August 13, 2025 • 24 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Book thirteen. Thus did he speak, and they all held
their peace throughout the covered cloister, enthralled by the charm
of his story, till presently Alcinous began to speak. Ulysses
said he, now that you have reached my house, I
doubt not you will get home without further misadventure, no
(00:22):
matter how much you have suffered in the path. To you. Others, however,
who come here night after night to drink my choicest
wine and listen to my bard, I would insist as follows.
Our guest has already backed up the clothes, wrought cold
and other valuables which you have brought for his acceptance.
(00:42):
Let us now therefore present him further, each one of
us with a large tripod and a cauldron. We will
recoup ourselves by the levy of a general rate, for
private individuals cannot be expected to bear the burden of
such a handsome present. Every one of approved of this,
and then they went home to bed, each in his
(01:03):
own abode. When the child of morning, rosy fingered dawn appeared,
they hurried down to the ship and brought their cauldrons
with them. Alcinous went on board and saw everything so
securely stowed under the ship's benches, that nothing could break
adrift and injure the rowers. Then they went to the
house of Alcaneus to get dinner, and he sacrificed a
(01:26):
bull for them in honor of Jove, who is the
lord of all. They set the stakes to grill and
made an excellent dinner, after which the inspired bard Demodocus,
who was a favorite with every one, sang to them.
But Ulysses kept on turning his eyes towards the sun,
as though to hasten his setting, for he was longing
(01:47):
to be on his way, as one who has been
all day plowing a fallow field with a couple of oxen,
keeps thinking about his supper, and is glad when night
comes that he may go and get it, for it
is all his legs can do to carry him. Even
so did Ulysses rejoice when the sun went down, and
he at once said to the Phaeacians, addressing himself more
(02:10):
particularly to King Alcinous, Sir, and all of you, farewell,
make your drink offerings, and send me on my way, rejoicing,
for you have fulfilled my art's desires by giving me
an escort and making me presents which Heaven grant that
I may turn to good account. May I find my
admirable wife living in peace among friends. And may you,
(02:34):
whom I leave behind me, give satisfaction to your wives
and children. May Heaven vouchsafe you every good grace, and
may no evil thing come among your people. Thus did
he speak his earrors. All of them approved his saying,
and agreed that he should have an escort, inasmuch as
he had spoken reasonably. Alcinous therefore said to his servant Pantanous,
(02:59):
mix some one and hand round to everybody, that we
may offer a prayer to Father Jove and speed our
guests upon his way. Pontinus mixed the wine and handed
it to every one in turn. The others, each from
his own seat, made a drink, offering to the blessed
gods that live in heaven. But Ulysses rose and placed
the double cup in the hands of Queen Aratae. Farewell, Queen,
(03:23):
said he, henceforward and forever till age and death, the
common lot of mankind lay their hands upon you. I
now take my leave. Be happy in the house with
your children, your people, and with King Alcanaeus. As he spoke,
he crossed the threshold, and Alcineus sent a man to
(03:45):
conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore.
Aretae also sent some maid servants with him, one with
a clean shirt and cloak, another to carry his strong box,
and a third with corn and wine. When they got
the waterside, the crew took these things and put them
on board with all the meat and drink. But for
(04:07):
Ulysses they spread a rug and a linen sheet on deck,
that he might sleep soundly in the stern of the ship.
Then he too went on board and lay down without
a word. But the crew took every man his place,
and loosed the hawser from the pierced stone to which
it had been bound thereon. When they began rowing out
(04:27):
to sea, Ulysses fell into a deep, sweet, and almost
deathlike slumber. The ship bounded forward on her way as
a foreign hand chariot flies over the course. When the
horses filled the whip, her brow curveted as if it
were the neck of a stallion, and a great wave
of dark blue water seethed in her wake. She held
(04:50):
steadily on her course, and even a falcon's swiftest of
all birds, could not have kept pace with her. Thus
then she cut her way through the water, carrying one
who was as cunning as the gods. But it was
now sleeping peacefully, forgetful of all that he had suffered,
both on the field of battle and by the waves
(05:11):
of the weary sea. When the bright star that heralds
the approach of dawn began to show, the ship drew
near to land. Now there is in Ithaca a haven
of the old Merman forces, which lies between two points
that break the line of the sea and shut the harbor.
In these shelter it from the storms of wind and
(05:33):
sea that rage outside, so that when once within it,
a ship may lie without being even moored. At the
head of this harbor there is a large olive tree,
and at no distance a fine overarching cavern, sacred to
the nymphs, who are called nads. There are mixing bowls
(05:53):
within it, and wine jars of stone, and the bees
ive there. Moreover, there are great looms of stone on
which the nymphs weaved their robes of sea purple, very
curious to see, and at all times there is water
within it. It has two entrances, one facing north, by
which mortals can go down into the cave, while the
(06:14):
other comes from the south and is more mysterious. Portals
cannot possibly get in by it. It is the way
taken by the God into this harbor. Then they took
their ship, for they knew the place. She had so
much way upon her that she ran half her own
length on to the shore. When, however, they had landed,
(06:34):
the first thing they did was to lift Ulysses, with
his rug and linen sheet, out of the ship and
lay him down upon the sand, still fast to sleep.
