Odyssey

Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Alkinoos and Odysseus both rose, and Alkinoos led the way to the Phaeacian place of assembly, which was near the ships. When they got there they sat down side by side on a seat of polished stone, while Athena took the form of one of Alkinoos’ servants, and went round the town in order to contrive nostos for great-hearted Odysseus. She went up to the citizens, man by man, and said, "Aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, come to the assembly all of you and listen to the stranger who has just come off a long voyage to the house of King Alkinoos; he looks like an immortal god."

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆς ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

ἂν δʼ ἄρα διογενὴς ὦρτο πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο

Φαιήκων ἀγορήνδʼ, ἥ σφιν παρὰ νηυσὶ τέτυκτο.

ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισι

πλησίον. ἡ δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ μετῴχετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

εἰδομένη κήρυκι δαΐφρονος Ἀλκινόοιο,

νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα,

καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον·

δεῦτʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,

εἰς ἀγορὴν ἰέναι, ὄφρα ξείνοιο πύθησθε,

ὃς νέον Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα

πόντον ἐπιπλαγχθείς, δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος.

With these words she made them all want to come, and they flocked to the assembly till seats and standing room were alike crowded. Every one was struck with the appearance of Odysseus, for Athena had beautified [ kharis ] him about the head and shoulders, making him look taller and stouter than he really was, that he might impress the Phaeacians favorably as being a very remarkable man, and might come off well in the many trials [ athlos ] of skill to which they would challenge him. Then, when they were got together, Alkinoos spoke:

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι

ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες

υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη

θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις

καί μιν μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,

ὥς κεν Φαιήκεσσι φίλος πάντεσσι γένοιτο

δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε καὶ ἐκτελέσειεν ἀέθλους

πολλούς, τοὺς Φαίηκες ἐπειρήσαντʼ Ὀδυσῆος.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

"Hear me," said he, "aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, that I may speak even as I am minded. This stranger, whoever he may be, has found his way to my house from somewhere or other either East or West. He wants an escort and wishes to have the matter settled. Let us then get one ready for him, as we have done for others before him; indeed, no one who ever yet came to my house has been able to complain of me for not speeding on his way soon enough. Let us draw a ship into the sea - one that has never yet made a voyage - and man her with two and fifty of our choicest [ krînô ] young sailors in the dêmos. Then when you have made fast your oars each by his own seat, leave the ship and come to my house to prepare a feast. I will provide you with everything. I am giving these instructions to the young men who will form the crew, for as regards you aldermen and town councilors, you will join me in entertaining our guest in the cloisters. I can take no excuses, and we will have Demodokos to sing to us; for there is no bard like him whatever he may choose to sing about."

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

ξεῖνος ὅδʼ, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅς τις, ἀλώμενος ἵκετʼ ἐμὸν δῶ,

ἠὲ πρὸς ἠοίων ἦ ἑσπερίων ἀνθρώπων·

πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνει, καὶ λίσσεται ἔμπεδον εἶναι.

ἡμεῖς δʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, ἐποτρυνώμεθα πομπήν.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, ὅτις κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται,

ἐνθάδʼ ὀδυρόμενος δηρὸν μένει εἵνεκα πομπῆς.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν

πρωτόπλοον, κούρω δὲ δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα

κρινάσθων κατὰ δῆμον, ὅσοι πάρος εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.

δησάμενοι δʼ ἐὺ πάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσιν ἐρετμὰ

ἔκβητʼ· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα

ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντες· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐὺ πᾶσι παρέξω.

κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματα καλὰ

ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φιλέωμεν,

μηδέ τις ἀρνείσθω. καλέσασθε δὲ θεῖον ἀοιδὸν

Δημόδοκον· τῷ γάρ ῥα θεὸς πέρι δῶκεν ἀοιδὴν

τέρπειν, ὅππῃ θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃσιν ἀείδειν.

Alkinoos then led the way, and the others followed after, while a servant went to fetch Demodokos. The fifty-two picked [ krînô ] oarsmen went to the sea shore as they had been told, and when they got there they drew the ship into the water, got her mast and sails inside her, bound the oars to the thole-pins with twisted thongs of leather, all in due course, and spread the white sails aloft. They moored the vessel a little way out from land, and then came on shore and went to the house of King Alkinoos. The outhouses, yards, and all the precincts were filled with crowds of men in great multitudes both old and young; and Alkinoos killed them a dozen sheep, eight full grown pigs, and two oxen. These they skinned and dressed so as to provide a magnificent banquet.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

σκηπτοῦχοι· κῆρυξ δὲ μετῴχετο θεῖον ἀοιδόν.

κούρω δὲ κρινθέντε δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα

βήτην, ὡς ἐκέλευσʼ, ἐπὶ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,

νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,

ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,

ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισι,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν.

ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἐς μέγα δῶμα.

πλῆντο δʼ ἄρʼ αἴθουσαί τε καὶ ἕρκεα καὶ δόμοι ἀνδρῶν

ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος δυοκαίδεκα μῆλʼ ἱέρευσεν,

ὀκτὼ δʼ ἀργιόδοντας ὕας, δύο δʼ εἰλίποδας βοῦς·

τοὺς δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, τετύκοντό τε δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν.

A servant presently led in the famous bard Demodokos, whom the muse had dearly loved, but to whom she had given both good and evil, for though she had endowed him with a divine gift of song, she had robbed him of his eyesight. Pontonoos set a seat for him among the guests, leaning it up against a bearing-post. He hung the lyre for him on a peg over his head, and showed him where he was to feel for it with his hands. He also set a fair table with a basket of victuals by his side, and a cup of wine from which he might drink whenever he was so disposed.

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,

τὸν πέρι μοῦσʼ ἐφίλησε, δίδου δʼ ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε·

ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδου δʼ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν.

τῷ δʼ ἄρα Ποντόνοος θῆκε θρόνον ἀργυρόηλον

μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας·

κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἐπέφραδε χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι

κῆρυξ· πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει κάνεον καλήν τε τράπεζαν,

πὰρ δὲ δέπας οἴνοιο, πιεῖν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.

The company then laid their hands upon the good things that were before them, but as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, the muse inspired Demodokos to sing the feats [ kleos ] of heroes, and most especially a matter whose kleos at that time reached wide heaven, to wit, the quarrel [ neikos ] between Odysseus and Achilles, and the fierce words that they heaped on one another as they sat together at a banquet. But Agamemnon was glad in his noos when he heard his chieftains quarreling with one another, for Apollo had foretold him this at Pytho when he crossed the stone floor to consult the oracle. Here the beginning of the evil started rolling down, by the will of Zeus, toward both Danaans and Trojans.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

μοῦσʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνῆκεν ἀειδέμεναι κλέα ἀνδρῶν,

οἴμης τῆς τότʼ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκανε,

νεῖκος Ὀδυσσῆος καὶ Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος,

ὥς ποτε δηρίσαντο θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαλείῃ

ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἄναξ δʼ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

χαῖρε νόῳ, ὅ τʼ ἄριστοι Ἀχαιῶν δηριόωντο.

ὣς γάρ οἱ χρείων μυθήσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

Πυθοῖ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθʼ ὑπέρβη λάινον οὐδὸν

χρησόμενος· τότε γάρ ῥα κυλίνδετο πήματος ἀρχὴ

Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι Διὸς μεγάλου διὰ βουλάς.

