Book XIII

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Odysseus, sleeping, is set ashore at Ithaca by the

Phaeacians, and waking knows it not. Pallas, in the form of

a shepherd, helps to hide his treasure. The ship that

conveyed him is turned into a rock, and Odysseus by Pallas

is instructed what to do, and transformed into an old

beggarman.

So spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were

spell-bound throughout the shadowy halls. Thereupon

Alcinous answered him, and spake, saying:

'Odysseus, now that thou hast come to my high house with

floor of bronze, never, methinks, shalt thou be driven from

thy way ere thou returnest, though thou hast been sore

afflicted. And for each man among you, that in these halls

of mine drink evermore the dark wine of the elders, and

hearken to the minstrel, this is my word and command.

Garments for the stranger are already laid up in a polished

coffer, with gold curiously wrought, and all other such

gifts as the counsellors of the Phaeacians bare hither.

Come now, let us each of us give him a great tripod and a

cauldron, and we in turn will gather goods among the people

and get us recompense; for it were hard that one man should

give without repayment.'

So spake Alcinous, and the saying pleased them well. Then

they went each one to his house to lay him down to rest;

but so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,

they hasted to the ship and bare the bronze, the joy of

men. And the mighty king Alcinous himself went about the

ship and diligently bestowed the gifts beneath the benches,

that they might not hinder any of the crew in their rowing,

when they laboured at their oars. Then they betook them to

the house of Alcinous and fell to feasting. And the mighty

king Alcinous sacrificed before them an ox to Zeus, the son

of Cronos, that dwells in the dark clouds, who is lord of

all. And when they had burnt the pieces of the thighs, they

shared the glorious feast and made merry, and among them

harped the divine minstrel Demodocus, whom the people

honoured. But Odysseus would ever turn his head toward the

splendour of the sun, as one fain to hasten his setting:

for verily he was most eager to return. And as when a man

longs for his supper, for whom all day long two dark oxen

drag through the fallow field the jointed plough, yea and

welcome to such an one the sunlight sinketh, that so he may

get him to supper, for his knees wax faint by the way, even

so welcome was the sinking of the sunlight to Odysseus.

Then straight he spake among the Phaeacians, masters of the

oar, and to Alcinous in chief he made known his word,

saying:

'My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, pour ye

the drink offering, and send me safe upon my way, and as

for you, fare ye well. For now have I all that my heart

desired, an escort and loving gifts. May the gods of heaven

give me good fortune with them, and may I find my noble

wife in my home with my friends unharmed, while ye, for

your part, abide here and make glad your wedded wives and

children; and may the gods vouchsafe all manner of good,

and may no evil come nigh the people!'

So spake he, and they all consented thereto and bade send

the stranger on his way, in that he had spoken aright. Then

the mighty Alcinous spake to the henchman: 'Pontonous, mix

the bowl and serve out the wine to all in the hall, that we

may pray to Father Zeus, and send the stranger on his way

to his own country.'

So spake he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,

and served it to all in turn. And they poured forth before

the blessed gods that keep wide heaven, even there as they

sat. Then goodly Odysseus uprose, and placed in Arete's

hand the two-handled cup, and uttering his voice spake to

her winged words:

'Fare thee well, O queen, all the days of thy life, till

old age come and death, that visit all mankind. But I go

homeward, and do thou in this thy house rejoice in thy

children and thy people and Alcinous the king.'

Therewith goodly Odysseus stept over the threshold. And

with him the mighty Alcinous sent forth a henchman to guide

him to the swift ship and the sea-banks. And Arete sent in

this train certain maidens of her household, one bearing a

fresh robe and a doublet, and another she joined to them to

carry the strong coffer, and yet another bare bread and red

wine. Now when they had come down to the ship and to the

sea, straightway the good men of the escort took these

things and laid them by in the hollow ship, even all the

meat and drink. Then they strewed for Odysseus a rug and a

sheet of linen, on the decks of the hollow ship, in the

hinder part thereof, that he might sleep sound. Then he too

climbed aboard and laid him down in silence, while they sat

upon the benches, every man in order, and unbound the

hawser from the pierced stone. So soon as they leant

backwards and tossed the sea water with the oar blade, a

deep sleep fell upon his eyelids, a sound sleep, very

sweet, and next akin to death. And even as on a plain a

yoke of four stallions comes springing all together beneath

the lash, leaping high and speedily accomplishing the way,

so leaped the stern of that ship, and the dark wave of the

sounding sea rushed mightily in the wake, and she ran ever

surely on her way, nor could a circling hawk keep pace with

her, of winged things the swiftest. Even thus she lightly

sped and cleft the waves of the sea, bearing a man whose

counsel was as the counsel of the gods, one that erewhile

had suffered much sorrow of heart, in passing through the

wars of men, and the grievous waves; but for that time he

slept in peace, forgetful of all that he had suffered.

