon its top, not even if he had twenty hands and feet, for the rock is smooth, as though highly polished.

§ 12.80 In the middle of the cliff is a misty cave, turned toward the west, to Erebus, right where you'll be steering your hollow ship along, brilliant Odysseus. Not even a lusty man could shoot an arrow with a bow from his hollow ship and reach into the hollow cave.

§ 12.85 Scylla lives in there, howling terribly. Her voice is as loud as a newborn puppy's, but she herself is nonetheless an evil monster, and no one would rejoice in seeing her, not even if a god should meet her. She has twelve feet, that all wave around,

§ 12.90 and six very long necks, and on each one a horrible head, three rows of teeth in it, densely packed and close together, full of black death. Her middle extends down into the hollow cave, but she sticks her heads out from the dread pit,

§ 12.95 and fishes from it, seeking about the cliff for dogfish and dolphins, and in hope she might catch a bigger sea beast, those that much-moaning Amphitrite breeds countlessly. Sailors never ever boast they pass her by unharmed with their ships, but with each head she carries off a man

§ 12.100 she's snatched out of a dark-prowed ship.'You'll see, Odysseus, the other cliff is closer to the ground. They're near each other. You could even shoot an arrow between them. There's a big fig tree on it, lush with leaves. Below it divine Charybdis swallows down black water.

§ 12.105 Three times a day she throws up, three times she swallows down dreadfully. May you not happen there when she swallows, for not even the Earth-shaker could save you from that evil! So, stay very close to Scylla's cliff and quickly drive your ship past it, since it's much better

§ 12.110 to miss six comrades on your ship than all of them together.' “So said she, then I said to her in answer:'Come, goddess, if you can tell me this infallibly, if somehow I can stay out of the reach of baneful Charybdis but ward off Scylla when she assails my comrades.'

§ 12.115 “So said I, and the goddess divine immediately answered:'Reckless one, even now your mind is on warlike deeds and hard work. Won't you yield to gods immortal? She's not mortal, but is an immortal evil, dread, horrifying, savage, and not to be battled.

§ 12.120 And there's no defense. To flee from her is best. For should you linger and arm yourself beside the rock, I'm afraid she'll attack again, and reach you with just as many heads, and snatch off just as many men. So drive very forcefully, and call for help to Crataeis,

§ 12.125 Scylla's mother, who bore her as a misery for mortals. She'll then keep Scylla from attacking again.'You'll reach the island of Thrinacia. Many cows and fat sheep of the sun feed there, seven herds of cattle, and as many fine flocks of sheep,

§ 12.130 fifty in each. Young are not born of them, nor do they waste away. Goddesses are their shepherds, the fair-haired nymphs Phaethusa and Lampetia, whom divine Neaera bore to the sun, Hyperion. Their lady mother bore and raised them

§ 12.135 and sent them off to the island of Thrinacia, to live far away and guard the sheep and curved-horned cattle of their father. If you keep your mind on your return and leave them unharmed, you may surely yet reach Ithaca, though you suffer evils, but if you harm them, I predict destruction for you then,

§ 12.140 for your ship and for your comrades. Even if you yourself avoid it, you'll get home evilly late, having lost all your comrades.' “So said she, and golden-throned Dawn immediately came. The goddess divine then departed up the island. Then I went aboard my ship and urged my comrades

§ 12.145 get aboard themselves and free up the stern cables. Then they went aboard at once and sat down at the oarlocks, and, seated in rows, beat the gray sea with their oars. For us, back behind our dark-prowed ship, a favorable, sail-filling, fair wind, a good companion,

§ 12.150 the dread goddess with human speech, fair-haired Circe, sent. We saw at once to each piece of gear throughout the ship, then sat, and the wind and pilot steered her. Then, my heart grieving, I said to my comrades:'Friends, since it's not right that one or even two alone

§ 12.155 know the awful things that the goddess divine Circe told me, I'll tell of them instead, so we can either die with knowledge or escape doom and avoid death. She orders us first to avoid the wondrous Sirens' voice and flowered meadow.

§ 12.160 She orders that I only hear their voice. So tie me in grievous bonds, that I may remain in place where I am, upright on the mast step, and let ropes be fastened from it. If I beg and bid you free me, you must secure me tightly then in more bonds.'

§ 12.165 “I spoke of and made known each thing to my comrades while our well-built ship quickly reached the Sirens' island, for a harmless fair wind drove her on. The wind stopped soon after, and a windless calm followed, and a divinity lulled the waves to sleep.

§ 12.170 My comrades stood up and furled the sail, stowed it in the hollow ship, then sat down at the oars and made the water white with polished pines. Then I cut through a big round cake of wax and kneaded a little bit of it in my well-knit hands.

§ 12.175 The wax soon melted, since the sun's mighty force and the bright light of lord Hyperionides compelled it, and I rubbed it on the ears of all my comrades, one after another. They bound me on the ship, my hands and feet together, upright in the mast step, and fastened ropes from it,

§ 12.180 then they themselves sat and beat the gray sea with their oars. But when I was as far away as one shouting can be heard, quickly making way, the Sirens did not miss our sea-swift ship drawing near and prepared their clear-toned song.'Come here, much-praised Odysseus, great glory of Achaeans,

§ 12.185 and land your ship so you can hear our voice. For no one ever passes by here with a black ship before he hears the honey-toned voice from our mouths, then after he enjoys it, he departs, knowing more, since we know everything, all that in wide Troy

§ 12.190 Argives and Trojans suffered by the will of the gods. And we know whatever happens on the earth that feeds many.' “So said they as they cast their beautiful voice. Then my heart wished to hear them and I bid my comrades free me, by nodding with my eyebrows, but they fell forward and rowed.

§ 12.195 Eurylochus and Perimedes stood up at once, bound me in more bonds, and squeezed them tighter. Then after they'd driven past them and we could then no longer hear the Sirens' voice or song, my trusty comrades immediately removed the wax

§ 12.200 I'd rubbed upon their ears and released me from my bonds. “But when we'd left the island, soon afterward, I saw smoke and a great wave and heard a thud. Oars flew from the hands of the terrified and all then banged against the current. Our ship was held there,

§ 12.205 where it was, since they no longer pressed on tapered oars with hands. Then I went throughout the ship, and, going to each man, spurred on my comrades with words meant to win them:'Friends, since we've never been ignorant in any way of evils, this now is no greater evil than when the Cyclops