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 arV10832 
 
 The Odyssey of Homer. 
 
 3 1924 031 305 620 
 
The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031305620 
 
THE 
 
 ODYSSEY OF HOMER 
 
 BOOKS V— VIII. 
 
 Rendered into English Blank Verse 
 
 BY 
 
 W. CUDWORTH, M. Inst. C.E. 
 
 T. C. H. Bowser, Printer, Prebend Row, 
 1893. 
 
 No/ Published. 
 
The Song of Demodocus in the Eighth Book 
 
 is omitted. 
 
BOOK V. 
 
 CALYPSO. 
 
 The Bark built by Odysseus wrecked 
 through the anger of poseidon. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 Up from her couch by loved Tithonus' side 
 Rose Eos, to the immortals and to man 
 Dispensing light. And in a conclave sat 
 The gods, and in their midst high-thundering Zeus, 
 Mightiest of all : to whom Athene told 
 What trouble for Odysseus filled her breast. 
 For, lingering in the dwelling of the Nymph, 
 He was her care. " O father Zeus, and ye 
 Blessed immortal gods, in time to come 
 Let not a sceptred king be mild and kind. 
 And gracious, and a doer of the right ; 
 But let him ever be morose, and work 
 Unseemly things, since none of all the men 
 O'er whom he reigned, has cared to bear in mind 
 Godlike Odysseus, though he dealt with them 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 As would a father. But he in an isle 
 
 Abides, a prey to grief, within the hall 
 
 Of Nymph Calypso, who against his will 
 
 Detains him ; and he cannot reach again 
 
 His father-land. For not with him are ships 
 
 With oars, or comrades true, to carry him 
 
 Across the bosom of the vasty deep. 
 
 Now too his son beloved they seek to slay 
 
 Returning home, to sacred Pylos gone, 
 
 And heaven-blessed Lacedemon, if perchance 
 
 Some tidings of his father he might learn." 
 
 And cloud-compelling Zeus thus answered her : 
 
 " My daughter, what strange words have ventured 
 
 through 
 The ring-fence of thy teeth 1 Was't not thyself 
 Who counselled this, that when Odysseus comes. 
 He may requite them .'' But (thou hast the power). 
 Send thou Telemachus with guidance true ; 
 So may he scatheless gain his father-land, 
 And the foiled suitors go the way they came." 
 He said : and turning to his son beloved, 
 Hermes, he gave command. " Go, Hermes, tejl 
 The fair-haired Nymph, (for errands oft are thine,) 
 How patient-souled Odysseus shall depart ; 
 And that not by the sending of the gods 
 Or mortal men ; but on a well-bound bark 
 Through many hardships, on the twentieth day 
 He shall land safe on fruitful Scheria's shore. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Domain of the Phseakians, godlike men, 
 Who like a god will truly reverence him, 
 And in a ship to his dear father-land 
 Conduct him, giving him of brass and gold 
 Abundance, raiment too in plenty, such 
 As ne'er Odysseus bore away from Troy ; 
 Although he came unscathed and not without 
 His meed of spoil. For he, by fate's decree, 
 Shall see his friends and enter yet again 
 His high-roofed hall and much-loved father-land." 
 So said he, nor did Hermes disobey. 
 At once upon his feet his sandals fair 
 He bound, immortal, golden, bearing him 
 Fleet as the wind across the watery waste, 
 And boundless desert. And he took his wand 
 Wherewith he lulls the eyes of whom he will, 
 And rouses others from their heavy sleep. 
 This grasping in his hands, across the land 
 Pieria flew the Argus-slayer ; soon 
 Quitting the sky he plunged into the deep. 
 And like a sea-gull skimmed across the waves. 
 Who fishing on dread ocean's troubled breast. 
 Dips her dense plumage in the briny sea. 
 So sped on Hermes o'er the countless waves. 
 But when to the far-distant isle he came, 
 He left the purple sea, and took the land 
 And passed on till a lofty cave he reached 
 Where dwelt the fair-haired Nymph, whom there he 
 found. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 A great fire blazed upon the hearth, and far 
 
 Around the island spread the odorous fume 
 
 Of burning cedar and of thuia logs. 
 
 With a clear voice she sang within the cave, 
 
 The while the loom she tended, and a web 
 
 Wove with a golden shuttle. All around 
 
 Her dwelling a luxuriant thicket grew, 
 
 Alder and poplar, and of fragrant scent 
 
 The cypress. Nestled there the long-winged birds. 
 
 Owls, hawks, and screeching sea-fowl, birds who 
 
 haunt 
 The mighty deep. And round the grotto's mouth 
 A fruitful vine was trained wherefrom there hung 
 Clusters of grapes. And sparkled there four springs 
 Of limpid water, separate but near 
 Each other, and diverging diverse ways. 
 And bordering them there smiled a pleasant mead 
 Of violets and parsley, where if one — 
 E'en of the immortals came, the sight of it 
 His heart would cheer. There standing, gazed around 
 The Argus-slayer ; — when at length his mind 
 Had realised the scene, the grotto wide 
 He forthwith entered, and the goddess fair 
 Failed not to recognize him when she looked. 
 For to each other the immortal gods 
 Are never strange, though dwelling far apart. 
 High-souled Odysseus found he not within, 
 For he was sitting weeping on the shore. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 As was his wont, and troubled sore at heart, 
 
 Groaning gazed sadly on the barren sea. 
 
 Calypso questioned Hermes, seating him 
 
 Upon a sumptuous chair : " Why comest thou 
 
 Hermes with golden wand, my worshipful 
 
 And friendly guest ? Thou hast not hitherto 
 
 This isle frequented ! Say what fills thy mind ! 
 
 Thy wishes I would gladly bring to pass. 
 
 But come and let me first before thee place 
 
 The stranger's due." So saying she set out 
 
 A table, and ambrosia laid thereon. 
 
 And mixed red nectar. And then ate and drank 
 
 The guide and Argus-slayer. And what time 
 
 His meal was ended and his heart made glad 
 
 With fair Calypso's cheer, her answering. 
 
 He said : " A goddess, thou hast questioned me, 
 
 A god, about my coming ; wherefore I 
 
 Will tell thee truly, since thou biddest me. 
 
 'Twas Zeus who ordered me to come to thee, 
 
 Though all reluctant, for who willingly 
 
 Would dare to cross so vast a watery waste. 
 
 No city have men there, nor render they 
 
 Choice hecatombs and offerings to the gods, 
 
 But 'tis not in the power of any god 
 
 To baffle or o'erreach the will of Zeus 
 
 The .iEgis-bearer. Here with thee abides, 
 
 Saith he, the man most woe-begone of all 
 
 Who fought round Priam's walls nine years, and in 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 The tenth o'erthrew them, and set off for home. 
 But on their way they 'gainst Athene sinned, 
 Who baffled them with raging winds and waves. 
 Then perished in the deep his comrades good. 
 But him the gale cast on this island shore ; 
 And now he bids thee promptly let him go, 
 For fate decreeth not that, far from friends. 
 He here shall die ; his destiny is yet 
 To look upon his loved ones and regain 
 His lofty-roofed abode and father-land." 
 So spake he, and Calypso, goddess fair. 
 Trembled, and answered him with winged words : 
 " Hard-hearted are ye, gods, and jealous more 
 Than all, who grudge that goddesses should couch 
 With men, though I would make one openly 
 My spouse beloved. So rosy-fingered Dawn 
 Choosing Orion, stirred the jealousy 
 Of the ease-loving gods, till Artemis 
 Chaste and gold-throned with her painless darts 
 Sought for him in Ortygia and slew. 
 And so again Demeter when she bent 
 Her will to lasion, in a thrice-ploughed field 
 Mingling in love, was not long unobserved 
 By Zeus, who with his vivid lightning's flash 
 Smote him. And now, ye gods, ye suffer not 
 Me to be mated with a mortal man. 
 And yet I saved him, drifting all alone 
 Astride the keel when all his ship was rent 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 
 
 By Zeus's lightning in the wine-dark deep. 
 
 And therein perished all his comrades true. 
 
 But him the raging waves cast on my shore. 
 
 And much I loved and cherished him, and thought 
 
 To make him deathless, nor to know old age 
 
 In all his days. But now — since other gods 
 
 Are powerless to thwart the will of Zeus, 
 
 The jEgis-bearer — let him roam away 
 
 Across the barren sea, if Zeus incites 
 
 And bids him : but the means are not with me 
 
 To send him. Not with me are well-benched ships 
 
 Nor oarsmen who might carry him across 
 
 The ocean's vast expanse. But willingly 
 
 Will I suggest to him, concealing nought, 
 
 How he may scatheless reach his father-land." 
 
 Then answered her the Argus-slayer: " Now, 
 
 Aid thou his going, and regard with awe 
 
 The wrath of Zeus, lest in the time to come 
 
 He bear a grudge against thee." Saying this. 
 
 Vanished the mighty Argus-slayer. When 
 
 The queenly Nymph the message thought upon 
 
 Of Zeus, Odysseus lofty-souled she sought. 
 
 And found reclining on the shore, and ne'er 
 
 Were tears wiped from his eyes, but ebbed away 
 
 His precious life with weeping for his home. 
 
 For no more took he pleasure in the Nymph, 
 
 Yet nightly slept, constrained, not willingly 
 
 With her who wished it in the polished cave. 
 
lO THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 And day through, sitting on the rocks and sands, 
 Heart-broken, full of tears and groans and grief. 
 He gazed upon the dreary ocean's face. 
 Then standing at his side the goddess said : 
 "O fate-crushed man, no longer sit and weep, 
 Nor wear thy life away ; for now I'll work 
 For thy departure : so come, hew long beams 
 With fitting tools, and make a roomy craft. 
 And fix thereon a deck, that so thou mayst 
 Be safely borne across the murky deep. 
 And water will I stow in her and food, 
 And ruddy wine in plenty, so there'll be 
 No fear of famine. Raiment too I'll give, 
 And after thee a favouring breeze I'll send ; 
 So mayst thou scatheless win thy father-land. 
 May the gods grant it thee who boundless heaven 
 Possess, whose purposes and deeds are far 
 Beyond my own 1 " So said she, and divine 
 Odysseus, much enduring, shuddering gave 
 Answer in winged words : " Some other thing 
 Surely, O goddess, fills thy mind, and not 
 My safe despatch, who bid'st me in a bark 
 Traverse the mighty deep so full of dread 
 And hazard, where no swift and gallant ships 
 Sail proudly, prospered by the winds of heaven. 
 I will not go to sea upon this craft 
 Without thy favour, nor unless thou swear 
 A mighty oath, O goddess, that no harm, 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. I I 
 
 In any shape shall come to me from thee." 
 
 So said he, and divine Calypso smiled, 
 
 And with her hand caressed him, and in tone 
 
 Familiar spoke : " In sooth thou art a rogue. 
 
 And in thy heart is no simplicity, 
 
 Who such an oath hast thought to ask from me ! 
 
 Witness, O earth, and boundless heaven above. 
 
 And stream of Styx down-flowing, (highest oath 
 
 And awfullest among the blessed gods,) 
 
 No harm in any shape will I devise 
 
 Against thee, but what things my mind suggests. 
 
 Are such as I would for myself contrive 
 
 Did need arise. For well I know what's just, 
 
 Nor is there in my breast an iron heart. 
 
 But merciful." This said, the goddess fair 
 
 Led on with rapid step, and followed her 
 
 Odysseus, and the goddess and the man 
 
 Came to the polished cave, and there he sat 
 
 Upon the chair by Hermes lately left. 
 
 And food and drink she then before him set, 
 
 To cheer his heart, such food as mortals eat ; 
 
 And fronting him she sat, and serving maids 
 
 For her ambrosia and nectar brought. 
 
 The feast made ready, on the well-spread board 
 
 They laid their hands. And when they'd pleased 
 
 themselves 
 With food and drink. Calypso, goddess fair, 
 Her words began : " Laertes' Zeus-sprung son. 
 
12 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Crafty Odysseus, so thou now wouldst go 
 
 Back to thy home and much-loved father-land ? 
 
