The Odyssey · Book 13

55 passages · 24 speeches · 44 psychological term instances

Lines 1–3

So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence, and were spellbound throughout the shadowy halls. And Alcinous again answered him, and said: “Odysseus, since thou hast come to my

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ, κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα. τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

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Alcinous to Odysseus

Lines 4–15

high-roofed house with floor of brass, thou shalt not, methinks, be driven back, and return with baffled purpose, even though thou hast suffered much. And to each man of you that in my halls are ever wont to drink the flaming wine of the elders, and to listen to the minstrel, I speak, and give this charge. Raiment for the stranger lies already stored in the polished chest, with gold curiously wrought and all the other gifts which the counsellors of the Phaeacians brought hither. But, come now, let us give him a great tripod and a cauldron, each man of us, and we in turn will gather the cost from among the people, and repay ourselves. It were hard for one man to give freely, without requital.” So spake Alcinous, and his word was pleasing to them. They then went, each man to his house, to take their rest; but as soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, they hastened to the ship and brought the bronze, that gives strength to men.

ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, ἐπεὶ ἵκευ ἐμὸν ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ, ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐω ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας. ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω, ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον αἰεὶ πίνετʼ ἐμοῖσιν, ἀκουάζεσθε δʼ ἀοιδοῦ. εἵματα μὲν δὴ ξείνῳ ἐϋξέστῃ ἐνὶ χηλῷ κεῖται καὶ χρυσὸς πολυδαίδαλος ἄλλα τε πάντα δῶρʼ, ὅσα Φαιήκων βουληφόροι ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν· ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν τρίποδα μέγαν ἠδὲ λέβητα ἀνδρακάς· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ἀγειρόμενοι κατὰ δῆμον τισόμεθʼ· ἀργαλέον γὰρ ἕνα προικὸς χαρίσασθαι.

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nostos pascho

Lines 16–30

And the strong and mighty Alcinous went himself throughout the ship, and carefully stowed the gifts beneath the benches, that they might not hinder any of the crew at their rowing, when they busily plied the oars. Then they went to the house of Alcinous, and prepared a feast. And for them the strong and mighty Alcinous sacrificed a bull to Zeus, son of Cronos, god of the dark clouds, who is lord of all. Then, when they had burned the thigh-pieces, they feasted a glorious feast, and made merry, and among them the divine minstrel Demodocus, held in honor by the people, sang to the lyre. But Odysseus would ever turn his head toward the blazing sun, eager to see it set, for verily he was eager to return home. And as a man longs for supper, for whom all day long a yoke of wine-dark oxen has drawn the jointed plough through fallow land, and gladly for him does the light of the sun sink, that he may busy him with his supper, and his knees grow weary as he goes;

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιὴνδανε μῦθος. οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος, ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, νῆάδʼ ἐπεσσεύοντο, φέρον δʼ εὐήνορα χαλκόν. καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο, αὐτὸς ἰὼν διὰ νηὸς ὑπὸ ζυγά, μή τινʼ ἑταίρων βλάπτοι ἐλαυνόντων, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ ἐρετμοῖς. οἱ δʼ εἰς Ἀλκινόοιο κίον καὶ δαῖτʼ ἀλέγυνον. τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει. μῆρα δὲ κήαντες δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδός, Δημόδοκος, λαοῖσι τετιμένος. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς πολλὰ πρὸς ἠέλιον κεφαλὴν τρέπε παμφανόωντα, δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος· δὴ γὰρ μενέαινε νέεσθαι.

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menos

Lines 31–37

even so gladly for Odysseus did the light of the sun sink. Straightway then he spoke among the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar, and to Alcinous above all he declared his word, and said: “Lord Alcinous, renowned above all men, pour libations now, and send ye me on my way in peace; and yourselves too—Farewell!

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ δόρποιο λιλαίεται, ᾧ τε πανῆμαρ νειὸν ἀνʼ ἕλκητον βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον· ἀσπασίως δʼ ἄρα τῷ κατέδυ φάος ἠελίοιο δόρπον ἐποίχεσθαι, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι· ὣς Ὀδυσῆʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο. αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα, Ἀλκινόῳ δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος φάτο μῦθον·

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Odysseus to Alcinous

Lines 38–46

For now all that my heart desired has been brought to pass: a convoy, and gifts of friendship. May the gods of heaven bless them to me, and on my return may I find in my home my peerless wife with those I love unscathed; and may you again, remaining here, make glad your wedded wives and children; and may the gods grant you prosperity of every sort, and may no evil come upon your people.”

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν, πέμπετέ με σπείσαντες ἀπήμονα, χαίρετε δʼ αὐτοί· ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός, πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά μοι θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες ὄλβια ποιήσειαν· ἀμύμονα δʼ οἴκοι ἄκοιτιν νοστήσας εὕροιμι σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσι φίλοισιν. ὑμεῖς δʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἐϋφραίνοιτε γυναῖκας κουριδίας καὶ τέκνα· θεοὶ δʼ ἀρετὴν ὀπάσειαν παντοίην, καὶ μή τι κακὸν μεταδήμιον εἴη.

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nostos thumos

Lines 47–49

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν. καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·

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menos

Alcinous to Pontonous

Lines 50–52

“Pontonous, mix the bowl, and serve out wine to all in the hall, in order that, when we have made prayer to father Zeus, we may send forth the stranger to his own native land.” So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey hearted wine and served out to all, coming up to each in turn;

Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ὄφρʼ εὐξάμενοι Διὶ πατρὶ τὸν ξεῖνον πέμπωμεν ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

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Lines 53–58

and they poured libations to the blessed gods, who hold broad heaven, from where they sat. But goodly Odysseus arose, and placed in the hand of Arete the two-handled cup, and spoke, and addressed her with winged words: “Fare thee well, O queen, throughout all the years, till old age

ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα, νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔσπεισαν μακάρεσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν, αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἑδρέων. ἀνὰ δʼ ἵστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, Ἀρήτῃ δʼ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον, καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

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Odysseus to Arete

Lines 59–62

and death come, which are the lot of mortals. As for me, I go my way, but do thou in this house have joy of thy children and thy people and Alcinous the king.” So the goodly Odysseus spake and passed over the threshold. And with him the mighty Alcinous sent forth a herald

χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ βασίλεια, διαμπερές, εἰς ὅ κε γῆρας ἔλθῃ καὶ θάνατος, τά τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ νέομαι· σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ Ἀλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.

