Book 8

When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,then from his bed rose the sacred strength of Alcinous,and up rose god-born Odysseus, sacker of cities.And the sacred strength of Alcinous led themto the Phaeacian assembly place, which had been built beside their ships.And coming there they sat down on the polished stonesclose together. But Pallas Athena went through the town,likened to the herald of warlike Alcinous,contriving a homecoming for great-hearted Odysseus,and standing beside each man she spoke her word:"Come now, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,go to the assembly, so that you may learn of the stranger,who lately came to the house of warlike Alcinous,wandering over the sea, in body like the deathless gods."So speaking she stirred the strength and spirit of each man.Swiftly the assemblies and the seats were filled with mortalsgathering; and many marveled, seeing him,the warlike son of Laertes; and on him Athenapoured wondrous grace over his head and shoulders,and made him seem taller and broader to look upon,so that he might be dear to all the Phaeaciansand dread and revered, and might accomplish the contests,the many which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus in.But when they had gathered and come together,among them Alcinous spoke and addressed them:"Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,so that I may say what my heart in my chest urges me.This stranger, I know not who he is, came wandering to my house,either from men of the east or of the west;and he urges his conveyance, and begs that it be sure.And let us, as before, urge on the conveyance.For no one else, whoever comes to my house,stays here mourning for long because of a conveyance.But come, let us drag a black ship into the shining sea,one that has never sailed; and let two and fifty young menbe chosen from the district, whoever are the best before now.And when all have bound the oars well to the rowlocks,let them go aboard; and then prepare a swift feast,coming to my house; and I will provide well for all.These things I command the young men; but the others,the sceptered kings, to my beautiful housecome, so that we may welcome the stranger in the halls,and let no one refuse. And call the divine singerDemodocus; for to him above all the god gave songto delight, wherever his heart urges him to sing."So having spoken he led the way, and they followed along,the sceptered ones; and the herald went after the divine singer.And the young men chosen, two and fifty,went, as he commanded, to the shore of the unharvested sea.But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,they dragged the black ship into the sea's depth,and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,and fitted the oars in the leather rowlocks,all in due order, and spread out the white sails.And they moored her high in the surf; then afterwardsthey went to the great house of warlike Alcinous.And the porticos and the courts and the men's rooms were filledwith those gathering; and many there were, young and old.And to them Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep,and eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen;they flayed them and cared for them, and made a lovely feast.And the herald came near leading the trusty singer,whom the Muse loved above others, and gave him good and evil:she took away his eyes, and gave him sweet song.And for him Pontonous set a silver-studded chairin the midst of the feasters, leaning it against a tall pillar;and he hung the clear lyre from a pegabove his head, and showed him how to take it with his hands,the herald; and he set beside him a basket and a beautiful table,and beside him a cup of wine, to drink whenever his heart bade.And they put their hands to the ready food set before them.But when they had put away desire for drink and food,the Muse then stirred the singer to sing of the glorious deeds of men,of a song whose fame at that time reached the wide heaven,the quarrel of Odysseus and Peleus' son Achilles,how once they quarreled at a bountiful feast of the godswith dreadful words, and the lord of men Agamemnonrejoiced in his heart, that the best of the Achaeans were quarreling.For so had Phoebus Apollo prophesied to himin holy Pytho, when he crossed the stone thresholdto consult the oracle; for then the beginning of trouble rolled onfor Trojans and Danaans through the will of great Zeus.These things the famous singer sang; but Odysseustaking his great purple cloak in his sturdy handspulled it down from his head and covered his beautiful face;for he was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see tears beneath his brows.Indeed whenever the divine singer stopped singing,he wiped the tear from his head and took away the cloakand taking the two-handled cup poured libations to the gods;but whenever he began again and the best of the Phaeaciansurged him to sing, since they were delighted with his words,again Odysseus, covering his head, would groan aloud.There he escaped the notice of all the others, shedding tears,but Alcinous alone marked him and noticed him,sitting near him, and heard him groaning heavily.And straightaway he spoke to the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar:"Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians.Already we have satisfied our hearts with the equal feastand with the lyre, which is companion to a bountiful feast;but now let us go out and make trial of allthe contests, so that the stranger may tell his own friendswhen he has returned home, how much we surpass othersin boxing and wrestling and in jumping and in running."So having spoken he led the way, and they followed along.And he hung the clear lyre from a peg,and took Demodocus by the hand and led him from the hall,the herald; and he led him the very same way as the others,the best of the Phaeacians, to marvel at the contests.They went to the assembly place, and with them followed a great crowd,countless; and many young men stood up, both many and noble.Up rose Acroneos and Ocyalus and Elatreus,Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus and Eretmeus,Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon and Anabesineos,and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tecton;and up rose too Euryalus, like to man-destroying Ares,son of Naubolus, who was best in form and buildof all the Phaeacians after the blameless Laodamas.And up stood the three sons of blameless Alcinous,Laodamas and Halius and godlike Clytoneus.And they first made trial of their feet.For them a course was stretched from the starting line; and all togetherthey flew swiftly, raising dust on the plain;and by far the best of them at running was blameless Clytoneus;and as far as the mules' furrow-distance is in a fallow field,so far he came out ahead of the crowd, and they were left behind.And they made trial of painful wrestling;and here again Euryalus beat all the best.And in the jump Amphialus was most outstanding of all;and in the discus again Elatreus was far the best of all,and in boxing again Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous.But when all had delighted their hearts with the contests,then the son of Alcinous, Laodamas, spoke among them:"Come, friends, let us ask the stranger whether he knowsand has learned any contest. In build at least he is not bad,in thighs and calves and both arms aboveand in his sturdy neck and great strength; nor in his youthis he lacking, but he is broken down by many troubles;for I say there is nothing worse than the seato overwhelm a man, even if he be very strong."And again Euryalus answered him and said:"Laodamas, this word you have spoken is very much in order.Go yourself now and challenge him and make known your speech."But