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08 - The Odyssey - Homer · Adventure Books Collection

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Book eight banquet in the house of Alcinous. The games. Now, when
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the child of Morning, Rosy finger Dawn appeared, Alcinus and Ulysses both rose.
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Alcinus led the way to the Phaeacian place of assembly, which was near
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the ships. When they got there, they sat down side by side on
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a seat of polished stone, while Minerva took the form of one of Alcinous's
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servants and went round the town in order to help Ulysses to get home.
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She went up to the citizens manned by man and said, aldermen and town
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councilors of the Phaeacians, come to the assembly, all of you and listened
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to the stranger who has just come off a long voyage to the house of
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King Alcinous. He looks like an immortal god. With these words, she
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made them all want to come, and they flocked to the assembly till seats
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and standing room were a light crowded. Everyone was struck with the appearance of
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Ulysses, for Minerva had beautified him about the head and shoulders, making him
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look taller and stouter than he really was, that he might pressed the Phaeacians
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favorably as being a very remarkable man and might come off well in the many
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trials of skill to which they would challenge him. Then when they were all
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to got together, Alcinous spoke hear me, said he, aldermen and town
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counselors of the Phaeacians, that I may speak even as I am minded.
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This stranger, whoever he may be, has found his way to my house
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from somewhere or other east or west. He wants an escort and wishes to
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have the matter settled. Let us then get one ready for him, as
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we have done for others before him. Indeed, no one has ever yet
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come to my house who has been able to complain of me not speeding him
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on his way. Soon enough, let us draw a ship into the sea,
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one that has never yet made a voyage, and man her with two
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and fifty of our smartest young sailors. Then, when you have made fast
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the oars, each by his own seat, leave the ship and come to
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my house to prepare a feast. I will find you and everything. I
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am giving these instructions to the young men who will form the crew. For
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as regards you, aldermen and town councilors, you will join me in entertaining
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our guests in the cloisters. I can take no excuses, and we will
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have Demodocus to sing for us, for there was no barred like him,
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whatever he may choose to sing about. Alcinus then led the way, and
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the others followed. After while a servant went to fetch Demodocus. The fifty
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two picked oarsmen went to the sea shore as they had been told, and
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when they got there, they drew the ship into the water, got her
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mast and sails inside her, bound the oars to the thule pins with twisted
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thongs of leather, all in due course, and spread the white sails aloft.
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They moored the vessel a little way out from land, and then came
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on shore and went to the house of King Alcinous. The outhouses, yards,
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and all the precincts were filled with crowds of men in great multitudes,
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both old and young, and Alcinous killed them a dozen sheep, eight full
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grown pigs, and two oxen. These were skinned and dressed so as to
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provide a magnificent banquet. The servant presently let in the famous barre Demodocus,
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whom the mews had dearly loved, but to whom she had given both good
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and evil, for though she had endowed him with a divine gift of song,
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she had robbed him of his eyesight. Pontanus set a seat for him
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among the guests, leading it up against a bearing post. He hung the
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lyre for him on a peg over his head, and showed him where he
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was to fill for it with his hands. He also set a fair table
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with a basket of victuals by his side, and a cup of wine from
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which he might drink whenever he was so disposed. The company then laid their
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hands upon the good things that were before them. But as soon as they
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had enough to eat and drink, the mews inspired Demodocus to sing the feats
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of heroes, and more especially a matter that was in the mouths of all
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men, to wit, the quarrel between Achilles and Ulysses, and the fierce
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words that they heaped on one another as they sat together at a banquet.
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But Agamemnon was glad when he heard his chiefs quarreling with one another, for
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Apollo had foretold this at Pittho, when he crossed the stone floor to consult
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the oracle. Here was the beginning of the evil that was by the will
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of Jove fell upon the Daneans and Trojans. Thus sang the Bard, But
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Ulysses drew his purple mantle over his head and covered his face, for he
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was ashamed to let the Phaeacians see that he was weeping. When the Bard
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left off singing, he wiped his tears from his eyes, uncovered his face,
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and, taking his cup, made a drink offering to the gods.
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But when the Phaeacians pressed Demodocus to sing further, for they delighted in his
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lays, then Ulysses again drew them his mantle over his head and wept bitterly.
