1ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,So he spoke, and they all fell silent, hushed,
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.and they were held in the spell throughout the shadowy halls.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·Then Alcinous answered him and said:
ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, ἐπεὶ ἵκευ ἐμὸν ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,"Odysseus, since you have reached my house with its bronze floor,
5ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐωits high roof, I think you will not be driven back astray
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας.and come home again, however much you have suffered.
ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω,And to each man among you I lay this charge and say it—
ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνονall you who in my halls drink always the gleaming wine
αἰεὶ πίνετʼ ἐμοῖσιν, ἀκουάζεσθε δʼ ἀοιδοῦ.reserved for elders, and listen to the singer:
10εἵματα μὲν δὴ ξείνῳ ἐϋξέστῃ ἐνὶ χηλῷClothing already lies for the stranger in the polished chest,
κεῖται καὶ χρυσὸς πολυδαίδαλος ἄλλα τε πάνταand gold of intricate craft, and all the other
δῶρʼ, ὅσα Φαιήκων βουληφόροι ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν·gifts the Phaeacian counselors have brought here.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν τρίποδα μέγαν ἠδὲ λέβηταBut come, let us give him a great tripod and a cauldron,
ἀνδρακάς· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ἀγειρόμενοι κατὰ δῆμονeach man; and we in turn, collecting through the district,
15τισόμεθʼ· ἀργαλέον γὰρ ἕνα προικὸς χαρίσασθαι.will make it good, for it is hard for one to give unrewarded."
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιὴνδανε μῦθος.So spoke Alcinous, and his word pleased them.
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,Then they went home to lie down, each man to his own house,
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,and when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
νῆάδʼ ἐπεσσεύοντο, φέρον δʼ εὐήνορα χαλκόν.they hurried to the ship and brought the bronze that strengthens men.
20καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,And the sacred force of Alcinous stowed it well,
αὐτὸς ἰὼν διὰ νηὸς ὑπὸ ζυγά, μή τινʼ ἑταίρωνgoing himself throughout the ship beneath the benches, lest any of the crew
βλάπτοι ἐλαυνόντων, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ ἐρετμοῖς.it should hinder in the rowing when they drove hard at the oars.
οἱ δʼ εἰς Ἀλκινόοιο κίον καὶ δαῖτʼ ἀλέγυνον.Then they went to the house of Alcinous and set about the feast.
τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσʼ ἱερὸν μένος ἈλκινόοιοFor them the sacred force of Alcinous sacrificed an ox
25Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει.to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronos, who rules over all.
μῆρα δὲ κήαντες δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖταAnd they burned the thigh-pieces and shared the glorious feast,
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδός,taking their delight; and among them sang the divine singer,
Δημόδοκος, λαοῖσι τετιμένος. αὐτὰρ ὈδυσσεὺςDemodocus, honored by the people. But Odysseus
πολλὰ πρὸς ἠέλιον κεφαλὴν τρέπε παμφανόωντα,kept turning his head toward the blazing sun,
30δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος· δὴ γὰρ μενέαινε νέεσθαι.eager for it to set, for indeed he longed to be gone.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ δόρποιο λιλαίεται, ᾧ τε πανῆμαρAs when a man longs for his supper, one for whom all day long
νειὸν ἀνʼ ἕλκητον βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·two wine-dark oxen have dragged the jointed plow through fallow land;
ἀσπασίως δʼ ἄρα τῷ κατέδυ φάος ἠελίοιοand welcome to him the sunlight sinks
δόρπον ἐποίχεσθαι, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι·so he may go to supper, and his knees grow weak as he goes;
35ὣς Ὀδυσῆʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο.so welcome to Odysseus the sunlight sank.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα,At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians,
Ἀλκινόῳ δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος φάτο μῦθον·and to Alcinous above all he made his word plain and said:
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all the people,
πέμπετέ με σπείσαντες ἀπήμονα, χαίρετε δʼ αὐτοί·send me on my way with a libation, unharmed, and you yourselves farewell;
40ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός,for now all is accomplished that my heart desired,
πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά μοι θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνεςthe send-off and the loving gifts—may the gods of heaven
ὄλβια ποιήσειαν· ἀμύμονα δʼ οἴκοι ἄκοιτινmake them prosper; and may I find at home my blameless wife
νοστήσας εὕροιμι σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσι φίλοισιν.when I return, and my loved ones safe and sound.
ὑμεῖς δʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἐϋφραίνοιτε γυναῖκαςAnd may you, staying here, bring joy to your wedded wives
45κουριδίας καὶ τέκνα· θεοὶ δʼ ἀρετὴν ὀπάσειανand your children; and may the gods grant excellence
παντοίην, καὶ μή τι κακὸν μεταδήμιον εἴη.of every kind, and may no evil come upon your people."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευονSo he spoke, and they all approved and urged
πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.that the stranger be sent on, since he had spoken rightly.
καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·And then the might of Alcinous addressed the herald:
50Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον"Pontonous, mix the wine in the bowl and serve it
πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ὄφρʼ εὐξάμενοι Διὶ πατρὶto all through the hall, so that with prayer to Zeus the father
τὸν ξεῖνον πέμπωμεν ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.we may send the stranger on his way to his own native land."
ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσινand served it out to all, standing beside each; and they to the gods
55ἔσπεισαν μακάρεσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,poured libation, to the blessed ones who hold the wide heaven,
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἑδρέων. ἀνὰ δʼ ἵστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,there from their seats. Then godlike Odysseus rose up,
Ἀρήτῃ δʼ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον,and placed in Arete's hand the two-handled cup,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and speaking to her he spoke winged words:
χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ βασίλεια, διαμπερές, εἰς ὅ κε
γῆρας"Farewell to you, O queen, forever, until old age
60ἔλθῃ καὶ θάνατος, τά τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται.comes and death, which are the lot of mortals.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ νέομαι· σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳBut I am going now; and may you rejoice in this house,
παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ Ἀλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.in your children and your people and Alcinous the king."
ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,So speaking, godlike Odysseus stepped over the threshold,
τῷ δʼ ἅμα κήρυκα προΐει μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,and with him the might of Alcinous sent a herald,
65ἡγεῖσθαι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης·to guide him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea;
Ἀρήτη δʼ ἄρα οἱ δμῳὰς ἅμʼ ἔπεμπε γυναῖκας,and Arete sent serving-women along with him,
τὴν μὲν φᾶρος ἔχουσαν ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,one holding a well-washed cloak and a tunic,
τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην χηλὸν πυκινὴν ἅμʼ ὄπασσε κομίζειν·and another she sent to carry the strong chest along,
ἡ δʼ ἄλλη σῖτόν τʼ ἔφερεν καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.while yet another bore bread and red wine.
70αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
αἶψα τά γʼ ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ πομπῆες ἀγαυοὶat once the noble escorts took these things
δεξάμενοι κατέθεντο, πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἅπασαν·and stowed them in the hollow ship, the drink and all the food;
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ στόρεσαν ῥῆγός τε λίνον τεand for Odysseus they spread a rug and a linen sheet
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν γλαφυρῆς, ἵνα νήγρετον εὕδοι,on the deck of the hollow ship, in the stern, that he might sleep
75πρυμνῆς· ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβήσετο καὶ κατέλεκτοunbroken; and he himself went up and lay down
σιγῇ· τοὶ δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἕκαστοιin silence; and they sat down at the oarlocks, each in his place,
κόσμῳ, πεῖσμα δʼ ἔλυσαν ἀπὸ τρητοῖο λίθοιο.in order, and loosed the cable from the pierced stone.
εὖθʼ οἱ ἀνακλινθέντες ἀνερρίπτουν ἅλα πηδῷ,Then, leaning back, they tossed the sea-brine with their oar-blades,
καὶ τῷ νήδυμος ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε,and upon his eyelids a sweet sleep began to fall,
80νήγρετος, ἥδιστος, θανάτῳ ἄγχιστα ἐοικώς.unbroken, most delicious, most like to death.
ἡ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ τετράοροι ἄρσενες ἵπποι,And she, as on the plain four stallions yoked together,
πάντες ἅμʼ ὁρμηθέντες ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἱμάσθλης,all springing forward as one beneath the strokes of the lash,
ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενοι ῥίμφα πρήσσουσι κέλευθον,rise high and swiftly accomplish their course,
ὣς ἄρα τῆς πρύμνη μὲν ἀείρετο, κῦμα δʼ ὄπισθεso did her stern lift high, and behind her the wave,
85πορφύρεον μέγα θῦε πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.a great dark surge of the loud-thundering sea, boiled up.
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἀσφαλέως θέεν ἔμπεδον· οὐδέ κεν ἴρηξAnd she ran on steady and sure; not even a hawk,
κίρκος ὁμαρτήσειεν, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν.the falcon, swiftest of winged things, could have kept pace with her.
ὣς ἡ ῥίμφα θέουσα θαλάσσης κύματʼ ἔταμνεν,So she ran swiftly and cut through the waves of the sea,
ἄνδρα φέρουσα θεοῖς ἐναλίγκια μήδεʼ ἔχοντα·bearing a man with counsels like the counsels of the gods,
90ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθʼ ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμὸνwho before had suffered many pains in his heart,
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,passing through wars of men and the grievous waves;
δὴ τότε γʼ ἀτρέμας εὗδε, λελασμένος ὅσσʼ ἐπεπόνθει.but now he slept unmoving, forgetful of all he had suffered.
εὖτʼ ἀστὴρ ὑπερέσχε φαάντατος, ὅς τε μάλισταWhen that star rose, the brightest of all,
ἔρχεται ἀγγέλλων φάος Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης,which comes most surely announcing the light of early-born Dawn,
95τῆμος δὴ νήσῳ προσεπίλνατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς.then indeed the seafaring ship drew near to the island.
Φόρκυνος δέ τίς ἐστι λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,There is a harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης· δύο δὲ προβλῆτες ἐν αὐτῷin the land of Ithaca; and two jutting headlands within it,
ἀκταὶ ἀπορρῶγες, λιμένος ποτιπεπτηυῖαι,sheer cliffs, sloping down toward the harbor,
αἵ τʼ ἀνέμων σκεπόωσι δυσαήων μέγα κῦμαwhich keep off the great wave raised by ill-blowing winds
100ἔκτοθεν· ἔντοσθεν δέ τʼ ἄνευ δεσμοῖο μένουσιoutside; but within, the well-benched ships remain
νῆες ἐΰσσελμοι, ὅτʼ ἂν ὅρμου μέτρον ἵκωνται.without a mooring, once they reach the anchorage.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη,And at the head of the harbor is a long-leaved olive tree,
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,and near it a lovely cave, shadowy and dim,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων αἱ νηϊάδες καλέονται.sacred to the nymphs who are called the Naiads.
105ἐν δὲ κρητῆρές τε καὶ ἀμφιφορῆες ἔασινAnd within are mixing bowls and jars,
λάϊνοι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα τιθαιβώσσουσι μέλισσαι.of stone; and there the bees store up their honey.