Then they took out the presence which Minerva had persuaded
the Phaeacians to give him when he was setting out
on his voyage homewards. They put these all together by
the root of the olive tree, away from the road,
(06:56):
for fear some passive eye might come and steal them
before you lies awoke. And then they made the best
of their way home again. But Neptune did not forget
the threats with which he had already threatened Ulysses. So
he took counsel with Jove. Father Jove said he, I
shall no longer be held in any sort of respect
(07:17):
among you gods, if mortals like the Phaeacians, who are
my own flesh and blood showed such small regard for me,
I said, I would Ulysses get home when he had
suffered sufficiently. I did not say that he should never
get home at all, for I knew you had already
nodded your head about it, and promised that he should
(07:40):
do so. But now they have brought him in a
ship fast asleep, and have landed him in Ithaca, after
loading him with more magnificent presents of bronze, gold and
raiment than he would ever have brought back from Troy
if he had had his share of the spoil and
got home without misadventure. And Jove answered, what, O, lord
(08:01):
of the earthquake, are you talking about? The gods are
by no means wanting in respect for you. It would
be monstrous were they to insult one so old and
honored as you are as regards mortals. However, if any
of them is indulging in insolence in treating you disrespectfully,
it will always rest with yourself to deal with him
(08:21):
as you may think proper. So do just as you please.
I should have done so at once, replied Neptune, if
I were not anxious to avoid anything that might displease you, now. Therefore,
I should like to wreck the Phaeacian ship as it
is returning from its escort. This will stop them from
escorting people in future. And I should also like to
(08:43):
bury their city under a huge mountain. My good friend
answered Jove, I should recommend you, at the very moment,
when the people from the city are watching the ship
on her way, to turn it into a rock near
the land and looking like a ship. This will astonish everybody,
and you can then bury their city under the mountain.
(09:03):
When Earth encircling Neptune heard this, he went to Scherio,
where the Phaeacians live, and stayed there till the ship,
which was making rapid way, had got close in. Then
he went up to it, turned it into stone, and
drove it down with the flat of his hands so
as to root it in the ground. After this he
(09:24):
went away. The Phaeacians then began talking among themselves, and
one would turn towards his neighbor, saying, bless my heart,
who is it that can have rooted the ship in
the sea. Just as she was getting into port, we
could see the whole of her only moment ago. This
is how they talked, but they knew nothing about it,
and Alcinous said, I remember now the old prophecy of
(09:47):
my father. He said that Neptune would be angry with
us for taking everyone so safely over the sea, and
would one day wreck a Phaeacian ship if it was
returning from an escort, and bury our city under high mountain.
This is what my old father used to say, and
now it is all coming true. Now, therefore, let us
(10:09):
all do as I say. In the first place, we
must leave off giving people escorts when they come here,
and in the next let us sacrifice twelve picked bulls
to Neptune that he may have mercy upon us and
not bury our city under the high mountain. When the
people heard this, they were afraid and got ready the bulls.
(10:30):
Thus did the chiefs and rulers of the Phaeacians to
King Neptune, standing round his altar. And at the same
time Ulysses woke up once more upon his own soil.
He had been so long away that he did not
know it again. Moreover, Jove's daughter Minerva had made it
a foggy day so that people might not know of
(10:51):
his having come, and that she might tell him everything
without either his wife or his fellow's citizens and friends
recognizing him. Until he had taken his revenge upon the
wicked suitors. Everything therefore seemed quite different to him. The long,
straight tracks, the habbers, the precipices, and the goodly trees
(11:12):
appeared all changed as he started up and looked upon
his native land. So he smote his thighs with the
flat of his hands and cried aloud, despairingly, alas he exclaimed,
among what manner of people am I fallen? Are they
savage and uncivilized? Or hospitable and humane? Where shall I
(11:33):
put all this treasure? And which way shall I go?
I wish I had stayed over there with the Phaeacians,
or I could have gone to some other great chief
who would have been good to me and given me
an escort. As it is, I do not know where
to put my treasure, and I cannot leave it here
for fear somebody else should get hold of it. In
good truth, the chiefs and rulers of the Peacians have
(11:55):
not been dealing fairly by me and have left me
in the wrong country. They said they would take me
back to Ithaca, and they have not done. So. May
Jove the protector of Supplians chastised them, for he watches
over everybody and punishes those who do wrong. Still, I
suppose I must count my goods and see if the
(12:16):
crew have gone off with any of them. He counted
his goodly coppers and cauldrons, his gold in all his clothes,
but there was nothing missing. Still, he kept grieving about
not being in his own country, and wandered up and
down by the shore of the Sounding Sea, bewailing his
hard fate. Then Minerva came up to him, disguised as
(12:38):
a young shepherd of delicate and princely Mian, with a
good cloak folded double about her shoulders. She had sandals
on her comely feet and held a javelin in her hand.