Thus sang the bard, but Odysseus drew his purple mantle over his head and covered his face, for he was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see that he was weeping. When the bard left off singing he wiped the tears from his eyes, uncovered his face, and, taking his cup, made a drink-offering to the gods; but when the Phaeacians pressed Demodokos to sing further, for they delighted in his lays, then Odysseus again drew his mantle over his head and wept bitterly. No one noticed his distress except Alkinoos, who was sitting near him, and heard the heavy sighs that he was heaving. So he at once said, "Aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, we have had enough now, both of the feast, and of the minstrelsy that is its due accompaniment; let us proceed therefore to the athletic sports [ athlos ], so that our guest on his return home may be able to tell his friends how much we surpass all other nations as boxers, wrestlers, jumpers, and runners."

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι

κὰκ κεφαλῆς εἴρυσσε, κάλυψε δὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα·

αἴδετο γὰρ Φαίηκας ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λείβων.

ἦ τοι ὅτε λήξειεν ἀείδων θεῖος ἀοιδός,

δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενος κεφαλῆς ἄπο φᾶρος ἕλεσκε

καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον ἑλὼν σπείσασκε θεοῖσιν·

αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἂψ ἄρχοιτο καὶ ὀτρύνειαν ἀείδειν

Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐπεὶ τέρποντʼ ἐπέεσσιν,

ἂψ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ κρᾶτα καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,

Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν

ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.

αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.

ἤδη μὲν δαιτὸς κεκορήμεθα θυμὸν ἐίσης

φόρμιγγός θʼ, ἣ δαιτὶ συνήορός ἐστι θαλείῃ·

νῦν δʼ ἐξέλθωμεν καὶ ἀέθλων πειρηθῶμεν

πάντων, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν

οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων

πύξ τε παλαιμοσύνῃ τε καὶ ἅλμασιν ἠδὲ πόδεσσιν.

With these words he led the way, and the others followed after. A servant hung Demodokos’ lyre on its peg for him, led him out of the room, and set him on the same way as that along which all the chief men of the Phaeacians were going to see the sports; a crowd of several thousand people followed them, and there were many excellent competitors for all the prizes. Akroneos, Okyalos, Elatreus, Nauteus, Prymneus, Anchialos, Eretmeus, Ponteus, Proreus, Thoon, Anabesineos, and Amphialos son of Polyneos son of Tekton. There was also Euryalos son of Naubolos, who was like Ares himself, and was the best looking man among the Phaeacians except Laodamas. Three sons of Alkinoos, Laodamas, Halios, and Clytoneus, competed also.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο.

κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν,

Δημοδόκου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἔξαγεν ἐκ μεγάροιο

κῆρυξ· ἦρχε δὲ τῷ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἥν περ οἱ ἄλλοι

Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἀέθλια θαυμανέοντες.

βὰν δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, ἅμα δʼ ἕσπετο πουλὺς ὅμιλος,

μυρίοι· ἂν δʼ ἵσταντο νέοι πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.

ὦρτο μὲν Ἀκρόνεώς τε καὶ Ὠκύαλος καὶ Ἐλατρεύς,

Ναυτεύς τε Πρυμνεύς τε καὶ Ἀγχίαλος καὶ Ἐρετμεύς,

Ποντεύς τε Πρωρεύς τε, Θόων Ἀναβησίνεώς τε

Ἀμφίαλός θʼ, υἱὸς Πολυνήου Τεκτονίδαο·

ἂν δὲ καὶ Εὐρύαλος, βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ,

Ναυβολίδης, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε

πάντων Φαιήκων μετʼ ἀμύμονα Λαοδάμαντα.

ἂν δʼ ἔσταν τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο,

Λαοδάμας θʼ Ἅλιός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Κλυτόνηος.

The foot races came first. The course was set out for them from the starting post, and they raised a dust upon the plain as they all flew forward at the same moment. Clytoneus came in first by a long way; he left every one else behind him by the length of the furrow that a couple of mules can plough in a fallow field. They then turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here Euryalos proved to be the best man. Amphialos excelled all the others in jumping, while at throwing the disc there was no one who could approach Elatreus. Alkinoos’ son Laodamas was the best boxer, and he it was who presently said, when they had all been diverted with the games [ athlos ], "Let us ask the stranger whether he excels in any of these sports [ athlos ]; he seems very powerfully built; his thighs, calves, hands, and neck are of prodigious strength, nor is he at all old, but he has suffered much lately, and there is nothing like the sea for making havoc with a man, no matter how strong he is."

οἱ δʼ ἦ τοι πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειρήσαντο πόδεσσι.

τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες

καρπαλίμως ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο·

τῶν δὲ θέειν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἔην Κλυτόνηος ἀμύμων·

ὅσσον τʼ ἐν νειῷ οὖρον πέλει ἡμιόνοιιν,

τόσσον ὑπεκπροθέων λαοὺς ἵκεθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο.

οἱ δὲ παλαιμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς πειρήσαντο·

τῇ δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπεκαίνυτο πάντας ἀρίστους.

ἅλματι δʼ Ἀμφίαλος πάντων προφερέστατος ἦεν·

δίσκῳ δʼ αὖ πάντων πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν Ἐλατρεύς,

πὺξ δʼ αὖ Λαοδάμας, ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθησαν φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,

τοῖς ἄρα Λαοδάμας μετέφη πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο·

δεῦτε, φίλοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐρώμεθα εἴ τινʼ ἄεθλον

οἶδέ τε καὶ δεδάηκε. φυήν γε μὲν οὐ κακός ἐστι,

μηρούς τε κνήμας τε καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

αὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν μέγα τε σθένος· οὐδέ τι ἥβης

δεύεται, ἀλλὰ κακοῖσι συνέρρηκται πολέεσσιν·

οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι κακώτερον ἄλλο θαλάσσης

ἄνδρα γε συγχεῦαι, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη.

"You are quite right, Laodamas," replied Euryalos, "go up to your guest and speak to him about it yourself."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

Λαοδάμα, μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

αὐτὸς νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἰὼν καὶ πέφραδε μῦθον.

When Laodamas heard this he made his way into the middle of the crowd and said to Odysseus, "I hope, sir, that you will enter yourself in some one or other of our competitions [ athloi ] if you are skilled in any of them - for you seem to know of athloi . There is no greater kleos for a man all his life long as the showing himself good with his hands and feet. Have a try therefore at something, and banish all sorrow from your mind. Your return home will not be long delayed, for the ship is already drawn into the water, and the crew is found."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο,

στῆ ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπε·

δεῦρʼ ἄγε καὶ σύ, ξεῖνε πάτερ, πείρησαι ἀέθλων,

εἴ τινά που δεδάηκας· ἔοικε δέ σʼ ἴδμεν ἀέθλους·

οὐ μὲν γὰρ μεῖζον κλέος ἀνέρος ὄφρα κʼ ἔῃσιν,

ἤ ὅ τι ποσσίν τε ῥέξῃ καὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε πείρησαι, σκέδασον δʼ ἀπὸ κήδεα θυμοῦ.

σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη

νηῦς τε κατείρυσται καὶ ἐπαρτέες εἰσὶν ἑταῖροι.

