cestors. For we are not faultless pugilists, nor wrestlers, but we run swiftly with our feet, and are the best in [managing] ships: and ever dear to us [is] the banquet, and the harp and dances, and changing of garments, and warm baths, and beds. But come, ye dancers of the Phæacians, as many of you as are the best, play; that the stranger returning home may relate to his friends how much we excel others in sailing, and in the race, and in the dance, and the song. But let some one go immediately, and bring the clear-toned harp for Demodocus, which lies some where in our house."
Thus spoke godlike Alcinous; but the herald rose to bring the sweet harp from the house of the king. And all the nine public chosen umpires[1] rose up, who managed every thing well in the contests: and they made the floor smooth, and widened the beautiful ring. And the herald came near, bringing the clear-toned harp to Demodocus; and he then went into the middle; and around him there stood youths in the prime of life, skilled in the dance: and they struck the divine floor[2] with their feet: but Ulysses regarded the twinklings[3] of their feet, and marvelled in his mind.
But he playing on the harp struck up[4] to sing beautifully, about the love of Mars and beautifully-crowned Venus, how they at first had intercourse stealthily in the house of Vulcan: for he gave her many things, and disgraced the couch and bed of king Vulcan; but to him there immediately came as a messenger the Sun, who perceived them mixed in love. But Vulcan, when he heard the heart-paining tale, hastened to his smithy, deeply planning evils in his mind: he placed a mighty anvil on the stock, and forged chains not to be broken or loosed, that they might remain there fixed. But after he had contrived the stratagem, enraged with Mars, he hastened to the chamber, where his dear bed lay. And then around the bed-posts he puts chains in a circle on every side; and many were fitted above from the ceiling, as slender cobwebs, which no one could see, even of the blessed gods; for they were made exceedingly cunning. But when he had spread all the snare around the bed, he pretended that he would go to Lemnos, a