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No one noticed his distress except Alcinous, who was sitting near him and
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heard the heavy sighs that he was heaving. So he at once said,
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aldermen and town councilors of the Phaeacians, we have had enough now, both
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of the feast and of the minstry that is its due accompaniment. Let us
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proceed therefore to the athletic sports, so that our guests, on his return
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home, may be able to tell his friends how much we surpass all other
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nations as boxers, wrestlers, jumpers, and runners. With these words he
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led the way, and the others followed after. A servant hung Demodicus's lyre
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on its peg for him and led him out of the cloister and set him
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on the same way as that along which all the chief men of the Phaeacians
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were going to see the sports. A crowd of several thousands of people followed
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them, and there were many excellent competitors for all the prizes, Acronius,
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Acalius, Alatrius, Nataeus, Primnius, an Chelus, Aretmius, Pontius,
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Proreus, thune Anibezius, and Amphilius son of Polonius, son of Tecton.
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There were also Aurelius, son of Nablus, who was like Mars himself and
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was the best looking man among the Phaeacians except Laudamus. Three sons of Alcinous,
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Laudamus, Halios and Clytonius competed also. The foot races came first.
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The course was set out for them from the starting post, and they raised
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a dust upon the plane as they all flew forward. At the same moment,
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Clytonius came in first a long way. He left everyone else behind him
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by the length of the furrow that a couple of mules can plow in a
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fallow field. They then turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here
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Euryalis proved to be the best man, and Phileas excelled all the others in
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jumping, while at throwing the disc there was no one who coul approach.
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Elatrius, Alcinous's son Laudamus, was the best boxer, and he it was
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who presently said, when they had all been diverted with the games, let
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us ask the stranger whether he excels in any of these sports. He seems
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very powerfully built. His thighs, calves, hands and neck are all of
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prodigious strength. Nor is he at all old. But he has suffered much
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lately. And there is nothing like the sea for making havoc with a man,
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no matter how strong he is. You're quite right, Laudamus replied Eurylius.
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Go up to your guest and speak to him about it yourself. When
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Laudamus heard this, he made his way into the middle of the crowd and
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said to Ulysses, I hope, sir, that you will enter yourself for
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some one or other of our competitions, if you are skilled in any of
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them. And you must have gone in for many a one before. Now
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there is nothing that does anyone so much credit all his life long as the
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showing himself a proper man with his hands and feet have a try. Therefore
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it's something, and banish all sorrow from your mind. Your return home will
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not be long delayed, for the ship is already drawn into the water,
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and the crew is found. Ulysses answered loudamus, why do you taught me
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in this way? My mind is set rather on cares than contests. I
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have been through infinite trouble, and come among you now as a supplement,
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praying your king and people to further me on my return home. Then Eurylius,
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reviling him outright, said, I gather then that you are unskilled in
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any of the many sports that men generally delight in. I suppose that you
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are one of those grasping traders that go about in ships as captains or merchants,
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and who think of nothing but their outward freights and homeward cargoes. That
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does not seem to be much of the athlete about you. For shame,
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sir, answered Ulysses fiercely. You are an insolent fellow. So true,
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is it that the gods do not grace all men alike in speech, person
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and understanding. One man may be weak of presence, but Heaven has adorned
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this with such a good conversation that he charms everyone who sees him. His
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honeyed moderation carries his hearers with him, so that he is a leader in
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all assemblies of his fellows. Wherever he goes, he has looked upon to
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another. May be as handsome as a god, but his good looks are
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not crowned with discretion. This is your case. No God could make a
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finer looking fellow than you are. But you are a fool. You were
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ill judged remarks and made me exceedingly angry, And you are quite mistaken.
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For I excel in a great many athletic exercises. Indeed, so long as
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I had youth and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age.
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Now, however, I am worn out by labor and sorrow, for
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I have gone through much, both on the field of battle and by the
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waves of the sea. Still, in spite of all this, I will
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compete, for your taunts have stung me to the quick. So he hurried
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up without even taking his cloak off and seized the disk, larger, more
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massive, and much heavier than those used by the Faiacians when disthrowing among themselves.
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Then swinging it back, he threw it from his brawny hand and made
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a humming sound in the air as he did so. The Faiacians quailed beneath
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the rushing of its flight as it sped gracefully from his hand and flew beyond
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any mark that had been made. Yet Minerva, in the form of a
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man, came and marked the place where it had been fallen a blind man.