Odysseus answered, "Laodamas, why do you taunt me in this way? My mind is set rather on cares than contests athloi ; I have been through infinite trouble, and am come among you now as a suppliant, praying your king and dêmos to further me on my return home [ nostos ]."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Λαοδάμα, τί με ταῦτα κελεύετε κερτομέοντες;

κήδεά μοι καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤ περ ἄεθλοι,

ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα,

νῦν δὲ μεθʼ ὑμετέρῃ ἀγορῇ νόστοιο χατίζων

ἧμαι, λισσόμενος βασιλῆά τε πάντα τε δῆμον.

Then Euryalos reviled him outright and said, "I gather, then, that you are unskilled in any of the many sports athloi that men generally delight in. I suppose you are one of those grasping traders that go about in ships as captains or merchants, and who think of nothing but of their outward freights and homeward cargoes. There does not seem to be much of the athlete [ athlêtês ] about you."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·

οὐ γάρ σʼ οὐδέ, ξεῖνε, δαήμονι φωτὶ ἐίσκω

ἄθλων, οἷά τε πολλὰ μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται,

ἀλλὰ τῷ, ὅς θʼ ἅμα νηὶ πολυκλήιδι θαμίζων,

ἀρχὸς ναυτάων οἵ τε πρηκτῆρες ἔασιν,

φόρτου τε μνήμων καὶ ἐπίσκοπος ᾖσιν ὁδαίων

κερδέων θʼ ἁρπαλέων· οὐδʼ ἀθλητῆρι ἔοικας.

"For shame, sir," answered Odysseus, fiercely, "you are an insolent man - so true is it that the gods do not grace all men alike in speech, person, and understanding. One man may be of weak presence, but heaven has adorned this with such a good conversation that he charms every one who sees him; his honeyed moderation [ aidôs ] carries his hearers with him so that he is leader in all assemblies of his fellows, and wherever he goes he is looked up to. Another may be as handsome as a god, but his good looks are not crowned with verbal grace [ kharis ]. This is your case. No god could make a finer looking man than you are, but you are empty with respect to noos . Your ill-judged remarks [contrary to kosmos ] have made me exceedingly angry, for I excel in a great many athletic exercises [ athlos ]; indeed, so long as I had youth and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age. Now, however, I am worn out by labor and sorrow, for I have gone through much both on the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea; still, in spite of all this I will compete [ athlos ], for your taunts have stung me to the quick."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ξεῖνʼ, οὐ καλὸν ἔειπες· ἀτασθάλῳ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.

οὕτως οὐ πάντεσσι θεοὶ χαρίεντα διδοῦσιν

ἀνδράσιν, οὔτε φυὴν οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτʼ ἀγορητύν.

ἄλλος μὲν γάρ τʼ εἶδος ἀκιδνότερος πέλει ἀνήρ,

ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει, οἱ δέ τʼ ἐς αὐτὸν

τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν· ὁ δʼ ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει

αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ, μετὰ δὲ πρέπει ἀγρομένοισιν,

ἐρχόμενον δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωσιν.

ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἶδος μὲν ἀλίγκιος ἀθανάτοισιν,

ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ χάρις ἀμφιπεριστέφεται ἐπέεσσιν,

ὡς καὶ σοὶ εἶδος μὲν ἀριπρεπές, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως

οὐδὲ θεὸς τεύξειε, νόον δʼ ἀποφώλιός ἐσσι.

ὤρινάς μοι θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν

εἰπὼν οὐ κατὰ κόσμον. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ νῆις ἀέθλων,

ὡς σύ γε μυθεῖαι, ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀίω

ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἥβῃ τε πεποίθεα χερσί τʼ ἐμῇσι.

νῦν δʼ ἔχομαι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἔτλην

ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς, κακὰ πολλὰ παθών, πειρήσομʼ ἀέθλων·

θυμοδακὴς γὰρ μῦθος, ἐπώτρυνας δέ με εἰπών.

So he hurried up without even taking his cloak off, and seized a disc, larger, more massive and much heavier than those used by the Phaeacians when disc-throwing among themselves. Then, swinging it back, he threw it from his brawny hand, and it made a humming sound in the air as he did so. The Phaeacians quailed beneath the rushing of its flight as it sped gracefully from his hand, and flew beyond any mark [ sêma ] that had been made yet. Athena, in the form of a man, came and marked the place where it had fallen. "A blind man, sir," said she, "could easily tell your mark [ sêma ] by groping for it - it is so far ahead of any other. You may make your mind easy about this contest [ athlos ], for no Phaeacian can come near to such a throw as yours."

ἦ ῥα καὶ αὐτῷ φάρει ἀναΐξας λάβε δίσκον

μείζονα καὶ πάχετον, στιβαρώτερον οὐκ ὀλίγον περ

ἢ οἵῳ Φαίηκες ἐδίσκεον ἀλλήλοισι.

τόν ῥα περιστρέψας ἧκε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρός,

βόμβησεν δὲ λίθος· κατὰ δʼ ἔπτηξαν ποτὶ γαίῃ

Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες,

λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὁ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο σήματα πάντων

ῥίμφα θέων ἀπὸ χειρός. ἔθηκε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀθήνη

ἀνδρὶ δέμας ἐικυῖα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

καί κʼ ἀλαός τοι, ξεῖνε, διακρίνειε τὸ σῆμα

ἀμφαφόων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι μεμιγμένον ἐστὶν ὁμίλῳ,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτον. σὺ δὲ θάρσει τόνδε γʼ ἄεθλον·

οὔ τις Φαιήκων τόδε γʼ ἵξεται, οὐδʼ ὑπερήσει.

Odysseus was glad when he found he had a friend among the lookers-on, so he began to speak more pleasantly. "Young men," said he, "come up to that throw if you can, and I will throw another disc as heavy or even heavier. If anyone wants to have a bout with me let him come on, for I am exceedingly angry; I will box, wrestle, or run, I do not care what it is, with any man of you all except Laodamas, but not with him because I am his guest, and one cannot compete with one's own personal friend. At least I do not think it a prudent or a sensible thing for a guest to challenge his host's family at any game [ athlos ], especially when he is in a foreign dêmos . He will cut the ground from under his own feet if he does; but I make no exception as regards any one else, for I want to have the matter out and know which is the best man. I am a good hand at every kind of athletic sport [ athlos ] known among humankind. I am an excellent archer. In battle I am always the first to bring a man down with my arrow, no matter how many more are taking aim at him alongside of me. Philoctetes was the only man who could shoot better than I could when we Achaeans were before the dêmos of the Trojans. I far excel every one else in the whole world, of those who still eat bread upon the face of the earth, but I should not like to shoot against the mighty dead, such as Herakles, or Eurytos the Cechalian- men who could shoot against the gods themselves. This in fact was how Eurytos came prematurely by his end, for Apollo was angry with him and killed him because he challenged him as an archer. I can throw a dart farther than any one else can shoot an arrow. Running is the only point in respect of which I am afraid some of the Phaeacians might beat me, for I have been brought down very low at sea; my provisions ran short, and therefore I am still weak."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

χαὶρων, οὕνεχʼ ἑταῖρον ἐνηέα λεῦσσʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.

καὶ τότε κουφότερον μετεφώνεε Φαιήκεσσιν·

τοῦτον νῦν ἀφίκεσθε, νέοι. τάχα δʼ ὕστερον ἄλλον

ἥσειν ἢ τοσσοῦτον ὀίομαι ἢ ἔτι μᾶσσον.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει,

δεῦρʼ ἄγε πειρηθήτω, ἐπεί μʼ ἐχολώσατε λίην,

ἢ πὺξ ἠὲ πάλῃ ἢ καὶ ποσίν, οὔ τι μεγαίρω,

πάντων Φαιήκων, πλήν γʼ αὐτοῦ Λαοδάμαντος.

