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

by Homer

 

BOOK V.

 

ARGUMENT.

Jupiter despatches Mercury to the island of Calypso, commanding her to send Ulysses away; which she consents to with reluctance: and gives him materials to form a raft. On the eighteenth day after he had set out Neptune sees him, and raises a great storm, which destroys his raft. Having undergone great danger, by the assistance of a sea-nymph, who gives him a scarf to support himself with, he arrives safe on shore at Phæacia.

Aurora rose from her bed beside illustrious Tithonus,^[1] that she might bear light to immortals and men: but the gods sat in conclave, and amongst them Jupiter, who thunders from on high, and whose power is greatest. To them Minerva related the many toils of Ulysses, remembering [him]; for he was her care, when in the house of the Nymph.

"O father Jove, and ye other blessed gods who exist for ever, let no sceptre-bearing king be any more provident, mild, and gentle, nor thinking rightful things in his mind, but let him ever be severe and do unlawful things; since no one of the people, over whom he reigned, is mindful of divine Ulysses, and he was mild as a father: but he lies in an island suffering great grief, in the palace of the Nymph Calypso, who detains him by necessity; and he is unable to come to his paternal land. For there are not ships for him fitted with oars, and companions who may conduct him over the wide back of the sea. Now again they desire to slay his beloved son, about to return home; but he has gone to divine Pylos and mighty Lacedæmon^[2] for news for his father."

But her, cloud-collecting Jove addressed in answer: "My child what word has escaped thy lips? For hast thou not indeed thyself devised this plan, that Ulysses may indeed return and be revenged on them? But do thou skilfully conduct Telemachus, for thou art able, that he may reach his paternal land unhurt; but let the suitors return back^[3] in their ship."

He spoke and addressed his beloved son Mercury: "Mercury, for thou art a messenger also in other things, tell^[4] our unerring decree to the fair-haired Nymph, the return of the patient Ulysses, that he may go back, neither under the guidance of the gods, nor of mortal men, but let him come on the twentieth day to fertile Scheria^[5] on a raft lashed together with many chains, having suffered calamities, to the land of the Phæacians, who are nearly related^[6] to the gods; who will honour him in their heart, like as a god, and will send him in a ship to his dear paternal land, giving him abundance of brass and gold, and raiment, so many things as Ulysses would never have taken from Troy, even if he had returned unharmed, having been allotted his share of booty. For so it is fated for him to behold his friends, and return to his lofty-roofed house, and his own paternal land."

Thus he spoke; nor did the messenger, the slayer of Argus, disobey him. Immediately then he bound his beautiful sandals beneath his feet, ambrosial, golden; which carried him both over the moist wave,^[7] and over the boundless earth, with the breath of the wind. And he took the rod with which he soothes the eyes of men, whom he wishes, and again rouses those who are asleep. Holding this in his hands, the strong slayer of Argus flew, and going over Pieria, he descended from the air into the sea. Then he rushed over the wave like a bird, a sea-gull, which hunting for fish in the terrible bays of the barren sea, dips frequently its wings in the brine; like unto this Mercury rode over many waves. But when he came to the distant island, then going from the blue sea, he went to the continent; until he came to the great cave in which the fair-haired Nymph dwelt; and he found her within. A large fire was burning on the hearth, and at a distance the smell of well-cleft cedar, and of frankincense,^[8] that were burning, shed odour through the island: but she within was singing with a beautiful voice, and going over^[9] the web, wove with a golden shuttle. But a flourishing wood sprung up around her grot, alder and poplar, and sweet-smelling cypress. There also birds with spreading wings slept, owls and hawks, and wide-tongued crows of the ocean, to which maritime employments are a care. There a vine in its prime was spread about the hollow grot, and it flourished with clusters. But four fountains flowed in succession with white water, turned near one another each in different ways; but around there flourished soft meadows of violets, and of parsley. There indeed even an immortal coming would admire it when he beheld, and would be delighted in his mind; there the messenger, the slayer of Argus, standing, admired. But when he had admired all things in his mind, he immediately came to the wide cave; nor was Calypso, divine one of goddesses, when she saw him before her, ignorant who he was. (For the immortal gods are not unknown to one another, even if any one inhabits dwellings at a distance.) But he did not find magnanimous Ulysses within. For he was weeping, seated on the shore, where before wasting his mind with tears, and groans, and griefs, he used to look o'er the barren sea, pouring forth tears. But Calypso, divine one of goddesses, sitting on her shining, brilliant throne, inquired of Mercury:

