us [to grant him] an escort, and prays for it to be safe. But let us, as hitherto, make ready the escort. For no other person who comes to my house, remains here a long time lamenting on account of an escort.[1] But come, we will draw a black ship for its first voyage[2] into the divine sea; and let two and fifty youths[3] be chosen amongst the people as many as hitherto have been the best. And do ye all, having bound the oars well to the benches, come out: but afterwards, coming to my house, make ready a hasty feast; and I will supply it well for all. These things I enjoin the youths; but do ye the rest, sceptre-bearing princes, come to my fair dwellings, that we may entertain the stranger kindly in our palace, nor let any one refuse; and call the divine bard Demodocus, for to him the deity has granted song exceedingly, to delight in whatever his mind incites him to sing."
Thus having spoken, he led the way; and the sceptre-bearers followed with him; but the herald went for the divine bard. And two and fifty youths, being chosen, went, as he commanded, to the shore of the barren sea. But when, indeed, they came to the ship and to the sea, they drew the black ship into the deep of the sea, and they placed a mast and sails in the black ship; and they fitted the oars in the leather loops, all rightly, and they spread out the white sails; and they moored her high out upon the sea; but afterwards they hastened to the great house of the prudent Alcinous. And the porches and the enclosures and houses were filled with men [collected together; and there were many young and old men]. And Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep for them, and eight swine with white tusks, and two curve-footed oxen; these they skinned and managed, and made ready a delightful feast. And the herald came near, leading the harmonious bard, whom the Muse loved exceedingly; but she gave him both good and evil; she deprived him indeed of his eyes, but gave him sweet song.[4] For him Pontonous placed a silver-studded throne in
- ↑ i. e. "through wanting one."
- ↑ Not only nearly built, but also ἡ πρώτη κατὰ τὸ πλέειν—ναυαρχίς. Eustath.
- ↑ Observe that κόυρο is made to agree with the dual δύω, not with πεντήκοντα, the plural. Cf. vii. 48 and 51, with the note of Eustathius.
- ↑ The blindness of bards is almost proverbial. See some quaint and