ξεῖνος γάρ μοι ὅδʼ ἐστί· τίς ἂν φιλέοντι μάχοιτο;

ἄφρων δὴ κεῖνός γε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς πέλει ἀνήρ,

ὅς τις ξεινοδόκῳ ἔριδα προφέρηται ἀέθλων

δήμῳ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῷ· ἕο δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντα κολούει.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ πέρ τινʼ ἀναίνομαι οὐδʼ ἀθερίζω,

ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω ἴδμεν καὶ πειρηθήμεναι ἄντην.

πάντα γὰρ οὐ κακός εἰμι, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ὅσσοι ἄεθλοι·

εὖ μὲν τόξον οἶδα ἐύξοον ἀμφαφάασθαι·

πρῶτός κʼ ἄνδρα βάλοιμι ὀιστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλοὶ ἑταῖροι

ἄγχι παρασταῖεν καὶ τοξαζοίατο φωτῶν.

οἶος δή με Φιλοκτήτης ἀπεκαίνυτο τόξῳ

δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅτε τοξαζοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιοί.

τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἐμέ φημι πολὺ προφερέστερον εἶναι,

ὅσσοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες.

ἀνδράσι δὲ προτέροισιν ἐριζέμεν οὐκ ἐθελήσω,

οὔθʼ Ἡρακλῆι οὔτʼ Εὐρύτῳ Οιχαλιῆι,

οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐρίζεσκον περὶ τόξων.

τῷ ῥα καὶ αἶψʼ ἔθανεν μέγας Εὔρυτος, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας

ἵκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· χολωσάμενος γὰρ Ἀπόλλων

ἔκτανεν, οὕνεκά μιν προκαλίζετο τοξάζεσθαι.

δουρὶ δʼ ἀκοντίζω ὅσον οὐκ ἄλλος τις ὀιστῷ.

οἴοισιν δείδοικα ποσὶν μή τίς με παρέλθῃ

Φαιήκων· λίην γὰρ ἀεικελίως ἐδαμάσθην

κύμασιν ἐν πολλοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐ κομιδὴ κατὰ νῆα

ἦεν ἐπηετανός· τῷ μοι φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.

They all held their peace except King Alkinoos, who began, "Sir, we have had much pleasure in hearing all that you have told us, from which I understand that you are willing to show your prowess [ aretê ], as having been displeased with some insolent remarks that have been made to you by one of our athletes, and which could never have been uttered by any one who knows how to talk with propriety. I hope you will apprehend my meaning, and will explain to any one of your chief men who may be dining with yourself and your family when you get home, that we have an hereditary aptitude [ aretê ] for accomplishments of all kinds. We are not particularly remarkable for our boxing, nor yet as wrestlers, but we are singularly fleet of foot and are excellent sailors. We are extremely fond of good dinners, music, and dancing [ khoros ]; we also like frequent changes of linen, warm baths, and good beds; so now, please, some of you who are the best dancers set about dancing, that our guest on his return home may be able to tell his friends how much we surpass all other nations as sailors, runners, dancers, minstrels. Demodokos has left his lyre at my house, so run some one or other of you and fetch it for him."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀχάριστα μεθʼ ἡμῖν ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις,

ἀλλʼ ἐθέλεις ἀρετὴν σὴν φαινέμεν, ἥ τοι ὀπηδεῖ,

χωόμενος ὅτι σʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀγῶνι παραστὰς

νείκεσεν, ὡς ἂν σὴν ἀρετὴν βροτὸς οὔ τις ὄνοιτο,

ὅς τις ἐπίσταιτο ᾗσι φρεσὶν ἄρτια βάζειν·

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλῳ

εἴπῃς ἡρώων, ὅτε κεν σοῖς ἐν μεγάροισι

δαινύῃ παρὰ σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ σοῖσι τέκεσσιν,

ἡμετέρης ἀρετῆς μεμνημένος, οἷα καὶ ἡμῖν

Ζεὺς ἐπὶ ἔργα τίθησι διαμπερὲς ἐξ ἔτι πατρῶν.

οὐ γὰρ πυγμάχοι εἰμὲν ἀμύμονες οὐδὲ παλαισταί,

ἀλλὰ ποσὶ κραιπνῶς θέομεν καὶ νηυσὶν ἄριστοι,

αἰεὶ δʼ ἡμῖν δαίς τε φίλη κίθαρις τε χοροί τε

εἵματά τʼ ἐξημοιβὰ λοετρά τε θερμὰ καὶ εὐναί.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων βητάρμονες ὅσσοι ἄριστοι,

παίσατε, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν

οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων

ναυτιλίῃ καὶ ποσσὶ καὶ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ.

Δημοδόκῳ δέ τις αἶψα κιὼν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

οἰσέτω, ἥ που κεῖται ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν.

On this a servant hurried off to bring the lyre from the king's house, and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward. It was their business to manage everything connected with the sports, so they made the ground smooth and marked a wide space for the dancers [ khoros ]. Presently the servant came back with Demodokos’ lyre, and he took his place in the midst of them, whereon the best young dancers [ khoros ] in the town began to foot and trip it so nimbly that Odysseus was delighted with the merry twinkling of their feet.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος θεοείκελος, ὦρτο δὲ κῆρυξ

οἴσων φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν δόμου ἐκ βασιλῆος.

αἰσυμνῆται δὲ κριτοὶ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν

δήμιοι, οἳ κατʼ ἀγῶνας ἐὺ πρήσσεσκον ἕκαστα,

λείηναν δὲ χορόν, καλὸν δʼ εὔρυναν ἀγῶνα.

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα κίʼ ἐς μέσον· ἀμφὶ δὲ κοῦροι

πρωθῆβαι ἵσταντο, δαήμονες ὀρχηθμοῖο,

πέπληγον δὲ χορὸν θεῖον ποσίν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

μαρμαρυγὰς θηεῖτο ποδῶν, θαύμαζε δὲ θυμῷ.

Meanwhile the bard began to sing the loves of Ares and Aphrodite, and how they first began their intrigue in the house of Hephaistos. Ares made Aphrodite many presents, and defiled lord Hephaistos’ marriage bed, so the sun, who saw what they were about, told Hephaistos. Hephaistos was very angry when he heard such dreadful news, so he went to his smithy brooding mischief, got his great anvil into its place, and began to forge some chains which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place. When he had finished his snare he went into his bedroom and festooned the bed-posts all over with chains like cobwebs; he also let many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them, so fine and subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the chains all over the bed, he made as though he were setting out for the fair state of Lemnos , which of all places in the world was the one he was most fond of. But Ares kept no blind look out, and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off to his house, burning with love for Aphrodite.

αὐτὰρ ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν

ἀμφʼ Ἄρεος φιλότητος εὐστεφάνου τʼ Ἀφροδίτης,

ὡς τὰ πρῶτα μίγησαν ἐν Ἡφαίστοιο δόμοισι

λάθρῃ, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε, λέχος δʼ ᾔσχυνε καὶ εὐνὴν

Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος. ἄφαρ δέ οἱ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν

Ἥλιος, ὅ σφʼ ἐνόησε μιγαζομένους φιλότητι.