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὶ λίθεοι περιμήκεες, ἔνθα τε νύμφαιAnd within are long looms of stone, where the nymphs
φάρεʼ ὑφαίνουσιν ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι·weave their sea-purple robes, a wonder to behold;
ἐν δʼ ὕδατʼ ἀενάοντα. δύω δέ τέ οἱ θύραι εἰσίν,and within are ever-flowing waters. And it has two doors:
110αἱ μὲν πρὸς Βορέαο καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν,the one, toward the North Wind, by which men may descend,
αἱ δʼ αὖ πρὸς Νότου εἰσὶ θεώτεραι· οὐδέ τι κείνῃthe other, toward the South Wind, more divine; and by that one
ἄνδρες ἐσέρχονται, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτων ὁδός ἐστιν.no men come in, but it is the road of the immortals.
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἰσέλασαν, πρὶν εἰδότες· ἡ μὲν
ἔπειταThere they rowed in, having known it before; and she then
ἠπείρῳ ἐπέκελσεν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ ἥμισυ πάσης,ran up onto the shore, as much as half her length,
115σπερχομένη· τοῖον γὰρ ἐπείγετο χέρσʼ ἐρετάων·driving hard; for by such hands of rowers was she urged;
οἱ δʼ ἐκ νηὸς βάντες ἐϋζύγου ἤπειρόνδεand they, stepping out from the well-timbered ship onto the shore,
πρῶτον Ὀδυσσῆα γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἄειρανfirst lifted Odysseus from the hollow ship,
αὐτῷ σύν τε λίνῳ καὶ ῥήγεϊ σιγαλόεντι,him together with the linen sheet and the shining rug,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ ψαμάθῳ ἔθεσαν δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ,and set him down on the sand, overcome by sleep,
120ἐκ δὲ κτήματʼ ἄειραν, ἅ οἱ Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶand carried out the treasures, which the noble Phaeacians
ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.had given him on his going home, through great-hearted Athena.
καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης ἀθρόα θῆκανThese they set all together beside the trunk of the olive,
ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, μή πώς τις ὁδιτάων ἀνθρώπων,clear of the road, lest some man passing along the way,
πρίν γʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἔγρεσθαι, ἐπελθὼν δηλήσαιτο·before Odysseus should wake, come upon them and do them harm;
125αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ οἶκόνδε πάλιν κίον. οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθωνand they themselves went back toward home again. Nor did the Earthshaker
λήθετʼ ἀπειλάων, τὰς ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊforget the threats with which against godlike Odysseus
πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησε, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·he had threatened at the first; he asked Zeus for his counsel:
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὐκέτʼ ἐγώ γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι
θεοῖσι"Father Zeus, no longer shall I among the immortal gods
τιμήεις ἔσομαι, ὅτε με βροτοὶ οὔ τι τίουσιν,be held in honor, when mortals do me no honor at all,
130Φαίηκες, τοί πέρ τοι ἐμῆς ἔξ εἰσι γενέθλης.the Phaeacians, who are of my own lineage.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐφάμην κακὰ πολλὰ παθόνταFor even now I said Odysseus, after suffering many evils,
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· νόστον δέ οἱ οὔ ποτʼ ἀπηύρωνwould come home; his return I never wholly took from him,
πάγχυ, ἐπεὶ σὺ πρῶτον ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας.since you first promised it and nodded your assent.
οἱ δʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντεςBut these men, carrying him asleep in the swift ship over the sea,
135κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔδοσαν δέ οἱ ἄσπετα δῶρα,set him down in Ithaca, and gave him countless gifts,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν,bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,so much as Odysseus would never have won out of Troy,
εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληΐδος αἶσαν.had he come home unharmed with his allotted share of the spoils."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς·Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
140ὢ πόποι, ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες."For shame, wide-ruling Earthshaker, what a thing you have said!
οὔ τί σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴηThe gods do you no dishonor; it would be a hard matter
πρεσβύτατον καὶ ἄριστον ἀτιμίῃσιν ἰάλλειν.to fling dishonor on the eldest and the best.
ἀνδρῶν δʼ εἴ πέρ τίς σε βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκωνBut if any man, yielding to his own force and strength,
οὔ τι τίει. σοὶ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐξοπίσω τίσις αἰεί.does you no honor, vengeance is always yours hereafter.
145ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.Do as you wish and as is dear to your heart."
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·Then Poseidon the Earthshaker answered him:
αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼν ἔρξαιμι, κελαινεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·"At once I would do it, god of the dark clouds, as you say;
ἀλλὰ σὸν αἰεὶ θυμὸν ὀπίζομαι ἠδʼ ἀλεείνω.but always I dread your anger and shun it.
νῦν αὖ Φαιήκων ἐθέλω περικαλλέα νῆα,Now I wish to wreck the Phaeacians' beautiful ship,
150ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳas it comes back from its convoy, on the misty sea,
ῥαῖσαι, ἵνʼ ἤδη σχῶνται, ἀπολλήξωσι δὲ πομπῆςso that they may hold off at last, and cease from convoying
ἀνθρώπων, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.men, and to cover their city with a great mountain."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
ὢ πέπον, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα,"Good friend, this seems to my heart to be the best:
155ὁππότε κεν δὴ πάντες ἐλαυνομένην προΐδωνταιwhen all the people are watching from the city
λαοὶ ἀπὸ πτόλιος, θεῖναι λίθον ἐγγύθι γαίηςas she comes driving in, turn her to stone near the land,
νηῒ θοῇ ἴκελον, ἵνα θαυμάζωσιν ἅπαντεςin the likeness of a swift ship, that all men
ἄνθρωποι, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.may marvel, and cover their city with a great mountain."
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,But when Poseidon the Earthshaker heard this,
160βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς Σχερίην, ὅθι Φαίηκες γεγάασιν.he set out for Scheria, where the Phaeacians are born.
