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So Pallas spake, Goddess cærulean-eyed,

And o'er the untillable and barren Deep

Departing, Scheria left, land of delight,

Whence reaching Marathon, and Athens next,

She pass'd into Erectheus' fair abode.

Ulysses, then, toward the palace moved

Of King Alcinoüs, but immersed in thought

Stood, first, and paused, ere with his foot he press'd

The brazen threshold; for a light he saw

100

As of the sun or moon illuming clear

The palace of Phæacia's mighty King.

Walls plated bright with brass, on either side

Stretch'd from the portal to the interior house,

With azure cornice crown'd; the doors were gold

105

Which shut the palace fast; silver the posts

Rear'd on a brazen threshold, and above,

The lintels, silver, architraved with gold.

Mastiffs, in gold and silver, lined the approach

On either side, by art celestial framed

110

Of Vulcan, guardians of Alcinoüs gate

For ever, unobnoxious to decay.

Sheer from the threshold to the inner house

Fixt thrones the walls, through all their length, adorn'd,

With mantles overspread of subtlest warp

115

Transparent, work of many a female hand.

On these the princes of Phæacia sat,

Holding perpetual feasts, while golden youths

On all the sumptuous altars stood, their hands

With burning torches charged, which, night by night,

120

Shed radiance over all the festive throng.

Full fifty female menials served the King

In household offices; the rapid mills

These turning, pulverize the mellow'd grain,

Those, seated orderly, the purple fleece

125

Wind off, or ply the loom, restless as leaves

Of lofty poplars fluttering in the breeze;

Odyssey. Homer. ed. Robert Southey. London. 1837.

Current edition Experimental

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) (English) (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὀδύσσεια Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 7.77 focus

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,

ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,

δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ

ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.

χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·

χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·

σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,

ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,

οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι

δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.

ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι

λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.

ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο

πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν

100

ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,

φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.

πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες

αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,

αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν

105

ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·

καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.

Translations (8)

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 7.77 focus

So saying, flashing-eyed Athena departed over the unresting sea, and left lovely Scheria . 80 She came to Marathon and broad-wayed Athens , and entered the well-built house of Erectheus; but Odysseus went to the glorious palace of Alcinous. There he stood, and his heart pondered much before he reached the threshold of bronze; for there was a gleam as of sun or moon 85 over the high-roofed house of great-hearted Alcinous. Of bronze were the walls that stretched this way and that from the threshold to the innermost chamber, and around was a cornice of cyanus.¹ Golden were the doors that shut in the well-built house, and doorposts of silver were set in a threshold of bronze. 90 Of silver was the lintel above, and of gold the handle. On either side of the door there stood gold and silver dogs, which Hephaestus had fashioned with cunning skill to guard the palace of great-hearted Alcinous; immortal were they and ageless all their days.² 95 Within, seats were fixed along the wall on either hand, from the threshold to the innermost chamber, and on them were thrown robes of soft fabric, cunningly woven, the handiwork of women. On these the leaders of the Phaeacians were wont to sit drinking and eating, for they had unfailing store. 100 And golden youths stood on well-built pedestals, holding lighted torches in their hands to give light by night to the banqueters in the hall. And fifty slave-women he had in the house, of whom some grind the yellow grain on the millstone, 105 and others weave webs, or, as they sit, twirl the yarn, like unto the leaves³ of a tall poplar tree; and from the closely-woven linen the soft olive oil drips down.⁴

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey: rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. Revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. London: A.C. Fifield, 1900.) — 7.78 focus

78 Then Athena left Scheria and went away over the sea. She went to Marathon and to the spacious streets of Athens , where she entered the abode of Erechtheus; but Odysseus went on to the house of Alkinoos, and he pondered much as he paused a while before reaching the threshold of bronze, for the splendor of the palace was like that of the sun or moon. The walls on either side were of bronze from end to end, and the cornice was of blue enamel. The doors were gold, and hung on pillars of silver that rose from a floor of bronze, while the lintel was silver and the hook of the door was of gold.

91 On either side there stood gold and silver mastiffs which Hephaistos, with his consummate skill, had fashioned expressly to keep watch over the palace of king Alkinoos; so they were immortal and could never grow old. Seats were ranged all along the wall, here and there from one end to the other, with coverings of fine woven work which the women of the house had made. Here the chief persons of the Phaeacians used to sit and eat and drink, for there was abundance at all seasons; and there were golden figures of young men with lighted torches in their hands, raised on pedestals, to give light by night to those who were at table. There are fifty maid servants in the house, some of whom are always grinding rich yellow grain at the mill, while others work at the loom, or sit and spin, and their shuttles go, backwards and forwards like the fluttering of aspen leaves, while the linen is so closely woven that it will turn oil. As the Phaeacians are the best sailors in the world, so their women excel all others in weaving, for Athena has taught them all manner of useful arts, and they are very intelligent.

