Latest / Adventure Books Library / 08 - The Odyssey - Homer
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- Book eight banquet in the house of Alcinous. The games. Now, when the child of Morning, Rosy finger Dawn appeared, Alcinus and Ulysses both rose. Alcinus led the way to the Phaeacian place of assembly, which was near the ships. When they got there, they sat down side by side on a seat of polished stone, while Minerva took the form of one of Alcinous's servants and went round the town in order to help Ulysses to get home. She went up to the citizens manned by man and said, aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, come to the assembly, all of you and listened to the stranger who has just come off a long voyage to the house of King Alcinous. He looks like an immortal god. With these words, she made them all want to come, and they flocked to the assembly till seats and standing room were a light crowded. Everyone was struck with the appearance of Ulysses, for Minerva had beautified him about the head and shoulders, making him look taller and stouter than he really was, that he might pressed the Phaeacians favorably as being a very remarkable man and might come off well in the many trials of skill to which they would challenge him. Then when they were all to got together, Alcinous spoke hear me, said he, aldermen and town counselors of the Phaeacians, that I may speak even as I am minded. This stranger, whoever he may be, has found his way to my house from somewhere or other east or west. He wants an escort and wishes to have the matter settled. Let us then get one ready for him, as we have done for others before him. Indeed, no one has ever yet come to my house who has been able to complain of me not speeding him on his way. Soon enough, let us draw a ship into the sea, one that has never yet made a voyage, and man her with two and fifty of our smartest young sailors. Then, when you have made fast the oars, each by his own seat, leave the ship and come to my house to prepare a feast. I will find you and everything. I am giving these instructions to the young men who will form the crew. For as regards you, aldermen and town councilors, you will join me in entertaining our guests in the cloisters. I can take no excuses, and we will have Demodocus to sing for us, for there was no barred like him, whatever he may choose to sing about. Alcinus then led the way, and the others followed. After while a servant went to fetch Demodocus. The fifty two picked oarsmen went to the sea shore as they had been told, and when they got there, they drew the ship into the water, got her mast and sails inside her, bound the oars to the thule pins with twisted thongs of leather, all in due course, and spread the white sails aloft. They moored the vessel a little way out from land, and then came on shore and went to the house of King Alcinous. The outhouses, yards, and all the precincts were filled with crowds of men in great multitudes, both old and young, and Alcinous killed them a dozen sheep, eight full grown pigs, and two oxen. These were skinned and dressed so as to provide a magnificent banquet. The servant presently let in the famous barre Demodocus, whom the mews had dearly loved, but to whom she had given both good and evil, for though she had endowed him with a divine gift of song, she had robbed him of his eyesight. Pontanus set a seat for him among the guests, leading it up against a bearing post. He hung the lyre for him on a peg over his head, and showed him where he was to fill for it with his hands. He also set a fair table with a basket of victuals by his side, and a cup of wine from which he might drink whenever he was so disposed. The company then laid their hands upon the good things that were before them. But as soon as they had enough to eat and drink, the mews inspired Demodocus to sing the feats of heroes, and more especially a matter that was in the mouths of all men, to wit, the quarrel between Achilles and Ulysses, and the fierce words that they heaped on one another as they sat together at a banquet. But Agamemnon was glad when he heard his chiefs quarreling with one another, for Apollo had foretold this at Pittho, when he crossed the stone floor to consult the oracle. Here was the beginning of the evil that was by the will of Jove fell upon the Daneans and Trojans. Thus sang the Bard, But Ulysses drew his purple mantle over his head and covered his face, for he was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see that he was weeping. When the Bard left off singing, he wiped his tears from his eyes, uncovered his face, and, taking his cup, made a drink offering to the gods. But when the Phaeacians pressed Demodocus to sing further, for they delighted in his lays, then Ulysses again drew them his mantle over his head and wept bitterly. No one noticed his distress except Alcinous, who was sitting near him and heard the heavy sighs that he was heaving. So he at once said, aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, we have had enough now, both of the feast and of the minstry that is its due accompaniment. Let us proceed therefore to the athletic sports, so that our guests, on his return home, may be able to tell his friends how much we surpass all other nations as boxers, wrestlers, jumpers, and runners. With these words he led the way, and the others followed after. A servant hung Demodicus's lyre on its peg for him and led him out of the cloister and set him on the same way as that along which all the chief men of the Phaeacians were going to see the sports. A crowd of several thousands of people followed them, and there were many excellent competitors for all the prizes, Acronius, Acalius, Alatrius, Nataeus, Primnius, an Chelus, Aretmius, Pontius, Proreus, thune Anibezius, and Amphilius son of Polonius, son of Tecton. There were also Aurelius, son of Nablus, who was like Mars himself and was the best looking man