ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF HĒLIOS
"When we had escaped from the terrible Skylla and Charybdis, we came
to the island of Hēlios, the island of the Sun, and heard from afar
the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep. Then I
remembered the words of Tiresias and Circè, and I advised my
companions not to land there at all, but to go right on, lest we suffer
some new disaster.
"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on the
isle. I then made them take an oath not even to look at any of the
cattle. We prepared our evening meal, and when it was over we talked
of our dear companions whom Skylla had devoured, and we mourned over
them until we fell asleep.
"We remained a whole month on this island, on account of unfavorable
winds. We found the roomy grot where the nymphs danced, and the seats
where they sat--the nymphs who tended the flocks of Hēlios.
"As long as we had a plenty of bread and wine my comrades were satisfied
and spared the cattle. But when our store of food was exhausted they
roamed all over the island to see what they could get to appease their
hunger. They snared birds and caught fish with hooks, and lived on
them or anything else that came to hand. But they grew poor and lean
with hunger and nearly starved. I went off alone into the island,
where I had found a quiet nook, and sent up prayers to the gods to
show us the way out of our difficulties. There I fell asleep.
"While I slumbered, Eurylochos called my men together, and said: 'All
kinds of death are bad enough, my brave friends, but death by
starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these cattle and
offer sacrifices to the gods, and then eat and live. If we ever get
to Ithaca we will make restitution, for we will build altars to the
Sun and place costly gifts upon his shrine. But if it is his will
to destroy us in his anger, then let us die amid the billows of the
deep, for that is better than to die by famine.'
"Thus spoke Eurylochos, and the others lent a willing ear. They seized
the best of the cattle at once, and slaughtered them, and prepared
a hearty meal. They offered up petitions to the gods, standing round
their victims with young oak-leaves in their hands. Then they covered
the thighs with caul, and laid slices of fat over these, and poured
on water and roasted it until it was consumed. All the rest was cut
into smaller portions and scorched on iron prongs.
"At this moment I awoke and hurried down to the ship, and with horror
found the dreadful meal prepared. One of the nymphs, immortal
shepherdess, flew to the Sun to tell him that my men had slain his
cattle. Hēlios was deeply angered, and spoke thus before the assembled
gods: 'Father Zeus and all ye immortal gods, behold the comrades of
Odysseus! They have slaughtered my heifers, which gladdened my heart
as I went up to heaven and down to earth.
"'If they do not pay me well for this great wrong, I shall go down
among the dead and give them light, but I will give no light to the
living.' 'Shine on, O Sun, in the bright sky,' said Zeus, 'for I will
cut their ship to pieces with a thunder-bolt, as it tosses on a black
sea.' I could only chide my comrades. I could not think of any
sufficient redress, for the cattle were dead.
"And here happened a wonder which amazed my comrades. The skins of
the dead animals crawled over the ground, and the flesh lowed as they
had done when alive. Nevertheless, my companions continued to kill
and eat the best oxen in the herds for six days, when a favorable
wind sprang up, and we went on board and set sail once more.
"After we had lost sight of land, and nothing was before us but sky
and sea, a sudden darkness shrouded the heavens, and there arose a
violent storm. The vessel was hurled hither and thither by the
towering billows; the hurricane tore the sails and dashed the mast
against the pilot's head, crushing the bones, and he was cast headlong
into the sea.
"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it nearly
in two. The boat was filled with a sulphurous smoke, and my comrades
were shaken off into the sea and drowned. They floated round me, but
I moved about in the ship until the bottom and the sides had broken
away from each other and the mast had snapped off at its base. I took
the mast, which had a thong of bull's-hide round it, and tied it to
the keel. I took my seat upon this frail craft, and the storm whirled
me about.
"After awhile the west wind ceased, and the south wind began to blow,
which was still worse for me, since it took me back to dread Charybdis.
All night long I was tossed on the waves, and at dawn I drew near
to Charybdis. As the monster was swallowing the salt brine, I caught
hold of the fig-tree and clung to it like a bat till she should throw
up my poor raft. I waited long, but at last the timbers were thrown
out of the whirlpool, and I dropped down upon them, and sat on them
and rowed with my hands. I floated about on the waters for nine long
days, and on the tenth I came to Calypso's island. She welcomed me,
and detained me seven years, as I have already told thee, O Aretè,
and why should I repeat a tale already narrated?"