Homer, Odyssey

§ 12.210 penned us in his hollow cave with mighty violence. But even as we escaped from there, by my excellence, plan, and mind, I think we'll also remember this someday. But come now, let's all obey as I may say. Sit at the oarlocks and beat the deep surf of the sea

§ 12.215 with oars, in hope that somehow Zeus will grant that we avoid and escape this destruction. Steersman, this I order you, so stow it in your heart, since you control the steering oar of our hollow ship. Keep our ship at a distance from this smoke and wave

§ 12.220 and head for the cliff, lest you miss her veering off course over there and cast us into evil.' “So said I, and they quickly obeyed my commands. I had not yet told of Scylla, a danger that couldn't be helped, lest my comrades somehow be frightened, leave off

§ 12.225 rowing, and huddle themselves inside. Right then I forgot Circe's grievous command, when she ordered me not to arm myself at all. Instead, I put on my famous armor and, grabbing two long spears in my hands, went to the halfdeck at the ship's prow,

§ 12.230 for I expected that she'd first appear from there, Scylla of the rock, who brought misery to my comrades. But I couldn't spot her anywhere, though my eyes grew weary as I gazed in all directions toward the misty rock. “We sailed up a narrow passage, groaning,

§ 12.235 for Scylla was on one side, and on the other, divine Charybdis terribly sucked down sea's salt water. Whenever she vomited up, like a cauldron on a big fire, all of her seethed in turmoil, and high up the foam fell on the tops of both cliffs.

§ 12.240 But when she sucked down sea's salt water, she appeared from inside all in turmoil, and the rock around her roared terribly, and the ground appeared beneath her black with sand. Green terror seized my men. As we looked toward her, fearing destruction,

§ 12.245 Scylla meanwhile snatched out of my hollow ship six comrades who were best in hands and strength. Looking back into my swift ship and at the same time for my comrades, I spotted the hands and feet of those who'd already been lifted high up above me. They were screaming, calling me by name,

§ 12.250 for the very last time, their hearts grieving. As when upon a jutting rock, a fisher with a long rod, throws in food as bait for little fish, casts into the sea the horn of an ox that lives in the fields, then takes a gasping fish and throws it outside,

§ 12.255 so they were lifted, gasping, toward the rock. She devoured them in her doorway, as they screeched, reaching out their arms to me in their grim death struggle. That was surely the most pitiful thing I ever saw with my eyes, of all the things I suffered as I explored the pathways of the sea.

§ 12.260 “Then after we escaped the rocks, and Scylla, and dread Charybdis, right then we reached the noble island of a god. The fine wide-browed cattle and many fat ship of the sun, Hyperion, were there. Then, while still in my black ship upon the sea,

§ 12.265 I heard the mooing of cattle being driven to the yard and the bleating of sheep, and the words of the blind seer, Teiresias the Theban, and of Circe the Aeaean fell upon my heart, who very strongly ordered me to avoid the island of the sun who brings delight to mortals.

§ 12.270 Then, my heart grieving, I said to my comrades:'Comrades, though you're suffering evil, listen to my words, so I can tell you the prophecy of Teiresias and of Circe the Aeaean, who very strongly ordered me to avoid the island of the sun who brings delight to mortals,

§ 12.275 for she said there'd be the most grim evil for us there, so, drive our black ship past the island!' “So said I, and their dear heart was broken, and Eurylochus, with hateful words, immediately answered me:'You're a reckless one, Odysseus, with surpassing strength

§ 12.280 and limbs that never tire. Indeed, you're completely made of iron, you who won't allow your comrades, overloaded with sleep and exhaustion, to make our way to land, there, back on a sea-girt island, where we could make a tasty supper. You order us instead to wander through the swift night as we are,

§ 12.285 driven away from an island, on the misty sea. Hard winds, ship wreckers, arise at night. How can anyone escape sheer destruction should a wind's storm somehow come suddenly, of South Wind or of stormy West Wind, who most often

§ 12.290 shatter ships despite the lord gods' will? So, yes, let's yield now to black night, stay by our swift ship, and make ourselves supper, then go on board at dawn and sail upon the wide sea.' “So said Eurylochus, and the rest of my comrades assented.

