# The Odyssey, Book 13: Odysseus Leaves Phaeacia; The Return to Ithaca

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Homecoming

The Phaeacians set Odysseus down asleep on Ithaca. Athena meets him, plans the suitors' deaths with him, and turns him into an old beggar.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/13. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/13.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,  
So he spoke, and they all fell silent and still,
> Aorist middle: ἐγένοντο is the aorist of γίγνομαι, 'they became/fell into.' The line means the audience became hushed.

**2** κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.  
held fast by the spell of his tale throughout the shadowy halls.

**3** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·  
Then Alcinous answered him and spoke:
> Formula of reply: ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε ('answered and spoke') is a recurring Homeric speech-introduction formula.

**4** ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, ἐπεὶ ἵκευ ἐμὸν ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,  
"Odysseus, now that you have come to my bronze-floored house,
> Bronze-floored house: χαλκοβατές means 'set on a base of bronze,' a mark of the Phaeacians' fabulous wealth.

**5** ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐω  
high-roofed, I think you will not be driven off course again

**6** ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας.  
and made to wander home, however much you have suffered.

**7** ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω,  
And to each of you men I give this charge and say it plainly,

**8** ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον  
all of you who in my halls drink the sparkling wine of elders
> Wine of the elders: γερούσιος oἶνος is the choice wine reserved for the council of elders (γέροντες), a sign of honor.

**9** αἰεὶ πίνετʼ ἐμοῖσιν, ἀκουάζεσθε δʼ ἀοιδοῦ.  
always at my expense, and listen to the bard:

**10** εἵματα μὲν δὴ ξείνῳ ἐϋξέστῃ ἐνὶ χηλῷ  
the clothing for our guest lies already in the polished chest,

**11** κεῖται καὶ χρυσὸς πολυδαίδαλος ἄλλα τε πάντα  
and the intricately wrought gold, and all the other

**12** δῶρʼ, ὅσα Φαιήκων βουληφόροι ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν·  
gifts that the counselors of the Phaeacians have brought here.

**13** ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν τρίποδα μέγαν ἠδὲ λέβητα  
But come, let us give him a great tripod and a cauldron
> Hortatory subjunctive: δῶμεν ('let us give') is an aorist subjunctive used to urge a course of action upon the group.

**14** ἀνδρακάς· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ἀγειρόμενοι κατὰ δῆμον  
man by man; and we ourselves, gathering it back among the people,

**15** τισόμεθʼ· ἀργαλέον γὰρ ἕνα προικὸς χαρίσασθαι.  
will recover the cost; for it is hard for one man to give freely without return."

**16** ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιὴνδανε μῦθος.  
So spoke Alcinous, and his words pleased them.
> Mythos as speech: Here μῦθος means simply 'word, speech, proposal,' not 'myth' in the later sense.

**17** οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,  
Then they went off to lie down, each to his own house,

**18** ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,  
but when early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
> Rosy-fingered Dawn: A fixed epithet-noun formula filling the line's end. Such ready-made phrases are a hallmark of oral hexameter.

**19** νῆάδʼ ἐπεσσεύοντο, φέρον δʼ εὐήνορα χαλκόν.  
they hurried to the ship and carried down the man-strengthening bronze.

**20** καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,  
And the sacred might of Alcinous stowed it all away well,

**21** αὐτὸς ἰὼν διὰ νηὸς ὑπὸ ζυγά, μή τινʼ ἑταίρων  
going himself through the ship beneath the benches, so that none of the crew

**22** βλάπτοι ἐλαυνόντων, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ ἐρετμοῖς.  
might be hindered as they rowed, when they pulled hard at the oars.
> Optatives of purpose: βλάπτοι and σπερχοίατο are optatives in a purpose/temporal clause after the past main verb; σπερχοίατο is a Homeric 3rd plural form.

**23** οἱ δʼ εἰς Ἀλκινόοιο κίον καὶ δαῖτʼ ἀλέγυνον.  
Then they went to the house of Alcinous and made ready the feast.

**24** τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο  
And for them the sacred might of Alcinous sacrificed an ox

**25** Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει.  
to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronus, who rules over all.
> Of the dark clouds: κελαινεφής, 'cloaked in black cloud,' is a standing epithet of Zeus the storm-god.

**26** μῆρα δὲ κήαντες δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα  
They burned the thigh-pieces and dined on the glorious feast,

**27** τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδός,  
taking their delight; and among them sang the divine bard,

**28** Δημόδοκος, λαοῖσι τετιμένος. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
Demodocus, honored by the people. But Odysseus

**29** πολλὰ πρὸς ἠέλιον κεφαλὴν τρέπε παμφανόωντα,  
kept turning his head toward the blazing sun,

**30** δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος· δὴ γὰρ μενέαινε νέεσθαι.  
eager for it to set; for indeed he longed to be going home.
> Infinitive of longing: νέεσθαι ('to return home') is a present infinitive completing μενέαινε, 'he was eager [to return].'

**31** ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ δόρποιο λιλαίεται, ᾧ τε πανῆμαρ  
As when a man longs for his supper, for whom all day long

**32** νειὸν ἀνʼ ἕλκητον βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·  
two wine-dark oxen have dragged the jointed plow through fallow land,
> Dual of the oxen: βόε is a dual ('the pair of oxen'), with the dual verb ἕλκητον; the dual is alive in Homer for natural pairs.

**33** ἀσπασίως δʼ ἄρα τῷ κατέδυ φάος ἠελίοιο  
gladly for that man the light of the sun goes down,

**34** δόρπον ἐποίχεσθαι, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι·  
calling him to his supper, and his knees fail him as he walks:

**35** ὣς Ὀδυσῆʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο.  
so welcome to Odysseus was the setting of the sun's light.

**36** αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα,  
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians,
> Oar-loving: φιλήρετμος, 'fond of the oar,' is a fitting epithet for the seafaring Phaeacians.

**37** Ἀλκινόῳ δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος φάτο μῦθον·  
and to Alcinous above all he made his speech plain, saying:

**38** Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,  
"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all the people,

**39** πέμπετέ με σπείσαντες ἀπήμονα, χαίρετε δʼ αὐτοί·  
pour your libations and send me safely on my way, and farewell to you all;

**40** ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός,  
for now all that my heart desired has been accomplished:
> Perfect passive: τετέλεσται is perfect passive of τελέω, 'has been brought to completion,' marking a finished state.

**41** πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά μοι θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες  
an escort home, and welcome gifts, which may the heavenly gods

**42** ὄλβια ποιήσειαν· ἀμύμονα δʼ οἴκοι ἄκοιτιν  
make prosper for me. And may I find my blameless wife at home
> Optatives of wish: ποιήσειαν ('may they make') and εὕροιμι ('may I find') are optatives expressing a prayer or wish.

**43** νοστήσας εὕροιμι σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσι φίλοισιν.  
on my return, safe and sound, with my loved ones unharmed.

**44** ὑμεῖς δʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἐϋφραίνοιτε γυναῖκας  
And may you, remaining here, gladden the hearts of your wedded

**45** κουριδίας καὶ τέκνα· θεοὶ δʼ ἀρετὴν ὀπάσειαν  
wives and your children; and may the gods grant you excellence
> Aretê: ἀρετή here means 'excellence, prosperity, every good thing,' a broad Homeric sense of flourishing.

**46** παντοίην, καὶ μή τι κακὸν μεταδήμιον εἴη.  
of every kind, and may no evil come upon your people."

**47** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον  
So he spoke, and they all approved and urged
> Imperfects of the crowd: Both verbs are imperfect, picturing the ongoing chorus of approval and urging from the assembly.

**48** πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.  
that the stranger be sent on his way, since he had spoken fittingly.
> Fittingly: κατὰ μοῖραν, literally 'according to due measure,' means 'rightly, as is proper.'