Ulysses was glad when he saw her and went straight
up to her. My friend said he, you are the
first person whom I have met with in this country.
(12:59):
I salute you therefore, and begged you to be will
disposed toward me. Protect these my goods, and myself too,
For I embrace your knees and pray to you as
though you were a god. Tell me, then, and tell
me truly, what land and country is this? Who are
its inhabitants. Am I on an island? Or is this
(13:19):
the sea board of some continent? I never answered, stranger,
you must be very simple, or must have come from
somewhere a long way off, not to know what country
this is. It is a very celebrated place, and everybody
knows it east and west. It is rugged and not
a good driving country. But it is by no means
a big island. For what there is of it, it
(13:41):
grows any quantity of corn and also wine, for it
is watered both by rain and dew. It breeds cattle,
also in goats. All kinds of timber grow here, and
there are watering places where the water never runs dry. So, sir,
the name of Ithaca has known even as as far
as Troy, which I understand to be a long way
(14:03):
off from this Achian country. Ulysses was glad at finding himself,
as Minerva told him, in his own country, and he
began to answer, but he did not speak the truth,
and made up a lying story in the instinctive wiliness
of his heart. I heard of Ithaca, said he, when
I was in creep beyond the seas, And now it
(14:23):
seems I have reached it with all these treasures I
have left as much more behind me for my children.
But am flying because I killed Orsilochus, son of Indominius,
the fleetest runner in Greete. I killed him because he
wanted to rob me of the spoils I had gotten
from Troy, with so much trouble and danger, both on
(14:44):
the field of battle and by the waves of the
weary sea. He said, I had not served his father
loyally at Troy, his vassal, but had set myself up
as an independent ruler. So I lay in wait for him,
and with one of my followers by the roadside, and
speared him as he was coming into town from the
country my It was a very dark night, and nobody
(15:07):
saw us. It was not known therefore that I had
killed him. And as soon as I had done so,
I went to the ship and besought the owners, who
were Phoenicians, to take me on board and set me
in Pilos or in Ellis, were the Epian's rule, giving
them as much spoil as satisfied them. They meant no guile,
but the wind drove them off their course, and we
(15:29):
sailed on till we came hither by night. It was
all we could do to get inside the arbor, and
none of us said a word about supper, though we
wanted it badly. But we all went on shore and
lay down just as we were. I was very tired
and fell asleep directly. So they took my goods out
of the ship and placed them beside me where I
(15:50):
was lying on the sand. Then they sailed away to Sodonia,
and I was left here in great distress of mind.
Such was his talk. But Minerva smiled and caressed him
with her hand. Then she took the form of a woman,
fair stately and wise. He must be, indeed a shifty,
lying fellow, said she, who could surpass you in all
(16:13):
manner of craft, even though you had a guard for
your antagonist. Dare devil that you are full of guile,
unworrying in deceit. Can you not drop your tricks and
your instinctive falsehood, even now that you are in your
own country again. We will say no more, however, about this,
for we can both of us deceive upon occasion. You
(16:36):
are the most accomplished counselor and orator among all mankind,
while I, for diplomacy and subtlety, have no equal among
the gods. Did you not know Joe's daughter, Minerva me,
who have been ever with you, who kept watch over
you and all your troubles, and who made the Phaeacians
take so great a liking to you. And now again
(16:58):
I am come here to talk things over with you
and help you tide the treasure I made the Phaeacians
give you. I want to tell you about the troubles
that await you in your own house. You have got
to face them. But tell no one, neither man nor woman,
that you have come home again, bear everything and put
up with every man's insolence without a word. And Ulysses answered.
(17:21):
A man goddess may know a great deal, but you
are so constantly changing your appearance that when he meets
you it is a hard matter for him to know
whether it is you or not. This much, however, I
know exceedingly well you are very kind to me as
long as we Achians were fighting before Troy. But from
the day on which we went on board ship after
(17:43):
having sacked the city of Raham, and Heaven disposed us.
From that day, Minerva, I saw no more of you,
and cannot ever remember your coming to my ship to
help me in a difficulty I had to wander on,
sick and sorry, till the gods delivered me from evil,
and I reached the city of the Phaeacians, where you
encouraged me and took me into the town. And now
(18:06):
I beseech you, in your father's name, tell me the truth,
for I do not believe I am really back in Ithaca.
I am in some other country, and you are mocking
me and deceiving me in all you have been saying.