So when the star came up, that is brightest of all, and

goes ever heralding the light of early Dawn, even then did

the seafaring ship draw nigh the island. There is in the

land of Ithaca a certain haven of Phorcys, the ancient one

of the sea, and thereby are two headlands of sheer cliff,

which slope to the sea on the haven's side and break the

mighty wave that ill winds roll without, but within, the

decked ships ride unmoored when once they have reached the

place of anchorage. Now at the harbour's head is a

long-leaved olive tree, and hard by is a pleasant cave and

shadowy, sacred to the nymphs, that are called the Naiads.

And therein are mixing bowls and jars of stone, and there

moreover do bees hive. And there are great looms of stone,

whereon the nymphs weave raiment of purple stain, a marvel

to behold, and therein are waters welling evermore. Two

gates there are to the cave, the one set toward the North

Wind whereby men may go down, but the portals toward the

South pertain rather to the gods, whereby men may not

enter: it is the way of the immortals.

Thither they, as having knowledge of that place, let drive

their ship; and now the vessel in full course ran ashore,

half her keel's length high; so well was she sped by the

hands of the oarsmen. Then they alighted from the benched

ship upon the land, and first they lifted Odysseus from out

the hollow ship, all as he was in the sheet of linen and

the bright rug, and laid him yet heavy with slumber on the

sand. And they took forth the goods which the lordly

Phaeacians had given him on his homeward way by grace of

the great-hearted Athene. These they set in a heap by the

trunk of the olive tree, a little aside from the road, lest

some wayfaring man, before Odysseus awakened, should come

and spoil them. Then themselves departed homeward again.

But the shaker of the earth forgat not the threats,

wherewith at the first he had threatened god like Odysseus,

and he inquired into the counsel of Zeus, saying:

'Father Zeus, I for one shall no longer be of worship among

the deathless gods, when mortal men hold me in no regard,

even Phaeacians, who moreover are of mine own lineage. Lo,

now I said that after much affliction Odysseus should come

home, for I had no mind to rob him utterly of his return,

when once thou hadst promised it and given assent; but

behold, in his sleep they have borne him in a swift ship

over the sea, and set him down in Ithaca, and given him

gifts out of measure, bronze and gold in plenty and woven

raiment, much store, such as never would Odysseus have won

for himself out of Troy; yea, though he had returned unhurt

with the share of the spoil that fell to him.'

And Zeus, the cloud gatherer, answered him saying: 'Lo,

now, shaker of the earth, of widest power, what a word hast

thou spoken! The gods nowise dishonour thee; hard would it

be to assail with dishonour our eldest and our best. But if

any man, giving place to his own hardihood and strength,

holds thee not in worship, thou hast always thy revenge for

the same, even in the time to come. Do thou as thou wilt,

and as seems thee good.'

Then Poseidon, shaker of the earth, answered him:

'Straightway would I do even as thou sayest, O god of the

dark clouds; but thy wrath I always hold in awe and avoid.

Howbeit, now I fain would smite a fair ship of the

Phaeacians, as she comes home from a convoy on the misty

deep, that thereby they may learn to hold their hands, and

cease from giving escort to men; and I would overshadow

their city with a great mountain.'

And Zeus the gatherer of the clouds, answered him, saying:

'Friend, learn now what seems best in my sight. At an hour

when the folk are all looking forth from the city at the

ship upon her way, smite her into a stone hard by the land;

a stone in the likeness of a swift ship, that all mankind

may marvel, and do thou overshadow their city with a great

mountain.'

Now when Poseidon, shaker of the earth, heard this saying,

he went on his way to Scheria, where the Phaeacians dwell.

There he abode awhile; and lo, she drew near, the seafaring

ship, lightly sped upon her way. Then nigh her came the

shaker of the earth, and he smote her into a stone, and

rooted her far below with the down-stroke of his hand; and

he departed thence again.

Then one to the other they spake winged words, the

Phaeacians of the long oars, mariners renowned. And thus

would they speak, looking each man to his neighbour:

'Ah me! who is this that fettered our swift ship on the

deep as she drave homewards? Even now she stood full in

sight.'

