Odyssey

Thus, then, did Odysseus wait and pray; but the girl drove on to the town. When she reached her father's house she drew up at the gateway, and her brothers - comely as the gods - gathered round her, took the mules out of the wagon, and carried the clothes into the house, while she went to her own room, where an old servant, Eurymedousa of Apeira, lit the fire for her. This old woman had been brought by sea from Apeira, and had been chosen as a prize for Alkinoos because he was king over the Phaeacians, and the people in the dêmos obeyed him as though he were a god. She had been nurse to Nausicaa, and had now lit the fire for her, and brought her supper for her into her own room.

ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἠρᾶτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.

ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε,

στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς

ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης

ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.

αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ

γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα,

τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·

Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν

Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·

ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.

ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.

Presently Odysseus got up to go towards the town; and Athena shed a thick mist all round him to hide him in case any of the proud Phaeacians who met him should be rude to him, or ask him who he was. Then, as he was just entering the town, she came towards him in the likeness of a little girl carrying a pitcher. She stood right in front of him, and Odysseus said:

καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη

πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι,

μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας

κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν,

ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.

στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

"My dear, will you be so kind as to show me the house of king Alkinoos? I am an unfortunate foreigner in distress, and do not know one in your town and country."

ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο

Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω

τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα

ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.

Then Athena said, "Yes, father stranger, I will show you the house you want, for Alkinoos lives quite close to my own father. I will go before you and show the way, but say not a word as you go, and do not look at any man, nor ask him questions; for the people here cannot abide strangers, and do not like men who come from some other place. They are a sea-faring folk, and sail the seas by the grace of Poseidon in ships that glide along like thought, or as a bird in the air."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμον, ὅν με κελεύεις,

δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω,

μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.

οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται,

οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.

νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι

λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·

τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα.

On this she led the way, and Odysseus followed in her steps; but not one of the Phaeacians could see him as he passed through the city in the midst of them; for the great goddess Athena in her good will towards him had hidden him in a thick cloud of darkness. He admired their harbors, ships, places of assembly, and the lofty walls of the city, which, with the palisade on top of them, were very striking, and when they reached the king's house Athena said:

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.

τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν

ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη

εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν

θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας

αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ

ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο,

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

"This is the house, father stranger, which you would have me show you. You will find a number of great people sitting at table, but do not be afraid; go straight in, for the bolder a man is the more likely he is to carry his point, even though he is a stranger. First find the queen. Her name is Arete, and she comes of the same family as her husband Alkinoos. They both descend originally from Poseidon, who was father to Nausithoos by Periboia, a woman of great beauty. Periboia was the youngest daughter of Eurymedon, who at one time reigned over the giants, but he ruined his ill-fated people and lost his own life to boot.

οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με κελεύεις

πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας

δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ

τάρβει· θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων

ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.

δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν·

Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων

τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.

Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη,

ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος,

ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·

"Poseidon, however, lay with his daughter, and she had a son by him, the great Nausithoos, who reigned over the Phaeacians. Nausithoos had two sons Rhexenor and Alkinoos; Apollo killed the first of them while he was still a bridegroom and without male issue; but he left a daughter Arete, whom Alkinoos married, and honors as no other woman is honored of all those that keep house along with their husbands.

τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα

Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·

Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.

τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα

Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν,

καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη,

ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.

"Thus she both was, and still is, respected beyond measure by her children, by Alkinoos himself, and by the whole people, who look upon her as a goddess, and greet her whenever she goes about the city, for she is a thoroughly good woman both in head [ noos ] and heart, and when any women are friends of hers, she will help their husbands also to settle their disputes. If you can gain her good will, you may have every hope of seeing your friends again, and getting safely back to your home and country."

ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν

ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο

καὶ λαῶν, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες

δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·

ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.

εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

Then Athena left Scheria and went away over the sea. She went to Marathon and to the spacious streets of Athens , where she entered the abode of Erechtheus; but Odysseus went on to the house of Alkinoos, and he pondered much as he paused a while before reaching the threshold of bronze, for the splendor of the palace was like that of the sun or moon. The walls on either side were of bronze from end to end, and the cornice was of blue enamel. The doors were gold, and hung on pillars of silver that rose from a floor of bronze, while the lintel was silver and the hook of the door was of gold.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,

ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,

δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ

ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.

χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·

χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·

σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,

ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.

On either side there stood gold and silver mastiffs which Hephaistos, with his consummate skill, had fashioned expressly to keep watch over the palace of king Alkinoos; so they were immortal and could never grow old. Seats were ranged all along the wall, here and there from one end to the other, with coverings of fine woven work which the women of the house had made. Here the chief persons of the Phaeacians used to sit and eat and drink, for there was abundance at all seasons; and there were golden figures of young men with lighted torches in their hands, raised on pedestals, to give light by night to those who were at table. There are fifty maid servants in the house, some of whom are always grinding rich yellow grain at the mill, while others work at the loom, or sit and spin, and their shuttles go, backwards and forwards like the fluttering of aspen leaves, while the linen is so closely woven that it will turn oil. As the Phaeacians are the best sailors in the world, so their women excel all others in weaving, for Athena has taught them all manner of useful arts, and they are very intelligent.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,

οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι

δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.

ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι

λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.

ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο

πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν

ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,

φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.

πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες

αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,

αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν

ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·

καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.

ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν

νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες

ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη

ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.

Outside the gate of the outer court there is a large garden of about four acres with a wall all round it. It is full of beautiful trees - pears, pomegranates, and the most delicious apples. There are luscious figs also, and olives in full growth. The fruits never rot nor fail all the year round, neither winter nor summer, for the air is so soft that a new crop ripens before the old has dropped. Pear grows on pear, apple on apple, and fig on fig, and so also with the grapes, for there is an excellent vineyard: on the level ground of a part of this, the grapes are being made into raisins; in another part they are being gathered; some are being trodden in the wine tubs, others further on have shed their blossom and are beginning to show fruit, others again are just changing color. In the furthest part of the ground there are beautifully arranged beds of flowers that are in bloom all the year round. Two streams go through it, the one turned in ducts throughout the whole garden, while the other is carried under the ground of the outer court to the house itself, and the town's people draw water from it. Such, then, were the splendors with which the gods had endowed the house of king Alkinoos.

ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων

τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,

ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι

συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.

τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει

χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.

ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,

αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.

ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,

τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,

ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν

ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.

ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον

παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·

ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα

σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι

πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.

τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

So here Odysseus stood for a while and looked about him, but when he had looked long enough he crossed the threshold and went within the precincts of the house. There he found all the chief people among the Phaeacians making their drink-offerings to Hermes, which they always did the last thing before going away for the night. He went straight through the court, still hidden by the cloak of darkness in which Athena had enveloped him, till he reached Arete and King Alkinoos; then he laid his hands upon the knees of the queen, and at that moment the miraculous darkness fell away from him and he became visible. Every one was speechless with surprise at seeing a man there, but Odysseus began at once with his petition.

ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,

καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.

εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας

σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,

ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,

ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,

καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.

οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες·

θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·

"Queen Arete," he exclaimed, "daughter of great Rhexenor, in my distress I humbly pray you, as also your husband and these your guests (whom may heaven prosper with long life and happiness [ olbos ], and may they leave their possessions to their children, and all the honors conferred upon them by the state [ dêmos ]) to help me home to my own country as soon as possible; for I have been long in trouble and away from my friends."

Ἀρήτη, θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο,

σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας

τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας· τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν

ζωέμεναι, καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος

κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ ὅ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν·

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι

θᾶσσον, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω.

Then he sat down on the hearth among the ashes and they all held their peace, till presently the old hero Echeneus, who was an excellent speaker and an elder among the Phaeacians, plainly and in all honesty addressed them thus:

ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν

πὰρ πυρί· οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,

ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν

καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο, παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς·

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

"Alkinoos," said he, "it is not creditable to you that a stranger should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth; every one is waiting to hear what you are about to say; tell him, then, to rise and take a seat on a stool inlaid with silver, and bid your servants mix some wine and water that we may make a drink-offering to Zeus the lord of thunder, who takes all well-disposed suppliants under his protection; and let the housekeeper give him some supper, of whatever there may be in the house."