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Sir said, she could easily tell your mark by groping for it.
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It is so far ahead of any other. You may make your mind easy
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about this contest, for no Phaeacian can come nearer to such a throw as
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yours. Ulysses was glad when he had found a friend among the onlookers,
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for he had begun to speak more pleasantly. Young men, said, he
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come up to that throw if you can, and I will throw another disk
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as heavy or even heavier. If any one wants to have a bout with
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me, let him come on, for I am exceedingly angry. I will
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box wrestle or run. I do not care what it is for any man
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among you, all except Laudamus, but not with him, because I am
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his guest, and one cannot compete with one's own personal friend. At least.
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I do not think it a prudent or sensible thing for a guest to
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challenge his host's family at any game, especially when he is in a foreign
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country. He will cut the ground from under his own feet if he does.
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But I will make no exception as regards any one else, for I
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want to have the matter out and know which is the best man. I
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am a good hand at every kind of athletic sport known among mankind. I
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am an excellent archer in battle. I am always the first to bring a
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man down with my arrow, no matter how many more are taking aim in
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him alongside of me. Phyloctates was the only man who could shoot better than
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me when we Achaeans were before Troy, And in practice I far excel every
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one else in the whole world, of those who still eat bread upon the
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face of the earth. But I should not like to shoot against the mighty
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deed, such as Hercules or Arictus, the Okeelian men who could shoot against
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the gods themselves. This, in fact, is how Euryctus came prematurely by
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his end, for Apollo was angry with him and killed him because he challenged
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him. As an archer, I can throw a dart faster than any one
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else can shoot an arrow. Running is the only point in respect of which
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I am afraid some of the Phoenicians might beat me, for I have been
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brought down very low at sea. My provisions run short, and therefore I
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am still weak. They all held their peace, except King Alcinous, who
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began, Sir, we have had much pleasure in hearing all that you have
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told us, from which I understand that you are willing to show your prowess
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as having been displeased with some of our insolent remarks that have been made to
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you by one of our athletes, and which could never have been uttered by
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anyone who knows how to talk with propriety. I hope you will apprehend my
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meeting, and will explain to any one of your chief men, who may
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be dining with yourself and your family when you get home, that we have
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an hereditary aptitude for accomplishments of all kinds. We are not particularly remarkable for
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our boxing, nor yet as wrestlers. But we are singularly fleet of foot
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and are excellent sailors. We are extremely fond of good dinners, music,
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and dancing. We also like frequent changes of linen, warm baths, and
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good beds. So now please, some of you, who are the best
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dancers, set about dancing, that our guests, on his return home,
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may be able to tell his friends how much we see passed all other nations
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as sailors, runners, dancers and minstrels. Demodocus has left his liar at
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my house, so run some one or other of you and fetch it for
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him. On this a servant hurried off to bring the liar from the king's
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house, and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward.
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It was their business to manage everything connected with the sports, so they made
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the ground smoothed and marked a wide space for the dancers. Presently, the
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servant came back with Demodicus's liar, and he took his place in the midst
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of them, whereupon the best young dancers in the town began to foot and
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trip it so nimbly that Ulysses was delighted with the merry twinkling of their feet.
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Meanwhile, the bard had begun to sing the loves of Venus and Mars,
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and how they first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan. Mars
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made Venus many presents and defiled King Vulcan's marriage bed, so the son who
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saw what they were about told Vulcan. Vulcan was very angry when he heard
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such dreads news, so he went to his smithy, brooding mischief, got
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his great anflm to its place, and begin to forge some change which none
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could unloose or break, so that they might stay in that place. When
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he had finished his snare, he went off to his bedroom and festooned the
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bedposts all over with chains like cobwebs. He also let many hang down from
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the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them,
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so fine and subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the chains
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all over the bed, he made as though he were setting off for the
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fair state of Lumnos, which of all places in the world, was the
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one he was the most fond of. But Mars kept no blind lookout,
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and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off to his house burning
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with love for Venus. Now, Venus had just come in from a visit
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to her father Jove, and was sitting down when Mars came inside the house
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and said, as he took her hand into his own, let us go
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to the couch of Vulcan. He is not at home, but is gone
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off to Lemnos among the Scythians, whose speech is barbarous. She was nothing
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loath, so they went to the couch to take their rest, whereupon they
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were caught in the toils which cunning Vulcan had spread for them, and could
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neither get up nor stir hand or foot, but found too late that they
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were in a trap. Then Vulcan came up to them, for he had
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turned back before reaching Lemnos. When his scout, the Son, told him
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what was going on, he was in a furious passion and stood in the
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vestibule, making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods. Father
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Jove, he cried, and all you other blessed gods who live forever,
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come here and see the ridiculous and disgraceful sight which I will show you.
