Translation of: The Odyssey of Homer: Book VII

ARGUMENT     Nausicaa returns from the river, whom Ulysses follows. He halts, by her direction, at a small distance from the palace, which at a convenient time he enters. He is well received by Alcinos and his Queen; and having related to them the manner of his being cast on the shore of Scheria, and received from Alcinos the promise of safe conduct home, retires to rest.             Such pray'r Ulysses, toil-worn Chief renown'd,             To Pallas made, meantime the virgin, drawn             By her stout mules, Phacia's city reach'd,             And, at her father's house arrived, the car             Stay'd in the vestibule; her brothers five,             All godlike youths, assembling quick around,             Released the mules, and bore the raiment in.             Meantime, to her own chamber she return'd,             Where, soon as she arrived, an antient dame             Eurymedusa, by peculiar charge             Attendant on that service, kindled fire.             Sea-rovers her had from Epirus brought             Long since, and to Alcinos she had fall'n             By public gift, for that he ruled, supreme,             Phacia, and as oft as he harangued             The multitude, was rev'renced as a God.             She waited on the fair Nausicaa, she             Her fuel kindled, and her food prepared.             And now Ulysses from his seat arose             To seek the city, around whom, his guard             Benevolent, Minerva, cast a cloud,             Lest, haply, some Phacian should presume             T' insult the Chief, and question whence he came.             But ere he enter'd yet the pleasant town,             Minerva azure-eyed met him, in form             A blooming maid, bearing her pitcher forth.             She stood before him, and the noble Chief             Ulysses, of the Goddess thus enquired.                 Daughter! wilt thou direct me to the house             Of brave Alcinos, whom this land obeys?             For I have here arrived, after long toil,             And from a country far remote, a guest             To all who in Phacia dwell, unknown.                 To whom the Goddess of the azure-eyes.             The mansion of thy search, stranger revered!             Myself will shew thee; for not distant dwells             Alcinos from my father's own abode:             But hush! be silent--I will lead the way;             Mark no man; question no man; for the sight             Of strangers is unusual here, and cold             The welcome by this people shown to such.             They, trusting in swift ships, by the free grant             Of Neptune traverse his wide waters, borne             As if on wings, or with the speed of thought.                 So spake the Goddess, and with nimble pace             Led on, whose footsteps he, as quick, pursued.             But still the seaman-throng through whom he pass'd             Perceiv'd him not; Minerva, Goddess dread,             That sight forbidding them, whose eyes she dimm'd             With darkness shed miraculous around             Her fav'rite Chief. Ulysses, wond'ring, mark'd             Their port, their ships, their forum, the resort             Of Heroes, and their battlements sublime             Fenced with sharp stakes around, a glorious show!             But when the King's august abode he reach'd,             Minerva azure-eyed, then, thus began.                 My father! thou behold'st the house to which             Thou bad'st me lead thee. Thou shalt find our Chiefs             And high-born Princes banqueting within.             But enter fearing nought, for boldest men             Speed ever best, come whencesoe'er they may.             First thou shalt find the Queen, known by her name             Areta; lineal in descent from those             Who gave Alcinos birth, her royal spouse.             Neptune begat Nausithos, at the first,             On Periba, loveliest of her sex,             Latest-born daughter of Eurymedon,             Heroic King of the proud giant race,             Who, losing all his impious people, shared             The same dread fate himself. Her Neptune lov'd,             To whom she bore a son, the mighty prince             Nausithos, in his day King of the land.             Nausithos himself two sons begat,             Rhexenor and Alcinos. Phoebus slew             Rhexenor at his home, a bridegroom yet,             Who, father of no son, one daughter left,             Areta, wedded to Alcinos now,             And whom the Sov'reign in such honour holds,             As woman none enjoys of all on earth             Existing, subjects of an husband's pow'r.             Like veneration she from all receives             Unfeign'd, from her own children, from himself             Alcinos, and from all Phacia's race,             Who, gazing on her as she were divine,             Shout when she moves in progress through the town.             For she no wisdom wants, but sits, herself,             Arbitress of such contests as arise             Between her fav'rites, and decides aright.             Her count'nance once and her kind aid secured,             Thou may'st thenceforth expect thy friends to see,             Thy dwelling, and thy native soil again.                 So Pallas spake, Goddess crulean-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 Alcinos, but immers'd in thought             Stood, first, and paused, ere with his foot he press'd             The brazen threshold; for a light he saw             As of the sun or moon illuming clear             The palace of Phacia's mighty King.             