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Lines 63–77

to lead him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. And Arete sent with him slave women, one bearing a newly washed cloak and a tunic, and another again she bade follow to bear the strong chest, and yet another bore bread and red wine. But when they had come down to the ship and to the sea, straightway the lordly youths that were his escort took these things, and stowed them in the hollow ship, even all the food and drink. Then for Odysseus they spread a rug and a linen sheet on the deck of the hollow ship at the stern, that he might sleep soundly; and he too went aboard, and laid him down in silence. Then they sat down on the benches, each in order, and loosed the hawser from the pierced stone. And as soon as they leaned back, and tossed the brine with their oarblades, sweet sleep fell upon his eyelids,

ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, τῷ δʼ ἅμα κήρυκα προΐει μένος Ἀλκινόοιο, ἡγεῖσθαι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης· Ἀρήτη δʼ ἄρα οἱ δμῳὰς ἅμʼ ἔπεμπε γυναῖκας, τὴν μὲν φᾶρος ἔχουσαν ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην χηλὸν πυκινὴν ἅμʼ ὄπασσε κομίζειν· ἡ δʼ ἄλλη σῖτόν τʼ ἔφερεν καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν. αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, αἶψα τά γʼ ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ πομπῆες ἀγαυοὶ δεξάμενοι κατέθεντο, πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἅπασαν· κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ στόρεσαν ῥῆγός τε λίνον τε νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν γλαφυρῆς, ἵνα νήγρετον εὕδοι, πρυμνῆς· ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβήσετο καὶ κατέλεκτο σιγῇ· τοὶ δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἕκαστοι κόσμῳ, πεῖσμα δʼ ἔλυσαν ἀπὸ τρητοῖο λίθοιο.

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menos

Lines 78–92

an unawakening sleep, most sweet, and most like to death. And as on a plain four yoked stallions spring forward all together beneath the strokes of the lash, and leaping on high swiftly accomplish their way, even so the stern of that ship leapt on high, and in her wake the dark wave of the loud-sounding sea foamed mightily, and she sped safely and surely on her way; not even the circling hawk, the swiftest of winged things, could have kept pace with her. Thus she sped on swiftly and clove the waves of the sea, bearing a man the peer of the gods in counsel, one who in time past had suffered many griefs at heart in passing through wars of men and the grievous waves; but now he slept in peace, forgetful of all that he had suffered.

εὖθʼ οἱ ἀνακλινθέντες ἀνερρίπτουν ἅλα πηδῷ, καὶ τῷ νήδυμος ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε, νήγρετος, ἥδιστος, θανάτῳ ἄγχιστα ἐοικώς. ἡ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ τετράοροι ἄρσενες ἵπποι, πάντες ἅμʼ ὁρμηθέντες ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἱμάσθλης, ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενοι ῥίμφα πρήσσουσι κέλευθον, ὣς ἄρα τῆς πρύμνη μὲν ἀείρετο, κῦμα δʼ ὄπισθε πορφύρεον μέγα θῦε πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης. ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἀσφαλέως θέεν ἔμπεδον· οὐδέ κεν ἴρηξ κίρκος ὁμαρτήσειεν, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν. ὣς ἡ ῥίμφα θέουσα θαλάσσης κύματʼ ἔταμνεν, ἄνδρα φέρουσα θεοῖς ἐναλίγκια μήδεʼ ἔχοντα· ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθʼ ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων, δὴ τότε γʼ ἀτρέμας εὗδε, λελασμένος ὅσσʼ ἐπεπόνθει.

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algea pascho thumos

Lines 93–107

even then the seafaring ship drew near to the island. There is in the land of Ithaca a certain harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea, and at its mouth two projecting headlands sheer to seaward, but sloping down on the side toward the harbor. These keep back the great waves raised by heavy winds without, but within the benched ships lie unmoored when they have reached the point of anchorage. At the head of the harbor is a long-leafed olive tree, and near it a pleasant, shadowy cave sacred to the nymphs that are called Naiads. Therein are mixing bowls and jars of stone, and there too the bees store honey. And in the cave are long looms of stone, at which the nymphs weave webs of purple dye, a wonder to behold; and therein are also ever-flowing springs. Two doors there are to the cave,

εὖτʼ ἀστὴρ ὑπερέσχε φαάντατος, ὅς τε μάλιστα ἔρχεται ἀγγέλλων φάος Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης, τῆμος δὴ νήσῳ προσεπίλνατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς. Φόρκυνος δέ τίς ἐστι λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος, ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης· δύο δὲ προβλῆτες ἐν αὐτῷ ἀκταὶ ἀπορρῶγες, λιμένος ποτιπεπτηυῖαι, αἵ τʼ ἀνέμων σκεπόωσι δυσαήων μέγα κῦμα ἔκτοθεν· ἔντοσθεν δέ τʼ ἄνευ δεσμοῖο μένουσι νῆες ἐΰσσελμοι, ὅτʼ ἂν ὅρμου μέτρον ἵκωνται. αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη, ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές, ἱρὸν νυμφάων αἱ νηϊάδες καλέονται. ἐν δὲ κρητῆρές τε καὶ ἀμφιφορῆες ἔασιν λάϊνοι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα τιθαιβώσσουσι μέλισσαι. ἐν δʼ ἱστοὶ λίθεοι περιμήκεες, ἔνθα τε νύμφαι

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Lines 108–122

one toward the North Wind, by which men go down, but that toward the South Wind is sacred, nor do men enter thereby; it is the way of the immortals. Here they rowed in, knowing the place of old; and the ship ran full half her length on the shore in her swift course, at such pace was she driven by the arms of the rowers. Then they stepped forth from the benched ship upon the land, and first they lifted Odysseus out of the hollow ship, with the linen sheet and bright rug as they were, and laid him down on the sand, still overpowered by sleep. And they lifted out the goods which the lordly Phaeacians had given him, as he set out for home, through the favour of great-hearted Athena. These they set all together by the trunk of the olive tree, out of the path, lest haply some wayfarer, before Odysseus awoke, might come upon them and spoil them.

