# The Odyssey, Book 7: Odysseus at the Palace of Alkinoos

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Wanderings

Odysseus enters the palace of Alcinous, clasps the queen's knees and sits in the ashes by the hearth. The Phaeacians promise to carry him home.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/7. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/7.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἠρᾶτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So there he prayed, much-enduring noble Odysseus,
> Standard epithet formula: This nominative formula 'much-enduring noble Odysseus' fills the line's end and recurs throughout the poem. Such fixed phrases are the building blocks of oral hexameter.

**2** κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.  
while the strength of the mule-pair carried the girl toward the city.
> Dual of the mule-pair: The form is a genitive dual: the two mules act as a natural pair. Homeric Greek keeps the dual number for paired things.

**3** ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε,  
But when she had reached her father's glorious halls,

**4** στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς  
she halted at the forecourt, and her brothers around her

**5** ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης  
took their stand, men like the immortals, and from under the wagon they

**6** ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.  
loosed the mules and carried the garments inside.

**7** αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ  
She herself went to her own chamber; and a fire was kindled for her

**8** γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα,  
by an old woman of Apeira, the chambermaid Eurymedusa,

**9** τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·  
whom long ago the rolling ships had brought from Apeira;
> Ships 'curved at both ends': A standard epithet for ships, suggesting hulls that curve up at prow and stern. Here it modifies the ships that carried the old woman.

**10** Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν  
and they had chosen her out as a gift of honor for Alkinoos, because over all

**11** Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·  
the Phaeacians he ruled, and the people heeded him as a god.

**12** ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.  
She had reared white-armed Nausicaa in the halls.
> 'White-armed': A recurring epithet for women, here for Nausicaa. The bare white arm was a mark of beauty in Homeric description.

**13** ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.  
She it was who kindled the fire for her and prepared her supper within.

**14** καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ
                  Ἀθήνη  
Just then Odysseus rose to go to the city; and around him Athena

**15** πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι,  
poured a thick mist, in her kindness toward Odysseus,
> Participle of intent: The feminine participle (from φρονέω, 'thinking/intending') describes Athena 'thinking kindly,' modifying the subject of the main verb. Participles like this compress motive into a single word.

**16** μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας  
so that none of the great-hearted Phaeacians, meeting him,

**17** κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.  
might taunt him with words and ask who he was.
> Optatives of purpose: Both verbs are optative in a negative purpose clause after μή ('lest someone...'). The optative marks the action as feared rather than real.

**18** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν,  
But when he was about to enter the lovely city,

**19** ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,  
there the goddess met him, gray-eyed Athena,
> 'Gray-eyed Athena': Her signature epithet; γλαυκῶπις suggests bright, gleaming, owl-like eyes. It is one of the most frequent name-formulas in the poem.

**20** παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.  
in the likeness of a young unmarried girl carrying a pitcher.

**21** στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·  
She stood before him, and noble Odysseus questioned her:

**22** ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο  
"My child, could you not guide me to the house of the man,
> Polite optative: The aorist optative with ἄν makes a courteous request ('would you guide me?') rather than a blunt command. It softens the asking.

**23** Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;  
Alkinoos, who rules among these people here?

**24** καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω  
For I come here a much-tried stranger,

**25** τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα  
from far off, out of a distant land; so I know no one

**26** ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.  
among the people who hold this city and land."

**27** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
Then in turn the goddess answered him, gray-eyed Athena:

**28** τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμον, ὅν με κελεύεις,  
"Well then, father stranger, the house that you bid me

**29** δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.  
point out, I will show you, for it stands near my own noble father's.

**30** ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω,  
But go on in silence like this, and I will lead the way,

**31** μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.  
and look at none of the people, nor question anyone.
> Negative commands: Both verbs are imperatives under μηδέ ('and do not...'). Homer strings prohibitions together to warn the stranger sharply.

**32** οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται,  
For these men do not at all tolerate strangers,

**33** οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.  
nor do they welcome with affection whoever comes from elsewhere.

**34** νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι  
Trusting in their swift, fast ships

**35** λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·  
they cross the great gulf of the sea, for the Earth-shaker granted it to them;
> 'Earth-shaker': A standing epithet of Poseidon, god of the sea and of earthquakes. Here it explains the Phaeacians' gift for seafaring.

**36** τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα.  
their ships are swift as a wing or a thought."

**37** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη  
So having spoken, Pallas Athena led the way

**38** καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.  
quickly; and he then walked behind in the footsteps of the goddess.