 Yet shall my blessing go with thee ! But if 
 
 Thou knews't the troubles fate designs for thee 
 
 Before thou comest to thy father-land, 
 
 Thou wouldst remain with me in this abode, 
 
 And mightst be free from death, though longing sore 
 
 To see thy wife, on whom from day to day 
 
 Thy thoughts are ever turning with desire. 
 
 She cannot surely rival me in form 
 
 Or stature, for no mortal dame may vie 
 
 With goddesses in figure and in look." 
 
 Wary Odysseus answered her and said : 
 
 " Dread goddess, be not grieved with me for this ; 
 
 Right well I know Penelope the wise 
 
 Cannot compare with thee in stateliness 
 
 And noble presence, for she mortal is. 
 
 And thou'rt immortal, and of endless youth. 
 
 But still day after day, I wish and hope 
 
 To gain my home, and see the joyful time 
 
 Of my return. But if perchance a god 
 
 Should wreck me in the deep, I will endure 
 
 And nurse within my breast a patient soul. 
 
 For many a time I've borne, and striven hard 
 
 With angry billows, and with foes in fight ; 
 
 'Twill only be once more.'' He said, and sank 
 
 The sun, and darkness spread o'er land and sea. 
 
 Then to the sm.ooth cave's inmost nook they two 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 1 3 
 
 Wended their way, and couching side by side, 
 Solaced themselves with love. — And when the Dawn, 
 Mist-born and rosy-fingered, brought her light. 
 Straightway Odysseus donned his vest and cloak. 
 And round her threw the nymph her mantle, wide 
 And silver grey, fine wove, a joy to see. 
 And round her waist a girdle fair she clasped. 
 With gold inwrought, and drew across her face 
 A veil ; and then addressed herself to plan 
 High-souled Odysseus' voyage. First an axe 
 She gave him, weighty, suited to his arms. 
 Brazen and double-edged, with fair-carved helve 
 Of olive wood fast-wedged ; and then she gave 
 A brightly-finished adze, and led the way 
 To her isle's verge, where flourished giant trees 
 Alder, and poplar, and heaven-stretching pine. 
 Sapless, well-seasoned, buoyant on the wave. 
 And having shown him where the tall trees grew, 
 The goddess, fair Calypso, to her home 
 Withdrew. But he began to hew the beams, 
 And soon the work was done. Twice ten in all 
 He felled, and squared and dressed right knowingly 
 With line and rule. Meanwhile Calypso brought 
 An auger, and he bored the treenail holes, 
 And fitted each to each, and firmly drove 
 The treenails home, and fastened well the clamps. 
 As a skilled craftsman rounds a vessel's hull. 
 Some roomy cargo-bearer, so upon 
 
14 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 His broad-beamed barge Odysseus toiled and wrought. 
 
 The half-decks to the frequent ribs he fixed, 
 
 And finally the long side planks secured. 
 
 And then he made a mast, and matched it with 
 
 A yard to spread a sail, and added too 
 
 A rudder to direct her course aright. 
 
 And for a shelter from the waves he made 
 
 A bulwark all around of osier-work. 
 
 And took in ballast. And the goddess fair. 
 
 Calypso, brought meanwhile a web to make 
 
 The sail ; and well he fashioned it ; and sheets 
 
 And braces he attached, and needed gear. 
 
 With levers then he prised his vessel down, 
 
 And launched her into ocean's wide expanse. 
 
 'Twas the fourth day when all his work was done ; 
 
 And on the fifth. Calypso from her isle 
 
 Dismissed him. Having laved him in a bath. 
 
 And clad in fragrant robes, the goddess then 
 
 Brought him a wine-skin full of dark red wine, 
 
 A water-skin much larger, and she filled 
 
 A leathern sack with food and put therein 
 
 Meats in abundance pleasant to the taste. 
 
 And sent for him a fair and balmy wind. 
 
 Rejoicing in the breeze the godlike man 
 
 Hoisted his sail, and like a seaman true. 
 
 Sat at the helm. And on his eye-lids sleep 
 
 Fell not, but still the Pleiades he watched, 
 
 Bootes, slow to set, and Arctus, called 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 1 5 
 
 The wain by some, which ever in his course 
 
 Watches Orion and in ocean's bath 
 
 Dips not. For this, Calypso, goddess fair. 
 
 Bade him keep on his left hand as he sped 
 
 Across the deep. So seventeen days he sailed, 
 
 And on the eighteenth loomed dim shadowy hills. 
 
 The land of the Phaeakians, where its coast 
 
 Was nearest to him. Like a shield it seemed 
 
 Upon the hazy sea. — From Solyma's 
 
 Far-distant heights the mighty Earth-shaker 
 
 Spied him, a lonely mariner, as back 
 
 He came from ^Ethiopia's far-off land. 
 
 Hot anger filled his breast, and with a nod 
 
 Of his dread head he made this inward vow. 
 
 " I'st so ? The gods then must have greatly changed 
 
 Their purpose towards Odysseus while I've been 
 
 Among the .(Ethiopians, for indeed 
 
 He's close to land where dwell Phseakian men. 
 
 And where his woes, (for such is fate's decree,) 
 
 Shall find an end. But now, I promise him, 
 
 I yet will drive him to his heart's content 
 
 On misery's path." So saying, he heaped up 
 
 The clouds, and made commotion in the deep, 
 
 Trident in hand, and guided all the blasts 
 
 Of all the winds, and blotted out with clouds 
 
 Both land and sea ; and black as night it seemed. 
 
 The east wind and the south, and stormy west, 
 
 And sky-born north wind all their forces joined. 
 
1 6 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Rolling huge waves. And then Odysseus' limbs 
 
 And heart gave way, and in his troubled soul 
 
 He groaned : " Oh, wretched me ; what's come at 
 
 last ? 
 I fear the goddess spoke too true a word, 
 Who told me I should have my fill of woe 
 On ocean's breast, ere ever I should see 
 My father-land ; and now all comes to pass. 
 With such black clouds has Zeus the vault of heaven 
 O'erspread, so raised the sea, and sent the blasts 
 Of all the winds : my ruin now is sure ! 
 Thrice happy are the Greeks, ay four times so, 
 Who perished on the spacious plain of Troy 
 To gratify the Atridae. Would that fate 
 Had met me and I had died what time the spears 
 Of Trojan warriors all around me flew. 
 As o'er the corpse of Peleus' son I stood ! 
 Then would my obsequies have been the care 
 Of Grecian comrades, and my glory great. 
 But now my lot is, by a wretched death 
 To be o'erwhelmed ! " A prey to these laments, 
 A huge o'ertopping wave with fearful dash 
 Caught him, and shook his bark in every beam. 
 Far from his craft he found himself — his hand 
 No more the tiller held. An awful blast 
 Of mingling winds burst on him, then his mast 
 Was snapped, and far to leeward sail and yard 
 Drifted away. Long time beneath the wave 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 1 7 
 
 He struggled, nor could soon bear up against 
 
 The angry surge, for he was weighted with 
 
 The garments that divine Calypso gave. 
 
 At length his head emerged, and from his mouth 
 
 He spat the bitter brine which from his hair 
 
 Streamed down. But not e'en so, though sore 
 
 distressed, 
 Did he forget his bark ; but battling through 
 The waves, he seized her, and amidship clomb. 
 So shunning present death ; and to and fro 
 The mighty billows drove her. As along 
 The plain the autumn north wind drives the tufts 
 Of matted down of thistles, so the winds 
 Drove over ocean's breast Odysseus' craft. 
 The south wind would now send her to the north. 
 And now the east would yield her to the west 
 To be its sport. Him Ino noticed, slim 
 Of foot, Leucothea, child of Cadmus, once 
 Mortal with mortal voice, but who now shares 
 The honour of the gods in ocean's depths. 
 She pitied him, a miserable waif 
 Loaded with grief ; and rising from the sea 
 Flew like a gull, and settling on his bark, 
 Exclaimed : " Ill-fated man, say why hath so 
 The Earth-shaker, Poseidon, hated thee, 
 And heaped upon thee such a load of ill ? 
 Yet shall he not destroy thee, though indeed 
 He gladly would. But do exactly this ; 
 
1 8 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Thou dost not seem to be a witless man. 
 
 Strip off these garments and thy bark desert, 
 
 And give it to the winds, and with thy arms 
 
 Swimming, put forth thy utmost strength to gain 
 
 The land of the Phseakians, where thy life 
 
 Is safe. And this immortal mantle take 
 
 And bind beneath thy breast. No danger then 
 
 Of harm or death. But when thy arms shall grasp 
 
 The solid ground, unloose it and cast off 
 
 Into the wine-dark sea, far out from land. 
 
 And from it turn away." With words like these 
 
 The goddess gave the mantle, and at once 
 
 Into the seething deep she dipped as does 
 
 A sea-gull, and the dark waves covered her. 
 
 But doubted much the godlike suffering man 
 
 Who in deep trouble communed with himself. 
 
 " Ah me ! may none of the immortals weave 
 
 A plot for me again in bidding me 
 
 My bark abandon ! No such faith is mine. 
 
 Since with these eyes I've seen the land far off 
 
 Where, as 'tis said, a refuge I shall find. 
 
 But this I'll do, as seems to me the best. 
 
 So long as my ship's fastenings keep their hold, 
 
 I'll stay on board, and bear my load of woe ; 
 
 But when she breaks up vanquished by the storm, 
 
 I'll swim, for then no other course remains." 
 
 As thus he ruminated in his breast, 
 
 Poseidon, Earth-shaker, a monster wave 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 1 9 
 
 Raised up: o'ertopping, awful, on it rushed, 
 And burst upon him. As a gusty wind 
 Catches a heap of chaff and scatters it 
 This way and that way, so the gale dispersed 
 His ship's long timbers. But upon one beam 
 Odysseus mounted, as a man bestrides 
 A courser, and from off his body tore 
 The garments that divine Calypso gave. 
 The mantle then he bound beneath his breast. 
 And on the deep fell prone with arms astretch 
 To swim his best. The mighty Earth-shaker 
 Saw him and tossed his head in wrath, and thus 
 Said to himself: " Roam now across the deep 
 In this wise, worn with many grievous ills, 
 Until thou mix with men beloved of Zeus ; 
 But not e'en so wilt thou think light, I hope. 
 Of thy misfortune." Saying this he lashed 
 His smooth-maned horses, and to JEgsi came, 
 His famed abode. But in Athene's mind, 
 Daughter of Zeus, another purpose sprang. 
 She checked the raging of the other winds 
 And bade them cease and wholly be at rest. 
 But sent a driving north wind and smoothed down 
 The waves before it, that Odysseus so 
 Might reach the oar-loving Phaeakians' shore. 
 And mix among them, shunning death and doom. 
 Two nights then, and two days he drifted o'er 
 The buoyant waves with death confronting him ; 
 
20 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 
 
 But when fair morning ushered in the third, 
 
 Then dropped the brisk breeze to a death-like calm, 
 
 And looking with keen eyes he saw the land 
 
 Not far away, as on a wave's huge back 
 
 He rode ; and like as children's hearts rejoice 
 
 At signs of health returning to their sire 
 
 When, by a grievous malady oppressed, 
 
 Long he has laid and pined, some demon foul 
 
 Possessing him, but whom the gods at length 
 
 Have freed from his affliction ; welcome so 
 
 Was to Odysseus sight of land and trees ; 
 
 And strenuously he swam to set his feet 
 
 Upon the solid ground. As on he toiled 
 
 Until his cry might reach it, then indeed 
 
 He heard the roar of breakers on the rocks. 
 
 And mighty waves that tumbled on the beach 
 
 With awful din, enwrapping all in foam. 
 
 For there no havens were that ships might seek, 
 
 Nor roadsteads, nought but jutting crags and rocks 
 
 Firm-bedded. And Odysseus felt his heart 
 
 And limbs give way, and in despondency 
 
 He communed with himself: "Ah me, when Zeus 
 
 Has granted against hope a glimpse of land, 
 
 And I have wrestled on and spanned this gulf, 
 
 Still am I prisoner on the hoary sea 
 
 With no way of escape, for rugged rocks 
 
 Fringe all the coast, and ceaseless breakers roar. 
 