φάρεʼ ὑφαίνουσιν ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι· ἐν δʼ ὕδατʼ ἀενάοντα. δύω δέ τέ οἱ θύραι εἰσίν, αἱ μὲν πρὸς Βορέαο καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν, αἱ δʼ αὖ πρὸς Νότου εἰσὶ θεώτεραι· οὐδέ τι κείνῃ ἄνδρες ἐσέρχονται, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτων ὁδός ἐστιν. ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἰσέλασαν, πρὶν εἰδότες· ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα ἠπείρῳ ἐπέκελσεν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ ἥμισυ πάσης, σπερχομένη· τοῖον γὰρ ἐπείγετο χέρσʼ ἐρετάων· οἱ δʼ ἐκ νηὸς βάντες ἐϋζύγου ἤπειρόνδε πρῶτον Ὀδυσσῆα γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἄειραν αὐτῷ σύν τε λίνῳ καὶ ῥήγεϊ σιγαλόεντι, κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ ψαμάθῳ ἔθεσαν δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ, ἐκ δὲ κτήματʼ ἄειραν, ἅ οἱ Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην. καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης ἀθρόα θῆκαν

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Lines 123–127

Then they themselves returned home again. But the Shaker of the Earth did not forget the threats wherewith at the first he had threatened godlike Odysseus, and he thus enquired of the purpose of Zeus: “Father Zeus, no longer shall I, even I, be held in honor among the immortal gods, seeing that mortals honor me not a whit—

ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, μή πώς τις ὁδιτάων ἀνθρώπων, πρίν γʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἔγρεσθαι, ἐπελθὼν δηλήσαιτο· αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ οἶκόνδε πάλιν κίον. οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων λήθετʼ ἀπειλάων, τὰς ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησε, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·

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Poseidon to Zeus · divine

Lines 128–138

even the Phaeacians, who, thou knowest, are of my own lineage. For I but now declared that Odysseus should suffer many woes ere he reached his home, though I did not wholly rob him of his return when once thou hadst promised it and confirmed it with thy nod; yet in his sleep these men have borne him in a swift ship over the sea and set him down in Ithaca, and have given him gifts past telling, stores of bronze and gold and woven raiment, more than Odysseus would ever have won for himself from Troy, if he had returned unscathed with his due share of the spoil.”

Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὐκέτʼ ἐγώ γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι τιμήεις ἔσομαι, ὅτε με βροτοὶ οὔ τι τίουσιν, Φαίηκες, τοί πέρ τοι ἐμῆς ἔξ εἰσι γενέθλης. καὶ γὰρ νῦν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐφάμην κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντα οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· νόστον δέ οἱ οὔ ποτʼ ἀπηύρων πάγχυ, ἐπεὶ σὺ πρῶτον ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας. οἱ δʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔδοσαν δέ οἱ ἄσπετα δῶρα, χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν, πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς, εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληΐδος αἶσαν.

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nostos pascho

Lines 139

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς·

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Zeus to Poseidon · divine

Lines 140–145

“Ah me, thou shaker of the earth, wide of sway, what a thing hast thou said! The gods do thee no dishonor; hard indeed would it be to assail with dishonor our eldest and best. But as for men, if any one, yielding to his might and strength, fails to do thee honor in aught, thou mayest ever take vengeance, even thereafter. Do as thou wilt, and as is thy good pleasure.” Then Poseidon, the earth-shaker, answered him: “Straightway should I have done as thou sayest, thou god of the dark clouds, but I ever dread and avoid thy wrath. But now I am minded to smite the fair ship of the Phaeacians,

ὢ πόποι, ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες. οὔ τί σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴη πρεσβύτατον καὶ ἄριστον ἀτιμίῃσιν ἰάλλειν. ἀνδρῶν δʼ εἴ πέρ τίς σε βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων οὔ τι τίει. σοὶ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐξοπίσω τίσις αἰεί. ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.

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thumos

Lines 146

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

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Poseidon to Zeus · divine

Lines 147–152

as she comes back from his convoy on the misty deep, that hereafter they may desist and cease from giving convoy to men, and to fling a great mountain about their city.” Then Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, answered him and said: “Lazy one, hear what seems best in my sight.

αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼν ἔρξαιμι, κελαινεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις· ἀλλὰ σὸν αἰεὶ θυμὸν ὀπίζομαι ἠδʼ ἀλεείνω. νῦν αὖ Φαιήκων ἐθέλω περικαλλέα νῆα, ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ ῥαῖσαι, ἵνʼ ἤδη σχῶνται, ἀπολλήξωσι δὲ πομπῆς ἀνθρώπων, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.

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thumos

Lines 153

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

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Zeus to Poseidon · divine

Lines 154–158

When all the people are looking forth from the city upon her as she speeds on her way, then do thou turn her to stone hard by the land—a stone in the shape of a swift ship, that all men may marvel; and do thou fling a great mountain about their city.” Now when Poseidon, the earth-shaker, heard this

ὢ πέπον, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα, ὁππότε κεν δὴ πάντες ἐλαυνομένην προΐδωνται λαοὶ ἀπὸ πτόλιος, θεῖναι λίθον ἐγγύθι γαίης νηῒ θοῇ ἴκελον, ἵνα θαυμάζωσιν ἅπαντες ἄνθρωποι, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.