ἔνθʼ ἔμενʼ· ἡ δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθε ποντοπόρος νηῦςThere he waited; and the seafaring ship came very near,
ῥίμφα διωκομένη· τῆς δὲ σχεδὸν ἦλθʼ ἐνοσίχθων,driven swiftly on; and the Earthshaker came close to her,
ὅς μιν λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθεand turned her to stone and rooted her fast below
χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ ἐλάσας· ὁ δὲ νόσφι βεβήκει.with a stroke of his flat hand; then he went away.
165οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευονAnd they spoke winged words to one another,
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.the Phaeacians of the long oars, men famed for ships.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·And thus one would say, glancing at his neighbor beside him:
ὤ μοι, τίς δὴ νῆα θοὴν ἐπέδησʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ"Ah me, who has bound the swift ship fast on the sea
οἴκαδʼ ἐλαυνομένην; καὶ δὴ προὐφαίνετο πᾶσα.as she drove for home? Just now she showed in full."
170ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε· τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.So one would say, but they did not know how it had happened.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·And among them Alcinous spoke and addressed them:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ
ἱκάνει"Ah now, truly the ancient prophecies of my father
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαιcome upon me, who used to say Poseidon was angry
ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.with us, because we are safe escorts for all men.
175φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέα, νῆα,He said that one day a beautiful ship of Phaeacian men,
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳcoming back from a convoy, on the misty sea
ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.he would wreck, and cover our city with a great mountain.
ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.So the old man spoke; and now all this is being fulfilled.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες·But come, as I shall say, let us all obey:
180πομπῆς μὲν παύσασθε βροτῶν, ὅτε κέν τις ἵκηταιcease from the convoying of mortals, whenever one comes
ἡμέτερον προτὶ ἄστυ· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρουςto our city; and to Poseidon let us sacrifice bulls,
δώδεκα κεκριμένους ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ,twelve chosen ones, in the hope he will take pity,
μηδʼ ἡμῖν περίμηκες ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψῃ.and not cover our city with a great mountain."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἑτοιμάσσαντο δὲ
ταύρους.So he spoke, and they were afraid, and made ready the bulls.
185ὣς οἱ μέν ῥʼ εὔχοντο Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτιSo they were praying to the lord Poseidon,
δήμου Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,the leaders and rulers of the Phaeacian people,
ἑσταότες περὶ βωμόν. ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςstanding about the altar. But godlike Odysseus awoke
εὕδων ἐν γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, οὐδέ μιν ἔγνω,where he slept in his native land, and did not know it,
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών· περὶ γὰρ θεὸς ἠέρα χεῦεbeing long away; for the goddess had poured mist about him,
190Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διός, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸνPallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, so that she might make him
ἄγνωστον τεύξειεν ἕκαστά τε μυθήσαιτο,unknown to men, and tell him everything,
μή μιν πρὶν ἄλοχος γνοίη ἀστοί τε φίλοι τε,that his wife might not know him first, nor his townsmen and friends,
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.before the suitors had paid for all their transgression.
τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἀλλοειδέα φαινέσκετο πάντα ἄνακτι,Therefore everything appeared strange to the king,
195ἀτραπιτοί τε διηνεκέες λιμένες τε πάνορμοιthe long paths, and the harbors where all ships may anchor,
πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι καὶ δένδρεα τηλεθόωντα.the sheer rocks, and the trees in their full flourishing.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας καί ῥʼ εἴσιδε πατρίδα γαῖαν·So he sprang up and stood and looked at his native land;
ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼand then he groaned aloud and struck both his thighs
χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·with the flat of his hands, and lamenting he spoke:
200ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;"Ah me, to what land of mortals have I come this time?
ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,Are they violent men, and savage, without justice,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;or kind to strangers, with minds that fear the gods?
πῇ δὴ χρήματα πολλὰ φέρω τάδε; πῇ τε καὶ αὐτὸςWhere shall I carry all these goods? And where am I
πλάζομαι; αἴθʼ ὄφελον μεῖναι παρὰ Φαιήκεσσινto wander? Would that I had stayed there with the Phaeacians,
205αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δέ κεν ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήωνthere in their land; then I might have reached some other
ἐξικόμην, ὅς κέν μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ ἔπεμπε νέεσθαι.of the mighty kings, who would have loved me and sent me home.
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πῃ θέσθαι ἐπίσταμαι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοῦBut now I know no place to store these things, nor here
καλλείψω, μή πώς μοι ἕλωρ ἄλλοισι γένηται.will I leave them, lest they become plunder for others.
ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα πάντα νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοιAh me, then not in all things wise, nor just,
210ἦσαν Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,were the leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians,
οἵ μʼ εἰς ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀπήγαγον, ἦ τέ μʼ ἔφαντοwho carried me off to a strange land, though they had promised
ἄξειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσαν.to bring me to clear-seen Ithaca—but they did not fulfill it.
Ζεὺς σφέας τίσαιτο ἱκετήσιος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλουςMay Zeus punish them, guardian of suppliants, who watches over
ἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τίνυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ.all other men as well, and requites whoever transgresses.
215ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀριθμήσω καὶ ἴδωμαι,But come now, let me count these goods and look them over,
μή τί μοι οἴχωνται κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγοντες.lest they have gone off carrying something in the hollow ship."
ὣς εἰπὼν τρίποδας περικαλλέας ἠδὲ λέβηταςSo he spoke, and the beautiful tripods and the cauldrons
ἠρίθμει καὶ χρυσὸν ὑφαντά τε εἵματα καλά.he counted, and the gold and the fine woven garments.
τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ ὀύ τι πόθει· ὁ δʼ ὀδύρετο πατρίδα γαῖανOf these he found nothing lacking; but he grieved for his native land,
220ἑρπύζων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,as he crept along the shore of the loud-roaring sea,
πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,lamenting much. Then Athena came near to him,
ἀνδρὶ δέμας εἰκυῖα νέῳ, ἐπιβώτορι μήλων,in the body of a young man, a herder of sheep,
παναπάλῳ, οἷοί τε ἀνάκτων παῖδες ἔασι,utterly tender, such as the sons of princes are,
δίπτυχον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχουσʼ εὐεργέα λώπην·wearing a well-made mantle, double-folded, about her shoulders;
225ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσι πέδιλʼ ἔχε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄκοντα.and beneath her shining feet she had sandals, and a spear in her hand.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ ἐναντίος ἦλθε,Odysseus rejoiced to see her and came toward her,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and lifting his voice he spoke winged words:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε πρῶτα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,"Friend, since you are the first I meet in this place,
χαῖρέ τε καὶ μή μοί τι κακῷ νόῳ ἀντιβολήσαις,greetings, and may you not encounter me with any evil intent,
230ἀλλὰ σάω μὲν ταῦτα, σάω δʼ ἐμέ· σοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ γεbut save these goods, and save me too; for you I truly
εὔχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ καί σευ φίλα γούναθʼ ἱκάνω.entreat as a god, and I come to your dear knees.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·And tell me this in truth, that I may know it well:
τίς γῆ, τίς δῆμος, τίνες ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασιν;What land, what people, what men are born here?
ἦ πού τις νήσων εὐδείελος, ἦέ τις ἀκτὴIs it some clear-seen island, or a shore
235κεῖθʼ ἁλὶ κεκλιμένη ἐριβώλακος ἠπείροιο;of the deep-soiled mainland, that lies leaning on the sea?"
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena spoke to him:
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,"You are a fool, stranger, or you have come from far away,
εἰ δὴ τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἀνείρεαι. οὐδέ τι λίηνif indeed you ask about this land. It is by no means
οὕτω νώνυμός ἐστιν· ἴσασι δέ μιν μάλα πολλοί,so nameless as that; very many men know it,
240ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,both those who dwell toward the dawn and the sun,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.and all who lie behind, toward the misty gloom.
ἦ τοι μὲν τρηχεῖα καὶ οὐχ ἱππήλατός ἐστιν,It is rugged, and no land for the driving of horses,
οὐδὲ λίην λυπρή, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ εὐρεῖα τέτυκται.yet not so wretched, though it is not broad either.
ἐν μὲν γάρ οἱ σῖτος ἀθέσφατος, ἐν δέ τε οἶνοςIn it there is grain past telling, and in it wine
245γίγνεται· αἰεὶ δʼ ὄμβρος ἔχει τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἐέρση·grows; the rain holds always, and the fresh dew;
αἰγίβοτος δʼ ἀγαθὴ καὶ βούβοτος· ἔστι μὲν ὕληit is good for goats, and good for cattle; there is timber
παντοίη, ἐν δʼ ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοὶ παρέασι.of every kind, and watering-places that never fail.
τῷ τοι, ξεῖνʼ, Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐς Τροίην ὄνομʼ ἵκει,And so, stranger, the name of Ithaca has reached even Troy,
τήν περ τηλοῦ φασὶν Ἀχαιΐδος ἔμμεναι αἴης.which they say is far from the land of the Achaeans."
250ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,So she spoke, and much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced,
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, ὥς οἱ ἔειπεglad in his fathers' land, at what she told him,
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς, αἰγιόχοιο·Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis;
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and he spoke winged words to her in answer—
οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἀληθέα εἶπε, πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον,yet he did not tell the truth, but checked the tale again,
255αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν·forever plying in his breast his mind full of cunning:
πυνθανόμην Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ,"I heard of Ithaca even in broad Crete,
τηλοῦ ὑπὲρ πόντου· νῦν δʼ εἰλήλουθα καὶ αὐτὸςfar across the sea; and now I have come here myself
χρήμασι σὺν τοίσδεσσι· λιπὼν δʼ ἔτι παισὶ τοσαῦταwith these goods; and leaving as much again for my children
φεύγω, ἐπεὶ φίλον υἷα κατέκτανον Ἰδομενῆος,I flee, since I killed the dear son of Idomeneus,
260Ὀρσίλοχον πόδας ὠκύν, ὃς ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃOrsilochus swift of foot, who in broad Crete
ἀνέρας ἀλφηστὰς νίκα ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν,outran men who eat bread with his rapid feet,
οὕνεκά με στερέσαι τῆς ληΐδος ἤθελε πάσηςbecause he wished to rob me of all that plunder
Τρωϊάδος, τῆς εἵνεκʼ ἐγὼ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,from Troy, for whose sake I suffered pains in my heart,
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,
265οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐχ ᾧ πατρὶ χαριζόμενος θεράπευονbecause I would not do his father a favor and serve
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ἀλλʼ ἄλλων ἦρχον ἑταίρων.under him among the Trojans' land, but led other comrades of my own.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ κατιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶHim I struck, as he came in from the country, with my bronze-shod spear,
ἀγρόθεν, ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο λοχησάμενος σὺν ἑταίρῳ·lying in wait near the road with a comrade;
νὺξ δὲ μάλα δνοφερὴ κάτεχʼ οὐρανόν, οὐδέ τις ἡμέαςand a very murky night held the sky, nor did any
270ἀνθρώπων ἐνόησε, λάθον δέ ἑ θυμὸν ἀπούρας.of men mark us, and I killed him unseen, stripping his life away.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε κατέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,But when I had slain him with the sharp bronze,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν Φοίνικας ἀγαυοὺςat once I went to a ship and made entreaty
ἐλλισάμην, καί σφιν μενοεικέα ληΐδα δῶκα·to the lordly Phoenicians, and gave them plunder to their heart's content;
τούς μʼ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι καὶ ἐφέσσαιthese I bade set me down and land me at Pylos,
275ἢ εἰς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.or in bright Elis, where the Epeians hold power.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σφέας κεῖθεν ἀπώσατο ἲς ἀνέμοιοBut truly the force of the wind drove them away from there,
πόλλʼ ἀεκαζομένους, οὐδʼ ἤθελον ἐξαπατῆσαι.much against their will, nor did they wish to deceive me.