112 Outside the gate of the outer court there is a large garden of about four acres with a wall all round it. It is full of beautiful trees - pears, pomegranates, and the most delicious apples. There are luscious figs also, and olives in full growth. The fruits never rot nor fail all the year round, neither winter nor summer, for the air is so soft that a new crop ripens before the old has dropped. Pear grows on pear, apple on apple, and fig on fig, and so also with the grapes, for there is an excellent vineyard: on the level ground of a part of this, the grapes are being made into raisins; in another part they are being gathered; some are being trodden in the wine tubs, others further on have shed their blossom and are beginning to show fruit, others again are just changing color. In the furthest part of the ground there are beautifully arranged beds of flowers that are in bloom all the year round. Two streams go through it, the one turned in ducts throughout the whole garden, while the other is carried under the ground of the outer court to the house itself, and the town's people draw water from it. Such, then, were the splendors with which the gods had endowed the house of king Alkinoos.

133 So here Odysseus stood for a while and looked about him, but when he had looked long enough he crossed the threshold and went within the precincts of the house. There he found all the chief people among the Phaeacians making their drink-offerings to Hermes, which they always did the last thing before going away for the night. He went straight through the court, still hidden by the cloak of darkness in which Athena had enveloped him, till he reached Arete and King Alkinoos; then he laid his hands upon the knees of the queen, and at that moment the miraculous darkness fell away from him and he became visible. Every one was speechless with surprise at seeing a man there, but Odysseus began at once with his petition.

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 7.77 focus

Speaking thus, Athena [ Athēnē], with the looks of an owl, went off 79 over the barren sea, leaving behind lovely Skheria. [80] She came to Marathon and to Athens [ Athēnē], with its wide causeways, 81 and she entered the well-built house of Erekhtheus. But Odysseus 82 went toward the renowned house of Alkinoos, and he pondered much as he paused a while before reaching the threshold of bronze. 84 There was a gleam [ aiglē] there, which was like the gleam of the sun or the moon, [85] spreading throughout that palace famed for its high ceilings, that home of great-hearted Alkinoos. 86 There were walls made of bronze [ khalkeoi], along either side 87 stretching all the way from the threshold to the inner chamber, and all around the walls was a frieze of blue. 88 Doors made of gold closed off the sturdy building on the inside, 89 and posts made of silver were set in place into the threshold made of bronze [ khalkeos oudos]. [90] Silver was the lintel, and golden was the handle of the door.

On either side there stood gold and silver mastiffs which Hephaistos, with his consummate skill, had fashioned expressly to keep watch over the palace of great-hearted king Alkinoos; so they were immortal and could never grow old. [95] Seats were ranged all along the wall, here and there from one end to the other, with coverings of fine woven work which the women of the house had made. Here the chief persons of the Phaeacians used to sit and eat and drink, for there was abundance at all seasons; [100] and there were golden figures of young men with lighted torches in their hands, raised on pedestals, to give light by night to those who were at table. There are fifty maid servants in the house, some of whom are always grinding rich yellow grain at the mill, [105] while others work at the loom, or sit and spin, and their shuttles go, backwards and forwards like the fluttering of aspen leaves, while the linen is so closely woven that it will turn oil.

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 7.77 focus

The blue-eyed Pallas, having spoken thus,

Departed o'er the barren deep. She left

The pleasant isle of Scheria, and repaired

To Marathon and to the spacious streets

Of Athens, entering there the massive halls

Where dwelt Erectheus, while Ulysses toward

The gorgeous palace of Alcinoüs turned

His steps, yet stopped and pondered ere he crossed

The threshold. For on every side beneath

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The lofty roof of that magnanimous king

A glory shone as of the sun or moon.

There from the threshold, on each side, were walls

Of brass that led towards the inner rooms,

With blue steel cornices. The doors within

105

The massive building were of gold, and posts

Of silver on the brazen threshold stood,

And silver was the lintel, and above

Its architrave was gold; and on each side

Stood gold and silver mastiffs, the rare work

110

Of Vulcan's practised skill, placed there to guard

The house of great Alcinoüs, and endowed

With deathless life, that knows no touch of age.

Along the walls within, on either side,

And from the threshold to the inner rooms,

115

Were firmly planted thrones on which were laid

Delicate mantles, woven by the hands

Of women. The Phæacian princes here

Were seated; here they ate and drank, and held

Perpetual banquet. Slender forms of boys

120

In gold upon the shapely altars stood,

With blazing torches in their hands to light

At eve the palace guests; while fifty maids

Waited within the halls, where some in querns

Ground small the yellow grain; some wove the web

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Or twirled the spindle, sitting, with a quick

Light motion, like the aspen's glancing leaves.

The well-wrought tissues glistened as with oil.

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 7.77 focus

With that the goddess deign'd no longer stay,

But o'er the world of waters wing'd her way:

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Forsaking Scheria's ever-pleasing shore,

The winds to Marathon the virgin bore:

Thence, where proud Athens rears her towery head,

With opening streets and shining structures spread,

She pass'd, delighted with the well-known seats;

105

And to Erectheus' sacred dome retreats.