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thumos

Lines 159–167

he went his way to Scheria, where the Phaeacians dwell, and there he waited. And she drew close to shore, the seafaring ship, speeding swiftly on her way. Then near her came the Earth-shaker and turned her to stone, and rooted her fast beneath by a blow of the flat of his hand, and then he was gone. But they spoke winged words to one another, the Phaeacians of the long oars, men famed for their ships. And thus would one speak, with a glance at his neighbor: “Ah me, who has now bound our swift ship on the sea as she sped homeward? Lo, she was in plain sight.”

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων, βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς Σχερίην, ὅθι Φαίηκες γεγάασιν. ἔνθʼ ἔμενʼ· ἡ δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθε ποντοπόρος νηῦς ῥίμφα διωκομένη· τῆς δὲ σχεδὸν ἦλθʼ ἐνοσίχθων, ὅς μιν λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθε χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ ἐλάσας· ὁ δὲ νόσφι βεβήκει. οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες. ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

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Phaeacian.2 to Phaeacian.3

Lines 168–169

ὤ μοι, τίς δὴ νῆα θοὴν ἐπέδησʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ οἴκαδʼ ἐλαυνομένην; καὶ δὴ προὐφαίνετο πᾶσα.

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Lines 170–171

So would one of them speak, but they knew not how these things were to be. Then Alcinous addressed their company and said: “Lo now, verily the oracles of my father, uttered long ago, have come upon me. He was wont to say that Poseidon was wroth with us because we give safe convoy to all men.

ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε· τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο. τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

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Alcinous to Phaeacians

Lines 172–183

He said that some day, as a beautiful ship of the Phaeacians was returning from a convoy over the misty deep, Poseidon would smite her, and would fling a great mountain about our town. So that old man spoke, and lo, now all this is being brought to pass. But now come, as I bid let us all obey. Cease ye to give convoy to mortals, when anyone comes to our city, and let us sacrifice to Poseidon twelve choice bulls, if haply he may take pity, and not fling a lofty mountain about our town.”

ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ ἱκάνει πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων. φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέα, νῆα, ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν. ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται. ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες· πομπῆς μὲν παύσασθε βροτῶν, ὅτε κέν τις ἵκηται ἡμέτερον προτὶ ἄστυ· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρους δώδεκα κεκριμένους ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ, μηδʼ ἡμῖν περίμηκες ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψῃ.

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peitho

Lines 184–198

Thus they were praying to the lord Poseidon, the leaders and counsellors of the land of the Phaeacians, as they stood about the altar, but Odysseus awoke out of his sleep in his native land. Yet he knew it not after his long absence, for about him the goddess had shed a mist, even Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, that she might render him unknown, and tell him all things, so that his wife might not know him, nor his townsfolk, nor his friends, until the wooers had paid the full price of all their transgressions. Therefore all things seemed strange to their lord, the long paths, the bays offering safe anchorage, the sheer cliffs, and the luxuriant trees. So he sprang up and stood and looked upon his native land, and then he groaned and smote both of his thighs with the flat of his hands, and mournfully spoke, and said:

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἑτοιμάσσαντο δὲ ταύρους. ὣς οἱ μέν ῥʼ εὔχοντο Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι δήμου Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες, ἑσταότες περὶ βωμόν. ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς εὕδων ἐν γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, οὐδέ μιν ἔγνω, ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών· περὶ γὰρ θεὸς ἠέρα χεῦε Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διός, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν ἄγνωστον τεύξειεν ἕκαστά τε μυθήσαιτο, μή μιν πρὶν ἄλοχος γνοίη ἀστοί τε φίλοι τε, πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι. τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἀλλοειδέα φαινέσκετο πάντα ἄνακτι, ἀτραπιτοί τε διηνεκέες λιμένες τε πάνορμοι πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι καὶ δένδρεα τηλεθόωντα. στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας καί ῥʼ εἴσιδε πατρίδα γαῖαν· ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

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Lines 199

χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·

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Odysseus to Odysseus

Lines 200–216

“Woe is me, to the land of what mortals am I now come? Are they cruel, and wild, and unjust, or do they love strangers and fear the gods in their thoughts? Whither shall I bear all this wealth, or whither shall I myself go wandering on? Would that I had remained there among the Phaeacians, and had then come to some other of the mighty kings, who would have entertained me and sent me on my homeward way. But now I know not where to bestow this wealth; yet here will I not leave it, lest haply it become the spoil of others to my cost. Out upon them; not wholly wise, it seems, nor just were the leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians who have brought me to a strange land. Verily they said that they would bring me to clear-seen Ithaca, but they have not made good their word. May Zeus, the suppliant's god, requite them, who watches over all men, and punishes him that sins. But come, I will number the goods, and go over them, lest to my cost these men have carried off aught with them in the hollow ship.”

ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω; ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι, ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής; πῇ δὴ χρήματα πολλὰ φέρω τάδε; πῇ τε καὶ αὐτὸς πλάζομαι; αἴθʼ ὄφελον μεῖναι παρὰ Φαιήκεσσιν αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δέ κεν ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων ἐξικόμην, ὅς κέν μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ ἔπεμπε νέεσθαι. νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πῃ θέσθαι ἐπίσταμαι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοῦ καλλείψω, μή πώς μοι ἕλωρ ἄλλοισι γένηται. ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα πάντα νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι ἦσαν Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες, οἵ μʼ εἰς ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀπήγαγον, ἦ τέ μʼ ἔφαντο ἄξειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσαν. Ζεὺς σφέας τίσαιτο ἱκετήσιος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους ἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τίνυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ. ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀριθμήσω καὶ ἴδωμαι, μή τί μοι οἴχωνται κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγοντες.

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noos

Lines 217–227

he paced by the shore of the loud-sounding sea, uttering many a moan. And Athena drew near him in the form of a young man, a herdsman of sheep, one most delicate, as are the sons of princes. In a double fold about her shoulders she wore a well-wrought cloak, and beneath her shining feet she had sandals, and in her hands a spear. Then Odysseus was glad at sight of her, and came to meet her, and he spoke, and addressed her with winged words: “Friend, since thou art the first to whom I have come in this land, hail to thee, and mayst thou meet me with no evil mind.