**39** τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν  
Now the Phaeacians, famed for their ships, did not notice him

**40** ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη  
as he came through the city among them; for Athena

**41** εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν  
the fair-haired, the dread goddess, would not allow it, she who upon him a mist

**42** θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.  
wondrous poured down, in the kindness of her heart.

**43** θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας  
And Odysseus marveled at the harbors and the balanced ships,

**44** αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ  
and at the gathering-places of the heroes themselves, and the long walls,

**45** ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.  
high, fitted with palisades, a wonder to behold.
> Epexegetic infinitive: The middle infinitive ἰδέσθαι ('to behold') is an epexegetic infinitive: it specifies in what respect the walls are a wonder ('a wonder in the beholding of them'), not an infinitive of result. Homer often caps a description with this admiring formula.

**46** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο,  
But when they reached the king's glorious halls,

**47** τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·  
the goddess, gray-eyed Athena, was the first to speak among them:

**48** οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με
                     κελεύεις  
"This here, father stranger, is the house that you bid me

**49** πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας  
point out; and you will find the kings, nurtured by Zeus,
> 'Nurtured by Zeus': A common epithet for kings, asserting that royal authority is divinely fostered. It dignifies the Phaeacian nobles.

**50** δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ  
feasting at their banquet; but go inside, and do not in your heart

**51** τάρβει· θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων  
be afraid; for a bold man fares better in all

**52** ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.  
his undertakings, even if he has come from somewhere else.

**53** δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν·  
The mistress you will reach first in the halls;

**54** Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων  
Arete is her name, used of her, and from the same

**55** τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.  
parents she springs who fathered King Alkinoos.

**56** Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων  
Nausithoos first Poseidon the Earth-shaker

**57** γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη,  
begot, and Periboia, in beauty the best of women,

**58** ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος,  
the youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon,

**59** ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.  
who once was king over the overweening Giants.

**60** ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·  
But he destroyed his reckless people, and was destroyed himself;
> Active versus middle voice: ὤλεσε (active) is 'he destroyed,' while ὤλετο (middle) is 'he perished/was destroyed himself.' The same root contrasts doing harm and suffering it.

**61** τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα  
and Poseidon lay with her and begot a son,

**62** Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·  
great-hearted Nausithoos, who was king among the Phaeacians;

**63** Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.  
and Nausithoos fathered Rhexenor and Alkinoos.

**64** τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων  
The former, while still without a son, silver-bowed Apollo struck down,
> 'Silver-bowed' Apollo: A fixed epithet of Apollo, the archer-god whose arrows bring sudden death. Here it marks him as the cause of Rhexenor's killing.

**65** νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα  
a bridegroom in his hall, leaving behind one only child,

**66** Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν,  
Arete; and her Alkinoos made his wife,

**67** καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη,  
and honored her as no other woman on earth is honored,

**68** ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.  
of all the women who now keep house under their husbands.

**69** ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν  
So is she heartily honored, and has been,
> Perfect of lasting honor: The perfect passive 'she has been honored' marks a state still in force: the honor began in the past and continues now. The perfect names a present condition produced by past action.

**70** ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο  
both by her dear children and by Alkinoos himself

**71** καὶ λαῶν, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες  
and by the people, who, looking on her as a god,

**72** δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.  
greet her with words whenever she walks through the city.

**73** οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·  
For she herself lacks nothing of good sense,

**74** ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.  
and for those she favors she settles quarrels even among men.

**75** εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,  
If she should be kindly disposed toward you in her heart,

**76** ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι  
then there is hope for you to see your dear ones and to reach

**77** οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
your high-roofed home and your native land."

**78** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη  
So having spoken, gray-eyed Athena departed

**79** πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,  
over the barren sea, and left lovely Scheria,
> 'Barren' sea: A recurring epithet of the sea, traditionally rendered 'barren' or 'unharvested'—a wide waste that yields no crop. It colors the sea as bleak and untamed.

**80** ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,  
and came to Marathon and broad-streeted Athens,

**81** δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς  
and entered the strong-built house of Erechtheus. But Odysseus

**82** Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ  
went toward the famous halls of Alkinoos; and his heart

**83** ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.  
stirred with many thoughts as he stood, before he reached the bronze threshold.

**84** ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης  
For there was a radiance as of the sun or the moon

**85** δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.  
throughout the high-roofed house of great-hearted Alkinoos.

**86** χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
For walls of bronze ran this way and that,

**87** ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·  
from the threshold to the innermost room, and around them a cornice of blue enamel;

**88** χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·  
golden doors enclosed the well-built house within;

**89** σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,  
silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,

**90** ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.  
and the lintel above was silver, and the door-handle gold.

**91** χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,  
On either side there were dogs of gold and silver,

**92** οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι  
which Hephaistos had fashioned with his cunning skill

**93** δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,  
to guard the house of great-hearted Alkinoos,
> Homeric infinitive of purpose: The form φυλασσέμεναι ('to guard') is an old epic infinitive expressing purpose: the dogs were made in order to guard. The lengthened ending is typical of Homeric verse.