Walls plated bright with brass, on either side             Stretch'd from the portal to th' interior house,             With azure cornice crown'd; the doors were gold             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             Of Vulcan, guardians of Alcinos' 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             Transparent, work of many a female hand.             On these the princes of Phacia sat,             Holding perpetual feasts, while golden youths             On all the sumptuous altars stood, their hands             With burning torches charged, which, night by night,             Shed radiance over all the festive throng.             Full fifty female menials serv'd the King             In household offices; the rapid mills             These turning, pulverize the mellow'd grain,             Those, seated orderly, the purple fleece             Wind off, or ply the loom, restless as leaves             Of lofty poplars fluttering in the breeze;             Bright as with oil the new-wrought texture shone.[25]             Far as Phacian mariners all else             Surpass, the swift ship urging through the floods,             So far in tissue-work the women pass             All others, by Minerva's self endow'd             With richest fancy and superior skill.             Without the court, and to the gates adjoin'd             A spacious garden lay, fenced all around             Secure, four acres measuring complete.             There grew luxuriant many a lofty tree,             Pomegranate, pear, the apple blushing bright,             The honied fig, and unctuous olive smooth.             Those fruits, nor winter's cold nor summer's heat             Fear ever, fail not, wither not, but hang             Perennial, whose unceasing zephyr breathes             Gently on all, enlarging these, and those             Maturing genial; in an endless course             Pears after pears to full dimensions swell,             Figs follow figs, grapes clust'ring grow again             Where clusters grew, and (ev'ry apple stript)             The boughs soon tempt the gath'rer as before.             There too, well-rooted, and of fruit profuse,             His vineyard grows; part, wide-extended, basks,             In the sun's beams; the arid level glows;             In part they gather, and in part they tread             The wine-press, while, before the eye, the grapes             Here put their blossom forth, there, gather fast             Their blackness. On the garden's verge extreme             Flow'rs of all hues smile all the year, arranged             With neatest art judicious, and amid             The lovely scene two fountains welling forth,             One visits, into ev'ry part diffus'd,             The garden-ground, the other soft beneath             The threshold steals into the palace-court,             Whence ev'ry citizen his vase supplies.                 Such were the ample blessings on the house             Of King Alcinos by the Gods bestow'd.                 Ulysses wond'ring stood, and when, at length,             Silent he had the whole fair scene admired,             With rapid step enter'd the royal gate.             The Chiefs he found and Senators within             Libation pouring to the vigilant spy             Mercurius, whom with wine they worshipp'd last             Of all the Gods, and at the hour of rest.             Ulysses, toil-worn Hero, through the house             Pass'd undelaying, by Minerva thick             With darkness circumfus'd, till he arrived             Where King Alcinos and Areta sat.             Around Areta's knees his arms he cast,             And, in that moment, broken clear away             The cloud all went, shed on him from above.             Dumb sat the guests, seeing the unknown Chief,             And wond'ring gazed. He thus his suit preferr'd.                 Areta, daughter of the Godlike Prince             Rhexenor! suppliant at thy knees I fall,             Thy royal spouse imploring, and thyself,             (After ten thousand toils) and these your guests,             To whom heav'n grant felicity, and to leave             Their treasures to their babes, with all the rights             And honours, by the people's suffrage, theirs!             But oh vouchsafe me, who have wanted long             And ardent wish'd my home, without delay             Safe conduct to my native shores again!                 Such suit he made, and in the ashes sat             At the hearth-side; they mute long time remain'd,             Till, at the last, the antient Hero spake             Echeneus, eldest of Phacia's sons,             With eloquence beyond the rest endow'd,             Rich in traditionary lore, and wise             In all, who thus, benevolent, began.                 Not honourable to thyself, O King!             Is such a sight, a stranger on the ground             At the hearth-side seated, and in the dust.             Meantime, thy guests, expecting thy command,             Move not; thou therefore raising by his hand             The stranger, lead him to a throne, and bid             The heralds mingle wine, that we may pour             To thunder-bearing Jove, the suppliant's friend.             Then let the cat'ress for thy guest produce             Supply, a supper from the last regale.                 Soon as those words Alcinos heard, the King,             Upraising by his hand the prudent Chief             Ulysses from the hearth, he made him sit,             On a bright throne, displacing for his sake             Laodamas his son, the virtuous youth             Who sat beside him, and whom most he lov'd.             And now, a maiden charg'd with golden ew'r             And with an argent laver, pouring, first,             Pure water on his hands, supply'd him, next,             With a resplendent table, which the chaste             Directress of the stores furnish'd with bread             And dainties, remnants of the last regale.             