The Odyssey (Penguin Classics) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Anthologies, Essays, Literature: Classics, Literary Collections, Poetry & poets, early & medieval, Poetry & poets: classical, letters & other prose works, journals, Works by individual poets: classical, Letters & Miscellaneous
ISBN: 9780140449952
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2010-02-20T18:00:00+00:00

And so to the king himself all Ithaca looked strange . . .

the winding beaten paths, the coves where ships can ride,

the steep rock face of the cliffs and the tall leafy trees.

He sprang to his feet and, scanning his own native country,

groaned, slapped his thighs with his flat palms

and Odysseus cried in anguish:

"Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now?

What are they here—violent, savage, lawless?

or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men?

Where can I take this heap of treasure now 230

and where in the world do I wander off myself?

If only the trove had stayed among the Phaeacians there

and I had made my way to some other mighty king

who would have hosted me well and sent me home!

But now I don't know where to stow all this,

and I can't leave it here, inviting any bandit

to rob me blind.

So damn those lords and captains, those Phaeacians! Not entirely honest or upright, were they? Sweeping me off to this, this no-man's-land, and they, they swore they'd sail me home to sunny Ithaca—well, 240

they never kept their word. Zeus of the Suppliants pay them back—he keeps an eye on the world of men and punishes all transgressors!

Come, quickly, I'll inspect my treasure and count it up myself. Did they make off with anything in their ship?"

With that he counted up the gorgeous tripods, cauldrons, bars of gold and the lovely woven robes. Not a stitch was missing from the lot. But still he wept for his native country, trailing down the shore where the wash of sea on shingle ebbs and flows, 250

his homesick heart in turmoil. But now Athena appeared and came toward him. She looked like a young man ... a shepherd boy yet elegant too, with all the gifts that grace the sons of kings, with a well-cut cloak falling in folds across her shoulders, sandals under her shining feet, a hunting spear in hand.

Odysseus, overjoyed at the sight, went up to meet her,

joining her now with salutations on the wing:

"Greetings, friend! Since you are the first

I've come on in this harbor, treat me kindly— 260

no cruelty, please. Save these treasures,

save me too. I pray to you like a god,

I fall before your knees and ask your mercy!

And tell me this for a fact—I need to know—

where on earth am I? what land? who lives here?

Is it one of the sunny islands or some jutting shore

of the good green mainland slanting down to sea?"

Athena answered, her eyes brightening now, "You must be a fool, stranger, or come from nowhere, if you really have to ask what land this is. 270

Trust me, it's not so nameless after all. It's known the world around, to all who live to the east and rising sun and to all who face the western mists and darkness. It's a rugged land, too cramped for driving horses, but though it's far from broad, it's hardly poor. There's plenty of grain for bread, grapes for wine, the rains never fail and the dewfall's healthy. Good country

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