Ἥφαιστος δʼ ὡς οὖν θυμαλγέα μῦθον ἄκουσε,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων,

ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα, κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς

ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνιʼ ἔκειτο,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ·

πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο,

ἠύτʼ ἀράχνια λεπτά, τά γʼ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο,

οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων· πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα δόλον περὶ δέμνια χεῦεν,

εἴσατʼ ἴμεν ἐς Λῆμνον, ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

ἥ οἱ γαιάων πολὺ φιλτάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων.

οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε χρυσήνιος Ἄρης,

ὡς ἴδεν Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην νόσφι κιόντα·

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο

ἰσχανόων φιλότητος ἐυστεφάνου Κυθερείης.

Now Aphrodite was just come in from a visit to her father Zeus, and was about sitting down when Ares came inside the house, and said as he took her hand in his own, "Let us go to the couch of Hephaistos: he is not at home, but is gone off to Lemnos among the Sintians, whose speech is barbarous."

ἡ δὲ νέον παρὰ πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνος

ἐρχομένη κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εἴσω δώματος ᾔει,

ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

δεῦρο, φίλη, λέκτρονδε τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντες·

οὐ γὰρ ἔθʼ Ἥφαιστος μεταδήμιος, ἀλλά που ἤδη

οἴχεται ἐς Λῆμνον μετὰ Σίντιας ἀγριοφώνους.

She was not unwilling, so they went to the couch to take their rest, whereon they were caught in the toils which cunning Hephaistos had spread for them, and could neither get up nor stir hand or foot, but found too late that they were in a trap. Then Hephaistos came up to them, for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos , when his scout the sun told him what was going on. He was in a furious passion, and stood in the vestibule making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods.

ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.

τὼ δʼ ἐς δέμνια βάντε κατέδραθον· ἀμφὶ δὲ δεσμοὶ

τεχνήεντες ἔχυντο πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο,

οὐδέ τι κινῆσαι μελέων ἦν οὐδʼ ἀναεῖραι.

καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλοντο.

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,

αὖτις ὑποστρέψας πρὶν Λήμνου γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·

Ἠέλιος γάρ οἱ σκοπιὴν ἔχεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον.

βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι πρὸς δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ·

ἔστη δʼ ἐν προθύροισι, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε, γέγωνέ τε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν·

"Father Zeus," he cried, "and all you other blessed gods who live for ever, come here and see the ridiculous and disgraceful sight that I will show you. Zeus’ daughter Aphrodite is always dishonoring me because I am lame. She is in love with Ares, who is handsome and clean built, whereas I am a cripple - but my parents are responsible [ aitioi ] for that, not I; they ought never to have begotten me. Come and see the pair together asleep on my bed. It makes me furious to look at them. They are very fond of one another, but I do not think they will lie there longer than they can help, nor do I think that they will sleep much; there, however, they shall stay till her father has repaid me the sum I gave him for his baggage of a daughter, who is fair but not honest."

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,

δεῦθʼ, ἵνα ἔργα γελαστὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιεικτὰ ἴδησθε,

ὡς ἐμὲ χωλὸν ἐόντα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη

αἰὲν ἀτιμάζει, φιλέει δʼ ἀίδηλον Ἄρηα,

οὕνεχʼ ὁ μὲν καλός τε καὶ ἀρτίπος, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε

ἠπεδανὸς γενόμην. ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος,

ἀλλὰ τοκῆε δύω, τὼ μὴ γείνασθαι ὄφελλον.

ἀλλʼ ὄψεσθʼ, ἵνα τώ γε καθεύδετον ἐν φιλότητι

εἰς ἐμὰ δέμνια βάντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρόων ἀκάχημαι.

οὐ μέν σφεας ἔτʼ ἔολπα μίνυνθά γε κειέμεν οὕτως

καὶ μάλα περ φιλέοντε· τάχʼ οὐκ ἐθελήσετον ἄμφω

εὕδειν· ἀλλά σφωε δόλος καὶ δεσμὸς ἐρύξει,

εἰς ὅ κέ μοι μάλα πάντα πατὴρ ἀποδῷσιν ἔεδνα,

ὅσσα οἱ ἐγγυάλιξα κυνώπιδος εἵνεκα κούρης,

οὕνεκά οἱ καλὴ θυγάτηρ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἐχέθυμος.

On this the gods gathered to the house of Hephaistos. Earth-encircling Poseidon came, and Hermes the bringer of luck, and lord Apollo, but the goddesses stayed at home all of them for shame. Then the givers of all good things stood in the doorway, and the blessed gods roared with inextinguishable laughter, as they saw how cunning Hephaistos had been, whereon one would turn towards his neighbor saying:

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο θεοὶ ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ·

ἦλθε Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος, ἦλθʼ ἐριούνης

Ἑρμείας, ἦλθεν δὲ ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.

θηλύτεραι δὲ θεαὶ μένον αἰδοῖ οἴκοι ἑκάστη.

ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεοί, δωτῆρες ἑάων·

ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι

τέχνας εἰσορόωσι πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

"Ill deeds do not bring aretê , and the weak confound the strong. See how limping Hephaistos, lame as he is, has caught Ares who is the fleetest god in heaven; and now Ares will be cast in heavy damages."

οὐκ ἀρετᾷ κακὰ ἔργα· κιχάνει τοι βραδὺς ὠκύν,

ὡς καὶ νῦν Ἥφαιστος ἐὼν βραδὺς εἷλεν Ἄρηα

ὠκύτατόν περ ἐόντα θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,

χωλὸς ἐὼν τέχνῃσι· τὸ καὶ μοιχάγριʼ ὀφέλλει.

Thus did they converse, but lord Apollo said to Hermes, "Messenger Hermes, giver of good things, you would not care how strong the chains were, would you, if you could sleep with Aphrodite?"

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

Ἑρμῆν δὲ προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Ἑρμεία, Διὸς υἱέ, διάκτορε, δῶτορ ἑάων,

ἦ ῥά κεν ἐν δεσμοῖς ἐθέλοις κρατεροῖσι πιεσθεὶς

εὕδειν ἐν λέκτροισι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ;

"King Apollo," answered Hermes, "I only wish I might get the chance, though there were three times as many chains - and you might look on, all of you, gods and goddesses, but I would sleep with her if I could."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο γένοιτο, ἄναξ ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον·

δεσμοὶ μὲν τρὶς τόσσοι ἀπείρονες ἀμφὶς ἔχοιεν,

ὑμεῖς δʼ εἰσορόῳτε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὕδοιμι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.

The immortal gods burst out laughing as they heard him, but Poseidon took it all seriously, and kept on imploring Hephaistos to set Ares free again. "Let him go," he cried, "and I will undertake, as you require, that he shall pay you all the damages that are held reasonable among the immortal gods."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν δὲ γέλως ὦρτʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνα γέλως ἔχε, λίσσετο δʼ αἰεὶ

Ἥφαιστον κλυτοεργὸν ὅπως λύσειεν Ἄρηα.

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

λῦσον· ἐγὼ δέ τοι αὐτὸν ὑπίσχομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις,

τίσειν αἴσιμα πάντα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

"Do not," replied Hephaistos, "ask me to do this; a bad man's bond is bad security; what remedy could I enforce against you if Ares should go away and leave his debts behind him along with his chains?"

