Book VIII

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The next day's entertainment of Odysseus, where he sees

them contend in wrestling and other exercises, and upon

provocation took up a greater stone than that which they

were throwing, and overthrew them all. Alcinous and the

lords give him presents. And how the king asked his name,

his country, and his adventures.

Now when early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then

the mighty king Alcinous gat him up from his bed; and

Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, likewise uprose, the waster

of cities. And the mighty king Alcinous led the way to the

assembly place of the Phaeacians, which they had

established hard by the ships. So when they had come

thither, and sat them down on the polished stones close by

each other, Pallas Athene went on her way through the town,

in the semblance of the herald of wise Alcinous, devising a

return for the great-hearted Odysseus. Then standing by

each man she spake, saying:

'Hither now get ye to the assembly, ye captains and

counsellors of the Phaeacians, that ye may learn concerning

the stranger, who hath lately come to the palace of wise

Alcinous, in his wanderings over the deep, and his form is

like the deathless gods.'

Therewith she aroused the spirit and desire of each one,

and speedily the meeting-places and seats were filled with

men that came to the gathering: yea, and many an one

marvelled at the sight of the wise son of Laertes, for

wondrous was the grace Athene poured upon his head and

shoulders, and she made him greater and more mighty to

behold, that he might win love and worship and honour among

all the Phaeacians, and that he might accomplish many

feats, wherein the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus. Now

when they were gathered and come together, Alcinous made

harangue and spake among them:

'Harken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians, and

I will say that which my spirit within me bids me utter.

This stranger, I know not who he is, hath come to my house

in his wandering, whether from the men of the dawning or

the westward, and he presses for a convoy, and prays that

it be assured to him. So let us, as in time past, speed on

the convoy. For never, nay never, doth any man who cometh

to my house, abide here long in sorrow for want of help

upon his way. Nay, come let us draw down a black ship to

the fair salt sea, for her first voyage, and let them

choose fifty and two noble youths throughout the township,

who have been proved heretofore the best. And when ye have

made fast the oars upon the benches, step all a shore, and

thereafter come to our house, and quickly fall to feasting;

and I will make good provision for all. To the noble youths

I give this commandment; but ye others, sceptred kings,

come to my fair dwelling, that we may entertain the

stranger in the halls, and let no man make excuse.

Moreover, bid hither the divine minstrel, Demodocus, for

the god hath given minstrelsy to him as to none other, to

make men glad in what way soever his spirit stirs him to

sing.'

He spake and led the way, and the sceptred kings

accompanied him, while the henchmen went for the divine

minstrel. And chosen youths, fifty and two, departed at his

command, to the shore of the unharvested sea. But after

they had gone down to the ship and to the sea, first of all

they drew the ship down to the deep water, and placed the

mast and sails in the black ship, and fixed the oars in

leathern loops, all orderly, and spread forth the white

sails. And they moored her high out in the shore water, and

thereafter went on their way to the great palace of the

wise Alcinous. Now the galleries and the courts and the

rooms were thronged with men that came to the gathering,

for there were many, young and old. Then Alcinous

sacrificed twelve sheep among them, and eight boars with

flashing tusks, and two oxen with trailing feet. These they

flayed and made ready, and dressed a goodly feast.

Then the henchman drew near, leading with him the beloved

minstrel, whom the muse loved dearly, and she gave him both

good and evil; of his sight she reft him, but granted him

sweet song. Then Pontonous, the henchman, set for him a

high chair inlaid with silver, in the midst of the guests,

leaning it against the tall pillar, and he hung the loud

lyre on a pin, close above his head, and showed him how to

lay his hands on it. And close by him he placed a basket,

and a fair table, and a goblet of wine by his side, to

drink when his spirit bade him. So they stretched forth

their hands upon the good cheer spread before them. But

after they had put from them the desire of meat and drink,

the Muse stirred the minstrel to sing the songs of famous

men, even that lay whereof the fame had then reached the

wide heaven, namely, the quarrel between Odysseus and

Achilles, son of Peleus; how once on a time they contended

in fierce words at a rich festival of the gods, but

Agamemnon, king of men, was inly glad when the noblest of

the Achaeans fell at variance. For so Phoebus Apollo in his

soothsaying had told him that it must be, in goodly Pytho,

what time he crossed the threshold of stone, to seek to the

oracle. For in those days the first wave of woe was rolling

on Trojans and Danaans through the counsel of great Zeus.