 Sheer up the smooth rock runs, and close to shore 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 21 
 
 The sea is deep, and foothold there is none ; 
 
 Disaster's imminent. If I attempt 
 
 To land, a huge wave catching me may dash 
 
 Upon the stony reef my worn-out frame, 
 
 And make the effort fruitless. And if still 
 
 I swim along the coast in search of sands 
 
 Where shelter might be found, I greatly fear 
 
 Some sudden storm may snatch and drift me but 
 
 With heavy groans afar into the sea ; 
 
 Or that the god some monster of the deep 
 
 May send against me, of the progeny 
 
 Of Amphitrite famed, for well I know 
 
 How the great Earth-shaker hath hated me." 
 
 While he thus pondered in his heart and mind, 
 
 A big wave dashed him on the rugged beach. 
 
 Where had been torn his skin, and crashed his bones, 
 
 Had not Athene, gleaming-eyed, a thought 
 
 Lodged in his breast. With frantic grasp he seized 
 
 A rock with both his arms, and clung to it 
 
 Groaning until the wave had run its course. 
 
 Unscathed he clung, but soon the refluent wave 
 
 Caught him and washed him far into the sea. 
 
 Like as when from its lurking-place is drawn 
 
 A polypus, and to its suckers cling 
 
 Pebbles in plenty, so the rugged rock 
 
 Tore his stout arms ; and in the deep o'erwhelmed 
 
 He vanished. Then indeed in wretchedness 
 
 Extreme, had died Odysseus, but that she 
 
22 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 
 
 The goddess gleaming-eyed a happy thought 
 
 Inspired. Emerging from the wave about 
 
 To break upon the shore, he swam along 
 
 With eyes fixed on the land, if possibly 
 
 Some sheltered bay might offer to his view 
 
 Amid the sandy spits. But when he came 
 
 In swimming to the outflow of a stream 
 
 Pellucid, this place seemed to him the best 
 
 For landing, being free from harmful rocks. 
 
 And sheltered from the wind. The flowing stream 
 
 He recognized, and raised a heart-felt prayer : 
 
 " Hear me, O king, whoe'er thou art, to thee 
 
 I come with much entreaty, fleeing from 
 
 Poseidon's anger in the mighty deep. 
 
 E'en the immortal gods regard the man 
 
 Who comes a waif, as I now to thy stream 
 
 And knees approach, o'erborne with many woes. 
 
 Then pity me, O king, thy suppliant 
 
 I claim to be ! " So said he, and at once 
 
 The river ceased his flow, and stilled his wave, 
 
 And made a calm before him, saving him 
 
 From his stream's outdrift. Then he felt the ground 
 
 With both his knees and arms, for little life 
 
 Was left him by the sea, and all his flesh 
 
 Was swollen, and from nostrils and from mouth 
 
 Oozed out the brine ; and lacking breath and voice. 
 
 Powerless he lay, in dire exhaustion sunk. 
 
 But when at last his breath returned, and thoughts 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 23 
 
 Grew clear, the mantle which the goddess gave 
 
 He loosed and casting far into the flood, 
 
 Back to the sea a big returning wave 
 
 Bore it, and Ino caught it in her hands 
 
 Straightway. And he, withdrawing from the stream. 
 
 Bent down amid the reeds and lovingly 
 
 Kissed the fat earth. But still a prey to woe, 
 
 He meditated thus ; " Unhappy I, 
 
 How much I suflfer ! what at last shall be 
 
 My fate ? If by the river-side I pass 
 
 The painful night, I fear lest stinging frost 
 
 And drenching dew together quench my life. 
 
 The little that is left. Before the dawn 
 
 Keen blows the river breeze. And if I climb 
 
 The hill, and hiding in the brushwood dense. 
 
 Slumber among the bushes, (if indeed 
 
 Cold and out-worn I may,) and blessed sleep 
 
 O'ercome me, much I fear lest I should be 
 
 A godsend and a prey to savage beasts." 
 
 Then in his doubt this seemed the better way. 
 
 He clomb up to the wood above the stream 
 
 Whence he could see around ; and crept beneath 
 
 Two bushes growing from one self-same root 
 
 Of olive, fruitful one, the other wild. 
 
 The moist winds never reached the hearts of these. 
 
 Nor did the sun's rays shine there, nor the rain 
 
 Penetrate through, so closely interwove 
 
 Were all their branches. Under them crept in 
 
24 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Odysseus. With his arms he soon upheaped 
 
 An ample bed of leaves, for they were strewn 
 
 Thick on the ground, and might have shielded well 
 
 Two men or three upon a winter's night, 
 
 Keen though the frost might be. On seeing them 
 
 Godlike Odysseus, much enduring man, 
 
 Was cheered, and on the bed he laid him down 
 
 Heaping the leaves above him. As when one 
 
 Has covered up a brand with ashes dark 
 
 In some lone place where neighbours there are none, 
 
 Keeping the spark alive when other fire 
 
 There is not ; so all buried among leaves 
 
 Odysseus lay. Athene o'er his eyes 
 
 Spread sleep, that from his grievous toil he soon 
 
 Might have repose and close his weary lids. 
 
BOOK VI. 
 
 N AUS IC A A . 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 So there reposed Odysseus, godlike man 
 
 Of many woes, with sleep and weariness 
 
 Weighed down. Meanwhile Athene sought the state 
 
 And city of Phaeakians, who erst dwelt 
 
 In Hypereia's plains which bordered on 
 
 The land of the Cyclopians, insolent 
 
 And overbearing men, who plundered them, 
 
 Being the stronger. But Nausithous 
 
 The godlike, rising up, conducted them 
 
 From Hypereia to the Scherian isle. 
 
 Settling them there, from pirates far away ; 
 
 And for their city built encircling walls. 
 
 Erected houses, and neglected not 
 
 To build fair temples for the blessed gods, 
 
 And parcelled out in lots the tillage land. 
 
28 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 But when at length he, yielding to his fate, 
 
 Had gone to Hades, ruled there in his place 
 
 Alkinous, blessed with counsel by the gods. 
 
 To his home hied Athene gleaming-eyed, 
 
 With mind intent upon the home-coming 
 
 Of great Odysseus. She the chamber sought 
 
 Much decked, where slept a maiden like the gods 
 
 In form and stature, named Nausicaa, 
 
 Daughter of high-minded Alkinous, 
 
 Attended by two maidens who might vie 
 
 In beauty with the Graces, one beside 
 
 Each door-post ; and the shining doors were closed. 
 
 The maiden's couch she like a breath of wind 
 
 Approached, and took her place beside her head, 
 
 And gave her counsel in the well-known form 
 
 Of a maid, child of Dymas, seaman famed ; 
 
 Young as herself and dearest to her heart. 
 
 Under this guise Athene gleaming-eyed 
 
 Addressed the princess : " How Nausicaa, 
 
 Could such a child from such a mother come, 
 
 So heedless art thou ? All uncared for lie 
 
 Thy fine-spun garments, and thy marriage day 
 
 Is nigh, when thou thyself in rich array 
 
 Must be adorned, and give to those who come 
 
 To bring thee to thy home ; for gifts like these 
 
 Disseminate 'mong men a good report, 
 
 And both the sire's and honoured mother's hearts 
 
 Are gladdened. So with breaking of the dawn 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 2g 
 
 Let us go wash them, and I will attend 
 A helper, that the garments may be cleansed 
 Right speedily ; for 'tis not long, I think, 
 Thou'lt be a virgin. For e'en now the youths 
 Noblest among Phaeakians, whose race 
 Is as thy own, are wooing thee. Come then, 
 Persuade thy father famed, before the dawn 
 To have equipped for thee his mules and wain. 
 To take thy sashes and soft coverlets 
 And ample robes ; and even for thyself 
 This would be better than to go afoot; 
 Far from the city are the washing pools." 
 This having said, Athene gleaming-eyed 
 ■ Departed to Olympus, where they say. 
 The dwelling of the Gods is ever sure. 
 No hurricane disturbs it, nor does rain 
 E'er drench it, nor does winter's snow fall there ; 
 All cloudless is the sky, and everywhere 
 White lustre shines, wherein from day to day 
 The blessed gods delight. The gleaming-eyed 
 Thithej betook herself when with the maid 
 Her words were ended. Soon the fair-throned Dawn 
 Came and awoke Nausicaa richly robed, 
 Whereon she wondered at the dream and left 
 Her room to go and tell her parents dear, 
 Her father and her mother whom she found 
 Within the mansion's walls. Her mother sat 
 Beside the hearth attended by her maids 
 
30 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Spinning sea-purple yarn. Her sire she met 
 
 Upon the threshold on his way to sit 
 
 In council with the nobles of the land 
 
 Who called him to preside. She stopping close 
 
 Before her father loved, addressed him thus : 
 
 " Dear father, may I have a wain and team, 
 
 One that is high, smooth-running, to convey 
 
 My once bright garments to the river-side 
 
 For washing, for they're lying soiled with use. 
 
 And surely it is seemly for thyself 
 
 To wear clean raiment when thou sitt'st among 
 
 The nobles in the council. And thy sons 
 
 Five in this mansion born, two married men. 
 
 And three in youthful bloom, they always like 
 
 To go in fresh-washed raiment to the dance. 
 
 This matter lieth heavy on my mind." 
 
 So said she, for she felt abashed to speak. 
 
 Of coming marriage to her father dear. 
 
 But he suspected all, and answered her : 
 
 " I grudge thee neither mules, my child, nor aught 
 
 That thou may'st need ; so go thy way ; my men 
 
 Shall bring for thee a wain smooth-running, high, 
 
 And fitted with an awning." Saying this 
 
 He hailed his men, who did as he desired, 
 
 Brought a smooth-running mule-wain, thereto yoked 
 
 The mules, and made all ready ; and the maid 
 
 Fetched from a room the clothing rich, and in 
 
 The bright wain stowed it. And her mother put 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HQMER. 3 1 
 
 Into the wain-chest store of dainty food 
 
 Varied and ample, sauce thereto, and filled 
 
 With wine a goat's skin ; and in golden flask 
 
 She gave her olive oil, that with her maids 
 
 Bathing, they might anoint themselvts ; and then 
 
 Mounting the wain, the maiden took in hand 
 
 The reins, and seized the whip and drove away ; 
 
 Loud rang the trotting of the pair of mules. 
 
 Unflaggingly they sped and bore the clothes 
 
 And maid herself, but not alone, for rode 
 
 Her maidens with her. When at length they reached 
 
 The river's crystal stream and washing-pools. 
 
 Such as they wanted, and the water flowed 
 
 Clear and abundant for their cleansing work, 
 
 There they unloosed the mules from yoke and wain. 
 
 And drove them to the eddying river's bank 
 
 To crop the tender grass. And from the wain 
 
 They took the clothes by armsful to the pools, 
 
 Then steeped them in the water-dark, and trod 
 
 With rapid step in friendly rivalry. 
 
 And when they'd washed and cleansed them from all 
 
 stains, 
 They spread them out in order on the shore. 
 Where most the waves had washed the pebbles up. 
 Then, bathing and anointing with pure oil ' 
 Their graceful limbs, they to the river's bank 
 Repaired to take refreshment ; and their clothes 
 They left to dry beneath the sun's hot rays. 
 
S2 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 And when her maidens and herself had ate 
 
 Their pleasant food, they sported with a ball, 
 
 Casting aside their veils ; and leading them, 
 
 White-armed Nausicaa her song began. 
 
 As Artemis the arrow-shooting maid 
 
 Descends some mountain, high Taygetus, 
 
 Or Erymanthus, in the ardent chase 
 
 Of boars or nimble deer, and with her sport 
 
 The Nymphs, the maids of segis-bearing Zeus, 
 
 Who haunt the wilds ; and Leto's heart exults. 
 
 And over them she bears her head and brows. 
 
 And easily is recognized where all 
 
 Are fair ; so much Nausicaa excelled 
 
 Her fair attendants. But when came the time 
 
 For going homeward, and the mules were yoked. 
 