Ἀλκίνοʼ, οὐ μέν τοι τόδε κάλλιον, οὐδὲ ἔοικε,

ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν,

οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται.

ἄλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου

εἷσον ἀναστήσας, σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον

οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ·

δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων.

When Alkinoos heard this he took Odysseus by the hand, raised him from the hearth, and bade him take the seat of Laodamas, who had been sitting beside him, and was his favorite son. A maid servant then brought him water in a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for him to wash his hands, and she drew a clean table beside him; an upper servant brought him bread and offered him many good things of what there was in the house, and Odysseus ate and drank. Then Alkinoos said to one of the servants, "Pontonoos, mix a cup of wine and hand it round that we may make drink-offerings to Zeus the lord of thunder, who is the protector of all well-disposed suppliants."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

χειρὸς ἑλὼν Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην

ὦρσεν ἀπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν καὶ ἐπὶ θρόνου εἷσε φαεινοῦ,

υἱὸν ἀναστήσας ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα,

ὅς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκεν.

χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα

καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,

νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.

σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,

εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.

αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·

Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον

πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.

Pontonoos then mixed wine and water, and handed it round after giving every man his drink-offering. When they had made their offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was minded, Alkinoos said:

ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,

νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενος δεπάεσσιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

"Aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, hear my words. You have had your supper, so now go home to bed. Tomorrow morning I shall invite a still larger number of aldermen, and will give a sacrificial banquet in honor of our guest; we can then discuss the question of his escort, and consider how we may at once send him back rejoicing to his own country without toil [ ponos ] or inconvenience to himself, no matter how distant it may be. We must see that he comes to no harm while on his homeward journey, but when he is once at home he will have to take the luck he was born with for better or worse like other people. It is possible, however, that the stranger is one of the immortals who has come down from heaven to visit us; but in this case the gods are departing from their usual practice, for hitherto they have made themselves perfectly clear to us when we have been offering them hecatombs. They come and sit at our feasts just like one of our selves, and if any solitary wayfarer happens to stumble upon some one or other of them, they affect no concealment, for we are as near of kin to the gods as the Cyclopes and the savage giants are."

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·

ἠῶθεν δὲ γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες

ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις ξεινίσσομεν ἠδὲ θεοῖσιν

ῥέξομεν ἱερὰ καλά, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ περὶ πομπῆς

μνησόμεθʼ, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἄνευθε πόνου καὶ ἀνίης

πομπῇ ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃ ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται

χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐστί,

μηδέ τι μεσσηγύς γε κακὸν καὶ πῆμα πάθῃσι,

πρίν γε τὸν ἧς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα

πείσεται, ἅσσα οἱ αἶσα κατὰ κλῶθές τε βαρεῖαι

γιγνομένῳ νήσαντο λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.

εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθεν,

ἄλλο τι δὴ τόδʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ περιμηχανόωνται.

αἰεὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος γε θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς

ἡμῖν, εὖτʼ ἔρδωμεν ἀγακλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας,

δαίνυνταί τε παρʼ ἄμμι καθήμενοι ἔνθα περ ἡμεῖς.

εἰ δʼ ἄρα τις καὶ μοῦνος ἰὼν ξύμβληται ὁδίτης,

οὔ τι κατακρύπτουσιν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἐγγύθεν εἰμέν,

ὥς περ Κύκλωπές τε καὶ ἄγρια φῦλα Γιγάντων.

Then Odysseus said: "Pray, Alkinoos, do not take any such notion into your head. I have nothing of the immortal about me, neither in body nor mind, and most resemble those among you who are the most afflicted. Indeed, were I to tell you all that heaven has seen fit to lay upon me, you would say that I was still worse off than they are. Nevertheless, let me sup in spite of sorrow, for an empty stomach is a very importunate thing, and thrusts itself on a man's notice no matter how dire is his distress [ penthos ]. I am in great distress [ penthos ], yet it insists that I shall eat and drink, bids me lay aside all memory of my sorrows and dwell only on the due replenishing of itself. As for yourselves, do as you propose, and at break of day set about helping me to get home. I shall be content to die if I may first once more behold my property, my bondsmen, and all the greatness of my house."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Ἀλκίνοʼ, ἄλλο τί τοι μελέτω φρεσίν· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε

ἀθανάτοισιν ἔοικα, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,

οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλὰ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν.