This song it was that the famous minstrel sang; but

Odysseus caught his great purple cloak with his stalwart

hands, and drew it down over his head, and hid his comely

face, for he was ashamed to shed tears beneath his brows in

presence of the Phaeacians. Yea, and oft as the divine

minstrel paused in his song, Odysseus would wipe away the

tears, and draw the cloak from off his head, and take the

two-handled goblet and pour forth before the gods. But

whensoever he began again, and the chiefs of the Phaeacians

stirred him to sing, in delight at the lay, again would

Odysseus cover up his head and make moan. Now none of all

the company marked him weeping, but Alcinous alone noted it

and was ware thereof as he sat by him and heard him

groaning heavily. And presently he spake among the

Phaeacians, masters of the oar:

'Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,

now have our souls been satisfied with the good feast, and

with the lyre, which is the mate of the rich banquet. Let

us go forth anon, and make trial of divers games, that the

stranger may tell his friends, when home he returneth, how

greatly we excel all men in boxing, and wrestling, and

leaping, and speed of foot.'

He spake, and led the way, and they went with him. And the

henchman hung the loud lyre on the pin, and took the hand

of Demodocus, and let him forth from the hall, and guided

him by the same way, whereby those others, the chiefs of

the Phaeacians, had gone to gaze upon the games. So they

went on their way to the place of assembly, and with them a

great company innumerable; and many a noble youth stood up

to play. There rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus, and Elatreus,

and Nauteus, and Prymneus, and Anchialus, and Eretmeus, and

Ponteus, and Proreus, Thoon, and Anabesineus, and

Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tekton, and likewise

Euryalus, the peer of murderous Ares, the son of Naubolus,

who in face and form was goodliest of all the Phaeacians

next to noble Laodamas. And there stood up the three sons

of noble Alcinous, Laodamas, and Halius, and god-like

Clytoneus. And behold, these all first tried the issue in

the foot race. From the very start they strained at utmost

speed: and all together they flew forward swiftly, raising

the dust along the plain. And noble Clytoneus was far the

swiftest of them all in running, and by the length of the

furrow that mules cleave in a fallow field, {*} so far did

he shoot to the front, and came to the crowd by the lists,

while those others were left behind. Then they made trial

of strong wrestling, and here in turn Euryalus excelled all

the best. And in leaping Amphialus was far the foremost,

and Elatreus in weight-throwing, and in boxing Laodamas,

the good son of Alcinous. Now when they had all taken their

pleasure in the games, Laodamas, son of Alcinous, spake

among them:

{* The distance here indicated seems to be that which the

mule goes in ploughing, without pausing to take breath.}

'Come, my friends, let us ask the stranger whether he is

skilled or practised in any sport. Ill fashioned, at least,

he is not in his thighs and sinewy legs and hands withal,

and his stalwart neck and mighty strength: yea and he lacks

not youth, but is crushed by many troubles. For I tell thee

there is nought else worse than the sea to confound a man,

how hardy soever he may be.'

And Euryalus in turn made answer, and said: 'Laodamas,

verily thou hast spoken this word in season. Go now thyself

and challenge him, and declare thy saying.'

Now when the good son of Alcinous heard this, he went and

stood in the midst, and spake unto Odysseus: 'Come, do thou

too, father and stranger, try thy skill in the sports, if

haply thou art practised in any; and thou art like to have

knowledge of games, for there is no greater glory for a man

while yet he lives, than that which he achieves by hand and

foot. Come, then, make essay, and cast away care from thy

soul: thy journey shall not now be long delayed; lo, thy

ship is even now drawn down to the sea, and the men of thy

company are ready.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying;

'Laodamas, wherefore do ye mock me, requiring this thing of

me? Sorrow is far nearer my heart than sports, for much

have I endured and laboured sorely in time past, and now I

sit in this your gathering, craving my return, and making

my prayer to the king and all the people.'

And Euryalus answered, and rebuked him to his face: 'No

truly, stranger, nor do I think thee at all like one that

is skilled in games, whereof there are many among men,

rather art thou such an one as comes and goes in a benched

ship, a master of sailors that are merchantmen, one with a

memory for his freight, or that hath the charge of a cargo

homeward bound, and of greedily gotten gains; thou seemest

not a man of thy hands.'

Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him and

said: 'Stranger, thou hast not spoken well; thou art like a

man presumptuous. So true it is that the gods do not give

every gracious gift to all, neither shapeliness, nor

wisdom, nor skilled speech. For one man is feebler than

another in presence, yet the god crowns his words with

beauty, and men behold him and rejoice, and his speech runs

surely on his way with a sweet modesty, and he shines forth

among the gathering of his people, and as he passes through

the town men gaze on him as a god. Another again is like

the deathless gods for beauty, but his words have no crown

of grace about them; even as thou art in comeliness

pre-eminent, nor could a god himself fashion thee for the

better, but in wit thou art a weakling. Yea, thou hast

stirred my spirit in my breast by speaking thus amiss. I am

not all unversed in sports, as thy words go, but methinks I

was among the foremost while as yet I trusted in my youth

and my hands, but now am I holden in misery and pains: for

I have endured much in passing through the wars of men and

the grievous waves of the sea. Yet even so, for all my

affliction, I will essay the games, for thy word hath

bitten to the quick, and thou hast roused me with thy

saying.'

He spake, and clad even as he was in his mantle leaped to

his feet, and caught up a weight larger than the rest, a

huge weight heavier far than those wherewith the Phaeacians

contended in casting. With one whirl he sent it from his

stout hand, and the stone flew hurtling: and the

Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned,

crouched to earth beneath the rushing of the stone. Beyond

all the marks it flew, so lightly it sped from his hand,

and Athene in the fashion of a man marked the place, and

spake and hailed him:

'Yea, even a blind man, stranger, might discern that token

if he groped for it, for it is in no wise lost among the

throng of the others, but is far the first; for this bout

then take heart: not one of the Phaeacians shall attain

thereunto or overpass it.'

So spake she; and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced

and was glad, for that he saw a true friend in the lists.

Then with a lighter heart he spake amid the Phaeacians:

'Now reach ye this throw, young men, if ye may; and soon,

methinks, will I cast another after it, as far or yet

further. And whomsoever of the rest his heart and spirit

stir thereto, hither let him come and try the issue with

me, in boxing or in wrestling or even in the foot race, I

care not which, for ye have greatly angered me: let any of

all the Phaeacians come save Laodamas alone, for he is mine

host: who would strive with one that entreated him kindly?

Witless and worthless is the man, whoso challengeth his

host that receiveth him in a strange land, he doth but maim

his own estate. But for the rest, I refuse none and hold

none lightly, but I fain would know and prove them face to

face. For I am no weakling in all sports, even in the feats

of men. I know well how to handle the polished bow, and

ever the first would I be to shoot and smite my man in the

press of foes, even though many of my company stood by, and

were aiming at the enemy. Alone Philoctetes in the Trojan

land surpassed me with the bow in our Achaean archery. But

I avow myself far more excellent than all besides, of the

mortals that are now upon the earth and live by bread. Yet

with the men of old time I would not match me, neither with

Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia, who contended even

with the deathless gods for the prize of archery. Wherefore

the great Eurytus perished all too soon, nor did old age

come on him in his halls, for Apollo slew him in his wrath,

seeing that he challenged him to shoot a match. And with

the spear I can throw further than any other man can shoot

an arrow. Only I doubt that in the foot race some of the

Phaeacians may outstrip me, for I have been shamefully

broken in many waters, seeing that there was no continual

sustenance on board; wherefore my knees are loosened.'

So spake he and all kept silence; and Alcinous alone

answered him, saying:

'Stranger, forasmuch as these thy words are not ill-taken

in our gathering, but thou wouldest fain show forth the

valour which keeps thee company, being angry that yonder

man stood by thee in the lists, and taunted thee, in such

sort as no mortal would speak lightly of thine excellence,

who had knowledge of sound words; nay now, mark my speech;

so shalt thou have somewhat to tell another hero, when with

thy wife and children thou suppest in thy halls, and

recallest our prowess, what deeds Zeus bestoweth even upon

us from our fathers' days even until now. For we are no

perfect boxers, nor wrestlers, but speedy runners, and the

best of seamen; and dear to us ever is the banquet, and the

harp, and the dance, and changes of raiment, and the warm

bath, and love, and sleep. Lo, now arise, ye dancers of the

Phaeacians, the best in the land, and make sport, that so

the stranger may tell his friends, when he returneth home,

how far we surpass all men besides in seamanship, and speed

of foot, and in the dance and song. And let one go quickly,

and fetch for Demodocus the loud lyre which is lying

somewhere in our halls.'