**49** καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·  
And then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:

**50** Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον  
"Pontonous, mix the bowl and pass the wine round

**51** πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ὄφρʼ εὐξάμενοι Διὶ πατρὶ  
to all through the hall, so that, praying to Zeus the father,

**52** τὸν ξεῖνον πέμπωμεν ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
we may send the stranger to his own native land."
> Subjunctive of purpose: πέμπωμεν is present subjunctive in a purpose clause introduced by ὄφρα, 'so that we may send.'

**53** ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,  
So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,
> Honey-hearted wine: μελίφρων, 'honey-minded, sweet to the heart,' is a stock epithet for wine and sleep.

**54** νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσιν  
and served it out to all, going from man to man; and they to the gods

**55** ἔσπεισαν μακάρεσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,  
poured libations, to the blessed ones who hold the broad heaven,

**56** αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἑδρέων. ἀνὰ δʼ ἵστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
there from their seats. Then noble Odysseus stood up

**57** Ἀρήτῃ δʼ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον,  
and placed in Arete's hand the two-handled cup,
> Two-handled cup: δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον is a cup with a bowl at each end, or with handles on both sides; a recurring Homeric object.

**58** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking he addressed her with winged words:
> Winged words: 'Winged words' is among the most famous Homeric formulas, the words flying from speaker to hearer.

**59** χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ βασίλεια, διαμπερές, εἰς ὅ κε
                     γῆρας  
"Farewell, my queen, throughout all your days, until old age

**60** ἔλθῃ καὶ θάνατος, τά τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται.  
comes upon you, and death, which befall all mortals.

**61** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ νέομαι· σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ  
But I am going home; and may you take joy in this house,

**62** παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ Ἀλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.  
in your children and your people and in Alcinous the king."

**63** ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So saying, noble Odysseus stepped over the threshold,

**64** τῷ δʼ ἅμα κήρυκα προΐει μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,  
and with him the might of Alcinous sent a herald,

**65** ἡγεῖσθαι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης·  
to guide him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.

**66** Ἀρήτη δʼ ἄρα οἱ δμῳὰς ἅμʼ ἔπεμπε γυναῖκας,  
And Arete sent serving-women with him,

**67** τὴν μὲν φᾶρος ἔχουσαν ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,  
one carrying a well-washed cloak and a tunic,

**68** τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην χηλὸν πυκινὴν ἅμʼ ὄπασσε κομίζειν·  
and another she sent to carry the sturdy chest along;

**69** ἡ δʼ ἄλλη σῖτόν τʼ ἔφερεν καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.  
and yet another carried bread and red wine.

**70** αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,  
But when they had gone down to the ship and the sea,

**71** αἶψα τά γʼ ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ πομπῆες ἀγαυοὶ  
at once the noble escorts took these things into the hollow ship

**72** δεξάμενοι κατέθεντο, πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἅπασαν·  
and stowed them away, all the drink and the food;

**73** κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ στόρεσαν ῥῆγός τε λίνον τε  
and for Odysseus they spread out a rug and a linen sheet

**74** νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν γλαφυρῆς, ἵνα νήγρετον εὕδοι,  
on the deck of the hollow ship, so that he might sleep unbroken,
> Unwakeable sleep: νήγρετος means 'not to be awakened, deep,' foreshadowing the death-like sleep at line 80.

**75** πρυμνῆς· ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβήσετο καὶ κατέλεκτο  
in the stern. And he himself climbed aboard and lay down

**76** σιγῇ· τοὶ δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἕκαστοι  
in silence; and they sat down each at his oarlock

**77** κόσμῳ, πεῖσμα δʼ ἔλυσαν ἀπὸ τρητοῖο λίθοιο.  
in order, and loosed the cable from the bored stone.
> In good order: κόσμῳ, 'in order, in array,' describes the disciplined arrangement of the rowers; the same root gives 'cosmos.'

**78** εὖθʼ οἱ ἀνακλινθέντες ἀνερρίπτουν ἅλα πηδῷ,  
Then, leaning back, they tossed up the brine with their blades,

**79** καὶ τῷ νήδυμος ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε,  
and upon his eyelids fell a sweet sleep,

**80** νήγρετος, ἥδιστος, θανάτῳ ἄγχιστα ἐοικώς.  
unbroken, most delicious, most like to death.

**81** ἡ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ τετράοροι ἄρσενες ἵπποι,  
And she, as on a plain a team of four stallions,

**82** πάντες ἅμʼ ὁρμηθέντες ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἱμάσθλης,  
all springing forward together under the blows of the lash,

**83** ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενοι ῥίμφα πρήσσουσι κέλευθον,  
rising high, swiftly accomplish their course,

**84** ὣς ἄρα τῆς πρύμνη μὲν ἀείρετο, κῦμα δʼ ὄπισθε  
so the ship's stern lifted, and behind her the wave,

**85** πορφύρεον μέγα θῦε πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.  
great and dark-purple, seethed of the loud-roaring sea.
> Dark and loud-roaring sea: πορφύρεον evokes the heaving, dark-gleaming wave; πολύφλοισβος, 'loud-roaring,' is a stock epithet of the sea.

**86** ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἀσφαλέως θέεν ἔμπεδον· οὐδέ κεν ἴρηξ  
She ran on steady and sure; not even a hawk could

**87** κίρκος ὁμαρτήσειεν, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν.  
the falcon keep pace with her, swiftest of winged things.
> Potential optative: ὁμαρτήσειεν with κεν is a potential optative, 'could keep pace,' framing an unreal comparison.

**88** ὣς ἡ ῥίμφα θέουσα θαλάσσης κύματʼ ἔταμνεν,  
So she, running swiftly, cut through the waves of the sea,

**89** ἄνδρα φέρουσα θεοῖς ἐναλίγκια μήδεʼ ἔχοντα·  
carrying a man whose mind was like the gods';
> Godlike in counsel: Literally 'having counsels like the gods,' praising Odysseus' divine cunning of mind (μήδεα).

**90** ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθʼ ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν  
who before had suffered very many pains in his heart,

**91** ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,  
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves;

**92** δὴ τότε γʼ ἀτρέμας εὗδε, λελασμένος ὅσσʼ ἐπεπόνθει.  
but now at last he slept undisturbed, forgetful of all he had endured.
> Perfect participle: λελασμένος is a perfect middle participle of λανθάνομαι, 'having forgotten,' a settled state of forgetfulness.

**93** εὖτʼ ἀστὴρ ὑπερέσχε φαάντατος, ὅς τε μάλιστα  
When the brightest star rose up, the one that above all

**94** ἔρχεται ἀγγέλλων φάος Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης,  
comes heralding the light of early-born Dawn,

**95** τῆμος δὴ νήσῳ προσεπίλνατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς.  
then the seafaring ship drew near to the island.

**96** Φόρκυνος δέ τίς ἐστι λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,  
There is a harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,

**97** ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης· δύο δὲ προβλῆτες ἐν αὐτῷ  
in the land of Ithaca; two jutting headlands within it,

**98** ἀκταὶ ἀπορρῶγες, λιμένος ποτιπεπτηυῖαι,  
sheer cliffs, crouching toward the harbor,

**99** αἵ τʼ ἀνέμων σκεπόωσι δυσαήων μέγα κῦμα  
which shelter from the ill-blowing winds the great wave

**100** ἔκτοθεν· ἔντοσθεν δέ τʼ ἄνευ δεσμοῖο μένουσι  
outside; but within, without a mooring-rope, they rest,

**101** νῆες ἐΰσσελμοι, ὅτʼ ἂν ὅρμου μέτρον ἵκωνται.  
the well-benched ships, once they reach the harbor's measure.

**102** αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη,  
And at the head of the harbor there is a long-leaved olive tree,

**103** ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,  
and close beside it a lovely, misty cave,

**104** ἱρὸν νυμφάων αἱ νηϊάδες καλέονται.  
sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads.

**105** ἐν δὲ κρητῆρές τε καὶ ἀμφιφορῆες ἔασιν  
Within it are mixing-bowls and two-handled jars

**106** λάϊνοι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα τιθαιβώσσουσι μέλισσαι.  
of stone; and there too the bees store their honey.