"Why hast thou come unto me, O Mercury, with a golden rod, thou who art revered and beloved? hitherto thou dost not visit me often. Tell me of what thou art thinking; for my mind exhorts me to perform it, if at least I can accomplish it, and if it is to be performed. But follow onward, that I may place before thee the rites of hospitality."

Thus having spoken, the goddess set near him a table, having filled it with ambrosia; and mixed ruby^[10] nectar. But the messenger Mercury drank and ate. But when he had supped and refreshed his mind with food, then answering her with words he addressed her:

"Dost thou, who art a goddess, ask me a god who am come?

but I will relate to you my word unerringly; for thou biddest me. Jupiter commanded me to come here against my will. For who would willingly run through so much salt water, immense as it is? nor is there any city near of mortals, who offer up to the gods sacrifices and chosen hecatombs. But indeed it is not possible that any other god should either transgress the will of Ægis-bearing Jupiter, or make it vain. He says that there is a man with thee, the most in calamity of all the men who fought for nine years about the city of Priam, and in the tenth, having destroyed the city, went home; but on their return they sinned against Minerva, who stirred up an evil wind and mighty waves against them. Then all the others, his excellent companions, perished, but him the wind and the wave carrying drove hither; he now commands thee to send him away as quickly as possible. For it is not the destiny for him to perish here at a distance from his friends, but it is still his destiny to behold his friends, and to reach his lofty-roofed house, and his own paternal land."

Thus he spoke. But Calypso, divine one of goddesses, shuddered, and addressing him spoke winged words: "Severe are ye gods, envious above others, who grudge that goddesses should sleep openly with men, if any one has made for herself a dear husband. As when rosy-fingered Aurora took Orion, so long you gods who live easily envied her, until in Ortygia chaste Diana of the golden throne slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons; and as when fair-haired Ceres, yielding to her passion, was united in love and in the couch with Jasion, in thrice-ploughed fallow land; nor was Jupiter a lone time without knowing it, who slew him, striking him with his white thunder. So now you gods grudge that a mortal man should be present with me, whom I indeed saved when going alone on the keel of a ship; when Jupiter striking his swift ship with white thunder, cleft it in the middle of the dark sea. [Then all the others, his excellent companions, perished, but him the wind and the wave carrying, drove hither:] him indeed I loved and nourished, and I said that I would make him immortal and free from old age all his days. But since it is not possible that any other god should either transgress the will of Ægis-bearing Jove or make it vain, let him go over the barren sea, if he excites and commands him; but I will not send him any where: for I have not ships equipped with oars, and companions, who may conduct him over the wide back of the sea. But I will prudently suggest it to him, nor will I conceal it, that he may by all means reach his paternal land unharmed."

And her the messenger Mercury addressed in turn: "So now send him away, and look to the wrath of Jupiter, lest perhaps hereafter angry he should be harsh to thee."

