# The Odyssey, Book 5: Calypso; Odysseus Builds a Raft and the Storm at Sea

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Wanderings

Zeus orders Calypso to let Odysseus go. He builds a raft and sails seventeen days. Poseidon wrecks him, and he swims ashore at Scheria.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/5. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/5.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ Τιθωνοῖο  
Now Dawn rose from her bed beside lordly Tithonus

**2** ὤρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·  
and stirred, to bring light to the immortals and to mortals;

**3** οἱ δὲ θεοὶ θῶκόνδε καθίζανον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσι  
and the gods were taking their seats in council, and among them

**4** Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.  
Zeus who thunders on high, whose power is greatest of all.
> Possessive genitive: The relative pronoun is genitive: "of whom the power is greatest." Greek uses the genitive to express possession.

**5** τοῖσι δʼ Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος  
To them Athena spoke of the many sorrows of Odysseus,

**6** μνησαμένη· μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης·  
remembering him; for it troubled her that he was in the nymph's halls:

**7** Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν
                     ἐόντες,  
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who live forever,
> Vocative of address: "Zeu pater" is vocative, the case for direct address. Athena calls out to the gods by name.

**8** μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω  
let no sceptered king ever again be kind and gentle and mild,

**9** σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,  
nor knowing in his heart what is right,

**10** ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·  
but let him always be harsh and do unjust deeds;
> Optative of wish: Both verbs are optative, used here to express a wish. Athena bitterly wishes the opposite of what she means.

**11** ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο  
since not one remembers godlike Odysseus

**12** λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.  
among the people he ruled, though he was gentle as a father.

**13** ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων  
But he lies on an island suffering bitter pains

**14** νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ  
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who by force

**15** ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·  
holds him; and he cannot reach his native land,

**16** οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,  
for he has no oared ships beside him, no companions

**17** οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.  
who might send him on over the broad back of the sea.
> Potential optative: The optative with the particle ken expresses what "might" happen: companions "who might convey him."

**18** νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀποκτεῖναι μεμάασιν  
And now they are bent on killing his beloved son

**19** οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν  
as he comes home; for he went after news of his father

**20** ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.  
to sacred Pylos and to glorious Lacedaemon."

**21** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
> Formulaic epithet: "Cloud-gatherer" is a fixed epithet for Zeus, repeated throughout Homer to fill the hexameter line.

**22** τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.  
"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!

**23** οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,  
For did you not yourself devise this plan,

**24** ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;  
that Odysseus should come back and take vengeance on those men?

**25** Τηλέμαχον δὲ σὺ πέμψον ἐπισταμένως, δύνασαι γάρ,  
As for Telemachus, send him on skillfully, for you can,
> Aorist imperative: "Pempson" is an aorist imperative, a direct command: "send." The aorist views the action as a single whole.

**26** ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται,  
so that he may reach his native land unharmed,

**27** μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐν νηὶ· παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέωνται.  
and the suitors come back in their ship with their purpose foiled."

**28** ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἑρμείαν, υἱὸν φίλον, ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
He spoke, and addressed Hermes, his dear son:

**29** Ἑρμεία, σὺ γὰρ αὖτε τά τʼ ἄλλα περ ἄγγελός ἐσσι,  
"Hermes, since in all else too you are our messenger,

**30** νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἰπεῖν νημερτέα βουλήν,  
tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring decree,

**31** νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται  
the homecoming of steadfast Odysseus, that he may return
> Nostos: homecoming: Nostos, "return home," is the central theme of the whole poem and the root of our word "nostalgia."

**32** οὔτε θεῶν πομπῇ οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·  
with no escort of gods nor of mortal men;

**33** ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου πήματα πάσχων  
but on a raft of many lashings, suffering hardships,

**34** ἤματί κʼ εἰκοστῷ Σχερίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοιτο,  
on the twentieth day he will reach fertile Scheria,

**35** Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,  
the land of the Phaeacians, who are kinsmen of the gods,

**36** οἵ κέν μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσιν,  
who will honor him in their hearts like a god,

**37** πέμψουσιν δʼ ἐν νηὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,  
and send him in a ship to his dear native land,

**38** χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες,  
giving him bronze and gold in plenty, and clothing,

**39** πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,  
more than Odysseus would ever have carried off from Troy,

**40** εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληίδος αἶσαν.  
had he come home unharmed with his fair share of the spoil.

**41** ὣς γάρ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι  
For this is his lot: to see his loved ones and to come

**42** οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
to his high-roofed house and his own native land."

**43** ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.  
So he spoke, and the guide, slayer of Argus, did not disobey.
> Epithet of Hermes: "Argeiphontes," slayer of the hundred-eyed Argus, is a standard epithet of Hermes the messenger god.

**44** αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,  
At once he bound beneath his feet his fine sandals,

**45** ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν  
immortal, golden, that bore him over the waters

**46** ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.  
and over the boundless earth with the breath of the wind.

**47** εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,  
He took the wand with which he charms the eyes of men,

**48** ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει.  
of whomever he wishes, and wakes others again from sleep.

**49** τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.  
Holding it in his hands, the strong slayer of Argus flew.

**50** Πιερίην δʼ ἐπιβὰς ἐξ αἰθέρος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ·  
Setting foot on Pieria, he dropped from the upper air to the sea,

**51** σεύατʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ κῦμα λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς,  
then sped over the waves like a gull,

**52** ὅς τε κατὰ δεινοὺς κόλπους ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο  
which down the dread gulfs of the barren sea

**53** ἰχθῦς ἀγρώσσων πυκινὰ πτερὰ δεύεται ἅλμῃ·  
hunting fish drenches its thick wings in the brine:

**54** τῷ ἴκελος πολέεσσιν ὀχήσατο κύμασιν Ἑρμῆς.  
like it Hermes rode over the many waves.

**55** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφίκετο τηλόθʼ ἐοῦσαν,  
But when he reached the island lying far off,

**56** ἔνθʼ ἐκ πόντου βὰς ἰοειδέος ἤπειρόνδε  
there he stepped from the violet sea onto the land

**57** ἤιεν, ὄφρα μέγα σπέος ἵκετο, τῷ ἔνι νύμφη  
and went on, until he came to the great cave where the nymph

**58** ναῖεν ἐυπλόκαμος· τὴν δʼ ἔνδοθι τέτμεν ἐοῦσαν.  
with the lovely hair dwelt; and he found her within.

**59** πῦρ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν μέγα καίετο, τηλόσε δʼ ὀδμὴ  
A great fire was burning on the hearth, and far off the scent

**60** κέδρου τʼ εὐκεάτοιο θύου τʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ὀδώδει  
of split cedar and incense-wood drifted across the island

**61** δαιομένων· ἡ δʼ ἔνδον ἀοιδιάουσʼ ὀπὶ καλῇ  
as they burned; and within she was singing with a lovely voice

**62** ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη χρυσείῃ κερκίδʼ ὕφαινεν.  
as she went to and fro at the loom, weaving with a golden shuttle.

**63** ὕλη δὲ σπέος ἀμφὶ πεφύκει τηλεθόωσα,  
Around the cave a wood had grown up flourishing,

**64** κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τε καὶ εὐώδης κυπάρισσος.  
alder and poplar and fragrant cypress.

**65** ἔνθα δέ τʼ ὄρνιθες τανυσίπτεροι εὐνάζοντο,  
There long-winged birds roosted,

**66** σκῶπές τʼ ἴρηκές τε τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι  
owls and hawks and long-tongued crows

**67** εἰνάλιαι, τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.  
of the sea, whose business is upon the waters.

