The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/Hymns/Hymn 5

by Homer

V. BACCHUS, OR THE PIRATES.

Concerning^[1] Bacchus, the son of glorious Semele, I will make mention, how he appeared on the shore of the unfruitful sea, upon a jutting beach,^[2] like unto a young man in the first bloom of youth, while his beauteous dark tresses were shaken around, and he wore a purple mantle about his sturdy shoulders. But quickly came Tyrrhenian pirates from the well-benched ship upon the dark sea, and evil fate led it on. But they, perceiving [him], beckoned to one another, and quickly leaped out, and speedily having seized him, they seated him in their ship, rejoicing at heart. For they said that he was a son of Jove-nurtured princes, and wished to bind him in grievous fetters. But him the fetters restrained not, and the withy bands fell far off from his hands and feet; and he sat smiling with his dark eyes, but the pilot, perceiving, straightway gave orders to his comrades, and addressed them.

"Miserable men! who is this powerful god who ye, having seized, have bound? Nor is the well-constructed ship able to bear him. For either he is Jove, or silver-bowed Apollo, or Neptune; since he is not like unto mortal men, but to the gods who possess the Olympian dwellings. But come, let us forthwith leave him upon the dark mainland, nor lay your hands upon him, lest, being at all enraged, he stir up troublesome gales and a mighty whirlwind."

Thus he spake, but him the captain rebuked with bitter speech: "My good man, look to the prosperous gale, and at the same time draw up the sail of the ship, having made full tackle. But this one shall be a care to men. I hope that he will come or to Egypt, or to Cyprus, or to the Hyperboreans, or yet farther, and that he will at last declare both his friends, and all his possessions, and his brethren; since fortune has presented him to us."

Thus having spoken, he drew up the mast and sail of the ship, and the wind breathed upon the middle of the sail and around it they stretched out the cordage. But quickly to them appeared wondrous deeds.^[3] First indeed sweet-scented

wine bubbled through the swift black ship, and an ambrosial savour arose, and dread seized all the sailors as they beheld. And straightway a vine was stretched out by the highest top of the sail, on this side and that, and many clusters hung down. And around the mast the dark ivy, flourishing in blossoms, was entwined, and the pleasant fruit sprang forth, and all the thongs [of the oars] were furnished with crowns. But they perceiving it, then bade Medides,^[4] their pilot, put to land. But he in their sight became a dreadful lion within the ship, upon its summit, and he roared mightily, and in the middle [of the ship] he made a shaggy-necked bear, showing forth marvels. And he arose eagerly, but dreadful^[5] was the lion upon the top of the bench, scowling savagely, but they fled terrified to the poop, and stood astounded around the pilot who [alone] possessed a prudent mind. But he^[6] hastily making an onslaught, seized the captain, and they, shunning evil fate, all at once leaped out, when they beheld him, into the boundless sea, and became dolphins. But pitying the pilot, [Bacchus] restrained him, and rendered him all fortunate, and spake thus:

"Be of good cheer, noble pilot,^[7] most grateful to my mind. But I am Bacchus the loud-sounding, whom a Cadmeian mother Semele bore, mingling in the embrace of Jove."

Hail! son of fair-faced Semele; never is it possible, forgetting thee, to adorn the sweet song.^[8]

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1. This formula of commencing a hymn is well illustrated by Barnes from Aristoph. Nub. 505, and Suidas, v. ἀμφιανακτίζειν.
2. But Ernesti would read ἄκρῃ, comparing Nonnus xlv. p. 1164, αἰγιαλοῖο παρ' ὄφρυσιν. He forgot Od. xxiv. 82, ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, which Hesych. t. i. p. 212, interprets, ἐν τῷ ἐξέχοντι μέρει τοῦ αἰγιαλοῦ. The same grammarian also explains it by παραθαλάσσιος τόπος. There is the same distinction between our words "shore" and "beach." Moreover, that ἀκτὴ means the projecting rocky parts of the shore, which are most beaten by the waves, but θῖνες the sandy, is evident from the Schol. on Il. ii. 395, on Soph. Aj. 414, and Ammonius, p. 9, where see Valck.
3. Cf. Seneca, Œd. 449. "Te Tyrrhena puer rapuit manus, Et tumidum Nereus posuit mare, Cœrula cum pratis mutat freta. Huic vernus platanus folio viret, Et Phœbo laurus carum nemus, Garrula per ramos avis obstrepit, vivaces ederas ramus tenet, Summa ligat vitis carchesia, Idæus prora fremuit leo," &c. Cf. Propert. iii. 17, 25. Ovid, Met. iii. 606, sqq. Hygin. Fab. cxxxiv. Lactant. Placid. Arg. Ovid. Met. iii. fab 9, 10.
4. In other authors he is called Acœtes. I myself think, with Hermann, that an accusative is wanting. He ingeniously reads νῆ' ἤδη.
5. This must be the sense, as δεινὸν ὕποδρα can hardly be joined.
6. Bacchus, in his lion's form.
7. This word is very doubtful. See Hermann.
8. "And thus, all excellence of grace to thee,
   Son of sweet-count'nance-carrying Semele.
   I must not thee forget, in least degree;
   But pray thy spirit to render so my song,
   Sweet, and all ways in order'd fury strong."Chapman.