κεῖθεν δὲ πλαγχθέντες ἱκάνομεν ἐνθάδε νυκτός.Driven off course from there we came here by night.
σπουδῇ δʼ ἐς λιμένα προερέσσαμεν, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖνIn haste we rowed into the harbor, nor was there for us
280δόρπου μνῆστις ἔην, μάλα περ χατέουσιν ἑλέσθαι,any thought of supper, though we sorely needed to take it,
ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀποβάντες ἐκείμεθα νηὸς ἅπαντες.but just so, having landed, we all lay down beside the ship.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,There sweet sleep came over me, worn out as I was,
οἱ δὲ χρήματʼ ἐμὰ γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντεςand they, lifting my goods from the hollow ship,
κάτθεσαν, ἔνθα περ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἐκείμην.set them down where I myself was lying on the sands.
285οἱ δʼ ἐς Σιδονίην εὖ ναιομένην ἀναβάντεςThen they climbed aboard and sailed away for Sidon,
ᾤχοντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.that well-settled city, and I was left behind, grieving in my heart.
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,So he spoke, and the goddess grey-eyed Athena smiled,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶand stroked him with her hand; and she was like a woman in form,
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ·beautiful and tall and skilled in glorious handiwork;
290καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and she spoke to him and addressed him in winged words:
κερδαλέος κʼ εἴη καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ὅς σε
παρέλθοι"Cunning would he be, and a thief, who could outstrip you
ἐν πάντεσσι δόλοισι, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειε.in all your tricks, even if a god should meet you.
σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, δόλων ἆτʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες,Reckless one, weaver of wiles, insatiable in guile, not even
οὐδʼ ἐν σῇ περ ἐὼν γαίῃ, λήξειν ἀπατάωνin your own land were you going to leave off your deceptions
295μύθων τε κλοπίων, οἵ τοι πεδόθεν φίλοι εἰσίν.and thieving tales, which are dear to you from the ground up.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα, εἰδότες ἄμφωBut come, let us speak of these things no longer, both of us knowing
κέρδεʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ μέν ἐσσι βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντωνsharp practice, since you are by far the best of all mortals
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν πᾶσι θεοῖσιin counsel and speeches, while I among all the gods
μήτι τε κλέομαι καὶ κέρδεσιν· οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔγνωςam famed for cunning and for craft; yet you did not know
300Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην, κούρην Διός, ἥ τέ τοι αἰεὶPallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, who always
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω,stands beside you in all your labors and guards you,
καὶ δέ σε Φαιήκεσσι φίλον πάντεσσιν ἔθηκα,and made you beloved to all the Phaeacians.
νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην, ἵνα τοι σὺν μῆτιν ὑφήνωNow again I have come here, to weave a plan with you
χρήματά τε κρύψω, ὅσα τοι Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶand to hide the goods that the lordly Phaeacians
305ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι ἐμῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,gave you as you set out for home, by my counsel and my mind,
εἴπω θʼ ὅσσα τοι αἶσα δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσιand to tell you how many cares fate destines you
κήδεʼ ἀνασχέσθαι· σὺ δὲ τετλάμεναι καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,to bear in your well-built house; and you must endure, even by necessity,
μηδέ τῳ ἐκφάσθαι μήτʼ ἀνδρῶν μήτε γυναικῶν,and reveal it to no one, neither man nor woman,
πάντων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθες ἀλώμενος, ἀλλὰ σιωπῇto none, that you have come back from your wandering, but in silence
310πάσχειν ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.suffer your many pains, submitting to the violence of men."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ἀργαλέον σε, θεά, γνῶναι βροτῷ ἀντιάσαντι,"It is hard, goddess, for a mortal who meets you to know you,
καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ· σὲ γὰρ αὐτὴν παντὶ ἐΐσκεις.however knowing he may be; for you liken yourself to all things.
τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδʼ, ὅτι μοι πάρος ἠπίη ἦσθα,But this I know well, that in the past you were kind to me,
315ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,But after we had sacked the steep city of Priam,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,and gone aboard our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἴδον, κούρη Διός, οὐδʼ ἐνόησαfrom then on I did not see you, daughter of Zeus, nor did I mark you
νηὸς ἐμῆς ἐπιβᾶσαν, ὅπως τί μοι ἄλγος ἀλάλκοις.boarding my ship, to ward off any grief from me.
320ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἔχων δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορBut always with a heart torn within my breast
ἠλώμην, ἧός με θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν·I wandered, until the gods released me from my misery—
πρίν γʼ ὅτε Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳuntil, in the rich land of the Phaeacian men,
θάρσυνάς τε ἔπεσσι καὶ ἐς πόλιν ἤγαγες αὐτή.you cheered me with your words and led me yourself into their city.
νῦν δέ σε πρὸς πατρὸς γουνάζομαι—οὐ γὰρ ὀΐωNow I beseech you by your father—for I do not think
325ἥκειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, ἀλλά τινʼ ἄλληνI have come to sunny Ithaca, but to some other
γαῖαν ἀναστρέφομαι· σὲ δὲ κερτομέουσαν ὀΐωland I have turned; and I think you say these things
ταῦτʼ ἀγορευέμεναι, ἵνʼ ἐμὰς φρένας ἠπεροπεύσῃς—to mock me, to deceive my mind and heart—
εἰπέ μοι εἰ ἐτεόν γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκάνω.tell me if truly I have reached my own dear country."
