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sea； whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing
every hole and corner of the ocean； and drenching its thick plumage in
the spray。 He flew and flew over many a weary wave； but when at last
he got to the island which was his journey's end； he left the sea
and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso
lived。
He found her at home。 There was a large fire burning on the
hearth； and one could smell from far the fragrant reek of burning
cedar and sandal wood。 As for herself； she was busy at her loom；
shooting her golden shuttle through the warp and singing
beautifully。 Round her cave there was a thick wood of alder； poplar；
and sweet smelling cypress trees； wherein all kinds of great birds had
built their nests… owls； hawks； and chattering sea…crows that occupy
their business in the waters。 A vine loaded with grapes was trained
and grew luxuriantly about the mouth of the cave； there were also four
running rills of water in channels cut pretty close together； and
turned hither and thither so as to irrigate the beds of violets and
luscious herbage over which they flowed。 Even a god could not help
being charmed with such a lovely spot； so Mercury stood still and
looked at it； but when he had admired it sufficiently he went inside
the cave。
Calypso knew him at once… for the gods all know each other； no
matter how far they live from one another… but Ulysses was not within；
he was on the sea…shore as usual； looking out upon the barren ocean
with tears in his eyes； groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow。
Calypso gave Mercury a seat and said： 〃Why have you come to see me；
Mercury… honoured； and ever welcome… for you do not visit me often？
Say what you want； I will do it for be you at once if I can； and if it
can be done at all； but come inside； and let me set refreshment before
you。
As she spoke she drew a table loaded with ambrosia beside him and
mixed him some red nectar； so Mercury ate and drank till he had had
enough； and then said：
〃We are speaking god and goddess to one another； one another； and
you ask me why I have come here； and I will tell you truly as you
would have me do。 Jove sent me； it was no doing of mine； who could
possibly want to come all this way over the sea where there are no
cities full of people to offer me sacrifices or choice hecatombs？
Nevertheless I had to come； for none of us other gods can cross
Jove； nor transgress his orders。 He says that you have here the most
ill…starred of alf those who fought nine years before the city of King
Priam and sailed home in the tenth year after having sacked it。 On
their way home they sinned against Minerva； who raised both wind and
waves against them； so that all his brave companions perished； and
he alone was carried hither by wind and tide。 Jove says that you are
to let this by man go at once； for it is decreed that he shall not
perish here； far from his own people； but shall return to his house
and country and see his friends again。〃
Calypso trembled with rage when she heard this； 〃You gods；〃 she
exclaimed； to be ashamed of yourselves。 You are always jealous and
hate seeing a goddess take a fancy to a mortal man； and live with
him in open matrimony。 So when rosy…fingered Dawn made love to
Orion； you precious gods were all of you furious till Diana went and
killed him in Ortygia。 So again when Ceres fell in love with Iasion；
and yielded to him in a thrice ploughed fallow field； Jove came to
hear of it before so long and killed Iasion with his thunder…bolts。
And now you are angry with me too because I have a man here。 I found
the poor creature sitting all alone astride of a keel； for Jove had
struck his ship with lightning and sunk it in mid ocean； so that all
his crew were drowned； while he himself was driven by wind and waves
on to my island。 I got fond of him and cherished him； and had set my
heart on making him immortal； so that he should never grow old all his
days； still I cannot cross Jove； nor bring his counsels to nothing；
therefore； if he insists upon it； let the man go beyond the seas
again； but I cannot send him anywhere myself for I have neither
ships nor men who can take him。 Nevertheless I will readily give him
such advice； in all good faith； as will be likely to bring him
safely to his own country。〃
〃Then send him away；〃 said Mercury； 〃or Jove will be angry with
you and punish you〃'
On this he took his leave； and Calypso went out to look for Ulysses；
for she had heard Jove's message。 She found him sitting upon the beach
with his eyes ever filled with tears； and dying of sheer
home…sickness； for he had got tired of Calypso； and though he was
forced to sleep with her in the cave by night； it was she； not he；
that would have it so。 As for the day time； he spent it on the rocks
and on the sea…shore； weeping； crying aloud for his despair； and
always looking out upon the sea。 Calypso then went close up to him
said：
〃My poor fellow； you shall not stay here grieving and fretting
your life out any longer。 I am going to send you away of my own free
will； so go； cut some beams of wood； and make yourself a large raft
with an upper deck that it may carry you safely over the sea。 I will
put bread； wine； and water on board to save you from starving。 I
will also give you clothes； and will send you a fair wind to take
you home； if the gods in heaven so will it… for they know more about
these things； and can settle them better than I can。〃
Ulysses shuddered as he heard her。 〃Now goddess；〃 he answered；
〃there is something behind all this； you cannot be really meaning to
help me home when you bid me do such a dreadful thing as put to sea on
a raft。 Not even a well…found ship with a fair wind could venture on
such a distant voyage： nothing that you can say or do shall mage me go
on board a raft unless you first solemnly swear that you mean me no
mischief。〃
Calypso smiled at this and caressed him with her hand： 〃You know a
great deal；〃 said she； 〃but you are quite wrong here。 May heaven above
and earth below be my witnesses； with the waters of the river Styx…
and this is the most solemn oath which a blessed god can take… that
I mean you no sort of harm； and am only advising you to do exactly
what I should do myself in your place。 I am dealing with you quite
straightforwardly； my heart is not made of iron； and I am very sorry
for you。〃
When she had thus spoken she led the way rapidly before him； and
Ulysses followed in her steps； so the pair； goddess and man； went on
and on till they came to Calypso's cave； where Ulysses took the seat
that Mercury had just left。 Calypso set meat and drink before him of
the food that mortals eat； but her maids brought ambrosia and nectar
for herself； and they laid their hands on the good things that were
before them。 When they had satisfied themselves with meat and drink；
Calypso spoke； saying：
〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； so you would start home to your
own land at once？ Good luck go with you； but if you could only know
how much suffering is in store for you before you get back to your own
country； you would stay where you are； keep house along with me； and
let me make you immortal； no matter how anxious you may be to see this
wife of yours； of whom you are thinking all the time day after day；
yet I flatter myself that at am no whit less tall or well…looking than
she is； for it is not to be expected that a mortal woman should
compare in beauty with an immortal。〃
〃Goddess；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃do not be angry with me about this。 I
am quite aware that my wife Penelope is nothing like so tall or so
beautiful as yourself。 She is only a woman； whereas you are an
immortal。 Nevertheless； I want to get home； and can think of nothing
else。 If some god wrecks me when I am on the sea； I will bear it and
make the best of it。 I have had infinite trouble both by land and
sea already； so let this go with the rest。〃
Presently the sun set and it became dark； whereon the pair retired
into the inner part of the cave and went to bed。
When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； Ulysses put
on his shirt and cloak； while the goddess wore a dress of a light
gossamer fab