Thus having spoken, the stout slayer of Argus departed. But the venerable Nymph went to strong-hearted Ulysses, when she had heard the messages of Jupiter. But she found him sitting on the shore; nor were his eyes ever dried from tears, but his pleasant life was wasted away, as he bewailed his return, since it did not please the Nymph.^[11] But during the nights indeed he slept even by necessity in the hollow caves, against his will, near her who was willing; but during the day sitting on the rocks and shores, [wasting his mind with tears, and mournings, and griefs,] he looked over the barren sea, pouring forth tears; but the divine one of goddesses standing near addressed him:

"Ill-fated one, do not lament here any longer, nor let thy life waste away; for now I will readily send thee away. But come, having cut long planks, join together a wide raft with brass, but fix ribs^[12] upon it on high, that it may carry thee over the shadowy sea. But I will put in it bread and water, and red wine giving strength, which may ward off hunger from thee. And I will put garments about thee; and I will send a prosperous gale from behind, that thou mayest come unscathed to thy paternal land, if at least the gods who possess the wide heaven are willing, who are better than me, both to plan and to determine."

Thus she spoke; but then much-enduring divine Ulysses shuddered, and addressing her spoke winged words: "Thou, indeed, O goddess, art planning something else, nor by any means my voyage, thou who biddest me pass over the great gulf of the sea, terrible and difficult, on a raft; but not even swift equal ships can pass over this, rejoicing in the prosperous gale of Jove. Nor would I embark on a raft against thy will, unless thou, who art a goddess, wouldst endure to swear to me a great oath, that thou wilt not plan any other evil calamity against me."

Thus he spoke; but Calypso, the divine one of goddesses, smiled, and laid hold of him by the hand and spoke and said: "Thou art mistaken,^[13] and yet art thou acquainted with cunning things! what a word is this thou hast thought to speak! Now let earth and wide heaven above know this, and the water which is poured from Styx, (which is the greatest and most terrible oath to the immortal gods,) that I will not devise any other evil calamity against thee. But I devise and consider the things, which for myself I should take care of, should such a necessity come upon me. For my intention is proper, nor is my mind in my breast of steel, but of pity."

Thus having spoken, the divine one of goddesses quickly led the way; and he went immediately after the footsteps of the goddess, and the goddess and the man came to the hollow cave; and he sat there on the throne from whence Mercury rose: and the Nymph set near him all kinds of food, to eat and drink, such as mortal men eat: and she herself sat opposite divine Ulysses, and near her the handmaids placed ambrosia and nectar, and they stretched forth their hands to the food lying ready before them. But when they were satiated with eating and drinking, Calypso, divine one of goddesses, began speaking to them:

"O noble son of Laertes, crafty Ulysses, so now dost thou wish to go immediately to thy dear paternal land? but however^[14] be happy. If indeed thou knewest in thy mind, how many cares it is fated for thee to fill up, before thou comest to thy paternal land, certainly thou wouldst remain here and guard my house, and thou wouldst be immortal; although thou art anxious to see thy wife, of whom thou art ever desirous all thy days. I do not indeed consider myself to be inferior to her, either in person or nature, since it is by no means fit that mortal women should contend with immortals in person and form."

But her the crafty Ulysses in answer addressed: "O sacred goddess, do not be angry with me on this account; for I myself know very well, that the prudent Penelope is inferior to thee in form, and in stature, to look at; for she is mortal, but thou art immortal and free from old age: but even so I wish and desire all my days, both to go home and behold the day of my return. But if any one of the gods breaks me down on the dark sea, I will endure it, having a patient mind in my breast; for I have already suffered very many things, and have endured many toils in the waves and in war; and let this happen after these."^[15]

Thus he spoke; but the sun set, and darkness came on; they then going to the recess of the hollow cave, were delighted with love, remaining near to each other.

