ODYSSEUS IS SAVED ON THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA
Athena, the daughter of Zeus, seeing Odysseus struggling through the
waves, pitied him, and bade the winds become quiet. Two days and two
nights Odysseus floated about, but on the third the wind calmed down
and the sea became smooth.
In a short time he found himself near land once more. But the shore
was wild and full of sharp rocks and high cliffs. He could see no
place on which to set foot, and he grew downhearted. His knees gave
way, and, groaning deeply, he cried out: "O, luckless one! In vain
have I braved the dangers of the sea to escape death. Now all hope
has abandoned me, since there is no way for me to get out of the water.
I fear that when I try to approach the land the waves will throw me
against the cliffs, and should I try to find a safe landing-place
by swimming, the surf may carry me back into the wild sea, where some
sea-monster will swallow me up. Whatever I may do, I see no help for
me."
While he pondered over these things a huge wave cast him on the foamy
shore. His bones were nearly broken, and he lay exhausted until the
wave returned, when he was hurled again with great force back into
the sea. Now the unfortunate wanderer took to swimming as his last
resort, and reached the mouth of a river, where he was able to land.
Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His knees
and arms trembled, and his whole body was bruised and swollen. When
his senses returned he rose and untied the veil that Ino had given
him and cast it back into the sea. Then he knelt down and kissed the
earth, and moved to a sheltered spot where a wild and a tame olive-tree
were standing close together, whose branches had mingled with one
another, and there he found a safe hiding-place.
Then the godlike Odysseus lay down on a bed of dry leaves, covering
himself up as one does an ember, lest it should go out. Athena came
and poured sweet sleep over his eyes, that he might find quiet rest
after all his toils.