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that I will show you。 Jove's daughter Venus is always dishonouring
me because I am lame。 She is in love with Mars； who is handsome and
clean built； whereas I am a cripple… but my parents are to blame 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。〃
On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan。 Earth…encircling
Neptune came； and Mercury the bringer of luck； and King 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 Vulcan had been；
whereon one would turn towards his neighbour saying：
〃Ill deeds do not prosper； and the weak confound the strong。 See how
limping Vulcan； lame as he is； has caught Mars who is the fleetest god
in heaven； and now Mars will be cast in heavy damages。〃
Thus did they converse； but King Apollo said to Mercury；
〃Messenger Mercury； giver of good things； you would not care how
strong the chains were； would you； if you could sleep with Venus？〃
〃King Apollo；〃 answered Mercury； 〃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 would sleep with her if I
could。〃
The immortal gods burst out laughing as they heard him； but
Neptune took it all seriously； and kept on imploring Vulcan to set
Mars 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。〃
〃Do not；〃 replied Vulcan； 〃ask me to do this； a bad man's bond is
bad security； what remedy could I enforce against you if Mars should
go away and leave his debts behind him along with his chains？〃
〃Vulcan；〃 said Neptune； 〃if Mars goes away without paying his
damages； I will pay you myself。〃 So Vulcan answered； 〃In this case I
cannot and must not refuse you。〃
Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them； and as soon as they
were free they scampered off； Mars to Thrace and laughter…loving Venus
to Cyprus and to Paphos； where is her grove and her altar fragrant
with burnt offerings。 Here the Graces hathed 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。
Thus sang the bard； and both Ulysses and the seafaring Phaeacians
were charmed as they heard him。
Then Alcinous told Laodamas and Halius to dance alone； for there was
no one to compete with them。 So they took a red ball which Polybus 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 Ulysses said：
〃King Alcinous； 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。〃
The king was delighted at this； and exclaimed to the Phaecians
〃Aldermen and town councillors； our guest seems to be a person of
singular judgement； let us give him such proof of our hospitality as
he may reasonably expect。 There are twelve chief men among you； 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 Euryalus he will have to make a formal apology
and a present too； for he has been rude。〃
Thus did he speak。 The others all of them applauded his saying；
and sent their servants to fetch the presents。 Then Euryalus said；
〃King Alcinous； 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。〃
As he spoke he placed the sword in the hands of Ulysses 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。〃
To which Ulysses answered； 〃Good luck to you too my friend； and
may the gods grant you every happiness。 I hope you will not miss the
sword you have given me along with your apology。〃
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 Alcinous； here
his sons received them； and placed them under their mother's charge。
Then Alcinous led the way to the house and bade his guests take
their seats。
〃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 Jove； or to any of the gods。〃
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
Alcinous； and said to Ulysses：
〃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。〃
When Ulysses 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 if the cloister； 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。〃
And Ulysses said； 〃Nausicaa； daughter of great Alcinous； may Jove
the mighty husband of Juno； grant that I may reach my home； so shall I
bless you as my guardian angel all my days； for it was you who saved
me。〃
When he had said this； he seated himself beside Alcinous。 Supper was
then served； and the wine was mixed for drinking。 A servant led in the
favourite bard Demodocus； and set him in the midst of the company；
near one of the bearing…posts supporting the cloister； that he might
lean against it。 Then Ulysses 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 Demodocus and tell
him to