among the Phaeacians except Laudamus. Three sons of Alcinous, Laudamus, Halios and Clytonius competed also. The foot races came first. The course was set out for them from the starting post, and they raised a dust upon the plane as they all flew forward. At the same moment, Clytonius came in first a long way. He left everyone else behind him by the length of the furrow that a couple of mules can plow in a fallow field. They then turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here Euryalis proved to be the best man, and Phileas excelled all the others in jumping, while at throwing the disc there was no one who coul approach. Elatrius, Alcinous's son Laudamus, was the best boxer, and he it was who presently said, when they had all been diverted with the games, let us ask the stranger whether he excels in any of these sports. He seems very powerfully built. His thighs, calves, hands and neck are all of prodigious strength. Nor is he at all old. But he has suffered much lately. And there is nothing like the sea for making havoc with a man, no matter how strong he is. You're quite right, Laudamus replied Eurylius. Go up to your guest and speak to him about it yourself. When Laudamus heard this, he made his way into the middle of the crowd and said to Ulysses, I hope, sir, that you will enter yourself for some one or other of our competitions, if you are skilled in any of them. And you must have gone in for many a one before. Now there is nothing that does anyone so much credit all his life long as the showing himself a proper man with his hands and feet have a try. Therefore it's something, and banish all sorrow from your mind. Your return home will not be long delayed, for the ship is already drawn into the water, and the crew is found. Ulysses answered loudamus, why do you taught me in this way? My mind is set rather on cares than contests. I have been through infinite trouble, and come among you now as a supplement, praying your king and people to further me on my return home. Then Eurylius, reviling him outright, said, I gather then that you are unskilled in any of the many sports that men generally delight in. I suppose that you are one of those grasping traders that go about in ships as captains or merchants, and who think of nothing but their outward freights and homeward cargoes. That does not seem to be much of the athlete about you. For shame, sir, answered Ulysses fiercely. You are an insolent fellow. So true, is it that the gods do not grace all men alike in speech, person and understanding. One man may be weak of presence, but Heaven has adorned this with such a good conversation that he charms everyone who sees him. His honeyed moderation carries his hearers with him, so that he is a leader in all assemblies of his fellows. Wherever he goes, he has looked upon to another. May be as handsome as a god, but his good looks are not crowned with discretion. This is your case. No God could make a finer looking fellow than you are. But you are a fool. You were ill judged remarks and made me exceedingly angry, And you are quite mistaken. For I excel in a great many athletic exercises. Indeed, so long as I had youth and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age. Now, however, I am worn out by labor and sorrow, for I have gone through much, both on the field of battle and by the waves of the sea. Still, in spite of all this, I will compete, for your taunts have stung me to the quick. So he hurried up without even taking his cloak off and seized the disk, larger, more massive, and much heavier than those used by the Faiacians when disthrowing among themselves. Then swinging it back, he threw it from his brawny hand and made a humming sound in the air as he did so. The Faiacians quailed beneath the rushing of its flight as it sped gracefully from his hand and flew beyond any mark that had been made. Yet Minerva, in the form of a man, came and marked the place where it had been fallen a blind man. Sir said, she could easily tell your mark by groping for it. It is so far ahead of any other. You may make your mind easy about this contest, for no Phaeacian can come nearer to such a throw as yours. Ulysses was glad when he had found a friend among the onlookers, for he had begun to speak more pleasantly. Young men, said, he come up to that throw if you can, and I will throw another disk as heavy or even heavier. If any one wants to have a bout with me, let him come on, for I am exceedingly angry. I will box wrestle or run. I do not care what it is for any man among you, all except Laudamus, but not with him, because I am his guest, and one cannot compete with one's own personal friend. At least. I do not think it a prudent or sensible thing for a guest to challenge his host's family at any game, especially when he is in a foreign country. He will cut the ground from under his own feet if he does. But I will make no exception as regards any one else, for I want to have the matter out and know which is the best man. I am a good hand at every kind of athletic sport known among mankind. I am an excellent archer in battle. I am always the first to bring a man down with my arrow, no matter how many more are taking aim in him alongside of me. Phyloctates was the only man who could shoot better than me when we Achaeans were before Troy, And in practice I far excel every one else in the whole world, of those who still eat bread upon the face of the earth. But I should not like to shoot against the mighty deed, such as Hercules or Arictus, the Okeelian men who could shoot against the gods themselves. This, in fact, is how Euryctus came prematurely by his end, for Apollo was angry with him and killed him because he challenged him. As an archer, I can throw a dart faster than any one else can shoot an arrow. Running is the only point in respect of which I am afraid some of the Phoenicians might beat me, for I have been brought down very low at sea. My