Even so they would speak; but they knew not how these

things were ordained. And Alcinous made harangue and spake

among them:

'Lo now, in very truth the ancient oracles of my father

have come home to me. He was wont to say that Poseidon was

jealous of us, for that we give safe escort to all men. He

said that the day would come when the god would smite a

fair ship of the Phaeacians, as she came home from a convoy

on the misty deep, and overshadow our city with a great

mountain. Thus that ancient one would speak; and lo, all

these things now have an end. But come, let us all give ear

and do according to my word. Cease ye from the convoy of

mortals, whensoever any shall come unto our town, and let

us sacrifice to Poseidon twelve choice bulls, if perchance

he may take pity, neither overshadow our city with a great

mountain.'

So spake he, and they were dismayed and got ready the

bulls. Thus were they praying to the lord Poseidon, the

princes and counsellors of the land of the Phaeacians, as

they stood about the altar.

Even then the goodly Odysseus awoke where he slept on his

native land; nor knew he the same again, having now been

long afar, for around him the goddess had shed a mist, even

Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, to the end that she might

make him undiscovered for that he was, and might expound to

him all things, that so his wife should not know him

neither his townsmen and kinsfolk, ere the wooers had paid

for all their transgressions. Wherefore each thing showed

strange to the lord of the land, the long paths and the

sheltering havens and the steep rocks and the trees in

their bloom. So he started up, and stood and looked upon

his native land, and then he made moan withal, and smote on

both his thighs with the down-stroke of his hands, and

making lament, he spake, saying:

'Oh, woe is me, unto what mortals' land am I now come? Say,

are they froward, and wild, and unjust, or hospitable and

of a god-fearing mind? Whither do I bear all this treasure?

Yea, where am I wandering myself? Oh that the treasure had

remained with the Phaeacians where it was, so had I come to

some other of the mighty princes, who would have entreated

me kindly and sent me on my way. But now I know not where

to bestow these things, nor yet will I leave them here

behind, lest haply other men make spoil of them. Ah then,

they are not wholly wise or just, the princes and

counsellors of the Phaeacians, who carried me to a strange

land. Verily they promised to bring me to clear-seen

Ithaca, but they performed it not. May Zeus requite them,

the god of suppliants, seeing that he watches over all men

and punishes the transgressor! But come, I will reckon up

these goods and look to them, lest the men be gone, and

have taken aught away upon their hollow ship.'

Therewith he set to number the fair tripods and the

cauldrons and the gold and the goodly woven raiment; and of

all these he lacked not aught, but he bewailed him for his

own country, as he walked downcast by the shore of the

sounding sea, and made sore lament. Then Athene came nigh

him in the guise of a young man, the herdsman of a flock, a

young man most delicate, such as are the sons of kings. And

she had a well-wrought mantle that fell in two folds about

her shoulders, and beneath her smooth feet she had sandals

bound, and a javelin in her hands. And Odysseus rejoiced as

he saw her, and came over against her, and uttering his

voice spake to her winged words:

'Friend, since thou art the first that I have chanced on in

this land, hail to thee, and with no ill-will mayest thou

meet me! Nay, save this my substance and save me too, for

to thee as to a god I make prayer, and to thy dear knees

have I come. And herein tell me true, that I may surely

know. What land, what people is this? what men dwell

therein? Surely, methinks, it is some clear seen isle, or a

shore of the rich mainland that lies and leans upon the

deep.'

Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again:

'Thou art witless, stranger, or thou art come from afar, if

indeed thou askest of this land; nay, it is not so very

nameless but that many men know it, both all those who

dwell toward the dawning and the sun, and they that abide

over against the light toward the shadowy west. Verily it

is rough and not fit for the driving of horses, yet is it

not a very sorry isle, though narrow withal. For herein is

corn past telling, and herein too wine is found, and the

rain is on it evermore, and the fresh dew. And it is good

for feeding goats and feeding kine; all manner of wood is

here, and watering-places unfailing are herein. Wherefore,

stranger, the name of Ithaca hath reached even unto

Troy-land, which men say is far from this Achaean shore.'