 And the bright garments folded, this thought filled 
 
 Athene's mind, the goddess gleaming-eyed ; 
 
 That from his lair Odysseus should arise 
 
 And see the bright-faced maid, and move her heart 
 
 To guide him to the city of the men 
 
 Phaeakian, Then the princess threw the ball 
 
 At one of her attendants, but she missed 
 
 The maid, and in the deep and eddying pool 
 
 The ball was lost, and loudly screamed they all. 
 
 Odysseus then awoke and sitting up 
 
 Debated inwardly : " Unhappy I, 
 
 What kind of men are they whose land I've reached .'' 
 
 Are they unbridled, fierce, and caring naught 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 33 
 
 For right, or do they love the stranger guest, 
 
 And do they fear the gods ? Methinks a cry 
 
 Of girlish voices caught my ear, as 'twere 
 
 From Nyniphs who haunt the lofty mountain heights. 
 
 And sources of the streams, and flowery meads ! 
 
 Or am I near the sound of human voice ? 
 
 Well, I will see and put it to the proof ! " 
 
 So saying, 'mong the bushes dived divine 
 
 Odysseus, and with sturdy hands broke off 
 
 A thick-leaved branch to screen his nakedness. 
 
 Then went he as a lion mountain-bred 
 
 Goes self-reliant, heedless of the rain 
 
 Or wind, with eyes of fire, and bounds among 
 
 A flock of sheep, or oxen, or a herd 
 
 Of wild deer, when fell famine urges him 
 
 Seeking his prey to storm the well-fenced fold. 
 
 So did Odysseus dare to go among 
 
 The fair-haired maids despite his nakedness, 
 
 For want impelled him. Purple with the brine 
 
 He had a frightful look, and scared they fled 
 
 This way and that upon the jutting sands. 
 
 The daughter of Alkinous alone 
 
 Awaited his approach, for in her heart 
 
 Athene had put courage, and dispelled 
 
 All fear ; and stopping, she confronted him. 
 
 Doubt moved Odysseus, whether he should clasp 
 
 The bright-faced maiden's knees, and aid implore. 
 
 Or standing where he was apart from her. 
 
34 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Entreat her with bland words to lead him to 
 
 The city, and some raiment to supply. 
 
 As he debated in his troubled mind, 
 
 It seemed to him the best to keep his place, 
 
 And with bland words entreat her, for he feared, 
 
 Clasping her knees, he might offend the maid. 
 
 Whereon with shrewd and flattering words he said : 
 
 " I am thy suppliant, princess ; art thou now 
 
 Some goddess or a mortal ? If thou art 
 
 A goddess, some inhabitant of heaven, 
 
 Methinks thou most resemblest Artemis, 
 
 The child of mighty Zeus, in form and height 
 
 And noble nature. But if mortal thou. 
 
 Of those who dwell on earth, thrice happy are 
 
 Thy sire and honoured mother, and thrice blest 
 
 Thy brothers. Constantly their hearts are warmed 
 
 With pleasure when they see so rare a maid 
 
 Going to join the dance. But happiest he 
 
 Above all others who with nuptial gifts 
 
 Abundant, shall conduct thee to his home. 
 
 For never have I with these eyes beheld 
 
 Such mortal, man or woman. As I look 
 
 I'm lost in admiration. Once indeed 
 
 At Delos by Apollo's fane I saw 
 
 Such a young palm upshooting ; for I there 
 
 Came, with much following, on a journey fraught 
 
 With care and trouble. And as then I gazed 
 
 Long wondering on it, since from fruitful earth 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, ^^ 
 
 Never had sprung such tree — so lady, thee 
 
 With wonder and amazement I behold, 
 
 And dare not clasp thy knees : but grievous woe 
 
 Oppresses me. Upon the twentieth day 
 
 I yesterday escaped the wine-dark sea. 
 
 And all the while the waves and pelting storms 
 
 Drifted me hither from Calypso's isle. 
 
 And now some god has cast me on this shore 
 
 Perchance that I here too may suffer woe ; 
 
 Nor can I hope for respite ere the gods 
 
 Accomplish all their purposes on me. 
 
 But, princess, pity me, for thee I've met 
 
 First in my sore distress ; of all the men 
 
 Who in this city and this land abide, 
 
 I know not one. So guide me to the town. 
 
 And grant some rag to clothe my nakedness ; 
 
 Perchance thou'st brought some wrapper for the 
 
 clothes. 
 And may the gods grant what thy heart desires. 
 Husband and home and sweet like-mindedness. 
 For naught on earth is lovelier than when 
 Husband and wife are one in heart and mind 
 To rule their house well ; to their enemies 
 Depressing, but to wellwishers a joy. 
 And most of all a comfort to themselves." 
 White-armed Nausicaa then answered him : 
 " Stranger, since vile thou seemest not to be 
 Nor witless, and the great Olympian Zeus 
 
36 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Himself deals out prosperity to men, 
 To good and bad according to his will ; 
 Perchance he hath these troubles sent to thee. 
 And thou must bear them patiently. But now, 
 Since to our city and our land arrived. 
 Naught shalt thou lack of raiment or of aught 
 That a much-suffering wanderer may need, 
 A suppliant. I will show thee how to find 
 The city, and make known its people's name. 
 Phaeakians are they who own this land 
 And city ; daughter of Alkinous, I, 
 The lofty-souled who wields its might and force." 
 She said, and to her fair-haired maids exclaimed : 
 " Stand by me girls ; why when you saw the man 
 Took ye such fright .'' can you indeed suppose 
 He comes with hostile purpose .'' There lives not 
 The man with flesh and blood, nor shall there live 
 Who the Phaeakians' land shall reach and bring 
 Warfare against it, for beloved are they 
 Of the immortals. Far away we dwell 
 In furthest ocean 'mid an angry sea, 
 Unvisited by other men at all. 
 But he, some wretched waif who's drifted here 
 Needs now our tendance ; for Zeus-sent are all 
 Strangers and poor ; and though a gift be small, 
 'Tis welcome. So my maidens, give our guest 
 Both food and drink, and lave him in the stream 
 Where from the wind 'tis screened." So spake the 
 nymph. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 37 
 
 And they obedient standing, passed the word 
 One to another, and Odysseus led 
 To where 'twas sheltered from the wind, as bade 
 Nausicaa, child of great Alkinous. 
 Near him a cloak and tunic they laid down 
 With other raiment, and in golden flask 
 They gave him soft pure oil and bade him in 
 The limpid current bathe. And then outspake 
 Godlike Odysseus to the waiting maids : 
 " Girls, stand ye there apart while I myself 
 Wash the brine from my shoulders, and with oil 
 Anoint my limbs ; for long indeed it is 
 Since my skin so was softened. I like not 
 To wash before you ; for I am ashamed. 
 Unclad to come amid you fair-haired maids." 
 So said he, and they went apart, and told 
 The nymph. And great Odysseus washed away 
 The brine on his broad shoulders and his back 
 Encrusted. From his head the salt sea foam 
 He wiped, and when his cleansing was complete, 
 And his anointing done, and he had donned 
 The raiment which the noble virgin gave, 
 The child of Zeus, Athene, made him seem 
 Taller and plumper, and upon his head 
 Shed curly locks like hyacinthine flowers. 
 As when a craftsman skilled who learnt his art 
 From Pallas or Hephaestus, streaks with gold 
 A silver vessel, and completes a work 
 
38 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 A joy to see, so showered Athene grace 
 Upon his head and shoulders. Then he went 
 And sat apart upon the ocean's shore 
 Glistening with grace and beauty. And the nymph 
 Saw him with wonder. Then her fair-haired girls 
 She thus addressed : "Attend, my white-armed maids, 
 I'll tell you something. Not against the will 
 Of all the Olympian gods does this man come 
 'Mong us Phagakians ; though at first to me 
 He seemed an outcast wretch, he now is like 
 The gods whose dwelling is the spacious heaven. 
 Would that so rare a man were called my spouse. 
 And dwelling here, and that his choice might be 
 Here to abide 1 but maidens, give our guest 
 Both food and drink." So said she, and they heard, 
 And with obedience prompt before him placed 
 The food and drink. And ravenously ate 
 And drank Odysseus, suffering, godlike man. 
 Then in Nausicaa's mind, the white-armed maid, 
 Another thought arose. The raiment bright 
 Folding she placed upon the well-wrought wain. 
 And yoked the strong-hoofed mules, and took her 
 
 seat 
 Herself, and called, and with these friendly words 
 Aroused Odysseus : " Rise now, stranger, come 
 Hie to the town, that to my noble sire's 
 Abode I may direct thee ; where, I think, 
 Thou'lt meet the foremost of Phaeakian men. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 39 
 
 But do just as I tell thee, for thou seem'st 
 
 By no means witless. Whilst we're 'mid the fields 
 
 And farmers' labours, follow close the mules 
 
 And wain with my attendants, and I'll lead 
 
 The way. But when the city we approach 
 
 With its high circling wall, and haven fair 
 
 On either side, with narrow way between. 
 
 Where on each beach the shapely craft are drawn, 
 
 (For every one has his allotted slip,) 
 
 And where the agora is, with walls of stone 
 
 Huge and deep-bedded, and Poseidon's fane 
 
 Shines in the midst, aud where their dark ships' stores 
 
 Are housed, their sails and cordage, where they shape 
 
 Their taper oars ; (for our Phaeakian men 
 
 Care not for bows or quivers, but they love 
 
 Masts and their gallant ships with well-poised oars 
 
 Wherein with pride they cross the hoary sea :) 
 
 There carefully avoid their ill-report 
 
 Lest we be blamed hereafter ; for among 
 
 The crowd are many captious men, and one 
 
 Of baser soul when meeting us might say : 
 
 ' Who is this stranger tall, of noble mien 
 
 Following Nausicaa ? Where found she him .-' 
 
 Perchance he'll be her husband ! Brings she some 
 
 Sea-rover hither from a distant land. 
 
 For there are none such near .? Or has some god 
 
 Come down from heaven in answer to her prayers 
 
 To be her loving spouse while life shall last } 
 
40 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Tis better if in going to and fro 
 Some stranger she hath found to be her spouse, 
 For truly doth she spurn Phseakian youths, 
 Though many are her suitors of account 
 Among the people.' Such will be their talk. 
 And this would be a cause of blame to me. 
 I too would blame another who should do 
 Such thing, who having not the leave of sire 
 Or mother dear, should company with men 
 Before the coming of her wedding day. 
 Stranger, take in my meaning ! soonest thus 
 Shalt thou prevail upon my sire to grant 
 Safe conduct for thee to thy father-land. 
 By the wayside thou'lt find Athene's grove 
 Of shining poplars ; therein flows a fount 
 Watering a mead close by my father's park 
 And budding orchard ; from the city not 
 More distant than the voice of man might reach. 
 There sit and wait awhile, and give us time 
 To gain the city and my father's house. 
 And when thou deemest we have entered it, 
 Then come to the Phaeakians' town and ask 
 Where is the mansion of my noble sire 
 Alkinous : it is not hard to find, 
 A little child could lead thee there ; for not 
 Like mere Phseakian houses the abode 
 Of great Alkinous. But when thou art 
 Within the court, pass very quickly through 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 The great hall, till thou find my mother where 
 She sits beside the brightl}' blazing hearth 
 Spinning sea-purple wool, a sight to see, 
 Resting against a pillar, while her maids 
 Behind her sit. And there my father's seat 
 Is by her side, whereon he sits and quaffs 
 Wine like a god. Go past him and thine arms 
 Throw round my mother's knees, that thou with joy 
 May' St quickly see the day of thy return 
 Unto thy longed-for home, though far away. 
 If she should favour thee, thou well mayst hope 
 To reach thy father-land and see again 
 Thy well-built mansion and thy loving friends.'' 
 So saying, with her shining whip she lashed 
 The mules, and soon the stream was left behind. 
 And well they trotted on with prancing steps. 
 But she drove slowly that her maids on foot 
 And great Odysseus might keep pace with her, 
 Driving with skill. The sun was going down 
 When to Athene's sacred grove they came. 
 There stopped the godlike man, and sitting down 
 Sent up his prayer to mighty Zeus's child : 
 " Hear me, thou child of segis-bearing Zeus, 
 Unwearied one ! O listen to me now ! 
 Since thou wast sometime deaf unto my prayers, 
 When by the famous Earthshaker's assaults 
 I was o'erwhelmed ; now grant that I may find 
 Favour with the Phaeakians, and take 
 
42 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Pity upon me ! " So he, praying, spake. 
 Pallas Athene heard, but ventured not 
 To show her presence plainly, loth to vex 
 Her father's brother who in fury stormed 
 Against Odysseus ere he reached again 
 His father-land. 
 