when the good son of Alcinous heard this,he went and stood in the middle and spoke to Odysseus:"Come here, you too, stranger and father, make trial of the contests,if you have learned any; it seems you know contests;for there is no greater glory for a man as long as he livesthan what he achieves with his feet and his hands.But come, make trial, and scatter the cares from your heart.And your voyage will no longer be far off, but alreadyyour ship is drawn down and your companions are ready."And in answer to him spoke much-devising Odysseus:"Laodamas, why do you bid me do these things, mocking me?Cares are upon my mind rather than contests,I who before have suffered very many things and toiled greatly,and now in your assembly, longing for my homecoming,I sit, begging both the king and all the people."And again Euryalus answered him and rebuked him to his face:"No, stranger, I do not liken you to a man knowingcontests, such as many are among men,but rather to one who, haunting a many-oared ship,a leader of sailors, who are traders,is mindful of cargo and a watcher of waysand of grasping gains; you do not look like an athlete."And looking at him from under his brows, much-devising Odysseus said:"Stranger, you have not spoken well; you are like a reckless man.So the gods do not give graceful gifts to allmen, neither build nor mind nor eloquence.For one man is weaker in form,but the god crowns his words with beauty, and othersdelighting in him look at him; and he speaks steadfastlywith gentle modesty, and he stands out among those gathered,and as he walks through the city they look on him as a god.And another again is like the deathless gods in form,but no grace encircles his words,as in you the form is conspicuous, and not otherwisecould even a god make it, but your mind is worthless.You have stirred my heart in my dear chestby speaking out of order. But I am not ignorant of contests,as you say, but I think I am among the firstwhile I trusted in my youth and my hands.But now I am held by misery and pains; for I have endured many thingspassing through wars of men and painful waves.But even so, having suffered many evils, I will make trial of the contests;for your word bites the heart, and you stirred me by speaking."He spoke, and sprang up and took with his own cloak a discusgreater and thicker, heavier by no littlethan the one the Phaeacians used to throw among themselves.And whirling it around he sent it from his sturdy hand,and the stone boomed; and down to the ground crouchedthe long-oared Phaeacians, men famous for ships,at the stone's cast; and it flew beyond the marks of all,swiftly going from his hand. And Athena set the boundaries,likened in body to a man, and spoke a word and called him by name:"Even a blind man, stranger, would distinguish the markby feeling it, since it is not mixed with the crowd,but far first. And be of good courage for this contest;no one of the Phaeacians will reach this, nor surpass it."So she spoke, and much-enduring brilliant Odysseus rejoiced,glad that he saw a friendly comrade in the contest.And then he spoke more lightly to the Phaeacians:"Now reach this mark, young men. Presently afterward anotherI think I will send, either as far as this or even farther.And of the others, whomever his heart and spirit bids,come here and make trial, since you angered me greatly,either in boxing or wrestling or even in running, I do not grudge it,of all the Phaeacians, except Laodamas himself.For this man is my host; who would fight with one who loves him?Truly that man is foolish and a worthless man,whoever brings up strife over contests with a hostin a foreign land; he cripples all his own prospects.But of the others I refuse and make light of none,but I wish to know and to make trial against them.For I am not bad in all things, among men, as many as are contests;well do I know how to handle a well-polished bow;first I would strike a man with an arrow in a crowdof hostile men, even if very many companionsshould stand near and shoot arrows at men.Only Philoctetes surpassed me with the bowin the land of the Trojans, when we Achaeans shot with bows.And of the others I say I am far better,as many mortals as now are on the earth eating grain.But with earlier men I will not wish to contend,neither with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia,who indeed used to vie with the deathless gods about bows.Therefore great Eurytus quickly died, nor to old agedid he come in his halls; for Apollo in angerkilled him, because he challenged him to shoot with the bow.And with the spear I throw as far as no one else with an arrow.And in running I fear lest one of the Phaeaciansrun past me; for I have been terribly worn downin many waves, since there was no abundantprovision in the ship; therefore my dear limbs are loosened."So he spoke, and they all fell silent in silence.And Alcinous alone answered him and said:"Stranger, since you do not speak without grace among us,but wish to reveal your excellence, which attends you,being angry because this man stood beside you in the contestand rebuked you, as no mortal would disparage your excellence,whoever knew in his mind how to speak rightly;but come now, understand my word, so that you may also tellanother of the heroes, when in your hallsyou feast beside your wife and your children,remembering our excellence, what things to us tooZeus lays upon our works continually from our fathers' time.For we are not blameless boxers nor wrestlers,but we run swiftly with our feet and are best with ships,and always dear to us are the feast and the cithara and dancesand changes of clothing and warm baths and beds.But come, all you Phaeacians who are the best dancers,play, so that the stranger may tell his own friendswhen he has returned home how much we surpass othersin seamanship and in running and in dancing and in song.And let someone go quickly and bring Demodocus the clear lyre,which lies somewhere in our house."So spoke godlike Alcinous, and the herald roseto bring the hollow lyre from the king's house.And nine chosen stewards all stood up,public officials, who arranged everything well at the contests,and they smoothed the dancing floor, and widened the good place of assembly.And the herald came near bringing the clear lyreto Demodocus; and he then went to the middle; and about him young menin first youth stood, skilled in dancing,and they struck the divine dancing floor with their feet. But Odysseusgazed at the flashing of their feet, and marveled in his heart.And the singer, playing the lyre, began to sing beautifullyof the love of Ares and of fair-crowned Aphrodite,how at first they mingled in Hephaestus' housein secret, and he gave many gifts, and shamed the bed and the couchof lord Hephaestus. And straightaway a messenger came to him,Helios, who perceived them mingling in love.And Hephaestus, when he heard the heart-grieving word,went to his bronze forge, brooding evils in his heart,and set a great anvil on the anvil block, and forged bondsunbreakable, unloosable, so that they might stay fixed there.But when he had made the snare, angry at Ares,he went to the chamber, where his dear bed stood,and around the bedposts he poured bonds in a circle everywhere;and many too were spread from above, from the roof beam,like thin spider webs, which no one could even see,not even the blessed gods; for it was made cunningly all around.But when he had poured all the snare around the bed,he pretended to go to Lemnos, the well-built citadel,which of all lands is far dearest to him.Nor did golden-reined Ares keep a blind watch,when he saw famous-craftsman Hephaestus gone away;he went toward the house of renowned Hephaestuseager for the love of fair-crowned Cytherea.And she had just come from her father, the