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·

μή με, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, ταῦτα κέλευε·

δειλαί τοι δειλῶν γε καὶ ἐγγύαι ἐγγυάασθαι.

πῶς ἂν ἐγώ σε δέοιμι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,

εἴ κεν Ἄρης οἴχοιτο χρέος καὶ δεσμὸν ἀλύξας;

"Hephaistos," said Poseidon, "if Ares goes away without paying his damages, I will pay you myself." So Hephaistos answered, "In this case I cannot and must not refuse you."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἥφαιστʼ, εἴ περ γάρ κεν Ἄρης χρεῖος ὑπαλύξας

οἴχηται φεύγων, αὐτός τοι ἐγὼ τάδε τίσω.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·

οὐκ ἔστʼ οὐδὲ ἔοικε τεὸν ἔπος ἀρνήσασθαι.

Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them, and as soon as they were free they scampered off, Ares to Thrace and laughter-loving Aphrodite to Cyprus and to Paphos , where is her grove and her altar fragrant with burnt offerings. Here the Graces bathed her, and anointed her with oil of ambrosia such as the immortal gods make use of, and they clothed her in raiment of the most enchanting beauty.

ὣς εἰπὼν δεσμὸν ἀνίει μένος Ἡφαίστοιο.

τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ δεσμοῖο λύθεν, κρατεροῦ περ ἐόντος,

αὐτίκʼ ἀναΐξαντε ὁ μὲν Θρῄκηνδε βεβήκει,

ἡ δʼ ἄρα Κύπρον ἵκανε φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη,

ἐς Πάφον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.

ἔνθα δέ μιν Χάριτες λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ

ἀμβρότῳ, οἷα θεοὺς ἐπενήνοθεν αἰὲν ἐόντας,

ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαν ἐπήρατα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.

Thus sang the bard, and both Odysseus and the seafaring Phaeacians were charmed as they heard him.

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

τέρπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀκούων ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι

Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.

Then Alkinoos told Laodamas and Halios to dance alone, for there was no one to compete with them. So they took a red ball which Polybos had made for them, and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it up towards the clouds, while the other jumped from off the ground and caught it with ease before it came down again. When they had done throwing the ball straight up into the air they began to dance, and at the same time kept on throwing it backwards and forwards to one another, while all the young men in the ring applauded and made a great stamping with their feet. Then Odysseus said:

Ἀλκίνοος δʼ Ἅλιον καὶ Λαοδάμαντα κέλευσεν

μουνὰξ ὀρχήσασθαι, ἐπεί σφισιν οὔ τις ἔριζεν.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σφαῖραν καλὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἕλοντο,

πορφυρέην, τήν σφιν Πόλυβος ποίησε δαΐφρων,

τὴν ἕτερος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα

ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω, ὁ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀερθεὶς

ῥηιδίως μεθέλεσκε, πάρος ποσὶν οὖδας ἱκέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σφαίρῃ ἀνʼ ἰθὺν πειρήσαντο,

ὠρχείσθην δὴ ἔπειτα ποτὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ

ταρφέʼ ἀμειβομένω· κοῦροι δʼ ἐπελήκεον ἄλλοι

ἑστεῶτες κατʼ ἀγῶνα, πολὺς δʼ ὑπὸ κόμπος ὀρώρει.

δὴ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἀλκίνοον προσεφώνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

"King Alkinoos, you said your people were the nimblest dancers in the world, and indeed they have proved themselves to be so. I was astonished as I saw them."

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

ἠμὲν ἀπείλησας βητάρμονας εἶναι ἀρίστους,

ἠδʼ ἄρʼ ἑτοῖμα τέτυκτο· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.

The king was delighted at this, and exclaimed to the Phaeacians "Aldermen and town councilors, our guest seems to be a person of singular judgment; let us give him such proof of our hospitality as he may reasonably expect. There are twelve chief men throughout the dêmos , and counting myself there are thirteen; contribute, each of you, a clean cloak, a shirt, and a talent of fine gold; let us give him all this in a lump down at once, so that when he gets his supper he may do so with a light heart. As for Euryalos, he will have to make a formal apology and a present too, for he has been rude."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.

ὁ ξεῖνος μάλα μοι δοκέει πεπνυμένος εἶναι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν ξεινήιον, ὡς ἐπιεικές.

δώδεκα γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριπρεπέες βασιλῆες

ἀρχοὶ κραίνουσι, τρισκαιδέκατος δʼ ἐγὼ αὐτός·

τῶν οἱ ἕκαστος φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα

καὶ χρυσοῖο τάλαντον ἐνείκατε τιμήεντος.

αἶψα δὲ πάντα φέρωμεν ἀολλέα, ὄφρʼ ἐνὶ χερσὶν

ξεῖνος ἔχων ἐπὶ δόρπον ἴῃ χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

Εὐρύαλος δέ ἑ αὐτὸν ἀρεσσάσθω ἐπέεσσι

καὶ δώρῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.

Thus did he speak. The others all of them applauded his saying, and sent their servants to fetch the presents. Then Euryalos said, "King Alkinoos, I will give the stranger all the satisfaction you require. He shall have sword, which is of bronze, all but the hilt, which is of silver. I will also give him the scabbard of newly sawn ivory into which it fits. It will be worth a great deal to him."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον,

δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

τοιγὰρ ἐγὼ τὸν ξεῖνον ἀρέσσομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

δώσω οἱ τόδʼ ἄορ παγχάλκεον, ᾧ ἔπι κώπη

ἀργυρέη, κολεὸν δὲ νεοπρίστου ἐλέφαντος

ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιον ἔσται.

As he spoke he placed the sword in the hands of Odysseus and said, "Good luck to you, father stranger; if anything has been said amiss may the winds blow it away with them, and may heaven grant you a safe return, for I understand you have been long away from home, and have gone through much hardship."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· ἔπος δʼ εἴ πέρ τι βέβακται

δεινόν, ἄφαρ τὸ φέροιεν ἀναρπάξασαι ἄελλαι.

σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ ἄλοχόν τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι

δοῖεν, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχεις.

To which Odysseus answered, "Good luck to you too my friend, and may the gods grant you every happiness [ olbos ]. I hope you will not miss the sword you have given me along with your apology."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

καὶ σὺ φίλος μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.

μηδέ τι τοι ξίφεός γε ποθὴ μετόπισθε γένοιτο

τούτου, ὃ δή μοι δῶκας ἀρεσσάμενος ἐπέεσσιν.

With these words he girded the sword about his shoulders and towards sundown the presents began to make their appearance, as the servants of the donors kept bringing them to the house of King Alkinoos; here his sons received them, and placed them under their mother's charge. Then Alkinoos led the way to the house and bade his guests take their seats.

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι θέτο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, καὶ τῷ κλυτὰ δῶρα παρῆεν.

καὶ τά γʼ ἐς Ἀλκινόοιο φέρον κήρυκες ἀγαυοί·

δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο

μητρὶ παρʼ αἰδοίῃ ἔθεσαν περικαλλέα δῶρα.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι θρόνοισι.

δή ῥα τότʼ Ἀρήτην προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·

"Wife," said he, turning to Queen Arete, "Go, fetch the best chest we have, and put a clean cloak and shirt in it. Also, set a copper on the fire and heat some water; our guest will take a warm bath; see also to the careful packing of the presents that the noble Phaeacians have made him; he will thus better enjoy both his supper and the singing that will follow. I shall myself give him this golden goblet - which is of exquisite workmanship - that he may be reminded of me for the rest of his life whenever he makes a drink-offering to Zeus, or to any of the gods."

