_“Yet I it was who rescued him, while he Clung round the keel, alone, when mightily Zeus shattered with a fiery thunderbolt His racing ship amid the purple sea._ _“There his good comrades perished; him alone Hither by flood and driving tempest blown, I loved and nourished, and had thought to keep, Deathless and ageless always for my own.”_[11] The love of Calypso, of which she spoke so simply and frankly to Hermes, was something deeper than caprice. It was rooted in that heroic act when she had toiled to drag him up out of the fiercely beating surf, and had brought him back from the brink of death to the cheerful light of day. She had given him his life, and her love with it; and ever since she had striven to keep him at her side, thinking to win his love in return. But she was no witch, to wreak evil spells over an unwilling heart; and though the blow that Hermes had dealt her was a bitter one, she replied with dignity. She would consent to the will of Zeus, not merely because he might not be withstood, but because it was her desire to do good to Odysseus. “_Let him go hence across the barren sea; Howbeit his convoy cannot come from me, Since oared ships I have not to my hand, Nor any mariners his crew to be_ “_Over the ridges of the broad sea-floor: Yet will I gladly teach him all my lore, And naught will hide of counsel, so that he Free from all harm may reach his native shore._“[11] So the Messenger of Zeus departed; and Calypso went sadly across the island to the spot where she knew Odysseus was sitting. As she came near she could see him, gazing out to sea, home-sick and despairing. So he had sat this many a day, turning from her in coldness or in anger to go and mourn for far-off Ithaca and his mortal wife. Why could he not be content to remain with her? Was Penelope then so very beautiful—more beautiful than she, a goddess? Had she not offered him immortality? Had she not lavished tenderness upon him? And now she knew that at the first word of her hateful news he would joyfully prepare to go, and leave her alone with her regret. As she came up and stood by his side, her heart was sore at the perversity of fate. But there was no rancour in it; and having given her word, she would fulfil it generously. So she put her hand upon his shoulder gently as he sat with averted face: “_No more, unhappy man, sit mourning there, Nor let your life be wasted; for to-day Myself unasked your journey will prepare._ “_Up therefore, hew long beams, and skilfully Fit them with tools a broad-floored raft to be; And build aloft a spar-deck thereupon To carry you across the misty sea._