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Jove's daughter Venus is always dishonoring me because I am lame. She is in
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love with Mars, who is handsome and clean built, whereas I am a
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cripple. But my parents are to blame for that, not I. They
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ought never to have begotten me. Come and see the pair together asleep on
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my bed. It makes me furious to look at them. Are very fond
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of one another. But I do not think that they will lie there longer
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than they can help, nor do I think that they will sleep much there.
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However, they will stay till her father has repaid me the sum I
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gave him for his baggage of a daughter who is fair but not honest.
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On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan, earth encircling. Neptune
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came and Mercury, the bringer of luck, and King Apollo. But the
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goddesses stayed at home, all of them for shame. Then, the giver
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of all good things stood in the doorway, and the blessed gods roared with
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inextinguishable laughter as they saw how cunning Vulcan had been. Whereon one would turn
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towards his neighbors, saying ill deeds do not prosper, and the weak is
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confound the strong. See how limping. Vulcan lame as he is, has
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caught Mars, who is the fleetest god in heaven, and now Mars will
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be caught and cast in heavy damages. Thus did they converse, But King
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Apollo said to Mercury, messenger, Mercury, give her of good things.
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You would not care how strong the chains were, would you if you could
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sleep with Venus. King Apollo answered Mercury, I only wish I might get
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the chance, though there were three times as many chains, and you might
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look on all of you gods and goddesses, But I would sleep with her
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if I could. The immortal gods burst out laughing as they heard him,
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but Neptune took it all seriously and kept imploring Vulcan to set Mars free again.
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Let him go, he cried, and I will undertake as you require
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that he shall pay you all the damages that you are held responsible among the
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immortal gods. Do not, replied, Vulcan asked me to do this.
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A bad man's bond is bad security. What remedy could I enforce against you?
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If Mars should go away and leave his debts behind him along with his
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chains, Vulcan said Neptune, if Mars goes away without repaying his damages,
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I will pay you myself, so Vulcan answered, in this case, I
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cannot and must not refuse you. Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them,
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and as soon as they were free, they scampered off Mars to Thrace,
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and the laughter loving Venus to Cyprus and to Paphos, whereas her grove
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and her altar fragrent with burnt offerings. Here the graces bathed her and anointed
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her with oil of ambrosia, such as the immortal gods make use of,
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and they clothed her in raiment of the most enchanting beauty. Thus sang the
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Bard, and both Ulysses and the seafaring Faations were charmed as they heard him.
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Then Alcinus told Laudamus and Helias to dance alone, for there was no
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one to compete with them. So they took a red ball, which Polybeus
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had made for them, and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it
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up towards the clouds, while the other jumped from off the ground and caught
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it with ease before it came down again. When they had done throwing the
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ball straight up into the air, they begin to dance, and at the
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same time I am kept on throwing it backwards and forwards to one another,
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while all the young men in the ring applauded and made a great stamping of
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their feet. Then, Ulysses said, King Alcinous, you said your people
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were the nimblest dancers in the world, and so indeed they have proved themselves
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to be. So I am astonished even as I saw them. The king
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was delighted at all this, and exclaimed to the poetians, aldermen and town
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councilors, our guests seems to be a person of singular judgment. Let us
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give him proof of our hospitality, as he may reasonably expect. There are
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twelve chief men among you, and counting myself there are thirteen. Contribute each
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of you a clean cloak, a shirt, and a talent of fine gold.
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Let us give him all this and a lump down at once, so
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that when he gets a supper he may do so with a light heart.