§ 12.295 Right then I knew that a divinity intended evil, and, voicing winged words, I said to him:' Eurylochus, you can surely force me, one man as I am, but come, all of you, and swear a mighty oath to me, that if we find some herd of cattle or great flock of sheep,

§ 12.300 no one nohow with evil recklessness will kill an ox or any sheep, but at your ease you'll eat the food immortal Circe gave us.' “So said I, and they at once swore they wouldn't, as I bid them. Then after they'd sworn and completed the oath,

§ 12.305 we moored our well-built ship in a hollow harbor, near sweet water, and my comrades disembarked from the ship, then skillfully made supper. Then after they'd dispatched desire for food and drink, they remembered and wept for their beloved comrades

§ 12.310 whom Scylla had snatched from the hollow ship and eaten, and sweet sleep came upon them as they wept. Then when it was the third part of the night, and the stars had headed down, Cloud-gatherer Zeus raised a blustery wind with a marvelous furious storm, and hid with clouds

§ 12.315 both land and sea, as night rushed from heaven. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, we brought our ship to safety dragging her into a hollow cave where there were nymphs' seats and dancing places. Right then I held an assembly and said among them all:

§ 12.320'Friends, since there's food and drink on our swift ship, let's keep our hands off the cattle, lest we in some way suffer, for these are the cattle and plump sheep of a dread god, of Helios, who sees all and hears all.' “So said I, and their manly hearts were persuaded.

§ 12.325 Then a whole month South Wind blew incessantly, nor did any other of the winds arise then, except for South and East. As long as they had food and red wine, they kept away from the cattle, eager for life, but when all the ship's provisions were consumed,

§ 12.330 and by necessity they went roaming in pursuit of game, fish and fowl, whatever might reach their dear hands, with curved fishhooks, and hunger afflicted their bellies, right then I went away, up through the island, so I could pray to the gods in hope that one would show me the way to go.

§ 12.335 But when going through the island I got free of my comrades, I washed my hands where there was shelter from the wind and prayed to all the gods who hold Olympus, who then poured sweet sleep upon my eyelids. Then Eurylochus broached an evil plan to our comrades:

§ 12.340'Comrades, though you're suffering evil, listen to my words! All deaths are loathesome to wretched mortals, but the most pitiful is to die and meet one's doom from hunger. So come, let's drive off the best of the cattle of the sun and sacrifice to the immortals who hold wide heaven.

§ 12.345 If we ever get to Ithaca, our fatherland, we'll immediately build a rich temple to the sun, Hyperion, and place in it offerings good and many. But if he becomes angry in some way about his straight-horned cattle and wants to destroy our ship, and the other gods follow along,

§ 12.350 I'd rather lose my life all at once gulping at a wave than be drained for a long time, as I am, on a desolate island.' “So said Eurylochus, and the rest of my comrades assented. They at once drove off the best of the cattle of the sun from nearby, for not far from our dark-prowed ship

§ 12.355 the fine broad-browed curved-horned cattle were grazing. They stood around them and prayed to the gods, and plucked tender leaves from a tall leafy oak, since they had no white barley on our well-benched ship. Then after they prayed, they slaughtered and skinned them,

§ 12.360 cut out the thighs and covered them with fat, making a double fold, then laid raw flesh upon them. They didn't have wine to pour upon the blazing victims, so they made libation with water and roasted all the entrails. Then after the thighs were burned up and they'd tasted the entrails,

§ 12.365 they cut up the rest, and pierced them with spits on both sides. “Right then sweet sleep sped from my eyelids, and I made my way to my swift ship and sea's shore. But when, on my way, I was near my double-curved ship, right then the sweet aroma of burning fat surrounded me,

§ 12.370 and I cried out, wailing, to the gods immortal:'Father Zeus, and other blessed gods who are forever, with ruthless sleep you very surely lulled me to confusion, while my comrades who stayed contrived a monstrous deed.' “A messenger came quickly to the sun, Hyperion,