Tell me, then, truly, have I really got back to
my own country. You are always taking something of that
(18:27):
sort into your head, replied Minerva. And that is why
I cannot desert you in your afflictions. You are so plausible,
shrewd and shifty. Any one but yourself, on returning from
so long a voyage, would at once have gone home
to see his wife and children. But you do not
seem to care about asking after them or hearing any
(18:48):
news about them, till you have exploited your wife, who
remains at home vainly grieving for you, and having no
peace night or day for the tears she sheds on you.
Be aff as for my not coming near you, I
was never uneasy about you, for I was certain you
would get back safely, though you would lose all your men,
(19:09):
and I did not wish to quarrel with my uncle Neptune,
who never forgave you for having blinded his son. I will, now, however,
point out to you the lie of the land, and
you will then perhaps believe me. This is the avon
of the old mermured forces, and here is the olive
tree that grows at the head of it. Here it
is the cave sacred to the nive. Here too is
(19:30):
the overarching cavern in which you have offered many an
acceptable echotomb to the nymphs. And this is the wooded
mountain Neretum. As she spoke, the goddess dispersed the mist,
and the land appeared. Then Ulysses rejoiced at finding himself
again in his own land, and kissed the bounteous soil.
He lifted up his hands and prayed to the nymphs, saying,
(19:53):
near Nymphs, daughters of Jove, I made sure that I
was never again to see you. Now therefore I greet
you with all loving salutations, and I will bring you
offerings as in the old days. If Jove's redoubtable daughter
will grab me life and bring my son to manhood.
Take heart, and do not trouble yourself about that. Rejoined Minerva,
(20:16):
let us rather set about stowing your things at once
in the cave, where they will be quite safe. Let
us see how we can best manage it all therewith,
she went down into the cave to look for the
safest hiding places, while Ulysses brought up all the treasure
of gold, bronze, and good clothing which the Theaeacians had
given him. They stowed everything carefully away, and Minerva set
(20:38):
a stone against the door of the cave. Then the
two sat down by the root of the great olive
and consulted at a compass the destruction of the wicked suitors.
Ulysses said, Minerva, noble son of ladies, think how you
can lay hands on these disreputable people who have been
lording it in your house, these three courting your wife
(21:01):
and making wedding presents to her, while she does nothing
but lament your absence, giving hope, and sending your encouraging
messages to every one of them. But meaning the very
opposite of all she says, And Ulysses answered, in good truth, Goddess,
it seems I should have come to much the same
bad end in my own house as Agamannon did if
(21:25):
you had not given me such timely information. Advise me
how I shall best avenge myself. Stand by my side,
and put your courage into my heart, as on the
day when we loose Troy's fair dietem from her brow.
Help me now as you did then, and I will
fight three hundred men. If you, Goddess, will be with me,
(21:46):
trust me for that said she. I will not lose
sight of you when once we set about it, and
I would imagine that some of those who are devouring
your substance will then bespatter the pavement with their blood
and brains. I will begin by disguise you so that
no human being shall know you. I will cover your
body with wrinkles. You shall lose all your yellow air.
(22:07):
I will clothe you in a cormet that shall fill
all who see it with loathing. I will blear your
fine eyes for you, and make you an unseemly object
in the sight of the suitors of your wife and
of the sun, whom you left behind. You then go
at once to the swineherd, who is in charge of
your pigs, he has been always well affected towards you,
(22:29):
and is devoted to Penelope and your son. You will
find him feeding his pigs near the rock that is
called Raven by the fountain Arethusa, where they are fattening
on beech mast and spring water after their manner. Stay
with him and find out how things are going, while
I proceed to Sparta and see your son, who is
(22:51):
with Menelaeus at Lacedaeum, where he is gone to try
and find out whether you are still alive. But why,
said Ulysses, Did you not tell him, for you knew
all about it? Did you want him to to go
sailing about amid all kinds of oddship while others are
eating up his estate? Minerva answered, never mind about him.
(23:15):
I sent him that he might be well spoken of,
for having gone, he is in no sort of difficulty,
but his tank quite comfortably with Menelaus, and is surrounded
with abundance of every kind. The suitors have put out
to sea and are lying in wait for him, for
they mean to kill him before he can get home.
I do not much think they will succeed, but rather
(23:37):
that some of those who are now eating up your
estate will thus fine to grave themselves. As she spoke,
Minerva touched him with her wand and covered him with wrinkles,
took away all his yellow hair, and withered the flesh
over his whole body. She bleared his eyes, which were
naturally very fine ones. She changed his clothes and threw
(23:58):
an old rag of a rap about him, and a
tunic tattered, filthy, and begrimed with smoke. She also gave
him an undressed deer skin as an outer garment, and
furnished him with a staff and a wallet, all in holes,
with a twisted thong for him to sling it over
his shoulder. When the pair had thus laid their plans,
(24:20):
they parted, and the goddess went straight to Lacedaemon to
fetch Telemachus. End of Book thirteen
Book thirteen. Thus did he speak, and they all held
their peace throughout the covered cloister, enthralled by the charm
of his story, till presently Alcinous began to speak. Ulysses
said he, now that you have reached my house, I
doubt not you will get home without further misadventure, no
(00:22):
matter how much you have suffered in the path. To you. Others, however,
who come here night after night to drink my choicest
wine and listen to my bard, I would insist as follows.
