Odyssey

Such was his story, but Athena smiled and caressed him with her hand. Then she took the form of a woman, fair, stately, and wise, "He must be indeed a shifty and deceitful person," said she, "who could surpass you in all manner of craft [ kerdos ] even though you had a god for your antagonist. Daring that you are, full of guile, unwearying in deceit [ apatê ], can you not drop your tricks and your instinctive falsehood, even now that you are in your own country again? We will say no more, however, about this, for we both of us know craftiness [ kerdos ] upon occasion - you are the best counselor and orator among all humankind, while I for diplomacy and crafty ways [ kerdea ] have fame [ kleos ] among the gods. Did you not know Zeus’ daughter Athena - me, who have been ever with you, who kept watch over you in all your ordeals [ ponoi ], and who made the Phaeacians take so great a liking to you? And now, again, I am come here to talk things over with you, and help you to hide the treasure I made the Phaeacians give you; I want to tell you about the troubles that await you in your own house; you have got to face them, but tell no one, neither man nor woman, that you have come home again. Bear everything, and put up with every man's violent insolence [ biê ], without a word."

OdysseyBook 13, Line 287Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 13

HomerProseID odyssey-odyssey-butler-en-prose-13-287