**68** ἡ δʼ αὐτοῦ τετάνυστο περὶ σπείους γλαφυροῖο  
And there about the hollow cave was trained and spread

**69** ἡμερὶς ἡβώωσα, τεθήλει δὲ σταφυλῇσι.  
a thriving garden vine, luxuriant with clusters of grapes.

**70** κρῆναι δʼ ἑξείης πίσυρες ῥέον ὕδατι λευκῷ,  
Four springs in a row flowed with clear water,

**71** πλησίαι ἀλλήλων τετραμμέναι ἄλλυδις ἄλλη.  
close to one another, turned each a different way.

**72** ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμῶνες μαλακοὶ ἴου ἠδὲ σελίνου  
And all around soft meadows of violet and parsley

**73** θήλεον. ἔνθα κʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἀθάνατός περ ἐπελθὼν  
were blooming. There even an immortal coming upon it

**74** θηήσαιτο ἰδὼν καὶ τερφθείη φρεσὶν ᾗσιν.  
would gaze in wonder at the sight, and be glad in his heart.
> Potential optative: These optatives with ken describe what someone "would" do: even a god "would marvel and be delighted."

**75** ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.  
There the guide, slayer of Argus, stood and gazed.

**76** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,  
But when he had marveled at everything in his heart,

**77** αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλυθεν. οὐδέ μιν ἄντην  
at once he went into the wide cave. And face to face

**78** ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·  
Calypso, bright among goddesses, knew him at sight;

**79** οὐ γάρ τʼ ἀγνῶτες θεοὶ ἀλλήλοισι πέλονται  
for the immortal gods are not unknown to one another,

**80** ἀθάνατοι, οὐδʼ εἴ τις ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίει.  
even if one of them dwells in a house far away.

**81** οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ἔνδον ἔτετμεν,  
But great-hearted Odysseus he did not find within,

**82** ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς κλαῖε καθήμενος, ἔνθα πάρος περ,  
for he sat weeping on the shore, as before,

**83** δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων.  
racking his heart with tears and groans and griefs,

**84** πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.  
and gazed out over the barren sea, shedding tears.
> Iterative imperfect: The suffix -σκ- marks repeated, habitual action: he "kept gazing" out to sea, day after day.

**85** Ἑρμείαν δʼ ἐρέεινε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,  
Calypso, bright among goddesses, questioned Hermes,

**86** ἐν θρόνῳ ἱδρύσασα φαεινῷ σιγαλόεντι·  
after she had seated him on a shining, polished chair:

**87** τίπτε μοι, Ἑρμεία χρυσόρραπι, εἰλήλουθας  
"Why have you come to me, Hermes of the golden wand,

**88** αἰδοῖός τε φίλος τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.  
honored and dear? Before now you have not come often.

**89** αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,  
Say what is in your mind; my heart bids me do it,

**90** εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.  
if I can do it, and if it is a thing that can be done.

**91** ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.  
But come further in, that I may set hospitality before you."

**92** ὥς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ παρέθηκε τράπεζαν  
So saying, the goddess set out a table beside him,

**93** ἀμβροσίης πλήσασα, κέρασσε δὲ νέκταρ ἐρυθρόν.  
filling it with ambrosia, and mixed the red nectar.
> Ambrosia and nectar: The food and drink of the gods, which confer immortality. Mortals eat bread and wine instead.

**94** αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.  
Then the guide, slayer of Argus, drank and ate.

**95** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,  
But when he had dined and satisfied his heart with food,

**96** καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·  
then indeed he answered her with these words:

**97** εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ἐλθόντα θεὰ θεόν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι  
"You ask me why I have come, goddess to god; and I

**98** νημερτέως τὸν μῦθον ἐνισπήσω· κέλεαι γάρ.  
will tell you the matter truly, since you bid me.

**99** Ζεὺς ἐμέ γʼ ἠνώγει δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·  
Zeus commanded me to come here, against my will;

**100** τίς δʼ ἂν ἑκὼν τοσσόνδε διαδράμοι ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ  
for who would willingly run across so great a stretch

**101** ἄσπετον; οὐδέ τις ἄγχι βροτῶν πόλις, οἵ τε θεοῖσιν  
of salt water, unspeakably vast? No city of mortals is near,

**102** ἱερά τε ῥέζουσι καὶ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας.  
men who offer sacrifices to the gods and choice hecatombs.

**103** ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο  
But there is no way at all for another god to slip past

**104** οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι.  
or thwart the purpose of Zeus who holds the aegis.
> Genitive epithet: "Aegis-bearing Zeus" stands in the genitive, modifying "the purpose of Zeus." The aegis is his storm-shield.

**105** φησί τοι ἄνδρα παρεῖναι ὀιζυρώτατον ἄλλων,  
He says a man is here with you, most wretched of all

**106** τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οἳ ἄστυ πέρι Πριάμοιο μάχοντο  
those men who fought around Priam's city

**107** εἰνάετες, δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν πέρσαντες ἔβησαν  
nine years, and in the tenth sacked the city and went

**108** οἴκαδʼ· ἀτὰρ ἐν νόστῳ Ἀθηναίην ἀλίτοντο,  
homeward; but on the return they sinned against Athena,

**109** ἥ σφιν ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ κύματα μακρά.  
who roused against them an evil wind and high waves.

**110** ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,  
There all the rest of his noble companions perished,

**111** τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.  
but this man the wind and the wave bore here and brought him near.

**112** τὸν νῦν σʼ ἠνώγειν ἀποπεμπέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·  
Him now Zeus bids you send away as quickly as you can,

**113** οὐ γάρ οἱ τῇδʼ αἶσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ὀλέσθαι,  
for it is not his destiny to die here, far from his own people,
> aisa = appointed lot: Aisa is one's allotted destiny or portion. Here Hermes states that dying on Calypso's island is not the fate decreed for Odysseus.

**114** ἀλλʼ ἔτι οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι  
but it is still his lot to see his loved ones and reach

**115** οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
his high-roofed house and his own native land.

**116** ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,  
So he spoke, and Calypso, shining among goddesses, shuddered,
> Aorist of sudden reaction: rhigesen is aorist, marking the instantaneous shudder that seizes Calypso at the news. The aorist captures a single completed action rather than an ongoing state.

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

**118** σχέτλιοί ἐστε, θεοί, ζηλήμονες ἔξοχον ἄλλων,  
Cruel are you, gods, and jealous beyond all others,

**119** οἵ τε θεαῖς ἀγάασθε παρʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐνάζεσθαι  
you who begrudge goddesses lying openly beside men,

**120** ἀμφαδίην, ἤν τίς τε φίλον ποιήσετʼ ἀκοίτην.  
in the open, if one makes a man her dear bedfellow.

**121** ὣς μὲν ὅτʼ Ὠρίωνʼ ἕλετο ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,  
So it was when rosy-fingered Dawn chose Orion:

**122** τόφρα οἱ ἠγάασθε θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,  
so long the gods who live at ease begrudged her,

**123** ἧος ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ χρυσόθρονος Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ  
until in Ortygia chaste, golden-throned Artemis

**124** οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν.  
assailed him with her gentle arrows and slew him.

**125** ὣς δʼ ὁπότʼ Ἰασίωνι ἐυπλόκαμος Δημήτηρ,  
So too when fair-haired Demeter, yielding to her heart,

**126** ᾧ θυμῷ εἴξασα, μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ  
joined with Iasion in love and on his bed

**127** νειῷ ἔνι τριπόλῳ· οὐδὲ δὴν ἦεν ἄπυστος  
in the thrice-plowed fallow; nor for long did Zeus

**128** Ζεύς, ὅς μιν κατέπεφνε βαλὼν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ.  
remain unaware, and he slew him with a cast of his blazing thunderbolt.

**129** ὥς δʼ αὖ νῦν μοι ἄγασθε, θεοί, βροτὸν ἄνδρα παρεῖναι.  
So now again you begrudge me, gods, that a mortal man is with me.

**130** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐσάωσα περὶ τρόπιος βεβαῶτα  
Him I rescued as he straddled the keel, alone,

**131** οἶον, ἐπεί οἱ νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ  
after Zeus, with his blazing thunderbolt,

**132** Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.  
had struck his swift ship and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.

**133** ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,  
There all the rest of his brave companions perished,

**134** τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.  
but this man the wind and the wave bore here and brought him near.

**135** τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ φίλεόν τε καὶ ἔτρεφον, ἠδὲ ἔφασκον  
Him I loved and cherished, and I kept saying

**136** θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα.  
I would make him immortal and ageless for all his days.
> Immortal and ageless: A paired formula: athanaton ('deathless') and ageraon ('unaging'). Calypso offers Odysseus the two gifts that define the gods.