But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, Ulysses immediately put on a cloak and a garment, and the Nymph herself put on a large white veil, thin and graceful, but around her loins she placed a beauteous golden girdle; and she placed a head-dress on her head: and then she prepared the voyage^[16] for the strong-hearted Ulysses. She gave him a large axe, fitted to his hands, of steel sharpened on both sides: and with it a very beautiful handle, of olive wood, well fitted to it: then she gave him a well-polished adze; and she led the way to the extreme part of the island, where tall trees sprung up, alder, and poplar, and there was pine reaching to heaven, long since seasoned, very dry, which would sail lightly for him. But when she had shown where the tall trees had sprung up, Calypso, divine one of goddesses, returned to the house; but he began to cut^[17] the wood, and his work was quickly performed. And he felled twenty in all, and cut them with the steel, and polished them skilfully, and directed them by a rule. In the mean time Calypso, divine one of goddesses, brought augers, and he then perforated all, and fitted them to one another: and he fixed it with pegs and cramps. As large a bottom of a wide ship of burden, as any man, who was well-skilled in workmanship, would mark out, so large did Ulysses make the wide raft. And erecting the ribs, fixing them with many beams,^[18] he made it, and finished it with long decks.^[19] And he made a mast in it, and a sail-yard fitted to it; and he made a rudder besides that he might guide it. And he dammed it all round with willow wicker-work, to be a defence against the wave; and he heaped much ballast^[20] upon it. But in the mean time Calypso, divine one of goddesses, brought linen for making sails; and he contrived these also well: and he bound in it upper ropes,^[21] cables, and sheets.^[22] And then he drew it into the divine sea with levers. It was the fourth day, and all things were finished for him; on the fifth then divine Calypso sent him from the island, having clad him in perfumed garments, and having washed him. And the goddess placed in it for him one skin of black wine, and another large one of water; and provisions in a wallet, and in it many strength-recruiting dainties: and she sent a harmless and favourable wind forward. And divine Ulysses gladly spread his sails to the prosperous gale; but sitting down he guided it skilfully with the rudder; nor did sleep fall upon his eye-brows, as he contemplated both the Pleiads, and setting Bootes, and the Bear, which they also call by name the Wain, which turns itself in the same place, and observes Orion; but it alone does not share in the washing of the ocean. For Calypso, divine one of goddesses, had commanded him to pass over the sea, keeping to the left hand. Seventeen days indeed he sailed, passing over the sea, but in the eighteenth the shadowy mountains of the land of the Phæacians appeared, where it was nearest for him; but it appeared as a shield in the dark sea.

The powerful Shaker of the earth,^[23] as he was returning from the Ethiopians, beheld him from a distance from the mountains of the Solymi; for he was seen by him sailing over the sea; but he was very wrathful in his heart; and moving his head he spoke [thus] to his own mind:

"O gods, certainly indeed the deities have now consulted differently about Ulysses, when I was amongst the Ethiopians; and now he is near the land of the Phæacians, where there is destiny for him to escape the great limit of misery, which befalls him: but still I think that he will undergo enough of calamity."

Thus having spoken, he collected the clouds, and disturbed the sea, taking his trident in his hands; and stirred up all the storms of all kinds of winds; and he with clouds covered the earth and the sea at the same time; and night arose from heaven. And the South-east and the South rushed together, and the hard-blowing West, and the cold-producing North, rolling the mighty wave. And then the knees and the dear heart of Ulysses were loosed, and sorrowing he said to his strong-hearted mind:

"Alas me, wretched one that I am! what will become of me at length? I fear, lest indeed the goddess has told all things unerringly, who said that I should accomplish toils by sea, before I reached my paternal land; all these things are certainly now brought to pass. With what clouds does Jupiter crown the wide heaven! and [how] he has troubled the sea! and the tempests of all manner of winds hasten on; now bitter destruction is certain for me. Thrice and four times blessed are the Grecians, who formerly perished in spacious Troy, gratifying the sons of Atreus! How I would that I had died and drawn fate upon myself in that day, when many Trojans hurled their brazen spears about the son of Peleus, who was dead. Then I should have obtained by lot funeral rites, and the Grecians would have celebrated my renown. But now it is destined for me to be seized by a miserable death."