Our guest has already backed up the clothes, wrought cold
and other valuables which you have brought for his acceptance.
(00:42):
Let us now therefore present him further, each one of
us with a large tripod and a cauldron. We will
recoup ourselves by the levy of a general rate, for
private individuals cannot be expected to bear the burden of
such a handsome present. Every one of approved of this,
and then they went home to bed, each in his
(01:03):
own abode. When the child of morning, rosy fingered dawn appeared,
they hurried down to the ship and brought their cauldrons
with them. Alcinous went on board and saw everything so
securely stowed under the ship's benches, that nothing could break
adrift and injure the rowers. Then they went to the
house of Alcaneus to get dinner, and he sacrificed a
(01:26):
bull for them in honor of Jove, who is the
lord of all. They set the stakes to grill and
made an excellent dinner, after which the inspired bard Demodocus,
who was a favorite with every one, sang to them.
But Ulysses kept on turning his eyes towards the sun,
as though to hasten his setting, for he was longing
(01:47):
to be on his way, as one who has been
all day plowing a fallow field with a couple of oxen,
keeps thinking about his supper, and is glad when night
comes that he may go and get it, for it
is all his legs can do to carry him. Even
so did Ulysses rejoice when the sun went down, and
he at once said to the Phaeacians, addressing himself more
(02:10):
particularly to King Alcinous, Sir, and all of you, farewell,
make your drink offerings, and send me on my way, rejoicing,
for you have fulfilled my art's desires by giving me
an escort and making me presents which Heaven grant that
I may turn to good account. May I find my
admirable wife living in peace among friends. And may you,
(02:34):
whom I leave behind me, give satisfaction to your wives
and children. May Heaven vouchsafe you every good grace, and
may no evil thing come among your people. Thus did
he speak his earrors. All of them approved his saying,
and agreed that he should have an escort, inasmuch as
he had spoken reasonably. Alcinous therefore said to his servant Pantanous,
(02:59):
mix some one and hand round to everybody, that we
may offer a prayer to Father Jove and speed our
guests upon his way. Pontinus mixed the wine and handed
it to every one in turn. The others, each from
his own seat, made a drink, offering to the blessed
gods that live in heaven. But Ulysses rose and placed
the double cup in the hands of Queen Aratae. Farewell, Queen,
(03:23):
said he, henceforward and forever till age and death, the
common lot of mankind lay their hands upon you. I
now take my leave. Be happy in the house with
your children, your people, and with King Alcanaeus. As he spoke,
he crossed the threshold, and Alcineus sent a man to
(03:45):
conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore.
Aretae also sent some maid servants with him, one with
a clean shirt and cloak, another to carry his strong box,
and a third with corn and wine. When they got
the waterside, the crew took these things and put them
on board with all the meat and drink. But for
(04:07):
Ulysses they spread a rug and a linen sheet on deck,
that he might sleep soundly in the stern of the ship.
Then he too went on board and lay down without
a word. But the crew took every man his place,
and loosed the hawser from the pierced stone to which
it had been bound thereon. When they began rowing out
(04:27):
to sea, Ulysses fell into a deep, sweet, and almost
deathlike slumber. The ship bounded forward on her way as
a foreign hand chariot flies over the course. When the
horses filled the whip, her brow curveted as if it
were the neck of a stallion, and a great wave
of dark blue water seethed in her wake. She held
(04:50):
steadily on her course, and even a falcon's swiftest of
all birds, could not have kept pace with her. Thus
then she cut her way through the water, carrying one
who was as cunning as the gods. But it was
now sleeping peacefully, forgetful of all that he had suffered,
both on the field of battle and by the waves
(05:11):
of the weary sea. When the bright star that heralds
the approach of dawn began to show, the ship drew
near to land. Now there is in Ithaca a haven
of the old Merman forces, which lies between two points
that break the line of the sea and shut the harbor.
In these shelter it from the storms of wind and
(05:33):
sea that rage outside, so that when once within it,
a ship may lie without being even moored. At the
head of this harbor there is a large olive tree,
and at no distance a fine overarching cavern, sacred to
the nymphs, who are called nads. There are mixing bowls
(05:53):
within it, and wine jars of stone, and the bees
ive there. Moreover, there are great looms of stone on
which the nymphs weaved their robes of sea purple, very
curious to see, and at all times there is water
within it. It has two entrances, one facing north, by
which mortals can go down into the cave, while the
(06:14):
other comes from the south and is more mysterious. Portals
cannot possibly get in by it. It is the way
taken by the God into this harbor. Then they took
their ship, for they knew the place. She had so
much way upon her that she ran half her own
length on to the shore. When, however, they had landed,
(06:34):
the first thing they did was to lift Ulysses, with
his rug and linen sheet, out of the ship and
lay him down upon the sand, still fast to sleep.