mighty son of Cronus,and sat down; and he went inside the house,and clasped her hand, and spoke a word and called her by name:"Come, dear one, let us turn to the bed and lie together;for Hephaestus is no longer among his people, but somewhere alreadyhe has gone to Lemnos to the wild-voiced Sintians."So he spoke, and to her it seemed welcome to lie down.And the two went to the bed and lay down; and around them bondsartful, of the cunning Hephaestus, were poured,nor could they move any limb or lift it.And then indeed they knew that there was no more escape.And near them came the renowned lame god,turning back again before he reached the land of Lemnos;for Helios kept watch for him and told him the word.He went to his dear house, grieved at heart;he stood in the doorway, and wild anger seized him;he shouted terribly, and called out to all the gods:"Father Zeus and other blessed gods who are forever,come here, so that you may see works laughable and not to be endured,how Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, because I am lame,always dishonors me, and loves destructive Ares,because he is handsome and sound of foot, but Iwas born feeble. But no one else is to blame for me,but my two parents, whom I wish had not begotten me.But you will see, where the two sleep in lovehaving gone to my bed, and I am grieved looking on.I do not expect them to lie so for even a little whilethough they love each other greatly; soon the two will not wishto sleep; but the snare and the bond will hold them,until he pays me back all the bride-gifts,as many as I gave him for the sake of the shameless girl,because his daughter is beautiful, but she is not chaste."So he spoke, and the gods gathered at the bronze-floored house;came Poseidon the earth-holder, came the helpfulHermes, and came the lord, the far-working Apollo.But the female goddesses stayed at home, each from modesty.And the gods stood in the doorway, givers of good things;and unquenchable laughter arose among the blessed godsas they looked at the crafts of the cunning Hephaestus.And thus one would say, looking at another near him:"Evil deeds do not prosper; the slow catches the swift,as now Hephaestus, being slow, caught Ares,though he is the swiftest of the gods who hold Olympus,being lame, by his crafts; and so the adulterer pays the penalty."So they spoke such things to one another;and to Hermes spoke the lord, the son of Zeus, Apollo:"Hermes, son of Zeus, guide, giver of good things,would you then be willing, pressed in strong bonds,to sleep in bed beside golden Aphrodite?"And the guide, the slayer of Argus, answered him then:"Would that this might happen, lord Apollo, far-shooter;may three times as many bonds, endless, hold me around,and may you gods and all the goddesses look on,and may I sleep beside golden Aphrodite."So he spoke, and laughter arose among the deathless gods.But laughter did not hold Poseidon, and he kept beggingfamous-craftsman Hephaestus to release Ares.And speaking he addressed him with winged words:"Release him; and I promise you myself, as you bid,he will pay all that is fitting among the deathless gods."And again the renowned lame god answered him:"Do not, Poseidon the earth-holder, command these things of me;for the pledges of the wretched are wretched pledges.How could I bind you among the deathless gods,if Ares should go off, escaping his debt and the bond?"And again Poseidon the earth-shaker answered him:"Hephaestus, if indeed Ares escapes his debtand goes off in flight, I myself will pay you this."And again the renowned lame god answered him:"It is not possible nor fitting to deny your word."So speaking he loosed the bond, the strength of Hephaestus.And the two, when they were loosed from the bond, strong as it was,straightaway sprang up, and he went off to Thrace,and she reached Cyprus, laughter-loving Aphrodite,to Paphos; where she has a precinct and a fragrant altar.There the Graces bathed her and anointed her with oilimmortal, such as is upon the gods who are forever,and put lovely clothing around her, a wonder to see.These things the famous singer sang; but Odysseuswas delighted in his own heart as he listened, and so too the others,the long-oared Phaeacians, men famous for ships.And Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamasdance alone, since no one contended with them.And when they had taken in their hands the beautiful ball,a purple one, which warlike Polybus had made for them,one of them would throw it toward the shadowy cloudsleaning backward, and the other, springing up from the ground,would easily catch it, before his feet reached the floor.But when they had made trial of the ball in a straight line,then they danced on the much-nourishing earth,swiftly changing places; and the other young men cried outstanding around the place of assembly, and a great din arose.Then brilliant Odysseus spoke to Alcinous:"Lord Alcinous, most conspicuous of all peoples,you declared that your dancers are the best,and indeed it has been made ready; awe holds me as I look on."So he spoke, and the sacred strength of Alcinous rejoiced,and straightaway he spoke to the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar:"Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians.This stranger seems to me to be very prudent.But come, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting.For twelve conspicuous kings throughout the districtrule as leaders, and I myself am the thirteenth;of them let each bring him a well-washed cloak and tunicand a talent of precious gold.And let us quickly bring everything together, so that in his handsthe stranger may have them and go rejoicing in heart to dinner.And let Euryalus make amends to him with wordsand with a gift, since he did not speak a word in order."So he spoke, and they all approved and ordered it,and each sent a herald to bring the gifts.And again Euryalus answered him and said:"Lord Alcinous, most conspicuous of all peoples,therefore I will make amends to the stranger, as you bid.I will give him this all-bronze sword, on which the hiltis silver, and the scabbard of newly cut ivoryis fitted around it; and it will be worth much to him."So speaking he placed in his hands the silver-studded swordand speaking addressed him with winged words:"Hail, father stranger; and if any word has goneamiss, may the storm winds snatch it away at once.And to you may the gods grant to see your wife and reach your fatherland,since you have long suffered hardships away from your loved ones."And in answer to him spoke much-devising Odysseus:"And you, friend, rejoice greatly, and may the gods give you prosperity.And may you never afterward regret this sword,which you have given me, making amends with words."He spoke, and put the silver-studded sword over his shoulders.And the sun set, and the glorious gifts were at hand.And the noble heralds carried them to Alcinous' house;and receiving them the sons of blameless Alcinousplaced the very beautiful gifts beside their revered mother.And the sacred strength of Alcinous led them,and when they had come they sat down on the high seats.Then indeed the strength of Alcinous spoke to Arete:"Come, wife, bring a conspicuous chest, the best there is;and put in it yourself a well-washed cloak and tunic.And warm a bronze vessel over the fire for him, and heat water,so that when he has bathed and seen all the giftswell laid out, which the blameless Phaeacians brought here,he may delight in the feast and hear the hymn of song.And I will give him this beautiful cup of mine,golden, so that remembering me all his dayshe may pour libations in his hall to Zeus and the other gods."So he spoke, and Arete told the maidservantsto set a great tripod over the fire as quickly as possible.And they set the