1. “Tell me, Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy.”
2. “Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end.”
3. “So, too, there was no man who could rejoice more heartily than I at sight of the hapless Odysseus.”
4. “They reached the low lying city of Lacedaemon, where they drove straight to the abode of Menelaus.”
5. “As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek onto the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now.”
6. “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy.”
7. “And in her heart she prayed to the gods to send a noble husband to her, and one who would not be unworthy of her.”
8. “So she spoke, and the goddess flashed forth and went on her way, and in her wake the sea parted, and the water parted before her.”
9. “This was the trick Athene played him, and she stood by him and said, ‘You must not be frightened or startled if you see many strange things happening.’”
10. “Alcinous, do not be angry with me, nor any of the Phaeacians, if in our gifts we have given you less than you were entitled to receive.”
11. “For the life of me, I cannot imagine that he would have come back after all these years, and been so elated at seeing his son, without going to look about him first.”
12. “Thus did they converse; but the others, when they had put away the desire of food, began to dance, and the young men threw the ball.”
13. “My father was a great friend of yours, and I am the son of his old age.”
14. “Then the shipmaster, who had long experience of the sea, rose up and spoke among them.”
15. “But she had set her heart on getting back to her own country; and Zeus sent her a fair wind.”
16. “Thus did they speak, and they went on board even as they had said.”
17. “But he lay still, brooding over the name of his dear wife.”
18. “So he spoke, and they all admired his words and agreed that he should have his escort inasmuch as he had spoken reasonably.”
19. “The suitors were now overpowered with dismay, and turned pale as they heard him.”
20. “The sun was setting when they reached the sacred island of the Phaeacians, where there were dancing and the sound of lyre and song.”
21. “Thus did he speak, and they all held their peace throughout the covered cloister, enthralled by the charm of his story.”
22. “My friends, this man will give us no quarter. He will stand where he is and shoot us down till he has killed every man among us.”
23. “Thus did they converse, but King Apollo said to Hermes, ‘Messenger Hermes, giver of good things, what think you?’”
24. “The girl ceased to speak and went away, and as she did so she took the clothes with her.”
25. “But as for you, I will make your name great among all the Achaeans, and you shall be held in the same honour as Agamemnon himself.”
26. “So he spoke, and they all kept silence throughout the covered cloister, held spellbound by his story.”
27. “The wanderer is my own husband, and I am his wife, but he was lost and gone to the house of Hades, so I took Aeolus’ gift and saved it for you.”
28. “But come, tell me this and declare it truly; where have you been wandering, and in what countries have you travelled?”
29. “But as he pondered these things in his heart, a wave of sleep came over him, and he sank down where he stood, and fell into a deep slumber.”
30. “Then they made the ship fast a little way out, came on shore again, got their suppers, and waited till night should fall.”
31. “Thus did he speak, and they all held their peace throughout the covered cloister, enthralled by the charm of his story.”
32. “So he spoke, and they all applauded his words, and the queen then said to the guests, ‘Leave off playing, you that wait upon his Majesty, come and sit down, and let us have some music.’”
33. “So saying he made a ship’s cable fast to one of the bearing-post that supported the roof of the domed room, and secured it all around the building, at a good height, lest any of the women’s feet should touch the ground.”
34. “And as a carpenter’s line gives a true edge to a piece of ship’s timber, in the hands of some skilled workman whom Athena has instructed in all kinds of useful arts — even so level was the homecoming of the great Odysseus.”
35. “Thus did he speak, and they all kept silence throughout the covered cloister, held spellbound by his story.”
36. “But may the gods grant you all things which your heart desires, and may they give you a husband and a home and gracious concord, for there is nothing greater and nobler than when two people who are closely bound by love and respect keep house together.”
37. “Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Telemachus rose and dressed himself.”
38. “My heart, my house, my lands, my horsest are my own, but she will none of me.”
39. “And now, after four long years of absence, he was again within his own gates.”
40. “But as for you, I will make your name great among all the Achaeans, and you shall be held in the same honour as Agamemnon himself.”
41. “Thus did he speak, and they all kept silence throughout the covered cloister, held spellbound by his story.”
42. “So saying she bound on her glittering golden sandals, imperishable, with which she can fly like the wind over land or sea; she grasped the redoubtable bronze-shod spear, so stout and sturdy and strong, wherewith she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her, and down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus, whereon forthwith she was in Ithaca, at the gateway of Ulysses’ house.”
43. “The strangers and the beggar have just gone out, and it seems as if I could see the ghost of my dear husband.”
