1Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ ΤιθωνοῖοNow Dawn rose from her bed, from beside proud Tithonus,
ὤρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·to bring the light to the immortals and to mortals;
οἱ δὲ θεοὶ θῶκόνδε καθίζανον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσιand the gods sat down in council, and among them
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.Zeus who thunders on high, whose power is greatest.
5τοῖσι δʼ Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλʼ ὈδυσῆοςTo them Athena told the many griefs of Odysseus,
μνησαμένη· μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης·recalling them, for it troubled her that he was in the nymph's halls:
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν
ἐόντες,"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who live forever,
μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστωlet no sceptered king from now on be kindly and gentle,
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,nor with good will, nor knowing what is right in his heart,
10ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·but let him always be harsh, and work unlawful deeds—
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιοsince not one remembers godlike Odysseus
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.among the people he ruled, though he was gentle as a father.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχωνBut he lies now upon an island, suffering strong pains,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃin the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him
15ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·by force; and he cannot reach his fatherland,
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,for he has no ships fitted with oars, and no companions
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.to send him on across the broad back of the sea.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀποκτεῖναι μεμάασινAnd now they are eager to kill his beloved son
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴνas he comes home; for he went to seek word of his father
20ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.to sacred Pylos and to shining Lacedaemon."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων."My child, what word has escaped the barrier of your teeth?
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,Did you not yourself devise this very plan,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;that Odysseus should return and take vengeance on those men?
25Τηλέμαχον δὲ σὺ πέμψον ἐπισταμένως, δύνασαι γάρ,And send Telemachus onward with your skill—for you have power—
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται,so that all unharmed he may reach his fatherland,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐν νηὶ· παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέωνται.and the suitors come back in their ship, their journey foiled."
ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἑρμείαν, υἱὸν φίλον, ἀντίον ηὔδα·He spoke, and to Hermes, his dear son, he said:
Ἑρμεία, σὺ γὰρ αὖτε τά τʼ ἄλλα περ ἄγγελός ἐσσι,"Hermes, since you are indeed our messenger in all things else,
30νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἰπεῖν νημερτέα βουλήν,declare to the fair-haired nymph our unerring will,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηταιthe homecoming of steadfast Odysseus, that he may return
οὔτε θεῶν πομπῇ οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·with neither the escort of gods nor of mortal men;
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου πήματα πάσχωνbut upon a raft of many bindings, suffering pains,
ἤματί κʼ εἰκοστῷ Σχερίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοιτο,on the twentieth day he shall reach Scheria of the rich soil,
35Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,the land of the Phaeacians, who are near kin to the gods,
οἵ κέν μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσιν,and they will honor him in their hearts like a god,
πέμψουσιν δʼ ἐν νηὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,and send him in a ship to his dear fatherland,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες,giving him bronze and gold in abundance, and clothing,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,much, more than Odysseus would ever have won from Troy,
40εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληίδος αἶσαν.had he come home unharmed with his allotted share of the spoils.
ὣς γάρ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαιFor this is his lot, to see his own again and to reach
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.his high-roofed house and his native land.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.So he spoke, nor did the guide, the slayer of Argus, disobey.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,At once he bound beneath his feet the beautiful sandals,
45ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴνimmortal, golden, that carried him over the water
ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.and over the boundless earth alike with the breath of the wind.
εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,And he took up the wand with which he charms the eyes of men,
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει.of whomever he wishes, and others again he wakens out of sleep.
τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.Holding this in his hands the strong slayer of Argus flew,
50Πιερίην δʼ ἐπιβὰς ἐξ αἰθέρος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ·and stepping onto Pieria he swooped from the upper air down to the sea;
σεύατʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ κῦμα λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς,then he sped over the waves like a gull,
ὅς τε κατὰ δεινοὺς κόλπους ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιοwhich through the fearful gulfs of the barren salt sea
ἰχθῦς ἀγρώσσων πυκινὰ πτερὰ δεύεται ἅλμῃ·hunting fish wets its thick wings in the brine:
τῷ ἴκελος πολέεσσιν ὀχήσατο κύμασιν Ἑρμῆς.like this Hermes rode over the multitudinous waves.
55ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφίκετο τηλόθʼ ἐοῦσαν,But when he came at last to the island lying far off,
ἔνθʼ ἐκ πόντου βὰς ἰοειδέος ἤπειρόνδεthere from the violet sea he stepped onto the land
ἤιεν, ὄφρα μέγα σπέος ἵκετο, τῷ ἔνι νύμφηand went on, until he reached the great cave in which the nymph
ναῖεν ἐυπλόκαμος· τὴν δʼ ἔνδοθι τέτμεν ἐοῦσαν.dwelt, the lovely-haired one; and he found her within.
πῦρ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν μέγα καίετο, τηλόσε δʼ ὀδμὴA great fire was burning on the hearth, and the scent
60κέδρου τʼ εὐκεάτοιο θύου τʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ὀδώδειof split cedar and citron-wood, blazing, spread far over the island.
δαιομένων· ἡ δʼ ἔνδον ἀοιδιάουσʼ ὀπὶ καλῇAnd she within, singing with a beautiful voice,
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη χρυσείῃ κερκίδʼ ὕφαινεν.went to and fro at her loom, weaving with a golden shuttle.
ὕλη δὲ σπέος ἀμφὶ πεφύκει τηλεθόωσα,And a wood grew luxuriant about the cave,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τε καὶ εὐώδης κυπάρισσος.alder and black poplar and fragrant cypress.
65ἔνθα δέ τʼ ὄρνιθες τανυσίπτεροι εὐνάζοντο,And there the long-winged birds made their roosts,
σκῶπές τʼ ἴρηκές τε τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναιowls and hawks and the long-tongued sea-crows
εἰνάλιαι, τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.of the shore, who have their business upon the waters.
ἡ δʼ αὐτοῦ τετάνυστο περὶ σπείους γλαφυροῖοAnd there itself, about the hollow cave, was trained
ἡμερὶς ἡβώωσα, τεθήλει δὲ σταφυλῇσι.a garden vine in its vigor, thick with clustered grapes.
70κρῆναι δʼ ἑξείης πίσυρες ῥέον ὕδατι λευκῷ,And four springs in a row flowed with their bright water,
πλησίαι ἀλλήλων τετραμμέναι ἄλλυδις ἄλλη.close to one another, each turned in its own direction.
ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμῶνες μαλακοὶ ἴου ἠδὲ σελίνουAnd round about, soft meadows of violet and parsley
θήλεον. ἔνθα κʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἀθάνατός περ ἐπελθὼνwere blooming. There even an immortal, coming upon it,
θηήσαιτο ἰδὼν καὶ τερφθείη φρεσὶν ᾗσιν.would gaze in wonder at the sight, and be glad at heart.
75ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.There the guide, the slayer of Argus, stood and marveled.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,But when he had wondered in his heart at everything,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλυθεν. οὐδέ μιν ἄντηνstraightway he went into the wide cave. Nor did she,
ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·Calypso, the shining goddess, fail to know him when she saw him;
οὐ γάρ τʼ ἀγνῶτες θεοὶ ἀλλήλοισι πέλονταιfor the gods are never strangers to one another,
80ἀθάνατοι, οὐδʼ εἴ τις ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίει.the immortals, not even if one dwells in a home far off.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ἔνδον ἔτετμεν,But great-hearted Odysseus he did not find within,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς κλαῖε καθήμενος, ἔνθα πάρος περ,for he sat weeping on the shore, as before,
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων.breaking his heart with tears and groans and sorrows.
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.He gazed upon the barren sea, shedding tears.
85Ἑρμείαν δʼ ἐρέεινε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,And Calypso, shining goddess, questioned Hermes,
ἐν θρόνῳ ἱδρύσασα φαεινῷ σιγαλόεντι·when she had seated him on a bright and glittering chair:
τίπτε μοι, Ἑρμεία χρυσόρραπι, εἰλήλουθαςWhy have you come to me, Hermes of the golden wand,
αἰδοῖός τε φίλος τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.honored and dear? Before this you did not come often.
αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,Speak what you have in mind; my heart bids me fulfill it,
90εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.if I am able to fulfill it, and if it is a thing that can be done.
ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.But come further in, that I may set beside you guest-gifts.
ὥς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ παρέθηκε τράπεζανSo speaking, the goddess set out a table
ἀμβροσίης πλήσασα, κέρασσε δὲ νέκταρ ἐρυθρόν.filled with ambrosia, and mixed the red nectar.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.Then he drank and ate, the guide, the slayer of Argus.
95αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,But when he had dined and satisfied his heart with food,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·then indeed he answered her and spoke these words:
εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ἐλθόντα θεὰ θεόν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοιYou ask me, goddess to god, why I have come; and I
νημερτέως τὸν μῦθον ἐνισπήσω· κέλεαι γάρ.will tell the tale unerringly, since you command it.
Ζεὺς ἐμέ γʼ ἠνώγει δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·Zeus ordered me to come here, though I was unwilling;
100τίς δʼ ἂν ἑκὼν τοσσόνδε διαδράμοι ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρwho of his own will would run across so vast a stretch
ἄσπετον; οὐδέ τις ἄγχι βροτῶν πόλις, οἵ τε θεοῖσινof salt water? No city of mortals is near, who to the gods
ἱερά τε ῥέζουσι καὶ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας.offer sacrifices and choice hecatombs.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιοBut there is no way for another god to slip past
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι.or make void the purpose of Zeus who holds the aegis.
105φησί τοι ἄνδρα παρεῖναι ὀιζυρώτατον ἄλλων,He says a man is here with you, most wretched of all
τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οἳ ἄστυ πέρι Πριάμοιο μάχοντοthe men who fought around Priam's city
εἰνάετες, δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν πέρσαντες ἔβησανnine years, and in the tenth they sacked the town and went
οἴκαδʼ· ἀτὰρ ἐν νόστῳ Ἀθηναίην ἀλίτοντο,homeward; yet on their return they sinned against Athena,
ἥ σφιν ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ κύματα μακρά.who roused against them an evil wind and long waves.
110ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,There all the rest of his good companions perished,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.but him the wind and wave brought and drove here.
τὸν νῦν σʼ ἠνώγειν ἀποπεμπέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·This man Zeus now bids you send away with all speed;
οὐ γάρ οἱ τῇδʼ αἶσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ὀλέσθαι,for it is not his lot to perish here, far from his own,
ἀλλʼ ἔτι οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαιbut it is still his fate to see his dear ones and to reach
115οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.his high-roofed house and his own native land.
ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,So he spoke, and Calypso, shining goddess, shuddered,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and speaking, she spoke winged words to him:
σχέτλιοί ἐστε, θεοί, ζηλήμονες ἔξοχον ἄλλων,You are cruel, you gods, and jealous beyond all others,
οἵ τε θεαῖς ἀγάασθε παρʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐνάζεσθαιyou who begrudge that goddesses lie openly with men,
120ἀμφαδίην, ἤν τίς τε φίλον ποιήσετʼ ἀκοίτην.if any makes a mortal her beloved bedfellow.
ὣς μὲν ὅτʼ Ὠρίωνʼ ἕλετο ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,So when rosy-fingered Dawn chose Orion for herself,
τόφρα οἱ ἠγάασθε θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,you gods who live at ease were jealous of her,
ἧος ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ χρυσόθρονος Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴuntil in Ortygia chaste Artemis of the golden throne
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν.came upon him with her gentle shafts and killed him.
125ὣς δʼ ὁπότʼ Ἰασίωνι ἐυπλόκαμος Δημήτηρ,So when lovely-haired Demeter, yielding to her heart,
ᾧ θυμῷ εἴξασα, μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇlay in love and in the bed with Iasion
νειῷ ἔνι τριπόλῳ· οὐδὲ δὴν ἦεν ἄπυστοςin the thrice-ploughed fallow field; nor was Zeus long
Ζεύς, ὅς μιν κατέπεφνε βαλὼν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ.unaware of it, who struck him dead with the bright thunderbolt.
ὥς δʼ αὖ νῦν μοι ἄγασθε, θεοί, βροτὸν ἄνδρα παρεῖναι.So now again you are jealous of me, gods, that a mortal man is with me.
130τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐσάωσα περὶ τρόπιος βεβαῶταHim I saved as he bestrode the keel
οἶον, ἐπεί οἱ νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷalone, when Zeus with the bright thunderbolt
Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.had struck and shattered his swift ship in the middle of the wine-dark sea.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,There all the rest of his good companions perished,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.but him the wind and wave brought and drove here.
135τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ φίλεόν τε καὶ ἔτρεφον, ἠδὲ ἔφασκονAnd I loved him and cared for him, and I kept saying
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα.I would make him immortal and ageless all his days.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιοBut since it is in no way possible for another god
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι,to evade or make void the purpose of aegis-bearing Zeus,
ἐρρέτω, εἴ μιν κεῖνος ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,let him go, if that one urges and commands it,
140πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· πέμψω δέ μιν οὔ πῃ ἐγώ γε·over the barren sea; but I will not send him off at all,
οὐ γάρ μοι πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,for I have no ships fitted with oars and no companions
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.to convey him over the broad back of the sea.
αὐτάρ οἱ πρόφρων ὑποθήσομαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω,Yet I will readily give him counsel, nor will I hide it,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται.so that all unharmed he may reach his native land.
145τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·Then the guide, slayer of Argus, answered her:
οὕτω νῦν ἀπόπεμπε, Διὸς δʼ ἐποπίζεο μῆνιν,So send him off now, and beware the wrath of Zeus,
μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.lest he grow angry and be harsh with you hereafter.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης·So having spoken the strong slayer of Argus departed,
ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα πότνια νύμφηand the lady nymph went to great-hearted Odysseus,
150ἤιʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ Ζηνὸς ἐπέκλυεν ἀγγελιάων.since she had heeded the messages of Zeus.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς εὗρε καθήμενον· οὐδέ ποτʼ ὄσσεShe found him sitting on the shore; and his eyes were never
δακρυόφιν τέρσοντο, κατείβετο δὲ γλυκὺς αἰὼνdry of tears, and his sweet life was draining away
νόστον ὀδυρομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἥνδανε νύμφη.as he mourned for his homecoming, since the nymph no longer pleased him.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νύκτας μὲν ἰαύεσκεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃYet by night he would sleep, under constraint,
155ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ·in the hollow caves beside her, unwilling beside the willing;
ἤματα δʼ ἂμ πέτρῃσι καὶ ἠιόνεσσι καθίζωνbut by day, sitting on the rocks and the sands,
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθωνracking his heart with tears and groans and sorrows,
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.he would gaze over the barren sea, shedding tears.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσεφώνεε δῖα θεάων·And standing near, the shining goddess spoke to him:
160κάμμορε, μή μοι ἔτʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὀδύρεο, μηδέ τοι
αἰὼνIll-fated man, mourn no longer here for me, nor let your life
φθινέτω· ἤδη γάρ σε μάλα πρόφρασσʼ ἀποπέμψω.drain away; for I will send you off now with all my heart.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δούρατα μακρὰ ταμὼν ἁρμόζεο χαλκῷCome, cut long timbers, and fashion with the bronze
εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην· ἀτὰρ ἴκρια πῆξαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆςa broad raft; and fix decking upon it,
ὑψοῦ, ὥς σε φέρῃσιν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον.high up, so it may carry you over the misty sea.
165αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῖτον καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρὸνAnd I will store aboard it food and water and red wine,
ἐνθήσω μενοεικέʼ, ἅ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι,abundant, to keep hunger away from you,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσω· πέμψω δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν,and clothe you in garments; and I will send a fair wind behind you,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι,so that all unharmed you may reach your native land,
αἴ κε θεοί γʼ ἐθέλωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,if the gods so will, who hold the wide heaven,
170οἵ μευ φέρτεροί εἰσι νοῆσαί τε κρῆναί τε.who are stronger than I both to plan and to accomplish.
ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,So she spoke, and much-enduring godlike Odysseus shuddered,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and he spoke winged words and addressed her:
ἄλλο τι δὴ σύ, θεά, τόδε μήδεαι, οὐδέ τι πομπήν,Some other thing, goddess, you are plotting in this, and not my passage,
ἥ με κέλεαι σχεδίῃ περάαν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,you who bid me cross the great gulf of the sea on a raft,
175δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε· τὸ δʼ οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νῆες ἐῖσαιthat dread and grievous water, which not even balanced ships,
ὠκύποροι περόωσιν, ἀγαλλόμεναι Διὸς οὔρῳ.swift-faring, cross over, rejoicing in the wind of Zeus.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀέκητι σέθεν σχεδίης ἐπιβαίην,Nor would I board a raft against your will,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαιunless you would consent, goddess, to swear a great oath
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.that you plot no other evil harm against me.
180ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων,So he spoke, and Calypso, shining among goddesses, smiled,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·and stroked him with her hand, and spoke and named him:
ἦ δὴ ἀλιτρός γʼ ἐσσὶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλια εἰδώς,You are a rogue indeed, and no fool in your knowing,
οἷον δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἐπεφράσθης ἀγορεῦσαι.the kind of speech you have thought to utter here.
ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεLet earth now be my witness, and the wide heaven above,
185καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστοςand the down-flowing water of the Styx, which is the greatest
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,and most dread oath there is for the blessed gods,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.that I plot no other evil harm against you.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν νοέω καὶ φράσσομαι, ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περNo, I have in mind and will devise for you such things
αὐτῇ μηδοίμην, ὅτε με χρειὼ τόσον ἵκοι·as I would plan for my own self, should such need come upon me;
190καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ νόος ἐστὶν ἐναίσιμος, οὐδέ μοι αὐτῇfor my mind too is set on what is right, and the heart
θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι σιδήρεος, ἀλλʼ ἐλεήμων.within my breast is not of iron, but full of pity.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο δῖα θεάωνSo having spoken, she led the way, the shining goddess,
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.swiftly; and he then walked behind in the god's footsteps.
ἷξον δὲ σπεῖος γλαφυρὸν θεὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνήρ,And they came to the hollow cave, the goddess and the man,
195καί ῥʼ ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστηand he sat down there upon the chair from which Hermes
Ἑρμείας, νύμφη δʼ ἐτίθει πάρα πᾶσαν ἐδωδήν,had risen, and the nymph set beside him all manner of food,
ἔσθειν καὶ πίνειν, οἷα βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ἔδουσιν·to eat and drink, such things as mortal men consume;
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,and she herself sat facing godlike Odysseus,
τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἀμβροσίην δμῳαὶ καὶ νέκταρ ἔθηκαν.and beside her the handmaids set ambrosia and nectar.
200οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.And they put forth their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,But when they had taken their delight of food and drink,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·Calypso, shining among goddesses, began to speak to them:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
οὕτω δὴ οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανso you truly wish to go now, at once, homeward
205αὐτίκα νῦν ἐθέλεις ἰέναι; σὺ δὲ χαῖρε καὶ ἔμπης.to your dear native land? Well then, farewell, even so.
εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης σῇσι φρεσὶν ὅσσα τοι αἶσαYet if in your mind you knew how many griefs
κήδεʼ ἀναπλῆσαι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,it is your fate to fill up before you reach your native land,
ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοιςhere, remaining with me, you would keep this house
ἀθάνατός τʼ εἴης, ἱμειρόμενός περ ἰδέσθαιand be immortal, however much you long to see
210σὴν ἄλοχον, τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐέλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.your wife, for whom you yearn always, all your days.
οὐ μέν θην κείνης γε χερείων εὔχομαι εἶναι,And yet I claim to be no worse than she is,
οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως οὐδὲ ἔοικενnot in body nor in stature, since it is not seemly
θνητὰς ἀθανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν.that mortal women should rival immortals in body and looks."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
215πότνα θεά, μή μοι τόδε χώεο· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς"Lady goddess, do not be angry with me for this. I too know it
πάντα μάλʼ, οὕνεκα σεῖο περίφρων Πηνελόπειαfull well, that beside you prudent Penelope
εἶδος ἀκιδνοτέρη μέγεθός τʼ εἰσάντα ἰδέσθαι·is meaner to look upon in form and stature;
ἡ μὲν γὰρ βροτός ἐστι, σὺ δʼ ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως.for she is mortal, while you are immortal and unaging.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐθέλω καὶ ἐέλδομαι ἤματα πάνταBut even so I wish and long, all my days,
220οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι.to reach my home and see the day of my return.
εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,And if some god should wreck me on the wine-dark sea,
τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν·I will endure it, with a heart in my breast that bears grief;
ἤδη γὰρ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησαfor already I have suffered much and toiled much
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω.amid the waves and in war; let this be added to those."
225ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἠέλιος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας
ἦλθεν·So he spoke, and the sun went down and the darkness came on;
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἄρα τώ γε μυχῷ σπείους γλαφυροῖοand the two of them, going within the hollow cave's recess,
τερπέσθην φιλότητι, παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.took their delight in love, remaining beside each other.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
αὐτίχʼ ὁ μὲν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε ἕννυτʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,at once Odysseus clothed himself in cloak and tunic,
230αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,and the nymph put on a great silvery robe,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖfine-spun and lovely, and about her waist she cast a girdle,
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐφύπερθε καλύπτρην.beautiful, of gold, and set a veil upon her head above.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μήδετο πομπήν·And then she planned the sending forth of great-hearted Odysseus:
δῶκέν οἱ πέλεκυν μέγαν, ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσι,she gave him a great axe, well-fitted to his palms,
235χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷof bronze, sharpened on both edges, and within it
στειλειὸν περικαλλὲς ἐλάινον, εὖ ἐναρηρός·a handle exceedingly fair, of olive wood, well-fastened;
δῶκε δʼ ἔπειτα σκέπαρνον ἐύξοον· ἦρχε δʼ ὁδοῖοand then she gave him a well-polished adze; and she led the way
νήσου ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,to the island's far edge, where tall trees had grown,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τʼ, ἐλάτη τʼ ἦν οὐρανομήκης,alder and poplar, and fir that reached to the sky,
240αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, τά οἱ πλώοιεν ἐλαφρῶς.long seasoned, thoroughly dry, that they might float lightly for him.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δεῖξʼ, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,But when she had shown him where the tall trees had grown,
ἡ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,Calypso, shining among goddesses, went back toward her home,
αὐτὰρ ὁ τάμνετο δοῦρα· θοῶς δέ οἱ ἤνυτο ἔργον.while he cut timber; and quickly the work was done.
εἴκοσι δʼ ἔκβαλε πάντα, πελέκκησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ,Twenty in all he felled, and trimmed them with the bronze,
245ξέσσε δʼ ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.and planed them skillfully, and made them straight to the line.
τόφρα δʼ ἔνεικε τέρετρα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·Meanwhile Calypso, shining among goddesses, brought augers,
τέτρηνεν δʼ ἄρα πάντα καὶ ἥρμοσεν ἀλλήλοισιν,and he bored all the pieces and fitted them to each other,
γόμφοισιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε καὶ ἁρμονίῃσιν ἄρασσεν.and hammered the raft together with pegs and joints.
ὅσσον τίς τʼ ἔδαφος νηὸς τορνώσεται ἀνὴρAs wide as a man well skilled in carpentry
250φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἐὺ εἰδὼς τεκτοσυνάων,marks out the curving floor of a broad merchant ship,
τόσσον ἔπʼ εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην ποιήσατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.so broad did Odysseus make the raft for himself.
ἴκρια δὲ στήσας, ἀραρὼν θαμέσι σταμίνεσσι,And setting up the deck-planks, fitting them to close-set ribs,
ποίει· ἀτὰρ μακρῇσιν ἐπηγκενίδεσσι τελεύτα.he worked on; and with long gunwale-boards he finished it.
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν ποίει καὶ ἐπίκριον ἄρμενον αὐτῷ·In it he made a mast, and a yardarm fitted to it,
255πρὸς δʼ ἄρα πηδάλιον ποιήσατο, ὄφρʼ ἰθύνοι.and further he made a steering oar, that he might guide her.
φράξε δέ μιν ῥίπεσσι διαμπερὲς οἰσυΐνῃσιAnd he fenced her from end to end with willow wickerwork
κύματος εἶλαρ ἔμεν· πολλὴν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο ὕλην.to be a bulwark against the wave, and heaped up much brush.
τόφρα δὲ φάρεʼ ἔνεικε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,Meanwhile Calypso, shining among goddesses, brought cloth
ἱστία ποιήσασθαι· ὁ δʼ εὖ τεχνήσατο καὶ τά.to make the sails; and these too he fashioned well.
260ἐν δʼ ὑπέρας τε κάλους τε πόδας τʼ ἐνέδησεν ἐν αὐτῇ,And he bound in her the braces and the halyards and the sheets,
μοχλοῖσιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε κατείρυσεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.and then with levers he hauled her down to the shining sea.
τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, καὶ τῷ τετέλεστο ἅπαντα·It was the fourth day, and all his work was finished;
τῷ δʼ ἄρα πέμπτῳ πέμπʼ ἀπὸ νήσου δῖα Καλυψώ,and on the fifth shining Calypso sent him from the island,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσασα θυώδεα καὶ λούσασα.after she had bathed him and clothed him in fragrant garments.
265ἐν δέ οἱ ἀσκὸν ἔθηκε θεὰ μέλανος οἴνοιοAnd the goddess put on board a skin of dark wine,
τὸν ἕτερον, ἕτερον δʼ ὕδατος μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖαthe one, and another, a great one, of water, and provisions too
κωρύκῳ· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄψα τίθει μενοεικέα πολλά·in a leather sack; and in it she set many delicacies to his liking;
οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.and she sent forth a fair wind, gentle and warm.
γηθόσυνος δʼ οὔρῳ πέτασʼ ἱστία δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.Rejoicing in the wind, godlike Odysseus spread his sails.
270αὐτὰρ ὁ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντωςAnd he sat and guided her skillfully with the steering oar,
ἥμενος, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτενnor did sleep fall upon his eyelids
Πληιάδας τʼ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτηνas he watched the Pleiades and Bootes setting late
Ἄρκτον θʼ, ἣν καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,and the Bear, which men also call by the name of the Wagon,
ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,which turns about in its place and keeps watch on Orion,
275οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο·and alone has no share in the baths of Ocean;
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,for Calypso, shining among goddesses, had bidden him
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.to sail the sea keeping her upon his left hand.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέεν ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,Seventeen days he sailed, making his way over the sea,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόενταand on the eighteenth appeared the shadowy mountains
280γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τʼ ἄγχιστον πέλεν αὐτῷ·of the land of the Phaeacians, where it lay nearest to him;
εἴσατο δʼ ὡς ὅτε ῥινὸν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.and it showed like a shield laid on the misty sea.
τὸν δʼ ἐξ Αἰθιόπων ἀνιὼν κρείων ἐνοσίχθωνBut the lord who shakes the earth, returning from the Ethiopians,
τηλόθεν ἐκ Σολύμων ὀρέων ἴδεν· εἴσατο γάρ οἱsaw him far off from the Solymian mountains; for he appeared to him
πόντον ἐπιπλώων. ὁ δʼ ἐχώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,as he sailed the sea. And his heart grew angrier still,
285κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·and shaking his head he spoke to his own spirit:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ μετεβούλευσαν θεοὶ ἄλλως"Well now, surely the gods have changed their counsel otherwise
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι ἐμεῖο μετʼ Αἰθιόπεσσιν ἐόντος,about Odysseus, while I was among the Ethiopians,
καὶ δὴ Φαιήκων γαίης σχεδόν, ἔνθα οἱ αἶσαand now he is near the land of the Phaeacians, where it is his fate
ἐκφυγέειν μέγα πεῖραρ ὀιζύος, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.to escape the great bond of the misery that has come upon him.
290ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν μίν φημι ἅδην ἐλάαν κακότητος.But even yet I think I can drive him full of trouble."
ὣς εἰπὼν σύναγεν νεφέλας, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντονSo speaking, he gathered the clouds and stirred up the sea,
χερσὶ τρίαιναν ἑλών· πάσας δʼ ὀρόθυνεν ἀέλλαςgripping his trident in his hands; he roused all the storms
παντοίων ἀνέμων, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεof winds of every kind, and covered over with clouds
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.the land alike and the sea; and night rushed down from heaven.
295σὺν δʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τʼ ἔπεσον Ζέφυρός τε δυσαὴςTogether the East Wind and the South Wind fell, and the ill-blowing West,
καὶ Βορέης αἰθρηγενέτης, μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδων.and the North Wind born of the bright sky, rolling a great wave.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,And then were Odysseus' knees and heart loosened,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·and troubled he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλός, τί νύ μοι μήκιστα γένηται;"Ah, wretch that I am, what will become of me at the last?
300δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεὰ νημερτέα εἶπεν,I fear that the goddess spoke all these things truly,
ἥ μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν πόντῳ, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,who said that on the sea, before I reached my native land,
ἄλγεʼ ἀναπλήσειν· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.I would fill up my measure of sorrows; and now all this is coming to pass.
οἵοισιν νεφέεσσι περιστέφει οὐρανὸν εὐρὺνWith what clouds Zeus crowns the wide heaven around,
Ζεύς, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον, ἐπισπέρχουσι δʼ ἄελλαιand has stirred up the sea, and the storms press on
305παντοίων ἀνέμων. νῦν μοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.of winds of every kind! Now is my sheer destruction certain.
τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ καὶ τετράκις, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντοThree times blessed the Danaans, and four times, who then perished
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ χάριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι φέροντες.in wide Troy, bringing a favor to the sons of Atreus.
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖνWould that I too had died and met my fate
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦραon that day when the greatest number of Trojans hurled their bronze-tipped spears
310Τρῶες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλεΐωνι θανόντι.at me, over the dead son of Peleus.
τῷ κʼ ἔλαχον κτερέων, καί μευ κλέος ἦγον Ἀχαιοί·Then I would have had my funeral rites, and the Achaeans would have spread my fame;
νῦν δέ λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.but now it is my lot to be caught by a wretched death."
ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντʼ ἔλασεν μέγα κῦμα κατʼ ἄκρηςAs he said this a great wave drove down on him from above,
δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον, περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.rushing terribly, and it whirled his raft about.
315τῆλε δʼ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε, πηδάλιον δὲFar from the raft he himself fell, and the steering oar
ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε· μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξενhe let go from his hands; and the mast was broken in the middle
δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,by a terrible squall of mingling winds that came upon it,
τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.and far off the sail and the yardarm fell into the sea.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδʼ ἐδυνάσθηAnd it held him under the water a long time, and he could not
320αἶψα μάλʼ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·come up quickly under the rush of the great wave;
εἵματα γάρ ῥʼ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.for the clothes weighed him down that noble Calypso had given.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥʼ ἀνέδυ, στόματος δʼ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμηνAt last he came up, and spat the bitter brine
πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.out of his mouth, which streamed in torrents from his head.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,But even so he did not forget his raft, worn down as he was,
325ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετʼ αὐτῆς,but lunged after it through the waves and laid hold of it,
ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.and sat down in the middle, shunning the end that was death.