§ 12.375 long-robed Lampetia, who told him that we'd killed his cattle. Enraged at heart, he said at once to the immortals:'Father Zeus, and other blessed gods who are forever, make the comrades of Laertiades Odysseus pay a price, who killed my cattle wantonly, the cattle in whom

§ 12.380 I delighted, when I went to starry heaven and when I'd turn back again from heaven to the earth. Unless they pay me fitting compensation for my cattle, I'll go down to the house of Hades and shine among the dead!' “Cloud-gatherer Zeus said to him in reply:

§ 12.385'Yes, Helios, keep shining among immortals and mortal men upon grain-giving farmland, and I'll strike their ship soon with white lightning and shatter it into small pieces in the midst of the wine-dark sea.' “I heard this from fair-haired Calypso,

§ 12.390 who said she heard it herself from runner Hermes. “Then after I came down to the ship and sea, I went up to and reproached one and another, but we could find no remedy. The cattled had already died. Then the gods soon showed them portents.

§ 12.395 Hides crawled, flesh, roasted and raw, mooed on the spits, and the sound was as of cattle. “For six days afterward my trusty comrades dined on the best of the cattle of the sun they'd driven off. But when Zeus Cronion added the seventh day,

§ 12.400 and right then the wind stopped rushing in a storm, we got aboard at once and sent her into the wide sea, setting up the mast and hoisting the white sail. “But when we'd left the island, and no other land appeared, only sea and sky,

§ 12.405 right then Cronion set a dark cloud above our hollow ship and the sea grew dark beneath it. Our ship ran on for no long time, for soon the screaming West Wind came, rushing with a great storm, and the wind's squall snapped the forestays of the mast,

§ 12.410 both of them, and the mast fell backward, and all its gear poured down into the hold. At the ship's stern, the mast struck the steersman's head and smashed all the bones of his head at the same time. He fell like a diver from the half-deck and his manly spirit left his bones.

§ 12.415 Zeus thundered and at the same time hurled lightning at the ship, which shook all over, struck by the thunderbolt of Zeus, and was filled with sulfur. My comrades fell out of the ship, and, like sea- crows, they were borne around the ship by waves, and the god took away their return home.

§ 12.420 “But I stalked through the ship until the surge loosened the sides from the keel and the waves bore it bare. Then it snapped the mast off from the keel, but the backstay, made of oxhide, had been thrown upon the mast, so with it I bound both the mast and keel together

§ 12.425 and, sitting on them, I was borne by baneful winds. “Then, yes, West Wind stopped rushing in a storm, but South Wind came on quickly, bearing sorrows for my heart, until it even made me retrace my course to baneful Charybdis. I was borne all night, and with the rising sun

§ 12.430 I came to Scylla's cliff and dread Charybdis. She swallowed down sea's salt water, but I sprang high up to the tall fig tree and held on, clinging to it like a bat. But I had nowhere to either plant my feet firmly or to climb upon it,

§ 12.435 for its roots held far away and its branches were high in the air, big and long, and cast shadow down on Charybdis. I held on continuously, until she'd vomit back up my mast and keel again, and they came late to me wishing for them, at the time when a man gets up from the assembly

§ 12.440 for supper, after judging many lusty litigants' disputes. Then at last the timbers appeared out of Charybdis. I let go with my hands and feet, to be carried from above, fell heavily into the middle beyond the very long timbers, sat upon them, and rowed through with my hands.

§ 12.445 The father of gods and men no longer let Scylla look at me, for I wouldn't have escaped sheer destruction. “Nine days I was carried from there, and on the tenth night the gods brought me to the island of Ogygia. There lives fair-haired Calypso, a dread goddess of mortal voice

§ 12.450 who loved and cared for me. Why do I tell this to you? For, indeed, I've told it already, in your house yesterday, to you and your mighty wife, and it's distasteful to me to tell again what's clearly been told.”