BOOK VII. 
 
 ALKINOUS AND ARETE. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 As there the godlike much-enduring man 
 
 Odysseus prayed, the maiden to the town 
 
 The pair of mules bore on, and when at length 
 
 She reached the well-known palace of her sire. 
 
 She stopped before the door, and round her came 
 
 Her god-like brothers ; from the wain they loosed 
 
 The mules, and carried in the raiment fair. 
 
 She to her chamber went wherein a fire 
 
 Was burning, kindled by an aged dame, 
 
 Eurymedusa, guardian of her room, 
 
 Brought from Apeire in the round-hulled ships 
 
 In days gone by, and chosen as a prize 
 
 For great Alkinous, because he ruled 
 
 All the Phseakian tribes, and as a god 
 
 Was listened to. She in the maiden's home 
 
 Fostered white-armed Nausicaa ; and now 
 
46 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 The fire alight, she set out in the room 
 
 The evening meal. And then Odysseus rose 
 
 And to the city walked. But in her care 
 
 For him, Athene spread a mist around 
 
 His person, lest some proud Phseakian churl 
 
 Meeting him might insult him, and inquire 
 
 Who he might be. But when he was about 
 
 To enter the fair city, met him there 
 
 Athene, goddess gleaming-eyed, indued 
 
 With maiden's form, and bearing on her head 
 
 A pitcher; and confronting him she stopped. 
 
 And thus Odysseus godlike questioned her : 
 
 " Girl, canst thou lead me to the house where dwells 
 
 Alkinous, ruler of the people here .'' 
 
 For I'm a stranger and have hither come 
 
 Through sufferings many from a far off land, 
 
 And not a single man know I among 
 
 Your many citizens." And answered him 
 
 Athene, goddess gleaming-eyed : " I then 
 
 Will show thee at thy bidding, stranger friend, 
 
 His mansion ; for indeed he dwells hard by 
 
 My blameless father's house ; but go thou so, 
 
 In silence, and I'll make myself thy guide. 
 
 And look not thou at any man, nor speak ; 
 
 For these our people like not stranger men. 
 
 And have no love for one who comes to them 
 
 From other lands. At home in their swift ships, 
 
 They cross the mighty deep, (the Earthshaker 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 47 
 
 Befriending them,) in barks that skim the wave 
 
 Like flight of bird or thought." This said, the maid 
 
 Pallas Athene led the way in haste, 
 
 And after her went he, but all unseen 
 
 By seagoing Phaeakians as he walked 
 
 Amid them to the city ; for so willed 
 
 Athene, goddess dread, who in her care. 
 
 With wondrous mist concealed him from their view. 
 
 Odysseus with astonishment beheld 
 
 The havens, and the even-sided ships. 
 
 The agora of the people, and its walls 
 
 Lofty and strong with bristling palisades, 
 
 A wonder to behold. But when at length 
 
 They reached the famous palace of the king, 
 
 Athene, goddess gleaming-eyed, began : 
 
 " This, honoured stranger, is the house which thou 
 
 Wouldst have me show : the chieftains of high birth 
 
 Thou wilt find feasting there ; but pass within 
 
 And have no fear : for better does the man 
 
 Of daring bring about his wished for ends. 
 
 Although he be a stranger. In the hall 
 
 First wilt thou find the lady of the house — 
 
 Arete is her name ; her ancestry 
 
 The same whence sprung the King Alkinous. 
 
 Poseidon, Earth-shaker, and Peribaea 
 
 Were parents of Nausithoiis, fairest she 
 
 Of women, youngest daughter of the great 
 
 Eurymedon, who o'er the Giants proud 
 
48 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Once ruled. But by his means the wicked race 
 Perished, and he too died, and with her joined 
 In love Poseidon and begat a son, 
 Nausithoiis, chief among Phaeakian men. 
 Nausithoiis again begat two sons, 
 Rhexenor and Alkinous, the first 
 While yet without a son, with silver bow 
 Apollo slew, at home in youthful prime, 
 Leaving an only child. Arete named. 
 Her did Alkinous make his wife, and held 
 In honour as no other wife on earth 
 Is honoured of all women who now rule 
 Men's households. So is she most highly prized 
 By her loved children, by Alkinous 
 Himself, and by the people in whose eyes 
 She seems a goddess, and who welcome her 
 When she goes through the city. For she hath 
 A lucid judgment, and when so inclined 
 She settles quarrels even between men. 
 If she should think it well to favour thee, 
 Then mayst thou hope to see again thy friends. 
 And gain thy high-roofed house and fatherland." 
 So saying, gleaming-eyed Athene sped 
 Across the waste of waters, Scheria fair 
 Leaving behind, and came to Marathon, 
 And wide-wayed Athens, in Erectheus' fane 
 Ending her journey. And Odysseus then 
 Went to the famed house of Alkinous. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 49 
 
 But many troubled thoughts disturbed his mind 
 
 There standing, ere the brazen entrance sill 
 
 He crossed. For like the splendour of the sun 
 
 Or of the moon, the lofty-roofed abode 
 
 Of great Alkinous shone. Upon its walls 
 
 From front to back were bands of burnished brass, 
 
 And crowning all, the cornice was of blue, 
 
 And golden doors the stately entrance closed. 
 
 Firm in the brazen threshold stood the posts 
 
 Of silver, and the lintel on their tops 
 
 Was silver too, but golden was the latch. 
 
 On either side in silver and in gold 
 
 Were dogs, Hephaestus' cunning workmanship. 
 
 Guarding the home of great Alkinous ; 
 
 Immortal they, and never growing old. 
 
 And round the walls were seats at intervals 
 
 All through, well-cushioned with the fine-spun work 
 
 Of women. There the nobles of the land 
 
 Were sitting, feasting to their hearts' content. 
 
 And golden youths on solid pedestals 
 
 Stood holding torches in their hands to light 
 
 At night the feasters in the lofty hall. 
 
 And fifty women servants thronged the house ; 
 
 Some in the hand-mills ground the golden grain ; 
 
 Some plied the loom, or sitting, spun the yarn. 
 
 Stirring like leaves on soaring poplar trees ; 
 
 While from the close-wove linen web stole down 
 
 Fine limpid oil. For as Phseakian men 
 
50 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER, 
 
 Excel all others in the seaman's art 
 Of handling ships upon the barren deep, 
 S D are their women skilful at the loom ; 
 For gleaming-eyed Athene gifted them 
 With understanding hearts, and skill to ply 
 All beauteous work. Outside the court and near 
 The gates, an orchard of four acres lay. 
 And round it ran a fence on every side. 
 There flourished giant trees, pomegranate, pear. 
 And glossy-fruited apple, and sweet fig, 
 And olive fat. No lack of fruit have these 
 Winter or summer through the fleeting year ; 
 But Zephyr, ever blowing, swells out some 
 And ripens other. Pear succeeds to pear, 
 Apple to apple ; grape succeeds to grape, 
 And fig to fig. And there his vineyard smiles ; 
 A smooth plot here, whereon beneath the sun 
 They dry the grapes, and here they gather in 
 The heavy clusters, or the juice tread out. 
 In front of these the setting fruit has shed 
 Its withered blossom, and the more advanced 
 Is purpling : and beyond the furthest row 
 Are beds of flowers in gay profusion bright. 
 Two copious springs are there, and one of them 
 Spreads through the garden its reviving stream ; 
 The other stream supplies the mansion's needs. 
 Crossing the court, whereto the citizens 
 Come for their water. Such the gods' rich gifts 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 5 1 
 
 Showered on the palace of Alkinous. 
 
 There stood Odysseus, much-enduring man, 
 
 Agaze, and when his mind had grasped the whole, 
 
 He quickly crossed the threshold and went in. 
 
 And there he found Phaeakian counsellors 
 
 And chiefs, who from their cups libations poured 
 
 In honour of the keen-eyed Argus-slayer, 
 
 To whom it was their wont to offer last 
 
 Ere they retired to rest. But through the hall 
 
 On went Odysseus, shrouded in the mist 
 
 Spread by Athene, till he came before 
 
 Arete and Alkinous the king. 
 
 And round Arete's knees Odysseus threw 
 
 His arms, and then the hiding mist dispersed, 
 
 And seeing the man plainly in the hall, 
 
 They gazed in silent wonder. Then his prayer 
 
 Odysseus made : " O great Rhexenor's child, 
 
 Arete, after many toils I come 
 
 A suppliant to thy knees, and to the king. 
 
 And to your guests, to whom may happiness 
 
 Be granted by the gods, and length of life ! 
 
 And may each to his sons transmit the wealth 
 
 Stored in his house, and what the people give ! 
 
 But find for me the means to see again 
 
 My fatherland ; for long time far away 
 
 From those I love I've suffered grievous woe. " 
 
 So saying he sat down beside the hearth 
 
 Amid the ashes, and a silence dead 
 
52 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Spread over all. At length the hero old, 
 
 Echeneus spoke, of all Phaeakian chiefs 
 
 The oldest, who in eloquence excelled. 
 
 And ancient lore, and with persuasive words 
 
 Addressed them : " 'Tis not for the best, king, 
 
 Nor seemly for a stranger thus to sit 
 
 Among the ashes on the floor beside 
 
 The hearth ; and these here waiting for thy word 
 
 Are loth to speak. Raise thou the stranger up. 
 
 And seat him in a silver-studded chair. 
 
 And do thou bid the heralds mix the wine. 
 
 That we may make libations to the lord 
 
 Of thunder, Zeus, the modest suppliants' friend ; 
 
 And let the house-dame give our guest a meal 
 
 Of what she has at hand." And when the king 
 
 Alkinous heard, he took Odysseus' hand, 
 
 And raised him from the hearth, and seated him 
 
 Upon a shining chair, and made to rise 
 
 His manly son Laodamas whose seat 
 
 Was near his own, and whom he loved the most. 
 
 A servant then brought water in a jug 
 
 Of gold, rich wrought, and poured it on his hands 
 
 Over a silver bowl, and towards him drew 
 
 A table bright. Soon came the house-dame good. 
 
 Bringing and setting out a rich repast : 
 
 A favourite she with King Alkinous' guests. 
 
 When the long-suffering, godlike man had ate 
 
 And drunk, Alkinous to the herald said : 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 53 
 
 " Pontonous, prepare a bowl of wine, 
 
 And deal to all these present in the hall ; 
 
 That we may pour to Zeus, the lightning's lord, 
 
 Helper of humble suppliants." Thus he said. 
 
 And straight Pontonous mixed the sweetened wine. 
 
 And dealt it out to all in order due. 
 
 And when, libations made, they'd drunk what each 
 
 Desired, Alkinous addressed his guests : 
 
 " Hear me, Phseakian counsellors and chiefs. 
 
 And I will tell the promptings of my mind. 
 
 The banquet ended, seek ye now your homes 
 
 And take your rest ; and when the morning comes 
 
 We'll summon yet more of the leading men, 
 
 And give an entertainment in the hall 
 
 To this our guest, and offer to the gods 
 
 Unblemished sacrifices, and will then 
 
 Be mindful of his escort, how our guest 
 
 Without or pain or trouble by our aid 
 
 May reach his fatherland and soon have joy, 
 
 Though distant far it be ; and how no harm 
 
 Or suffering may befal him on his way. 
 
 Until he land upon his native shore. 
 
 Then and there must he bear the lot that Fate 
 
 And the stem Spinners span when they drew out 
 
 His thread of life, and first he saw the light. 
 
 But if 'tis an immortal hath come down 
 
 From heaven, methinks some purpose of the gods 
 
 Is in it. For the gods in days gone by 
 
54 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Made plain their presence with us, honouring 
 
 Our costly hecatombs, and at the feast 
 
 Sitting among us. And if one, though but 
 
 A lonely wayfarer, should meet with them, 
 
 They hide not, for to them we are allied 
 
 As the Cyclopians are, and that wild race 
 
 Of Giants." And the man of many arts, 
 
 Odysseus answered him : " Alkinous, 
 
 Let thy mind turn itself to other thoughts. 
 