**137** ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο  
But since it is in no way possible for the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus

**138** οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι,  
to be evaded or thwarted by another god,

**139** ἐρρέτω, εἴ μιν κεῖνος ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,  
let him go, if that one urges and commands it,

**140** πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· πέμψω δέ μιν οὔ πῃ ἐγώ γε·  
over the barren sea; but I will send him off nowhere myself,

**141** οὐ γάρ μοι πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,  
for I have no ships fitted with oars and no companions

**142** οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.  
who might convey him over the broad back of the sea.

**143** αὐτάρ οἱ πρόφρων ὑποθήσομαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω,  
But of my own goodwill I will counsel him, and hide nothing,

**144** ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται.  
so that quite unharmed he may reach his own native land.

**145** τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·  
Then the guide, slayer of Argos, answered her:

**146** οὕτω νῦν ἀπόπεμπε, Διὸς δʼ ἐποπίζεο μῆνιν,  
So send him off now, and beware the wrath of Zeus,

**147** μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.  
lest he grow angry with you afterward and turn harsh.

**148** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης·  
So speaking the mighty slayer of Argos departed,

**149** ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα πότνια νύμφη  
and the lady nymph went toward great-hearted Odysseus,

**150** ἤιʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ Ζηνὸς ἐπέκλυεν ἀγγελιάων.  
since she had heeded the message of Zeus.

**151** τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς εὗρε καθήμενον· οὐδέ ποτʼ ὄσσε  
She found him sitting on the shore, and never were his eyes

**152** δακρυόφιν τέρσοντο, κατείβετο δὲ γλυκὺς αἰὼν  
dry of tears; his sweet life was draining away
> Sweet life ebbing: aion is the span of one's life; here it 'drained down' (kateibeto) as Odysseus wept, a vivid image of grief consuming his very existence.

**153** νόστον ὀδυρομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἥνδανε νύμφη.  
as he mourned for his homecoming, since the nymph no longer pleased him.
> nostos = homecoming: Nostos, the return home, is the central theme of the Odyssey. Odysseus weeps precisely because his nostos seems lost.

**154** ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νύκτας μὲν ἰαύεσκεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ  
By night, to be sure, he would sleep, even against his will,

**155** ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ·  
in the hollow caves, unwilling beside her willing;
> Participles in pointed contrast: Two present participles, 'not willing' (masculine, of Odysseus) and 'willing' (feminine dative, of Calypso), set side by side to mark the gulf between them.

**156** ἤματα δʼ ἂμ πέτρῃσι καὶ ἠιόνεσσι καθίζων  
but by day, sitting on the rocks and the beaches,

**157** δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων  
tearing his heart with tears and groans and griefs,

**158** πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.  
he gazed out on the barren sea, shedding tears.

**159** ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσεφώνεε δῖα θεάων·  
Standing near, the shining goddess spoke to him:

**160** κάμμορε, μή μοι ἔτʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὀδύρεο, μηδέ τοι
                     αἰὼν  
Ill-fated man, do not grieve here any longer, nor let your life

**161** φθινέτω· ἤδη γάρ σε μάλα πρόφρασσʼ ἀποπέμψω.  
waste away; for now with all goodwill I will send you on your way.

**162** ἀλλʼ ἄγε δούρατα μακρὰ ταμὼν ἁρμόζεο χαλκῷ  
Come, cut long beams with bronze and fit together

**163** εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην· ἀτὰρ ἴκρια πῆξαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς  
a wide raft; and fasten cross-planks upon it

**164** ὑψοῦ, ὥς σε φέρῃσιν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον.  
up high, so that it may carry you over the misty sea.

**165** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῖτον καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρὸν  
And I will stow bread and water and red wine,

**166** ἐνθήσω μενοεικέʼ, ἅ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι,  
abundant, to keep hunger from you,

**167** εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσω· πέμψω δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν,  
and I will clothe you in garments, and send a fair wind behind you,

**168** ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι,  
so that quite unharmed you may reach your own native land,

**169** αἴ κε θεοί γʼ ἐθέλωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,  
if the gods are willing, those who hold broad heaven,

**170** οἵ μευ φέρτεροί εἰσι νοῆσαί τε κρῆναί τε.  
who are stronger than I both to plan and to bring about.

**171** ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So she spoke, and much-enduring noble Odysseus shuddered,

**172** καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and speaking to her he addressed her with winged words:

**173** ἄλλο τι δὴ σύ, θεά, τόδε μήδεαι, οὐδέ τι πομπήν,  
Some other thing, goddess, you are plotting here, and not my passage,

**174** ἥ με κέλεαι σχεδίῃ περάαν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,  
you who bid me cross on a raft the great gulf of the sea,

**175** δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε· τὸ δʼ οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι  
dreadful and grievous; not even trim, balanced ships

**176** ὠκύποροι περόωσιν, ἀγαλλόμεναι Διὸς οὔρῳ.  
cross it, swift-sailing though they are, rejoicing in a wind from Zeus.

**177** οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀέκητι σέθεν σχεδίης ἐπιβαίην,  
Nor would I, against your will, set foot upon a raft,

**178** εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι  
unless you would consent, goddess, to swear a great oath
> Optative in a wish/condition: τλαίης is the 2nd singular aorist optative of τλάω ('to endure, to bring oneself to'), used in this conditional clause to frame the oath Odysseus demands as something Calypso must be willing to do.

**179** μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.  
that you will plot no other evil harm against me.

**180** ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων,  
So he spoke, and Calypso, shining among goddesses, smiled,

**181** χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
and she stroked him with her hand and spoke and called him by name:

**182** ἦ δὴ ἀλιτρός γʼ ἐσσὶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλια εἰδώς,  
You are a rogue indeed, and no fool in your thinking,

**183** οἷον δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἐπεφράσθης ἀγορεῦσαι.  
to have thought to speak such a speech as this.

**184** ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε  
Let earth now be my witness to this, and broad heaven above,

**185** καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος  
and the down-flowing water of the Styx, which is the greatest

**186** ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,  
and most dread oath there is for the blessed gods,

**187** μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.  
that I will plot no other evil harm against you.

**188** ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν νοέω καὶ φράσσομαι, ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περ  
But I intend, and will counsel, only such things as I would

**189** αὐτῇ μηδοίμην, ὅτε με χρειὼ τόσον ἵκοι·  
devise for myself, were such great need to come upon me;

**190** καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ νόος ἐστὶν ἐναίσιμος, οὐδέ μοι αὐτῇ  
for my mind too is righteous, and the heart within me

**191** θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι σιδήρεος, ἀλλʼ ἐλεήμων.  
in my breast is not of iron, but full of pity.
> A heart of iron: sidereos ('of iron') is the Homeric image for a pitiless, unfeeling heart; Calypso denies that hers is such.

**192** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο δῖα θεάων  
So speaking the shining goddess led the way

**193** καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.  
swiftly, and he then walked behind in the god's footsteps.

**194** ἷξον δὲ σπεῖος γλαφυρὸν θεὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνήρ,  
They came to the hollow cave, the goddess and the man,

**195** καί ῥʼ ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη  
and he sat down there upon the chair from which

**196** Ἑρμείας, νύμφη δʼ ἐτίθει πάρα πᾶσαν ἐδωδήν,  
Hermes had risen, and the nymph set beside him every food,

**197** ἔσθειν καὶ πίνειν, οἷα βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ἔδουσιν·  
to eat and drink, such things as mortal men eat;

**198** αὐτὴ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,  
and she herself sat opposite godlike Odysseus,

**199** τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἀμβροσίην δμῳαὶ καὶ νέκταρ ἔθηκαν.  
and beside her the handmaids set ambrosia and nectar.

**200** οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.  
They put forth their hands to the good things laid ready before them.