provisions run short, and therefore I am still weak. They all held their peace, except King Alcinous, who began, Sir, we have had much pleasure in hearing all that you have told us, from which I understand that you are willing to show your prowess as having been displeased with some of our insolent remarks that have been made to you by one of our athletes, and which could never have been uttered by anyone who knows how to talk with propriety. I hope you will apprehend my meeting, and will explain to any one of your chief men, who may be dining with yourself and your family when you get home, that we have an hereditary aptitude for accomplishments of all kinds. We are not particularly remarkable for our boxing, nor yet as wrestlers. But we are singularly fleet of foot and are excellent sailors. We are extremely fond of good dinners, music, and dancing. We also like frequent changes of linen, warm baths, and good beds. So now please, some of you, who are the best dancers, set about dancing, that our guests, on his return home, may be able to tell his friends how much we see passed all other nations as sailors, runners, dancers and minstrels. Demodocus has left his liar at my house, so run some one or other of you and fetch it for him. On this a servant hurried off to bring the liar from the king's house, and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward. It was their business to manage everything connected with the sports, so they made the ground smoothed and marked a wide space for the dancers. Presently, the servant came back with Demodicus's liar, and he took his place in the midst of them, whereupon the best young dancers in the town began to foot and trip it so nimbly that Ulysses was delighted with the merry twinkling of their feet. Meanwhile, the bard had begun to sing the loves of Venus and Mars, and how they first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan. Mars made Venus many presents and defiled King Vulcan's marriage bed, so the son who saw what they were about told Vulcan. Vulcan was very angry when he heard such dreads news, so he went to his smithy, brooding mischief, got his great anflm to its place, and begin to forge some change which none could unloose or break, so that they might stay in that place. When he had finished his snare, he went off to his bedroom and festooned the bedposts all over with chains like cobwebs. He also let many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them, so fine and subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the chains all over the bed, he made as though he were setting off for the fair state of Lumnos, which of all places in the world, was the one he was the most fond of. But Mars kept no blind lookout, and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off to his house burning with love for Venus. Now, Venus had just come in from a visit to her father Jove, and was sitting down when Mars came inside the house and said, as he took her hand into his own, let us go to the couch of Vulcan. He is not at home, but is gone off to Lemnos among the Scythians, whose speech is barbarous. She was nothing loath, so they went to the couch to take their rest, whereupon they were caught in the toils which cunning Vulcan had spread for them, and could neither get up nor stir hand or foot, but found too late that they were in a trap. Then Vulcan came up to them, for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos. When his scout, the Son, told him what was going on, he was in a furious passion and stood in the vestibule, making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods. Father Jove, he cried, and all you other blessed gods who live forever, come here and see the ridiculous and disgraceful sight which I will show you. Jove's daughter Venus is always dishonoring me because I am lame. She is in love with Mars, who is handsome and clean built, whereas I am a cripple. But my parents are to blame for that, not I. They ought never to have begotten me. Come and see the pair together asleep on my bed. It makes me furious to look at them. Are very fond of one another. But I do not think that they will lie there longer than they can help, nor do I think that they will sleep much there. However, they will stay till her father has repaid me the sum I gave him for his baggage of a daughter who is fair but not honest. On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan, earth encircling. Neptune came and Mercury, the bringer of luck, and King Apollo. But the goddesses stayed at home, all of them for shame. Then, the giver of all good things stood in the doorway, and the blessed gods roared with inextinguishable laughter as they saw how cunning Vulcan had been. Whereon one would turn towards his neighbors, saying ill deeds do not prosper, and the weak is confound the strong. See how limping. Vulcan lame as he is, has caught Mars, who is the fleetest god in heaven, and now Mars will be caught and cast in heavy damages. Thus did they converse, But King Apollo said to Mercury, messenger, Mercury, give her of good things. You would not care how strong the chains were, would you if you could sleep with Venus. King Apollo answered Mercury, I only wish I might get the chance, though there were three times as many chains, and you might look on all of you gods and goddesses, But I would sleep with her if I could. The immortal gods burst out laughing as they heard him, but Neptune took it all seriously and kept imploring Vulcan to set Mars free again. Let him go, he cried, and I will undertake as you require that he shall pay you all the damages that you are held responsible among the immortal gods. Do not, replied, Vulcan asked me to do this. A bad man's bond is bad security. What remedy could I enforce against you? If Mars should go away and leave his debts behind him along with his chains, Vulcan said Neptune, if Mars goes away without repaying his damages, I will pay you myself, so Vulcan answered, in this case, I cannot and must not refuse you. Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them, and as soon as they were free, they scampered off Mars to Thrace, and the laughter loving Venus to Cyprus and to Paphos, whereas her grove and her altar fragrent with burnt offerings. Here the graces bathed her and anointed her with oil of ambrosia, such as the immortal gods make use of, and they clothed her in raiment of the most enchanting beauty. Thus sang the Bard, and both Ulysses and the seafaring Faations were charmed as they heard him. Then Alcinus told Laudamus and Helias to dance alone, for there was no one to compete with them. So they took a red ball, which Polybeus had made for them, and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it up towards the clouds, while the other jumped from off the ground and caught it with ease before it came down again. When they had done throwing the ball straight up into the air, they begin to dance, and at the same time I am kept on throwing it backwards and forwards to one another, while all the young men in the ring applauded and made a great stamping of their feet. Then, Ulysses said, King Alcinous, you said your people were the nimblest dancers in the world, and so indeed they have proved themselves to be. So I am astonished even as I saw them. The king was delighted at all this, and exclaimed to the poetians, aldermen and town councilors, our guests seems to be a person of singular judgment. Let us give him proof of our hospitality, as he may reasonably expect. There are twelve chief men among you, and counting myself there are thirteen. Contribute each of you a clean cloak, a shirt, and a talent of fine gold. Let us give him all this and a lump down at once, so that when he gets a supper he may do so with a light heart. As for Eurelius, he will have to make a farm more apology, and a present, too, for he has been rude. Thus did he speak the others. All of them applauded him, and sent their servants to fetch the presence. Then Eurylius said, King Alcinous, I will give the stranger all the satisfaction you require. He shall have my sword, which is a bronze, all but the hilt, which is of silver. I will also give him the scabbard, which is newly sawn ivory, into which it fits. It will be worth a great deal to him. As he spoke, he placed the sword in the hand of Ulysses and said, good luck to you, father stranger. If anything has been said amiss, may the winds blow it away with that, and may Heaven grant you a safe return. For I understand you have been a long way away from home and have gone through much hardship, to which Ulysses answered, good luck to you too, my friends, and may the gods grant you every happiness. I hope you will not miss the sword you have given me along with your apology. With these words, he girded the sword about his shoulders and towards sundown. The presents began to make their appearance, as the servants of the donors kept bringing them to the house of King Alcinus. Here as sons receive them and placed them under their mother's charge. Then Alcinous led the way to the house and bade his guest take their seats. Wife, said he turning the queen Orete, go, fetch the best chest we have, and put a clean cloak and shirt in it. Also set a copper on the fire, and heat some water. Our guests will take a warm bath. See also to the careful packing of the presents that the noble Phaeacians had made him. He will thus better enjoy both his supper and the singing that will follow. I shall myself give him this golden goblet, which is of exquisite workmanship, that he may be reminded of me for the rest of his life whenever he makes a drink offering to Jove or to any of the gods. Then Orete told her maids to set a large tripod upon the fire as fast as they could. Whereon they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire. They threw on sticks to make a blaze, and when the water became hot, as the flame played upon the belly of the tripe. Meanwhile, Erete brought a magnificent chest from her own room, and inside it she packed all the beautiful presents of gold, and the raiment which the Phoeacians had brought. Lastly, she added a cloak and a good shirt from Alcinous, and said to Ulysses, see to the lid yourself, and have the whole bound round at once, for fear anyone should rob you by the way when you are asleep in your ship. When Ulysses heard this, he put the lid on the chest and made it fast with the bond that Circe had taught him. He had done so before an upper servant told him to come to the bath and wash himself. He was very glad of a warm bath, for he had no one to wait upon him ever since he had left the house of Calypso, who was as long as he remained with her, had taken as good of care of him as though he had been a god. When the servants had done washing and anointing him with oil, and had given him a clean cloak and shirt, he left the bathroom and joined the guests who were sitting over their wine. Lovely Nausicaa stood by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the cloister, and admire him as she saw him pass farewell. Stranger said she, do not forget me when you are safe at home again, for it is to me first that you owe a ransom for having saved your life. And Ulysses said Nausic daughter the great Alcinous, may jove the mighty husband of Juno, grant that I may reach my home. So I shall bless you as my guardian angel all my days, for it was you who saved me. When he had said this, he seated himself beside Alcinous. Supper was then served, and the wine was mixed for drinking. A servant led the favorite barre Demodocus, and set him in the midst of the company, near one of the bearing posts supporting the cloister, that he may lean against it. Then Ulysses cut off a piece of roast pork with plenty of fat, for there was abundance left on the joint, and said to a servant, take this piece of pork over to Demoticus and tell him to eat it. For