**107** ἐν δʼ ἱστοὶ λίθεοι περιμήκεες, ἔνθα τε νύμφαι  
And there are great looms of stone, where the nymphs

**108** φάρεʼ ὑφαίνουσιν ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι·  
weave robes of sea-purple, a wonder to behold;
> A wonder to behold: θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι is an epexegetic (explanatory) infinitive, 'a marvel to look upon.'

**109** ἐν δʼ ὕδατʼ ἀενάοντα. δύω δέ τέ οἱ θύραι εἰσίν,  
and there are ever-flowing waters. It has two doors:

**110** αἱ μὲν πρὸς Βορέαο καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν,  
the one toward the North Wind, by which mortals may go down,
> Boreas, the North Wind: Βορέης is the North Wind, here used to mark the cave's northern entrance, the way open to mortals.

**111** αἱ δʼ αὖ πρὸς Νότου εἰσὶ θεώτεραι· οὐδέ τι κείνῃ  
and the others, toward the South Wind, are more divine; nor by that way

**112** ἄνδρες ἐσέρχονται, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτων ὁδός ἐστιν.  
do men go in, but it is the road of the immortals.

**113** ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἰσέλασαν, πρὶν εἰδότες· ἡ μὲν
                  ἔπειτα  
There they rowed in, knowing the place from before; and the ship then

**114** ἠπείρῳ ἐπέκελσεν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ ἥμισυ πάσης,  
ran up onto the shore for as much as half her whole length,

**115** σπερχομένη· τοῖον γὰρ ἐπείγετο χέρσʼ ἐρετάων·  
driving hard, for the hands of such rowers urged her on.

**116** οἱ δʼ ἐκ νηὸς βάντες ἐϋζύγου ἤπειρόνδε  
Then, stepping out of the well-benched ship onto the land,

**117** πρῶτον Ὀδυσσῆα γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἄειραν  
first they lifted Odysseus out of the hollow ship,

**118** αὐτῷ σύν τε λίνῳ καὶ ῥήγεϊ σιγαλόεντι,  
still in the linen sheet and the shining rug,

**119** κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ ψαμάθῳ ἔθεσαν δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ,  
and they laid him down on the sand, overcome by sleep,
> Perfect participle, 'overpowered': δεδμημένον is a perfect middle/passive participle of δάμνημι, 'subdue, overpower.' The perfect stresses Odysseus's settled state: mastered by sleep and lying utterly still.

**120** ἐκ δὲ κτήματʼ ἄειραν, ἅ οἱ Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ  
and they lifted out the treasures, which the noble Phaeacians

**121** ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.  
had given him as he went home, through great-hearted Athena.

**122** καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης ἀθρόα θῆκαν  
These they set all together by the trunk of the olive tree,

**123** ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, μή πώς τις ὁδιτάων ἀνθρώπων,  
off the road, lest some one of the men who travel it,

**124** πρίν γʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἔγρεσθαι, ἐπελθὼν δηλήσαιτο·  
before Odysseus woke, might come upon them and do them harm;

**125** αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ οἶκόνδε πάλιν κίον. οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων  
then they themselves went back home again. But the Earth-Shaker
> Epithet of Poseidon: ἐνοσίχθων, 'Earth-Shaker,' is a standard formulaic epithet of Poseidon, god of the sea and of earthquakes.

**126** λήθετʼ ἀπειλάων, τὰς ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ  
did not forget the threats with which against godlike Odysseus

**127** πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησε, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·  
he had first threatened, and he asked Zeus for his will:

**128** Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὐκέτʼ ἐγώ γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι
                     θεοῖσι  
"Father Zeus, no longer among the immortal gods

**129** τιμήεις ἔσομαι, ὅτε με βροτοὶ οὔ τι τίουσιν,  
shall I be held in honor, when mortals give me no honor at all,
> Present indicative, 'they honor': τίουσι(ν) is present indicative of τίω, 'honor, value.' The present tense frames the slight as ongoing: the Phaeacians are, right now, failing to honor Poseidon.

**130** Φαίηκες, τοί πέρ τοι ἐμῆς ἔξ εἰσι γενέθλης.  
the Phaeacians, who are themselves of my own lineage.

**131** καὶ γὰρ νῦν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐφάμην κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντα  
For even now I thought that Odysseus, after suffering many evils,

**132** οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· νόστον δέ οἱ οὔ ποτʼ ἀπηύρων  
would come home; his homecoming I never took from him
> nostos, 'homecoming': νόστος is the homecoming-return that is the Odyssey's central theme. Poseidon concedes he never denied Odysseus a nostos outright, only meant to delay it.

**133** πάγχυ, ἐπεὶ σὺ πρῶτον ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας.  
altogether, since you first promised it and nodded your assent.
> Aorist verbs, 'you promised and nodded': Both verbs are aorist, marking single completed acts: Zeus once promised (ὑπέσχεο) and once nodded assent (κατένευσας). The nod of Zeus's head was an irrevocable divine guarantee.

**134** οἱ δʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες  
But these men, carrying him asleep in a swift ship over the sea,

**135** κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔδοσαν δέ οἱ ἄσπετα δῶρα,  
set him down in Ithaca, and gave him countless gifts,

**136** χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν,  
bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing,

**137** πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,  
much, such as Odysseus would never have won out of Troy,

**138** εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληΐδος αἶσαν.  
even had he come home unharmed with his allotted share of the spoil."

**139** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
> Epithet, 'cloud-gatherer Zeus': νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς, 'Zeus the cloud-gatherer,' is one of his most frequent formulaic epithets, fitting the line-end of the hexameter.

**140** ὢ πόποι, ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.  
"Now look, mighty Earth-Shaker, what a thing you have said!

**141** οὔ τί σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴη  
The gods do not dishonor you in any way; it would be hard indeed

**142** πρεσβύτατον καὶ ἄριστον ἀτιμίῃσιν ἰάλλειν.  
to assail the eldest and the best with dishonor.

**143** ἀνδρῶν δʼ εἴ πέρ τίς σε βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων  
But as for men, if any one, yielding to his own strength and force,

**144** οὔ τι τίει. σοὶ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐξοπίσω τίσις αἰεί.  
gives you no honor, vengeance is yours, always, in the end.

**145** ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.  
Do as you wish and as is dear to your heart."
> Aorist imperative, 'do!': ἔρξον is an aorist imperative of ἔρδω/ῥέζω, 'do, act.' The aorist imperative commands a single decisive action: 'go ahead and do it.'

**146** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·  
Then Poseidon the Earth-Shaker answered him:

**147** αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼν ἔρξαιμι, κελαινεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·  
"At once I would do it, lord of dark clouds, as you say;

**148** ἀλλὰ σὸν αἰεὶ θυμὸν ὀπίζομαι ἠδʼ ἀλεείνω.  
but I always stand in awe of your will and shun it.

**149** νῦν αὖ Φαιήκων ἐθέλω περικαλλέα νῆα,  
Now I wish the Phaeacians' beautiful ship,

**150** ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ  
as it returns from its escort, on the misty sea

**151** ῥαῖσαι, ἵνʼ ἤδη σχῶνται, ἀπολλήξωσι δὲ πομπῆς  
to wreck, so that at last they may hold back and cease escorting

**152** ἀνθρώπων, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.  
men, and to hide their city under a great mountain."