bath-water tripod in the blazing fire,and poured water in it, and taking wood kindled it underneath.The fire encompassed the belly of the tripod, and the water heated;meanwhile Arete brought out for the stranger the very beautiful chestfrom the chamber, and placed in it the beautiful gifts,clothing and gold, which the Phaeacians had given him;and she herself put in it a cloak and a beautiful tunic,and speaking addressed him with winged words:"Now look to the lid yourself, and quickly put on the seal,lest someone harm you on the way, whenever againyou sleep a sweet sleep going in the black ship."But when much-enduring brilliant Odysseus heard this,he straightaway fitted the lid, and quickly put on the cunningseal, which lady Circe once taught him in her mind;and at once the housekeeper bade him bathe,entering the bath; and he gladly in his heart sawthe warm baths, since he had not often had such care,since he left the house of fair-haired Calypso.Meanwhile his care was as steady as a god's.And when the maidservants had bathed him and anointed him with oil,and thrown a beautiful cloak and tunic around him,he came out of the bath and went to the wine-drinking men;and Nausicaa, who had beauty from the gods,stood beside the doorpost of the well-built roof,and marveled as she looked on Odysseus with her eyes,and speaking addressed him with winged words:"Hail, stranger, so that sometime when you are in your fatherlandyou may remember me, because you owe me first the price of your life."And in answer to her spoke much-devising Odysseus:"Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous,so may Zeus bring it about, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,that you come home and see the day of your return;then I would pray to you even there as to a godalways all my days; for you saved my life, maiden."He spoke, and sat down on a seat beside King Alcinous;and they were already serving portions and mixing wine.And the herald came near leading the trusty singer,Demodocus, honored by the people; and he seated himin the midst of the feasters, leaning him against a tall pillar.Then much-devising Odysseus spoke to the herald,cutting off from the back, and more was left over,of a white-tusked boar, and rich fat was around it:"Herald, here, give this meat to Demodocus,so that he may eat; and I will greet him though I am grieving;for to all men upon the earth singershave a share of honor and reverence, because the Musetaught them songs, and she loved the tribe of singers."So he spoke, and the herald brought it and placed it in his hands,to the hero Demodocus; and he received it, and rejoiced in his heart.And they put their hands to the ready food set before them.But when they had put away desire for drink and food,then much-devising Odysseus spoke to Demodocus:"Demodocus, above all mortals I praise you exceedingly.Either the Muse taught you, child of Zeus, or Apollo;for very much in order you sing the fate of the Achaeans,all that they did and suffered and all that the Achaeans toiled,as if you had been there yourself or heard from another.But come now, change and sing the fashioning of the horseof wood, which Epeius made with Athena,which brilliant Odysseus once brought to the citadel as a trick,filling it with men who sacked Ilion.If you will recount these things to me in order,straightaway I will tell all menthat a god willingly granted you divine song."So he spoke, and the singer, starting from the god, began and revealed his song,taking it up from the point where they, on their well-benched ships,went and sailed away, having set fire to their huts,the Argives, and those others with glorious Odysseussat in the Trojans' assembly place, hidden in the horse;for the Trojans themselves had dragged it to the citadel.So it stood there, and they spoke many indecisive things,sitting around it; and the counsel pleased them three ways,either to cut the hollow wood with pitiless bronze,or to drag it up and throw it from the rocks on the height,or to let it be a great offering, a charm for the gods,in which way indeed it was afterward going to be accomplished;for it was fated that they perish, when the city enclosedthe great wooden horse, where all the bestof the Argives sat, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans sacked the city,pouring out from the horse, leaving the hollow ambush.And he sang how one man laid waste the steep city here, another there,but Odysseus went to the house of Deiphobuslike Ares together with godlike Menelaus.There indeed he said that, having dared the most terrible war,he conquered, and then through great-hearted Athena.These things the famous singer sang; but Odysseusmelted, and wet his cheeks with tears beneath his eyelids.As when a woman weeps, falling upon her dear husband,who has fallen before his city and his people,defending his town and children from the pitiless day;and she, seeing him dying and gasping,falls upon him and wails shrilly; and others behind herstriking her back and shoulders with spearslead her into slavery, to have toil and misery;and her cheeks waste away with most pitiable grief;so Odysseus shed a pitiable tear beneath his brows.There he escaped the notice of all the others, shedding tears,but Alcinous alone marked him and noticed him,sitting near him, and heard him groaning heavily.And straightaway he spoke to the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar:"Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,and let Demodocus now hold his clear lyre;for he does not sing these things pleasing to all alike.From the time we began to dine and the divine singer rose,from then the stranger has not yet ceased from woeful lamenting;surely grief has greatly encompassed his mind.But come, let him hold it, so that we may all alike be delighted,both hosts and guest, since that is far better;for it has been done for the sake of the revered stranger,the conveyance and the dear gifts, which we give him in love.For a stranger and a suppliant is like a brotherto a man, who touches his heart even a little.Therefore now do not hide in cunning thoughtswhatever I may ask you; and it is better for you to speak.Tell me the name that your mother and father called you there,and the others who are in the city and those who dwell around it.For no man at all is nameless among humans,neither base nor noble, once he is first born,but parents put a name on all, when they have children.And tell me your land, your district and your city,so that our ships may convey you there, aiming with their minds;for the Phaeacians have no steersmen,nor are there any rudders, which other ships have;but the ships themselves know the thoughts and minds of men,and they know all the cities and rich fieldsof men, and they cross the gulf of the sea most swiftlycovered in mist and cloud; nor is there ever for themany fear of being harmed or perishing.But this, as I once heard my father saying,Nausithous, who said that Poseidon was angrywith us, because we are blameless escorts for all.He said that once a well-built ship of Phaeacian men,returning from a convoy in the misty sea,would be struck, and a great mountain would cover our city.So the old man spoke; and the god might either accomplishor leave unaccomplished these things, as was dear to his heart.But come, tell me this and recount it accurately,where you wandered and which landsof men you came to, both themselves and their well-inhabited cities,both those who are harsh and savage and not just,and those who are hospitable, and whose mind is god-fearing.And tell me why you weep and lament within your hearthearing the fate of the Argive Danaans and of Ilion.The gods made that, and spun destructionfor men, so that there might be song even for those to come.Did some kinsman of yours also perish before Ilion,being noble, a son-in-law or father-in-law, who are mostnear and dear after one's own blood and family?Or perhaps some companion, a man knowing gracious things,noble? Since he is in no way worse than a brother,whoever, being a companion, knows prudent things.

