_Ulysses in the island of Calypso--He leaves the island
on a raft, and after great suffering reaches the land of
the Phæacians_.
The gods now held a second council, at which Minerva and 28
Jove both spoke.
When Jove had done speaking he sent Mercury to Calypso
to tell that Ulysses was to return home, reaching the
land of the Phæacians in twenty days. The Phæacians would
load him with presents and send him on to Ithaca.
Mercury, therefore, flew over the sea like a cormorant 43
that fishes every hole and corner of the deep. In the
course of time he reached Calypso's cave and told his
story. Calypso was very angry, but seeing there was no
help for it promised obedience. As soon as Mercury was
gone she went to look for Ulysses, whom she found weeping
as usual and looking out ever sadly upon the sea; she
told him to build himself a raft and sail home upon
it, but Ulysses was deeply suspicious and would not be
reassured till she had sworn a very solemn oath that she
meant him no harm, and was advising him in all good faith.
The pair then returned to Calypso's cave. "I cannot 192
understand," she said, "why you will not stay quietly
here with me, instead of all the time thinking about
this wife of yours. I cannot believe that I am any worse
looking than she is. If you only knew how much hardship 206
you will have to undergo before you get back, you would
stay where you are and let me make you immortal."
"Do not be angry with me," answered Ulysses, "you are 215
infinitely better looking than Penelope. You are a
goddess, and she is but a mortal woman. There can be no
comparison. Nevertheless, come what may, I have a craving
to get back to my own home."
The next four days were spent in making the raft. Calypso 228
lent him her axe and auger and shewed him where the trees
grew which would be driest and whose timber would be the 240
best seasoned, and Ulysses cut them down. He made the
raft about as broad in the beam as people generally make
a good big ship, and he gave it a rudder--that he might 255
be able to steer it.
Calypso then washed him, gave him clean clothes, and he 264
set out, steering his ship skilfully by means of the 270
rudder. He steered towards the Great Bear, which is also
called the Wain, keeping it on his left hand, for so
Calypso had advised him.
All went well with him for seventeen days, and on the 278
eighteenth he caught sight of the faint outlines of the
Phæacian coast lying long and low upon the horizon.
Here, however, Neptune, who was on his way home from the 282
Ethiopians, caught sight of him and saw the march that
the other gods had stolen upon him during his absence.
He therefore stirred the sea round with his trident, and
raised a frightful hurricane, so that Ulysses could see
nothing more, everything being dark as night; presently 294
he was washed overboard, but managed to regain his raft.
He was giving himself up for lost when Ino, also named 333
Leucothea, took pity on him and flew on to his raft like
a sea gull; she reassured him and gave him her veil, at
the same time telling him to throw it back into the sea
as soon as he reached land, and to turn his face away
from the sea as he did so.
The storm still raged, and the raft went to pieces under 351
its fury, whereon Ulysses bound Ino's veil under his arms
and began to swim. Neptune on seeing this was satisfied
and went away.
As soon as he was gone Minerva calmed all the winds 369
except the North, which blew strong for two days and two
nights, so that Ulysses was carried to the South again.
On the morning of the third day he saw land quite close,
but was nearly dashed to pieces against the rocks on
trying to leave the water. At last he found the mouth of 451
a river, who, in answer to Ulysses's prayer, stayed his
flow, so that Ulysses was able to swim inland and get on
shore.
Nearly dead with exhaustion and in great doubt what to 456
do, he first threw Ino's veil into the salt waters of
the river, and then took shelter on the rising ground,
inland. Here he covered himself with a thick bed of
leaves and fell fast asleep.