**94** ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.  
deathless and ageless for all their days.

**95** ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
Inside, thrones were set against the wall this way and that,

**96** ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι  
from the threshold to the innermost room, all along; and on them robes

**97** λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.  
fine and well-spun were thrown, the work of women.

**98** ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο  
There the leaders of the Phaeacians used to sit

**99** πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.  
drinking and eating; for they had plenty always on hand.

**100** χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν  
And golden youths upon well-built pedestals

**101** ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,  
stood holding blazing torches in their hands,

**102** φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.  
lighting the nights throughout the halls for the banqueters.

**103** πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες  
He has fifty serving-women throughout the house,

**104** αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,  
some of whom grind the yellow grain at the mill,

**105** αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν  
while others weave at the looms and twirl the spindles,

**106** ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·  
sitting, like the leaves of a tall poplar tree;

**107** καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.  
and from the close-woven linen the moist oil drips off.

**108** ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν  
As far as the Phaeacians beyond all men are skilled

**109** νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες  
at driving a swift ship over the sea, so too the women

**110** ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη  
are skilled at the loom; for above all Athena gave to them

**111** ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.  
to know lovely handiwork, and gave them excellent minds.

**112** ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων  
Outside the courtyard, near the gates, is a great orchard,

**113** τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.  
of four acres, and a hedge runs round it on both sides.

**114** ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,  
There tall trees grow, flourishing in their bloom,

**115** ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι  
pears and pomegranates and apple trees with glistening fruit,

**116** συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.  
sweet fig trees and olives in full luxuriance.

**117** τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει  
Of these the fruit never spoils nor fails,

**118** χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ  
winter or summer, all year long; but always

**119** Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.  
the breathing West Wind brings some to birth and ripens others.

**120** ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,  
Pear ripens upon pear, and apple upon apple,

**121** αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.  
and so too grape cluster upon cluster, and fig upon fig.

**122** ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,  
There too his fruitful vineyard is rooted,

**123** τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ  
one part of which, a warm drying-floor on level ground,

**124** τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,  
is dried by the sun, while elsewhere they gather the grapes,

**125** ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν  
and elsewhere tread them; in front are the unripe grapes

**126** ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.  
shedding their blossom, while others are just turning dark.

**127** ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον  
There along the last row are tidy garden plots

**128** παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·  
of every kind, blooming bright the whole year through;

**129** ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα  
and in it are two springs: one spreads through all the garden,

**130** σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι  
while the other, on the far side, runs beneath the courtyard threshold

**131** πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.  
toward the lofty house, where the townspeople drew their water.

**132** τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.  
Such were the gods' splendid gifts in the house of Alcinous.

**133** ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
There much-enduring noble Odysseus stood and marveled.
> Imperfect of gazing: The imperfect tense pictures Odysseus standing and gazing in wonder over a stretch of time, not in a single instant. Homer often uses the imperfect to dwell on a continuing action.

**134** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,  
But when he had marveled at it all in his heart,

**135** καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.  
quickly he stepped over the threshold into the house.

**136** εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας  
He found the leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians

**137** σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,  
pouring libations from their cups to the keen-eyed Slayer of Argus,

**138** ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.  
to whom they poured last of all, whenever they were minded for bed.

**139** αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
Then much-enduring noble Odysseus went through the hall,

**140** πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,  
wrapped in the thick mist Athena had poured around him,

**141** ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.  
until he reached Arete and king Alcinous.

**142** ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,  
Odysseus threw his arms about the knees of Arete,

**143** καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.  
and then the divine mist flowed back away from him.

**144** οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες·  
They fell silent, seeing the man there in the hall,

**145** θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·  
and gazed in wonder. But Odysseus made his plea:

**146** Ἀρήτη, θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο,  
"Arete, daughter of godlike Rhexenor,

**147** σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας  
to your husband and to your knees I come, after much suffering,

**148** τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας· τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν  
and to these your guests; may the gods grant them prosperity

**149** ζωέμεναι, καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος  
in their lives, and may each hand down to his children

**150** κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ ὅ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν·  
the wealth in his halls and the honor the people gave him.

**151** αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι  
But for me, urge an escort, that I may reach my homeland

**152** θᾶσσον, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω.  
soon, for long now I suffer hardships far from my friends."

**153** ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν  
So speaking he sat down at the hearth among the ashes,

**154** πὰρ πυρί· οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.  
beside the fire, and they all fell hushed in silence.