ὣς εἰπὼν τρίποδας περικαλλέας ἠδὲ λέβητας ἠρίθμει καὶ χρυσὸν ὑφαντά τε εἵματα καλά. τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ ὀύ τι πόθει· ὁ δʼ ὀδύρετο πατρίδα γαῖαν ἑρπύζων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης, πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη, ἀνδρὶ δέμας εἰκυῖα νέῳ, ἐπιβώτορι μήλων, παναπάλῳ, οἷοί τε ἀνάκτων παῖδες ἔασι, δίπτυχον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχουσʼ εὐεργέα λώπην· ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσι πέδιλʼ ἔχε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄκοντα. τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ ἐναντίος ἦλθε, καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

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pothos

Odysseus to Athena-young Shepherd

Lines 228–235

Nay, save this treasure, and save me; for to thee do I pray, as to a god, and am come to thy dear knees. And tell me this also truly, that I may know full well. What land, what people is this? What men dwell here? Is it some clear-seen island, or a shore of the deep-soiled mainland that lies resting on the sea?” Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, answered him: “A fool art thou, stranger, or art come from far, if indeed thou askest of this land. Surely it is no wise so nameless, but full many know it,

ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε πρῶτα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ, χαῖρέ τε καὶ μή μοί τι κακῷ νόῳ ἀντιβολήσαις, ἀλλὰ σάω μὲν ταῦτα, σάω δʼ ἐμέ· σοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ γε εὔχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ καί σευ φίλα γούναθʼ ἱκάνω. καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ· τίς γῆ, τίς δῆμος, τίνες ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασιν; ἦ πού τις νήσων εὐδείελος, ἦέ τις ἀκτὴ κεῖθʼ ἁλὶ κεκλιμένη ἐριβώλακος ἠπείροιο;

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noos

Lines 236

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena-young Shepherd to Odysseus

Lines 237–249

both all those who dwell toward the dawn and the sun, and all those that are behind toward the murky darkness. It is a rugged isle, not fit for driving horses, yet it is not utterly poor, though it be but narrow. Therein grows corn beyond measure, and the wine-grape as well, and the rain never fails it, nor the rich dew. It is a good land for pasturing goats and kine; there are trees of every sort, and in it also pools for watering that fail not the year through. Therefore, stranger, the name of Ithaca has reached even to the land of Troy which, they say, is far from this land of Achaea.”

νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας, εἰ δὴ τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἀνείρεαι. οὐδέ τι λίην οὕτω νώνυμός ἐστιν· ἴσασι δέ μιν μάλα πολλοί, ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε, ἠδʼ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα. ἦ τοι μὲν τρηχεῖα καὶ οὐχ ἱππήλατός ἐστιν, οὐδὲ λίην λυπρή, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ εὐρεῖα τέτυκται. ἐν μὲν γάρ οἱ σῖτος ἀθέσφατος, ἐν δέ τε οἶνος γίγνεται· αἰεὶ δʼ ὄμβρος ἔχει τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἐέρση· αἰγίβοτος δʼ ἀγαθὴ καὶ βούβοτος· ἔστι μὲν ὕλη παντοίη, ἐν δʼ ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοὶ παρέασι. τῷ τοι, ξεῖνʼ, Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐς Τροίην ὄνομʼ ἵκει, τήν περ τηλοῦ φασὶν Ἀχαιΐδος ἔμμεναι αἴης.

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Lines 250–255

So she spake, and the much-enduring, goodly Odysseus was glad, and rejoiced in his land, the land of his fathers, as he heard the word of Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, who bears the aegis; and he spoke, and addressed her with winged words; yet he spoke not the truth, but checked the word ere it was uttered, ever revolving in his breast thoughts of great cunning: “I heard of Ithaca, even in broad Crete, far over the sea; and now have I myself come hither with these my goods. And I left as much more with my children, when I fled the land, after I had slain the dear son of Idomeneus,

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, ὥς οἱ ἔειπε Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς, αἰγιόχοιο· καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἀληθέα εἶπε, πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον, αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν·

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noos

Odysseus-cretan to Athena

Lines 256–286

Orsilochus, swift of foot, who in broad Crete surpassed in fleetness all men that live by toil. Now he would have robbed me of all that booty of Troy, for which I had borne grief of heart, passing through wars of men and the grievous waves, for that I would not shew favour to his father, and serve as his squire in the land of the Trojans, but commanded other men of my own. So I smote him with my bronze-tipped spear as he came home from the field, lying in wait for him with one of my men by the roadside. A dark night covered the heavens, and no man was ware of us, but unseen I took away his life. Now when I had slain him with the sharp bronze, I went straightway to a ship, and made prayer to the lordly Phoenicians, giving them booty to satisfy their hearts. I bade them take me aboard and land me at Pylos, or at goodly Elis, where the Epeans hold sway. Yet verily the force of the wind thrust them away from thence, sore against their will, nor did they purpose to play me false; but driven wandering from thence we came hither by night. With eager haste we rowed on into the harbor, nor had we any thought of supper, sore as was our need of it, but even as we were we went forth from the ship and lay down, one and all. Then upon me came sweet sleep in my weariness, but they took my goods out of the hollow ship and set them where I myself lay on the sands. And they went on board, and departed for the well-peopled land of Sidon; but I was left here, my heart sore troubled.”

