Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Homer -- Translations into English; Odysseus, King of Ithaca (Mythological character)
It was the fourth day when he had accomplished all. And, lo, on the
fifth, the fair Calypso sent him on his way from the island, when she
had bathed him and clad him in fragrant attire. Moreover, the goddess
placed on board the ship two skins, one of dark wine, and another, a
great one, of water, and corn too in a wallet, and she set therein a
store of dainties to his heart’s desire, and sent forth a warm and
gentle wind to blow. And goodly Odysseus rejoiced as he set his sails
to the breeze. So he sate and cunningly guided the craft with the helm,
nor did sleep fall upon his eyelids, as he viewed the Pleiads and
Bootes, that setteth late, and the Bear, which they likewise call the
Wain, which turneth ever in one place, and keepeth watch upon Orion,
and alone hath no part in the baths of Ocean. This star, Calypso, the
fair goddess, bade him to keep ever on the left as he traversed the
deep. Ten days and seven he sailed traversing the deep, and on the
eighteenth day appeared the shadowy hills of the land of the
Phaeacians, at the point where it lay nearest to him; and it showed
like a shield in the misty deep.
Now the lord, the shaker of the earth, on his way from the Ethiopians
espied him afar off from the mountains of the Solymi: even thence he
saw Odysseus as he sailed over the deep; and he was mightily angered in
spirit, and shaking his head he communed with his own heart. “Lo now,
it must be that the gods at the last have changed their purpose
concerning Odysseus, while I was away among the Ethiopians. And now he
is nigh to the Phaeacian land, where it is ordained that he escape the
great issues of the woe which hath come upon him. But, methinks, that
even yet I will drive him far enough in the path of suffering.”
With that he gathered the clouds and troubled the waters of the deep,
grasping his trident in his hands; and he roused all storms of all
manner of winds, and shrouded in clouds the land and sea: and down sped
night from heaven. The East Wind and the South Wind clashed, and the
stormy West, and the North, that is born in the bright air, rolling
onward a great wave. Then were the knees of Odysseus loosened and his
heart melted, and heavily he spake to his own great spirit:
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