So spake Alcinous the godlike, and the henchman rose to

bear the hollow lyre from the king's palace. Then stood up

nine chosen men in all, the judges of the people, who were

wont to order all things in the lists aright. So they

levelled the place for the dance, and made a fair ring and

a wide. And the henchman drew near bearing the loud lyre to

Demodocus, who gat him into the midst, and round him stood

boys in their first bloom, skilled in the dance, and they

smote the good floor with their feet. And Odysseus gazed at

the twinklings of the feet, and marvelled in spirit.

Now as the minstrel touched the lyre, he lifted up his

voice in sweet song, and he sang of the love of Ares and

Aphrodite, of the fair crown, how at the first they lay

together in the house of Hephaestus privily; and Ares gave

her many gifts, and dishonoured the marriage bed of the

lord Hephaestus. And anon there came to him one to report

the thing, even Helios, that had seen them at their

pastime. Now when Hephaestus heard the bitter tidings, he

went his way to the forge, devising evil in the deep of his

heart, and set the great anvil on the stithy, and wrought

fetters that none might snap or loosen, that the lovers

might there unmoveably remain. Now when he had forged the

crafty net in his anger against Ares, he went on his way to

the chamber where his marriage bed was set out, and strewed

his snares all about the posts of the bed, and many too

were hung aloft from the main beam, subtle as spiders'

webs, so that none might see them, even of the blessed

gods: so cunningly were they forged. Now after he had done

winding the snare about the bed, he made as though he would

go to Lemnos, that stablished castle, and this was far the

dearest of all lands in his sight. But Ares of the golden

rein kept no blind watch, what time he saw Hephaestus, the

famed craftsman, depart afar. So he went on his way to the

house of renowned Hephaestus, eager for the love of crowned

Cytherea. Now she was but newly come from her sire, the

mighty Cronion, and as it chanced had sat her down; and

Ares entered the house, and clasped her hand, and spake,

and hailed her:

'Come, my beloved, let us to bed, and take our pleasure of

love, for Hephaestus is no longer among his own people;

methinks he is already gone to Lemnos, to the Sintians, men

of savage speech.'

So spake he, and a glad thing it seemed to her to lie with

him. So they twain went to the couch, and laid them to

sleep, and around them clung the cunning bonds of skilled

Hephaestus, so that they could not move nor raise a limb.

Then at the last they knew it, when there was no way to

flee. Now the famous god of the strong arms drew near to

them, having turned him back ere he reached the land of

Lemnos. For Helios had kept watch, and told him all. So

heavy at heart he went his way to his house, and stood at

the entering in of the gate, and wild rage gat hold of him,

and he cried terribly, and shouted to all the gods:

'Father Zeus, and ye other blessed gods, that live for

ever, come hither, that ye may see a mirthful thing and a

cruel, for that Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, ever

dishonours me by reason of my lameness, and sets her heart

on Ares the destroyer, because he is fair and straight of

limb, but as for me, feeble was I born. Howbeit, there is

none to blame but my father and mother,--would they had

never begotten me! But now shall ye see where these have

gone up into my bed, and sleep together in love; and I am

troubled at the sight. Yet, methinks, they will not care to

lie thus even for a little while longer, despite their

great love. Soon will they have no desire to sleep

together, but the snare and the bond shall hold them, till

her sire give back to me the gifts of wooing, one and all,

those that I bestowed upon him for the hand of his

shameless girl; for that his daughter is fair, but without

discretion.'

So spake he; and lo, the gods gathered together to the

house of the brazen floor. Poseidon came, the girdler of

the earth, and Hermes came, the bringer of luck, and prince

Apollo came, the archer. But the lady goddesses abode each

within her house for shame. So the gods, the givers of good

things, stood in the porch: and laughter unquenchable arose

among the blessed gods, as they beheld the sleight of

cunning Hephaestus. And thus would one speak, looking to

his neighbour:

'Ill deed, ill speed! The slow catcheth the swift! Lo, how

Hephaestus, slow as he is, hath overtaken Ares, albeit he

is the swiftest of the gods that hold Olympus, by his craft

hath he taken him despite his lameness; wherefore surely

Ares oweth the fine of the adulterer.' Thus they spake one

to the other. But the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spake to

Hermes:

'Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger and giver of good things,

wouldst thou be fain, aye, pressed by strong bonds though

it might be, to lie on the couch by golden Aphrodite?'