 For naught have I of likeness to the gods, 
 
 Dwellers in heaven's expanse ; resembling them 
 
 Neither in form nor stature, but I'm one 
 
 Of mortal men, and whom ye know as most 
 
 O'erborne by woe, my trouble equals theirs. 
 
 Yea I might tell yet more of evils dire. 
 
 All of the gods' infliction, but distressed 
 
 As now ye see me, let me have my fill 
 
 Of food, for naught in shamelessness exceeds 
 
 A craving belly, and its urgency 
 
 Wont be forgotten though a man be worn 
 
 With care and grief of heart as I am now. 
 
 It ever urges me to eat and drink, 
 
 And making me forgetful of my woes. 
 
 Claims to be filled. But with to-morrow's dawn 
 
 I pray bestir yourselves to find for me 
 
 Unhappy man, safe conduct to my home. 
 
 Wretch though I be. Then time may end for me 
 
 When I have seen my wealth, my serving maids. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 55 
 
 And spacious high-roofed house." So spake the man. 
 
 And all approved, desiring for their guest 
 
 Safe conduct, since he'd spoken sensibly. 
 
 And when, libations poured, they'd drunk till all 
 
 Were satisfied, they to their homes repaired 
 
 To take repose. But in the hall was left 
 
 Godlike Odysseus, and there sat with him 
 
 Arete and Alkinous like a god 
 
 In figure. And the serving men removed 
 
 The remnants of the feast. And then began 
 
 White-armed Arete, for she recognised 
 
 The cloak, the tunic and the garments fair 
 
 Which she with her attendant maids had wrought, 
 
 And with these winged words accosted him : 
 
 " Stranger, I will myself first put to thee 
 
 This question ; what man art thou and whence come .'' 
 
 And who this raiment gave thee ? Saidst thou not 
 
 Thou cam' St a roamer hither o'er the deep ? " 
 
 And answered her Odysseus sage and said : 
 
 " It would be hard, O queen, to tell at length 
 
 My troubles, for the gods who dwell in heaven 
 
 Have sent me many, but I'll speak of this. 
 
 That, causing wonder, prompted thy request. 
 
 A certain isle, Ogygia, lies apart 
 
 Far out to sea where dwells Calypso dread. 
 
 Daughter of Atlas, crafty goddess fair. 
 
 Nor has she any spouse among the gods 
 
 Or mortal men. But me, unhappy one, 
 
56 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Some god brought to her dwelling all alone, 
 
 When Zeus had launched his thunder-bolt and 
 
 wrecked 
 My swift ship on the wine-dark sea's broad breast. 
 Then perished all my comrades brave, but I 
 With arms around my ruined vessel's keel. 
 Drifted nine days, and on the tenth dark night 
 The gods made me to reach Ogygia's shore 
 Where dwells fair-haired Calypso, goddess dread. 
 She took me to her home and cherished me 
 Loving me from her heart, and vowed I ne'er 
 Should see old age, but live a deathless life. 
 But never could I put belief in her. 
 There seven years kept I firm, and with my tears 
 The raiment constantly bedewed, that fair 
 Calypso gave me. But at length when came 
 The eighth revolving year, she, rousing me. 
 Bade me depart ; moved by some message sent 
 By Zeus, or by some change in her own mind : 
 And on a well-bound bark she sent me off 
 With plenteous gifts of food and luscious wine. 
 And with immortal raiment vested me, 
 And caused a fair and gentle breeze to blow. 
 For seventeen days sped I across the sea. 
 And on the eighteenth loomed before mine eyes 
 Your island's shadowy mountains, and my heart 
 Was glad, though hard my fate, for I was doomed 
 Yet to encounter much calamity. 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 57 
 
 The doing of Poseidon, Earth-shaker ; 
 Who raised the angry winds, and barred my way, 
 And heaved up mightily his stormy waves, 
 And dashed me, deeply groaning, from my bark, 
 And broke her up. But swimming, I my head 
 Yet above water kept till wind and wave 
 Drifted me to your shore. Whereon when I 
 Would land, a billow caught and hurried me 
 Against a hard rock on a rugged coast. 
 But drawn back with the refluent wave, again 
 I swam until I came to where outflows 
 The river, and this seemed the easiest place, 
 Free'st from rocks and sheltered from the wind. 
 Stepping ashore there, down I sank until 
 My heart revived and night ambrosial came. 
 Leaving the heaven-fed stream I sought repose 
 Among the bushes, gathering for my couch 
 A heap of leaves. And o'er the spacious earth 
 The god sent sleep. There, buried in the leaves. 
 And sorrow-stricken, through the night I slept, 
 And on to dawn and noon. But when the sun 
 Was westering, sweet sleep deserted me. 
 And on the shore I saw thy daughter's maids 
 At play, and she herself was in their midst. 
 In grace a goddess. Then in suppliant guise 
 I claimed her help ; and nothing did she lack 
 Of firm right mindedness, as one would scarce 
 Expect to meet with in so young a maid ; 
 
58 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 For oft young girls give way to silliness. 
 
 She gave me ample food and sparkling vcine, 
 
 And washed me in the stream, and lent these robes. 
 
 Burdened at heart I yet have told the truth 
 
 In this." And answered him Alkinous 
 
 And said : " My daughter, stranger, has not thought 
 
 Aright herein, not bringing thee to me 
 
 Among her maids, and thou her suppliant." 
 
 Wary Odysseus answered him and said ; 
 
 "Alkinous, do not thou for this reproach 
 
 The blameless girl, for she instructed me 
 
 To follow with the maids, but I declined. 
 
 Fearful of shame, lest seeing me by chance. 
 
 Thy heart should be indignant, for we men 
 
 Are everywhere a very touchy race." 
 
 And then again Alkinous replied : 
 
 " Stranger, there's no such heart within my breast 
 
 As would be angry foolishly, but best 
 
 Always is moderation. For I would — 
 
 O father Zeus, Athene and Apollo — 
 
 Being, a man like-minded with myself. 
 
 Thou had'st my daughter, and could'st bear the name 
 
 Of son-in-law, abiding here with us ; 
 
 And I would give thee house and land and wealth 
 
 If thou wouldst stay here willingly, for none 
 
 Of us Phaeakians would detain thee here 
 
 Against thy will. Forbid it father Zeus ! 
 
 To-morrow, be assured I will appoint 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 59 
 
 A well-manned ship, and when o'ercome with sleep 
 
 Thou liest, they shall row thee in the calm, 
 
 And bring thee to thy father-land and home, 
 
 If that is thy desire, although these be 
 
 More distant far than is Eubaea's shore. 
 
 Remotest land of all, as say our men 
 
 Who saw it, bringing Rhadamanthus there 
 
 To judge the deeds of Tityus, Gaia's son. 
 
 In the same day they went and ended all 
 
 Their mission without trouble and returned 
 
 Back to their home. So thou thyself shalt see, 
 
 And know how much my ships and crews excel 
 
 In sweeping with their oars the barren sea." 
 
 Thus spake he, and Odysseus godlike man. 
 
 Much suffering, rejoiced, and praying said : 
 
 " Grant, father Zeus, Alkinous may perform 
 
 All he has vowed, and grant him endless fame 
 
 Ruling a fruitful land, and may I come 
 
 Back to my fatherland ! " So they discoursed 
 
 Of these things. And Arete, white-armed, called 
 
 Her maids to place a couch beneath the porch, 
 
 And make it soft with fine-spun purple rugs, 
 
 Spread with a coverlet, and over all 
 
 Throw woollen cloaks for warmth. Then from the 
 
 hall 
 Went forth the women lighted by a torch 
 Upborne. And when in busy haste they'd spread 
 The grateful coverings, they called and bade 
 
6o THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Odysseus come : " Rise, stranger, take thy rest, 
 Thy bed is ready." So they said, and rest 
 To him was very welcome. So there slept 
 Godlike Odysseus, much enduring man, 
 On inlaid couch beneath the echoing porch. 
 And in his lofty mansion's inmost room 
 Reposed Alkinous and his queenly wife 
 On restful couch adjusted by her hands. 
 
BOOK VIIL 
 
 ODYSSEUS AMONG THE 
 PH^AKIANS- 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 When mist-born rosy-fingered Dawn stole on, 
 
 Rose from his couch Alkinous in his strength ; 
 
 And rose too great Odysseus, ravager 
 
 Of cities. And Alkinous led the way 
 
 To the Phaeakians' agora, where beside 
 
 The ships 'twas held. And entering, they sat 
 
 On seats of polished marble side by side. 
 
 Pallas Athene planning the return 
 
 Of high-minded Odysseus, went amongst 
 
 The citizens, in semblance herald she 
 
 Of wise Alkinous ; and whom she met 
 
 She thus accosted : " Come, ye counsellors 
 
 And chiefs Phseakian, to the agora come, 
 
 And learn about the stranger lately at 
 
 The dwelling of Alkinous arrived, 
 
64 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Sea waif, but like to the immortal gods! " 
 
 So saying she aroused the interest 
 
 Of each ; and soon the agora and its seats 
 
 Were crowded with a multitude of men. 
 
 And many saw and wondering gazed upon 
 
 Laertes' far-famed son. And on his head 
 
 And shoulders something more than mortal grace 
 
 Athene shed, and made him in their eyes 
 
 Taller and stouter ; so might he be loved 
 
 By all Phasakians with fear and awe. 
 
 And be a victor in the manly games 
 
 Wherein Phasakians would Odysseus prove. 
 
 And when they'd gathered and the square was full, 
 
 Alkinous, rising in their midst began : 
 
 " Hear me, Phaeakian counsellors and chiefs, 
 
 While I explain the promptings of my heart 
 
 Within my breast 1 This stranger, who he is 
 
 I know not — to my house has wandering come. 
 
 Perchance from far off land, or east or west. 
 
 He begs we'll give him help upon his way. 
 
 And make it certain. Let us then, as is 
 
 Our custom, give to him the aid he needs ; 
 
 For no one coming underneath my roof, 
 
 Abides there long in sorrow, waiting for 
 
 Furtherance upon his way. Then let us launch 
 
 Into the mighty sea a dark-hulled ship 
 
 First of the fleet, and choose among the crowd 
 
 Of those whose seamanship has proved the best, 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 65 
 
 Fifty and two young men. When they have made 
 The oars and benches ready, let them land. 
 Then coming to my house, prepare for them 
 A hasty meal, and I will give enough 
 For all. This for the young men I enjoin. 
 But to my mansion bright ye other chiefs, 
 Bearers of sceptres, come, that we may give 
 Fair entertainment to our guest therein ! 
 And let not one decline, and summon ye 
 Demodocus, whose song is like a god's. 
 For surely 'tis a god has given him 
 To charm with song whene'er his soul is stirred." 
 This said he took the lead and followed him 
 The sceptre-bearing chiefs. The minstrel sweet 
 A herald went to seek. And as was bid. 
 The two and fifty chosen youths went down. 
 And sought the margin of the barren deep. 
 And having gone down to the ship and sea. 
 They launched the vessel into ocean's deeps. 
 Shipping the mast and sail, and in the thongs 
 Of leather slipped the oars as seamen should ; 
 And bent the snowy sail, and moored the bark 
 Out in the ofiing. Landing then they went 
 And sought the mansion of Alkinous. 
 There filled were all the corridor and house, 
 And court with the assembled multitude ; 
 For many were they, both young men and old. 
 Twelve sheep Alkinous slew for them, and eight 
 
66 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 White-tusk^d swine, and oxen two with tread 
 
 Heavy and rolling. These they flayed and dressed, 
 
 Making a welcome feast. The herald then 
 
 Drew near and brought with him the minstrel sweet. 
 
 The favourite of the Muse, who dealt to him 
 
 Both good and ill ; bereaving him of sight, 
 
 She gave him sweetest song. For him forthwith 
 
 Pontonous placed among the banqueters 
 
 A silver-studded seat, where he might lean 
 
 Against a column tall. And on a peg 
 
 Above his head he hung his fine-toned lyre. 
 
