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and is glad when night comes that he may go and get it； for it is
all his legs can do to carry him； even so did Ulysses rejoice when the
sun went down； and he at once said to the Phaecians； addressing
himself more particularly to King Alcinous：
〃Sir； and all of you； farewell。 Make your drink…offerings and send
me on my way rejoicing； for you have fulfilled my heart's desire by
giving me an escort； and making me presents； which heaven grant that I
may turn to good account； may I find my admirable wife living in peace
among friends； and may you whom I leave behind me give satisfaction to
your wives and children； may heaven vouchsafe you every good grace；
and may no evil thing come among your people。〃
Thus did he speak。 His hearers all of them approved his saying and
agreed that he should have his escort inasmuch as he had spoken
reasonably。 Alcinous therefore said to his servant； 〃Pontonous； mix
some wine and hand it round to everybody； that we may offer a prayer
to father Jove； and speed our guest upon his way。〃
Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in turn； the
others each from his own seat made a drink…offering to the blessed
gods that live in heaven； but Ulysses rose and placed the double cup
in the hands of queen Arete。
〃Farewell； queen；〃 said he； 〃henceforward and for ever； till age and
death； the common lot of mankind； lay their hands upon you。 I now take
my leave； be happy in this house with your children； your people；
and with king Alcinous。〃
As he spoke he crossed the threshold； and Alcinous sent a man to
conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore。 Arete also sent some
maid servants with him… one with a clean shirt and cloak； another to
carry his strong…box； and a third with corn and wine。 When they got to
the water side the crew took these things and put them on board；
with all the meat and drink； but for Ulysses they spread a rug and a
linen sheet on deck that he might sleep soundly in the stern of the
ship。 Then he too went on board and lay down without a word； but the
crew took every man his place and loosed the hawser from the pierced
stone to which it had been bound。 Thereon； when they began rowing
out to sea； Ulysses fell into a deep； sweet； and almost deathlike
slumber。
The ship bounded forward on her way as a four in hand chariot
flies over the course when the horses feel the whip。 Her prow curveted
as it were the neck of a stallion； and a great wave of dark blue water
seethed in her wake。 She held steadily on her course； and even a
falcon； swiftest of all birds； could not have kept pace with her。
Thus； then； she cut her way through the water。 carrying one who was as
cunning as the gods； but who was now sleeping peacefully； forgetful of
all that he had suffered both on the field of battle and by the
waves of the weary sea。
When the bright star that heralds the approach of dawn began to
show。 the ship drew near to land。 Now there is in Ithaca a haven of
the old merman Phorcys； which lies between two points that break the
line of the sea and shut the harbour in。 These shelter it from the
storms of wind and sea that rage outside； so that； when once within
it； a ship may lie without being even moored。 At the head of this
harbour there is a large olive tree； and at no distance a fine
overarching cavern sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads。 There
are mixing…bowls within it and wine…jars of stone； and the bees hive
there。 Moreover； there are great looms of stone on which the nymphs
weave their robes of sea purple… very curious to see… and at all times
there is water within it。 It has two entrances； one facing North by
which mortals can go down into the cave； while the other comes from
the South and is more mysterious； mortals cannot possibly get in by
it； it is the way taken by the gods。
Into this harbour； then； they took their ship； for they knew the
place； She had so much way upon her that she ran half her own length
on to the shore； when； however； they had landed； the first thing
they did was to lift Ulysses with his rug and linen sheet out of the
ship； and lay him down upon the sand still fast asleep。 Then they took
out the presents which Minerva had persuaded the Phaeacians to give
him when he was setting out on his voyage homewards。 They put these
all together by the root of the olive tree； away from the road； for
fear some passer by might come and steal them before Ulysses awoke；
and then they made the best of their way home again。
But Neptune did not forget the threats with which he had already
threatened Ulysses； so he took counsel with Jove。 〃Father Jove；〃
said he； 〃I shall no longer be held in any sort of respect among you
gods； if mortals like the Phaeacians； who are my own flesh and
blood； show such small regard for me。 I said I would Ulysses get
home when he had suffered sufficiently。 I did not say that he should
never get home at all； for I knew you had already nodded your head
about it； and promised that he should do so； but now they have brought
him in a ship fast asleep and have landed him in Ithaca after
loading him with more magnificent presents of bronze； gold； and
raiment than he would ever have brought back from Troy； if he had
had his share of the spoil and got home without misadventure。〃
And Jove answered； 〃What； O Lord of the Earthquake； are you
talking about？ The gods are by no means wanting in respect for you。 It
would be monstrous were they to insult one so old and honoured as
you are。 As regards mortals； however； if any of them is indulging in
insolence and treating you disrespectfully； it will always rest with
yourself to deal with him as you may think proper； so do just as you
please。〃
〃I should have done so at once；〃 replied Neptune； 〃if I were not
anxious to avoid anything that might displease you； now； therefore；
I should like to wreck the Phaecian ship as it is returning from its
escort。 This will stop them from escorting people in future； and I
should also like to bury their city under a huge mountain。〃
〃My good friend；〃 answered Jove； 〃I should recommend you at the very
moment when the people from the city are watching the ship on her way；
to turn it into a rock near the land and looking like a ship。 This
will astonish everybody； and you can then bury their city under the
mountain。〃
When earth…encircling Neptune heard this he went to Scheria where
the Phaecians live； and stayed there till the ship； which was making
rapid way； had got close…in。 Then he went up to it； turned it into
stone； and drove it down with the flat of his hand so as to root it in
the ground。 After this he went away。
The Phaeacians then began talking among themselves； and one would
turn towards his neighbour； saying； 〃Bless my heart； who is it that
can have rooted the ship in the sea just as she was getting into port？
We could see the whole of her only moment ago。〃
This was how they talked； but they knew nothing about it； and
Alcinous said； 〃I remember now the old prophecy of my father。 He
said that Neptune would be angry with us for taking every one so
safely over the sea； and would one day wreck a Phaeacian ship as it
was returning from an escort； and bury our city under a high mountain。
This was what my old father used to say； and now it is all coming
true。 Now therefore let us all do as I say； in the first place we must
leave off giving people escorts when they come here； and in the next
let us sacrifice twelve picked bulls to Neptune that he may have mercy
upon us； and not bury our city under the high mountain。〃 When the
people heard this they were afraid and got ready the bulls。
Thus did the chiefs and rulers of the Phaecians to king Neptune；
standing round his altar； and at the same time Ulysses woke up once
more upon his own soil。 He had been so long away that he did not
know it again； moreover； Jove's daughter Minerva had made it a foggy
day； so that people might not know of his having come； and that she
might tell him everything without either his wife or his fellow
citizens and friends recognizing him until he had taken his revenge
upon the wicked suitors。 Everything； therefore； seemed quite different
to him… the long straight tr