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena answered him:
330αἰεί τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·"Always the same sort of thought is in your breast;
τῷ σε καὶ οὐ δύναμαι προλιπεῖν δύστηνον ἐόντα,and so I cannot abandon you when you are wretched,
οὕνεκʼ ἐπητής ἐσσι καὶ ἀγχίνοος καὶ ἐχέφρων.because you are civil and quick-witted and self-possessed.
ἀσπασίως γάρ κʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼνFor gladly would another man, come home from wandering,
ἵετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἰδέειν παῖδάς τʼ ἄλοχόν τε·hurry to his halls to see his children and his wife;
335σοὶ δʼ οὔ πω φίλον ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὐδὲ πυθέσθαι,but you are not yet minded to learn or to inquire
πρίν γʼ ἔτι σῆς ἀλόχου πειρήσεαι, ἥ τέ τοι αὔτωςbefore you have tested your wife, who even so
ἧσται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν, ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶsits in your halls, and always the sorrowful
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.nights and days waste away for her as she sheds her tears.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀπίστεον, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷBut I myself never disbelieved this, but in my heart
340ᾔδεʼ, ὃ νοστήσεις ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους·I knew that you would come home, having lost all your companions;
ἀλλά τοι οὐκ ἐθέλησα Ποσειδάωνι μάχεσθαιyet I was not willing to fight against Poseidon,
πατροκασιγνήτῳ, ὅς τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ,my father's brother, who laid up wrath against you in his heart,
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.enraged because you blinded his dear son.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι δείξω Ἰθάκης ἕδος, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς.But come, I will show you the seat of Ithaca, so that you may trust me.
345Φόρκυνος μὲν ὅδʼ ἐστὶ λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,This is the harbor of Phorcys, the Old Man of the Sea,
ἥδε δʼ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη·and here at the harbor's head is the long-leafed olive;
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,and near it is the lovely, misty cave,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων, αἳ νηϊάδες καλέονται·sacred to the nymphs who are called the Naiads;
τοῦτο δέ τοι σπέος ἐστὶ κατηρεφές, ἔνθα σὺ πολλὰςthis is the vaulted cavern where you often
350ἔρδεσκες νύμφῃσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·sacrificed to the nymphs whole hecatombs;
τοῦτο δὲ Νήριτόν ἐστιν ὄρος καταειμένον ὕλῃ.and this is Mount Neriton, clothed in its forest."
ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ σκέδασʼ ἠέρα, εἴσατο δὲ χθών·So speaking, the goddess scattered the mist, and the land appeared;
γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,and then much-enduring godlike Odysseus rejoiced,
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.glad in his own land, and kissed the grain-giving earth.
355αὐτίκα δὲ νύμφῃς ἠρήσατο, χεῖρας ἀνασχών·At once he prayed to the nymphs, lifting up his hands:
νύμφαι νηϊάδες, κοῦραι Διός, οὔ ποτʼ ἐγώ γε"Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I
ὄψεσθʼ ὔμμʼ ἐφάμην· νῦν δʼ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσιthink to see you again; now with gentle prayers
χαίρετʼ· ἀτὰρ καὶ δῶρα διδώσομεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,I greet you; and we will give you gifts too, as before,
αἴ κεν ἐᾷ πρόφρων με Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείηif the daughter of Zeus, driver of the spoil, is gracious and grants
360αὐτόν τε ζώειν καί μοι φίλον υἱὸν ἀέξῃ.that I myself may live and brings my dear son to manhood."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena spoke to him in turn:
θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων."Take heart, and do not let these things trouble your mind.
ἀλλὰ χρήματα μὲν μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιοBut let us set your goods at once in a recess
θείμεν αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ·of the marvelous cave, that they may stay safe for you;
365αὐτοὶ δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.and let us take thought how the best may come about."
ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ δῦνε σπέος ἠεροειδές,So speaking, the goddess entered the misty cave,
μαιομένη κευθμῶνας ἀνὰ σπέος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςsearching out the hiding-places within it; but Odysseus
ἆσσον πάντʼ ἐφόρει, χρυσὸν καὶ ἀτειρέα χαλκὸνcarried all near, the gold and the unwearying bronze
εἵματά τʼ εὐποίητα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν.and the well-made garments the Phaeacians had given him.
370καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε, λίθον δʼ ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιThese he stowed well away, and Pallas Athena set
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.a stone against the doorway, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis.
τὼ δὲ καθεζομένω ἱερῆς παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίηςThen the two sat down beside the trunk of the sacred olive
φραζέσθην μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὄλεθρον.and plotted death for the overweening suitors.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·And among them the goddess grey-eyed Athena began to speak:
375διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
φράζευ ὅπως μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσεις,take thought how you will lay hands upon the shameless suitors,
οἳ δή τοι τρίετες μέγαρον κάτα κοιρανέουσι,who for three years now have lorded it in your halls,
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες·wooing your godlike wife and offering bridal gifts;
ἡ δὲ σὸν αἰεὶ νόστον ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸνand she, ever mourning your homecoming in her heart,
380πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ,gives hope to all and makes a promise to each man,
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.sending out messages, though her mind intends otherwise."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο"Ah, surely I was bound to perish in my halls
φθίσεσθαι κακὸν οἶτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμελλον,by the evil fate of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
385εἰ μή μοι σὺ ἕκαστα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.had you not, goddess, told me each thing in due order.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μῆτιν ὕφηνον, ὅπως ἀποτίσομαι αὐτούς·But come, weave me a plan, how I may pay them back;
πὰρ δέ μοι αὐτὴ στῆθι, μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνεῖσα,and stand beside me yourself, breathing bold courage into me,
οἷον ὅτε Τροίης λύομεν λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.such as when we loosed the shining diadem of Troy.