When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,Alcinous rose from his bed,and god-born Odysseus, the sacker of cities, rose too.Alcinous led themto the Phaeacian assembly place, which had been built beside their ships.When they arrived they sat down on the polished stonesclose together. Meanwhile Pallas Athena went through the town,looking like the herald of warlike Alcinous,planning a homecoming for great-hearted Odysseus,and she stood beside each man and said:"Come on, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,go to the assembly, so you can learn about the stranger,who just now came to the house of warlike Alcinous,wandering over the sea, his body like the deathless gods."With these words she stirred the spirit of every man.Quickly the meeting places and seats filled with peoplegathering, and many were amazed when they sawthe warlike son of Laertes. Athena pouredmarvelous grace over his head and shouldersand made him look taller and broader,so that he would be dear to all the Phaeaciansand fearsome and respected, and would complete the manycontests that the Phaeacians tested Odysseus with.When they had gathered and come together,Alcinous spoke to them and said:"Listen, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,so I can say what my heart in my chest tells me.This stranger, I don't know who he is, came wandering to my house,either from men of the east or of the west,and he asks for an escort, and begs that it be dependable.Let us, as before, hurry the escort along.No one else either, whoever comes to my house,stays here grieving long for the sake of an escort.But come, let us drag a black ship into the shining sea,one that has never sailed, and let fifty-two young menbe picked from the district, the ones who are the best so far.When all have tied the oars well to the rowlocks,let them go aboard, and then prepare a swift feast,coming to my house, and I will provide well for all.Those are my orders for the young men, but the rest of you,the sceptered kings, come to my beautiful house,so that we can welcome the stranger in the halls,and let no one refuse. Call the divine singerDemodocus, for the god gave him song above all othersto give delight, wherever his heart urges him to sing."With these words he led the way, and they followed,the sceptered ones, and the herald went after the divine singer.The young men who were picked, fifty-two of them,went, as he ordered, to the shore of the unharvested sea.When they had come down to the ship and the sea,they dragged the black ship into the depth of the sea,and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,and fitted the oars into the leather rowlocks,all in proper order, and spread the white sails.They moored her high in the surf, and then afterwardthey went to the great house of warlike Alcinous.The porticos and courtyards and men's rooms were filledwith people gathering, and there were many, young and old.Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep for them,and eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen.They skinned them and took care of them, and made a lovely feast.The herald came near leading the trusty singer,whom the Muse loved above others and gave both good and evil:she took away his eyes and gave him sweet song.Pontonous set a silver-studded chair for himin the middle of the feasters, leaning it against a tall pillar,and he hung the clear lyre from a pegabove his head, and showed him how to take it with his hands,the herald did; and he set beside him a basket and a beautiful table,and beside him a cup of wine, to drink whenever his heart told him to.They reached out their hands to the ready food set before them.When they had put away their desire for drink and food,the Muse stirred the singer to sing of the famous deeds of men,of a song whose fame at that time reached the wide heaven:the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus,how once they quarreled at a lavish feast of the godswith terrible words, and the lord of men Agamemnonrejoiced in his heart that the best of the Achaeans were quarreling.For so Phoebus Apollo had prophesied to himin holy Pytho, when he crossed the stone thresholdto ask the oracle, for then the beginning of trouble was rolling onfor Trojans and Danaans through the will of great Zeus.These things the famous singer sang, but Odysseustook his great purple cloak in his sturdy handsand pulled it down from his head and covered his beautiful face,for he was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see tears under his brows.Each time the divine singer stopped singing,he wiped the tear from his head and took the cloak awayand picked up the two-handled cup and poured libations to the gods,but each time he began again and the best of the Phaeaciansurged him to sing, since they were enjoying his words,Odysseus covered his head again and groaned.There he went unnoticed by all the others as he shed tears,but Alcinous alone noticed him and understood,sitting near him, and he heard him groaning heavily.At once he spoke to the Phaeacians, who love the oar:"Listen, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians.We have already satisfied our hearts with the equal feastand with the lyre, which goes with a lavish feast.But now let us go out and try allthe contests, so that the stranger can tell his own friendswhen he has gotten home how much we surpass othersin boxing and wrestling and jumping and running."With these words he led the way, and they followed.He hung the clear lyre from a peg,and the herald took Demodocus by the hand and led him from the hall,and he led him along the very same way as the others,the best of the Phaeacians, who were going to watch the contests.They went to the assembly place, and a great crowd followed with them,countless, and many young men stood up, both many and fine.Up rose Acroneos and Ocyalus and Elatreus,Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus and Eretmeus,Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon and Anabesineos,and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tecton,and up rose Euryalus too, like man-destroying Ares,son of Naubolus, who was the best in looks and buildof all the Phaeacians after the blameless Laodamas.Up stood the three sons of blameless Alcinous,Laodamas and Halius and godlike Clytoneus.They first tested themselves at running.A course was stretched out for them from the starting line, and all togetherthey flew swiftly, raising dust on the plain,and by far the best of them at running was blameless Clytoneus.As far as the distance of a mule's furrow in a fallow field,so far he came out ahead of the crowd, and they were left behind.They tested themselves at painful wrestling,and here again Euryalus beat all the best.In the jump Amphialus was the most outstanding of all,and in the discus again Elatreus was by far the best of all,and in boxing again Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous.When all had delighted their hearts with the contests,the son of Alcinous, Laodamas, said to them:"Come, friends, let us ask the stranger whether he knowsand has learned any contest. In build at least he is not bad,in his thighs and calves and both arms aboveand in his sturdy neck and great strength, and he is notlacking in youth either, but he has been broken down by many troubles.For I say nothing is worse than the seafor overwhelming a man, even if he is very strong."Euryalus answered him and said:"Laodamas, that was