τὴν δʼ ἐφόρει μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.A great wave carried it down the current this way and that.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης φορέῃσιν ἀκάνθαςAs when in autumn the North Wind carries the thistles
ἂμ πεδίον, πυκιναὶ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,across the plain, and they cling in dense clumps to each other,
330ὣς τὴν ἂμ πέλαγος ἄνεμοι φέρον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα·so the winds bore the raft across the sea this way and that:
ἄλλοτε μέν τε Νότος Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι,now the South Wind would fling it to the North Wind to be carried,
ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτʼ Εὖρος Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν.and now again the East Wind yielded it to the West to chase.
τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,But the daughter of Cadmus saw him, Ino of the lovely ankles,
Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,Leucothea, who once was a mortal with human speech,
335νῦν δʼ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.but now in the depths of the sea has won honor among the gods.
ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,She took pity on Odysseus, wandering and stricken with pains,
αἰθυίῃ δʼ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,and rose from the deep like a gull on the wing,
ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·and sat on the well-bound raft, and spoke this word:
κάμμορε, τίπτε τοι ὧδε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων"Poor man, why has Poseidon the earth-shaker
340ὠδύσατʼ ἐκπάγλως, ὅτι τοι κακὰ πολλὰ φυτεύει;conceived such monstrous rage against you, sowing you these many evils?
οὐ μὲν δή σε καταφθίσει μάλα περ μενεαίνων.Yet he shall not destroy you, for all his fury.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξαι, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·But do just as I say—you seem to me no fool:
εἵματα ταῦτʼ ἀποδὺς σχεδίην ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαιstrip off these clothes, and let the winds carry the raft
κάλλιπʼ, ἀτὰρ χείρεσσι νέων ἐπιμαίεο νόστουaway, and swim with your hands, and strive to reach
345γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι μοῖρʼ ἐστὶν ἀλύξαι.the land of the Phaeacians, where it is your fate to escape.
τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαιHere, stretch this veil beneath your breast—
ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.it is immortal; have no fear of suffering or of perishing.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν χείρεσσιν ἐφάψεαι ἠπείροιο,But when you have laid hold of the mainland with your hands,
ἂψ ἀπολυσάμενος βαλέειν εἰς οἴνοπα πόντονuntie it and cast it back into the wine-dark sea,
350πολλὸν ἀπʼ ἠπείρου, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι.far from the shore, and turn yourself away."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κρήδεμνον ἔδωκεν,So the goddess spoke, and gave him the veil,
αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνονταand she herself plunged back into the surging sea
αἰθυίῃ ἐικυῖα· μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν.like a gull; and the dark wave covered her over.
αὐτὰρ ὁ μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,But he pondered, much-enduring godlike Odysseus,
355ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·and troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, μή τίς μοι ὑφαίνῃσιν δόλον αὖτε"Ah, no—let none of the immortals be weaving me
ἀθανάτων, ὅ τέ με σχεδίης ἀποβῆναι ἀνώγει.a snare again, who bid me leave my raft.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πω πείσομʼ, ἐπεὶ ἑκὰς ὀφθαλμοῖσινBut I will not yet obey, for far off with my eyes
γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἰδόμην, ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι.I saw the land where she said my refuge lay.
360ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξω, δοκέει δέ μοι εἶναι ἄριστον·But I will do this, and it seems to me the best:
ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν δούρατʼ ἐν ἁρμονίῃσιν ἀρήρῃ,So long as the timbers hold fast in their joinings,
τόφρʼ αὐτοῦ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἄλγεα πάσχων·so long will I stay here and endure my sufferings;
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δή μοι σχεδίην διὰ κῦμα τινάξῃ,but once the wave has shaken my raft to pieces,
νήξομʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι πάρα προνοῆσαι ἄμεινον.I will swim, since there is nothing better to plan for."
365ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,While he pondered these things in his mind and heart,
ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ μέγα κῦμα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,Poseidon the earth-shaker raised a great wave against him,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, κατηρεφές, ἤλασε δʼ αὐτόν.dreadful and grievous, arching over, and drove it down on him.
ὡς δʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς ἠΐων θημῶνα τινάξῃAs a strong wind tosses a heap of dry chaff
καρφαλέων· τὰ μὲν ἄρ τε διεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ·and scatters it this way and that,
370ὣς τῆς δούρατα μακρὰ διεσκέδασʼ. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςso it scattered the long timbers. But Odysseus
ἀμφʼ ἑνὶ δούρατι βαῖνε, κέληθʼ ὡς ἵππον ἐλαύνων,climbed astride one beam, riding it like a horse,
εἵματα δʼ ἐξαπέδυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.and stripped off the clothes that godlike Calypso had given him,
αὐτίκα δὲ κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τάνυσσεν,and at once he stretched the veil beneath his breast,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρηνὴς ἁλὶ κάππεσε, χεῖρε πετάσσας,and threw himself headlong into the sea, spreading his arms,
375νηχέμεναι μεμαώς. ἴδε δὲ κρείων ἐνοσίχθων,eager to swim. And the lord earth-shaker saw him,
κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·and shaking his head he spoke to his own spirit:
οὕτω νῦν κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν ἀλόω κατὰ πόντον,"So now, having suffered many evils, wander over the sea,
εἰς ὅ κεν ἀνθρώποισι διοτρεφέεσσι μιγήῃς.until you mingle with men nurtured by Zeus.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς σε ἔολπα ὀνόσσεσθαι κακότητος.Yet even so I do not think you will make light of your misery."
380ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,So he spoke, and lashed his fair-maned horses,
ἵκετο δʼ εἰς Αἰγάς, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔασιν.and came to Aegae, where his famous halls stand.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν.But Athena, daughter of Zeus, devised other things.
ἦ τοι τῶν ἄλλων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κελεύθους,She bound fast the paths of all the other winds,
παύσασθαι δʼ ἐκέλευσε καὶ εὐνηθῆναι ἅπαντας·and bade them all cease and lie down to rest;
385ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ κραιπνὸν Βορέην, πρὸ δὲ κύματʼ ἔαξεν,but she roused the swift North Wind, and broke the waves before him,
ἧος ὃ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μιγείηso that Zeus-born Odysseus might mingle
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.with the oar-loving Phaeacians, escaping death and the fates.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα κύματι πηγῷThere for two nights and two days on the swollen wave
πλάζετο, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη προτιόσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.he was carried, and often his heart foresaw destruction.
390ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,But when the fair-haired Dawn brought the third day to fulfillment,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνηthen at last the wind ceased and a calm
ἔπλετο νηνεμίη· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σχεδὸν εἴσιδε γαῖανcame, windless; and he caught sight of land close by,
ὀξὺ μάλα προϊδών, μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ἀρθείς.seeing it sharply ahead, lifted up by a great wave.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος βίοτος παίδεσσι φανήῃAs when a father's life shows welcome to his children,
395πατρός, ὃς ἐν νούσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων,a father who lies in sickness suffering strong pains,
δηρὸν τηκόμενος, στυγερὸς δέ οἱ ἔχραε δαίμων,long wasting away, and a hateful god assails him,
ἀσπάσιον δʼ ἄρα τόν γε θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν,but then, to their joy, the gods free him from his misery,
ὣς Ὀδυσεῖ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο γαῖα καὶ ὕλη,so welcome to Odysseus seemed the land and the woods,
νῆχε δʼ ἐπειγόμενος ποσὶν ἠπείρου ἐπιβῆναι.and he swam, straining to set his feet on dry land.
400ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,But when he was as far off as a man's shout carries,
καὶ δὴ δοῦπον ἄκουσε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσι θαλάσσης·and now he heard the boom of sea against the reefs;
ῥόχθει γὰρ μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ξερὸν ἠπείροιοfor the great wave was thundering onto the dry mainland,
δεινὸν ἐρευγόμενον, εἴλυτο δὲ πάνθʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνῃ·belching terribly, and everything was wrapped in the sea's spray;
οὐ γὰρ ἔσαν λιμένες νηῶν ὄχοι, οὐδʼ ἐπιωγαί.for there were no harbors to hold ships, no roadsteads,
405ἀλλʼ ἀκταὶ προβλῆτες ἔσαν σπιλάδες τε πάγοι τε·but jutting headlands, and reefs, and crags.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,And then Odysseus' knees and dear heart gave way,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·and troubled he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:
ὤ μοι, ἐπεὶ δὴ γαῖαν ἀελπέα δῶκεν ἰδέσθαι"Ah me, now that Zeus has granted me to see land
Ζεύς, καὶ δὴ τόδε λαῖτμα διατμήξας ἐπέρησα,beyond hope, and I have cut my way across this gulf,
410ἔκβασις οὔ πῃ φαίνεθʼ ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θύραζε·nowhere does a way out of the grey sea appear.
ἔκτοσθεν μὲν γὰρ πάγοι ὀξέες, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμαFor outside are sharp crags, and around them the wave
βέβρυχεν ῥόθιον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη,roars surging, and the rock runs up sheer,
ἀγχιβαθὴς δὲ θάλασσα, καὶ οὔ πως ἔστι πόδεσσιand the sea is deep near shore, and there is no way for my feet
στήμεναι ἀμφοτέροισι καὶ ἐκφυγέειν κακότητα·to stand on both and escape from ruin;
415μή πώς μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βάλῃ λίθακι ποτὶ πέτρῃI fear that as I climb out a great wave may seize me
κῦμα μέγʼ ἁρπάξαν· μελέη δέ μοι ἔσσεται ὁρμή.and dash me on the jagged rock, and my effort will be in vain.
εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω παρανήξομαι, ἤν που ἐφεύρωBut if I swim still farther along, in hope of finding
ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης,beaches struck aslant by the surf and harbors of the sea,
δείδω μή μʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλαI fear that a storm-blast may snatch me up again
420πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρῃ βαρέα στενάχοντα,and bear me over the fish-filled deep, groaning heavily,
ἠέ τί μοι καὶ κῆτος ἐπισσεύῃ μέγα δαίμωνor some god may drive a great sea-beast against me
ἐξ ἁλός, οἷά τε πολλὰ τρέφει κλυτὸς Ἀμφιτρίτη·from the brine, such as glorious Amphitrite breeds in numbers;
οἶδα γάρ, ὥς μοι ὀδώδυσται κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.for I know how the glorious Earth-shaker rages at me."
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,While he pondered these things in his mind and heart,
425τόφρα δέ μιν μέγα κῦμα φέρε τρηχεῖαν ἐπʼ ἀκτήν.meanwhile a great wave bore him toward the rugged shore.
ἔνθα κʼ ἀπὸ ῥινοὺς δρύφθη, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράχθη,There his skin would have been stripped away, his bones crushed together,
εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·had not the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it in his mind:
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε πέτρης,rushing on he seized the rock with both his hands
τῆς ἔχετο στενάχων, ἧος μέγα κῦμα παρῆλθε.and clung to it groaning, until the great wave passed by.
430καὶ τὸ μὲν ὣς ὑπάλυξε, παλιρρόθιον δέ μιν αὖτιςSo he escaped that one, but the backwash struck him
πλῆξεν ἐπεσσύμενον, τηλοῦ δέ μιν ἔμβαλε πόντῳ.again as it rushed on, and flung him far out to sea.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε πουλύποδος θαλάμης ἐξελκομένοιοAs when an octopus is dragged out from its hole
πρὸς κοτυληδονόφιν πυκιναὶ λάιγγες ἔχονται,and thick pebbles cling to its suckers,
ὣς τοῦ πρὸς πέτρῃσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶνso from his bold hands against the rocks
435ῥινοὶ ἀπέδρυφθεν· τὸν δὲ μέγα κῦμα κάλυψεν.the skin was stripped away; and the great wave covered him.
ἔνθα κε δὴ δύστηνος ὑπὲρ μόρον ὤλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,There now wretched Odysseus would have died beyond his fate,
εἰ μὴ ἐπιφροσύνην δῶκε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.had not grey-eyed Athena given him presence of mind.
κύματος ἐξαναδύς, τά τʼ ἐρεύγεται ἤπειρόνδε,Emerging from the wave that belched toward the mainland,
νῆχε παρέξ, ἐς γαῖαν ὁρώμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροιhe swam along outside it, looking to the land, in hope of finding
440ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης.beaches struck aslant by the surf and harbors of the sea.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο κατὰ στόμα καλλιρόοιοBut when at last he came, swimming, to the mouth of a fair-flowing river,
ἷξε νέων, τῇ δή οἱ ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,the place there seemed to him the best of all,
λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,smooth of rocks, and it gave shelter from the wind,
ἔγνω δὲ προρέοντα καὶ εὔξατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·and he knew the river flowing out, and prayed within his heart:
445κλῦθι, ἄναξ, ὅτις ἐσσί· πολύλλιστον δέ σʼ
ἱκάνω,"Hear me, lord, whoever you are; much-entreated I come to you,
φεύγων ἐκ πόντοιο Ποσειδάωνος ἐνιπάς.fleeing from the sea and the threats of Poseidon.