Meanwhile Ulysses at the palace waits,

There stops, and anxious with his soul debates,

Fix'd in amaze before the royal gates.

The front appear'd with radiant splendours gay,

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Bright as the lamp of night, or orb of day.

The walls were massy brass: the cornice high

Blue metals crown'd in colours of the sky;

Rich plates of gold the folding doors incase;

The pillars silver, on a brazen base;

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Silver the lintels deep-projecting o'er,

And gold, the ringlets that command the door.

Two rows of stately dogs on either hand,

In sculptur'd gold and labour'd silver stand.

These Vulcan form'd with art divine, to wait

120

Immortal guardians at Alcinoüs' gate;

Alive each animated frame appears,

And still to live beyond the power of years.

Fair thrones within from space to space were rais'd,

Where various carpets with embroidery blaz'd,

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The work of matrons: these the princes press'd,

Day following day, a long continued feast.

Refulgent pedestals the walls surround,

Which boys of gold with flaming torches crown'd;

The polish'd ore, reflecting every ray,

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Blaz'd on the banquets with a double day.

Full fifty handmaids form the household train;

Some turn the mill, or sift the golden grain;

Some ply the loom; their busy fingers move

Like poplar-leaves when Zephyr fans the grove.

135

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 7.77 focus

Then Pallas said, Alcinous' house is that.

There sup the king and queen now merrily.

Though you a stranger be, fear not, go in;

The bold than fearful always better speed.

And first of all the house you'll find the queen,

Arete is her name. Both from one seed

Descended are she and Alcinous,

In Perrhaea, child of Eurimedon.

The God o' th' seas begot Nausithous

Who two sons had ; Alcinous was one,

The other was Rexenor, who no son

But one fair daughter only left behind.

Arete was her name. Besides her none.

.Alcinous and she in wedlock join'd;

And he to her so much respect doth bear,

As no man living to a wife bears more,

And honour'd is by all her children dear.

The people like a Goddess her adore,

And bless her when she comes into the street;

And loving to them all is also she,

For a wise woman is she and discreet.

When they fall out she makes them to agree.

If you her favour can but once obtain.

You need not fear but you your friends shall see.

And safely to your country come again.

And when she this had said, away went she

O'er sea to Marathon in Attica,

T* Erectheus' house. And he now was to enter

Into the house. But long he laid the law

Unto himself before he would adventure.

Ent'ring he saw the walls lin'd round with brass,

And fring'd about with colour of the sky.

The door within golden all over was,

And all appear'd like heaven to the eye.

The door-posts silver, glorious to behold,

The lintle-tree upon them silver too;

The sill was brass, the ring to pull it, gold.

And by the door great dogs were standing two,

Of silver one. the other was of gold,

As watch before the royal gate to stay,

Immortal dogs that never can grow old.

And round about them all, thrones ev'ry way,

All cover'd with a dainty stuff and fine,

The work of women's hand. There us'd to eat

The king and lords, and drink and make good cheer.

His riches was a never-dying teat.

About the altar were set boys of gold,

That to the guests, as soon as it was night,

With burning torches they the light might hold;

For now the sun had borne away his light.

Fifty maid-servants were at work within.

Some at the mill were grinding wheat for bread,

And others with their distaffs sat to spin,

And others cloth were weaving with the thread;

Like to the leaves of a high aspen tree

Their fingers went. So much they did excel

In all the works, that taught by Pallas be,

The women that in other places dwell;

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As do these men all other men surpass

In all things that belong to navigation;

For wit and art more Pallas given has

To them, than women of another nation.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 7.77 focus

This said, away the grey-eyed Goddess flew

105

Along th' untamed sea, left the lovely hue

Scheria presented, out flew Marathon,

And ample-streeted Athens lighted on ;

Where to the house, that casts so thick a shade,

Of Erectheus she ingression made.

110

Ulysses to the lofty-builded court

Of king Alcinous made bold resort ;

Yet in his heart cast many a thought, before

The brazen pavement of the rich court bore

His enter'd person. Like heaven's two main lights,

115

The rooms illustrated both days and nights.

On every side stood firm a wall of brass,

Even from the threshold to the inmost pass,

Which bore a roof up that all sapphire was.

The brazen thresholds both sides did enfold

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Silver pilasters, hung with gates of gold;

Whose portal was of silver; over which

A golden cornice did the front enrich.

On each side, dogs, of gold and silver framed,

The house's guard stood; which the Deity lamed

125

With knowing inwards had inspired, and made

That death nor age should their estates invade.

Along the wall stood every way a throne,

From th' entry to the lobby, every one

Cast over with a rich-wrought cloth of state.

130

Beneath which the Phæacian princes sate

At wine and food, and feasted all the year.

Youths forged of gold, at every table there,

Stood holding flaming torches, that, in night,

Give through the house each honour'd guest his light.