δεῦρο, γύναι, φέρε χηλὸν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἥ τις ἀρίστη·

ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ θὲς φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα.

ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ πυρὶ χαλκὸν ἰήνατε, θέρμετε δʼ ὕδωρ,

ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε ἰδών τʼ ἐὺ κείμενα πάντα

δῶρα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἀμύμονες ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν,

δαιτί τε τέρπηται καὶ ἀοιδῆς ὕμνον ἀκούων.

καί οἱ ἐγὼ τόδʼ ἄλεισον ἐμὸν περικαλλὲς ὀπάσσω,

χρύσεον, ὄφρʼ ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα

σπένδῃ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν.

Then Arete told her maids to set a large tripod upon the fire as fast as they could, whereon they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire; they threw on sticks to make it blaze, and the water became hot as the flame played about the belly of the tripod. Meanwhile Arete brought a magnificent chest her own room, and inside it she packed all the beautiful presents of gold and raiment which the Phaeacians had brought. Lastly she added a cloak and a good shirt from Alkinoos, and said to Odysseus:

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀρήτη δὲ μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν

ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν ὅττι τάχιστα.

αἱ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,

ἔν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλοῦσαι.

γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·

τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτη ξείνῳ περικαλλέα χηλὸν

ἐξέφερεν θαλάμοιο, τίθει δʼ ἐνὶ κάλλιμα δῶρα,

ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν·

ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ φᾶρος θῆκεν καλόν τε χιτῶνα,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

"See to the lid yourself, and have the whole bound round at once, for fear any one should rob you by the way when you are asleep in your ship."

αὐτὸς νῦν ἴδε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλον,

μή τίς τοι καθʼ ὁδὸν δηλήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἂν αὖτε

εὕδῃσθα γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἰὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

When Odysseus heard this he put the lid on the chest and made it fast with a bond that Circe had taught him. He had done so before an upper servant told him to come to the bath and wash himself. He was very glad of a warm bath, for he had had no one to wait upon him ever since he left the house of Calypso, who as long as he remained with her had taken as good care of him as though he had been a god. When the servants had done washing and anointing him with oil, and had given him a clean cloak and shirt, he left the bath room and joined the guests who were sitting over their wine. Lovely Nausicaa stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the room, and admired him as she saw him pass. "Farewell stranger," said she, "do not forget me when you are safe at home again, for it is to me first that you owe a ransom for having saved your life."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

αὐτίκʼ ἐπήρτυε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλεν

ποικίλον, ὅν ποτέ μιν δέδαε φρεσὶ πότνια Κίρκη·

αὐτόδιον δʼ ἄρα μιν ταμίη λούσασθαι ἀνώγει

ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον βάνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρ ἀσπασίως ἴδε θυμῷ

θερμὰ λοέτρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι κομιζόμενός γε θάμιζεν,

ἐπεὶ δὴ λίπε δῶμα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο.

τόφρα δέ οἱ κομιδή γε θεῷ ὣς ἔμπεδος ἦεν.

τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,

ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βὰς ἄνδρας μέτα οἰνοποτῆρας

ἤιε· Ναυσικάα δὲ θεῶν ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσα

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶσα,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

χαῖρε, ξεῖνʼ, ἵνα καί ποτʼ ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ

μνήσῃ ἐμεῦ, ὅτι μοι πρώτῃ ζωάγριʼ ὀφέλλεις.

And Odysseus said, "Nausicaa, daughter of great Alkinoos, may Zeus the mighty husband of Hera, grant that I may reach my home and see my day of nostos ; so shall I bless you as a goddess all my days, for it was you who saved me."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.

Ναυσικάα θύγατερ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,

οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι·

τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην

αἰεὶ ἤματα πάντα· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἐβιώσαο, κούρη.

When he had said this, he seated himself beside Alkinoos. Supper was then served, and the wine was mixed for drinking. A servant led in the favorite bard Demodokos, and set him in the midst of the company, near one of the bearing-posts supporting the room, that he might lean against it. Then Odysseus cut off a piece of roast pork with plenty of fat (for there was abundance left on the joint) and said to a servant, "Take this piece of pork over to Demodokos and tell him to eat it; for all the pain his lays may cause me I will salute him none the less; bards get honor and respect [ aidôs ] throughout the world, for the Muse teaches them their songs and loves them."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς θρόνον ἷζε παρʼ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα·

οἱ δʼ ἤδη μοίρας τʼ ἔνεμον κερόωντό τε οἶνον.

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,

Δημόδοκον λαοῖσι τετιμένον· εἷσε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸν

μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας.

δὴ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

νώτου ἀποπροταμών, ἐπὶ δὲ πλεῖον ἐλέλειπτο,

ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, θαλερὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἀλοιφή·

κῆρυξ, τῆ δή, τοῦτο πόρε κρέας, ὄφρα φάγῃσιν,

Δημοδόκῳ· καί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἀχνύμενός περ·

πᾶσι γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδοὶ

τιμῆς ἔμμοροί εἰσι καὶ αἰδοῦς, οὕνεκʼ ἄρα σφέας

οἴμας μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, φίλησε δὲ φῦλον ἀοιδῶν.

The servant carried the pork in his fingers over to Demodokos, who took it and was very much pleased. They then laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Odysseus said to Demodokos, "Demodokos, there is no one in the world whom I praise with admiration more than I do you. You must have studied under the Muse, Zeus’ daughter, and under Apollo, - with such a sense of order [ kosmos ] do you sing the return of the Achaeans with all their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there yourself, you must have heard it all from some one who was. Now, however, change your song and tell us of the construction [ kosmos ] of the wooden horse which Epeios made with the assistance of Athena, and which Odysseus got by stratagem into the fort of Troy after freighting it with the men who afterwards sacked the city. If you will sing this tale aright I will tell all the world how magnificently heaven has endowed you."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκεν

ἥρῳ Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

δὴ τότε Δημόδοκον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

Δημόδοκʼ, ἔξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων.

ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, Διὸς πάϊς, ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων·

λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις,

ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί,

ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον

δουρατέου, τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,

ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν.

αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς,

αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν,

ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν.

The bard, inspired by a god, lit up the picture of his story, starting at the point where some of the Argives set fire to their tents and sailed away while others, hidden within the horse, were waiting with Odysseus in the Trojan place of assembly. For the Trojans themselves had drawn the horse into their fortress, and it stood there while they sat in council round it, and were in three minds as to what they should do. Some were for breaking it up then and there; others would have it dragged to the top of the rock on which the fortress stood, and then thrown down the precipice; while yet others were for letting it remain as an offering and propitiation for the gods. And this was how they settled it in the end, for the city was doomed when it took in that horse, within which were all the bravest of the Argives waiting to bring death and destruction on the Trojans. Anon he sang how the sons of the Achaeans issued from the horse, and sacked the town, breaking out from their ambuscade. He sang how they overran the city here and there and ravaged it, and how Odysseus went raging like Ares along with Menelaos to the house of Deiphobos. It was there that the fight raged most furiously, nevertheless by Athena's help he was victorious.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο, φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν,

ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν

βάντες ἀπέπλειον, πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες,

Ἀργεῖοι, τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα

ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ·

αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο.

