ODYSSEUS IN THE HALLS OF ALKINOÖS
After Odysseus had contemplated these wonders to his heart's content,
he entered the main hall. There he found the leaders of the Phæacians
bringing offerings of wine to Hermes, as the hour of sleep had arrived,
and this was always their last ceremony before seeking slumber. No
one saw Odysseus as he crossed the spacious room and came close to
the king and queen, for he was still concealed in the thick mist which
Athena had thrown round him. Suddenly the cloud vanished, and Odysseus
threw himself at the feet of Aretè, and raised his voice in
supplication.
"Aretè," he prayed, "I have come to thy husband and to thy feet through
many hardships and sorrows. May the gods give thee a long and happy
life. For many years I have been a wanderer from home and all I love.
I beg that thou wilt give me a guide and send me to my own land."
When Odysseus had spoken these words he sat down amidst the ashes,
close to the fire, and all the guests grew silent and looked at him
with wonder. Then the oldest of the chiefs arose and said: "Alkinoös,
this is not a royal seat for a stranger, among the cinders of the
hearth. I pray thee, raise him up and place him on a throne, and order
the heralds to fill a cup with wine, that we may pour a libation to
Zeus, the protector of suppliants, and bid the guest welcome to our
good cheer."
Then Alkinoös arose and took Odysseus by the hand. He led him to a
splendid throne but little lower than his own, while the herald placed
a table before him loaded with dainty food. When Odysseus had eaten
and drunk, the attendants filled the cups to pour libations in honor
of Zeus, and Alkinoös said to them: "Listen, ye leaders and chiefs
of the Phæacians. To-morrow we shall greet the stranger in our palace
with honors and offer a great sacrifice to the gods. And then we will
consider the best way of sending him home. But if we should find that
he is a god instead of a mortal, we will do what seems best, for the
gods do sometimes visit us in human shape."
Then said Odysseus: "Nay, Alkinoös, I am not a god, nor like the gods
in form or looks. I am only a wanderer, and I could tell of fearful
sorrows; and I would willingly die if I could only see my home once
more."
The guests all greeted Odysseus with approving words, and promised
to aid him. Then they rose, and each man went to his own home.
Odysseus remained in the hall with Aretè and Alkinoös. As they
conversed, the queen noticed the garments of Odysseus, because she
had woven them herself, and she said to him: "Stranger, who art thou,
and from what land? Didst thou not say thou hadst come here after
many wanderings and voyages on the stormy sea? Who gave thee garments
of my weaving?"
Odysseus answered her: "It would not be easy, gracious queen, to tell
about all my hardships and sufferings. Yet I will do thy bidding.
I was shipwrecked long since, and thrown upon an island far out in
the sea, where Calypso, the daughter of Atlas, lives. She cared for
me most kindly, and would have made me, like herself, an immortal,
but I chose instead the hope of seeing my own native land.
"The goddess detained me seven long years on her island before she
bade me start for home. I built a raft, which she stored with food,
and she sent a pleasant breeze to carry me across the waters. But
Poseidon stirred the winds and waves against me, and I was thrown
upon the shores of this island, near the lavers, where thy daughter
and her maids went to wash the household linen. There the princess
found me, and supplied me with food and the garments I have on."
"One duty my daughter left undone," Alkinoös said. "She should have
brought thee home with her." "Do not blame her, I entreat," replied
Odysseus, "for she bade me come with her maids, but I lingered in
a grove to offer a prayer to Athena." When Alkinoös had heard this
tale from Odysseus, he promised once more to give him a ship and
sailors to escort him home.
Meanwhile the queen bade her servants prepare a bed for the hero out
on the portico, and they covered a couch with shaggy rugs and purple
tapestries, where he could rest. With a grateful heart Odysseus arose,
and, thanking the king for his generous hospitality, sought the bed,
where he gave himself to happy dreams.
Odysseus rose early the next morning and went with Alkinoös to the
market-place, close to the sea, where all the Phæacians had assembled.
The people gazed with admiration at their stranger-guest, for Athena
lent him greater dignity and beauty, and she went among the crowds,
moving their hearts to sympathy with him.
Alkinoös then addressed the assembled multitude: "Hear me, ye chiefs
of the Phæacians," he said. "This stranger has come to our land after
many wanderings and adventures. And he asks me to send him back to
his own country. Let us fit out a ship for him quickly and launch
it, and give him fifty-two young men from among our best sailors,
who shall get everything ready for the long journey.
"While they are doing this the stranger shall come to my halls with
the chiefs and princes, where we will make a great banquet. Summon
also the bard, Demodokos, that he may enliven the festival with his
harp and songs."
Having spoken, Alkinoös rose and led his guest back to the palace,
the princes following him. Fifty-two youths were soon chosen from
among the best seamen, and they launched a ship speedily and went
up to the royal palace.