So spake she, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad,

and had joy in his own country, according to the word of

Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis. And he

uttered his voice and spake unto her winged words; yet he

did not speak the truth, but took back the word that was on

his lips, for quick and crafty was his wit within his

breast:

'Of Ithaca have I heard tell, even in broad Crete, far over

the seas; and now have I come hither myself with these my

goods. And I left as much again to my children, when I

turned outlaw for the slaying of the dear son of Idomeneus,

Orsilochus, swift of foot, who in wide Crete was the

swiftest of all men that live by bread. Now he would have

despoiled me of all that booty of Troy, for the which I had

endured pain of heart, in passing through the wars of men,

and the grievous waves of the sea, for this cause that I

would not do a favour to his father, and make me his squire

in the land of the Trojans, but commanded other fellowship

of mine own. So I smote him with a bronze-shod spear as he

came home from the field, lying in ambush for him by the

wayside, with one of my companions. And dark midnight held

the heavens, and no man marked us, but privily I took his

life away. Now after I had slain him with the sharp spear,

straightway I went to a ship and besought the lordly

Phoenicians, and gave them spoil to their hearts' desire. I

charged them to take me on board, and land me at Pylos or

at goodly Elis where the Epeans bear rule. Howbeit of a

truth, the might of the wind drave them out of their

course, sore against their will, nor did they wilfully play

me false. Thence we were driven wandering, and came hither

by night. And with much ado we rowed onward into harbour,

nor took we any thought of supper, though we stood sore in

need thereof, but even as we were we stept ashore and all

lay down. Then over me there came sweet slumber in my

weariness, but they took forth my goods from the hollow

ship, and set them by me where I myself lay upon the sands.

Then they went on board, and departed for the fair-lying

land of Sidon; while as for me I was left stricken at

heart.'

So spake he and the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, smiled, and

caressed him with her hand; and straightway she changed to

the semblance of a woman, fair and tall, and skilled in

splendid handiwork. And uttering her voice she spake unto

him winged words:

'Crafty must he be, and knavish, who would outdo thee in

all manner of guile, even if it were a god encountered

thee. Hardy man, subtle of wit, of guile insatiate, so thou

wast not even in thine own country to cease from thy

sleights and knavish words, which thou lovest from the

bottom of thine heart! But come, no more let us tell of

these things, being both of us practised in deceits, for

that thou art of all men far the first in counsel and in

discourse, and I in the company of all the gods win renown

for my wit and wile. Yet thou knewest not me, Pallas

Athene, daughter of Zeus, who am always by thee and guard

thee in all adventures. Yea, and I made thee to be beloved

of all the Phaeacians. And now am I come hither to contrive

a plot with thee and to hide away the goods, that by my

counsel and design the noble Phaeacians gave thee on thy

homeward way. And I would tell thee how great a measure of

trouble thou art ordained to fulfil within thy well-builded

house. But do thou harden thy heart, for so it must be, and

tell none neither man nor woman of all the folk, that thou

hast indeed returned from wandering, but in silence endure

much sorrow, submitting thee to the despite of men.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Hard is

it, goddess, for a mortal man that meets thee to discern

thee, howsoever wise he be; for thou takest upon thee every

shape. But this I know well, that of old thou wast kindly

to me, so long as we sons of the Achaeans made war in Troy.

But so soon as we had sacked the steep city of Priam and

had gone on board our ships, and the god had scattered the

Achaeans, thereafter I have never beheld thee, daughter of

Zeus, nor seen thee coming on board my ship, to ward off

sorrow from me--but I wandered evermore with a stricken

heart, till the gods delivered me from my evil case--even

till the day when, within the fat land of the men of

Phaeacia, thou didst comfort me with thy words, and thyself

didst lead me to their city. And now I beseech thee in thy

father's name to tell me: for I deem not that I am come to

clear-seen Ithaca, but I roam over some other land, and

methinks that thou speakest thus to mock me and beguile my

mind. Tell me whether in very deed I am come to mine own

dear country.'

Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him: 'Yea,

such a thought as this is ever in thy breast. Wherefore I

may in no wise leave thee in thy grief, so courteous art

thou, so ready of wit and so prudent. Right gladly would

any other man on his return from wandering have hasted to

behold his children and his wife in his halls; but thou

hast no will to learn or to hear aught, till thou hast

furthermore made trial of thy wife, who sits as ever in her

halls, and wearily for her the nights wane always and the

days, in shedding of tears. But of this I never doubted,

but ever knew it in my heart that thou wouldest come home

with the loss of all thy company. Yet, I tell thee, I had

no mind to be at strife with Poseidon, my own father's

brother, who laid up wrath in his heart against thee, being

angered at the blinding of his dear son. But come, and I

will show thee the place of the dwelling of Ithaca, that

thou mayst be assured. Lo, here is the haven of Phorcys,

the ancient one of the sea, and here at the haven's head is

the olive tree with spreading leaves, and hard by it is the

pleasant cave and shadowy, sacred to the nymphs that are

called the Naiads. Yonder, behold, is the roofed cavern,

where thou offeredst many an acceptable sacrifice of

hecatombs to the nymphs; and lo, this hill is Neriton, all

clothed in forest.'