a very fitting thing to say.Go yourself now and challenge him and make your speech known."When the good son of Alcinous heard this,he went and stood in the middle and spoke to Odysseus:"Come here too, stranger and father, try the contests,if you have learned any, for it seems you know contests.For there is no greater glory for a man as long as he livesthan what he does with his feet and his hands.But come, try it, and scatter the cares from your heart.Your voyage will no longer be far off, but alreadyyour ship is drawn down and your companions are ready."In answer to him much-devising Odysseus said:"Laodamas, why do you tell me to do these things, mocking me?I have cares on my mind rather than contests,I who before have suffered very many things and toiled greatly,and now in your assembly, longing for my homecoming,I sit, begging both the king and all the people."Euryalus answered him again and rebuked him to his face:"No, stranger, I don't think you are a man who knowscontests, the many kinds there are among men,but rather one who, always aboard a many-oared ship,a leader of sailors, who are traders,is mindful of cargo and a watcher of voyagesand of grasping profits. You do not look like an athlete."Looking at him from under his brows, much-devising Odysseus said:"Stranger, you have not spoken well. You are like a reckless man.The gods do not give graceful gifts to allmen, neither build nor mind nor speaking skill.For one man is weaker in form,but the god crowns his words with beauty, and otherslook at him with delight, and he speaks firmlywith gentle modesty, and he stands out among those gathered,and as he walks through the city they look at him as at a god.Another again is like the deathless gods in form,but no grace surrounds his words,as your form is conspicuous and not otherwisecould even a god make it, but your mind is worthless.You have stirred my heart in my dear chestby speaking out of turn. But I am not ignorant of contests,as you say, but I think I am among the firstwhile I trusted in my youth and my hands.But now I am held by misery and pains, for I have endured many things,passing through wars of men and painful waves.But even so, having suffered many evils, I will try the contests,for your word bites the heart, and you stirred me by speaking."He spoke, and sprang up and took up a discus along with his cloak,one greater and thicker, much heavierthan the one the Phaeacians used to throw among themselves.He whirled it around and sent it from his sturdy hand,and the stone boomed, and down to the ground crouchedthe long-oared Phaeacians, men famous for ships,at the stone's cast, and it flew beyond the marks of all,going swiftly from his hand. Athena set the boundaries,looking in body like a man, and she spoke and called him by name:"Even a blind man, stranger, would tell that mark apartby feeling it, since it is not mixed in with the crowdbut far out in front. Be confident about this contest,no one of the Phaeacians will reach this, or surpass it."So she spoke, and much-enduring brilliant Odysseus rejoiced,glad that he saw a friendly comrade in the contest.Then he spoke more lightly to the Phaeacians:"Now reach this mark, young men. Right after, I thinkI will send another just as far or even farther.Of the rest of you, whoever his heart and spirit tells him to,come here and try, since you angered me greatly,either in boxing or wrestling or running, I don't begrudge it,of all the Phaeacians, except Laodamas himself.For this man is my host. Who would fight with a man who loves him?That man is truly foolish and worthless,whoever brings up a quarrel over contests with his hostin a foreign land. He ruins all his own chances.But of the others I refuse none and make light of none,but I want to know and to try against them.For I am not bad at all things, among men, in whatever contests there are.I know well how to handle a well-polished bow.I would be first to hit a man with an arrow in a crowdof hostile men, even if very many companionsstood close by and shot arrows at men.Philoctetes alone surpassed me with the bowin the land of the Trojans, when we Achaeans shot with bows.Of the others I say I am far better,as many mortals as now are on the earth eating grain.But with earlier men I will not want to compete,neither with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia,who used to compete with the deathless gods about bows.So great Eurytus quickly died, and he never reached old agein his halls, for Apollo in angerkilled him, because he challenged him to shoot with the bow.With the spear I throw as far as no one else with an arrow.In running I fear that one of the Phaeaciansmay run past me, for I have been terribly worn downin many waves, since there was no steadysupply on the ship. So my dear limbs are loosened."So he spoke, and they all fell silent.Alcinous alone answered him and said:"Stranger, since you do not speak without grace among us,but want to show your excellence, which stays with you,angry because this man stood beside you in the contestand rebuked you, as no mortal would belittle your excellence,not one who knew in his mind how to speak properly.But come now, listen to my word, so that you can also tellanother of the heroes, when in your hallsyou feast beside your wife and your children,remembering our excellence, and what things tooZeus lays on our works continually from our fathers' time.For we are not blameless boxers or wrestlers,but we run swiftly with our feet and are best with ships,and always dear to us are the feast and the cithara and dancesand changes of clothing and warm baths and beds.But come, all you Phaeacians who are the best dancers,play, so that the stranger can tell his own friendswhen he has gotten home how much we surpass othersin seamanship and running and dancing and song.Let someone go quickly and bring Demodocus the clear lyre,which lies somewhere in our house."So spoke godlike Alcinous, and the herald roseto bring the hollow lyre from the king's house.Nine chosen stewards all stood up,public officials, who arranged everything well at the contests,and they smoothed the dancing floor and widened the good assembly place.The herald came near bringing the clear lyreto Demodocus, and he then went to the middle, and around him young menin first youth stood, skilled in dancing,and they struck the divine dancing floor with their feet. Odysseusgazed at the flashing of their feet and marveled in his heart.The singer, playing the lyre, began to sing beautifullyof the love of Ares and of fair-crowned Aphrodite,how at first they mingled in Hephaestus' housein secret, and he gave many gifts, and shamed the bed and the couchof lord Hephaestus. Right away a messenger came to him,Helios, who noticed them mingling in love.Hephaestus, when he heard the heart-grieving word,went to his bronze forge, brooding evils in his heart,and set a great anvil on the anvil block, and hammered out bondsunbreakable, unloosable, so that they would stay fixed right there.When he had made the snare, angry at Ares,he went to the chamber, where his dear bed stood,and around the bedposts he poured bonds in a circle everywhere.Many too were spread from above, from the roof beam,like thin spider webs, which no one could even see,not even the blessed gods, for it was made cunningly all around.When he had poured all the snare around the bed,he pretended to go to Lemnos, the well-built citadel,which of all lands is far dearest to him.Golden-reined Ares did not keep a blind watch either,when he saw famous-craftsman Hephaestus gone away.He went toward the house of renowned Hephaestus,eager for the love of fair-crowned Cytherea.She had just come from her father, the mighty son of Cronus,and sat down, and he went inside the house,and clasped