**155** ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,  
At last the old hero Echeneus spoke among them,

**156** ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν  
who was the eldest of the Phaeacian men

**157** καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο, παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς·  
and excelled in speech, knowing many old things;

**158** ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·  
with good will toward them he addressed the gathering and said:

**159** Ἀλκίνοʼ, οὐ μέν τοι τόδε κάλλιον, οὐδὲ ἔοικε,  
"Alcinous, this is neither fitting nor seemly for you,

**160** ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν,  
that a stranger should sit on the ground at the hearth among the ashes,

**161** οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται.  
while these men hold back, waiting upon your word.

**162** ἄλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου  
Come now, raise the stranger up and seat him

**163** εἷσον ἀναστήσας, σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον  
on a silver-studded chair, and bid the heralds

**164** οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ  
mix wine, so that to Zeus who delights in thunder

**165** σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ·  
we may pour libation, who attends honored suppliants;

**166** δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων.  
and let the housekeeper give the stranger supper from what is within."

**167** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,  
When the sacred might of Alcinous heard this,
> "The sacred might of Alcinous": A periphrasis meaning simply "mighty Alcinous." Homer often names a hero's "might" or "force" in place of the hero himself, a dignified epic idiom.

**168** χειρὸς ἑλὼν Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην  
he took skilled, crafty-minded Odysseus by the hand,

**169** ὦρσεν ἀπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν καὶ ἐπὶ θρόνου εἷσε φαεινοῦ,  
raised him from the hearth and seated him on a shining chair,

**170** υἱὸν ἀναστήσας ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα,  
having made his son rise, manly Laodamas,

**171** ὅς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκεν.  
who sat next to him, for he loved him most of all.

**172** χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα  
A handmaid brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher

**173** καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,  
and poured it over a silver basin

**174** νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.  
for him to wash, and drew up a polished table beside him.

**175** σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,  
The honored housekeeper brought bread and set it by him,

**176** εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.  
laying out many dishes, freely giving of her store.

**177** αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
And much-enduring noble Odysseus drank and ate.

**178** καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·  
Then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:

**179** Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον  
"Pontonous, mix a bowl of wine and serve it

**180** πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ  
to all in the hall, so that to Zeus who delights in thunder

**181** σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.  
we may pour libation, who attends honored suppliants."

**182** ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,  
So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine

**183** νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενος δεπάεσσιν.  
and served it to all, pouring first drops into each cup.

**184** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,  
But when they had made libation and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

**185** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·  
Alcinous addressed the gathering and spoke among them:

**186** κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες  
"Hear me, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians,

**187** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.  
that I may say what the heart in my breast commands.

**188** νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·  
For now, having feasted, go home and lie down to rest;

**189** ἠῶθεν δὲ γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες  
and at dawn, summoning more of the elders,

**190** ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις ξεινίσσομεν ἠδὲ θεοῖσιν  
we will entertain the stranger in the halls, and to the gods

**191** ῥέξομεν ἱερὰ καλά, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ περὶ πομπῆς  
we will make fine sacrifices, and afterward of his escort

**192** μνησόμεθʼ, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἄνευθε πόνου καὶ ἀνίης  
we will take thought, so that the stranger, without toil or grief,

**193** πομπῇ ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃ ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται  
may under our escort reach his own homeland,

**194** χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐστί,  
rejoicing, swiftly, even if it lies very far away,

**195** μηδέ τι μεσσηγύς γε κακὸν καὶ πῆμα πάθῃσι,  
and may suffer no harm or trouble along the way,

**196** πρίν γε τὸν ἧς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα  
before he sets foot on his own land; but there afterward

**197** πείσεται, ἅσσα οἱ αἶσα κατὰ κλῶθές τε βαρεῖαι  
he will suffer whatever fate and the heavy Spinners

**198** γιγνομένῳ νήσαντο λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.  
spun for him with their thread at his birth, when his mother bore him.
> Participle: "as he was being born": This present participle agrees with the man and sets the time of the Fates' spinning: at the moment of his birth. Participles often carry such temporal force in Greek.

**199** εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθεν,  
But if he is one of the immortals come down from heaven,

**200** ἄλλο τι δὴ τόδʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ περιμηχανόωνται.  
then the gods are now devising some new thing for us.

**201** αἰεὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος γε θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς  
For before now the gods have always appeared to us plainly,

**202** ἡμῖν, εὖτʼ ἔρδωμεν ἀγακλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας,  
whenever we offer them glorious hecatombs,
> Hecatomb: Literally "a hundred oxen," though the word came to mean any great public sacrifice. It signals lavish offerings worthy of the gods' notice.