§ 13.1 BOOK 13 So said he, and all became silent in silence, spellbound throughout the shadowy hall. Alcinous in turn replied to him and said: “ Odysseus, since you reached my bronze-floored, high-roofed

§ 13.5 home, I therefore think you won't in any way be driven back from returning back home, though you've suffered very much. I say this and enjoin each man of you, all you who are ever drinking sparkling wine, fit for elders, and listening to a singer in my palace,

§ 13.10 Clothing for the stranger lies in a well-wrought chest, and gold, richly worked, and all the other gifts, all the ones the Phaeacian counselors brought here. But come, let's give him a great tripod and a cauldron, each man of us. We'll collect throughout the kingdom to repay

§ 13.15 ourselves, for it's hard for one man to give this freely from his bounty. So said Alcinous, and his speech was pleasing to them. They each went home to rest. When early-born rose-fingered Dawn appeared, they hastened to the ship and brought the manly bronze.

§ 13.20 And Alcinous' sacred soul went through the ship and place it carefully under the benches, lest it hinder any of his comrades as they drove, when they worked quickly with the oars. Then they went to Alcinous' house and prepared a feast. Alcinous' sacred soul sacrificed an ox for them,

§ 13.25 to Zeus, dark-clouded Cronides, who rules over all. They burned the thighs and feasted a glorious feast in enjoyment, and the divine singer performed among them, Demodocus, honored by the people. But Odysseus turned often toward the gleaming sun,

§ 13.30 in a hurry for it to set, for he was now intent on going. As when a man longs for supper, for whom all day a pair of wine-dark oxen have pulled a compact plow through fallow land, and sun's light sets in a welcome way for him, so he can go to supper, as on his way he goes lame at the knees,

§ 13.35 so it was welcome to Odysseus that the sun's light set. He said at once to the oar-loving Phaeacians, and, declaring his will especially to Alcinous, said: “Your majesty Alcinous, most exalted of all men, make libation, send me off, and you yourselves rejoice,

§ 13.40 for already are accomplished what my dear heart wanted, a convoy and dear gifts, that the Uranian gods may make blessed for me. And may I find, when I return, my noble wife at home with my dear ones safe and sound. May you, remaining here, delight your wedded wives

§ 13.45 and children, may the gods bestow all kinds of prosperity, and, among the people, may there be no evil.” So said he, and all concurred and commanded that they convoy the stranger since he'd spoken properly. And good soul Alcinous then said to a herald:

§ 13.50 “ Pontonous, once you've mixed it in the wine bowl, pass the wine out to all throughout the hall, so in prayer to father Zeus we may send the stranger to his fatherland!” So said he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine, then passed it out to all, one after another, and they

§ 13.55 made libation to the blessed gods who hold wide heaven, from there where they were sitting. Divine Odysseus stood up, placed a goblet with two handles in Arete's hand, and, voicing winged words, he said to her: “My queen, fare well through all time, until old age

§ 13.60 and death may come, that come to humankind. I'm going now, but you, in this house, enjoy your children, your people, and Alcinous your king.” So saying, divine Odysseus stepped over the threshold. Good soul Alcinous sent a herald with him,

§ 13.65 to guide him to the swift ship and sea's shore. Arete sent slave women with him, one with a well-washed cloak and a tunic, a second, whom she sent to attend the strongly-built chest, while another carried food and red wine.

§ 13.70 Then after they'd gone down to the ship and sea, the illustrious convoys immediately took and stowed it, all the food and drink, in the hollow ship. They spread out a blanket and linens for Odysseus on the hollow ship's half-deck, so he could sleep unwaking,

§ 13.75 in the stern. He got himself aboard and lay down in silence. Each of them, in order, sat down at the oarlocks, then freed the cable from the perforated stone. When they leaned and threw up the sea with their blades, right then sweet sleep fell upon his eyelids,

§ 13.80 unwaking, very sweet, like the closest thing to death. As on the plain male horses, yoked four together, all speed along as one under the whip's lashes and, rearing high, swiftly make their way, so the ship's stern lifted up, and behind her

§ 13.85 the purple wave of the loudly-surging sea rushed mightily. She ran very surely, steadily. Not even a hawk, a falcon, nimblest of winged things, could have kept pace, she ran so swiftly, cutting the sea's waves, carrying a man with counsels like the gods,