 The herald guiding him to reach to it ; 
 
 And at his side he placed a basket fair. 
 
 And table, and a cup of wine thereon 
 
 To drink when he inclined. Then on the feast 
 
 Before them spread, the guests laid willing hands. 
 
 And when desire for food and drink was gone, 
 
 The Muse inspired the minstrel to exalt 
 
 The deeds of heroes in the song whose fame 
 
 Has risen to wide heaven ; the fateful strife 
 
 Between Odysseus and the mighty son 
 
 Of Peleus, how they once with awful words 
 
 Contended at a banquet of the gods. 
 
 And Agamemnon, king of men, at heart 
 
 Was glad when strove the noblest of the Greeks. 
 
 For so Apollo spake to him in words 
 
 Oracular, in hallowed Pytho's fane, 
 
 When going to consult him he stepped o'er 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 67 
 
 The marble threshold. And from that time forth 
 Disaster was evolved alternately 
 To Trojans and to Greeks through counsel deep 
 Of mighty Zeus. This sang the minstrel famed ; 
 And then Odysseus took his ample cloak 
 Of purple dye, and with a sinewy grasp 
 Drew it across his head and hid from sight 
 His noble face, because he would not have 
 Phaeakians see the tears that forced their way. 
 And when the godlike minstrel ceased his song. 
 Wiping away the tears, he pushed his cloak 
 Back from his head, and taking up his cup 
 Two-bowled, he made libation to the gods. 
 But when the minstrel recommenced his song, 
 Called for again by the Phaeakian chiefs 
 Because it pleased them well, Odysseus soon, 
 Again his forehead veiling, groaned aloud. 
 His weeping by the rest was unobserved, 
 Alkinous only saw and noticed it. 
 He sitting near him, heard his deep drawn sigh. 
 And straight to the Phaeakians exclaimed. 
 Whose ships were their delight : " Attend to me 
 Phaeakian chiefs and counsellors ; we now 
 Have had enough of music of the lyre 
 Which lends to an abundant feast its grace ; 
 Let us now go outside and try our skill 
 In games of all kinds, that our guest his friends 
 May tell, on his return, how much we are 
 
68 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Before all others in the boxing art, 
 
 In wrestling, and in leaping, and in speed 
 
 Of foot." So having said, he led the way. 
 
 And all went after him. And on the peg 
 
 The herald hung the lyre of sweetest tone. 
 
 Took by the hand Demodocus, and from 
 
 The house conducted him along the road 
 
 Whereon the chiefs Phseakian had gone 
 
 To see the manly feats. To the agora 
 
 They went, and followed them a trooping crowd 
 
 By thousands. And stood up to join the lists 
 
 Many young men and brave : Acroneus, 
 
 Okyalus and Elatreus stood up, 
 
 Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus, 
 
 Ponteus and Proreus, Anabesineus, 
 
 Thoon, and Amphialus from Tecton sprung 
 
 Through Polyneiis ; stood Euryalus 
 
 The son of Naubolus, in fight a match 
 
 For Ares man-slayer, the handsomest 
 
 Of all Phseakians in face and form. 
 
 After the faultless prince Laodamas. 
 
 Stood up three sons of great Alkinous, 
 
 Laodamas and Clytoneiis and 
 
 Halius the godlike. These were first to run 
 
 In foot-race. From the starting line the course 
 
 Stretched right away : and off they quickly fiew 
 
 Raising a cloud of dust upon the plain. 
 
 But blameless Clytoneiis far excelled 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 6g 
 
 The rest in speed : and as in furrow long 
 
 A pair of mules plough more than oxen do, 
 
 So was he best in running, and came in 
 
 Among the people, leaving far behind 
 
 The others. Then in a tough wrestling match 
 
 They tried their skill. In it Euryalus 
 
 Was better than the best. Amphialus 
 
 In leaping was the foremost man of all. 
 
 In quoit throwing by far the skilfullest 
 
 Was Elatreus ; and in a boxing match 
 
 Laodamas was victor, noble son 
 
 Of King Alkinous. And when they all 
 
 Were gratified, and ended were the sports, 
 
 Laodamas addressed them : " Come my friends, 
 
 Let us the stranger ask if he has learnt 
 
 And knows some manly sport : for he is not 
 
 Ill-favoured in his thighs and legs nor in 
 
 His arms above, his firm-set neck, and his 
 
 Abundant strength. Nor lacks he ought of youth. 
 
 But he is broken down with many ills. 
 
 For I aver there's nothing like the sea 
 
 To take the life and spirit from a man, 
 
 Even a very strong one." Answered him 
 
 Euryalus and said : Laodamas, 
 
 Right are thy words ; do thou thyself now go 
 
 And call him forth ! and when the noble son 
 
 Of King Alkinous heard, he went and stood 
 
 Among them all, and to Odysseus said : 
 
70 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 " Come now, much honoured guest, and join the lists, 
 
 If thou perchance art skilled in any games. 
 
 Thou lookest like a man well versed in them ; 
 
 For there's no greater glory for a man 
 
 In life than are the feats he can perform 
 
 With foot and arm. So come and try thy skill, 
 
 And scatter to the winds thy heavy cares. 
 
 And no long time thy journey will be stayed ; 
 
 E'en now the ship is launched and all her crew 
 
 Are ready.'' And Odysseus warily 
 
 Answered him : "Why, Laodamas, dost thou 
 
 Reproaching urge me thus ? my cares weigh more 
 
 Upon my soul than thought of manly sports. 
 
 So many have I borne in days gone by, 
 
 So much have toiled ; and in your agora now 
 
 I sit with longings for my prompt return. 
 
 Praying the King and people for their aid." 
 
 Then answered him Euryalus, and cast 
 
 Scorn on him openly. "Thou'rt no way like, 
 
 Stranger, to one expert in manly games 
 
 Such as are loved by warriors ; but more 
 
 Like one who in a ship of many oars 
 
 Plies to and fro, the leader of a crew 
 
 Of merchant-sailors, cargo-minding men, 
 
 Ever alert for freight and ill-won gain : 
 
 No athlete art thou." And with stern regard 
 
 Odysseus, man of many counsels, said : 
 
 " Stranger, thou speak' st not well : thou seem'st like 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 7 I 
 
 Of little thought. Not thus to any man 
 
 Do the gods grant all gifts — a presence good 
 
 And wisdom, and smooth eloquence. For one 
 
 Is mean to look at, but the god has crowned 
 
 His homeliness with words ; and those who hear, 
 
 Gaze on him with delight. With modesty 
 
 He utters happy and persuasive words, 
 
 And stands the foremost man among the crowd. 
 
 Who as he walks along the city's streets 
 
 Revere him as a god. Another man 
 
 In mien is like the immortals, but this grace 
 
 Has not the crown of fluency of words. 
 
 So thou in form art showy ; e'en a god 
 
 Would not have fashioned thee in other shape. 
 
 But empty-minded art thou. All my soul 
 
 Within my breast thou stirrest, speaking words 
 
 At random. Not untaught am I in games 
 
 As thou afifirmest, but I claim to have been 
 
 Among the foremost while I trusted in 
 
 My youth and strength of arm, but now I have 
 
 A weight of pain and woe. For much I've borne 
 
 Both in the battle field and when I've tried 
 
 The dismal waves. But though I've suifered much 
 
 In many ways, I'll join the lists with thee, 
 
 For thy words cut my heart, and uttering them 
 
 Thou rousest me." He said, and starting up 
 
 With cloak and all, he went and took a quoit 
 
 Larger and thicker, and more massive far 
 
72 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Than those Phseakians in their matches use. 
 
 Whirling as from his stalwart hand it flew, 
 
 Loud hummed the stone, and downward to the ground 
 
 Crouched the Phaeakians, lovers of the oar, 
 
 Famed seamen, startled by its impetus. 
 
 Far flew the quoit beyond all other casts 
 
 Out of his hand with ease. Athene like 
 
 A man in figure, marked the range, and said, 
 
 With friendly words : " A blind man might by touch 
 
 Discover, stranger, where thy quoit has flown, 
 
 For it is not among the crowd of quoits. 
 
 But much the foremost ; be thou confident 
 
 About this contest ; no Phaeakian man 
 
 Can cast his quoit so far, much less beyond." 
 
 So said she, and Odysseus, godlike man 
 
 Of many woes, rejoiced, right glad because 
 
 He saw a friendly man upon the ground ; 
 
 And then with lighter heart he cried aloud 
 
 'Mid the Phaeakians ; " Match now this, young men, 
 
 And soon I think I'll hurl another such, 
 
 Or even heavier. Of the rest, whoe'er 
 
 Has heart and spirit for it, let him come 
 
 And try, (for ye have greatly angered me.) 
 
 Be it a boxing or a wrestling match. 
 
 Or foot-race, I will shrink not to contend 
 
 With any one except Laodamas, 
 
 For he's my entertainer. Who would with 
 
 His host contend ? Both witless is the man 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 73 
 
 And worthless, who would challenge in the sports 
 
 Him who receives him in a far strange land, 
 
 Cutting off all advantage to himself. 
 
 But of the rest, there's no one I refuse 
 
 Or slight, but I would prove them and be proved 
 
 Openly. For I am not inexpert 
 
 In manly sports. Well know I how to stretch 
 
 The polished bow, and should be first to hit 
 
 A man amid a crowd of enemies, 
 
 Though many comrades round about me stood, 
 
 Skilled archers. Philoctetes only was 
 
 Before me with the bow in Troia's land. 
 
 When we Achaians put ourselves to proof, 
 
 Of all the rest of men upon the earth 
 
 And feeding on its fruits, I boast that I 
 
 Was far the foremost. But I venture not 
 
 To match myself with men of former days. 
 
 Either with Heracles, or Eurytus 
 
 The CEchalian, who in bowmanship once dared 
 
 To vie with e'en the immortals : and for this 
 
 An early death took mighty Eur3?tus, 
 
 Nor did he in his mansion reach old age. 
 
 For in his wrath Apollo smote him when 
 
 He challenged him to prove his archer skill. 
 
 I with my hand can hurl a dart as far 
 
 As others with the bow. I fear alone 
 
 Lest in the foot-race I may be surpassed 
 
 By some Phaeakian. For upon the wave 
 
74 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 I've suffered many hardships, cramped within 
 
 My ship's small compass ; and by this my legs 
 
 Have lost their nimbleness." Odysseus said, 
 
 And all were voiceless, and Alkinous 
 
 Alone made answer : " Stranger, not without 
 
 Acceptance dost thou tell these things to us. 
 
 Wishing to evidence the manliness 
 
 Which is thine ornament, (incensed because 
 
 This man hath openly cast scorn on thee,) 
 
 So that no one who knoweth in his heart 
 
 To speak judiciously, may dare to blame 
 
 Thy prowess. But come now and learn from me, 
 
 (That thou mayst also to another tell. 
 
 Some hero comrade, when beneath thy roof 
 
 Thou banquetest together with thy wife 
 
 And children,) of our virtues and what deeds 
 
 Zeus hath committed to us, handed down 
 
 From days ancestral. For we are not skilled 
 
 In boxing or in wrestling, but we run 
 
 With nimble feet, and foremost are of all 
 
 In seamanship ; and our delight is in 
 
 Banquet and harp and dance and frequent change 
 
 Of raiment, in warm bathing and in ease 
 
 On couches. Come then, ye who are the best 
 
 Among Phasakian dancers, lead ye off, 
 
 That so our guest may tell his friends at home 
 
 How much we are before all other men 
 
 In seamanship and speed of foot and in 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 75 
 
 Dances and song." 
 