135

And, to encounter feast with housewifery,

In one room fifty women did apply

Their several tasks. Some apple-colour'd corn

Ground in fair querns, and some did spindles turn,

Some work in looms; no hand least rest receives,

140

But all had motion, apt as aspen leaves.

And from the weeds they wove, so fast they laid,

And so thick thrust together thread by thread,

That th' oil, of which the wool had drunk his fill,

Did with his moisture in light dews distill.

145

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 7 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK VII

THERE as he rested and prayed, long-suffering godlike Odysseus,

Unto the city the two mules sturdily carried the maiden,

Till, when at last she was come to the far-famed house of her father,

Under the portal she halted, and round her collected her brothers,

Like to immortals; and soon they began from the yoke of the wagon

Both of the mules to unloose, and to bear to the palace the garments.

Then did she pass to her chamber, and quickly the hearth was a-blazing,

Lit by the aged Apeiran attendant, Eurymedusa.

Her did the twy-beaked ships once bring from the land of Apeira;

Then as a prize was she given to Alcinous, who as monarch

All Phæacia ruled; yea, e'en as a god they obeyed him.

Ever on white-armed Nausicaa did she wait as attendant.

Now too kindled she fire and prepared in the chamber the supper.

Then did Odysseus uprouse him to enter the town; and Athene

Poured thick darkness around him for ever she favoured the hero—

Lest Phaeacian men high-tempered, meeting a stranger,

Haply with insolent words might ask him his name and his country.

Now, when at length he was wishing to enter the beautiful city,

Nigh to the gate there met him the grey-eyed goddess Athene,

Likened in form to a maiden, a girl that was bearing a pitcher.

Right in his path she was standing, and godlike Odysseus addressed her :

"Wouldst thou conduct me, my child, on my way to the house of the hero

Alcinous, who they say is the monarch of all of this people?

I am a wayworn stranger, and hither am come from a country

Far, far over the ocean; and therefore none do I know here,

None of the folk that inhabit the town or that work in the corn-lands."

Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene :

"Yea, Sir stranger, the house to the which thou hast bidden me guide thee

Gladly I'll show it, for near to my honoured father he liveth.

Come!—but in silence as much as thou canst! I will hasten before thee.

See that thou starest at none, nor puttest to any a question,

Since Phaeacians cannot away with an alien stranger,

Nor do they welcome and kindly receive who comes from a distance.

Ay but they travel! They cross, on their swift ships proudly reliant,

Even the sea's great gulf. 'Tis a boon they obtain from Poseidon.

Yea and as swift as a bird or a thought is the speed of their vessels."

These words uttered, at once moved onward Pallas Athene,

Hastily leading the way, and he followed the steps of the goddess.

Neither did any him note of the famed Phaeacian sea-folk

Passing the town in the midst of them all, for Athena the fair-tressed

Suffered it not, dread goddess, around him outpouring a darkness

Wonderful, mystic—for dear to her heart was the godlike Odysseus.

Marvelling much did he notice the well-built ships and the havens,

Squares for the meetings of men, and the long-drawn line of the ramparts

Lofty and all at the top palisaded—a wonder to gaze at.

Then, when at last they arrived at the chieftain's glorious mansion,

Thus she began to address him, the grey-eyed goddess Athene:

"Look, Sir stranger! for here is the house to the which thou hast bid me

Show thee the way. Thou'lt find these princes, the children of heaven,

Feasting at banquets; but enter thou boldly, nor feel in thy spirit

Fearful—for ever the man who in spirit is bold and undaunted

Proveth the better in deeds, ay, e'en if he comes from a distance.

First, in the banqueting-hall thou'lt light on the queen of the palace.

Arété is the name she is called, and she cometh of parents

E'en of the selfsame stock whence Alcinous is descended.

First came Nausithous, to the King Earth-shaking Poseidon

Born of the fair Periboea—of earth-born women the fairest —

Youngest of all of the daughters of Eurymedon great-hearted.

(He once reigned as the king of the arrogant nation of Giants;

Ay but infatuate perished the people and perished the Ruler.)

So Periboea conceived, and she bare to Poseidon an offspring,

Nausithous great-souled, who ruled Phaeacia's people.

Nausithous was the father of Alcinous and a brother

Rhexénor, who, still new-wedded, was slain by Apollo,

Lord of the silvern bow; nor left he an heir, but a daughter

Arété, whom Alcinous then took for a consort.

Her hath he honoured as surely on earth no other is honoured,

None of the wives who in these our days keep house for their husbands.

Heartily thus was she ever respected and still is respected,

Both by the Ruler himself and by all of her children belovéd,

Ay and the people; for all as a goddess regard her and greet her

Ever with reverent words when she walketh abroad in the city.

Yea and truly she lacks not at all of a good understanding;

Those she befriends, nay even the men, their quarrels she endeth.