**203** δαίνυνταί τε παρʼ ἄμμι καθήμενοι ἔνθα περ ἡμεῖς.  
and they feast among us, sitting just where we do.

**204** εἰ δʼ ἄρα τις καὶ μοῦνος ἰὼν ξύμβληται ὁδίτης,  
And even if some lone traveler meets one of them,

**205** οὔ τι κατακρύπτουσιν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἐγγύθεν εἰμέν,  
they hide nothing, since we are near kin to them,

**206** ὥς περ Κύκλωπές τε καὶ ἄγρια φῦλα Γιγάντων.  
as are the Cyclopes and the wild tribes of the Giants."

**207** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
> Epithet "of many counsels": Polymetis, "of many devices," is one of Odysseus' standing epithets, marking his cleverness. Such formulaic epithets help fit the name to the meter of the line.

**208** Ἀλκίνοʼ, ἄλλο τί τοι μελέτω φρεσίν· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε  
"Alcinous, let some other thought concern your mind; for I

**209** ἀθανάτοισιν ἔοικα, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,  
am not like the immortals who hold the wide heaven,

**210** οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλὰ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν.  
neither in build nor in stature, but like mortal men.

**211** οὕς τινας ὑμεῖς ἴστε μάλιστʼ ὀχέοντας ὀιζὺν  
Whomever you know to bear the heaviest misery

**212** ἀνθρώπων, τοῖσίν κεν ἐν ἄλγεσιν ἰσωσαίμην.  
of mortals, to those I would liken myself in my sorrows.

**213** καὶ δʼ ἔτι κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ κακὰ μυθησαίμην,  
Indeed, I could tell of even more troubles still,

**214** ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.  
all that I have endured by the will of the gods.
> "By the will of the gods": A common Homeric phrase attributing events to divine will. Odysseus frames his sufferings as fated, not mere accident.

**215** ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν δορπῆσαι ἐάσατε κηδόμενόν περ·  
But let me eat my supper, grieved though I am;

**216** οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο  
for there is nothing more shameless than the hateful belly,

**217** ἔπλετο, ἥ τʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἕο μνήσασθαι ἀνάγκῃ  
which compels a man to remember it of necessity,

**218** καὶ μάλα τειρόμενον καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,  
even one worn out and carrying grief in his heart,

**219** ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ πένθος μὲν ἔχω φρεσίν, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ  
as I too carry grief in my heart, yet it forever

**220** ἐσθέμεναι κέλεται καὶ πινέμεν, ἐκ δέ με πάντων  
bids me eat and drink, and makes me forget all

**221** ληθάνει ὅσσʼ ἔπαθον, καὶ ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἀνώγει.  
it makes me forget all that I have suffered, and commands me to fill it.

**222** ὑμεῖς δʼ ὀτρύνεσθαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν,  
But do you bestir yourselves at the first showing of dawn,

**223** ὥς κʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐμῆς ἐπιβήσετε πάτρης  
so that you may set me, luckless as I am, upon my own soil,

**224** καί περ πολλὰ παθόντα· ἰδόντα με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν  
for all I have suffered. And though I die, let life leave me once I have seen

**225** κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.  
my possessions, my slaves, and my great high-roofed house.

**226** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον  
So he spoke, and they all approved, and urged

**227** πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.  
that the stranger be given escort, since he had spoken fittingly.

**228** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,  
But when they had poured libations and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

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

**230** αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
but in the hall there remained the noble Odysseus,

**231** πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀρήτη τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοος θεοειδὴς  
and beside him sat Arete and godlike Alkinoos,

**232** ἥσθην· ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἀπεκόσμεον ἔντεα δαιτός.  
the two of them; and the maids were clearing away the vessels of the feast.
> Dual verb for the pair: Hesthen is a dual form: it denotes exactly two people seated, here Arete and Alkinoos. Homer uses the dual for natural pairs.

**233** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·  
Then white-armed Arete was the first among them to speak,
> Epithet "white-armed": Leukolenos, "white-armed," is a recurring formulaic epithet for noble women in Homer, applied here to Arete and elsewhere to Hera and Nausicaa.

**234** ἔγνω γὰρ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἰδοῦσα  
for she recognized, when she saw them, the cloak and tunic, the fine garments,

**235** καλά, τά ῥʼ αὐτὴ τεῦξε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·  
which she herself had made together with her serving women.

**236** καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
And she spoke and addressed him with winged words:

**237** ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·  
"Stranger, this I will ask you myself, first of all:

**238** τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τίς τοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκεν;  
Who are you among men, and from where? Who gave you these garments?

**239** οὐ δὴ φῆς ἐπὶ πόντον ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι;  
Did you not say you came here wandering over the sea?"

**240** τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
> Epithet "of many counsels": Polymetis, "of many devices/counsels," is Odysseus's signature epithet, marking his cunning intelligence. It recurs as a formula introducing his replies.

**241** ἀργαλέον, βασίλεια, διηνεκέως ἀγορεῦσαι  
"It is hard, O queen, to tell from end to end

**242** κήδεʼ, ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·  
my sorrows, since the gods of heaven have given me so many.