Then the messenger, the slayer of Argos, answered him: 'I

would that this might be, Apollo, my prince of archery! So

might thrice as many bonds innumerable encompass me about,

and all ye gods be looking on and all the goddesses, yet

would I lie by golden Aphrodite.'

So spake he, and laughter rose among the deathless gods.

Howbeit, Poseidon laughed not, but was instant with

Hephaestus, the renowed artificer, to loose the bonds of

Ares: and he uttered his voice, and spake to him winged

words:

'Loose him, I pray thee, and I promise even as thou biddest

me, that he shall himself pay all fair forfeit in the

presence of the deathless gods.'

Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him:

'Require not this of me, Poseidon, girdler of the earth.

Evil are evil folk's pledges to hold. How could I keep thee

bound among the deathless gods, if Ares were to depart,

avoiding the debt and the bond?'

Then Poseidon answered him, shaker of the earth:

'Hephaestus, even if Ares avoid the debt and flee away, I

myself will pay thee all.'

Then the famous god of the strong arms answered him: 'It

may not be that I should say thee nay, neither is it meet.'

Therewith the mighty Hephaestus loosed the bonds, and the

twain, when they were freed from that strong bond, sprang

up straightway, and departed, he to Thrace, but

laughter-loving Aphrodite went to Paphos of Cyprus, where

is her precinct and fragrant altar. There the Graces bathed

and anointed her with oil imperishable, such as is laid

upon the everlasting gods. And they clad her in lovely

raiment, a wonder to see.

This was the song the famous minstrel sang; and Odysseus

listened and was glad at heart, and likewise did the

Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned.

Then Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamas dance alone, for

none ever contended with them. So when they had taken in

their hands the goodly ball of purple hue, that cunning

Polybus had wrought for them, the one would bend backwards,

and throw it towards the shadowy clouds; and the other

would leap upward from the earth, and catch it lightly in

his turn, before his feet touched the ground. Now after

they had made trial of throwing the ball straight up, the

twain set to dance upon the bounteous earth, tossing the

ball from hand to hand, and the other youths stood by the

lists and beat time, and a great din uprose.

Then it was that goodly Odysseus spake unto Alcinous: 'My

lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, thou

didst boast thy dancers to be the best in the world, and

lo, thy words are fulfilled; I wonder as I look on them.'

So spake he, and the mighty king Alcinous rejoiced and

spake at once among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar:

'Hearken ye, captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,

this stranger seems to me a wise man enough. Come then, let

us give him a stranger's gift, as is meet. Behold, there

are twelve glorious princes who rule among this people and

bear sway, and I myself am the thirteenth. Now each man

among you bring a fresh robe and a doublet, and a talent of

fine gold, and let us speedily carry all these gifts

together, that the stranger may take them in his hands, and

go to supper with a glad heart. As for Euryalus, let him

yield amends to the man himself, with soft speech and with

a gift, for his was no gentle saying.'

So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and would have

it so. And each one sent forth his henchman to fetch his

gift, and Euryalus answered the king and spake, saying:

'My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, I

will make atonement to thy guest according to thy word. I

will give him a hanger all of bronze, with a silver hilt

thereto, and a sheath of fresh-sawn ivory covers it about,

and it shall be to him a thing of price.'

Therewith he puts into his hands the hanger dight with

silver, and uttering his voice spake to him winged words:

'Hail, stranger and father; and if aught grievous hath been

spoken, may the storm-winds soon snatch and bear it away.

But may the gods grant thee to see thy wife and to come to

thine own country, for all too long has thou endured

affliction away from thy friends.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'Thou

too, my friend, all hail; and may the gods vouchsafe thee

happiness, and mayst thou never miss this sword which thou

hast given me, thou that with soft speech hast yielded me

amends.'

