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wine and hand it round that we may make drink…offerings to Jove the
lord of thunder； who is the protector of all well…disposed
suppliants。〃
Pontonous 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； Alcinous said：
〃Aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians； hear my words。 You
have had your supper； so now go home to bed。 To…morrow morning I shall
invite a still larger number of aldermen； and will give a
sacrificial banquet in honour 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 trouble 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。〃
Then Ulysses said： 〃Pray； Alcinous； 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。 I am in great trouble； 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。〃
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 Ulysses in the cloister with Arete and Alcinous 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
Ulysses 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？〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃It would be a long story Madam； 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 neighbours human or divine。 Fortune；
however； me to her hearth all desolate and alone； for Jove 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。
〃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 Jove had told her she must； or
because she had changed her mind。 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。 Days seven and ten 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 Neptune 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。
〃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。〃
Then Alcinous 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。〃
〃Pray do not scold her；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃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。〃
〃Stranger；〃 replied Alcinous； 〃I am not the kind of man to get angry
about nothing； it is always better to be reasonable； but by Father
Jove； Minerva； 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 to…morrow 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。〃
Then was Ulysses glad and prayed aloud saying； 〃Father Jove； grant
that Alcinous may do all as he has said； for so he will win an
imperishable name among mankind； and at the same time I shall return
to my country。〃
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；
a