sands: and they embarking went to well-inhabited Sidonia; but I was left, sorrowing at heart."
Thus he spoke: but the blue-eyed goddess Minerva smiled, and stroked him down with the hand; but she became in her person like a woman, both fair, and large, and skilled in splendid works; and addressing him she spoke winged words:
"Cunning would he be and deceitful, whoever should surpass thee in all kinds of craft, even if a god should meet thee. O thou hard one, various in plans, insatiable in deceit, thou wert not about, even when in thine own land, to cease from thy deceits, and crafty words, which are dear to thee from thy birth.[1] But come, let us no longer speak of these things, since we are both skilled in cunning; for thou art the best of all mortals in counsel and words; but I am celebrated amongst all the gods for my judgment and cunning; didst thou not know Pallas Minerva, the daughter of Jove, [me] who always stand by thee in all labours, and guard thee, and have made thee dear unto all the Phæacians? But now I am come here that I may weave some counsel with thee, and may hide the possessions, whatsoever the illustrious Phæacians have given thee, returning home by my counsel and mind. And that I may tell thee what sorrows it is fated for thee to endure in thy built house; but do thou endure them even by necessity, nor tell any one, either of all men or women, that thou hast come wandering; but in silence suffer many griefs, sustaining the violence of men."
But her much-planning Ulysses in answer addressed: "It is difficult, O goddess, for a man who meets thee to know thee, although he be very skilful; for thou makest thyself like unto every one. But I know this well, that thou wert before kind to me, while we sons of the Grecians fought in Troy. But when we had destroyed the lofty city of Priam, and embarked in our ships, and the deity dispersed the Grecians, I did not afterwards behold thee, nor did I perceive thee embarking on my ship, that thou mightest avert any grief from me. [But I was continually wandering, having my heart overcome in my mind, until the gods freed me from mischiefs; before thou didst encourage me with thy words in the
- ↑ Literally, "from the plain," a metaphor derived from plants. See the Schol. and Eustath. Hesychius interprets it, ἀρχῆθεν, ἐκ ῥίζης, ἀπὸ γενέσεως, ἐκ παίδων.