Then they took out the presence which Minerva had persuaded
the Phaeacians to give him when he was setting out
on his voyage homewards. They put these all together by
the root of the olive tree, away from the road,
(06:56):
for fear some passive eye might come and steal them
before you lies awoke. And then they made the best
of their way home again. But Neptune did not forget
the threats with which he had already threatened Ulysses. So
he took counsel with Jove. Father Jove said he, I
shall no longer be held in any sort of respect
(07:17):
among you gods, if mortals like the Phaeacians, who are
my own flesh and blood showed such small regard for me,
I said, I would Ulysses get home when he had
suffered sufficiently. I did not say that he should never
get home at all, for I knew you had already
nodded your head about it, and promised that he should
(07:40):
do so. But now they have brought him in a
ship fast asleep, and have landed him in Ithaca, after
loading him with more magnificent presents of bronze, gold and
raiment than he would ever have brought back from Troy
if he had had his share of the spoil and
got home without misadventure. And Jove answered, what, O, lord
(08:01):
of the earthquake, are you talking about? The gods are
by no means wanting in respect for you. It would
be monstrous were they to insult one so old and
honored as you are as regards mortals. However, if any
of them is indulging in insolence in treating you disrespectfully,
it will always rest with yourself to deal with him
(08:21):
as you may think proper. So do just as you please.
I should have done so at once, replied Neptune, if
I were not anxious to avoid anything that might displease you, now. Therefore,
I should like to wreck the Phaeacian ship as it
is returning from its escort. This will stop them from
escorting people in future. And I should also like to
(08:43):
bury their city under a huge mountain. My good friend
answered Jove, I should recommend you, at the very moment,
when the people from the city are watching the ship
on her way, to turn it into a rock near
the land and looking like a ship. This will astonish everybody,
and you can then bury their city under the mountain.
(09:03):
When Earth encircling Neptune heard this, he went to Scherio,
where the Phaeacians live, and stayed there till the ship,
which was making rapid way, had got close in. Then
he went up to it, turned it into stone, and
drove it down with the flat of his hands so
as to root it in the ground. After this he
(09:24):
went away. The Phaeacians then began talking among themselves, and
one would turn towards his neighbor, saying, bless my heart,
who is it that can have rooted the ship in
the sea. Just as she was getting into port, we
could see the whole of her only moment ago. This
is how they talked, but they knew nothing about it,
and Alcinous said, I remember now the old prophecy of
(09:47):
my father. He said that Neptune would be angry with
us for taking everyone so safely over the sea, and
would one day wreck a Phaeacian ship if it was
returning from an escort, and bury our city under high mountain.
This is what my old father used to say, and
now it is all coming true. Now, therefore, let us
(10:09):
all do as I say. In the first place, we
must leave off giving people escorts when they come here,
and in the next let us sacrifice twelve picked bulls
to Neptune that he may have mercy upon us and
not bury our city under the high mountain. When the
people heard this, they were afraid and got ready the bulls.
(10:30):
Thus did the chiefs and rulers of the Phaeacians to
King Neptune, standing round his altar. And at the same
time Ulysses woke up once more upon his own soil.
He had been so long away that he did not
know it again. Moreover, Jove's daughter Minerva had made it
a foggy day so that people might not know of
(10:51):
his having come, and that she might tell him everything
without either his wife or his fellow's citizens and friends
recognizing him. Until he had taken his revenge upon the
wicked suitors. Everything therefore seemed quite different to him. The long,
straight tracks, the habbers, the precipices, and the goodly trees
(11:12):
appeared all changed as he started up and looked upon
his native land. So he smote his thighs with the
flat of his hands and cried aloud, despairingly, alas he exclaimed,
among what manner of people am I fallen? Are they
savage and uncivilized? Or hospitable and humane? Where shall I
(11:33):
put all this treasure? And which way shall I go?
I wish I had stayed over there with the Phaeacians,
or I could have gone to some other great chief
who would have been good to me and given me
an escort. As it is, I do not know where
to put my treasure, and I cannot leave it here
for fear somebody else should get hold of it. In
good truth, the chiefs and rulers of the Peacians have
(11:55):
not been dealing fairly by me and have left me
in the wrong country. They said they would take me
back to Ithaca, and they have not done. So. May
Jove the protector of Supplians chastised them, for he watches
over everybody and punishes those who do wrong. Still, I
suppose I must count my goods and see if the
(12:16):
crew have gone off with any of them. He counted
his goodly coppers and cauldrons, his gold in all his clothes,
but there was nothing missing. Still, he kept grieving about
not being in his own country, and wandered up and
down by the shore of the Sounding Sea, bewailing his
hard fate. Then Minerva came up to him, disguised as
(12:38):
a young shepherd of delicate and princely Mian, with a
good cloak folded double about her shoulders. She had sandals
on her comely feet and held a javelin in her hand.