**201** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,  
But when they had taken their fill of food and drink,

**202** τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·  
then Calypso, shining among goddesses, began to speak:

**203** διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,  
Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

**204** οὕτω δὴ οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν  
so you wish to go now, at once, to your home

**205** αὐτίκα νῦν ἐθέλεις ἰέναι; σὺ δὲ χαῖρε καὶ ἔμπης.  
and your dear native land? Even so, fare you well.

**206** εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης σῇσι φρεσὶν ὅσσα τοι αἶσα  
Yet if you knew in your heart how many sorrows

**207** κήδεʼ ἀναπλῆσαι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,  
it is your destiny to fill up before you reach your native land,

**208** ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις  
you would stay right here with me and keep this house

**209** ἀθάνατός τʼ εἴης, ἱμειρόμενός περ ἰδέσθαι  
and be immortal, however much you long to see

**210** σὴν ἄλοχον, τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐέλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.  
your wife, for whom you yearn each and every day.

**211** οὐ μέν θην κείνης γε χερείων εὔχομαι εἶναι,  
Yet I claim to be in no way inferior to her,

**212** οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως οὐδὲ ἔοικεν  
neither in body nor in stature, since it is not fitting at all

**213** θνητὰς ἀθανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν.  
for mortal women to vie with immortals in body and form.
> Mortal vs. immortal, by case: thnetas (accusative subject of the infinitive) is set against athanatesi (dative, 'with immortals'), the syntax itself pairing the contrast of mortal and deathless.

**214** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then in answer resourceful Odysseus addressed her:

**215** πότνα θεά, μή μοι τόδε χώεο· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς  
Lady goddess, do not be angry with me over this. I myself know

**216** πάντα μάλʼ, οὕνεκα σεῖο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια  
all of it well, that prudent Penelope is

**217** εἶδος ἀκιδνοτέρη μέγεθός τʼ εἰσάντα ἰδέσθαι·  
less impressive than you in looks and stature to behold;

**218** ἡ μὲν γὰρ βροτός ἐστι, σὺ δʼ ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως.  
for she is a mortal, while you are immortal and ageless.

**219** ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐθέλω καὶ ἐέλδομαι ἤματα πάντα  
But even so I wish and long, each and every day,

**220** οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι.  
to go home and to see the day of my return.
> The day of return: nostimon emar, 'the day of homecoming', is a recurring Odyssean phrase fusing nostos (return) with the longed-for day it arrives.

**221** εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,  
But if some god should wreck me on the wine-dark sea,

**222** τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν·  
I will endure it, holding in my breast a heart that bears up under grief;
> Grief-enduring heart: ταλαπενθής combines 'enduring' (tala-) and 'grief' (penthos), a compound epithet for Odysseus' resilient spirit. It echoes his standing title 'much-enduring' (πολύτλας).

**223** ἤδη γὰρ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα  
for already I have suffered much and toiled through much

**224** κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω.  
on the waves and in war; let this too be added to those.

**225** ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἠέλιος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας
                  ἦλθεν·  
So he spoke, and the sun set and darkness came on;

**226** ἐλθόντες δʼ ἄρα τώ γε μυχῷ σπείους γλαφυροῖο  
and the two of them, going into the inmost recess of the hollow cave,

**227** τερπέσθην φιλότητι, παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.  
took their pleasure in love, remaining beside each other.

**228** ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,  
And when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,

**229** αὐτίχʼ ὁ μὲν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε ἕννυτʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,  
at once Odysseus put on his cloak and tunic,

**230** αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,  
and the nymph herself put on a great silvery-white robe,

**231** λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ  
fine and graceful, and around her waist she cast a belt,

**232** καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐφύπερθε καλύπτρην.  
beautiful and golden, and over her head a veil.

**233** καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μήδετο πομπήν·  
And then she set about planning the sending of great-hearted Odysseus.

**234** δῶκέν οἱ πέλεκυν μέγαν, ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσι,  
She gave him a great axe, well fitted to his palms,

**235** χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ  
of bronze, sharpened on both sides; and set in it

**236** στειλειὸν περικαλλὲς ἐλάινον, εὖ ἐναρηρός·  
was a beautiful handle of olive-wood, firmly fixed;

**237** δῶκε δʼ ἔπειτα σκέπαρνον ἐύξοον· ἦρχε δʼ ὁδοῖο  
then she gave him a well-polished adze; and she led the way

**238** νήσου ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,  
to the far edge of the island, where tall trees were growing,

**239** κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τʼ, ἐλάτη τʼ ἦν οὐρανομήκης,  
alder and poplar, and fir that reached to the sky,

**240** αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, τά οἱ πλώοιεν ἐλαφρῶς.  
long dry, thoroughly seasoned, that would sail light for him.

**241** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δεῖξʼ, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,  
But when she had shown him where the tall trees grew,

**242** ἡ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,  
Calypso, fair among goddesses, went back to her home,

**243** αὐτὰρ ὁ τάμνετο δοῦρα· θοῶς δέ οἱ ἤνυτο ἔργον.  
while he cut the beams; and swiftly the work was done for him.

**244** εἴκοσι δʼ ἔκβαλε πάντα, πελέκκησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ,  
He felled twenty in all, and trimmed them with the bronze,

**245** ξέσσε δʼ ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.  
and planed them skillfully, and made them straight to the line.
> Straight to the line: στάθμη is the carpenter's chalked measuring-line; ἴθυνεν means he made the timbers true to it. The detail underscores Odysseus' practical craftsmanship.

**246** τόφρα δʼ ἔνεικε τέρετρα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·  
Meanwhile Calypso, fair among goddesses, brought augers;

**247** τέτρηνεν δʼ ἄρα πάντα καὶ ἥρμοσεν ἀλλήλοισιν,  
and he bored through all the pieces and fitted them to one another,

**248** γόμφοισιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε καὶ ἁρμονίῃσιν ἄρασσεν.  
and with pegs and joints he hammered the raft together.

**249** ὅσσον τίς τʼ ἔδαφος νηὸς τορνώσεται ἀνὴρ  
As wide as a man marks out the floor of a ship,

**250** φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἐὺ εἰδὼς τεκτοσυνάων,  
a broad freighter, one well skilled in carpentry,

**251** τόσσον ἔπʼ εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην ποιήσατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.  
so broad did Odysseus make his raft.

**252** ἴκρια δὲ στήσας, ἀραρὼν θαμέσι σταμίνεσσι,  
He set up the deck-planks, fitting them to close-set ribs,

**253** ποίει· ἀτὰρ μακρῇσιν ἐπηγκενίδεσσι τελεύτα.  
and worked on; and he finished it off with long gunwales.

**254** ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν ποίει καὶ ἐπίκριον ἄρμενον αὐτῷ·  
In it he made a mast and a yard-arm fitted to it,

**255** πρὸς δʼ ἄρα πηδάλιον ποιήσατο, ὄφρʼ ἰθύνοι.  
and besides he made a steering-oar, to steer her with.

**256** φράξε δέ μιν ῥίπεσσι διαμπερὲς οἰσυΐνῃσι  
He fenced it from end to end with willow wickerwork

**257** κύματος εἶλαρ ἔμεν· πολλὴν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο ὕλην.  
to be a defense against the wave; and he piled on much brush.

**258** τόφρα δὲ φάρεʼ ἔνεικε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,  
Meanwhile Calypso, fair among goddesses, brought cloth

**259** ἱστία ποιήσασθαι· ὁ δʼ εὖ τεχνήσατο καὶ τά.  
to make sails; and these too he fashioned well.

**260** ἐν δʼ ὑπέρας τε κάλους τε πόδας τʼ ἐνέδησεν ἐν αὐτῇ,  
And he bound in it the braces and halyards and sheets,

**261** μοχλοῖσιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε κατείρυσεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.  
and with levers he hauled her down into the bright sea.

**262** τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, καὶ τῷ τετέλεστο ἅπαντα·  
It was the fourth day, and by then everything was finished;

**263** τῷ δʼ ἄρα πέμπτῳ πέμπʼ ἀπὸ νήσου δῖα Καλυψώ,  
and on the fifth, fair Calypso sent him from the island,

**264** εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσασα θυώδεα καὶ λούσασα.  
after she had clothed him in fragrant garments and bathed him.