Then ate the Hero toil-inured, and drank,             And to his herald thus Alcinos spake.                 Pontonos! mingling wine, bear it around             To ev'ry guest in turn, that we may pour             To thunder-bearer Jove, the stranger's friend,             And guardian of the suppliant's sacred rights.                 He said; Pontonos, as he bade, the wine             Mingled delicious, and the cups dispensed             With distribution regular to all.             When each had made libation, and had drunk             Sufficient, then, Alcinos thus began.                 Phacian Chiefs and Senators, I speak             The dictates of my mind, therefore attend!             Ye all have feasted--To your homes and sleep.             We will assemble at the dawn of day             More senior Chiefs, that we may entertain             The stranger here, and to the Gods perform             Due sacrifice; the convoy that he asks             Shall next engage our thoughts, that free from pain             And from vexation, by our friendly aid             He may revisit, joyful and with speed,             His native shore, however far remote.             No inconvenience let him feel or harm,             Ere his arrival; but, arrived, thenceforth             He must endure whatever lot the Fates             Spun for him in the moment of his birth.             But should he prove some Deity from heav'n             Descended, then the Immortals have in view             Designs not yet apparent; for the Gods             Have ever from of old reveal'd themselves             At our solemnities, have on our seats             Sat with us evident, and shared the feast;             And even if a single traveller             Of the Phacians meet them, all reserve             They lay aside; for with the Gods we boast             As near affinity as do themselves             The Cyclops, or the Giant race profane.[26]                 To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.             Alcinos! think not so. Resemblance none             In figure or in lineaments I bear             To the immortal tenants of the skies,             But to the sons of earth; if ye have known             A man afflicted with a weight of woe             Peculiar, let me be with him compared;             Woes even passing his could I relate,             And all inflicted on me by the Gods.             But let me eat, comfortless as I am,             Uninterrupted; for no call is loud             As that of hunger in the ears of man;             Importunate, unreas'nable, it constrains             His notice, more than all his woes beside.             So, I much sorrow feel, yet not the less             Hear I the blatant appetite demand             Due sustenance, and with a voice that drowns             E'en all my suff'rings, till itself be fill'd.             But expedite ye at the dawn of day             My safe return into my native land,             After much mis'ry; and let life itself             Forsake me, may I but once more behold             All that is mine, in my own lofty abode.                 He spake, whom all applauded, and advised,             Unanimous, the guest's conveyance home,             Who had so fitly spoken. When, at length,             All had libation made, and were sufficed,             Departing to his house, each sought repose.             But still Ulysses in the hall remain'd,             Where, godlike King, Alcinos at his side             Sat, and Areta; the attendants clear'd             Meantime the board, and thus the Queen white-arm'd,             (Marking the vest and mantle, which he wore             And which her maidens and herself had made)             In accents wing'd with eager haste began.                 Stranger! the first enquiry shall be mine;             Who art, and whence? From whom receiv'dst thou these?             Saidst not--I came a wand'rer o'er the Deep?                 To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.             Oh Queen! the task were difficult to unfold             In all its length the story of my woes,             For I have num'rous from the Gods receiv'd;             But I will answer thee as best I may.             There is a certain isle, Ogygia, placed             Far distant in the Deep; there dwells, by man             Alike unvisited, and by the Gods,             Calypso, beauteous nymph, but deeply skill'd             In artifice, and terrible in pow'r,             Daughter of Atlas. Me alone my fate             Her miserable inmate made, when Jove             Had riv'n asunder with his candent bolt             My bark in the mid-sea. There perish'd all             The valiant partners of my toils, and I             My vessel's keel embracing day and night             With folded arms, nine days was borne along.             But on the tenth dark night, as pleas'd the Gods,             They drove me to Ogygia, where resides             Calypso, beauteous nymph, dreadful in pow'r;             She rescued, cherish'd, fed me, and her wish             Was to confer on me immortal life,             Exempt for ever from the sap of age.             But me her offer'd boon sway'd not. Sev'n years             I there abode continual, with my tears             Bedewing ceaseless my ambrosial robes,             Calypso's gift divine; but when, at length,             (Sev'n years elaps'd) the circling eighth arrived,             She then, herself, my quick departure thence             Advised, by Jove's own mandate overaw'd,             Which even her had influenced to a change.             