Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/211

 

BOOK XIII.

 

ARGUMENT.

Having concluded his narrative, Ulysses is carried asleep to Ithaca by the Phæacians, and put on shore with the presents he had received from them. Neptune, as had been foretold, transforms the ship into a rock just before its arrival in Phæacia. Minerva meets Ulysses and converses with him respecting the destruction of the suitors; she then hides his treasures in a cave, and transforms Ulysses into an old man.

Thus he spoke; but they all became still in silence, and were possessed with soothing delight in the shady palace. But him Alcinous answered in turn, and addressed [him]:

"O Ulysses, since thou hast come to my brazen-founded, lofty-roofed house, therefore I think that thou wilt return back, not wandering at all back again, although thou hast suffered very many things. But to each man of you I speak these things, charging you, as many of you as constantly drink the dark honorary^[1] wine in my palace, and listen to the bard: there already lie garments for the stranger in a well-polished chest, and much-wrought gold, and all other presents, whatever the senators of the Phæacians have brought here; but come, let us give to him a large tripod and cauldron, each man;^[2] but we again will pay it back, being assembled among^[3] the people, for it is a difficult thing for one to give as a present."^[4]

Thus spoke Alcinous; and his words pleased them. And each of them went home about to sleep. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, they hastened to the ship, and brought man-strengthening brass; and the sacred might of Alcinous arranged these things well, he himself going through the ship under the benches, lest they should hurt any

1. γερούσιον οἶνον, "the best, richest wine," served up to the senators, and people of distinction. ὁ ἐν τῷ τῶν γερόντων ἤτοι ἐντίμων συμποσίῳ πινόμενος. Eustath.
2. ἀνδρακάς κατ' ἄνδρα ἕνα ἕκαστον. Hesych. It is originally a substantive, (as in Nicander, Ther. 642,) but is used adverbially by Homer.
3. Notwithstanding Clarke's observation that ἀγείρομαι is always used passively in Homer, the old prose translator has utterly mistaken the passage, rendering it, "we will again repay ourselves, making a collection through the people." An Homeric sentiment, forsooth!
4. Literally, "for nothing," genitive of προΐξ, a gift. See Thiersch, Gk. Gr. p. 398.