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on his shirt and cloak； while the goddess wore a dress of a light
gossamer fabric； very fine and graceful； with a beautiful golden
girdle about her waist and a veil to cover her head。 She at once set
herself to think how she could speed Ulysses on his way。 So she gave
him a great bronze axe that suited his hands； it was sharpened on both
sides； and had a beautiful olive…wood handle fitted firmly on to it。
She also gave him a sharp adze； and then led the way to the far end of
the island where the largest trees grew… alder； poplar and pine；
that reached the sky… very dry and well seasoned； so as to sail
light for him in the water。 Then； when she had shown him where the
best trees grew； Calypso went home； leaving him to cut them； which
he soon finished doing。 He cut down twenty trees in all and adzed them
smooth； squaring them by rule in good workmanlike fashion。 Meanwhile
Calypso came back with some augers； so he bored holes with them and
fitted the timbers together with bolts and rivets。 He made the raft as
broad as a skilled shipwright makes the beam of a large vessel； and he
filed a deck on top of the ribs； and ran a gunwale all round it。 He
also made a mast with a yard arm； and a rudder to steer with。 He
fenced the raft all round with wicker hurdles as a protection
against the waves； and then he threw on a quantity of wood。 By and
by Calypso brought him some linen to make the sails； and he made these
too； excellently； making them fast with braces and sheets。 Last of
all； with the help of levers； he drew the raft down into the water。
In four days he had completed the whole work； and on the fifth
Calypso sent him from the island after washing him and giving him some
clean clothes。 She gave him a goat skin full of black wine； and
another larger one of water； she also gave him a wallet full of
provisions； and found him in much good meat。 Moreover； she made the
wind fair and warm for him； and gladly did Ulysses spread his sail
before it； while he sat and guided the raft skilfully by means of
the rudder。 He never closed his eyes； but kept them fixed on the
Pleiads； on late…setting Bootes； and on the Bear… which men also
call the wain； and which turns round and round where it is； facing
Orion； and alone never dipping into the stream of Oceanus… for Calypso
had told him to keep this to his left。 Days seven and ten did he
sail over the sea； and on the eighteenth the dim outlines of the
mountains on the nearest part of the Phaeacian coast appeared；
rising like a shield on the horizon。
But King Neptune； who was returning from the Ethiopians； caught
sight of Ulysses a long way off； from the mountains of the Solymi。
He could see him sailing upon the sea； and it made him very angry；
so he wagged his head and muttered to himself； saying； heavens； so the
gods have been changing their minds about Ulysses while I was away
in Ethiopia； and now he is close to the land of the Phaeacians；
where it is decreed that he shall escape from the calamities that have
befallen him。 Still； he shall have plenty of hardship yet before he
has done with it。〃
Thereon he gathered his clouds together； grasped his trident；
stirred it round in the sea； and roused the rage of every wind that
blows till earth； sea； and sky were hidden in cloud； and night
sprang forth out of the heavens。 Winds from East； South； North； and
West fell upon him all at the same time； and a tremendous sea got
up； so that Ulysses' heart began to fail him。 〃Alas；〃 he said to
himself in his dismay； 〃what ever will become of me？ I am afraid
Calypso was right when she said I should have trouble by sea before
I got back home。 It is all coming true。 How black is Jove making
heaven with his clouds； and what a sea the winds are raising from
every quarter at once。 I am now safe to perish。 Blest and thrice blest
were those Danaans who fell before Troy in the cause of the sons of
Atreus。 Would that had been killed on the day when the Trojans were
pressing me so sorely about the dead body of Achilles； for then I
should have had due burial and the Achaeans would have honoured my
name； but now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end。〃
As he spoke a sea broke over him with such terrific fury that the
raft reeled again； and he was carried overboard a long way off。 He let
go the helm； and the force of the hurricane was so great that it broke
the mast half way up； and both sail and yard went over into the sea。
For a long time Ulysses was under water； and it was all he could do to
rise to the surface again； for the clothes Calypso had given him
weighed him down； but at last he got his head above water and spat out
the bitter brine that was running down his face in streams。 In spite
of all this； however； he did not lose sight of his raft； but swam as
fast as he could towards it； got hold of it； and climbed on board
again so as to escape drowning。 The sea took the raft and tossed it
about as Autumn winds whirl thistledown round and round upon a road。
It was as though the South； North； East； and West winds were all
playing battledore and shuttlecock with it at once。
When he was in this plight； Ino daughter of Cadmus； also called
Leucothea； saw him。 She had formerly been a mere mortal； but had
been since raised to the rank of a marine goddess。 Seeing in what
great distress Ulysses now was； she had compassion upon him； and；
rising like a sea…gull from the waves； took her seat upon the raft。
〃My poor good man；〃 said she； 〃why is Neptune so furiously angry
with you？ He is giving you a great deal of trouble； but for all his
bluster he will not kill you。 You seem to be a sensible person； do
then as I bid you； strip； leave your raft to drive before the wind；
and swim to the Phaecian coast where better luck awaits you。 And here；
take my veil and put it round your chest； it is enchanted； and you can
come to no harm so long as you wear it。 As soon as you touch land take
it off； throw it back as far as you can into the sea； and then go away
again。〃 With these words she took off her veil and gave it him。 Then
she dived down again like a sea…gull and vanished beneath the dark
blue waters。
But Ulysses did not know what to think。 〃Alas；〃 he said to himself
in his dismay； 〃this is only some one or other of the gods who is
luring me to ruin by advising me to will quit my raft。 At any rate I
will not do so at present； for the land where she said I should be
quit of all troubles seemed to be still a good way off。 I know what
I will do… I am sure it will be best… no matter what happens I will
stick to the raft as long as her timbers hold together； but when the
sea breaks her up I will swim for it； I do not see how I can do any
better than this。〃
While he was thus in two minds； Neptune sent a terrible great wave
that seemed to rear itself above his head till it broke right over the
raft； which then went to pieces as though it were a heap of dry
chaff tossed about by a whirlwind。 Ulysses got astride of one plank
and rode upon it as if he were on horseback； he then took off the
clothes Calypso had given him； bound Ino's veil under his arms； and
plunged into the sea… meaning to swim on shore。 King Neptune watched
him as he did so； and wagged his head； muttering to himself and
saying； 〃'There now； swim up and down as you best can till you fall in
with well…to…do people。 I do not think you will be able to say that
I have let you off too lightly。〃 On this he lashed his horses and
drove to Aegae where his palace is。
But Minerva resolved to help Ulysses； so she bound the ways of all
the winds except one； and made them lie quite still； but she roused
a good stiff breeze from the North that should lay the waters till
Ulysses reached the land of the Phaeacians where he would be safe。
Thereon he floated about for two nights and two days in the water；
with a heavy swell on the sea and death staring him in the face； but
when the third day broke； the wind fell and there was a dead calm
without so much as a breath of air stirring。 As he rose on the swell
he looked eagerly ahead； and could see land quite near。 Then； as
children rejoice when their dear father begins to get better after
having for a long time