Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Homer -- Translations into English; Odysseus, King of Ithaca (Mythological character)
“So he spake in prayer, and the god of the dark locks heard him. And
once again he lifted a stone, far greater than the first, and with one
swing he hurled it, and he put forth a measureless strength, and cast
it but a little space behind the dark-prowed ship, and all but struck
the end of the rudder. And the sea heaved beneath the fall of the rock,
but the wave bare on the ship and drave it to the further shore.
“But when he had now reached that island, where all our other decked
ships abode together, and our company were gathered sorrowing,
expecting us evermore, on our coming thither we ran our ship ashore
upon the sand, and ourselves too stept forth upon the sea beach. Next
we took forth the sheep of the Cyclops from out the hollow ship, and
divided them, that none through me might go lacking his proper share.
But the ram for me alone my goodly-greaved company chose out, in the
dividing of the sheep, and on the shore I offered him up to Zeus, even
to the son of Cronos, who dwells in the dark clouds, and is lord of
all, and I burnt the slices of the thighs. But he heeded not the
sacrifice, but was devising how my decked ships and my dear company
might perish utterly. Thus for that time we sat the livelong day, until
the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine.
And when the sun had sunk and darkness had come on, then we laid us to
rest upon the sea beach. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the
rosy-fingered, I called to my company, and commanded them that they
should themselves climb the ship and loose the hawsers. So they soon
embarked and sat upon the benches, and sitting orderly smote the grey
sea water with their oars.
“Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as men saved from
death, albeit we had lost our dear companions.
image
BOOK X.
Odysseus, his entertainment by Aeolus, of whom he received a fair wind
for the present, and all the rest of the winds tied up in a bag; which
his men untying, flew out, and carried him back to Aeolus, who refused
to receive him. His adventure at Laestrygonia with Antiphates, where of
twelve ships he lost eleven, men and all. How he went thence to the
Isle of Aea, where half of his men were turned by Circe into swine, and
how he went himself, and by the help of Hermes recovered them and
stayed with Circe a year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account