As he was speaking thus, a mighty wave from the top^[24] thrust him on, rushing terribly upon him, and whirled round the raft. And he himself fell at a distance from the raft, and let go the rudder from his hands; and a terrible storm of the winds mixed together coming upon it broke the middle of his mast. And the sail and the yard-arm fell at a distance in the sea, and kept him a long time under the wave: nor was he able to hold himself up immediately, from the rush of the great wave; for the garments which divine Calypso had given him were heavy; late, however, he came up, and vomited the bitter brine from his mouth, which trickled in abundance from his head. But not even thus was he forgetful of the raft, although afflicted, but rushing through the waves, he seized hold of it; and sat in the middle avoiding the verge of death. But a great wave carried it here and there through the stream. And as when the autumnal North wind carries thorns over the plain, but they are held close to one another; so the winds carried it here and there through the sea. Sometimes the South wind threw it forward to the North to carry, sometimes again the East wind gave it up to the West to pursue. But him fair-footed Ino Leucothoe, who was previously a mortal that had speech,^[25] but now in the main of the sea had a share in the honour of the gods, the daughter of Cadmus, saw; she indeed pitied wandering Ulysses, undergoing toils, and like unto a cormorant in flight, she came up from the deep; and she sat on the raft bound with many chains, and addressed him:

"O ill-fated one, why is the earth-shaking Neptune so violently wrath with thee, that he produces many evils for thee? He will not however destroy thee, although very anxious to do so. But do thus, (for thou seemest to me not to be unwise,) having put off these garments, leave thy raft to the winds to carry; but swimming with thine hands seek for your return to the land of the Phæacians, where there is destiny for thee to escape. And take^[26] this head-gear, which is immortal, and spread it under thy breast; then there is no fear that thou wilt surfer any thing, or perish. But when thou hast reached the shore with thine hands, taking it off again throw it into the dark sea, far from the continent, and do thou turn thyself away at a distance."

Thus having spoken, the goddess gave him the scarf, and she, like unto a diver, again went under the billowing sea: and the black wave covered her. But much-enduring, divine Ulysses, hesitated, and mourning spoke to his strong-hearted mind:

"Woe is me! does not some one of the immortals contrive again a deceit against me, since she orders me to go from the raft. But however I will by no means obey her; since at a distance with my eyes I beheld the land, where she said I must escape. But thus will I do, and it seems to me to be the best; as long as the planks are firm in the cramps, so long will I remain here, and will endure to suffer toils. But when indeed the wave has shaken my raft to pieces, I will swim; since it is not in my power to devise any thing better."

While he meditated these things in his breast and in his mind, earth-shaking Neptune raised a mighty wave against him, terrible, severe and lofty,^[27] and drove him. But as a violently blowing wind shakes a heap of dry chaff, which it scatters in different places; so it scattered its^[28] long planks. But Ulysses mounted on one plank, driving it on as a single horse, and he put off the garments, which divine Calypso had given him. And he immediately spread the scarf under his breast; and he fell prone into the sea, stretching out his hands, seeking to swim; but king Neptune saw him, and shaking his head, spoke to his own mind:

"Thus now wander over the sea, suffering many evils, until thou art mixed with Jove-nurtured men, but not even so do I think that thou wilt make little of thy toil."

Thus having spoken, he scourged his beautiful-haired horses, and came to Ægæ, where are his illustrious palaces. But Minerva, the daughter of Jove, meditated other things; for she bound the courses of the other winds, and commanded all of them to cease, and be laid to sleep: but she roused the nimble North, and broke the waves before, until that noble Ulysses should be mixed with the oar-loving Phæacians, having avoided death and the Fate. Here he wandered two nights and two days on the compact^[29] (not broken) wave; and his heart often saw death before his eyes. But when at length fair-haired Aurora completed the third day, then indeed the wind ceased, and there was a breathless calm; and he saw the land near, looking very sharply forward, being lifted aloft by a great wave. As when the life of a father appears welcome to his children, who lies in a disease suffering severe pain, wasting away a long time, and a hateful deity has grazed near upon him; and the gods have freed him welcome from his evil plight; so welcome did the earth and wood appear to Ulysses; and he swam, hastening to step on the main-land with his feet; but when he was so far distant as one is heard shouting out, then he heard the noise of the sea against the rocks; for the mighty surge bursting terribly roared against the dry [coast] of the continent; and all things were rolled over with the foam of the sea; for there were not havens to contain ships, nor places of shelter,^[30] but the shores were prominent, and there were crags and rocks. Then the knees and dear heart of Ulysses fainted, and mourning he spake unto his strong-hearted mind:

"Alas for me! since Jupiter has granted me to behold the unexpected land, and I indeed have passed over this wave, having cut through it, there has appeared no where any egress out of the hoary sea; for without there are sharp rocks, and a dashing surge rages around, and a smooth cliff runs up, and near it the sea is deep; and it is not possible to stand on both my feet, and to escape an evil plight, lest by chance a mighty billow snatching me, as I am going out, dash me against a stony cliff, and my attempt be vain. But if I shall swim still farther, in case I may some where find sloping shores, and ports of the sea, I am afraid, lest the storm snatching me again should bear me to the fishy sea, mourning sadly, or even the deity should send a mighty whale against me from the sea, such as illustrious Amphitrite nourishes in great numbers: for I know how illustrious Neptune is enraged against me."

Whilst he meditated these things in his breast and in his mind, in the mean time a mighty billow bore him to the rough shore. There his skin would have been lacerated, and his bones fractured, had not the blue-eyed goddess Minerva prompted his mind; and rushing on, he seized hold of a rock with both his hands, which he held groaning, until the great billow had passed by. And this he thus avoided; but the returning wave rushing upon him, struck him again, and cast him far out into the sea. As when many stones hold to the claws of a polypus drawn out of its bed, so was the skin torn from his strong hand against the rocks: and a mighty billow covered him.

There at length unhappy Ulysses would have perished contrary to his fate, had not blue-eyed Minerva given him prudence; coming up from out of the wave, where it vomits out against the shore, he swam beyond, looking to the land, if he could any where find sloping shores, and ports of the sea. But when he came swimming to the mouth of a beautiful flowing river, where it seemed to him to be the best place, smooth from rocks, and there was a shelter from the wind; he knew that it was flowing forward, and he prayed in his mind:

"Hear me, O King, whoever thou art; for unto thee who art much wished for I come, flying from the threats of Neptune, from the sea. He indeed is revered even by the immortal gods, whoever of men comes wandering, as I now do, to thy stream, and come to thy knees, having suffered many things. But take pity, O King: I profess to be thy suppliant."

Thus he spoke; but he^[31] immediately stopped his stream, and restrained the wave; and made a calm before him; and preserved him to the mouth of the river; but he bent both his knees, and his sturdy hands; for his heart was overcome by the sea. But he was swollen over all his body, and the sea came forth in quantities through his mouth and his nostrils: and he lay breathless and speechless, with his strength wasted, and terrible fatigue came upon him. But when he recovered his breath, and his mind was collected in his breast, then he loosed from him the scarf of the goddess; and he cast it into the river flowing into the sea, and a great wave carried it back through the stream; and Ino immediately received it in her dear hands; but he going away from the river reclined amongst the bulrush, and kissed the bounteous earth; and mourning spake unto his strong-hearted mind:

"Alas for me, what shall I suffer? What will at length become of me? If I shall watch through the severe night in a river, [I fear,] lest the evil rime, and the prolific dew together, overcome my worn-out mind, on account of my weakness; for the breeze blows chill from a river in the morning.^[32] But if I should go up to the hill and shady wood, and should sleep amongst the thick shrubs, even though the cold and weariness should leave me, and sweet sleep come upon me, I fear that I should be a booty and prey for wild beasts."