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει, τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον

ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν· τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,

ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ,

ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης,

ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι,

τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·

αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι, ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ

δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον, ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι

Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.

ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι, κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες.

ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν,

αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο

βήμεναι, ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ.

κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα

νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.

All this he told, but Odysseus was overcome as he heard him, and his cheeks were wet with tears. He wept as a woman weeps when she throws herself on the body of her husband who has fallen before his own city and people, fighting bravely in defense of his home and children. She screams aloud and flings her arms about him as he lies gasping for breath and dying, but her enemies beat her from behind about the back and shoulders, and carry her off into slavery, to a life of labor [ ponos ] and sorrow, and the beauty fades from her cheeks - even so piteously did Odysseus weep, but none of those present perceived his tears except Alkinoos, who was sitting near him, and could hear the sobs and sighs that he was heaving. The king, therefore, at once rose and said:

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

τήκετο, δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς.

ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα,

ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν,

ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·

ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει· οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε

κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους

εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι, πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν·

τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί·

ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,

Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν,

ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.

αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·

"Aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, let Demodokos cease his song, for there are those present who do not seem to like it. From the moment that we had done supper and Demodokos began to sing, our guest has been all the time groaning and lamenting. He is evidently in great distress [ akhos ], so let the bard leave off, that we may all enjoy ourselves, hosts and guest alike. This will be much more as it should be, for all these festivities, with the escort and the presents that we are making with so much good will, are wholly in his honor, and any one with even a moderate amount of right feeling knows that he ought to treat a guest and a suppliant as though he were his own brother.

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,

Δημόδοκος δʼ ἤδη σχεθέτω φόρμιγγα λίγειαν·

οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι χαριζόμενος τάδʼ ἀείδει.

ἐξ οὗ δορπέομέν τε καὶ ὤρορε θεῖος ἀοιδός,

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔ πω παύσατʼ ὀιζυροῖο γόοιο

ὁ ξεῖνος· μάλα πού μιν ἄχος φρένας ἀμφιβέβηκεν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν σχεθέτω, ἵνʼ ὁμῶς τερπώμεθα πάντες,

ξεινοδόκοι καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως·

εἵνεκα γὰρ ξείνοιο τάδʼ αἰδοίοιο τέτυκται,

πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά οἱ δίδομεν φιλέοντες.

ἀντὶ κασιγνήτου ξεῖνός θʼ ἱκέτης τε τέτυκται

ἀνέρι, ὅς τʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπιψαύῃ πραπίδεσσι.

"Therefore, sir, do you on your part affect no more concealment nor reserve in the matter about which I shall ask you; it will be more polite in you to give me a plain answer; tell me the name by which your father and mother over yonder used to call you, and by which you were known among your neighbors and fellow-citizens. There is no one, neither rich nor poor, who is absolutely without any name whatever, for people's fathers and mothers give them names as soon as they are born. Tell me also your country, nation dêmos , and city, that our ships may shape their purpose accordingly and take you there. For the Phaeacians have no pilots; their vessels have no rudders as those of other nations have, but the ships themselves understand what it is that we are thinking about and want; they know all the cities and countries in the whole world, and can traverse the sea just as well even when it is covered with mist and cloud, so that there is no danger of being wrecked or coming to any harm. Still I do remember hearing my father say that Poseidon was angry with us for being too easy-going in the matter of giving people escorts. He said that one of these days he should wreck a ship of ours as it was returning from having escorted some one, and envelop our city with a high mountain. This is what the old man used to say, but whether the god will carry out his threat or no is a matter which he will decide for himself.

τῷ νῦν μηδὲ σὺ κεῦθε νοήμασι κερδαλέοισιν

ὅττι κέ σʼ εἴρωμαι· φάσθαι δέ σε κάλλιόν ἐστιν.

εἴπʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι σε κεῖθι κάλεον μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε

ἄλλοι θʼ οἳ κατὰ ἄστυ καὶ οἳ περιναιετάουσιν.

οὐ μὲν γάρ τις πάμπαν ἀνώνυμός ἐστʼ ἀνθρώπων,

οὐ κακὸς οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται,

ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τίθενται, ἐπεί κε τέκωσι, τοκῆες.

εἰπὲ δέ μοι γαῖάν τε· τεὴν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,

ὄφρα σε τῇ πέμπωσι τιτυσκόμεναι φρεσὶ νῆες·

οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι κυβερνητῆρες ἔασιν,

οὐδέ τι πηδάλιʼ ἔστι, τά τʼ ἄλλαι νῆες ἔχουσιν·

ἀλλʼ αὐταὶ ἴσασι νοήματα καὶ φρένας ἀνδρῶν,

καὶ πάντων ἴσασι πόλιας καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς

ἀνθρώπων, καὶ λαῖτμα τάχισθʼ ἁλὸς ἐκπερόωσιν

ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμέναι· οὐδέ ποτέ σφιν

οὔτε τι πημανθῆναι ἔπι δέος οὔτʼ ἀπολέσθαι.

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ὥς ποτε πατρὸς ἐγὼν εἰπόντος ἄκουσα

Ναυσιθόου, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι

ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.

φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐυεργέα νῆα

ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ

ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.

ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δέ κεν θεὸς ἢ τελέσειεν

ἤ κʼ ἀτέλεστʼ εἴη, ὥς οἱ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·

And now, tell me and tell me true. Where have you been wandering, and in what countries have you traveled? Tell us of the peoples themselves, and of their cities - who were hostile, savage and uncivilized [not dikaios ], and who, on the other hand, hospitable and endowed with a god-fearing noos . Tell us also why you are made unhappy on hearing about the return of the Argive Danaans from Troy . The gods arranged all this, and sent them their misfortunes in order that future generations might have something to sing about. Did you lose some brave kinsman of your wife's when you were before Troy ? A son-in-law or father-in-law - which are the nearest relations a man has outside his own flesh and blood? Or was it some brave and kindly-natured comrade - for a good friend is as dear to a man as his own brother?"

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

ὅππῃ ἀπεπλάγχθης τε καὶ ἅς τινας ἵκεο χώρας

ἀνθρώπων, αὐτούς τε πόλιάς τʼ ἐὺ ναιετοώσας,

ἠμὲν ὅσοι χαλεποί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,

οἵ τε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.

εἰπὲ δʼ ὅ τι κλαίεις καὶ ὀδύρεαι ἔνδοθι θυμῷ

Ἀργείων Δαναῶν ἠδʼ Ἰλίου οἶτον ἀκούων.

τὸν δὲ θεοὶ μὲν τεῦξαν, ἐπεκλώσαντο δʼ ὄλεθρον

ἀνθρώποις, ἵνα ᾖσι καὶ ἐσσομένοισιν ἀοιδή.

ἦ τίς τοι καὶ πηὸς ἀπέφθιτο Ἰλιόθι πρὸ

ἐσθλὸς ἐών, γαμβρὸς ἢ πενθερός, οἵ τε μάλιστα

κήδιστοι τελέθουσι μεθʼ αἷμά τε καὶ γένος αὐτῶν;

ἦ τίς που καὶ ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ κεχαρισμένα εἰδώς,

ἐσθλός; ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι κασιγνήτοιο χερείων

γίγνεται, ὅς κεν ἑταῖρος ἐὼν πεπνυμένα εἰδῇ.