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As for Eurelius, he will have to make a farm more apology, and
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a present, too, for he has been rude. Thus did he speak
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the others. All of them applauded him, and sent their servants to fetch
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the presence. Then Eurylius said, King Alcinous, I will give the stranger
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all the satisfaction you require. He shall have my sword, which is a
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bronze, all but the hilt, which is of silver. I will also
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give him the scabbard, which is newly sawn ivory, into which it fits.
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It will be worth a great deal to him. As he spoke,
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he placed the sword in the hand of Ulysses and said, good luck to
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you, father stranger. If anything has been said amiss, may the winds
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blow it away with that, and may Heaven grant you a safe return.
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For I understand you have been a long way away from home and have gone
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through much hardship, to which Ulysses answered, good luck to you too,
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my friends, and may the gods grant you every happiness. I hope you
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will not miss the sword you have given me along with your apology. With
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these words, he girded the sword about his shoulders and towards sundown. The
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presents began to make their appearance, as the servants of the donors kept bringing
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them to the house of King Alcinus. Here as sons receive them and placed
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them under their mother's charge. Then Alcinous led the way to the house and
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bade his guest take their seats. Wife, said he turning the queen Orete,
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go, fetch the best chest we have, and put a clean cloak
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and shirt in it. Also set a copper on the fire, and heat
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some water. Our guests will take a warm bath. See also to the
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careful packing of the presents that the noble Phaeacians had made him. He will
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thus better enjoy both his supper and the singing that will follow. I shall
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myself give him this golden goblet, which is of exquisite workmanship, that he
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may be reminded of me for the rest of his life whenever he makes a
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drink offering to Jove or to any of the gods. Then Orete told her
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maids to set a large tripod upon the fire as fast as they could.
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Whereon they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire.
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They threw on sticks to make a blaze, and when the water became hot,
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as the flame played upon the belly of the tripe. Meanwhile, Erete
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brought a magnificent chest from her own room, and inside it she packed all
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the beautiful presents of gold, and the raiment which the Phoeacians had brought.
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Lastly, she added a cloak and a good shirt from Alcinous, and said
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to Ulysses, see to the lid yourself, and have the whole bound round
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at once, for fear anyone should rob you by the way when you are
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asleep in your ship. When Ulysses heard this, he put the lid on
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the chest and made it fast with the bond that Circe had taught him.
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He had done so before an upper servant told him to come to the bath
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and wash himself. He was very glad of a warm bath, for he
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had no one to wait upon him ever since he had left the house of
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Calypso, who was as long as he remained with her, had taken as
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good of care of him as though he had been a god. When the
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servants had done washing and anointing him with oil, and had given him a
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clean cloak and shirt, he left the bathroom and joined the guests who were
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sitting over their wine. Lovely Nausicaa stood by one of the bearing posts supporting
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the roof of the cloister, and admire him as she saw him pass farewell.
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Stranger said she, do not forget me when you are safe at home
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again, for it is to me first that you owe a ransom for having
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saved your life. And Ulysses said Nausic daughter the great Alcinous, may jove
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the mighty husband of Juno, grant that I may reach my home. So
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I shall bless you as my guardian angel all my days, for it was
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you who saved me. When he had said this, he seated himself beside
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Alcinous. Supper was then served, and the wine was mixed for drinking.
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A servant led the favorite barre Demodocus, and set him in the midst of
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the company, near one of the bearing posts supporting the cloister, that he
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may lean against it. Then Ulysses cut off a piece of roast pork with
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plenty of fat, for there was abundance left on the joint, and said
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to a servant, take this piece of pork over to Demoticus and tell him
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to eat it. For all the pain his lays may cause me, I
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will salute him none the less. Bards are honored and respected throughout the world,
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for the muse teaches them their songs and loves them the servant carried the
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pork in his fingers over to Demoicus, who took it and was very much
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pleased. They then laid their hands on all the good things that were before
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them, and as soon as they had to eat and drink, Ulysses said
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to Demoticus, Demoticus, there was no one in the world whom I admire
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more than I do you. You must have studied under the Muse Jove's daughter
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and under Apollo so accurately you sing of the return of the Acheans, with
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all of their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there yourself, you
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must have heard it all from someone who was. Now, however, change
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your song and tell us of the wooden horse, which Epius made with the
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assistance of Minerva, and which Ulysses got by stratagem into the fort of Troy
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after freighting it with the men, who afterwards sacked the city. If you
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will sing this tale aright, I will tell all the world how magnificent Heaven
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has endowed you. The bard, was inspired of Heaven, took up the
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story at the point where some of the archives set fire to their tents and
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sailed away, while others hidden within the horse were waiting with Ulysses in the
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Trojan place of assembly. For the Trojans themselves had drawn the horse into their
25:18
fortress, and it stood there while they sat a council round it, and
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they were in three mins as what they should do. Some were for breaking
25:26
it up then and there. Others would have it dragged at the top of
25:30
the rock on which the fortress stood, and then thrown down the precipice,
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while yet others were for letting it remain as an offering for preditation for the
25:38
gods. And this was how they settled it in the end, for the
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city was doomed when it took in that horse, within which were all the
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bravest of the archives, waiting to bring death and destruction to the Trojans.