αἰδοῖος μέν τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσινReverend even to the immortal gods
ἀνδρῶν ὅς τις ἵκηται ἀλώμενος, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ νῦνis that man who comes as a wanderer, as I now
σόν τε ῥόον σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας.come to your stream and your knees, after many hardships.
450ἀλλʼ ἐλέαιρε, ἄναξ· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.But pity me, lord; I claim to be your suppliant."
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὐτίκα παῦσεν ἑὸν ῥόον, ἔσχε δὲ
κῦμα,So he spoke, and the river at once stopped its stream and held the wave,
πρόσθε δέ οἱ ποίησε γαλήνην, τὸν δʼ ἐσάωσενand made a calm before him, and brought him safe
ἐς ποταμοῦ προχοάς. ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄμφω γούνατʼ ἔκαμψεto the river's mouth. And he bent both his knees
χεῖράς τε στιβαράς. ἁλὶ γὰρ δέδμητο φίλον κῆρ.and his mighty hands, for his own heart was broken by the sea.
455ᾤδεε δὲ χρόα πάντα, θάλασσα δὲ κήκιε πολλὴAll his flesh was swollen, and much brine gushed up
ἂν στόμα τε ῥῖνάς θʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄπνευστος καὶ ἄναυδοςthrough his mouth and nostrils; breathless and speechless
κεῖτʼ ὀλιγηπελέων, κάματος δέ μιν αἰνὸς ἵκανεν.he lay, barely alive, and terrible weariness came over him.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,But when he caught his breath again and his spirit gathered in his breast,
καὶ τότε δὴ κρήδεμνον ἀπὸ ἕο λῦσε θεοῖο.then he loosed from himself the veil of the goddess.
460καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐς ποταμὸν ἁλιμυρήεντα μεθῆκεν,And this he let go into the sea-flowing river,
ἂψ δʼ ἔφερεν μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον, αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἰνὼand the great wave carried it back down the stream, and swiftly Ino
δέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν· ὁ δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῖο λιασθεὶςreceived it in her own hands; and he, drawing back from the river,
σχοίνῳ ὑπεκλίνθη, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.sank down among the rushes, and kissed the grain-giving earth.
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·And troubled he spoke then to his own great-hearted spirit:
465ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω; τί νύ μοι μήκιστα
γένηται;"Ah me, what will become of me? What at last is to happen?
εἰ μέν κʼ ἐν ποταμῷ δυσκηδέα νύκτα φυλάσσω,If I keep watch through the wretched night by the river,
μή μʼ ἄμυδις στίβη τε κακὴ καὶ θῆλυς ἐέρσηthe cruel frost together and the fresh dew
ἐξ ὀλιγηπελίης δαμάσῃ κεκαφηότα θυμόν·may overcome me, faint as I am, and gasping out my life;
αὔρη δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ ψυχρὴ πνέει ἠῶθι πρό.and the breeze off the river blows cold before the dawn.
470εἰ δέ κεν ἐς κλιτὺν ἀναβὰς καὶ δάσκιον ὕληνBut if I climb the slope and go into the shadowy wood
θάμνοις ἐν πυκινοῖσι καταδράθω, εἴ με μεθείηand lie down to sleep in the thick brush, in hope the chill
ῥῖγος καὶ κάματος, γλυκερὸς δέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπέλθῃ,and the weariness let me go, and sweet sleep comes over me,
δείδω, μὴ θήρεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένωμαι.I fear I may become the prey and spoil of wild beasts."
ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·So as he pondered, this seemed to him the better course:
475βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ὕλην· τὴν δὲ σχεδὸν ὕδατος εὗρενhe set off toward the wood, and found it near the water
ἐν περιφαινομένῳ· δοιοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπήλυθε θάμνους,in a clearing; and he crept beneath a double bush,
ἐξ ὁμόθεν πεφυῶτας· ὁ μὲν φυλίης, ὁ δʼ ἐλαίης.grown from a single stock: one of wild olive, the other of olive.
τοὺς μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάη μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,Through these no force of the wet winds ever blew,
οὔτε ποτʼ ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,nor did the blazing sun ever strike them with its rays,
480οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνοὶnor did the rain pierce through them: so thickly
ἀλλήλοισιν ἔφυν ἐπαμοιβαδίς· οὓς ὑπʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςthey had grown intertwined with each other; and beneath these Odysseus
δύσετʼ. ἄφαρ δʼ εὐνὴν ἐπαμήσατο χερσὶ φίλῃσινcrept. And at once he heaped up a bed with his own hands,
εὐρεῖαν· φύλλων γὰρ ἔην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή,a wide one, for there was a great scattering of leaves,
ὅσσον τʼ ἠὲ δύω ἠὲ τρεῖς ἄνδρας ἔρυσθαιenough to shelter two men or even three
485ὥρῃ χειμερίῃ, εἰ καὶ μάλα περ χαλεπαίνοι.in the winter season, however hard it raged.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,Seeing it, much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced,
ἐν δʼ ἄρα μέσσῃ λέκτο, χύσιν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο φύλλων.and lay down in the middle, and poured the fallen leaves over himself.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις δαλὸν σποδιῇ ἐνέκρυψε μελαίνῃAs when a man hides away a brand in the black embers
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ᾧ μὴ πάρα γείτονες ἄλλοι,at the edge of a field, where he has no near neighbors,
490σπέρμα πυρὸς σώζων, ἵνα μή ποθεν ἄλλοθεν αὔοι,saving the seed of fire, so as not to kindle it from elsewhere,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς φύλλοισι καλύψατο· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνηso Odysseus covered himself with leaves; and over him Athena
ὕπνον ἐπʼ ὄμμασι χεῦʼ, ἵνα μιν παύσειε τάχισταpoured sleep upon his eyes, that it might soonest release him
δυσπονέος καμάτοιο φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας.from his grievous weariness, enfolding his dear eyelids.