**243** τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.  
But this I will tell you, what you ask and inquire of me.

**244** Ὠγυγίη τις νῆσος ἀπόπροθεν εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται·  
There is an island, Ogygia, that lies far off in the sea.

**245** ἔνθα μὲν Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ, δολόεσσα Καλυψὼ  
There the daughter of Atlas, guileful Calypso,

**246** ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός· οὐδέ τις αὐτῇ  
lives, fair-tressed, a dread goddess; and no one,
> "Dread goddess": Deine theos means an awesome, formidable goddess, not an evil one. The adjective conveys power that inspires fear and reverence.

**247** μίσγεται οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.  
neither of gods nor of mortal men, has dealings with her.

**248** ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐφέστιον ἤγαγε δαίμων  
But a divine power brought wretched me to her hearth,

**249** οἶον, ἐπεί μοι νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ  
alone, since with a blazing thunderbolt

**250** Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.  
Zeus struck my swift ship and shattered it in the midst of the wine-dark sea.
> Epithet "wine-dark sea": Oinops pontos, "wine-faced/wine-dark sea," is a famous Homeric color-epithet. Here it appears in the dative case with the preposition en.

**251** ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,  
There all my other brave companions perished,

**252** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τρόπιν ἀγκὰς ἑλὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης  
but I, taking in my arms the keel of my curved ship,

**253** ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην· δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ  
was carried for nine days; and on the tenth, in the black night,

**254** νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ  
the gods brought me near the island of Ogygia, where Calypso

**255** ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ με λαβοῦσα  
lives, fair-tressed, a dread goddess, who took me in

**256** ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει τε καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε  
and tended me kindly and cherished me, and kept saying
> Imperfects of ongoing care: These three imperfect verbs describe repeated, continuous action over time: she kept loving, nourishing, and saying. The imperfect aspect paints the duration of Calypso's care.

**257** θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·  
she would make me immortal and ageless for all my days;

**258** ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν.  
but never did she persuade the heart in my breast.

**259** ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον ἔμπεδον, εἵματα δʼ αἰεὶ  
There I stayed seven years unbroken, and ever with my tears

**260** δάκρυσι δεύεσκον, τά μοι ἄμβροτα δῶκε Καλυψώ·  
I would wet the immortal clothes that Calypso had given me.

**261** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὀγδόατόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,  
But when the eighth year came round upon me in its turn,

**262** καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἐποτρύνουσα νέεσθαι  
then she urged and commanded me to depart,

**263** Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ἀγγελίης, ἢ καὶ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτῆς.  
by message of Zeus, or else her own mind had changed.

**264** πέμπε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε,  
She sent me off on a raft bound with many fastenings, and gave me much:

**265** σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ, καὶ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσεν,  
bread and sweet wine, and she clothed me in immortal garments,

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

**267** ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέον ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,  
Seventeen days I sailed, traversing the sea,

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

**269** γαίης ὑμετέρης, γήθησε δέ μοι φίλον ἦτορ  
of your land, and my dear heart rejoiced,

**270** δυσμόρῳ· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλον ἔτι ξυνέσεσθαι ὀιζυῖ  
ill-fated as I was; for I was still to meet with great

**271** πολλῇ, τήν μοι ἐπῶρσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,  
misery, which Poseidon the earth-shaker stirred up against me,
> Epithet "earth-shaker": Enosichthon, "earth-shaker," is Poseidon's standard epithet, marking his power over earthquakes and the sea. It is a fixed formulaic phrase.

**272** ὅς μοι ἐφορμήσας ἀνέμους κατέδησε κέλευθον,  
who set the winds upon me and barred my way,

**273** ὤρινεν δὲ θάλασσαν ἀθέσφατον, οὐδέ τι κῦμα  
and roused the sea past all telling, nor did the wave

**274** εἴα ἐπὶ σχεδίης ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα φέρεσθαι.  
let me, groaning bitterly, be carried along upon my raft.

**275** τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα θύελλα διεσκέδασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε  
Then the storm scattered it; but I,

**276** νηχόμενος τόδε λαῖτμα διέτμαγον, ὄφρα με γαίῃ  
swimming, cut through this gulf, until the wind

**277** ὑμετέρῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.  
and the water bore me on and brought me near your land.

**278** ἔνθα κέ μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βιήσατο κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,  
There, as I tried to come ashore, the wave would have overwhelmed me on the dry land,

**279** πέτρῃς πρὸς μεγάλῃσι βαλὸν καὶ ἀτερπέι χώρῳ·  
flinging me against the great rocks in a dismal place;

**280** ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος νῆχον πάλιν, ἧος ἐπῆλθον  
but I drew back and swam again, until I came

**281** ἐς ποταμόν, τῇ δή μοι ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,  
to a river, where the ground seemed best to me,

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

**283** ἐκ δʼ ἔπεσον θυμηγερέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀμβροσίη νὺξ  
I struggled out, gathering my strength, and immortal night

**284** ἤλυθʼ. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπάνευθε διιπετέος ποταμοῖο  
came on. Then I, away from the heaven-fed river,
> "Heaven-fed" river: Diipetes describes a river as "fallen from Zeus," i.e. fed by rain from the sky. It is a traditional epithet for rivers in Homer.