§ 13.90 who in the past had suffered many sorrows in his heart, cutting through men's wars and painful waves, and at this time slept quietly, forgetting all he'd suffered. When the brightest star was up, that most often comes announcing early-born Dawn's light,

§ 13.95 then the seafaring ship put in at the island. In the kingdom of Ithaca is a certain harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea. In it are two jutting precipitous headlands, sloping down toward the harbor, that shelter it from the great waves of the stormy winds

§ 13.100 outside. Inside, well-benched ships stay without mooring when they reach the point of anchorage. Then at the harbor's head is a long-leaved olive tree and near it a pleasant dusky cave, sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads.

§ 13.105 In it are mixing bowls and amphoras of stone, and bees store honey there. Very long stone looms are in it, where the nymphs weave sea-purple webs, a wonder to behold, and waters, ever-flowing. It has two doors,

§ 13.110 one leading down for men toward North Wind, but the other, towards South Wind, is holy, and men never enter by it, since it's a path of the immortals. They rowed in there, knowing it from before. Then she ran ashore on land, as far as half her whole length,

§ 13.115 with speed, for by such rowers' arms was she propelled. They went ashore from the well-benched ship and first lifted Odysseus out of the hollow ship along with the linens and bright blanket, then laid him, tamed by sleep, down on the sand.

§ 13.120 Then they lifted out the possessions the illustrious Phaeacians sent with him on his way home because of great-hearted Athena, and placed them all together beside the bottom of the olive tree, off the path, lest by chance some wayfarer man might come before Odysseus woke up and do them harm.

§ 13.125 Then they themselves went back home again, but Earth-shaker did not forget the threats with which he'd once threatened godlike Odysseus, and he asked about the will of Zeus: “Father Zeus, I'll no longer be honored among the gods immortal when mortals, Phaeacians, who are, indeed,

§ 13.130 of my own line, value me as nothing. For I even now declared that Odysseus should suffer many sorrows on his way home, but I never completely deprived him of his return, since you once promised it and nodded. They brought him sleeping in a swift ship on the sea

§ 13.135 and put him down in Ithaca, and gave him indescribable gifts, bronze, gold aplenty, and woven raiment, lots of it, and Odysseus could never have taken this much from Troy even if he'd gone unharmed and obtained his share of spoils.” Cloud-gatherer Zeus said to him in reply:

§ 13.140 “Humph! What a thing you've said, widely-powerful Earth-shaker! The gods don't dishonor you in any way. It would be hard to assail with indignities our eldest and our best. But if ever any man, giving way to might and violence, values you as nothing, vengeance is yours ever after.

§ 13.145 Do as you will and what's dear to your heart.” Then Earth-shaker Poseidon answered him: “I'd have done it at once, dark-clouded one, as you say, but I always hold in awe your temper and avoid it. Now in turn I want to wreck a gorgeous ship

§ 13.150 of Phaeacians returning from a convey on the misty sea, so they're stopped and desist from the convoy of men, and to wrap a great mountain around their city.” Cloud-gatherer Zeus said to him in reply: “Hmmm. To my mind, this way seems to be best.

§ 13.155 When all the people are looking from the city at the ship driving on, when she's near land, turn her into a stone that resembles a swift ship, so each and every man may look in wonder, then wrap a great mountain around their city.” Then after Earth-shaker Poseidon heard this,

§ 13.160 he made his way to Scheria, where the Phaeacians are born, and waited there. The seafaring ship came very near, quickly following. Earth-shaker came near her, turned her into stone, and rooted her below with a thrust of the flat of his hand. Then he went away.

§ 13.165 They spoke winged words to each other, the long-oared Phaeacians, ship-famed men. In this way, glancing at another near him, one would say: “Oh my! Who's bound our swift ship on the sea as she was sailing home? And just as she was in clear sight!”.