all the pain his lays may cause me, I will salute him none the less. Bards are honored and respected throughout the world, for the muse teaches them their songs and loves them the servant carried the pork in his fingers over to Demoicus, who took it and was very much pleased. They then laid their hands on all the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had to eat and drink, Ulysses said to Demoticus, Demoticus, there was no one in the world whom I admire more than I do you. You must have studied under the Muse Jove's daughter and under Apollo so accurately you sing of the return of the Acheans, with all of their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there yourself, you must have heard it all from someone who was. Now, however, change your song and tell us of the wooden horse, which Epius made with the assistance of Minerva, and which Ulysses got by stratagem into the fort of Troy after freighting it with the men, who afterwards sacked the city. If you will sing this tale aright, I will tell all the world how magnificent Heaven has endowed you. The bard, was inspired of Heaven, took up the story at the point where some of the archives set fire to their tents and sailed away, while others hidden within the horse were waiting with Ulysses in the Trojan place of assembly. For the Trojans themselves had drawn the horse into their fortress, and it stood there while they sat a council round it, and they were in three mins as what they should do. Some were for breaking it up then and there. Others would have it dragged at the top of the rock on which the fortress stood, and then thrown down the precipice, while yet others were for letting it remain as an offering for preditation for the gods. And this was how they settled it in the end, for the city was doomed when it took in that horse, within which were all the bravest of the archives, waiting to bring death and destruction to the Trojans. And on he sang, how the sons of the Achaeans issued from the horse and sacked the town, breaking out from their ampuscade. He sang how the old ran the city hither and thither and ravaged it, and how Ulysses went raging like Mars, along with Menelaeus, to the house of Deephobis. It was there that the fight raged most furiously. Nevertheless, by my nervous help, he was victorious. All this, he told. But Ulysses was overcome as he hurt him, and his cheeks were wet with tears. He wept as a woman weeps when she throws herself on the body of her husband, who has fallen before his own city and people, fighting bravely in defense of his home and children. She screams aloud and flings her arms about him as he lies, gasping for breath and dying. But her enemies beat her from behind about the back and shoulders, and carry her off into slavery, to a life of labor and sorrow, and the beauty fades from her cheeks. Even so piteously did Ulysses weep, But none of those present perceived his tears, except Alcinous, who was sitting near him, and could hear the sobs and sighs that he was heaving. The king therefore at once rose and said Alderman and town counselors of the Phaetians, let Demodicus cease his song, for there are those present who do not seem to like it. From the moment that we have done supper, and Demonicus began to sing, our guest has been all the time, groaning and lamenting, he is evidently in great trouble. So let the Bard leave off that we may all enjoy ourselves, hosts and guests alike, and this will be much as it should be, for all these festivities, with the escort and the presence that we are making with so much good will or holly in his honor. And anyone with even a moderate amount of right feeling knows that he ought to treat a guest and a suppliant as though he were his own brother. Therefore, sir, do not, on your part, affect no more concealment nor reserve in the matter about which I'm about to ask you. It will be more polite in you to give me a plain answer. Tell me the name by which your father and mother over yonder used to call you, by which you are known among your neighbors and fellow citizens. There is no one, neither rich nor poor, or who is absolutely without any name whatever. For peoples, fathers and mothers give them names as soon as they are born. Tell me also your country, nation, and city, that our ships may shape their purpose accordingly, and take you there. For the Phaeacians have no pilots, their vessels have no rudders as those of other nations have. But the ships themselves understand what it is we are thinking about in want. They know all the cities and countries in the whole world, and can traverse the sea just as well, even when it is covered with mist and cloud, so there is no danger being wrecked or coming to any harm. Still, I do not remember hearing my fathers say that Neptune was angry with us for being too easy going in the matter of giving people escorts. He said that one of these days he would wreck a ship of ours as it was returning from having escorted someone, and bury our city under a high mountain. This is what my father used to say. But whether the God will carry out his threat or know is a matter which he will decide for himself. And now tell me, and tell me true, where have you been wandering and in what countries have you traveled? Tell us of the peoples themselves and of their cities, who were hostile, savage and uncivilized, and who, on the other hand, hospitable and humane. Tell us also why you are made so unhappy on hearing about the return of the argive of Danaean's in Troy, The gods arranged all this and sent them their misfortunes in order that future generations might have something to sing about. Did you lose some brave kinsmen of your wife's when you were before Troy, a son in law or father in law, which are the nearest relations a man has outside his own flesh and blood. Or was it some brave and kindly natured comrade. For a good friend is as dear to a man as his own brother. End of Book eight