**153** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:

**154** ὢ πέπον, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα,  
"My friend, as it seems best to my own heart,

**155** ὁππότε κεν δὴ πάντες ἐλαυνομένην προΐδωνται  
at the moment when all the people are watching her driving in

**156** λαοὶ ἀπὸ πτόλιος, θεῖναι λίθον ἐγγύθι γαίης  
from the city, turn her to stone near the land,

**157** νηῒ θοῇ ἴκελον, ἵνα θαυμάζωσιν ἅπαντες  
like a swift ship, so that all may marvel,

**158** ἄνθρωποι, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.  
the people, and hide their city under a great mountain."

**159** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,  
But when Poseidon the Earth-Shaker heard this,

**160** βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς Σχερίην, ὅθι Φαίηκες γεγάασιν.  
he set out to go to Scheria, where the Phaeacians are born.

**161** ἔνθʼ ἔμενʼ· ἡ δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθε ποντοπόρος νηῦς  
There he waited; and the seafaring ship came very near,

**162** ῥίμφα διωκομένη· τῆς δὲ σχεδὸν ἦλθʼ ἐνοσίχθων,  
swiftly driven on; and the Earth-Shaker came close to her,

**163** ὅς μιν λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθε  
who turned her to stone and rooted her fast below

**164** χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ ἐλάσας· ὁ δὲ νόσφι βεβήκει.  
with a blow of his flat hand; then he went away.
> Pluperfect, 'he had gone': βεβήκει is pluperfect of βαίνω, marking an action completed before the surrounding narrative present: Poseidon had already departed by the time the Phaeacians look up.

**165** οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον  
And they spoke winged words to one another,
> Formula: 'winged words': ἔπεα πτερόεντα, 'winged words,' is one of the most familiar Homeric formulas, imagining speech as taking flight from speaker to hearer.

**166** Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.  
the Phaeacians of the long oars, men famed for their ships.

**167** ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·  
And one would speak, looking at his neighbor beside him:

**168** ὤ μοι, τίς δὴ νῆα θοὴν ἐπέδησʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ  
"Oh no — who has bound the swift ship fast in the sea

**169** οἴκαδʼ ἐλαυνομένην; καὶ δὴ προὐφαίνετο πᾶσα.  
as she was driving home? Just now the whole of her was in sight."

**170** ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε· τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.  
So one would speak; but they did not know how it had come about.

**171** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
Then Alkinoos addressed them and spoke among them:

**172** ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ
                     ἱκάνει  
"Oh no, surely now the ancient prophecies overtake me
> 'Ancient prophecies': παλαίφατα θέσφατα are 'things spoken of old, ordained by the gods.' Alkinoos recalls a prophecy he heard from his father — the doom now coming true.

**173** πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι  
of my father, who used to say Poseidon would be angry

**174** ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.  
with us, because we are escorts who bring all men home unharmed.

**175** φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέα, νῆα,  
He said that one day a beautiful ship of the Phaeacian men,

**176** ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ  
as it returned from its escort, on the misty sea

**177** ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.  
the god would wreck, and hide a great mountain over our city.

**178** ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.  
So the old man used to say; and now all this is being fulfilled.

**179** ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες·  
But come, as I shall say, let us all be persuaded:
> Hortatory subjunctive, 'let us obey': πειθώμεθα is a present middle subjunctive used hortatively, 'let us be persuaded / obey.' First-person plural subjunctives express an exhortation to a shared course of action.

**180** πομπῆς μὲν παύσασθε βροτῶν, ὅτε κέν τις ἵκηται  
cease escorting mortals, whenever anyone comes

**181** ἡμέτερον προτὶ ἄστυ· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρους  
to our city; and to Poseidon let us sacrifice bulls,

**182** δώδεκα κεκριμένους ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ,  
twelve chosen ones, in hope that he may pity us,

**183** μηδʼ ἡμῖν περίμηκες ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψῃ.  
and not hide a towering mountain over our city."

**184** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἑτοιμάσσαντο δὲ
                  ταύρους.  
So he spoke, and they were afraid, and made the bulls ready.

**185** ὣς οἱ μέν ῥʼ εὔχοντο Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι  
So these were praying to lord Poseidon,

**186** δήμου Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,  
the leaders and counselors of the Phaeacian people,

**187** ἑσταότες περὶ βωμόν. ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
standing round the altar. But noble Odysseus woke,

**188** εὕδων ἐν γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, οὐδέ μιν ἔγνω,  
sleeping in his fatherland, and he did not know it,
> Aorist, 'he did not recognize it': ἔγνω is aorist of γιγνώσκω, 'recognize, come to know.' The aorist marks the failed act of recognition: he did not, on waking, identify his own land.

**189** ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών· περὶ γὰρ θεὸς ἠέρα χεῦε  
having been long away; for a god had poured a mist about him,

**190** Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διός, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν  
Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, so that she might make him

**191** ἄγνωστον τεύξειεν ἕκαστά τε μυθήσαιτο,  
unrecognizable and explain each thing to him,

**192** μή μιν πρὶν ἄλοχος γνοίη ἀστοί τε φίλοι τε,  
that his wife and townsmen and friends might not know him first,

**193** πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.  
before the suitors should pay for all their transgression.
> hyperbasiê, 'transgression': ὑπερβασίη is an 'overstepping,' the suitors' lawless violation of the bounds of guest-conduct and household. The word frames their punishment as just requital.

**194** τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἀλλοειδέα φαινέσκετο πάντα ἄνακτι,  
And so all things appeared strange to the lord,

**195** ἀτραπιτοί τε διηνεκέες λιμένες τε πάνορμοι  
the long unbroken paths, the welcoming harbors,

**196** πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι καὶ δένδρεα τηλεθόωντα.  
the sheer rocks, and the trees in their flourishing.

**197** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας καί ῥʼ εἴσιδε πατρίδα γαῖαν·  
He sprang up and stood and looked at his fatherland;

**198** ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ  
then he groaned, and struck both his thighs

**199** χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·  
with the flat of his hands, and lamenting he spoke a word:

**200** ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;  
"Oh, wretched me — to what land of mortals have I come this time?

**201** ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,  
Are they violent and savage and not just,

**202** ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;  
or hospitable, and is their mind god-fearing?

**203** πῇ δὴ χρήματα πολλὰ φέρω τάδε; πῇ τε καὶ αὐτὸς  
Where shall I carry all this treasure? And where shall I myself

**204** πλάζομαι; αἴθʼ ὄφελον μεῖναι παρὰ Φαιήκεσσιν  
wander? Would that I had stayed there among the Phaeacians,

**205** αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δέ κεν ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων  
right there; and I might have gone to some other king of the mighty ones,

**206** ἐξικόμην, ὅς κέν μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ ἔπεμπε νέεσθαι.  
who would have befriended me and sent me on my homeward way.

**207** νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πῃ θέσθαι ἐπίσταμαι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοῦ  
But now I do not know where to put it, nor will I leave it

**208** καλλείψω, μή πώς μοι ἕλωρ ἄλλοισι γένηται.  
here, lest it somehow become spoil for others.

**209** ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα πάντα νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι  
Oh no — so they were not wholly wise, nor just,

**210** ἦσαν Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,  
the leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,

**211** οἵ μʼ εἰς ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀπήγαγον, ἦ τέ μʼ ἔφαντο  
who carried me off to another land, though they said they would

**212** ἄξειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσαν.  
bring me to clear-skied Ithaca — and they did not do it.
> Epithet of Ithaca, 'clear-seen': εὐδείελος, a standard epithet of Ithaca, suggests 'clear to view, sunlit, conspicuous.' Its exact sense was already debated in antiquity, but it evokes the bright far-seen island.

**213** Ζεὺς σφέας τίσαιτο ἱκετήσιος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους  
May Zeus the protector of suppliants requite them — he who watches over

**214** ἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τίνυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ.  
other men too, and punishes whoever does wrong.