πυνθανόμην Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ, τηλοῦ ὑπὲρ πόντου· νῦν δʼ εἰλήλουθα καὶ αὐτὸς χρήμασι σὺν τοίσδεσσι· λιπὼν δʼ ἔτι παισὶ τοσαῦτα φεύγω, ἐπεὶ φίλον υἷα κατέκτανον Ἰδομενῆος, Ὀρσίλοχον πόδας ὠκύν, ὃς ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ ἀνέρας ἀλφηστὰς νίκα ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν, οὕνεκά με στερέσαι τῆς ληΐδος ἤθελε πάσης Τρωϊάδος, τῆς εἵνεκʼ ἐγὼ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ, ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐχ ᾧ πατρὶ χαριζόμενος θεράπευον δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ἀλλʼ ἄλλων ἦρχον ἑταίρων. τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ κατιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ ἀγρόθεν, ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο λοχησάμενος σὺν ἑταίρῳ· νὺξ δὲ μάλα δνοφερὴ κάτεχʼ οὐρανόν, οὐδέ τις ἡμέας ἀνθρώπων ἐνόησε, λάθον δέ ἑ θυμὸν ἀπούρας. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε κατέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ, αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν Φοίνικας ἀγαυοὺς ἐλλισάμην, καί σφιν μενοεικέα ληΐδα δῶκα· τούς μʼ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι καὶ ἐφέσσαι ἢ εἰς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί. ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σφέας κεῖθεν ἀπώσατο ἲς ἀνέμοιο πόλλʼ ἀεκαζομένους, οὐδʼ ἤθελον ἐξαπατῆσαι. κεῖθεν δὲ πλαγχθέντες ἱκάνομεν ἐνθάδε νυκτός. σπουδῇ δʼ ἐς λιμένα προερέσσαμεν, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν δόρπου μνῆστις ἔην, μάλα περ χατέουσιν ἑλέσθαι, ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀποβάντες ἐκείμεθα νηὸς ἅπαντες. ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα, οἱ δὲ χρήματʼ ἐμὰ γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες κάτθεσαν, ἔνθα περ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἐκείμην. οἱ δʼ ἐς Σιδονίην εὖ ναιομένην ἀναβάντες ᾤχοντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.

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algea pascho thumos

Lines 287–290

And she spoke, and addressed him with winged words: “Cunning must he be and knavish, who would go beyond thee in all manner of guile, aye, though it were a god that met thee. Bold man, crafty in counsel, insatiate in deceit, not even in thine own land, it seems, wast thou to cease from guile

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη, χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ· καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

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Athena to Odysseus-cretan · divine

Lines 291–310

and deceitful tales, which thou lovest from the bottom of thine heart. But come, let us no longer talk of this, being both well versed in craft, since thou art far the best of all men in counsel and in speech, and I among all the gods am famed for wisdom and craft. Yet thou didst not know Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, even me, who ever stand by thy side, and guard thee in all toils. Aye, and I made thee beloved by all the Phaeacians. And now am I come hither to weave a plan with thee, and to hide all the treasure, which the lordly Phaeacians gave thee by my counsel and will, when thou didst set out for home; and to tell thee all the measure of woe it is thy fate to fulfil in thy well-built house. But do thou be strong, for bear it thou must, and tell no man of them all nor any woman that thou hast come back from thy wanderings, but in silence endure thy many griefs, and submit to the violence of men.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Hard is it, goddess, for a mortal man to know thee when he meets thee, how wise soever he be, for thou takest what shape thou wilt. But this I know well, that of old thou wast kindly toward me,

κερδαλέος κʼ εἴη καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ὅς σε παρέλθοι ἐν πάντεσσι δόλοισι, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειε. σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, δόλων ἆτʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες, οὐδʼ ἐν σῇ περ ἐὼν γαίῃ, λήξειν ἀπατάων μύθων τε κλοπίων, οἵ τοι πεδόθεν φίλοι εἰσίν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα, εἰδότες ἄμφω κέρδεʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ μέν ἐσσι βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν πᾶσι θεοῖσι μήτι τε κλέομαι καὶ κέρδεσιν· οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔγνως Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην, κούρην Διός, ἥ τέ τοι αἰεὶ ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω, καὶ δέ σε Φαιήκεσσι φίλον πάντεσσιν ἔθηκα, νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην, ἵνα τοι σὺν μῆτιν ὑφήνω χρήματά τε κρύψω, ὅσα τοι Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι ἐμῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε, εἴπω θʼ ὅσσα τοι αἶσα δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσι κήδεʼ ἀνασχέσθαι· σὺ δὲ τετλάμεναι καὶ ἀνάγκῃ, μηδέ τῳ ἐκφάσθαι μήτʼ ἀνδρῶν μήτε γυναικῶν, πάντων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθες ἀλώμενος, ἀλλὰ σιωπῇ πάσχειν ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.

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algea noos pascho tlao

Lines 311

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

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Odysseus-cretan to Athena

Lines 312–328

so long as we sons of the Achaeans were warring in the land of Troy. But after we had sacked the lofty city of Priam, and had gone away in our ships, and a god had scattered the Achaeans, never since then have I seen thee, daughter of Zeus, nor marked thee coming on board my ship, that thou mightest ward off sorrow from me. Nay, I ever wandered on, bearing in my breast a stricken heart, till the gods delivered me from evil, even until in the rich land of the Phaeacians thou didst cheer me with thy words, and thyself lead me to their city. But now I beseech thee by thy father—for I think not that I am come to clear-seen Ithaca; nay, it is some other land over which I roam, and thou, methinks, dost speak thus in mockery to beguile my mind—tell me whether in very truth I am come to my dear native land.”

ἀργαλέον σε, θεά, γνῶναι βροτῷ ἀντιάσαντι, καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ· σὲ γὰρ αὐτὴν παντὶ ἐΐσκεις. τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδʼ, ὅτι μοι πάρος ἠπίη ἦσθα, ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν, βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς, οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἴδον, κούρη Διός, οὐδʼ ἐνόησα νηὸς ἐμῆς ἐπιβᾶσαν, ὅπως τί μοι ἄλγος ἀλάλκοις. ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἔχων δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ ἠλώμην, ἧός με θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν· πρίν γʼ ὅτε Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ θάρσυνάς τε ἔπεσσι καὶ ἐς πόλιν ἤγαγες αὐτή. νῦν δέ σε πρὸς πατρὸς γουνάζομαι—οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω ἥκειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, ἀλλά τινʼ ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀναστρέφομαι· σὲ δὲ κερτομέουσαν ὀΐω ταῦτʼ ἀγορευέμεναι, ἵνʼ ἐμὰς φρένας ἠπεροπεύσῃς— εἰπέ μοι εἰ ἐτεόν γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκάνω.