Therewith the goddess scattered the mist, and the land

appeared. Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad

rejoicing in his own land, and he kissed the earth, the

grain-giver. And anon he prayed to the nymphs, and lifted

up his hands, saying:

'Ye Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I think to

look on you again, but now be ye greeted in my loving

prayers: yea, and gifts as aforetime I will give, if the

daughter of Zeus, driver of the spoil, suffer me of her

grace myself to live, and bring my dear son to manhood.'

Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, spake to him again: 'Be

of good courage, and let not thy heart be careful about

these things. But come, let us straightway set thy goods in

the secret place of the wondrous cave, that there they may

abide for thee safe. And let us for ourselves advise us how

all may be for the very best.'

Therewith the goddess plunged into the shadowy cave,

searching out the chambers of the cavern. Meanwhile

Odysseus brought up his treasure, the gold and the

unyielding bronze and fair woven raiment, which the

Phaeacians gave him. And these things he laid by with care,

and Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis, set

a stone against the door of the cave. Then they twain sat

down by the trunk of the sacred olive tree, and devised

death for the froward wooers. And the goddess, grey-eyed

Athene, spake first, saying:

'Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many

devices, advise thee how thou mayest stretch forth thine

hands upon the shameless wooers, who now these three years

lord it through thy halls, as they woo thy godlike wife and

proffer the gifts of wooing. And she, that is ever

bewailing her for thy return, gives hope to all and makes

promises to every man and sends them messages, but her mind

is set on other things.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying:

'Lo now, in very truth I was like to have perished in my

halls by the evil doom of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, hadst

not thou, goddess, declared me each thing aright. Come

then, weave some counsel whereby I may requite them; and

thyself stand by me, and put great boldness of spirit

within me, even as in the day when we loosed the shining

coronal of Troy. If but thou wouldest stand by me with such

eagerness, thou grey-eyed goddess, I would war even with

three hundred men, with thee my lady and goddess, if thou

of thy grace didst succour me the while.'

Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him: 'Yea,

verily I will be near thee nor will I forget thee,

whensoever we come to this toil: and methinks that certain

of the wooers that devour thy livelihood shall bespatter

the boundless earth with blood and brains. But come, I will

make thee such-like that no man shall know thee. Thy fair

skin I will wither on thy supple limbs, and make waste thy

yellow hair from off thy head, and wrap thee in a foul

garment, such that one would shudder to see a man therein.

And I will dim thy two eyes, erewhile so fair, in such wise

that thou mayest be unseemly in the sight of all the wooers

and of thy wife and son, whom thou didst leave in thy

halls. And do thou thyself first of all go unto the

swineherd, who tends thy swine, loyal and at one with thee,

and loves thy son and constant Penelope. Him shalt thou

find sitting by the swine, as they are feeding near the

rock of Corax and the spring Arethusa, and there they eat

abundance of acorns and drink the black water, things

whereby swine grow fat and well-liking. There do thou abide

and sit by the swine, and find out all, till I have gone to

Sparta, the land of fair women, to call Telemachus thy dear

son, Odysseus, who hath betaken himself to spacious

Lacedaemon, to the house of Menelaus to seek tidings of

thee, whether haply thou are yet alive.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Nay,

wherefore then didst thou not tell him, seeing thou hast

knowledge of all? Was it, perchance, that he too may wander

in sorrow over the unharvested seas, and that others may

consume his livelihood?'

Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him: 'Nay, let

him not be heavy on thy heart. I myself was his guide, that

by going thither he might win a good report. Lo, he knows

no toil, but he sits in peace in the palace of the son of

Atreus, and has boundless store about him. Truly the young

men with their black ship they lie in wait, and are eager

to slay him ere he come to his own country. But this,

methinks, shall never be. Yea, sooner shall the earth close

over certain of the wooers that devour thy livelihood.'

Therewith Athene touched him with her wand. His fair flesh

she withered on his supple limbs, and made waste his yellow

hair from off his head, and over all his limbs she cast the

skin of an old man, and dimmed his two eyes, erewhile so

fair. And she changed his raiment to a vile wrap and a

doublet, torn garments and filthy, stained with foul smoke.

And over all she clad him with the great bald hide of a

swift stag, and she gave him a staff and a mean tattered

scrip, and a cord therewith to hang it.

And after they twain had taken this counsel together, they

parted; and she now went to goodly Lacedaemon to fetch the

son of Odysseus.

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