**215** ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀριθμήσω καὶ ἴδωμαι,  
But come now, let me count the treasure and look it over,
> Subjunctives of resolve: ἀριθμήσω and ἴδωμαι are aorist subjunctives in a self-exhortation ('let me count and see'). The construction shows Odysseus's mind turning practical even amid lament.

**216** μή τί μοι οἴχωνται κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγοντες.  
in case they have gone off carrying something of mine in their hollow ship."

**217** ὣς εἰπὼν τρίποδας περικαλλέας ἠδὲ λέβητας  
So saying, he counted the beautiful tripods and the cauldrons,

**218** ἠρίθμει καὶ χρυσὸν ὑφαντά τε εἵματα καλά.  
and the gold, and the fine woven garments.

**219** τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ ὀύ τι πόθει· ὁ δʼ ὀδύρετο πατρίδα γαῖαν  
Of these he found nothing missing; but he wept for his fatherland,

**220** ἑρπύζων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,  
creeping along the shore of the loud-roaring sea,
> Epithet, 'loud-roaring sea': πολύφλοισβος, 'much-roaring, loud-resounding,' is a formulaic epithet of the sea, capturing the constant crash of surf on the shore.

**221** πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,  
lamenting bitterly. And Athena came near to him,

**222** ἀνδρὶ δέμας εἰκυῖα νέῳ, ἐπιβώτορι μήλων,  
in form like a young man, a herdsman of sheep,
> shepherd of flocks: Athena disguises herself as a young herdsman tending sheep. This is the first of her shape-shiftings in the homecoming, testing Odysseus before revealing herself.

**223** παναπάλῳ, οἷοί τε ἀνάκτων παῖδες ἔασι,  
delicate as the sons of lords are,

**224** δίπτυχον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχουσʼ εὐεργέα λώπην·  
wearing a well-made cloak doubled over her shoulders;

**225** ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσι πέδιλʼ ἔχε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄκοντα.  
she had sandals on her shining feet, and a javelin in her hands.

**226** τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ ἐναντίος ἦλθε,  
Odysseus was glad when he saw her and came to meet her,

**227** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking he addressed to her winged words:
> winged words formula: This recurring epithet-phrase marks the start of direct speech; the words 'fly' from speaker to hearer. It is a standard Homeric formula.

**228** ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε πρῶτα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,  
"Friend, since you are the first I meet in this place,

**229** χαῖρέ τε καὶ μή μοί τι κακῷ νόῳ ἀντιβολήσαις,  
greetings, and may you not meet me with any ill intent,

**230** ἀλλὰ σάω μὲν ταῦτα, σάω δʼ ἐμέ· σοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ γε  
but save these things and save me too; for to you I

**231** εὔχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ καί σευ φίλα γούναθʼ ἱκάνω.  
pray as to a god, and I come to your dear knees.

**232** καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·  
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:

**233** τίς γῆ, τίς δῆμος, τίνες ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασιν;  
what land, what people, what men are born here?

**234** ἦ πού τις νήσων εὐδείελος, ἦέ τις ἀκτὴ  
Is this some sunny island, or is it a headland

**235** κεῖθʼ ἁλὶ κεκλιμένη ἐριβώλακος ἠπείροιο;  
of the rich-soiled mainland, sloping down to the sea?"

**236** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess gray-eyed Athena answered him:
> gray-eyed Athena: A fixed epithet for the goddess, glaukopis suggesting bright, gleaming, or owl-like eyes. Such name-plus-epithet formulas fill the metrical line.

**237** νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,  
"You are a fool, stranger, or you have come from far away,

**238** εἰ δὴ τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἀνείρεαι. οὐδέ τι λίην  
if indeed you ask about this land. It is not at all

**239** οὕτω νώνυμός ἐστιν· ἴσασι δέ μιν μάλα πολλοί,  
so nameless as that; very many know it,

**240** ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,  
both those who dwell toward the dawn and the sun,

**241** ἠδʼ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.  
and those behind, toward the murky dark.

**242** ἦ τοι μὲν τρηχεῖα καὶ οὐχ ἱππήλατός ἐστιν,  
It is rugged, indeed, and not fit for driving horses,

**243** οὐδὲ λίην λυπρή, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ εὐρεῖα τέτυκται.  
yet not too poor, though it is not made broad either.

**244** ἐν μὲν γάρ οἱ σῖτος ἀθέσφατος, ἐν δέ τε οἶνος  
For in it grain grows beyond telling, and in it wine

**245** γίγνεται· αἰεὶ δʼ ὄμβρος ἔχει τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἐέρση·  
comes; always there is rain on it, and flourishing dew;

**246** αἰγίβοτος δʼ ἀγαθὴ καὶ βούβοτος· ἔστι μὲν ὕλη  
it is good for grazing goats and grazing cattle; there is timber

**247** παντοίη, ἐν δʼ ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοὶ παρέασι.  
of every kind, and watering places that never fail.

**248** τῷ τοι, ξεῖνʼ, Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐς Τροίην ὄνομʼ ἵκει,  
So, stranger, the name of Ithaca has reached even to Troy,

**249** τήν περ τηλοῦ φασὶν Ἀχαιΐδος ἔμμεναι αἴης.  
which they say is far off from the land of Achaea."

**250** ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So she spoke, and much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,
> much-enduring noble Odysseus: One of the hero's signature epithet clusters, naming his defining trait of endurance through suffering. It recurs throughout the poem as a full metrical unit.

**251** χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, ὥς οἱ ἔειπε  
glad in his fatherland, as it was told to him by

**252** Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς, αἰγιόχοιο·  
Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis;

**253** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking he addressed to her winged words —

**254** οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἀληθέα εἶπε, πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον,  
yet he did not speak the truth, but checked the word again,
> he took back his word: Odysseus literally 'seized his speech back', i.e. suppressed the true account and substituted a lie. This marks the start of one of his famous false tales.

**255** αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν·  
always plying in his breast a mind full of cunning gain:

**256** πυνθανόμην Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ,  
"I heard of Ithaca even in broad Crete,

**257** τηλοῦ ὑπὲρ πόντου· νῦν δʼ εἰλήλουθα καὶ αὐτὸς  
far off across the sea; and now I have come myself

**258** χρήμασι σὺν τοίσδεσσι· λιπὼν δʼ ἔτι παισὶ τοσαῦτα  
with these goods; and leaving as much again for my children

**259** φεύγω, ἐπεὶ φίλον υἷα κατέκτανον Ἰδομενῆος,  
I flee, since I killed the dear son of Idomeneus,

**260** Ὀρσίλοχον πόδας ὠκύν, ὃς ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ  
Orsilochus, swift of foot, who in broad Crete

**261** ἀνέρας ἀλφηστὰς νίκα ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν,  
outran in speed of foot all men who live by bread,
> bread-eating men: Alphestai, 'grain-getting' or 'bread-winning', is a Homeric way of saying mortal humankind, who live by working for food. It marks Orsilochus as fastest among ordinary men.

**262** οὕνεκά με στερέσαι τῆς ληΐδος ἤθελε πάσης  
because he wished to rob me of all that plunder

**263** Τρωϊάδος, τῆς εἵνεκʼ ἐγὼ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,  
from Troy, for which I suffered pains in my heart,

**264** ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,  
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,

**265** οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐχ ᾧ πατρὶ χαριζόμενος θεράπευον  
because I would not serve his father as a follower,

**266** δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ἀλλʼ ἄλλων ἦρχον ἑταίρων.  
in the land of the Trojans, but led other comrades of my own.