her hand, and spoke and called her by name:"Come, dear one, let us turn to the bed and lie together,for Hephaestus is no longer among his people, but somewhere alreadyhe has gone to Lemnos to the wild-voiced Sintians."So he spoke, and to her it seemed welcome to lie down.The two went to the bed and lay down, and around them bondsartful, made by the cunning Hephaestus, were poured,and they could not move any limb or lift it.Then indeed they knew that there was no more escape.Near them came the renowned lame god,turning back again before he reached the land of Lemnos,for Helios kept watch for him and told him the word.He went to his dear house, grieved at heart.He stood in the doorway, and wild anger seized him.He shouted terribly and called out to all the gods:"Father Zeus and other blessed gods who are forever,come here, so you can see works laughable and not to be endured,how Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, because I am lame,always dishonors me and loves destructive Ares,because he is handsome and sound of foot, but Iwas born feeble. No one else is to blame for me,but my two parents, whom I wish had not begotten me.But you will see, where the two sleep in lovehaving gone to my bed, and I am grieved looking on.I don't expect them to lie so for even a little while,though they love each other greatly. Soon the two will not wantto sleep, but the snare and the bond will hold them,until he pays me back all the bride-gifts,as many as I gave him for the sake of the shameless girl,because his daughter is beautiful, but she is not faithful."So he spoke, and the gods gathered at the bronze-floored house.Came Poseidon the earth-holder, came the helpfulHermes, and came the lord, the far-working Apollo.But the female goddesses stayed at home, each from modesty.The gods stood in the doorway, givers of good things,and unquenchable laughter arose among the blessed godsas they looked at the crafts of the cunning Hephaestus.One would say, looking at another near him:"Evil deeds do not prosper. The slow catches the swift,as now Hephaestus, being slow, caught Ares,though he is the swiftest of the gods who hold Olympus,being lame, by his crafts. So the adulterer pays the penalty."So they spoke such things to one another.To Hermes spoke the lord, the son of Zeus, Apollo:"Hermes, son of Zeus, guide, giver of good things,would you then be willing, pressed in strong bonds,to sleep in bed beside golden Aphrodite?"The guide, the slayer of Argus, answered him then:"Would that this might happen, lord Apollo, far-shooter.May three times as many bonds, endless, hold me around,and may you gods and all the goddesses look on,and may I sleep beside golden Aphrodite."So he spoke, and laughter arose among the deathless gods.Laughter did not hold Poseidon, and he kept beggingfamous-craftsman Hephaestus to release Ares.Speaking, he addressed him with winged words:"Release him, and I promise you myself, as you bid,he will pay all that is fitting among the deathless gods."Again the renowned lame god answered him:"Do not, Poseidon the earth-holder, tell me these things,for the pledges of the wretched are wretched pledges.How could I bind you among the deathless gods,if Ares should go off, escaping his debt and the bond?"Again Poseidon the earth-shaker answered him:"Hephaestus, if indeed Ares escapes his debtand goes off in flight, I myself will pay you this."Again the renowned lame god answered him:"It is not possible nor fitting to deny your word."So speaking he loosed the bond, the strength of Hephaestus.The two, when they were loosed from the bond, strong as it was,straightaway sprang up, and he went off to Thrace,and she reached Cyprus, laughter-loving Aphrodite,to Paphos, where she has a precinct and a fragrant altar.There the Graces bathed her and anointed her with oilimmortal, such as is upon the gods who are forever,and put lovely clothing around her, a wonder to see.These things the famous singer sang, but Odysseuswas delighted in his own heart as he listened, and so were the others,the long-oared Phaeacians, men famous for ships.Alcinous told Halius and Laodamasto dance alone, since no one contended with them.When they had taken in their hands the beautiful ball,a purple one, which warlike Polybus had made for them,one of them would throw it toward the shadowy clouds,leaning backward, and the other, springing up from the ground,would easily catch it before his feet reached the floor.When they had tried the ball in a straight line,then they danced on the much-nourishing earth,swiftly changing places, and the other young men cried outstanding around the assembly place, and a great din arose.Then brilliant Odysseus said to Alcinous:"Lord Alcinous, most conspicuous of all peoples,you declared that your dancers are the best,and indeed it has been made ready. Awe holds me as I look on."So he spoke, and the sacred strength of Alcinous rejoiced,and straightaway he said to the Phaeacians, who love the oar:"Listen, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians.This stranger seems to me to be very prudent.But come, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting.For twelve conspicuous kings throughout the districtrule as leaders, and I myself am the thirteenth.Of them let each bring him a well-washed cloak and tunicand a talent of precious gold.Let us quickly bring everything together, so that in his handsthe stranger may have them and go rejoicing in heart to dinner.Let Euryalus make amends to him with wordsand with a gift, since he did not speak a word in order."So he spoke, and they all approved and ordered it,and each sent a herald to bring the gifts.Again Euryalus answered him and said:"Lord Alcinous, most conspicuous of all peoples,therefore I will make amends to the stranger, as you bid.I will give him this all-bronze sword, on which the hiltis silver, and the scabbard of newly cut ivoryis fitted around it, and it will be worth much to him."So speaking he placed the silver-studded sword in his handsand speaking addressed him with winged words:"Hail, father stranger, and if any word has goneamiss, may the storm winds snatch it away at once.May the gods grant you to see your wife and reach your fatherland,since you have long suffered hardships away from your loved ones."In answer to him much-devising Odysseus said:"And you, friend, rejoice greatly, and may the gods give you prosperity.May you never afterward regret this sword,which you have given me, making amends with words."He spoke, and put the silver-studded sword over his shoulders.The sun set, and the glorious gifts were at hand.The noble heralds carried them to Alcinous' house,and receiving them the sons of blameless Alcinousplaced the very beautiful gifts beside their revered mother.The sacred strength of Alcinous led them,and when they had come they sat down on the high seats.Then indeed the strength of Alcinous said to Arete:"Come, wife, bring a conspicuous chest, the best there is,and put a well-washed cloak and tunic in it yourself.Warm a bronze vessel over the fire for him, and heat water,so that when he has bathed and seen all the giftslaid out well, which the blameless Phaeacians brought here,he may delight in the feast and hear the hymn of song.I will give him this beautiful cup of mine,golden, so that remembering me all his dayshe may pour libations in his hall to Zeus and the other gods."So he spoke, and Arete told the maidservantsto set a great tripod over the fire as quickly as possible.They set the bath-water tripod in the blazing fire,and poured water in it, and taking wood kindled it underneath.The fire surrounded the belly of the tripod, and the water heated,meanwhile Arete brought out for the stranger the very beautiful chestfrom the chamber, and placed the beautiful