οὕς τινας ὑμεῖς ἴστε μάλιστʼ ὀχέοντας ὀιζὺν

ἀνθρώπων, τοῖσίν κεν ἐν ἄλγεσιν ἰσωσαίμην.

καὶ δʼ ἔτι κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ κακὰ μυθησαίμην,

ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν δορπῆσαι ἐάσατε κηδόμενόν περ·

οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο

ἔπλετο, ἥ τʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἕο μνήσασθαι ἀνάγκῃ

καὶ μάλα τειρόμενον καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,

ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ πένθος μὲν ἔχω φρεσίν, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

ἐσθέμεναι κέλεται καὶ πινέμεν, ἐκ δέ με πάντων

ληθάνει ὅσσʼ ἔπαθον, καὶ ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἀνώγει.

ὑμεῖς δʼ ὀτρύνεσθαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν,

ὥς κʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐμῆς ἐπιβήσετε πάτρης

καί περ πολλὰ παθόντα· ἰδόντα με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν

κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.

Thus did he speak. Every one approved his saying, and agreed that he should have his escort inasmuch as he had spoken reasonably. Then when they had made their drink-offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was minded they went home to bed every man in his own abode, leaving Odysseus in the room with Arete and Alkinoos while the servants were taking the things away after supper. Arete was the first to speak, for she recognized the shirt, cloak, and good clothes that Odysseus was wearing, as the work of herself and of her maids; so she said, "Stranger, before we go any further, there is a question I should like to ask you. Who, and whence are you, and who gave you those clothes? Did you not say you had come here from beyond the sea?"

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον

πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,

αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀρήτη τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοος θεοειδὴς

ἥσθην· ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἀπεκόσμεον ἔντεα δαιτός.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·

ἔγνω γὰρ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἰδοῦσα

καλά, τά ῥʼ αὐτὴ τεῦξε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·

τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τίς τοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκεν;

οὐ δὴ φῆς ἐπὶ πόντον ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι;

And Odysseus answered, "It would be a long story, Lady, were I to relate in full the tale of my misfortunes, for the hand of heaven has been laid heavy upon me; but as regards your question, there is an island far away in the sea which is called ‘the Ogygian.’ Here dwells the cunning and powerful goddess Calypso, daughter of Atlas. She lives by herself far from all neighbors human or divine. A daimôn , however, led me to her hearth all desolate and alone, for Zeus struck my ship with his thunderbolts, and broke it up in mid-ocean. My brave comrades were drowned every man of them, but I stuck to the keel and was carried hither and thither for the space of nine days, till at last during the darkness of the tenth night the gods brought me to the Ogygian island where the great goddess Calypso lives. She took me in and treated me with the utmost kindness; indeed she wanted to make me immortal that I might never grow old, but she could not persuade me to let her do so.

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἀργαλέον, βασίλεια, διηνεκέως ἀγορεῦσαι

κήδεʼ, ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.

Ὠγυγίη τις νῆσος ἀπόπροθεν εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται·

ἔνθα μὲν Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ, δολόεσσα Καλυψὼ

ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός· οὐδέ τις αὐτῇ

μίσγεται οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐφέστιον ἤγαγε δαίμων

οἶον, ἐπεί μοι νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ

Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τρόπιν ἀγκὰς ἑλὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης

ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην· δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ

νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ

ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ με λαβοῦσα

ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει τε καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε

θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·

ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν.

"I stayed with Calypso seven years straight on end, and watered the good clothes she gave me with my tears during the whole time; but at last when the eighth year came round she bade me depart of her own free will, either because Zeus had told her she must, or because she had changed her mind [ noos ]. She sent me from her island on a raft, which she provisioned with abundance of bread and wine. Moreover she gave me good stout clothing, and sent me a wind that blew both warm and fair. Seventeen days did I sail over the sea, and on the eighteenth I caught sight of the first outlines of the mountains upon your coast - and glad indeed was I to set eyes upon them. Nevertheless there was still much trouble in store for me, for at this point Poseidon would let me go no further, and raised a great storm against me; the sea was so terribly high that I could no longer keep to my raft, which went to pieces under the fury of the gale, and I had to swim for it, till wind and current brought me to your shores.

ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον ἔμπεδον, εἵματα δʼ αἰεὶ

δάκρυσι δεύεσκον, τά μοι ἄμβροτα δῶκε Καλυψώ·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὀγδόατόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,

καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἐποτρύνουσα νέεσθαι

Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ἀγγελίης, ἢ καὶ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτῆς.

πέμπε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε,

σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ, καὶ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσεν,

οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.

ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέον ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,

ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα

γαίης ὑμετέρης, γήθησε δέ μοι φίλον ἦτορ

δυσμόρῳ· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλον ἔτι ξυνέσεσθαι ὀιζυῖ

πολλῇ, τήν μοι ἐπῶρσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

ὅς μοι ἐφορμήσας ἀνέμους κατέδησε κέλευθον,

ὤρινεν δὲ θάλασσαν ἀθέσφατον, οὐδέ τι κῦμα

εἴα ἐπὶ σχεδίης ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα φέρεσθαι.

τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα θύελλα διεσκέδασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

νηχόμενος τόδε λαῖτμα διέτμαγον, ὄφρα με γαίῃ

ὑμετέρῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.

"There I tried to land, but could not, for it was a bad place and the waves dashed me against the rocks, so I again took to the sea and swam on till I came to a river that seemed the most likely landing place, for there were no rocks and it was sheltered from the wind. Here, then, I got out of the water and gathered my senses together again. Night was coming on, so I left the river, and went into a thicket, where I covered myself all over with leaves, and presently heaven sent me off into a very deep sleep. Sick and sorry as I was I slept among the leaves all night, and through the next day till afternoon, when I woke as the sun was westering, and saw your daughter's maid servants playing upon the beach, and your daughter among them looking like a goddess. I besought her aid, and she proved to be of an excellent disposition, much more so than could be expected from so young a person - for young people are apt to be thoughtless. She gave me plenty of bread and wine, and when she had had me washed in the river she also gave me the clothes in which you see me. Now, therefore, though it has pained me to do so, I have told you the whole truth [ alêtheia ]."

ἔνθα κέ μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βιήσατο κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,

πέτρῃς πρὸς μεγάλῃσι βαλὸν καὶ ἀτερπέι χώρῳ·

ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος νῆχον πάλιν, ἧος ἐπῆλθον

ἐς ποταμόν, τῇ δή μοι ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,

λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο.

ἐκ δʼ ἔπεσον θυμηγερέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀμβροσίη νὺξ

ἤλυθʼ. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπάνευθε διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

ἐκβὰς ἐν θάμνοισι κατέδραθον, ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλα

ἠφυσάμην· ὕπνον δὲ θεὸς κατʼ ἀπείρονα χεῦεν.

ἔνθα μὲν ἐν φύλλοισι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ

εὗδον παννύχιος καὶ ἐπʼ ἠῶ καὶ μέσον ἦμαρ.

δείλετό τʼ ἠέλιος καί με γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.

ἀμφιπόλους δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ τεῆς ἐνόησα θυγατρὸς

παιζούσας, ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ ἔην ἐικυῖα θεῇσι·

τὴν ἱκέτευσʼ· ἡ δʼ οὔ τι νοήματος ἤμβροτεν ἐσθλοῦ,

ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἔλποιο νεώτερον ἀντιάσαντα

ἐρξέμεν· αἰεὶ γάρ τε νεώτεροι ἀφραδέουσιν.

ἥ μοι σῖτον ἔδωκεν ἅλις ἠδʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον

καὶ λοῦσʼ ἐν ποταμῷ καί μοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκε.

ταῦτά τοι ἀχνύμενός περ ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.

Then Alkinoos said, "Stranger, it was very wrong of my daughter not to bring you on at once to my house along with the maids, seeing that she was the first person whose aid you asked."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν τοῦτο γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε

παῖς ἐμή, οὕνεκά σʼ οὔ τι μετʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν

ἦγεν ἐς ἡμέτερον, σὺ δʼ ἄρα πρώτην ἱκέτευσας.