**265** ἐν δέ οἱ ἀσκὸν ἔθηκε θεὰ μέλανος οἴνοιο  
And the goddess put on board for him a skin of dark wine,

**266** τὸν ἕτερον, ἕτερον δʼ ὕδατος μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα  
one of them, and another large one of water, and provisions too

**267** κωρύκῳ· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄψα τίθει μενοεικέα πολλά·  
in a sack; and she set many tasty foods in it to his liking;

**268** οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.  
and she sent forth a fair wind, gentle and warm.

**269** γηθόσυνος δʼ οὔρῳ πέτασʼ ἱστία δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
Rejoicing in the wind, noble Odysseus spread his sails.

**270** αὐτὰρ ὁ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως  
And he steered with the steering-oar skillfully,

**271** ἥμενος, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν  
sitting there, and sleep did not fall upon his eyelids

**272** Πληιάδας τʼ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην  
as he watched the Pleiades and late-setting Boötes

**273** Ἄρκτον θʼ, ἣν καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,  
and the Bear, which men also call by the name of the Wain,

**274** ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,  
which turns round in place and keeps watch on Orion,

**275** οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο·  
and alone has no share in the baths of Ocean.

**276** τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,  
For Calypso, fair among goddesses, had told him

**277** ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.  
to keep it on his left hand as he sailed the sea.

**278** ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέεν ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,  
For seventeen days he sailed, voyaging over the sea,

**279** ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα  
and on the eighteenth there appeared the shadowy mountains

**280** γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τʼ ἄγχιστον πέλεν αὐτῷ·  
of the land of the Phaeacians, where it lay nearest to him;

**281** εἴσατο δʼ ὡς ὅτε ῥινὸν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.  
and it showed like a shield on the misty sea.

**282** τὸν δʼ ἐξ Αἰθιόπων ἀνιὼν κρείων ἐνοσίχθων  
But the lord earth-shaker, returning from the Ethiopians,
> Earth-shaker: ἐνοσίχθων ('earth-shaker') is a standing epithet of Poseidon, god of the sea and of earthquakes. Homer uses it to introduce the god as he spots Odysseus.

**283** τηλόθεν ἐκ Σολύμων ὀρέων ἴδεν· εἴσατο γάρ οἱ  
saw him from afar, from the mountains of the Solymi; for he came into view

**284** πόντον ἐπιπλώων. ὁ δʼ ἐχώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,  
as he sailed the sea. And Poseidon grew yet angrier in his heart,

**285** κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·  
and shaking his head he spoke to his own spirit:

**286** ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ μετεβούλευσαν θεοὶ ἄλλως  
"Well now! Surely the gods have changed their plans about Odysseus

**287** ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι ἐμεῖο μετʼ Αἰθιόπεσσιν ἐόντος,  
while I was away among the Ethiopians;

**288** καὶ δὴ Φαιήκων γαίης σχεδόν, ἔνθα οἱ αἶσα  
and now he is near the land of the Phaeacians, where it is his fate
> Fate (aisa): αἶσα is one's allotted portion or destiny. Poseidon acknowledges even he cannot prevent the fated escape; he can only make the journey harder.

**289** ἐκφυγέειν μέγα πεῖραρ ὀιζύος, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.  
to escape the great extremity of the misery that has come upon him.

**290** ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν μίν φημι ἅδην ἐλάαν κακότητος.  
But still I think I can drive him to his fill of trouble yet."

**291** ὣς εἰπὼν σύναγεν νεφέλας, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον  
So speaking, he gathered the clouds together, and stirred up the sea,

**292** χερσὶ τρίαιναν ἑλών· πάσας δʼ ὀρόθυνεν ἀέλλας  
gripping his trident in his hands; and he roused all the blasts

**293** παντοίων ἀνέμων, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε  
of winds of every kind, and shrouded with clouds

**294** γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.  
both land and sea alike; and night rushed down from heaven.

**295** σὺν δʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τʼ ἔπεσον Ζέφυρός τε δυσαὴς  
Together fell the East Wind and the South, and the ill-blowing West,

**296** καὶ Βορέης αἰθρηγενέτης, μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδων.  
and the North Wind, born of clear sky, rolling a great wave before it.

**297** καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,  
And then the knees of Odysseus were loosened, and his own heart,
> His knees were loosened: A standard Homeric idiom for sudden fear or collapse: the limbs go slack with dread. Here it marks Odysseus' terror as the storm breaks.

**298** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·  
and in distress he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

**299** ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλός, τί νύ μοι μήκιστα γένηται;  
"Wretched me! What in the end is to become of me?

**300** δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεὰ νημερτέα εἶπεν,  
I fear that the goddess spoke all things truly,

**301** ἥ μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν πόντῳ, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,  
who said that on the sea, before I reached my native land,

**302** ἄλγεʼ ἀναπλήσειν· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.  
I would fill up my measure of griefs; and now all of it is coming to pass.

**303** οἵοισιν νεφέεσσι περιστέφει οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν  
With such clouds Zeus is crowning the wide heaven

**304** Ζεύς, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον, ἐπισπέρχουσι δʼ ἄελλαι  
and has stirred up the sea, and the blasts press hard,

**305** παντοίων ἀνέμων. νῦν μοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.  
of every kind of wind. Now my sheer destruction is certain.

**306** τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ καὶ τετράκις, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο  
Three times blessed the Danaans, and four times, who perished then

**307** Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ χάριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι φέροντες.  
in wide Troy, bringing a favor to the sons of Atreus.

**308** ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν  
Would that I too had died and met my doom

**309** ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα  
on that day when in throngs the Trojans hurled at me

**310** Τρῶες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλεΐωνι θανόντι.  
their bronze-tipped spears around the dead son of Peleus.

**311** τῷ κʼ ἔλαχον κτερέων, καί μευ κλέος ἦγον Ἀχαιοί·  
Then I would have had funeral rites, and the Achaeans would have spread my fame;

**312** νῦν δέ λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.  
but now it is my lot to be caught by a wretched death."

**313** ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντʼ ἔλασεν μέγα κῦμα κατʼ ἄκρης  
Even as he spoke, a great wave struck him down from on high,

**314** δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον, περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.  
rushing terribly, and spun the raft around.

**315** τῆλε δʼ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε, πηδάλιον δὲ  
Far from the raft he himself fell, and the steering-oar

**316** ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε· μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξεν  
flew from his hands; and the mast was snapped in the middle

**317** δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,  
by a fearful squall of mingled winds that came down upon it,

**318** τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.  
and far off the sail and yard-arm fell into the sea.

**319** τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδʼ ἐδυνάσθη  
And the wave held him under for a long time, nor was he able

**320** αἶψα μάλʼ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·  
to come up quickly from beneath the rush of the mighty wave;

**321** εἵματα γάρ ῥʼ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.  
for the clothes weighed him down that fair Calypso had given him.

**322** ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥʼ ἀνέδυ, στόματος δʼ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμην  
At last he came up, and spat the brine from his mouth,

**323** πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.  
the bitter brine that streamed down in floods from his head.

**324** ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,  
Yet even so he did not forget his raft, worn out as he was,

**325** ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετʼ αὐτῆς,  
but lunging after it among the waves he laid hold of it,

**326** ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.  
and sat down in its middle, avoiding the end that is death.

**327** τὴν δʼ ἐφόρει μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.  
And the great wave carried it along the current, this way and that.

**328** ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης φορέῃσιν ἀκάνθας  
As when in autumn the North Wind drives thistledown over the plain,

**329** ἂμ πεδίον, πυκιναὶ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,  
and the tufts cling thickly to one another,

**330** ὣς τὴν ἂμ πέλαγος ἄνεμοι φέρον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα·  
so the winds bore the raft this way and that across the sea.

**331** ἄλλοτε μέν τε Νότος Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι,  
Now the South Wind would fling it to the North to carry,

**332** ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτʼ Εὖρος Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν.  
and now again the East Wind would yield it to the West to chase.
> The named winds: Homer names the four winds as persons: Euros (East), Zephyros (West), Notos (South), Boreas (North). They are treated almost as gods who toss the raft between them.