Shouldst thou be able to gain of the lady her heart and her favour,

Then good hope will be thine to revisit thy friends, and in safety

Win to thy high-roofed home once more, and the land of thy fathers."

“NIGH ΤΟ THE GATE THERE MET HIM
THE GREY-EYED GODDESS ATHENE"
PATTEN WILSON

These words uttered, departing the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Over the wastes of the sea from the fair Phaeacian island

Marathon reached, and winning the wide-wayed city of Athens

Entered the strong-built fane of Erechtheus. Then did Odysseus

Wend on his way to the house of the king; and he pondered in spirit,

Ofttimes staying his steps ere reaching the bronze-wrought threshold.

For as the sheen of the sun or the moon, there floated a glory

Over the high-roofed palace of Alcinous great-hearted.

Brazen the walls, which ran from the threshold on this and on that side

Round to the innermost rooms; and above was a cornice of cyan.

Golden the portal within that the well-built mansion defended;

Silver the posts of the door, set fast in the bronze of the threshold;

Silver the lintel that rested upon them, and golden the handle.

Dogs each side of the porch were standing, of gold and of silver.

These Hephaestus himself had devised with his cunning invention,

Watchers to watch at the palace of Alcinous great-hearted;

There did they watch all deathless and ageless for ever and ever.

Close to the inside wall stood seats that on this and on that side

Reached to the innermost rooms from the threshold, and broidery o'er them,

Delicate, finely inwoven, was lying, the work of the women.

Here Phaeacian chiefs were oft to be seen at a banquet

Eating and drinking—for ever they found an unfailing abundance.

Here too, fashioned in gold and on fair-built bases of marble,

100

Youths were standing and holding uplifted radiant torches,

Lighting the gloom of the night in the halls of the house for the feasters.

Two score women and ten had the monarch as thralls in the palace,

Some that the yellow fruit of the corn-lands grind on a millstone,

Others that weave at the loom, and at twisting the wool with a spindle

105

Seated; but ever they move as the leaves of a high-branched poplar,

Weaving a linen so fine that the oil flows easily off it.

Yea, as the men far more are skilful than others of mortals

Swiftly to drive their ship in the waves, thus also the women

Others excel at the loom; for to them vouchsafeth Athene

110

Deftness in exquisite work and wisdom in cunning invention.

Outside, nigh to the gate of the court there lieth an orchard

Large as a field four-acred, enclosed all round by a fencing.

Here stands many a tree and in tall luxuriance bloometh ;

Pears are here, and pomegranates, and apples with glittering fruitage;

115

Figs with a rich sweet harvest and blossoming thickets of olives.

Here doth the fruit of the trees ne'er perish or fail in the bearing,

Winter and summer alike perpetual. Ever the West Wind

Bringeth the one to the birth with its breath and ripens the other.

Pear upon pear matureth with age and apple on apple,

120

Fig upon fig, and the grape grows, ripening cluster by cluster.

Here too, laden with fruit, stands planted a flourishing vineyard.

Part is a place for the drying—a levelled space in the open,

Parched by the heat of the sun; in another they gather the bunches,

Tread in another the vat; and in front hang berries unripened,

125

Casting the flower, but the rest is already beginning to purple.

Skirting the outermost row are beds of an orderly garden

Planted with many a herb and bright with perennial verdure.

Here two freshets of water arise: one over the garden

Scatters its streams, while under the courtyard threshold the other

130

Shoots to the high-roofed house and a fount whence draweth the townsman,

Such in the palace of Alcinous was the bounty of heaven.

There did he wondering stand, long-suffering godlike Odysseus.

Then, when at last he had gazed and had marvelled at all in his spirit,

Hastily over the threshold he stepped and entered the palace.

135

Here at the banquet he found Phaeacian leaders and nobles

Pouring a cup to the keen-eyed Hermes, the Slayer of Argus,

Whose is the last libation when men are thinking of slumber.

Up thro' the banqueting-hall long-suffering godlike Odysseus,

Having around him the cloud that was shed by the goddess Athene,

140

Went till he came to the queen and the great Phaeacian monarch.

Then, as he bent embracing her knees with his hands in entreaty,

Sudden the wonderful cloud rolled back, and it melted from off him,

While that the banqueters gazed all silent, beholding a man there,

Gazed as astounded; and thus did Odysseus begin his entreaty :

145

"Arete, O, daughter of King Rhexenor, the godlike,

Lo, to thy lord and thy knees I am come, outworn with my labours,

Yea and to all of thy guests. — May the gods all happiness grant them

While they shall live, and dying may each one leave to his children

House and domain and all of the honours bestowed by the people.

150

Nay but vouchsafe me an escort and aid my return to my homeland

Soon! for afar from my friends long years have I suffered affliction."

Thus did he speak, and he sat him adown by the hearth in the ashes

Close to the fire; and they all kept silent in speechless amazement.

Then at the last out-spake that hero, the old Echeneus ;—

155

Foremost in age was the hero of all Phaeacian nobles,

Foremost in speech, and sage in the wisdom of past generations.