"Pray do not scold her," replied Odysseus; "she is not to blame. She did tell me to follow along with the maids, but I was ashamed and afraid, for I thought you might perhaps be displeased if you saw me. Every human being is sometimes a little suspicious and irritable."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἥρως, μή τοι τοὔνεκʼ ἀμύμονα νείκεε κούρην·

ἡ μὲν γάρ μʼ ἐκέλευε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕπεσθαι,

ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔθελον δείσας αἰσχυνόμενός τε,

μή πως καὶ σοὶ θυμὸς ἐπισκύσσαιτο ἰδόντι·

δύσζηλοι γάρ τʼ εἰμὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.

"Stranger," replied Alkinoos, "I am not the kind of man to get angry about nothing; it is always better to be reasonable; but by Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, now that I see what kind of person you are, and how much you think as I do, I wish you would stay here, marry my daughter, and become my son-in-law. If you will stay I will give you a house and an estate, but no one (heaven forbid) shall keep you here against your own wish, and that you may be sure of this I will attend tomorrow to the matter of your escort. You can sleep during the whole voyage if you like, and the men shall sail you over smooth waters either to your own home, or wherever you please, even though it be a long way further off than Euboea , which those of my people who saw it when they took yellow-haired Rhadamanthus to see Tityus the son of Gaia, tell me is the furthest of any place - and yet they did the whole voyage in a single day without distressing themselves, and came back again afterwards. You will thus see how much my ships excel all others, and what magnificent oarsmen my sailors are."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ

μαψιδίως κεχολῶσθαι· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ἐσσι, τά τε φρονέων ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ,

παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν ἐχέμεν καὶ ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι

αὖθι μένων· οἶκον δέ κʼ ἐγὼ καὶ κτήματα δοίην,

εἴ κʼ ἐθέλων γε μένοις· ἀέκοντα δέ σʼ οὔ τις ἐρύξει

Φαιήκων· μὴ τοῦτο φίλον Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιτο.

πομπὴν δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἐγὼ τεκμαίρομαι, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,

αὔριον ἔς· τῆμος δὲ σὺ μὲν δεδμημένος ὕπνῳ

λέξεαι, οἱ δʼ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι

πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν,

εἴ περ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἑκαστέρω ἔστʼ Εὐβοίης,

τήν περ τηλοτάτω φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οἵ μιν ἴδοντο

λαῶν ἡμετέρων, ὅτε τε ξανθὸν Ῥαδάμανθυν

ἦγον ἐποψόμενον Τιτυὸν Γαιήιον υἱόν.

καὶ μὲν οἱ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον καὶ ἄτερ καμάτοιο τέλεσσαν

ἤματι τῷ αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπήνυσαν οἴκαδʼ ὀπίσσω.

εἰδήσεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὅσσον ἄρισται

νῆες ἐμαὶ καὶ κοῦροι ἀναρρίπτειν ἅλα πηδῷ.

Then was Odysseus glad and prayed aloud saying, "Father Zeus, grant that Alkinoos may do all as he has said, for so he will win an imperishable kleos among humankind, and at the same time I shall return to my country."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἴθʼ ὅσα εἶπε τελευτήσειεν ἅπαντα

Ἀλκίνοος· τοῦ μέν κεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν

ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη, ἐγὼ δέ κε πατρίδʼ ἱκοίμην.

Thus did they converse. Then Arete told her maids to set a bed in the room that was in the gatehouse, and make it with good red rugs, and to spread coverlets on the top of them with woolen cloaks for Odysseus to wear. The maids thereon went out with torches in their hands, and when they had made the bed they came up to Odysseus and said, "Rise, sir stranger, and come with us for your bed is ready," and glad indeed was he to go to his rest.

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

κέκλετο δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἀμφιπόλοισιν

δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας

χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.

αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,

ὤτρυνον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα παριστάμεναι ἐπέεσσιν·

ὄρσο κέων, ὦ ξεῖνε· πεποίηται δέ τοι εὐνή.

ὣς φάν, τῷ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.

So Odysseus slept in a bed placed in a room over the echoing gateway; but Alkinoos lay in the inner part of the house, with the queen his wife by his side.

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ·

Ἀλκίνοος δʼ ἄρα λέκτο μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,

πὰρ δὲ γυνὴ δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.