Ulysses was glad when he saw her and went straight
up to her. My friend said he, you are the
first person whom I have met with in this country.
(12:59):
I salute you therefore, and begged you to be will
disposed toward me. Protect these my goods, and myself too,
For I embrace your knees and pray to you as
though you were a god. Tell me, then, and tell
me truly, what land and country is this? Who are
its inhabitants. Am I on an island? Or is this
(13:19):
the sea board of some continent? I never answered, stranger,
you must be very simple, or must have come from
somewhere a long way off, not to know what country
this is. It is a very celebrated place, and everybody
knows it east and west. It is rugged and not
a good driving country. But it is by no means
a big island. For what there is of it, it
(13:41):
grows any quantity of corn and also wine, for it
is watered both by rain and dew. It breeds cattle,
also in goats. All kinds of timber grow here, and
there are watering places where the water never runs dry. So, sir,
the name of Ithaca has known even as as far
as Troy, which I understand to be a long way
(14:03):
off from this Achian country. Ulysses was glad at finding himself,
as Minerva told him, in his own country, and he
began to answer, but he did not speak the truth,
and made up a lying story in the instinctive wiliness
of his heart. I heard of Ithaca, said he, when
I was in creep beyond the seas, And now it
(14:23):
seems I have reached it with all these treasures I
have left as much more behind me for my children.
But am flying because I killed Orsilochus, son of Indominius,
the fleetest runner in Greete. I killed him because he
wanted to rob me of the spoils I had gotten
from Troy, with so much trouble and danger, both on
(14:44):
the field of battle and by the waves of the
weary sea. He said, I had not served his father
loyally at Troy, his vassal, but had set myself up
as an independent ruler. So I lay in wait for him,
and with one of my followers by the roadside, and
speared him as he was coming into town from the
country my It was a very dark night, and nobody
(15:07):
saw us. It was not known therefore that I had
killed him. And as soon as I had done so,
I went to the ship and besought the owners, who
were Phoenicians, to take me on board and set me
in Pilos or in Ellis, were the Epian's rule, giving
them as much spoil as satisfied them. They meant no guile,
but the wind drove them off their course, and we
(15:29):
sailed on till we came hither by night. It was
all we could do to get inside the arbor, and
none of us said a word about supper, though we
wanted it badly. But we all went on shore and
lay down just as we were. I was very tired
and fell asleep directly. So they took my goods out
of the ship and placed them beside me where I
(15:50):
was lying on the sand. Then they sailed away to Sodonia,
and I was left here in great distress of mind.
Such was his talk. But Minerva smiled and caressed him
with her hand. Then she took the form of a woman,
fair stately and wise. He must be, indeed a shifty,
lying fellow, said she, who could surpass you in all
(16:13):
manner of craft, even though you had a guard for
your antagonist. Dare devil that you are full of guile,
unworrying in deceit. Can you not drop your tricks and
your instinctive falsehood, even now that you are in your
own country again. We will say no more, however, about this,
for we can both of us deceive upon occasion. You
(16:36):
are the most accomplished counselor and orator among all mankind,
while I, for diplomacy and subtlety, have no equal among
the gods. Did you not know Joe's daughter, Minerva me,
who have been ever with you, who kept watch over
you and all your troubles, and who made the Phaeacians
take so great a liking to you. And now again
(16:58):
I am come here to talk things over with you
and help you tide the treasure I made the Phaeacians
give you. I want to tell you about the troubles
that await you in your own house. You have got
to face them. But tell no one, neither man nor woman,
that you have come home again, bear everything and put
up with every man's insolence without a word. And Ulysses answered.
(17:21):
A man goddess may know a great deal, but you
are so constantly changing your appearance that when he meets
you it is a hard matter for him to know
whether it is you or not. This much, however, I
know exceedingly well you are very kind to me as
long as we Achians were fighting before Troy. But from
the day on which we went on board ship after
(17:43):
having sacked the city of Raham, and Heaven disposed us.
From that day, Minerva, I saw no more of you,
and cannot ever remember your coming to my ship to
help me in a difficulty I had to wander on,
sick and sorry, till the gods delivered me from evil,
and I reached the city of the Phaeacians, where you
encouraged me and took me into the town. And now
(18:06):
I beseech you, in your father's name, tell me the truth,
for I do not believe I am really back in Ithaca.
I am in some other country, and you are mocking
me and deceiving me in all you have been saying.