Thus with a kindly intent he uplifted his voice and addressed them:

"Alcinous, this surely is nowise right nor is seemly.

Here is a stranger that sits on the ground by the hearth in the ashes,

160

While expecting thy word each one of us waits and is silent.

Nay now, bid him arise, and a chair bright-studded with silver

Offer the stranger to seat him therein; and say to the henchmen

One more bumper to mix, and to Zeus who delighteth in thunder

Pour we libation; for he all suppliants follows with pity;

165

Then let the house-dame bring from her stores for the stranger a supper."

Straightway Alcinous, the revered and powerful monarch,

Hearing it, took by the hand wise-hearted and wileful Odysseus.

Raising him up from the hearth in a chair bright-studded he placed him,

Bidding his son to arise and vacate it, the youthful and manly

170

Laodamas, who next to him sat, and of all was the dearest.

Water for washing of hands by a maiden was brought in an ewer

Beautiful, golden, and over a basin of silver she poured it,

Bidding him wash; and she stationed a polished table beside him.

Then did the grave house-dame bring bread, and she laid it before him,

175

Lavishly adding thereto from her stores full many a dainty.

So he did eat and drink, long-suffering godlike Odysseus.

Meanwhile Alcinous the redoubtable called to his henchman:

"Pontonous, come, mix strong wine and serve us a bumper,

Plenty for all of the guests, and to Zeus who delighteth in thunder

180

Pour we libation; for he all suppliants follows with pity."

Thus did he speak, and a wine honey-hearted was mixed by the henchman;

So to the guests he dispensed, first filling the cups for libation.

Now when at last they had poured and had drunk to their souls' satisfaction,

Then spake Alcinous to the feasters, and thus he addressed them:

185

"Hearken, I pray, to my words, Phaeacian leaders and nobles!

Listen, for now I shall utter a thing that my spirit commands me!

Ended to-day is the feast. Go home and betake you to slumber.

Early the morn, still more of the elders assembled together

Here in the hall, we shall give to the stranger a feast, and to heaven

190

Noble oblations, and then of the escort shall duly bethink us,

Planning it so that the stranger without more toil and affliction

Under an escort of ours once more to the land of his fathers

Safely and swiftly shall come—yea though right far be his country;

Nor on the way meanwhile shall he evil and injury suffer,

195

Ere on his native soil he is landed; but then and thereafter

Suffer he must what is fated and doomed—what the terrible Spinners

Spun with the thread at his birth, when he came from the womb of his mother.

Be he however immortal, a being from heaven descended,

Then is a god some novel device unfolding around us,

200

Seeing that even till now they approached us in manifest vision,

Coming whenever of cattle we made some splendid oblation,

Feasting among us and e'en at the side of us sitting at table;

Yea and besides, if it chanced that a lonesome wanderer met them,

Never disguise did they use; for the race is akin to immortals,

205

Like the Cyclopian nation and lawless tribes of the Giants."

Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:

"Alcinous, such thought be afar! since verily nowise

Like to the gods everlasting who dwell in the infinite heaven

Either in form or in favour am I, but to men that be mortal;

210

Yea and the men that ye know of with grief most heavily laden

These be the mortals to whom I can liken myself in affliction.

More, far more can I tell of the story of woe that fell me,

How by the will of the gods full many a hardship I suffered;

Natheless, leave me in silence to sup, though heavy my heart be,

215

Seeing that nought so shameless a thing as a ravening belly

E'er can be found; for it forceth a mortal to give it attention,

Though outwearied with toils and his heart o'erladen with sorrow.

Thus is my heart o'erladen with sorrow, but still doth the stomach

Bid me to eat and to drink, and all of the ills that I suffered

220

Wholly it makes me forget, and to feast to my fill it commands me.

Leave me, I pray—but arousing yourselves when the morning appeareth

Help me unfortunate back once more to the land of my fathers.

There shall my sufferings end—and my life would willingly end too,

After my home I have seen and my thralls and my high-roofed mansion."

225

Thus when he spake all gave him approval and made resolution

Homeward the stranger to help, since duly and well he had spoken.

So, when at last they had poured, and had drunk to their souls' satisfaction,

All of the feasters departed to sleep, each one to his homestead,

Leaving the godlike Odysseus behind in the hall of the palace.

230

Here queen Arete and Alcinous great-hearted

Sat by his side till the gear of the feast was removed by the maidens.

White-armed Arete then began, and breaking the silence

Spake, for she wondering saw and remembered the mantle and doublet,

Beautiful garments whereat she had worked, both she and her maidens.

235

Opening therefore her lips these swift-winged words she addressed him:

"First, O stranger, I ask—yea even myself will demand it—

Whoartthou? Whence art thou come? Who gave thee the raiment thou wearest?

Didst thou not say that thou camest a wanderer over the ocean?"

Her then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:

240

"Grievous it were, O queen, to relate thee the whole of my story,

All of the numberless woes that the gods celestial sent me.