§ 13.170 So one of them would say, but they didn't know how it happened. Now Alcinous spoke and said to them: “Oh no! Very surely, my father's prophecies, spoken long ago, have come upon me. He used to say Poseideon bore a grudge against us, because we're safe convoys for each and every one.

§ 13.175 He said that someday Poseidon would wreck a gorgeous ship of Phaeacian men returning from a convoy on the misty sea and would wrap a great mountain around our city. So the old man said. Now all this has come to pass. But come, as I may say it, may all of you obey it.

§ 13.180 Cease from the convoy of mortals, whenever one comes to our city, and let us sacrifice twelve choice bulls to Poseidon in hope that he'll take pity and not wrap a very lofty mountain around our city. So said he, and they were afraid and got the bulls ready.

§ 13.185 So they prayed to lord Poseidon, the Phaeacian kingdom's leaders and commanders, as they stood around an altar. Then divine Odysseus awoke from sleeping in his fatherland, but did not recognize it, since he'd been so long away. For goddess Pallas Athena,

§ 13.190 Zeus's daughter, had poured mist around him so she could make him unrecognizable and tell him every thing, so his wife would not recognize him, or his townsmen and friends, before all the suitors paid for their transgressions. She therefore made everything look strange to the lord,

§ 13.195 the straight pathways, the harbors always fit for mooring, the steep rocks, and luxuriant trees. Springing up, he stood and looked at his fatherland. Then he wailed, and smacked his thighs with his downturned hands, and said in lamentation:

§ 13.200 “Oh my me, in what mortals' land have I arrived, and are they wanton, unjust, and wild, or hospitable and have god-fearing minds? Where do I take these many possessions? Where do I wander myself? If only I'd stayed with the Phaeacians

§ 13.205 where I was. I would have reached another exceedingly mighty king, who'd have welcomed me and sent me on my way. Now I don't know where to put it, and I won't leave it where it is, lest by chance my spoils become another's. Humph! Not completely wise or just

§ 13.210 were the Phaeacian leaders and commanders, who brought me away to a strange land. Yes, they said they'd bring me to clear Ithaca, but they didn't do it. May Zeus, the god of supplicants, punish them, Zeus who watches over other men, too, and punishes whoever does wrong.

§ 13.215 But come now, let me count these possessions and see if they haven't gone and taken anything of mine in their hollow ship. So saying, he counted the gorgeous tripods and cauldrons and the gold and fine woven clothing. None of it was missing, but he mourned for his fatherland

§ 13.220 and crept along the shore of the loudly-surging sea in much grief. Athena came close by him, disguised in the form of young man, a shepherd of sheep, delicate all over, such as the sons of lords are, with a well-made cloak, folded double, around her shoulders.

§ 13.225 She had sandals beneath her sleek feet and a javelin in her hands. Odysseus rejoiced at the sight of her and came to face her, and, voicing winged words, he said to her: “Friend, since you're the first that I've met in this place, hello, and may you not at all meet me with evil intent,

§ 13.230 but save these things, and save me. For I pray to you as to a god, and I come to your dear knees. And tell me this truly, so I'll know it well. What land is this, what kingdom, what men are born here? Is it perhaps some clear island or some headland

§ 13.235 that lies sloping from the fertile mainland to the sea? Bright-eyed goddess Athena said back to him: “Stranger, you're a fool, or come from far away, if you ask about this land. In truth, it's not at all nameless, but very many know it,

§ 13.240 both those who dwell towards the dawn and sun and those back towards the murky darkness. Yes, it's rocky and not fit for horses, but it's not too poor, though it isn't built wide, for there's unlimited food on it, and wine on it, too.

§ 13.245 There's always rain and luxuriant dew. It's good for grazing goats and cattle. There's woodland of all kinds, and watering places in it that never fail. Because of this, stranger, the name of Ithaca reaches even to Troy, though they say that's far away from Achaean land.”

§ 13.250 So said he, and long-suffering divine Odysseus was glad, and rejoiced in the land of his fathers, as Pallas Athena, aegis-bearer Zeus's daughter, spoke to him. And, voicing winged words, he spoke to her, but he didn't tell the truth, but took his words back,