**333** τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,  
But the daughter of Cadmus saw him, Ino of the lovely ankles,

**334** Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,  
Leucothea, who once was a mortal of human speech,
> "Of human speech": The epithet marks her former mortality: a being "endowed with speech" like ordinary humans, before she was raised to divine status.

**335** νῦν δʼ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.  
but now in the deeps of the sea has won her share of honor from the gods.

**336** ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,  
She took pity on Odysseus as he drifted in his sufferings,

**337** αἰθυίῃ δʼ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,  
and like a sea-gull on the wing she rose up from the swell,

**338** ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·  
sat upon the close-bound raft, and spoke her word:

**339** κάμμορε, τίπτε τοι ὧδε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων  
"Poor man, why does Poseidon the earth-shaker rage at you
> Epithet: earth-shaker: A standing epithet of Poseidon, "earth-shaker," marking his power over earthquakes and the heaving sea.

**340** ὠδύσατʼ ἐκπάγλως, ὅτι τοι κακὰ πολλὰ φυτεύει;  
so terribly, that he sows so many troubles for you?
> "Sows" troubles: The verb literally means to plant or sow; Homer uses it as a metaphor for contriving and breeding evils for someone.

**341** οὐ μὲν δή σε καταφθίσει μάλα περ μενεαίνων.  
Yet he will not destroy you, however much he longs to.

**342** ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξαι, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·  
Just do as I say — you seem to me no fool:

**343** εἵματα ταῦτʼ ἀποδὺς σχεδίην ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαι  
strip off these clothes and let the raft drive before the winds,

**344** κάλλιπʼ, ἀτὰρ χείρεσσι νέων ἐπιμαίεο νόστου  
leave it behind, and with your arms swim hard for the homecoming
> Nostos: homecoming: Nostos, "homecoming," is a central theme of the whole poem; here it stands concretely for the safe arrival Odysseus must reach by swimming.

**345** γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι μοῖρʼ ἐστὶν ἀλύξαι.  
to the land of the Phaeacians, where it is your fate to escape.

**346** τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαι  
Here, stretch this veil beneath your breast —

**347** ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.  
it is immortal; you need have no fear of suffering or of dying.

**348** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν χείρεσσιν ἐφάψεαι ἠπείροιο,  
But when with your hands you take hold of the mainland,

**349** ἂψ ἀπολυσάμενος βαλέειν εἰς οἴνοπα πόντον  
untie it again and throw it into the wine-dark sea,
> Epithet: wine-dark sea: The famous formula "wine-faced/wine-dark sea" describes the deep glinting color of open water; it is one of Homer's most recurrent epithets.

**350** πολλὸν ἀπʼ ἠπείρου, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι.  
far out from the land, and turn yourself away."

**351** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κρήδεμνον ἔδωκεν,  
So speaking the goddess gave him the veil,

**352** αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα  
and she herself plunged back into the surging sea,

**353** αἰθυίῃ ἐικυῖα· μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν.  
like a sea-gull; and the dark wave closed over her.

**354** αὐτὰρ ὁ μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
But much-enduring noble Odysseus pondered,
> Epithet: much-enduring: "Much-enduring noble Odysseus" is a stock line-ending formula. The epithet polytlas highlights the hero's defining capacity to suffer and endure.

**355** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·  
and troubled he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

**356** ὤ μοι ἐγώ, μή τίς μοι ὑφαίνῃσιν δόλον αὖτε  
"Oh no — let it not be that some immortal is weaving me a trick again,
> "Weaving a trick": Homer pictures cunning as weaving; the same metaphor (dolon hyphainein) is used both of Odysseus's own schemes and of plots against him.

**357** ἀθανάτων, ὅ τέ με σχεδίης ἀποβῆναι ἀνώγει.  
telling me to step off my raft.

**358** ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πω πείσομʼ, ἐπεὶ ἑκὰς ὀφθαλμοῖσιν  
No, I will not obey yet, since I saw with my own eyes

**359** γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἰδόμην, ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι.  
that the land is far off, where she said my refuge lies.

**360** ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξω, δοκέει δέ μοι εἶναι ἄριστον·  
So I will do this — it seems to me the best:

**361** ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν δούρατʼ ἐν ἁρμονίῃσιν ἀρήρῃ,  
as long as the timbers hold together in their joinings,

**362** τόφρʼ αὐτοῦ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἄλγεα πάσχων·  
so long I will stay here and endure my sufferings;

**363** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δή μοι σχεδίην διὰ κῦμα τινάξῃ,  
but once the wave has shaken the raft to pieces under me,

**364** νήξομʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι πάρα προνοῆσαι ἄμεινον.  
I will swim, since there is nothing better to plan ahead."

**365** ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,  
While he turned this over in his mind and heart,
> Mind and heart: A formulaic pair, phrēn and thymos, naming the seat of thought and feeling together — "in mind and spirit." It marks moments of inner deliberation.

**366** ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ μέγα κῦμα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,  
Poseidon the earth-shaker raised up a great wave against him,

**367** δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, κατηρεφές, ἤλασε δʼ αὐτόν.  
dreadful and crushing, arched overhead, and drove it down upon him.

**368** ὡς δʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς ἠΐων θημῶνα τινάξῃ  
As when a gusting wind shakes a heap of dry chaff

**369** καρφαλέων· τὰ μὲν ἄρ τε διεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ·  
and scatters it this way and that,

**370** ὣς τῆς δούρατα μακρὰ διεσκέδασʼ. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
so the wave scattered the raft's long timbers. But Odysseus

**371** ἀμφʼ ἑνὶ δούρατι βαῖνε, κέληθʼ ὡς ἵππον ἐλαύνων,  
mounted astride a single beam, riding it like a horse,

**372** εἵματα δʼ ἐξαπέδυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.  
and stripped off the clothes that noble Calypso had given him.

**373** αὐτίκα δὲ κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τάνυσσεν,  
At once he stretched the veil beneath his breast,

**374** αὐτὸς δὲ πρηνὴς ἁλὶ κάππεσε, χεῖρε πετάσσας,  
and flung himself face-forward into the sea, spreading his arms,

**375** νηχέμεναι μεμαώς. ἴδε δὲ κρείων ἐνοσίχθων,  
eager to swim. And the lord earth-shaker saw him,

**376** κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·  
and shaking his head he spoke to his own spirit:

**377** οὕτω νῦν κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν ἀλόω κατὰ πόντον,  
"So now, after suffering many evils, drift over the sea,

**378** εἰς ὅ κεν ἀνθρώποισι διοτρεφέεσσι μιγήῃς.  
until you come among men nurtured by Zeus.
> "Nurtured by Zeus": A common epithet for kings and noble peoples, marking them as cherished and protected by Zeus — here pointing ahead to the Phaeacians.

**379** ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς σε ἔολπα ὀνόσσεσθαι κακότητος.  
Even so, I think you will not make light of your misery."

**380** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,  
So speaking he whipped his fair-maned horses,

**381** ἵκετο δʼ εἰς Αἰγάς, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔασιν.  
and came to Aegae, where his famous halls stand.

**382** αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν.  
But Athena, daughter of Zeus, had other thoughts.
> Epithet: daughter of Zeus: Athena is repeatedly named "daughter of Zeus," stressing both her divine rank and her special closeness to her father's will.

**383** ἦ τοι τῶν ἄλλων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κελεύθους,  
She bound back the paths of all the other winds,

**384** παύσασθαι δʼ ἐκέλευσε καὶ εὐνηθῆναι ἅπαντας·  
and bade them all cease and lie down to rest;

**385** ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ κραιπνὸν Βορέην, πρὸ δὲ κύματʼ ἔαξεν,  
but she roused a swift North Wind and broke down the waves before it,

**386** ἧος ὃ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μιγείη  
so that Zeus-born Odysseus might come among the oar-loving Phaeacians,
> "Oar-loving": A standing epithet of the Phaeacians, a seafaring people "fond of the oar" — fitting for those whose magic ships will carry Odysseus home.