Yet will I answer thy question and tell thee of all that thou askest.

Far hence over the ocean the isle Ogygia lieth,

Home of a daughter of Atlas, the guileful goddess Calypso,

245

Fair-tressed nymph of the sea—a divinity dreaded; for no one

Willingly seeketh her love, nor god nor man that is mortal.

Now, in my uttermost need, to her hearth some deity brought me

Sole—for my swift-winged ship with the blinding bolt of his thunder

Zeus in the midst of the wine-dark ocean had smitten and shattered;

250

There did the rest, yea all of my valiant shipmates perish.

Then with my arms to the keel of the twy-beaked vessel I clipt me.

Nine days long was I borne; on the tenth in the blackness of midnight

Nigh to the isle was I brought by the gods, where artful Calypso

Dwelleth—the fair-haired nymph, divinity dread, who received me,

255

Tenderly cherished and nourished me—yea and also she promised

Even to make me immortal and ageless for ever and ever;

Yet did she never persuade me nor soften the heart in my bosom.

Seven the years unbroken that here I remained, and for ever

Wetted with weeping my raiment, the magical gift of Calypso.

260

Now when the eighth year came with the slow revolution of seasons,

Then did she bid me depart, yea urged me to haste my departure,

Moved by a message from Zeus, or her mind its purpose had altered.

So on a firm-lashed raft did she launch me, and found me in plenty,

Bread and wine honey-sweet; and she clothed me in magic apparel;

265

Then did she send me a favouring breeze, both gentle and kindly.

Seven and ten long days did I voyage the waste of the waters,

Till, on the eighteenth day, I beheld far shadowy mountains,

These of this country of yours and the spirit within me exulted.

Ah ill-fated! for verily still I was doomed to acquaint me

270

Often with grief—such woes did he send, Earth-shaking Poseidon,

Raising against me the winds and staying my path on the ocean ;

Yea and a monstrous sea he aroused, nor longer the billows

Suffered me still with the groans of despair to remain on the vessel.

Her did a storm-blast shatter and scatter. I plunged in the ocean,

275

Swimming, and mighty the gulf I had cloven, when near to the dry land,

Yea, to this country of yours, I was brought by the wind and the rollers.

Here, if to land I had ventured, the surge on the shore had o'erwhelmed me,

Hurling me onto the terrible rocks of a desolate region;

Hastily therefore retreating I swam, till I came in my swimming

280

Unto to a river, and here, as it seemed, was the place for a landing;

Smooth was the rockless beach and withal from the wind was a covert.

Landing I fell, and I lay collecting my senses; and o'er me

Gathered ambrosial night; then afar from the rain-fed river

Climbing I laid me to sleep in the thick of the bushes, around me

285

Pouring the leaves; and a god shed over me infinite slumber.

Here in the leaves, to my inmost heart fordone with my labours,

Soundly the livelong night did I sleep, till the dawn and till midday;

Yea, when already was sinking the sun sweet slumber released me.

Then did I see by the ocean thy daughter's maiden attendants

290

Sporting, and she in the midst of them all seemed like to a goddess.

Her I entreated for pity, nor failed she of good understanding;

Ay and thou wouldst not expect of a youthful person that meets thee

Thus to behave, since ever the young are wont to be thoughtless.

Freely she gave me of bread and of glittering wine in abundance,

295

Bade me to bathe in the river, and then these garments she gave me.

Lo, I have spoken—and, much as it pains me, the truth I have uttered."

Then King Alcinous made answer, and thus he addressed him:

"Stranger, herein forsooth did a due and a right understanding

Fail in my child, that she guided thee not with the women, her handmaids,

300

Hither to this our house; for to her first mad'st thou entreaty."

Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:

"Hero! for this, I beseech thee, upbraid not the excellent maiden,

Seeing she bade me indeed with the women attendants to follow ;

I was unwilling myself, since truly I feared, and it shamed me

305

Lest peradventure the sight might darken with anger thy spirit.

Terribly jealous we seem, all earth-born races of mortals."

Then King Alcinous made answer, and thus he addressed him :

"Stranger, in sooth not such is the heart in the bosom within me

Wantonly thus to be wroth. Fair measure is better in all things.

310

Ay and by Father Zeus, by Athena and Phoebus Apollo,

Would that a man like thee, who art minded, meseemeth, as I be,

Taking my daughter to wife might will as my son to content him

Here to remain! I am ready to give both cattle and homestead

Shouldst thou consent to remain—though none shall compel thee unwilling,

315

No Phaeacian—Zeus our Father in heaven forbid it!

Nay, to assure thee of this, will I straightway order the escort

Now for the morrow; and while with a drowsiness thou overmastered

Liest asleep, they, sweeping the calm of the ocean, shall bear thee

Unto thy land and thy home, or whither thy soul desireth,

320

Ay though farther by far it is distant than even Euboea,

Land that of all lies farthest—so say those men that beheld it,

Those of this people of mine who once fair-haired Rhadamanthys

Thither conveyed, Tityos, huge offspring of Gaia, to visit.