αἴ κέ μοι ὣς μεμαυῖα παρασταίης, γλαυκῶπι,If you would stand beside me so eager, grey-eyed one,
390καί κε τριηκοσίοισιν ἐγὼν ἄνδρεσσι μαχοίμηνthen I would fight even against three hundred men
σὺν σοί, πότνα θεά, ὅτε μοι πρόφρασσʼ ἐπαρήγοις.with you, lady goddess, when you readily gave me your aid."
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena answered him:
καὶ λίην τοι ἐγώ γε παρέσσομαι, οὐδέ με λήσεις,"Indeed I will be beside you, nor will I forget you,
ὁππότε κεν δὴ ταῦτα πενώμεθα· καί τινʼ ὀΐωwhen we set about this work; and I think that some
395αἵματί τʼ ἐγκεφάλῳ τε παλαξέμεν ἄσπετον οὖδαςof the suitors who devour your livelihood
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.will spatter the boundless floor with blood and brains.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σʼ ἄγνωστον τεύξω πάντεσσι βροτοῖσι·But come, I will make you unrecognizable to all mortals:
κάρψω μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,I will wither the fair skin on your supple limbs,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὀλέσω τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῖφοςand destroy the blond hair on your head, and about you throw
400ἕσσω ὅ κε στυγέῃσιν ἰδὼν ἄνθρωπον ἔχοντα,such a rag that a man would shudder to see one wearing it,
κνυζώσω δέ τοι ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε,And I will dim your eyes, that were so beautiful before,
ὡς ἂν ἀεικέλιος πᾶσι μνηστῆρσι φανήῃςso that you may seem unsightly to all the suitors
σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ παιδί, τὸν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες.and to your wife and the son you left behind in your halls.
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,First of all go yourself to the swineherd,
405ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδε,the keeper of your pigs, who wishes you well,
παῖδά τε σὸν φιλέει καὶ ἐχέφρονα Πηνελόπειαν.and loves your son and prudent Penelope.
δήεις τόν γε σύεσσι παρήμενον· αἱ δὲ νέμονταιYou will find him sitting among the swine; and they graze
πὰρ Κόρακος πέτρῃ ἐπί τε κρήνῃ Ἀρεθούσῃ,by the Rock of the Raven and the spring Arethusa,
ἔσθουσαι βάλανον μενοεικέα καὶ μέλαν ὕδωρeating the acorns that please them and drinking the black water,
410πίνουσαι, τά θʼ ὕεσσι τρέφει τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφήν.which feeds in the pigs their thriving fat.
ἔνθα μένειν καὶ πάντα παρήμενος ἐξερέεσθαι,Stay there, and sitting beside him ask about everything,
ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἔλθω Σπάρτην ἐς καλλιγύναικαwhile I go to Sparta of the lovely women
Τηλέμαχον καλέουσα, τεὸν φίλον υἱόν, Ὀδυσσεῦ·to summon Telemachus, your dear son, Odysseus—
ὅς τοι ἐς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα πὰρ Μενέλαονwho went to spacious Lacedaemon, to Menelaus,
415ᾤχετο πευσόμενος μετὰ σὸν κλέος, εἴ που ἔτʼ εἴης.seeking news of you, whether you were still alive."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
τίπτε τʼ ἄρʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπες, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πάντα ἰδυῖα;"Why then did you not tell him, knowing all things in your mind?
ἦ ἵνα που καὶ κεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχῃWas it so that he too, wandering, should suffer pains
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· βίοτον δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔδουσι;over the barren sea, while others devour his livelihood?"
420τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena answered him:
μὴ δή τοι κεῖνός γε λίην ἐνθύμιος ἔστω."Do not let him be too much a care in your heart.
αὐτή μιν πόμπευον, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτοI myself escorted him, that he might win noble renown
κεῖσʼ ἐλθών· ἀτὰρ οὔ τινʼ ἔχει πόνον, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοςby going there; and he suffers no trouble, but at ease
ἧσται ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο δόμοις, παρὰ δʼ ἄσπετα κεῖται.he sits in the halls of Atreus' son, with plenty beside him.
425ἦ μέν μιν λοχόωσι νέοι σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ,True, young men lie in wait for him with a black ship,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·eager to kill him before he reaches his native land;
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω, πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξειbut this I do not think will be, before the earth shall hold
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.some of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood."
ὣς ἄρα μιν φαμένη ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη.So speaking Athena touched him with her wand.
430κάρψεν μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,She withered the fair skin on his supple limbs,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὄλεσε τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμαand destroyed the blond hair on his head, and about
πάντεσσιν μελέεσσι παλαιοῦ θῆκε γέροντος,all his limbs she put the skin of an aged old man,
κνύζωσεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε·and dimmed his eyes, that were so beautiful before;
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,and about him she threw another wretched rag and a tunic,
435ῥωγαλέα ῥυπόωντα, κακῷ μεμορυγμένα καπνῷ·torn and filthy, begrimed with foul smoke;
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μέγα δέρμα ταχείης ἕσσʼ ἐλάφοιο,and over him she cast the great hide of a swift deer,
ψιλόν· δῶκε δέ οἱ σκῆπτρον καὶ ἀεικέα πήρην,worn bare; and she gave him a staff and an unseemly pouch,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.full of holes, and it had a twisted cord for a strap.
τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν. ἡ μὲν ἔπειταSo the two, having taken counsel, parted. And then she
440ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν ἔβη μετὰ παῖδʼ Ὀδυσῆος.went to bright Lacedaemon after the son of Odysseus.