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algea phren

Lines 329

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Odysseus-cretan · divine

Lines 330–351

“Ever such is the thought in thy breast, and therefore it is that I cannot leave thee in thy sorrow, for thou art soft of speech, keen of wit, and prudent. Eagerly would another man on his return from wanderings have hastened to behold in his halls his children and his wife; but thou art not yet minded to know or learn of aught, till thou hast furthermore proved thy wife, who abides as of old in her halls, and ever sorrowfully for her the nights and days wane, as she weeps. But as for me, I never doubted of this, but in my heart knew it well, that thou wouldest come home after losing all thy comrades. Yet, thou must know, I was not minded to strive against Poseidon, my father's brother, who laid up wrath in his heart against thee, angered that thou didst blind his dear son. But come, I will shew thee the land of Ithaca, that thou mayest be sure. This is the harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea, and here at the head of the harbor is the long-leafed olive tree, and near it is the pleasant, shadowy cave, sacred to the nymphs that are called Naiads. This, thou must know, is the vaulted cave in which thou wast wont to offer to the nymphs many hecatombs that bring fulfillment; and yonder is Mount Neriton, clothed with its forests.” So spake the goddess, and scattered the mist, and the land appeared. Glad then was the much-enduring, goodly Odysseus, rejoicing in his own land, and he kissed the earth, the giver of grain.

αἰεί τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα· τῷ σε καὶ οὐ δύναμαι προλιπεῖν δύστηνον ἐόντα, οὕνεκʼ ἐπητής ἐσσι καὶ ἀγχίνοος καὶ ἐχέφρων. ἀσπασίως γάρ κʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν ἵετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἰδέειν παῖδάς τʼ ἄλοχόν τε· σοὶ δʼ οὔ πω φίλον ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὐδὲ πυθέσθαι, πρίν γʼ ἔτι σῆς ἀλόχου πειρήσεαι, ἥ τέ τοι αὔτως ἧσται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν, ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ. αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀπίστεον, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ ᾔδεʼ, ὃ νοστήσεις ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους· ἀλλά τοι οὐκ ἐθέλησα Ποσειδάωνι μάχεσθαι πατροκασιγνήτῳ, ὅς τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ, χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας. ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι δείξω Ἰθάκης ἕδος, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς. Φόρκυνος μὲν ὅδʼ ἐστὶ λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος, ἥδε δʼ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη· ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές, ἱρὸν νυμφάων, αἳ νηϊάδες καλέονται· τοῦτο δέ τοι σπέος ἐστὶ κατηρεφές, ἔνθα σὺ πολλὰς ἔρδεσκες νύμφῃσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας· τοῦτο δὲ Νήριτόν ἐστιν ὄρος καταειμένον ὕλῃ.

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nostos peitho thumos

Lines 352–355

And straightway he prayed to the nymphs with upstretched hands: “Ye Naiad Nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I think to behold you again, but now I hail you with loving prayers. Aye, and gifts too will I give, as aforetime, if the daughter of Zeus, she that drives the spoil, shall graciously grant me

ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ σκέδασʼ ἠέρα, εἴσατο δὲ χθών· γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν. αὐτίκα δὲ νύμφῃς ἠρήσατο, χεῖρας ἀνασχών·

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Odysseus-cretan to Nymphs

Lines 356–360

to live, and shall bring to manhood my dear son.” Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, answered him again: “Be of good cheer, and let not these things distress thy heart. But let us now forthwith set thy goods in the innermost recess of the wondrous cave, where they may abide for thee in safety,

νύμφαι νηϊάδες, κοῦραι Διός, οὔ ποτʼ ἐγώ γε ὄψεσθʼ ὔμμʼ ἐφάμην· νῦν δʼ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσι χαίρετʼ· ἀτὰρ καὶ δῶρα διδώσομεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, αἴ κεν ἐᾷ πρόφρων με Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη αὐτόν τε ζώειν καί μοι φίλον υἱὸν ἀέξῃ.

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Lines 361

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Odysseus-cretan · divine

Lines 362–365

and let us ourselves take thought how all may be far the best.”

θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων. ἀλλὰ χρήματα μὲν μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο θείμεν αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ· αὐτοὶ δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.

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phren

Lines 366–374

These things he carefully laid away, and Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, who bears the aegis, set a stone at the door. Then the two sat them down by the trunk of the sacred olive tree, and devised death for the insolent wooers. And the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, was the first to speak, saying:

ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ δῦνε σπέος ἠεροειδές, μαιομένη κευθμῶνας ἀνὰ σπέος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἆσσον πάντʼ ἐφόρει, χρυσὸν καὶ ἀτειρέα χαλκὸν εἵματά τʼ εὐποίητα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν. καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε, λίθον δʼ ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσι Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο. τὼ δὲ καθεζομένω ἱερῆς παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης φραζέσθην μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὄλεθρον. τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Odysseus · divine

Lines 375–381

“Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, take thought how thou mayest put forth thy hands on the shameless wooers, who now for three years have been lording it in thy halls, wooing thy godlike wife, and offering wooers' gifts. And she, as she mournfully looks for thy coming, offers hopes to all, and has promises for each man, sending them messages, but her mind is set on other things.” Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: “Lo now, of a surety I was like to have perished in my halls by the evil fate of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ, φράζευ ὅπως μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσεις, οἳ δή τοι τρίετες μέγαρον κάτα κοιρανέουσι, μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες· ἡ δὲ σὸν αἰεὶ νόστον ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ, ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.