gifts in it,clothing and gold, which the Phaeacians had given him,and she herself put in it a cloak and a beautiful tunic,and speaking addressed him with winged words:"Now look at the lid yourself, and quickly put on the seal,lest someone harm you on the way, whenever againyou sleep a sweet sleep going in the black ship."When much-enduring brilliant Odysseus heard this,he straightaway fitted the lid, and quickly put on the cunningseal, which lady Circe once taught him in her mind.At once the housekeeper told him to bathe,entering the bath, and he gladly in his heart sawthe warm baths, since he had not often had such care,since he left the house of fair-haired Calypso.Meanwhile his care was as steady as a god's.When the maidservants had bathed him and anointed him with oil,and thrown a beautiful cloak and tunic around him,he came out of the bath and went to the wine-drinking men,and Nausicaa, who had beauty from the gods,stood beside the doorpost of the well-built roof,and marveled as she looked at Odysseus with her eyes,and speaking addressed him with winged words:"Hail, stranger, so that sometime when you are in your fatherlandyou may remember me, because you owe me first the price of your life."In answer to her much-devising Odysseus said:"Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous,so may Zeus bring it about, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,that you come home and see the day of your return.Then I would pray to you even there as to a godalways all my days, for you saved my life, maiden."He spoke, and sat down on a seat beside King Alcinous,and they were already serving portions and mixing wine.The herald came near leading the trusty singer,Demodocus, honored by the people, and he seated himin the middle of the feasters, leaning him against a tall pillar.Then much-devising Odysseus said to the herald,cutting off from the back, and more was left over,of a white-tusked boar, and rich fat was around it:"Herald, here, give this meat to Demodocus,so that he may eat, and I will greet him though I am grieving,for to all men upon the earth singershave a share of honor and reverence, because the Musetaught them songs, and she loved the tribe of singers."So he spoke, and the herald brought it and placed it in his hands,to the hero Demodocus, and he received it and rejoiced in his heart.They reached out their hands to the ready food set before them.When they had put away their desire for drink and food,then much-devising Odysseus said to Demodocus:"Demodocus, above all mortals I praise you exceedingly.Either the Muse taught you, child of Zeus, or Apollo,for very much in order you sing the fate of the Achaeans,all that they did and suffered and all that the Achaeans toiled,as if you had been there yourself or heard from another.But come now, change and sing the fashioning of the horseof wood, which Epeius made with Athena,which brilliant Odysseus once brought to the citadel as a trick,filling it with men who sacked Ilion.If you will recount these things to me in order,straightaway I will tell all menthat a god willingly granted you divine song."So he spoke, and the singer, starting from the god, began and revealed his song,taking it up from the point where they, on their well-benched ships,went and sailed away, having set fire to their huts,the Argives, and those others with glorious Odysseussat in the Trojans' assembly place, hidden in the horse,for the Trojans themselves had dragged it to the citadel.So it stood there, and they said many undecided things,sitting around it, and the counsel pleased them three ways:either to cut the hollow wood with pitiless bronze,or to drag it up and throw it from the rocks on the height,or to let it be a great offering, a charm for the gods,in which way indeed it was afterward going to be accomplished,for it was fated that they perish, when the city enclosedthe great wooden horse, where all the bestof the Argives sat, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.He sang how the sons of the Achaeans sacked the city,pouring out from the horse, leaving the hollow ambush.He sang how one man laid waste the steep city here, another there,but Odysseus went to the house of Deiphobuslike Ares together with godlike Menelaus.There indeed he said that, having dared the most terrible war,he conquered, and then through great-hearted Athena.These things the famous singer sang, but Odysseusmelted, and wet his cheeks with tears beneath his eyelids.As when a woman weeps, falling upon her dear husband,who has fallen before his city and his people,defending his town and children from the pitiless day,and she, seeing him dying and gasping,falls upon him and wails shrilly, and others behind herstriking her back and shoulders with spearslead her into slavery, to have toil and misery,and her cheeks waste away with most pitiable grief,so Odysseus shed a pitiable tear beneath his brows.There he went unnoticed by all the others as he shed tears,but Alcinous alone noticed him and understood,sitting near him, and he heard him groaning heavily.At once he spoke to the Phaeacians, who love the oar:"Listen, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,and let Demodocus now hold his clear lyre,for he does not sing these things pleasing to all alike.From the time we began to dine and the divine singer rose,from then the stranger has not yet stopped his woeful lamenting.Surely grief has greatly surrounded his mind.But come, let him hold it, so that we may all alike be delighted,both hosts and guest, since that is far better,for it has been done for the sake of the revered stranger,the escort and the dear gifts, which we give him in love.For a stranger and a suppliant is like a brotherto a man who touches his heart even a little.Therefore now do not hide in cunning thoughtswhatever I may ask you, and it is better for you to speak.Tell me the name that your mother and father called you there,and the others who are in the city and those who dwell around it.For no man at all is nameless among humans,neither base nor noble, once he is first born,but parents put a name on all, when they have children.And tell me your land, your district and your city,so that our ships may convey you there, aiming with their minds,for the Phaeacians have no steersmen,nor are there any rudders, which other ships have,but the ships themselves know the thoughts and minds of men,and they know all the cities and rich fieldsof men, and they cross the gulf of the sea most swiftlycovered in mist and cloud, and there is never for themany fear of being harmed or perishing.But this, as I once heard my father saying,Nausithous, who said that Poseidon was angrywith us, because we are blameless escorts for all.He said that once a well-built ship of Phaeacian men,returning from an escort in the misty sea,would be struck, and a great mountain would cover our city.So the old man spoke, and the god might either accomplishor leave unaccomplished these things, as was dear to his heart.But come, tell me this and recount it accurately,where you wandered and which landsof men you came to, both themselves and their well-inhabited cities,both those who are harsh and savage and not just,and those who are hospitable, and whose mind is god-fearing.And tell me why you weep and lament within your hearthearing the fate of the Argive Danaans and of Ilion.The gods made that, and spun destructionfor men, so that there might be song even for those to come.Did some kinsman of yours also perish before Ilion,being noble, a son-in-law or father-in-law, who are mostnear and dear after one's own blood and family?Or perhaps some companion, a man knowing gracious things,noble? Since he is in no way worse than a brother,whoever, being a companion, knows prudent things.