On a well-corded raft she sent me forth             With num'rous presents; bread she put and wine             On board, and cloath'd me in immortal robes;             She sent before me also a fair wind             Fresh-blowing, but not dang'rous. Sev'nteen days             I sail'd the flood continual, and descried,             On the eighteenth, your shadowy mountains tall             When my exulting heart sprang at the sight,             All wretched as I was, and still ordain'd             To strive with difficulties many and hard             From adverse Neptune; he the stormy winds             Exciting opposite, my wat'ry way             Impeded, and the waves heav'd to a bulk             Immeasurable, such as robb'd me soon             Deep-groaning, of the raft, my only hope;             For her the tempest scatter'd, and myself             This ocean measur'd swimming, till the winds             And mighty waters cast me on your shore.             Me there emerging, the huge waves had dash'd             Full on the land, where, incommodious most,             The shore presented only roughest rocks,             But, leaving it, I swam the Deep again,             Till now, at last, a river's gentle stream             Receiv'd me, by no rocks deform'd, and where             No violent winds the shelter'd bank annoy'd.             I flung myself on shore, exhausted, weak,             Needing repose; ambrosial night came on,             When from the Jove-descended stream withdrawn,             I in a thicket lay'd me down on leaves             Which I had heap'd together, and the Gods             O'erwhelm'd my eye-lids with a flood of sleep.             There under wither'd leaves, forlorn, I slept             All the long night, the morning and the noon,             But balmy sleep, at the decline of day,             Broke from me; then, your daughter's train I heard             Sporting, with whom she also sported, fair             And graceful as the Gods. To her I kneel'd.             She, following the dictates of a mind             Ingenuous, pass'd in her behaviour all             Which even ye could from an age like hers             Have hoped; for youth is ever indiscrete.             She gave me plenteous food, with richest wine             Refresh'd my spirit, taught me where to bathe,             And cloath'd me as thou seest; thus, though a prey             To many sorrows, I have told thee truth.                 To whom Alcinos answer thus return'd.             My daughter's conduct, I perceive, hath been             In this erroneous, that she led thee not             Hither, at once, with her attendant train,             For thy first suit was to herself alone.                 Thus then Ulysses, wary Chief, replied.             Blame not, O Hero, for so slight a cause             Thy faultless child; she bade me follow them,             But I refused, by fear and awe restrain'd,             Lest thou should'st feel displeasure at that sight             Thyself; for we are all, in ev'ry clime,             Suspicious, and to worst constructions prone.                 So spake Ulysses, to whom thus the King.             I bear not, stranger! in my breast an heart             Causeless irascible; for at all times             A temp'rate equanimity is best.             And oh, I would to heav'n, that, being such             As now thou art, and of one mind with me,             Thou would'st accept my daughter, would'st become             My son-in-law, and dwell contented here!             House would I give thee, and possessions too,             Were such thy choice; else, if thou chuse it not,             No man in all Phacia shall by force             Detain thee. Jupiter himself forbid!             For proof, I will appoint thee convoy hence             To-morrow; and while thou by sleep subdued             Shalt on thy bed repose, they with their oars             Shall brush the placid flood, till thou arrive             At home, or at what place soe'er thou would'st,             Though far more distant than Euboea lies,             Remotest isle from us, by the report             Of ours, who saw it when they thither bore             Golden-hair'd Rhadamanthus o'er the Deep,             To visit earth-born Tityus. To that isle             They went; they reach'd it, and they brought him thence             Back to Phacia, in one day, with ease.             Thou also shalt be taught what ships I boast             Unmatch'd in swiftness, and how far my crews             Excel, upturning with their oars the brine.                 He ceas'd; Ulysses toil-inur'd his words             Exulting heard, and, praying, thus replied.                 Eternal Father! may the King perform             His whole kind promise! grant him in all lands             A never-dying name, and grant to me             To visit safe my native shores again!                 Thus they conferr'd; and now Areta bade             Her fair attendants dress a fleecy couch             Under the portico, with purple rugs             Resplendent, and with arras spread beneath,             And over all with cloaks of shaggy pile.             Forth went the maidens, bearing each a torch,             And, as she bade, prepared in haste a couch             Of depth commodious, then, returning, gave             Ulysses welcome summons to repose.                 Stranger! thy couch is spread. Hence to thy rest.             So they--Thrice grateful to his soul the thought             Seem'd of repose. There slept Ulysses, then,             On his carv'd couch, beneath the portico,             But in the inner-house Alcinos found             His place of rest, and hers with royal state             Prepared, the Queen his consort, at his side.