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And on he sang, how the sons of the Achaeans issued from the horse
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and sacked the town, breaking out from their ampuscade. He sang how the
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old ran the city hither and thither and ravaged it, and how Ulysses went
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raging like Mars, along with Menelaeus, to the house of Deephobis. It
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was there that the fight raged most furiously. Nevertheless, by my nervous help,
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he was victorious. All this, he told. But Ulysses was overcome
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as he hurt him, and his cheeks were wet with tears. He wept
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as a woman weeps when she throws herself on the body of her husband,
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who has fallen before his own city and people, fighting bravely in defense of
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his home and children. She screams aloud and flings her arms about him as
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he lies, gasping for breath and dying. But her enemies beat her from
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behind about the back and shoulders, and carry her off into slavery, to
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a life of labor and sorrow, and the beauty fades from her cheeks.
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Even so piteously did Ulysses weep, But none of those present perceived his tears,
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except Alcinous, who was sitting near him, and could hear the sobs
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and sighs that he was heaving. The king therefore at once rose and said
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Alderman and town counselors of the Phaetians, let Demodicus cease his song, for
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there are those present who do not seem to like it. From the moment
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that we have done supper, and Demonicus began to sing, our guest has
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been all the time, groaning and lamenting, he is evidently in great trouble.
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So let the Bard leave off that we may all enjoy ourselves, hosts
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and guests alike, and this will be much as it should be, for
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all these festivities, with the escort and the presence that we are making with
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so much good will or holly in his honor. And anyone with even a
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moderate amount of right feeling knows that he ought to treat a guest and a
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suppliant as though he were his own brother. Therefore, sir, do not,
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on your part, affect no more concealment nor reserve in the matter about
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which I'm about to ask you. It will be more polite in you to
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give me a plain answer. Tell me the name by which your father and
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mother over yonder used to call you, by which you are known among your
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neighbors and fellow citizens. There is no one, neither rich nor poor,
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or who is absolutely without any name whatever. For peoples, fathers and mothers
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give them names as soon as they are born. Tell me also your country,
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nation, and city, that our ships may shape their purpose accordingly,
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and take you there. For the Phaeacians have no pilots, their vessels have
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no rudders as those of other nations have. But the ships themselves understand what
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it is we are thinking about in want. They know all the cities and
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countries in the whole world, and can traverse the sea just as well,
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even when it is covered with mist and cloud, so there is no danger
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being wrecked or coming to any harm. Still, I do not remember hearing
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my fathers say that Neptune was angry with us for being too easy going in
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the matter of giving people escorts. He said that one of these days he
28:45
would wreck a ship of ours as it was returning from having escorted someone,
28:48
and bury our city under a high mountain. This is what my father used
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to say. But whether the God will carry out his threat or know is
28:56
a matter which he will decide for himself. And now tell me, and
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tell me true, where have you been wandering and in what countries have you
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traveled? Tell us of the peoples themselves and of their cities, who were
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hostile, savage and uncivilized, and who, on the other hand, hospitable
29:14
and humane. Tell us also why you are made so unhappy on hearing about
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the return of the argive of Danaean's in Troy, The gods arranged all this
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and sent them their misfortunes in order that future generations might have something to sing
29:27
about. Did you lose some brave kinsmen of your wife's when you were before
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Troy, a son in law or father in law, which are the nearest
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relations a man has outside his own flesh and blood. Or was it some
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brave and kindly natured comrade. For a good friend is as dear to a
29:42
man as his own brother. End of Book eight