**267** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ κατιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ  
Him I struck with my bronze-tipped spear as he came in

**268** ἀγρόθεν, ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο λοχησάμενος σὺν ἑταίρῳ·  
from the field, lying in ambush near the road with a comrade;

**269** νὺξ δὲ μάλα δνοφερὴ κάτεχʼ οὐρανόν, οὐδέ τις ἡμέας  
very dark night held the sky, and none of men

**270** ἀνθρώπων ἐνόησε, λάθον δέ ἑ θυμὸν ἀπούρας.  
noticed us, and I escaped notice in taking his life.
> I escaped notice in killing: The participle 'taking away (his) life' completes the main verb 'I escaped notice'; Greek often pairs lanthano with a participle to mean 'do X secretly'. Here it stresses the murder went unseen.

**271** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε κατέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,  
But after I had killed him with the sharp bronze,

**272** αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν Φοίνικας ἀγαυοὺς  
at once I went to a ship and begged the noble Phoenicians,

**273** ἐλλισάμην, καί σφιν μενοεικέα ληΐδα δῶκα·  
and gave them spoil to their hearts' content;

**274** τούς μʼ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι καὶ ἐφέσσαι  
I asked them to take me on board and set me down at Pylos

**275** ἢ εἰς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.  
or in noble Elis, where the Epeans hold sway.

**276** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σφέας κεῖθεν ἀπώσατο ἲς ἀνέμοιο  
But the force of the wind drove them away from there,

**277** πόλλʼ ἀεκαζομένους, οὐδʼ ἤθελον ἐξαπατῆσαι.  
much against their will; they did not mean to cheat me.

**278** κεῖθεν δὲ πλαγχθέντες ἱκάνομεν ἐνθάδε νυκτός.  
Driven off course from there we came here by night.

**279** σπουδῇ δʼ ἐς λιμένα προερέσσαμεν, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν  
With effort we rowed into the harbor, and none of us

**280** δόρπου μνῆστις ἔην, μάλα περ χατέουσιν ἑλέσθαι,  
had a thought of supper, though we badly needed to take it,

**281** ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀποβάντες ἐκείμεθα νηὸς ἅπαντες.  
but just as we were we all stepped ashore and lay down.

**282** ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,  
There sweet sleep came over me in my weariness,

**283** οἱ δὲ χρήματʼ ἐμὰ γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες  
and they, taking my goods out of the hollow ship,

**284** κάτθεσαν, ἔνθα περ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἐκείμην.  
set them down where I myself lay upon the sand.

**285** οἱ δʼ ἐς Σιδονίην εὖ ναιομένην ἀναβάντες  
Then they went aboard and sailed to well-settled Sidonia,

**286** ᾤχοντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.  
and departed; but I was left behind, grieving in my heart."

**287** ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,  
So he spoke, and the goddess gray-eyed Athena smiled,

**288** χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ  
and stroked him with her hand; and she took the form of a woman

**289** καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ·  
beautiful and tall and skilled in glorious handiwork;

**290** καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking she addressed to him winged words:

**291** κερδαλέος κʼ εἴη καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ὅς σε
                     παρέλθοι  
"Cunning he would have to be, and a thief, who could get past you

**292** ἐν πάντεσσι δόλοισι, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειε.  
in all manner of tricks, even if a god should match against you.

**293** σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, δόλων ἆτʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες,  
Reckless one, weaver of schemes, insatiable in guile, not even
> weaver of intricate schemes: Poikilometis describes a mind of 'many-colored' or intricate cunning, an epithet fitting Odysseus precisely. Athena praises the very deceit she has just caught him in.

**294** οὐδʼ ἐν σῇ περ ἐὼν γαίῃ, λήξειν ἀπατάων  
in your own land were you going to leave off your deceits

**295** μύθων τε κλοπίων, οἵ τοι πεδόθεν φίλοι εἰσίν.  
and thievish tales, which are dear to you from the depths of your heart.

**296** ἀλλʼ ἄγε, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα, εἰδότες ἄμφω  
But come, let us speak no more of this, for we both know

**297** κέρδεʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ μέν ἐσσι βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων  
cunning ways, since you are far the best of all mortals

**298** βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν πᾶσι θεοῖσι  
in counsel and in speech, while I among all the gods

**299** μήτι τε κλέομαι καὶ κέρδεσιν· οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔγνως  
am famed for wit and for cunning. And yet you did not recognize

**300** Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην, κούρην Διός, ἥ τέ τοι αἰεὶ  
Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, who always

**301** ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω,  
stands by your side in all your toils and guards you,

**302** καὶ δέ σε Φαιήκεσσι φίλον πάντεσσιν ἔθηκα,  
and who made you dear to all the Phaeacians.

**303** νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην, ἵνα τοι σὺν μῆτιν ὑφήνω  
Now again I have come here, to weave a plan with you

**304** χρήματά τε κρύψω, ὅσα τοι Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ  
and to hide the goods which the noble Phaeacians

**305** ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι ἐμῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,  
gave you on your way home through my counsel and design,

**306** εἴπω θʼ ὅσσα τοι αἶσα δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσι  
and to tell you all the troubles you are fated to bear

**307** κήδεʼ ἀνασχέσθαι· σὺ δὲ τετλάμεναι καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,  
in your well-built house; and you must endure, even under compulsion,
> endure! (infinitive as command): This perfect infinitive of tlao is used with imperative force, 'you must hold out'. Athena urges Odysseus to bear what is coming in silence.

**308** μηδέ τῳ ἐκφάσθαι μήτʼ ἀνδρῶν μήτε γυναικῶν,  
and tell it to no one, neither man nor woman,

**309** πάντων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθες ἀλώμενος, ἀλλὰ σιωπῇ  
of all, that you have come back from your wandering, but in silence

**310** πάσχειν ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.  
suffer many pains, and bear the violence of men."

**311** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her:
> Odysseus of many wiles: Polymetis, 'of many counsels', is among the most characteristic epithets of Odysseus. It introduces his reply just after Athena has named his cunning.

**312** ἀργαλέον σε, θεά, γνῶναι βροτῷ ἀντιάσαντι,  
"It is hard, goddess, for a mortal who meets you to know you,

**313** καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ· σὲ γὰρ αὐτὴν παντὶ ἐΐσκεις.  
even one who knows much; for you make yourself like anything.

**314** τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδʼ, ὅτι μοι πάρος ἠπίη ἦσθα,  
But this I know well, that you were kind to me before,

**315** ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.  
while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy.

**316** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,  
But after we sacked the steep city of Priam,

**317** βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,  
and went aboard our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
> aorist 'we sacked': The aorist diepersamen reports the completed destruction of Troy as a single past event. The augment di-e- marks it as a narrative past.

**318** οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἴδον, κούρη Διός, οὐδʼ ἐνόησα  
from then on I never saw you, daughter of Zeus, nor noticed

**319** νηὸς ἐμῆς ἐπιβᾶσαν, ὅπως τί μοι ἄλγος ἀλάλκοις.  
you boarding my ship to ward off any pain from me.

**320** ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἔχων δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ  
But always carrying a torn heart within my breast

**321** ἠλώμην, ἧός με θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν·  
I wandered, until the gods set me free from misery;

**322** πρίν γʼ ὅτε Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ  
not until, in the rich land of the Phaeacian men,

**323** θάρσυνάς τε ἔπεσσι καὶ ἐς πόλιν ἤγαγες αὐτή.  
you heartened me with words and yourself led me to the city.

**324** νῦν δέ σε πρὸς πατρὸς γουνάζομαι—οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω  
Now I beseech you by your father — for I do not think

**325** ἥκειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, ἀλλά τινʼ ἄλλην  
I have come to sunny Ithaca, but to some other

**326** γαῖαν ἀναστρέφομαι· σὲ δὲ κερτομέουσαν ὀΐω  
land I have wandered; and I think you are mocking me,

**327** ταῦτʼ ἀγορευέμεναι, ἵνʼ ἐμὰς φρένας ἠπεροπεύσῃς—  
saying these things, to beguile my mind —

**328** εἰπέ μοι εἰ ἐτεόν γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκάνω.  
tell me truly whether I have really come to my dear fatherland."