He spake and hung about his shoulders the silver-studded

sword. And the sun sank, and the noble gifts were brought

him. Then the proud henchmen bare them to the palace of

Alcinous, and the sons of noble Alcinous took the fair

gifts, and set them by their reverend mother. And the

mighty king Alcinous led the way, and they came in and sat

them down on the high seats. And the mighty Alcinous spake

unto Arete:

'Bring me hither, my lady, a choice coffer, the best thou

hast, and thyself place therein a fresh robe and a doublet,

and heat for our guest a cauldron on the fire, and warm

water, that after the bath the stranger may see all the

gifts duly arrayed which the noble Phaeacians bare hither,

and that he may have joy in the feast, and in hearing the

song of the minstrelsy. Also I will give him a beautiful

golden chalice of mine own, that he may be mindful of me

all the days of his life when he poureth the drink-offering

to Zeus and to the other gods.'

So spake he, and Arete bade her handmaids to set a great

cauldron on the fire with what speed they might. And they

set the cauldron for the filling of the bath on the blazing

fire, and poured water therein, and took faggots and

kindled them beneath. So the fire began to circle round the

belly of the cauldron, and the water waxed hot. Meanwhile

Arete brought forth for her guest the beautiful coffer from

the treasure chamber, and bestowed fair gifts therein,

raiment and gold, which the Phaeacians gave him. And with

her own hands she placed therein a robe and goodly doublet,

and uttering her voice spake to him winged words:

'Do thou now look to the lid, and quickly tie the knot,

lest any man spoil thy goods by the way, when presently

thou fallest on sweet sleep travelling in thy black ship.'

Now when the steadfast goodly Odysseus heard this saying,

forthwith he fixed on the lid, and quickly tied the curious

knot, which the lady Circe on a time had taught him. Then

straightway the housewife bade him go to the bath and bathe

him; and he saw the warm water and was glad, for he was not

wont to be so cared for, from the day that he left the

house of fair-tressed Calypso, but all that while he had

comfort continually as a god.

Now after the maids had bathed him and anointed him with

olive oil, and had cast a fair mantle and a doublet upon

him, he stept forth from the bath, and went to be with the

chiefs at their wine. And Nausicaa, dowered with beauty by

the gods, stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof, and

marvelled at Odysseus, beholding him before her eyes, and

she uttered her voice and spake to him winged words:

'Farewell, stranger, and even in thine own country bethink

thee of me upon a time, for that to me first thou owest the

ransom of life.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:

'Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, yea, may

Zeus, the thunderer, the lord of Here, grant me to reach my

home and see the day of my returning; so would I, even

there, do thee worship as to a god, all my days for

evermore, for thou, lady, hast given me my life.'

He spake and sat him in the high seat by king Alcinous. And

now they were serving out the portions and mixing the wine.

Then the henchmen drew nigh leading the sweet minstrel,

Demodocus, that was had in honour of the people. So he set

him in the midst of the feasters, and made him lean against

a tall column. Then to the henchman spake Odysseus of many

counsels, for he had cut off a portion of the chine of a

white-toothed boar, whereon yet more was left, with rich

fat on either side:

'Lo, henchman, take this mess, and hand it to Demodocus,

that he may eat, and I will bid him hail, despite my

sorrow. For minstrels from all men on earth get their meed

of honour and worship; inasmuch as the Muse teacheth them

the paths of song, and loveth the tribe of minstrels.'

Thus he spake, and the henchman bare the mess, and set it

upon the knees of the lord Demodocus, and he took it, and

was glad at heart. Then they stretched forth their hands

upon the good cheer set before them. Now after they had put

from them the desire of meat and drink, then Odysseus of

many counsels spake to Demodocus, saying:

'Demodocus, I praise thee far above all mortal men, whether

it be the Muse, the daughter of Zeus, that taught thee, or

even Apollo, for right duly dost thou chant the faring of

the Achaeans, even all that they wrought and suffered, and

all their travail, as if, methinks, thou hadst been

present, or heard the tale from another. Come now, change

thy strain, and sing of the fashioning of the horse of

wood, which Epeius made by the aid of Athene, even the

guileful thing, that goodly Odysseus led up into the

citadel, when he had laden it with the men who wasted

Ilios. If thou wilt indeed rehearse me this aright, so will

I be thy witness among all men, how the god of his grace

hath given thee the gift of wondrous song.'