**387** διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.  
escaping death and the spirits of doom.
> Kēres: the death-spirits: The kēres are personified spirits of death and doom; paired with thanatos here, they make the danger vivid and almost living.

**388** ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα κύματι πηγῷ  
There for two nights and two days on the heaving wave

**389** πλάζετο, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη προτιόσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.  
he drifted, and again and again his heart foresaw destruction.

**390** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,  
But when fair-haired Dawn brought the third day to its fullness,
> Epithet: fair-haired Dawn: Dawn carries many formulaic epithets; "fair-tressed" pictures her as a radiant goddess and marks the start of a new day in the narrative.

**391** καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη  
then at last the wind died down, and a windless calm

**392** ἔπλετο νηνεμίη· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σχεδὸν εἴσιδε γαῖαν  
came over the sea; and he caught sight of land close by,

**393** ὀξὺ μάλα προϊδών, μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ἀρθείς.  
looking out sharply, lifted high upon a great wave.

**394** ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος βίοτος παίδεσσι φανήῃ  
As when life returns, welcome, to children whose father

**395** πατρός, ὃς ἐν νούσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων,  
has lain in sickness, suffering hard pains,

**396** δηρὸν τηκόμενος, στυγερὸς δέ οἱ ἔχραε δαίμων,  
wasting long, while a hateful god assailed him,

**397** ἀσπάσιον δʼ ἄρα τόν γε θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν,  
and then, welcome, the gods free him from his misery —

**398** ὣς Ὀδυσεῖ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο γαῖα καὶ ὕλη,  
so welcome to Odysseus appeared the land and its trees,

**399** νῆχε δʼ ἐπειγόμενος ποσὶν ἠπείρου ἐπιβῆναι.  
and he swam, straining to set foot upon the mainland.

**400** ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,  
But when he was as far off as a man's shout can carry,
> A shout's distance: Homer measures distance by how far a man's shout can be heard — a vivid, human unit rather than an abstract measure.

**401** καὶ δὴ δοῦπον ἄκουσε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσι θαλάσσης·  
he heard the thud of the sea against the reefs;

**402** ῥόχθει γὰρ μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ξερὸν ἠπείροιο  
for the great wave roared against the dry land,

**403** δεινὸν ἐρευγόμενον, εἴλυτο δὲ πάνθʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνῃ·  
belching dreadfully, and everything was wrapped in salt spray;

**404** οὐ γὰρ ἔσαν λιμένες νηῶν ὄχοι, οὐδʼ ἐπιωγαί.  
for there were no harbors to hold ships, nor any roadsteads,

**405** ἀλλʼ ἀκταὶ προβλῆτες ἔσαν σπιλάδες τε πάγοι τε·  
but jutting headlands, reefs, and crags.

**406** καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,  
And then Odysseus's knees gave way and his heart sank,
> "His knees were loosened": A recurring formula for sudden fear or collapse: the knees "are loosed" as strength fails. Here it marks Odysseus's despair at the cliffs.

**407** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·  
and troubled he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

**408** ὤ μοι, ἐπεὶ δὴ γαῖαν ἀελπέα δῶκεν ἰδέσθαι  
"Alas, now that Zeus has granted me to see land beyond all hope,

**409** Ζεύς, καὶ δὴ τόδε λαῖτμα διατμήξας ἐπέρησα,  
and I have cut my way across this gulf and crossed it through,

**410** ἔκβασις οὔ πῃ φαίνεθʼ ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θύραζε·  
no way out of the gray sea appears toward dry ground;

**411** ἔκτοσθεν μὲν γὰρ πάγοι ὀξέες, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα  
for offshore are sharp crags, and all around the wave

**412** βέβρυχεν ῥόθιον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη,  
roars and breaks, and the rock runs up sheer and smooth,

**413** ἀγχιβαθὴς δὲ θάλασσα, καὶ οὔ πως ἔστι πόδεσσι  
and the sea is deep close in, and there is no way to plant

**414** στήμεναι ἀμφοτέροισι καὶ ἐκφυγέειν κακότητα·  
both feet and stand and escape from disaster;

**415** μή πώς μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βάλῃ λίθακι ποτὶ πέτρῃ  
I fear that, as I climb out, a great wave may snatch me

**416** κῦμα μέγʼ ἁρπάξαν· μελέη δέ μοι ἔσσεται ὁρμή.  
and hurl me against the stony rock, and my effort will be in vain.

**417** εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω παρανήξομαι, ἤν που ἐφεύρω  
But if I swim still farther along, in hope of finding

**418** ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης,  
shelving beaches and harbors of the sea,

**419** δείδω μή μʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα  
I am afraid a squall may snatch me up once more

**420** πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρῃ βαρέα στενάχοντα,  
and carry me back over the fish-filled sea, groaning heavily,
> Epithet: fish-filled: "Fish-teeming" is a standing epithet of the sea, evoking its swarming depths — here giving an ominous edge as Odysseus fears the monsters in it.

**421** ἠέ τί μοι καὶ κῆτος ἐπισσεύῃ μέγα δαίμων  
or some great god may rouse a sea-monster against me

**422** ἐξ ἁλός, οἷά τε πολλὰ τρέφει κλυτὸς Ἀμφιτρίτη·  
out of the deep, such as glorious Amphitrite breeds in plenty;

**423** οἶδα γάρ, ὥς μοι ὀδώδυσται κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.  
for I know how the glorious earth-shaker rages at me."
> A pun on the name: The verb for Poseidon's wrath, odōdystai, echoes the name Odysseus — Homer plays on the hero as "the man of wrath / the hated one."

**424** ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,  
While he turned this over in his mind and heart,

**425** τόφρα δέ μιν μέγα κῦμα φέρε τρηχεῖαν ἐπʼ ἀκτήν.  
a great wave bore him toward the rugged shore.

**426** ἔνθα κʼ ἀπὸ ῥινοὺς δρύφθη, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράχθη,  
There the skin would have been stripped from him and his bones crushed,
> An unreal "if not": Homer marks a disaster that almost happened: "there he would have... if Athena had not..." The construction (potential with ken, then a contrary-to-fact clause) shows the goddess's intervention.

**427** εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
had not the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, put it in his mind:
> Epithet: bright-eyed Athena: "Gleaming-eyed" (or "owl-eyed") Athena is one of her commonest epithets, marking her keen, flashing gaze and shrewd intelligence.

**428** ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε πέτρης,  
with both hands he rushed and seized the rock,

**429** τῆς ἔχετο στενάχων, ἧος μέγα κῦμα παρῆλθε.  
and clung to it groaning until the great wave passed by.

**430** καὶ τὸ μὲν ὣς ὑπάλυξε, παλιρρόθιον δέ μιν αὖτις  
So that one he escaped; but the backwash struck him again

**431** πλῆξεν ἐπεσσύμενον, τηλοῦ δέ μιν ἔμβαλε πόντῳ.  
as it rushed on, and flung him far out into the sea.

**432** ὡς δʼ ὅτε πουλύποδος θαλάμης ἐξελκομένοιο  
As when an octopus is dragged from its lair

**433** πρὸς κοτυληδονόφιν πυκιναὶ λάιγγες ἔχονται,  
and thick pebbles cling to its suckers,

**434** ὣς τοῦ πρὸς πέτρῃσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν  
so the skin from his bold hands was stripped

**435** ῥινοὶ ἀπέδρυφθεν· τὸν δὲ μέγα κῦμα κάλυψεν.  
against the rocks; and the great wave closed over him.

**436** ἔνθα κε δὴ δύστηνος ὑπὲρ μόρον ὤλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,  
There wretched Odysseus would have died beyond his fated doom,

**437** εἰ μὴ ἐπιφροσύνην δῶκε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.  
had not bright-eyed Athena given him presence of mind.

**438** κύματος ἐξαναδύς, τά τʼ ἐρεύγεται ἤπειρόνδε,  
Rising up from under the wave that belched against the land,

**439** νῆχε παρέξ, ἐς γαῖαν ὁρώμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι  
he swam along outside it, looking toward the land, in hope of finding

**440** ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης.  
shelving beaches and harbors of the sea.

**441** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο κατὰ στόμα καλλιρόοιο  
But when, swimming on, he reached the mouth of a fair-flowing river,

**442** ἷξε νέων, τῇ δή οἱ ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,  
the spot seemed best to him of all,

**443** λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,  
smooth and free of rocks, and there was shelter from the wind.

