Odyssey of Homer by Richmond Lattimore

Author:Richmond Lattimore
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780061760204
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2009-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

BOOK XIII

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence,

held in thrall by the story all through the shadowy chambers.

Then Alkinoös answered him in turn and said to him:

‘Odysseus, now that you have come to my house, bronze-founded

5 with the high roof, I think you will not lose your homecoming,

nor be driven back from it again, for all your sufferings.

Now I lay this charge upon each man of you, such as

here in my palace drink the gleaming wine of the princes

always at my side, and hear the song of the singer.

10 Clothing for our guest is stored away in the polished

chest, and intricately wrought gold, and all those other

gifts the Phaiakian men of counsel brought here to give him.

Come, let us man by man each one of us give a great tripod

and a caldron, and we will make it good to us by a collection

15 among the people. It is hard for a single man to be generous.’

So Alkinoös spoke, and his word pleased all the rest of them.

They all went home to go to bed, each one to his own house.

But when the young Dawn showed again with her rosy fingers,

they came in haste to the ship, and brought the lavish bronze with them,

20 and Alkinoös, the hallowed prince, himself going on board,

stowed it well away under the thwarts, so it would not hamper

any of the crew as they rowed with their oars and sent the ship speedily

on. Then all went to Alkinoös' house and made the feast ready.

Alkinoös, the hallowed prince, sacrificed an ox for them

Preparations for Odysseus' departure

25 to Zeus, dark-clouded son of Kronos, lord over all men.

They burned the thigh pieces and enjoyed feasting on the glorious

banquet, and among them Demodokos, the divine singer,

sang his songs and was prized by the people. But now Odysseus

turned his head again and again to look at the shining

30 sun, to hasten its going down, since he was now eager

to go; and as a man makes for his dinner, when all day

long his wine-colored oxen have dragged the compact plow for him

across the field, and the sun's setting is welcome for bringing

the time to go to his dinner, and as he goes his knees fail him;

35 thus welcome to Odysseus now was the sun going under.

Now he spoke aloud to the oar-loving Phaiakians,

addressing his words to Alkinoös beyond all others:

‘O great Alkinoös, pre-eminent among all people,

make libation and send me upon my way untroubled;

40 and yourselves fare well, for all my heart desired is now made

good, conveyance and loving gifts. May the sky gods make these

prosper for me. May I return to my house and find there

a blameless wife, and all who are dear to me unharmed. May you

in turn, remaining here, bring comfort and cheer to your wedded

45 wives and your children, and may the gods grant success in every

endeavor, and no unhappiness be found in your people.’

So he spoke, and they all approved his word and encouraged

convoy for the guest, for what he said was fair

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