**285** ἐκβὰς ἐν θάμνοισι κατέδραθον, ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλα  
having climbed out, lay down to sleep in the bushes, and around me leaves

**286** ἠφυσάμην· ὕπνον δὲ θεὸς κατʼ ἀπείρονα χεῦεν.  
I heaped; and a god poured boundless sleep over me.

**287** ἔνθα μὲν ἐν φύλλοισι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ  
There among the leaves, with my dear heart grieved,

**288** εὗδον παννύχιος καὶ ἐπʼ ἠῶ καὶ μέσον ἦμαρ.  
I slept all night long, and through the dawn and to midday.

**289** δείλετό τʼ ἠέλιος καί με γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.  
The sun was sinking when sweet sleep released me.

**290** ἀμφιπόλους δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ τεῆς ἐνόησα θυγατρὸς  
And on the shore I noticed the serving maids of your daughter

**291** παιζούσας, ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ ἔην ἐικυῖα θεῇσι·  
at play, and among them she herself, like the goddesses.

**292** τὴν ἱκέτευσʼ· ἡ δʼ οὔ τι νοήματος ἤμβροτεν ἐσθλοῦ,  
I made my plea to her; and she in no way failed of good judgment,

**293** ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἔλποιο νεώτερον ἀντιάσαντα  
such as you would not expect a younger person, meeting you,

**294** ἐρξέμεν· αἰεὶ γάρ τε νεώτεροι ἀφραδέουσιν.  
to show; for the young are always thoughtless.
> "They are thoughtless": Aphradeo means to lack sense or prudence, to act without forethought. Odysseus gently excuses the young as naturally heedless.

**295** ἥ μοι σῖτον ἔδωκεν ἅλις ἠδʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον  
She gave me bread in plenty and sparkling wine,

**296** καὶ λοῦσʼ ἐν ποταμῷ καί μοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκε.  
and bathed me in the river and gave me these garments.

**297** ταῦτά τοι ἀχνύμενός περ ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.  
This, grieved though I am, I have told you in truth."

**298** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·  
Then Alkinoos answered him and said:

**299** ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν τοῦτο γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε  
"Stranger, in this at least my child did not judge what was fitting,

**300** παῖς ἐμή, οὕνεκά σʼ οὔ τι μετʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν  
in that she did not bring you, with her serving women,

**301** ἦγεν ἐς ἡμέτερον, σὺ δʼ ἄρα πρώτην ἱκέτευσας.  
to our house; yet it was to her you first made your plea."

**302** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
                  Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:

**303** ἥρως, μή τοι τοὔνεκʼ ἀμύμονα νείκεε κούρην·  
"Hero, do not for this reproach the blameless girl;
> Negative imperative: Me ... neikee is a prohibition: "do not reproach." Homer forms the negative command with me plus the imperative.

**304** ἡ μὲν γάρ μʼ ἐκέλευε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕπεσθαι,  
for she did indeed bid me follow along with her maids,

**305** ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔθελον δείσας αἰσχυνόμενός τε,  
but I would not, out of fear and shame,

**306** μή πως καὶ σοὶ θυμὸς ἐπισκύσσαιτο ἰδόντι·  
lest perhaps your heart should be angered at the sight;

**307** δύσζηλοι γάρ τʼ εἰμὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.  
for we tribes of men upon the earth are quick to take offense."
> "Prone to jealousy": Dyszelos means easily made jealous or suspicious. Odysseus offers a tactful general truth to excuse his caution.

**308** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·  
Then Alkinoos answered him and said:

**309** ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ  
"Stranger, the heart in my breast is not the kind

**310** μαψιδίως κεχολῶσθαι· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.  
to be angered without cause; in all things due measure is better.

**311** αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,  
Would, O Father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
> Wish with optative: Ai gar introduces a wish; the construction reaches its verb echemen ("to have/hold") at line 313. Such wishes for the future are expressed with the optative or, as here, an infinitive of wish.

**312** τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ἐσσι, τά τε φρονέων ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ,  
that, being such as you are, and thinking as I myself do,

**313** παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν ἐχέμεν καὶ ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι  
you might have my daughter, and be called my son-in-law,

**314** αὖθι μένων· οἶκον δέ κʼ ἐγὼ καὶ κτήματα δοίην,  
staying here; and I would give you a house and possessions,

**315** εἴ κʼ ἐθέλων γε μένοις· ἀέκοντα δέ σʼ οὔ τις ἐρύξει  
if you stayed willingly; but against your will no one of the Phaeacians

**316** Φαιήκων· μὴ τοῦτο φίλον Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιτο.  
shall hold you here: may that never be dear to Father Zeus.