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noos nostos thumos

Lines 382

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

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Odysseus to Athena

Lines 383–391

hadst not thou, goddess, duly told me all. But come, weave some plan by which I may requite them; and stand thyself by my side, and endue me with dauntless courage, even as when we loosed the bright diadem of Troy. Wouldest thou but stand by my side, thou flashing-eyed one, as eager as thou wast then, I would fight even against three hundred men, with thee, mighty goddess, if with a ready heart thou wouldest give me aid.” Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, answered him: “Yea verily, I will be with thee, and will not forget thee, when we are busied with this work; and methinks many a one

ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο φθίσεσθαι κακὸν οἶτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμελλον, εἰ μή μοι σὺ ἕκαστα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες. ἀλλʼ ἄγε μῆτιν ὕφηνον, ὅπως ἀποτίσομαι αὐτούς· πὰρ δέ μοι αὐτὴ στῆθι, μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνεῖσα, οἷον ὅτε Τροίης λύομεν λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα. αἴ κέ μοι ὣς μεμαυῖα παρασταίης, γλαυκῶπι, καί κε τριηκοσίοισιν ἐγὼν ἄνδρεσσι μαχοίμην σὺν σοί, πότνα θεά, ὅτε μοι πρόφρασσʼ ἐπαρήγοις.

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menos

Lines 392

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Odysseus · divine

Lines 393–415

of the wooers that devour thy substance shall bespatter the vast earth with his blood and brains. But come, I will make thee unknown to all mortals. I will shrivel the fair skin on thy supple limbs, and destroy the flaxen hair from off thy head, and clothe thee in a ragged garment, such that one would shudder to see a man clad therein. And I will dim thy two eyes that were before so beautiful, that thou mayest appear mean in the sight of all the wooers, and of thy wife, and of thy son, whom thou didst leave in thy halls. And for thyself, do thou go first of all to the swineherd who keeps thy swine, and withal has a kindly heart towards thee, and loves thy son and constant Penelope. Thou wilt find him abiding by the swine, and they are feeding by the rock of Corax and the spring Arethusa, eating acorns to their heart's content and drinking the black water, things which cause the rich flesh of swine to wax fat. There do thou stay, and sitting by his side question him of all things, while I go to Sparta, the land of fair women, to summon thence Telemachus, thy dear son, Odysseus, who went to spacious Lacedaemon to the house of Menelaus, to seek tidings of thee, if thou wast still anywhere alive.”

καὶ λίην τοι ἐγώ γε παρέσσομαι, οὐδέ με λήσεις, ὁππότε κεν δὴ ταῦτα πενώμεθα· καί τινʼ ὀΐω αἵματί τʼ ἐγκεφάλῳ τε παλαξέμεν ἄσπετον οὖδας ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε σʼ ἄγνωστον τεύξω πάντεσσι βροτοῖσι· κάρψω μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι, ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὀλέσω τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῖφος ἕσσω ὅ κε στυγέῃσιν ἰδὼν ἄνθρωπον ἔχοντα, κνυζώσω δέ τοι ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε, ὡς ἂν ἀεικέλιος πᾶσι μνηστῆρσι φανήῃς σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ παιδί, τὸν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες. αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι, ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδε, παῖδά τε σὸν φιλέει καὶ ἐχέφρονα Πηνελόπειαν. δήεις τόν γε σύεσσι παρήμενον· αἱ δὲ νέμονται πὰρ Κόρακος πέτρῃ ἐπί τε κρήνῃ Ἀρεθούσῃ, ἔσθουσαι βάλανον μενοεικέα καὶ μέλαν ὕδωρ πίνουσαι, τά θʼ ὕεσσι τρέφει τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφήν. ἔνθα μένειν καὶ πάντα παρήμενος ἐξερέεσθαι, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἔλθω Σπάρτην ἐς καλλιγύναικα Τηλέμαχον καλέουσα, τεὸν φίλον υἱόν, Ὀδυσσεῦ· ὅς τοι ἐς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα πὰρ Μενέλαον ᾤχετο πευσόμενος μετὰ σὸν κλέος, εἴ που ἔτʼ εἴης.

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Lines 416

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

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Odysseus to Athena

Lines 417–419

τίπτε τʼ ἄρʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπες, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πάντα ἰδυῖα; ἦ ἵνα που καὶ κεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχῃ πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· βίοτον δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔδουσι;

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algea pascho phren

Lines 420

Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, answered him: “Nay verily, not for him be thy heart overmuch troubled. It was I that guided him, that he might win good report by going thither, and he has no toil, but sits in peace in the palace of the son of Atreus, and good cheer past telling is before him.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Odysseus · divine

Lines 421–428

Truly young men in a black ship lie in wait for him, eager to slay him before he comes to his native land, but methinks this shall not be. Ere that shall the earth cover many a one of the wooers that devour thy substance.” So saying, Athena touched him with her wand.

μὴ δή τοι κεῖνός γε λίην ἐνθύμιος ἔστω. αὐτή μιν πόμπευον, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο κεῖσʼ ἐλθών· ἀτὰρ οὔ τινʼ ἔχει πόνον, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος ἧσται ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο δόμοις, παρὰ δʼ ἄσπετα κεῖται. ἦ μέν μιν λοχόωσι νέοι σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ, ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι· ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω, πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.

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Lines 429–440

She withered the fair flesh on his supple limbs, and destroyed the flaxen hair from off his head, and about all his limbs she put the skin of an aged old man. And she dimmed his two eyes that were before so beautiful, and clothed him in other raiment, a vile ragged cloak and a tunic, tattered garments and foul, begrimed with filthy smoke. And about him she cast the great skin of a swift hind, stripped of the hair, and she gave him a staff, and a miserable wallet, full of holes, slung by a twisted cord. So when the two had thus taken counsel together, they parted; and thereupon the goddess went to goodly Lacedaemon to fetch the son of Odysseus.

ὣς ἄρα μιν φαμένη ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη. κάρψεν μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι, ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὄλεσε τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα πάντεσσιν μελέεσσι παλαιοῦ θῆκε γέροντος, κνύζωσεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, ῥωγαλέα ῥυπόωντα, κακῷ μεμορυγμένα καπνῷ· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μέγα δέρμα ταχείης ἕσσʼ ἐλάφοιο, ψιλόν· δῶκε δέ οἱ σκῆπτρον καὶ ἀεικέα πήρην, πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ. τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν. ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν ἔβη μετὰ παῖδʼ Ὀδυσῆος.

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