 And then Alkinous bade 
 Laodamas and Halius to dance 
 Alone, since no one could contend with them. 
 And when they'd taken in their hands a ball 
 Fair-wrought and purple, work of Polybus, 
 One threw it high in air, with back inclined, 
 The other, springing upward from the ground, 
 Caught it with ease before his feet again 
 Came to the earth. And having shown their skill 
 In this way, then upon the fruitful land 
 They danced with rapid interchange of ball. 
 And other youths beat time, as close at hand 
 They stood ; and not a little din arose. 
 At length Odysseus, godlike man, addressed 
 Alkinous ; " Of all men famed the most, 
 Noble Alkinous, thou hast indeed 
 Promised thy dancers should be best of all. 
 And it has proved so. Wonder fills my mind 
 As I look on." So said he, and rejoiced 
 Sacred Alkinous, and addressed forthwith 
 His lords Phseakian, lovers of the oar. 
 " Hear me, Phseakian counsellors and chiefs ; 
 The stranger seems to me to be a man 
 Of prudent mind. Come, let us give to him 
 Gifts that beseem a host : for in our land 
 
76 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Twelve famous chiefs bear rule, and I myself 
 
 Am thirteenth. Let then each of these bring out 
 
 A well-washed cloak and tunic, and of gold 
 
 ]\luch prized, a talent. And we'll put them all 
 
 Together in a heap, that so our guest 
 
 Having them in his hands, may take his meal 
 
 With gladness in his heart. Euryalus 
 
 Must give him satisfaction with his words 
 
 And with a gift, since unbecomingly 
 
 He spoke to him." So said he, and they all 
 
 Approved, and each a herald sent to bring 
 
 The gifts. And then Euryalus replied 
 
 And said : "Alkinous, most illustrious, 
 
 I will give satisfaction to our guest 
 
 As thou desirest, I will give a sword 
 
 All brass, with silver hilt and sheath inlaid 
 
 With new-cut ivory, of no small worth." 
 
 So saying, in his hands he placed a sword 
 
 Studded with silver, and addressing him. 
 
 Spoke these winged words: "Most honoured stranger, 
 
 hail! 
 And if a word distasteful has been said 
 May the wild storms dispel it far away, 
 And may the gods enable thee to see 
 Thy wife, and gain thy fatherland, since long 
 Away from friends thou'st suffered heavy woe. 
 And sage Odysseus answering him replied : 
 " And thou, my friend, all hail, and may the gods 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 77 
 
 Grant thee prosperity, and may'st thou ne'er 
 
 Hereafter feel the want of this good sword 
 
 Which with appeasing words thou'st given me." 
 
 He said, and to his shoulder hung the sword 
 
 With silver-studded hilt. Then set the sun — 
 
 And the rich gifts which all around him lay 
 
 The heralds to Alkinous' mansion brought. 
 
 His sons receiving them, these presents fair 
 
 Lodged with their honoured mother. And the might 
 
 Of King Alkinous led them, and they came 
 
 And sat on lofty seats. Alkinous then 
 
 Addressed Arete: "Lady, go, bring out 
 
 A right good chest, the best thou hast in store ; 
 
 And place in it the well-washed cloak and vest. 
 
 And put the caldron on the fire and heat 
 
 Water, that, having washed and seen the gifts 
 
 All safely lodged, by good Phaeakians brought. 
 
 He may enjoy the feast and hear the strains 
 
 Of song. And I will give this golden cup 
 
 Of rare device, that, bearing me in mind 
 
 From day to day, he may libations pour 
 
 To Zeus and to the other gods, beneath 
 
 His own roof-tree." So said he, and her maids 
 
 Arete bade to place above the fire 
 
 In haste a tripod great. And o'er the blaze 
 
 They placed the tripod for Odysseus' bath. 
 
 And poured in water, and brought wood and fed 
 
 The fire, and round the caldron played the flame. 
 
78 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Heating the water. Meanwhile from her room 
 
 Arete for her guest brought out a chest 
 
 Most fair to see, and into it she put 
 
 The presents rich ; the raiment and the gold, 
 
 Gifts of Phaeakian chieftains, and besides 
 
 She added to the gifts a goodly cloak 
 
 And tunic, and addressing him she used 
 
 These winged words : " Now look thyself and see 
 
 The lid, and quickly fix it with a cord. 
 
 Lest any one should rob thee on the way. 
 
 When thou art sleeping a sweet sleep aboard 
 
 The dark-hulled ship. And when the godlike man. 
 
 Much tried Odysseus, heard, he forthwith closed 
 
 The lid, and fastened it with knotted cord. 
 
 As once dread Circe taught him. Thereupon 
 
 The house-dame bade him go and take a bath 
 
 And wash. And he with gladness in his heart 
 
 Saw the warm bath, for comfort such as this 
 
 He lacked since he had left the island home 
 
 Of fair Calypso, where he like a god 
 
 Was tended. When the maids had given the bath. 
 
 Anointed him with oil, and round him thrown 
 
 The beauteous cloak and tunic, from the bath 
 
 He went and joined the princes at their wine. 
 
 But stood Nausicaa, as goddess fair. 
 
 Beside a pillar of the well-framed roof. 
 
 And gazing at Odysseus wondered much, 
 
 And with these winged words accosted him : 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 79 
 
 " Stranger, farewell, and in thy fatherland 
 
 Remember me to whom thou owest first 
 
 Thy rescue ! " And Odysseus answering said : 
 
 " Nausicaa, child of great Alkinous, 
 
 May Zeus so order it, the thundering spouse 
 
 Of Here ! may I reach my home again. 
 
 And see the happy day of my return ! 
 
 There will I as a goddess worship thee 
 
 From day to day, for thou hast saved my life. 
 
 Fair maid." He said, and took his seat beside 
 
 Alkinous, King. And now his share to each 
 
 They dealt, and mixed the wine. And soon drew near 
 
 The herald leading the blind minstrel sweet, 
 
 Demodocus, by all the people praised, 
 
 And in the middle of the banqueters 
 
 He seated him beside a pillar tall. 
 
 To lean againsf. And then Odysseus wise 
 
 Cutting out from the chine of white-tusked boar 
 
 A portion rich with fat and savoury juice. 
 
 Much leaving still, the herald thus addressed : 
 
 " Now, herald, to Demodocus convey 
 
 This portion for his meal. I'll welcome him. 
 
 Though very sad at heart ; for all mankind 
 
 Dwellers on earth, the minstrel reverence 
 
 And honour; for the Muse their theme inspires. 
 
 And loves the songster race." Odysseus said, 
 
 And in his hand the herald took the share 
 
 And gave it to Demodocus renowned, 
 
8o THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Who pleased at heart the welcome gift received. 
 
 Then on the savoury feast before them spread 
 
 They laid their hands. And vifhen desire for food 
 
 And drink was gone, Odysseus wise addressed 
 
 Demodocus : " Above all other men 
 
 I reverence thee, Demodocus ; the Muse, 
 
 Daughter of Zeus has surely taught thee song, 
 
 Or Phoebus ; for most touchingly thou sing'st 
 
 The hap of the Achaians, what they did 
 
 And suffered, and what labours they endured ; 
 
 As if thou hadst been present, and not heard 
 
 The tale from others. But come, change thy theme 
 
 And sing the story of the wooden horse 
 
 Made by Epeius with Athene's aid. 
 
 Which fatal snare divine Odysseus brought 
 
 Crowded with warriors to the acropolis, 
 
 And made an end of Ilium. If all this 
 
 Thou can' St narrate in order, I will tell 
 
 To all men that to thee a kindly god 
 
 Hath given immortal song." Odysseus said, 
 
 And he, with inspiration from the god, 
 
 Began, and sang the story from the time 
 
 When in their well-benched ships embarked, the 
 
 Greeks 
 Set sail, their huts and shelter left ablaze. 
 But some already with Odysseus famed 
 Crouched secretly within the wooden horse 
 In the agora of the Trojans, who themselves 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. S 
 
 Drew it to the acropolis. There it stood, 
 And sitting round it they had much debate, 
 Being in doubt. Three thoughts divided them : 
 Should they with keen-edged axe the hollow horse 
 Cut through, — or should they draw it to the edge 
 And thrust it from the rock, — ^or should they there 
 Leave it, a grand peace-offering to the gods ? 
 This last way then their counsels settled it. 
 For 'twas their fate to perish when they took 
 The monster wooden horse within their walls, 
 Wherein were couched the bravest of the Greeks, 
 Bringing upon the Trojans death and doom. 
 He sang too how the Achaians from the horse 
 Outstreaming, sacked the city when they'd left 
 Their hollow ambush ; and what deeds were done 
 By this and that man for the city's fall ; 
 How to the dwelling of De'iphobus 
 Hurried Odysseus, furious as Ares, 
 With godlike Menelaus ; how he vowed 
 There to face direst war and overcome 
 By great Athene's aid. All these things sang 
 The minstrel famed. But sage Odysseus' heart 
 Was melted, and a tear bedewed his cheek 
 Beneath his brow ; and as a woman weeps 
 With fond embrace upon her husband loved. 
 Who in the face of fellow-citizens 
 Before the walls has fallen in the cause 
 Of friends and children, lest a bitter day 
 
82 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Be theirs ; and witnessing his dying throes, 
 
 Casts herself on him, and with piercing cries 
 
 Bewails him ; and the enemy behind 
 
 Smiting her back and shoulders with their shafts. 
 
 Drive her away to bondage, to endure 
 
 Labour and woe ; and from her cheeks the bloom 
 
 Wastes with her utter grief; so did the tears 
 
 Stream from Odysseus' eyes. His weeping 'scaped 
 
 The notice of the rest ; Alkinous 
 
 Alone perceived and turned it in his mind, 
 
 For sitting near to him he chanced to hear 
 
 His deep-drawn groans ; and his Phseakian chiefs 
 
 Straightway addressed : " Phaeakian counsellors 
 
 And chieftains, listen. Let Demodocus 
 
 Refrain now from the lyre, for not to all 
 
 Gives his song pleasure ; since the feast was done 
 
 And the sweet bard began, our stranger guest 
 
 Has ceased not his lament, for heavy grief 
 
 Methinks, weighs down his soul; so come be hushed 
 
 His song, that all, the stranger and his friends, 
 
 May have a merry time ; 'tis better so. 
 
 Since for our honoured stranger are prepared 
 
 The swift ship and the gifts which lovingly 
 
 We've brought for him. For in a brother's place 
 
 The stranger and the suppliant is held 
 
 By all men, even those of little wit. 
 
 Wherefore evade not now with crafty thought 
 
 What I shall ask thee. It will serve thee best 
 
THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 83 
 
 To speak out openly. Thy name declare, 
 The name thy father and thy mother gave, 
 And what the people call thee who around 
 Thy city dwell. None goes without a name 
 When first he sees the light, or bad or good, 
 For parents give to all a name at birth. 
 Tell me thy land, thy people, and thy town, 
 That so the ship that bears thee may direct 
 Her course. For we Phaeakians place no man 
 To steer, nor is there rudder, as the ships 
 Of other people have. But our ships know 
 The thoughts and mind of men, the cities know 
 Of all men, and their fertile lands, and, hid 
 In mist and cloud, with bird-like speed they cross 
 The ocean's vast expanse. Nor dread they e'er 
 Wreck or mishap. But in time past I heard 
 My sire Nausithoiis relate the grudge 
 Borne towards us by Poseidon, all because 
 We help unscathed each wanderer on his way. 
 He vowed he'd one day wreck a well-wrought ship 
 Manned by Phaeakians, on her homeward way 
 Across the murky deep from carrying 
 Some wanderer to his home, and circle round 
 Our city with a mound ; so used to say 
 The aged man. But as the god may will 
 Shall these things be, to come to pass or not. 
 But come now, tell me this, and truly tell, 
 Where thou hast wandered, and what lands of men 
 
84 
 
 THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. 
 
 Hast visited : themselves, what sort they are, 
 And what their well-filled cities, both the men 
 Who're fierce and cruel, and care not for right, 
 And those who love the stranger, and whose hearts 
 Reverence the gods. And tell me why thou weep'st 
 And sighest a deep sigh when hearing sung 
 The doom of Ilium and her Danaan foes. 
 The gods indeed have done it, and have spun 
 The thread of fate to men to make a song 
 For time to come. Hast thou at Ilium lost 
 Some kinsman of thy wife, a warrior brave, 
 Father or brother, for most loved are these 
 And honoured after those who're bound to us 
 By ties of blood ? Or has some comrade good 
 Perished, thy heart's delight, for such a one 
 Endowed with wisdom, comes no whit behind 
 A kinsman in man's love."