**317** πομπὴν δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἐγὼ τεκμαίρομαι, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,  
Your escort I appoint for this time, that you may know it well,

**318** αὔριον ἔς· τῆμος δὲ σὺ μὲν δεδμημένος ὕπνῳ  
for tomorrow; and then, while you, overcome by sleep,

**319** λέξεαι, οἱ δʼ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι  
lie at rest, my men shall row the calm sea, until you reach

**320** πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν,  
your homeland and house, or wherever else may be dear to you,

**321** εἴ περ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἑκαστέρω ἔστʼ Εὐβοίης,  
even if it lies much farther off than Euboea,

**322** τήν περ τηλοτάτω φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οἵ μιν ἴδοντο  
which those of our people who saw it say is the most distant of all,

**323** λαῶν ἡμετέρων, ὅτε τε ξανθὸν Ῥαδάμανθυν  
when they carried fair-haired Rhadamanthys

**324** ἦγον ἐποψόμενον Τιτυὸν Γαιήιον υἱόν.  
to visit Tityos, the son of Gaia.

**325** καὶ μὲν οἱ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον καὶ ἄτερ καμάτοιο τέλεσσαν  
And there they went, and without weariness accomplished it,

**326** ἤματι τῷ αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπήνυσαν οἴκαδʼ ὀπίσσω.  
on that same day, and made their way back home again.

**327** εἰδήσεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὅσσον ἄρισται  
You yourself will know in your heart how far the best

**328** νῆες ἐμαὶ καὶ κοῦροι ἀναρρίπτειν ἅλα πηδῷ.  
are my ships, and my young men at tossing up the sea with the oar-blade."

**329** ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So he spoke, and much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,
> Epithet "much-enduring": Polytlas, "much-enduring," with dios, "noble," forms a fixed name-formula for Odysseus that fills the verse-end. It recurs throughout the poem.

**330** εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
and praying he spoke, and uttered his word and called by name:

**331** Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἴθʼ ὅσα εἶπε τελευτήσειεν ἅπαντα  
"Father Zeus, grant that Alkinoos may bring all to pass that he has spoken;
> Wish in the optative: The aorist optative with αἴθʼ ("would that") expresses a wish: "may he accomplish." Homer uses the optative for prayers and longings.

**332** Ἀλκίνοος· τοῦ μέν κεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν  
then over the grain-giving earth his fame would be

**333** ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη, ἐγὼ δέ κε πατρίδʼ ἱκοίμην.  
unquenchable, and I would reach my native land."
> Unquenchable glory: κλέος ἄσβεστον, "glory that cannot be put out," is a core heroic idea: deathless fame won through deeds and preserved in song.

**334** ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·  
So they spoke such things to one another;

**335** κέκλετο δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἀμφιπόλοισιν  
and white-armed Arete ordered her handmaids
> Formulaic epithet "white-armed": λευκώλενος ("white-armed") is a recurring epithet for noble women like Arete and Hera, marking high status and beauty.

**336** δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ  
to set bedding beneath the portico, and to throw on fine

**337** πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας  
purple blankets, and to spread coverlets over them,

**338** χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.  
and to lay thick woolen cloaks on top for covering.

**339** αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι·  
They went out from the hall holding torches in their hands;
> Participle of attendant circumstance: ἔχουσαι ("holding") is a present participle, feminine plural, describing how the maids went out: torches in hand.

**340** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,  
and when, working briskly, they had spread the sturdy bed,

**341** ὤτρυνον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα παριστάμεναι ἐπέεσσιν·  
they came to Odysseus' side and urged him with words:

**342** ὄρσο κέων, ὦ ξεῖνε· πεποίηται δέ τοι εὐνή.  
"Rise up to your rest, stranger; your bed is made."
> Imperative "rise": ὄρσο is an aorist middle imperative, "rouse yourself, get up," a brisk command suited to the maids' summons.

**343** ὣς φάν, τῷ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.  
So they spoke, and to him it seemed welcome to lie down and sleep.

**344** ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
So there he slept, much-enduring noble Odysseus,
> "Much-enduring noble Odysseus": A standard line-ending formula. πολύτλας ("much-enduring") is Odysseus' signature epithet, fitting his suffering.

**345** τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ·  
in a corded bedstead beneath the echoing portico;

**346** Ἀλκίνοος δʼ ἄρα λέκτο μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,  
but Alkinoos lay down in the inner chamber of the high house,

**347** πὰρ δὲ γυνὴ δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.  
and beside him his lady wife prepared the couch and bed.

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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.