Thither they came and the journey without all labour accomplished

325

E'en on the selfsame day and finished the voyaging homeward.

Thus of thyself thou'lt learn that my ships all others outrival,

Ay and my youths all others at tossing the brine with the oar-blade."

So did he speak, and for joy long-suffering godlike Odysseus

Offered to heaven a prayer and uttered aloud his entreaty :

330

"Father Zeus, I beseech thee that all he hath said shall accomplish

Alcinous, since thus on the earth, dear mother of harvests,

Ne'er shall his glory be dimmed, and again I shall come to my homeland."

So these twain held converse together the one with the other.

White-armed Arete meantime commanded her maidens

335

Setting a bedstead under the porch fair blankets upon it

Purple in colour to cast, and over them coverlets spreading,

Mantles of wool moreover to lay enwrapping them warmly.

So from the hall went quickly the handmaids carrying torches.

Then, when a thick soft bed they had strown, all busily toiling,

340

Unto Odysseus they came, and thus exhorting addressed him :

"Up now, stranger! Thy bed is prepared. Go, lay thee to slumber."

Thus did they speak, and a thing right welcome it seemed to repose him.

There then slumbering lay long-suffering godlike Odysseus

Under the echoing porch on a bedstead of beautiful carvings.

345

Alcinous too slept in the innermost room of the palace,

Where at his side was arrayed by his lady her bedding and bedstead.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

Odysseus arrives at the palace and garden of Alkinoos (Alcinous), king of the Phaeacians, whose island was equated in ancient times with Kerkyra/Corcyra, the modern Corfù.

draft js image error View of Garitsa, region right outside the northern walls of the city of Corfu, and according to the legend the site of Alcinous’s gardens (1867). Étienne Rey (French, 1789–1867). Image via the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation.

Following the instructions of Nausicaa, Odysseus approaches the palace of her father Alkinoos (latinized as Alcinous), king of the Phaeacians. This palace and the adjacent garden of Alkinoos are not only enchanting but even enchanted, as will be argued in the comments for Rhapsody 7 here. And, as we will see later in the comments for Rhapsody 13, the garden of Alkinoos was thought to have survived on the island of Kerkyra, known in Roman sources as Corcyra and in modern times as Corfù. In ancient times, the people of Kerkyra claimed that their island was in fact the fabled realm of the Phaeacians.

source

The palace of Alkinoos, described at O.07.081–111, is comparable to the heavenly residence of Menelaos. See the comment at O.04.043–075. I now argue here that the garden of Alkinoos, described at O.07.112–132, is likewise presented as a heavenly place. At O.07.103–130, where we see verses that overlap the descriptions of the palace and the garden, we find that the describing verbs avoid the past tense. The descriptions are restricted to the present tense. It has been argued that a textual interpolation has happened here (West 2000:480), on the grounds that Homeric diction does not use the present tense to indicate the past, and that only those aspects of the past that are viewed as permanent can be described in the present tense: examples include the chariot of Hērā, I.05.724–728; the abode of Poseidon under the sea at Aigai, I.13.021–022; the springs of the river Scamander, I.22.147–154; the harbor and cave of the Nymphs at Ithaca, O.13.096–112; and, most important for my argumentation here, the dwelling-place of the gods on Mount Olympus, O.06.043–046. Arguing against the theory of interpolation, I propose that not only the palace of Alkinoos but also his garden are modeled on an idealized and thus heavenly prototype. Both the palace and the garden are models of permanence. In the case of the palace, its permanence is actually made explicit in a reference at O.07.091–094 to golden and silver watchdogs that guard the palace and that are made to last forever by the divine smith Hephaistos. The aura of this beautiful place is not only enchanting but even enchanted. In terms of my argument, then, there is no need to posit (as does West 2000:483–486) a textual interpolation from an unattested passage that would have followed what is spoken by Nausicaa at O.06.255–303 with reference to the palace of Alkinoos and its environs. The present tenses that are used in descriptions of the palace and the garden at O.07.081–111 and 112–132 respectively are appropriate to the heavenly aura of the whole place.

source

Leonard Muellner

comment on the nature of the return expected when making a libation that can be either implicit and ordained by custom or made explicit verbally, with this verse as the only place where the addressee (Hermes) is explained

source

Homer Odyssey 7.77

ed. Robert Southey

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ODYSSEY BOOK VII

“NIGH ΤΟ THE GATE THERE MET HIM
THE GREY-EYED GODDESS ATHENE"
PATTEN WILSON

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ODYSSEY BOOK VII

“NIGH ΤΟ THE GATE THERE MET HIM THE GREY-EYED GODDESS ATHENE" PATTEN WILSON

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

“NIGH ΤΟ THE GATE THERE MET HIM
THE GREY-EYED GODDESS ATHENE"
PATTEN WILSON