**329** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess gray-eyed Athena answered him:

**330** αἰεί τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·  
"Always such a thought as that is in your breast;

**331** τῷ σε καὶ οὐ δύναμαι προλιπεῖν δύστηνον ἐόντα,  
and so I cannot abandon you in your misfortune,

**332** οὕνεκʼ ἐπητής ἐσσι καὶ ἀγχίνοος καὶ ἐχέφρων.  
because you are civil and quick of mind and prudent.
> Civil and considerate: ἐπητής means courteous, considerate of others. Athena praises three intertwined traits: tact (ἐπητής), shrewdness (ἀγχίνοος), and good sense (ἐχέφρων).

**333** ἀσπασίως γάρ κʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν  
For any other man, come home after his wanderings,

**334** ἵετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἰδέειν παῖδάς τʼ ἄλοχόν τε·  
would rush to his halls to see his children and his wife;

**335** σοὶ δʼ οὔ πω φίλον ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὐδὲ πυθέσθαι,  
but you have no wish yet to learn or to inquire,

**336** πρίν γʼ ἔτι σῆς ἀλόχου πειρήσεαι, ἥ τέ τοι αὔτως  
before you have first tested your wife, who even so
> Testing Penelope: πειράω here means to put to the test, to probe. The whole second half of the poem turns on Odysseus testing the loyalty of those at home.

**337** ἧσται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν, ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ  
sits there in your halls, and her wretched

**338** φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.  
nights and days waste away as she sheds her tears.

**339** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀπίστεον, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ  
But I never doubted this, and in my heart

**340** ᾔδεʼ, ὃ νοστήσεις ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους·  
I knew you would come home, having lost all your companions;

**341** ἀλλά τοι οὐκ ἐθέλησα Ποσειδάωνι μάχεσθαι  
yet I was unwilling to do battle with Poseidon,

**342** πατροκασιγνήτῳ, ὅς τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ,  
my father's brother, who set rancor in his heart against you,

**343** χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.  
enraged that you blinded his dear son.

**344** ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι δείξω Ἰθάκης ἕδος, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς.  
But come, I will show you the lay of Ithaca, so you may believe.

**345** Φόρκυνος μὲν ὅδʼ ἐστὶ λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,  
This is the harbor of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,

**346** ἥδε δʼ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη·  
and here at the harbor's head is the long-leaved olive tree;

**347** ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,  
and close beside it the lovely, shadowy cave,

**348** ἱρὸν νυμφάων, αἳ νηϊάδες καλέονται·  
sacred to the nymphs who are called the Naiads;

**349** τοῦτο δέ τοι σπέος ἐστὶ κατηρεφές, ἔνθα σὺ πολλὰς  
this is the vaulted cavern where you many times

**350** ἔρδεσκες νύμφῃσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·  
used to offer the nymphs perfect hecatombs;
> Hecatomb: A hecatomb is a great sacrifice, literally of a hundred oxen, but used for any large ritual offering to the gods.

**351** τοῦτο δὲ Νήριτόν ἐστιν ὄρος καταειμένον ὕλῃ.  
and this is Mount Neriton, mantled in forest.

**352** ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ σκέδασʼ ἠέρα, εἴσατο δὲ χθών·  
So speaking, the goddess scattered the mist, and the land appeared;

**353** γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
and then much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,
> A standing epithet: "Much-enduring noble Odysseus" is a formulaic name-epithet phrase that fits the hexameter line's end and recurs throughout the poem.

**354** χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.  
glad in his own land, and he kissed the grain-giving earth.

**355** αὐτίκα δὲ νύμφῃς ἠρήσατο, χεῖρας ἀνασχών·  
At once he prayed to the nymphs, lifting up his hands:

**356** νύμφαι νηϊάδες, κοῦραι Διός, οὔ ποτʼ ἐγώ γε  
"Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I

**357** ὄψεσθʼ ὔμμʼ ἐφάμην· νῦν δʼ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσι  
think to see you again; now with gentle prayers

**358** χαίρετʼ· ἀτὰρ καὶ δῶρα διδώσομεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,  
I greet you; and we will give gifts too, as in time past,

**359** αἴ κεν ἐᾷ πρόφρων με Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη  
if the daughter of Zeus, the driver of spoil, graciously allows
> Driver of spoil: ἀγελείη, an epithet of Athena meaning roughly "she who drives off the booty," marks her as a war-goddess; it is one of her formulaic titles.

**360** αὐτόν τε ζώειν καί μοι φίλον υἱὸν ἀέξῃ.  
me myself to live, and lets my dear son grow to manhood."

**361** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athena, said to him in turn:
> Gray-eyed Athena: γλαυκῶπις, "gray-eyed" or "bright-eyed," is Athena's most frequent epithet, filling the line's end in the recurring speech-formula.

**362** θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.  
"Take heart, and do not let these things trouble your mind.

**363** ἀλλὰ χρήματα μὲν μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο  
But let us set your goods at once, now, in a corner

**364** θείμεν αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ·  
of the marvelous cave, so they may stay there safe for you;

**365** αὐτοὶ δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.  
and let us plan for ourselves how all may turn out best."

**366** ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ δῦνε σπέος ἠεροειδές,  
So speaking, the goddess entered the shadowy cave,

**367** μαιομένη κευθμῶνας ἀνὰ σπέος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
searching out hiding-places through the cavern; meanwhile Odysseus

**368** ἆσσον πάντʼ ἐφόρει, χρυσὸν καὶ ἀτειρέα χαλκὸν  
carried everything closer in—the gold and the stubborn bronze

**369** εἵματά τʼ εὐποίητα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν.  
and the well-made garments that the Phaeacians had given him.

**370** καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε, λίθον δʼ ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσι  
These he stowed well away, and Pallas Athena set a stone

**371** Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.  
against the doorway, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis.

**372** τὼ δὲ καθεζομένω ἱερῆς παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης  
Then the two of them sat down by the trunk of the sacred olive
> The dual: two of them: τώ and καθεζομένω are dual forms, used in Greek for a natural pair—here Odysseus and Athena seated together.

**373** φραζέσθην μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὄλεθρον.  
and plotted death for the overweening suitors.

**374** τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
The goddess, gray-eyed Athena, was first to speak among them:

**375** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
> Vocative of address: The whole line is a vocative formula used to address Odysseus directly: "Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus." πολυμήχανος means "of many devices."

**376** φράζευ ὅπως μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσεις,  
consider how you will lay hands on the shameless suitors,

**377** οἳ δή τοι τρίετες μέγαρον κάτα κοιρανέουσι,  
who for three years now have been lording it in your hall,

**378** μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες·  
wooing your godlike wife and giving bride-gifts;

**379** ἡ δὲ σὸν αἰεὶ νόστον ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν  
but she, forever grieving in her heart for your homecoming,
> Nostos, homecoming: νόστος, "homecoming," is the central theme of the Odyssey and the word from which "nostalgia" derives.

**380** πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ,  
gives all of them hope and makes promises to each man,

**381** ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.  
sending out messages, while her mind intends other things."
> men ... de contrast: The line caps a μέν...δέ structure across these verses: she openly promises (μέν) but inwardly (δέ) plans otherwise—Penelope's famous cunning.

**382** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:

**383** ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο  
"Oh no—surely I was about to perish in my halls

**384** φθίσεσθαι κακὸν οἶτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμελλον,  
by the evil doom of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

**385** εἰ μή μοι σὺ ἕκαστα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.  
if you, goddess, had not told me each thing rightly.