Tell me, then, truly, have I really got back to
my own country. You are always taking something of that
(18:27):
sort into your head, replied Minerva. And that is why
I cannot desert you in your afflictions. You are so plausible,
shrewd and shifty. Any one but yourself, on returning from
so long a voyage, would at once have gone home
to see his wife and children. But you do not
seem to care about asking after them or hearing any
(18:48):
news about them, till you have exploited your wife, who
remains at home vainly grieving for you, and having no
peace night or day for the tears she sheds on you.
Be aff as for my not coming near you, I
was never uneasy about you, for I was certain you
would get back safely, though you would lose all your men,
(19:09):
and I did not wish to quarrel with my uncle Neptune,
who never forgave you for having blinded his son. I will, now, however,
point out to you the lie of the land, and
you will then perhaps believe me. This is the avon
of the old mermured forces, and here is the olive
tree that grows at the head of it. Here it
is the cave sacred to the nive. Here too is
(19:30):
the overarching cavern in which you have offered many an
acceptable echotomb to the nymphs. And this is the wooded
mountain Neretum. As she spoke, the goddess dispersed the mist,
and the land appeared. Then Ulysses rejoiced at finding himself
again in his own land, and kissed the bounteous soil.
He lifted up his hands and prayed to the nymphs, saying,
(19:53):
near Nymphs, daughters of Jove, I made sure that I
was never again to see you. Now therefore I greet
you with all loving salutations, and I will bring you
offerings as in the old days. If Jove's redoubtable daughter
will grab me life and bring my son to manhood.
Take heart, and do not trouble yourself about that. Rejoined Minerva,
(20:16):
let us rather set about stowing your things at once
in the cave, where they will be quite safe. Let
us see how we can best manage it all therewith,
she went down into the cave to look for the
safest hiding places, while Ulysses brought up all the treasure
of gold, bronze, and good clothing which the Theaeacians had
given him. They stowed everything carefully away, and Minerva set
(20:38):
a stone against the door of the cave. Then the
two sat down by the root of the great olive
and consulted at a compass the destruction of the wicked suitors.
Ulysses said, Minerva, noble son of ladies, think how you
can lay hands on these disreputable people who have been
lording it in your house, these three courting your wife
(21:01):
and making wedding presents to her, while she does nothing
but lament your absence, giving hope, and sending your encouraging
messages to every one of them. But meaning the very
opposite of all she says, And Ulysses answered, in good truth, Goddess,
it seems I should have come to much the same
bad end in my own house as Agamannon did if
(21:25):
you had not given me such timely information. Advise me
how I shall best avenge myself. Stand by my side,
and put your courage into my heart, as on the
day when we loose Troy's fair dietem from her brow.
Help me now as you did then, and I will
fight three hundred men. If you, Goddess, will be with me,
(21:46):
trust me for that said she. I will not lose
sight of you when once we set about it, and
I would imagine that some of those who are devouring
your substance will then bespatter the pavement with their blood
and brains. I will begin by disguise you so that
no human being shall know you. I will cover your
body with wrinkles. You shall lose all your yellow air.
(22:07):
I will clothe you in a cormet that shall fill
all who see it with loathing. I will blear your
fine eyes for you, and make you an unseemly object
in the sight of the suitors of your wife and
of the sun, whom you left behind. You then go
at once to the swineherd, who is in charge of
your pigs, he has been always well affected towards you,
(22:29):
and is devoted to Penelope and your son. You will
find him feeding his pigs near the rock that is
called Raven by the fountain Arethusa, where they are fattening
on beech mast and spring water after their manner. Stay
with him and find out how things are going, while
I proceed to Sparta and see your son, who is
(22:51):
with Menelaeus at Lacedaeum, where he is gone to try
and find out whether you are still alive. But why,
said Ulysses, Did you not tell him, for you knew
all about it? Did you want him to to go
sailing about amid all kinds of oddship while others are
eating up his estate? Minerva answered, never mind about him.
(23:15):
I sent him that he might be well spoken of,
for having gone, he is in no sort of difficulty,
but his tank quite comfortably with Menelaus, and is surrounded
with abundance of every kind. The suitors have put out
to sea and are lying in wait for him, for
they mean to kill him before he can get home.
I do not much think they will succeed, but rather
(23:37):
that some of those who are now eating up your
estate will thus fine to grave themselves. As she spoke,
Minerva touched him with her wand and covered him with wrinkles,
took away all his yellow hair, and withered the flesh
over his whole body. She bleared his eyes, which were
naturally very fine ones. She changed his clothes and threw
(23:58):
an old rag of a rap about him, and a
tunic tattered, filthy, and begrimed with smoke. She also gave
him an undressed deer skin as an outer garment, and
furnished him with a staff and a wallet, all in holes,
with a twisted thong for him to sling it over
his shoulder. When the pair had thus laid their plans,
(24:20):
they parted, and the goddess went straight to Lacedaemon to
fetch Telemachus. End of Book thirteen
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