So spake he, and the minstrel, being stirred by the god,

began and showed forth his minstrelsy. He took up the tale

where it tells how the Argives of the one part set fire to

their huts, and went aboard their decked ships and sailed

away, while those others, the fellowship of renowned

Odysseus, were now seated in the assembly-place of the

Trojans, all hidden in the horse, for the Trojans

themselves had dragged him to the citadel. So the horse

stood there, while seated all around him the people spake

many things confusedly and three ways their counsel looked;

either to cleave the hollow timber with the pitiless spear,

or to drag it to the brow of the hill, and hurl it from the

rocks, or to leave it as a mighty offering to appease the

gods. And on this wise it was to be at the last. For the

doom was on them to perish when their city should have

closed upon the great horse of wood, wherein sat all the

bravest of the Argives, bearing to the Trojans death and

destiny. And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans poured

forth from the horse, and left the hollow lair, and sacked

the burg. And he sang how and where each man wasted the

town, and of Odysseus, how he went like Ares to the house

of Deiphobus with godlike Menelaus. It was there, he said,

that Odysseus adventured the most grievous battle, and in

the end prevailed, by grace of great-hearted Athene.

This was the song that the famous minstrel sang. But the

heart of Odysseus melted, and the tear wet his cheeks

beneath the eyelids. And as a woman throws herself wailing

about her dear lord, who hath fallen before his city and

the host, warding from his town and his children the

pitiless day; and she beholds him dying and drawing

difficult breath, and embracing his body wails aloud, while

the foemen behind smite her with spears on back and

shoulders and lead her up into bondage, to bear labour and

trouble, and with the most pitiful grief her cheeks are

wasted; even so pitifully fell the tears beneath the brows

of Odysseus. Now none of all the company marked him

weeping; but Alcinous alone noted it, and was ware thereof,

as he sat nigh him and heard him groaning heavily. And

presently he spake among the Phaeacians, masters of the

oar:

'Hearken, ye captains and counsellors of the Phaeacians,

and now let Demodocus hold his hand from the loud lyre, for

this song of his is nowise pleasing alike to all. From the

time that we began to sup, and that the divine minstrel was

moved to sing, ever since hath yonder stranger never ceased

from woeful lamentation: sore grief, methinks, hath

encompassed his heart. Nay, but let the minstrel cease,

that we may all alike make merry, hosts and guest, since it

is far meeter so. For all these things are ready for the

sake of the honourable stranger, even the convoy and the

loving gifts which we give him out of our love. In a

brother's place stand the stranger and the suppliant, to

him whose wits have even a little range, wherefore do thou

too hide not now with crafty purpose aught whereof I ask

thee; it were more meet for thee to tell it out. Say, what

is the name whereby they called thee at home, even thy

father and thy mother, and others thy townsmen and the

dwellers round about? For there is none of all mankind

nameless, neither the mean man nor yet the noble, from the

first hour of his birth, but parents bestow a name on every

man so soon as he is born. Tell me too of thy land, thy

township, and thy city, that our ships may conceive of

their course to bring thee thither. For the Phaeacians have

no pilots nor any rudders after the manner of other ships,

but their barques themselves understand the thoughts and

intents of men; they know the cities and fat fields of

every people, and most swiftly they traverse the gulf of

the salt sea, shrouded in mist and cloud, and never do they

go in fear of wreck or ruin. Howbeit I heard upon a time

this word thus spoken by my father Nausithous, who was wont

to say that Poseidon was jealous of us for that we give

safe escort to all men. He said that the god would some day

smite a well-wrought ship of the Phaeacians as she came

home from a convoy over the misty deep, and would

overshadow our city with a great mountain. Thus that

ancient one would speak, and thus the god may bring it

about, or leave it undone, according to the good pleasure

of his will. But come now, declare me this and plainly tell

it all; whither wast thou borne wandering, and to what

shores of men thou camest; tell me of the people and of

their fair-lying cities, of those whoso are hard and wild

and unjust, and of those likewise who are hospitable and of

a god-fearing mind. Declare, too, wherefore thou dost weep

and mourn in spirit at the tale of the faring of the Argive

Danaans and the lay of Ilios. All this the gods have

fashioned, and have woven the skein of death for men, that

there might be a song in the ears even of the folk of

aftertime. Hadst thou even a kinsman by marriage that fell

before Ilios, a true man, a daughter's husband or wife's

father, such as are nearest us after those of our own stock

and blood? Or else, may be, some loving friend, a good man

and true; for a friend with an understanding heart is no

whit worse than a brother.'

Read next: Book IX

Read previous: Book VII

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