**386** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μῆτιν ὕφηνον, ὅπως ἀποτίσομαι αὐτούς·  
But come, weave a plan, so I may pay them back;
> Weaving a plan: μῆτις is cunning intelligence; "weave a plan" (ὑφαίνω) is a recurring metaphor for crafting a clever scheme—fitting for Athena and Odysseus.

**387** πὰρ δέ μοι αὐτὴ στῆθι, μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνεῖσα,  
and stand beside me yourself, putting bold courage in me,

**388** οἷον ὅτε Τροίης λύομεν λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.  
as on the day we loosed the shining diadem of Troy.
> The veil of Troy: κρήδεμνα, a woman's headveil or a city's battlements, is here a poignant image: sacking Troy is like tearing the veil from a woman's head.

**389** αἴ κέ μοι ὣς μεμαυῖα παρασταίης, γλαυκῶπι,  
If you would stand by me thus eager, gray-eyed one,

**390** καί κε τριηκοσίοισιν ἐγὼν ἄνδρεσσι μαχοίμην  
I would fight even against three hundred men,

**391** σὺν σοί, πότνα θεά, ὅτε μοι πρόφρασσʼ ἐπαρήγοις.  
with you, lady goddess, when you helped me with all your heart."

**392** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athena, answered him:

**393** καὶ λίην τοι ἐγώ γε παρέσσομαι, οὐδέ με λήσεις,  
"Be sure I will be at your side, and you will not escape my notice,

**394** ὁππότε κεν δὴ ταῦτα πενώμεθα· καί τινʼ ὀΐω  
when we set to work on this; and I think that some

**395** αἵματί τʼ ἐγκεφάλῳ τε παλαξέμεν ἄσπετον οὖδας  
will spatter the boundless floor with blood and brains.

**396** ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.  
of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood
> Devouring his living: βίοτος is both "life" and "livelihood, substance." The suitors literally eat through Odysseus's estate—a refrain throughout the poem.

**397** ἀλλʼ ἄγε σʼ ἄγνωστον τεύξω πάντεσσι βροτοῖσι·  
But come, I will make you unrecognizable to all mortals:

**398** κάρψω μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,  
I will shrivel the fine skin on your supple limbs,

**399** ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὀλέσω τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῖφος  
destroy the blond hair from your head, and around you a rag

**400** ἕσσω ὅ κε στυγέῃσιν ἰδὼν ἄνθρωπον ἔχοντα,  
I will throw, such that a man would loathe to see you wearing it,

**401** κνυζώσω δέ τοι ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε,  
and I will dim your eyes, that were so beautiful before,

**402** ὡς ἂν ἀεικέλιος πᾶσι μνηστῆρσι φανήῃς  
so that you will appear unseemly to all the suitors,

**403** σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ παιδί, τὸν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες.  
and to your wife and the son you left behind in your halls.

**404** αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,  
But you yourself must first go to the swineherd,

**405** ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδε,  
who keeps watch over your pigs and is loyal to you,

**406** παῖδά τε σὸν φιλέει καὶ ἐχέφρονα Πηνελόπειαν.  
and loves your son and prudent Penelope.

**407** δήεις τόν γε σύεσσι παρήμενον· αἱ δὲ νέμονται  
You will find him sitting among the swine; and they feed

**408** πὰρ Κόρακος πέτρῃ ἐπί τε κρήνῃ Ἀρεθούσῃ,  
by the Rock of the Raven and the spring of Arethusa,

**409** ἔσθουσαι βάλανον μενοεικέα καὶ μέλαν ὕδωρ  
eating the acorns they relish and drinking the dark water,

**410** πίνουσαι, τά θʼ ὕεσσι τρέφει τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφήν.  
things that nourish the rich fat upon the swine.

**411** ἔνθα μένειν καὶ πάντα παρήμενος ἐξερέεσθαι,  
Stay there, and sitting by him ask about everything,

**412** ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἔλθω Σπάρτην ἐς καλλιγύναικα  
while I go to Sparta, the land of lovely women,

**413** Τηλέμαχον καλέουσα, τεὸν φίλον υἱόν, Ὀδυσσεῦ·  
to summon Telemachus, your dear son, Odysseus;

**414** ὅς τοι ἐς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα πὰρ Μενέλαον  
for he went to spacious Lacedaemon, to Menelaus,

**415** ᾤχετο πευσόμενος μετὰ σὸν κλέος, εἴ που ἔτʼ εἴης.  
seeking news of you, whether you are still alive."
> Kleos, report and renown: κλέος means both "report, news" and "fame, glory." Telemachus goes after news of his father, but the word carries the larger heroic theme of renown.

**416** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:

**417** τίπτε τʼ ἄρʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπες, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πάντα ἰδυῖα;  
"Why then did you not tell him, you who know all things in your mind?

**418** ἦ ἵνα που καὶ κεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχῃ  
Was it so that he too might wander and suffer pains

**419** πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· βίοτον δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔδουσι;  
over the barren sea, while others devour his living?"
> The barren sea: ἀτρύγετος, "barren, unharvested," is a fixed epithet of the sea: it yields no crop, unlike the grain-giving earth.

**420** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athena, answered him:

**421** μὴ δή τοι κεῖνός γε λίην ἐνθύμιος ἔστω.  
"Do not let him weigh too heavily on your heart.

**422** αὐτή μιν πόμπευον, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο  
I myself escorted him, so that he might win good renown

**423** κεῖσʼ ἐλθών· ἀτὰρ οὔ τινʼ ἔχει πόνον, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος  
by going there; he has no trouble, but at his ease

**424** ἧσται ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο δόμοις, παρὰ δʼ ἄσπετα κεῖται.  
he sits in the house of Atreus's son, with plenty at hand.

**425** ἦ μέν μιν λοχόωσι νέοι σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ,  
True, young men lie in wait for him with a black ship,

**426** ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·  
eager to kill him before he reaches his native land;

**427** ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω, πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει  
but I do not think it will happen—sooner the earth will cover some

**428** ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.  
of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood."

**429** ὣς ἄρα μιν φαμένη ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη.  
So speaking, Athena touched him with her wand.
> The wand: ῥάβδος is the magic staff Athena uses to transform Odysseus, the same kind of instrument associated with divine power over appearance.

**430** κάρψεν μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,  
She shriveled the fine skin on his supple limbs,

**431** ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὄλεσε τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα  
destroyed the blond hair from his head, and over all his limbs

**432** πάντεσσιν μελέεσσι παλαιοῦ θῆκε γέροντος,  
she put the skin of an old man,

**433** κνύζωσεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε·  
and dimmed his eyes, that were so beautiful before;

**434** ἀμφὶ δέ μιν ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,  
she threw about him another garment, a sorry rag, and a tunic,

**435** ῥωγαλέα ῥυπόωντα, κακῷ μεμορυγμένα καπνῷ·  
torn and filthy, begrimed with foul smoke;

**436** ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μέγα δέρμα ταχείης ἕσσʼ ἐλάφοιο,  
and around him she cast the great hide of a swift deer,

**437** ψιλόν· δῶκε δέ οἱ σκῆπτρον καὶ ἀεικέα πήρην,  
worn bare; and she gave him a staff and an unsightly bag,

**438** πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.  
full of holes, with a twisted cord for a strap.

**439** τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν. ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα  
When the two had made their plans thus, they parted. She then
> Dual of the planning pair: τώ and βουλεύσαντε are dual forms again marking Odysseus and Athena as a pair before they split; διέτμαγεν means "they parted."

**440** ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν ἔβη μετὰ παῖδʼ Ὀδυσῆος.  
went to holy Lacedaemon, after the son of Odysseus.

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Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray/Allen text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0). English translation: © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC — original line-aligned draft, pending editorial review. Word-by-word morphology and syntax derived from the Perseus Ancient Greek Dependency Treebank (CC BY-SA 3.0); English glosses and notes © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.