**444** ἔγνω δὲ προρέοντα καὶ εὔξατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·  
He recognized the river streaming out, and prayed within his heart:
> Aorist middle of prayer: εὔξατο is aorist middle: the act of praying reflects back on the subject. The middle voice is regular for verbs of personal interest like praying.

**445** κλῦθι, ἄναξ, ὅτις ἐσσί· πολύλλιστον δέ σʼ
                     ἱκάνω,  
"Hear me, lord, whoever you are. As one much prayed to I come to you,

**446** φεύγων ἐκ πόντοιο Ποσειδάωνος ἐνιπάς.  
fleeing out of the sea from Poseidon's threats.

**447** αἰδοῖος μέν τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν  
Even to the immortal gods that man is held in reverence

**448** ἀνδρῶν ὅς τις ἵκηται ἀλώμενος, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ νῦν  
who comes as a wanderer, as I too come now

**449** σόν τε ῥόον σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας.  
to your stream and your knees, after much suffering.

**450** ἀλλʼ ἐλέαιρε, ἄναξ· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.  
Have mercy, lord. I declare myself your suppliant."

**451** ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὐτίκα παῦσεν ἑὸν ῥόον, ἔσχε δὲ
                  κῦμα,  
So he spoke, and at once the god stayed his stream and checked the wave,

**452** πρόσθε δέ οἱ ποίησε γαλήνην, τὸν δʼ ἐσάωσεν  
and made a calm before him, and brought him safely

**453** ἐς ποταμοῦ προχοάς. ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄμφω γούνατʼ ἔκαμψε  
to the river's outflow. Then he bent both his knees

**454** χεῖράς τε στιβαράς. ἁλὶ γὰρ δέδμητο φίλον κῆρ.  
and his sturdy hands, for the sea had broken his very heart.

**455** ᾤδεε δὲ χρόα πάντα, θάλασσα δὲ κήκιε πολλὴ  
All his flesh was swollen, and the sea gushed out in streams

**456** ἂν στόμα τε ῥῖνάς θʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄπνευστος καὶ ἄναυδος  
from his mouth and nostrils. Breathless and speechless

**457** κεῖτʼ ὀλιγηπελέων, κάματος δέ μιν αἰνὸς ἵκανεν.  
he lay, barely alive, and a dreadful weariness came over him.

**458** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,  
But when he caught his breath and the spirit gathered again in his chest,
> Aorist of recovery: ἄμπνυτο (he caught his breath, revived) is an aorist marking the completed moment of coming back to himself. The pairing with ἀγέρθη (gathered) describes regaining consciousness as a single recovered point.

**459** καὶ τότε δὴ κρήδεμνον ἀπὸ ἕο λῦσε θεοῖο.  
then he loosed the goddess's veil from himself

**460** καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐς ποταμὸν ἁλιμυρήεντα μεθῆκεν,  
and let it go into the river that flows to the sea,

**461** ἂψ δʼ ἔφερεν μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον, αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἰνὼ  
and a great wave bore it back down the current, and at once Ino

**462** δέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν· ὁ δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῖο λιασθεὶς  
received it in her own hands. Then, drawing back from the river,

**463** σχοίνῳ ὑπεκλίνθη, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.  
he sank down among the rushes and kissed the grain-giving earth.
> Grain-giving earth: ζείδωρος (grain-giving, life-giving) is a recurring Homeric epithet for the cultivated earth. Odysseus, just barely alive from the sea, kisses the solid land that sustains mortal life.

**464** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·  
Then, troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

**465** ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω; τί νύ μοι μήκιστα
                     γένηται;  
"Ah, wretched me, what will become of me? What is to happen to me in the end?

**466** εἰ μέν κʼ ἐν ποταμῷ δυσκηδέα νύκτα φυλάσσω,  
If I keep watch through the wretched night by the river,

**467** μή μʼ ἄμυδις στίβη τε κακὴ καὶ θῆλυς ἐέρση  
I fear the cruel frost and soaking dew together

**468** ἐξ ὀλιγηπελίης δαμάσῃ κεκαφηότα θυμόν·  
may overcome my faint, gasping spirit in my weakness,

**469** αὔρη δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ ψυχρὴ πνέει ἠῶθι πρό.  
for a cold breeze blows from the river just before dawn.

**470** εἰ δέ κεν ἐς κλιτὺν ἀναβὰς καὶ δάσκιον ὕλην  
But if I climb the slope to the shadowy wood

**471** θάμνοις ἐν πυκινοῖσι καταδράθω, εἴ με μεθείη  
and lie down to sleep in the thick brush, if the chill

**472** ῥῖγος καὶ κάματος, γλυκερὸς δέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπέλθῃ,  
and weariness let me go and sweet sleep comes over me,

**473** δείδω, μὴ θήρεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένωμαι.  
I fear I may become prey and spoil for the wild beasts."
> Fear clause with subjunctive: After δείδω (I fear), μή plus the subjunctive γένωμαι expresses the feared outcome: "I fear lest I become." This is the standard construction for fear of something not yet realized.

**474** ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·  
As he pondered, this seemed to him the better course:

**475** βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ὕλην· τὴν δὲ σχεδὸν ὕδατος εὗρεν  
he set out for the wood, and found it near the water

**476** ἐν περιφαινομένῳ· δοιοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπήλυθε θάμνους,  
in a clearing, and crept under a double thicket

**477** ἐξ ὁμόθεν πεφυῶτας· ὁ μὲν φυλίης, ὁ δʼ ἐλαίης.  
grown from one stock: one a wild olive, the other a cultivated olive.

**478** τοὺς μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάη μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,  
Through these no force of the wet, blustering winds could blow,

**479** οὔτε ποτʼ ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,  
nor did the blazing sun ever strike them with its rays,

**480** οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνοὶ  
nor could rain pierce them through, so thickly

**481** ἀλλήλοισιν ἔφυν ἐπαμοιβαδίς· οὓς ὑπʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
had they grown, intertwined with one another. Beneath them Odysseus

**482** δύσετʼ. ἄφαρ δʼ εὐνὴν ἐπαμήσατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν  
crept. At once he heaped up a bed with his own hands,

**483** εὐρεῖαν· φύλλων γὰρ ἔην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή,  
a broad one, for there was a great drift of leaves,

**484** ὅσσον τʼ ἠὲ δύω ἠὲ τρεῖς ἄνδρας ἔρυσθαι  
enough to shelter two men or even three

**485** ὥρῃ χειμερίῃ, εἰ καὶ μάλα περ χαλεπαίνοι.  
in the winter season, however hard it might be.

**486** τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
Much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced to see it,
> Much-enduring noble Odysseus: πολύτλας (much-enduring) is one of Odysseus's signature epithets, fitting after his ordeal at sea. The whole formula recurs at line-end throughout the poem.

**487** ἐν δʼ ἄρα μέσσῃ λέκτο, χύσιν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο φύλλων.  
and he lay down in the middle and heaped a drift of leaves over himself.

**488** ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις δαλὸν σποδιῇ ἐνέκρυψε μελαίνῃ  
As when a man buries a glowing brand in the black ashes

**489** ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ᾧ μὴ πάρα γείτονες ἄλλοι,  
at the edge of a farm, with no neighbors near at hand,

**490** σπέρμα πυρὸς σώζων, ἵνα μή ποθεν ἄλλοθεν αὔοι,  
saving the seed of fire, so he need not kindle it from elsewhere,

**491** ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς φύλλοισι καλύψατο· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη  
so Odysseus covered himself with leaves. And over him Athena

**492** ὕπνον ἐπʼ ὄμμασι χεῦʼ, ἵνα μιν παύσειε τάχιστα  
poured sleep upon his eyes, that she might free him as soon as could be

**493** δυσπονέος καμάτοιο φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας.  
from his grievous weariness, closing his dear eyelids about.

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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.