So then it seemed to him to be better as he considered: then he hastened to the wood; and found it near the water in a conspicuous place, and he came under two shrubs, which sprang from the same place; one of wild olive, the other of olive. Neither the strength of the moistly blowing winds breathes through them, nor has the shining sun ever struck them with its beams, nor has the shower penetrated entirely through them: so thick were they grown entangled with one another; under which Ulysses came. But he immediately heaped up a wide bed with his hands; for there were great numbers of leaves spread about, as many as would shelter either two or three men in the winter season; although it were very severe. The much-enduring divine Ulysses on seeing it rejoiced, and he lay down in the middle of it, and heaped a heap of leaves over himself; and as when any one has hidden a torch in black ashes, at the extremity of a farm, which has not any other neighbours, preserving the seed of the fire, that he may not have to light it from any where else; so Ulysses covered himself with leaves; and over his eyes Minerva shed sleep, that she might as soon as possible cause him to cease his laborious toil, having covered around his dear eyelids.

 

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1. The son of Laomedon, brother of Priam, and husband of Aurora.
2. Loewe regards δῖαν here as equivalent to εὐρεῖαν, like Λακεδαίμονα εὐρύχορον.
3. Notwithstanding the suppositions of ancient grammarians, that παλιμπετὲς is the contracted nominative plural, it is clearly shown by Buttmann to be the adverbial neuter. See Lexil. p. 296, sqq.
4. But see Loewe on i. 292.
5. Corcyra, anciently called ἡ Δρεπάνη, now Corfu.
6. Their kings were said to be the third in descent from Neptune. Schol. But Eustathius rather regards this epithet as said in praise of their virtues and hospitality.
7. With this description of Mercury compare the notes of Newton on Milton, Par. Lost, v. 285.
8. Some render θύον "citron," on the authority of Macrob. Sat. ii. 15. See Anthon and others on Virg. Georg. ii. 126. It seems more probable that θύον is frankincense. Cf. Dionys. Perieg. 935, with the notes of Hill. Eustathius and Hesychius (cf. Alberti, T. ii. p. 1746) merely say that it is εἶδος δένδρου εὐώδους or ὄνομα δένδρου.
9. i. e. moving backwards and forwards. The ancients wove standing.
10. I am indebted to Milton, Par. Lost, v. 633.
    "And rubied nectar flows
    In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold."
    
    
11. That he should return.
12. The upright beams of the ship, supporting the upper decks
13. Ironically.
14. τὸ ἔμπης ἐν τούτῷ τῳ τόπῳ ὅμως σημαίνει. Schol.
15. i. e. quum illa mala jam toleraverim, facile etiam hoc tolerabo malum. Loewe.
16. Literally, "the sending, escort."
17. The tense implies, "he was engaged in cutting."
18. Which were placed crosswise from one end of the ship to the other, for the purpose of holding the ribs together. Old Transl.
19. More literally, "plankings, floorings," σανίδες ἐκ πρώρας εἰς πρύμναν τεταμέναι καὶ ἐπενηνεγμέναι. Eustath.
20. ὕλη, the rough fragments of wood, used as ballast.
21. ὑπέρας, i. e. the ropes which bind the yard-arms to the mast.
22. πόδες, ropes hanging from each corner of the sail.
23. i. e. Neptune.
24. "A vertice pontus," Virg. Æn. i. 118. Loewe makes it equivalent to desuper, or rather, to funditus.
25. i. e. capable of speaking after the manner of mankind. See Loewe.
26. τῆ is considered by Buttmann, Lexil. p. 505, as an old imperative formed from a root TA—, Anglice, Take, like ζῆν. It is equivalent to λάβε. Cf. Thiersch, Gk. Gr. p. 521, 143. Sandford's Translation.
27. Literally, "lofty-roofed," i. e. covering as with a roof every thing upon which it fell, τό καλύπτον δίκην ὀρόφου. Eustathius.
28. τῆς, i. e. navis.
29. Πηγὸν, well-nourished, fat, stout, (cf. Il. ix. 124, ἵπποι πηγοὶ,) and hence, great, large.
30. Scil. against the wind.
31. i. e. the river god.
32. So Dante, Purgat. xxiv.
    "E quale annunciatrice de gli albori
    L' aura di Maggio muovesi, et olezza
    Tutta impregnata da l' herba, e da' fiori."