Homeric Greek
1ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὕπνῳ καὶ καμάτῳ ἀρημένος: αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
βῆ ῥ' ἐς Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
οἳ πρὶν μέν ποτ' ἔναιον ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ὑπερείῃ,
5ἀγχοῦ Κυκλώπων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων,
Transliteration
1hōs ho men entha katheude polytlas dios Odysseus
hypnōi kai kamatōi arēmenos: autar Athēnē
bē rh' es Phaiēkōn andrōn dēmon te polin te,
hoi prin men pot' enaion en eurychorōi Hypereiēi,
5anchou Kyklōpōn andrōn hyperēnoreontōn,
English
So here Odysseus slept, overcome by sleep and toil; but Athena went off to the dêmos and city of the Phaeacians - a people who used to live in the fair town of Hypereia, near the lawless Cyclopes.
Homeric Greek
οἵ σφεας σινέσκοντο, βίηφι δὲ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.
ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγε Ναυσίθοος θεοειδής,
εἷσεν δὲ Σχερίῃ, ἑκὰς ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστάων,
ἀμφὶ δὲ τεῖχος ἔλασσε πόλει, καὶ ἐδείματο οἴκους,
10καὶ νηοὺς ποίησε θεῶν, καὶ ἐδάσσατ' ἀρούρας.
Transliteration
hoi spheas sineskonto, biēphi de pherteroi ēsan.
enthen anastēsas age Nausithoos theoeidēs,
heisen de Scheriēi, hekas andrōn alphēstaōn,
amphi de teichos elasse polei, kai edeimato oikous,
10kai nēous poiēse theōn, kai edassat' arouras.
English
Now the Cyclopes were stronger in force than they and plundered them, so their king Nausithoos moved them thence and settled them in Scheria, far from all other people. He surrounded the city with a wall, built houses and temples, and divided the lands among his people;
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,
Ἀλκίνοος δὲ τότ' ἦρχε, θεῶν ἄπο μήδεα εἰδώς.
τοῦ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα.
15βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον πολυδαίδαλον, ᾧ ἔνι κούρη
Transliteration
all' ho men ēdē kēri dameis Aïdosde bebēkei,
Alkinoos de tot' ērche, theōn apo mēdea eidōs.
tou men ebē pros dōma thea, glaukōpis Athēnē,
noston Odyssēi megalētori mētioōsa.
15bē d' imen es thalamon polydaidalon, hōi eni kourē
English
but he was dead and gone to the house of Hades, and King Alkinoos, whose counsels were inspired of heaven, was now reigning. To his house, then, did Athena go in furtherance of the return of Odysseus. She went straight to the beautifully decorated bedroom in
Homeric Greek
κοιμᾶτ' ἀθανάτῃσι φυὴν καὶ εἶδος ὁμοίη,
Ναυσικάα, θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
πὰρ δὲ δύ' ἀμφίπολοι, Χαρίτων ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσαι,
σταθμοῖιν ἑκάτερθε: θύραι δ' ἐπέκειντο φαειναί.
20ἡ δ' ἀνέμου ὡς πνοιὴ ἐπέσσυτο δέμνια κούρης,
Transliteration
koimat' athanatēisi phyēn kai eidos homoiē,
Nausikaa, thygatēr megalētoros Alkinooio,
par de dy' amphipoloi, Charitōn apo kallos echousai,
stathmoiin hekaterthe: thyrai d' epekeinto phaeinai.
20hē d' anemou hōs pnoiē epessyto demnia kourēs,
English
which there slept a girl who was as lovely as a goddess, Nausicaa, daughter to King Alkinoos. Two maid servants were sleeping near her, both very pretty, one on either side of the doorway, which was closed with well-made folding doors.
Homeric Greek
στῆ δ' ἄρ' ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν,
εἰδομένη κούρῃ ναυσικλειτοῖο Δύμαντος,
ἥ οἱ ὁμηλικίη μὲν ἔην, κεχάριστο δὲ θυμῷ.
τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:
25"Ναυσικάα, τί νύ σ' ὧδε μεθήμονα γείνατο μήτηρ;
Transliteration
stē d' ar' hyper kephalēs, kai min pros mython eeipen,
eidomenē kourēi nausikleitoio Dymantos,
hē hoi homēlikiē men eēn, kecharisto de thymōi.
tēi min eeisamenē prosephē glaukōpis Athēnē:
25"Nausikaa, ti ny s' hōde methēmona geinato mētēr;
English
Athena took the form of the famous sea leader Dymas’ daughter, who was a bosom friend of Nausicaa and just her own age; then, coming up to the girl's bedside like a breath of wind, she hovered over her head and said: "Nausicaa, what can your mother have been about, to have such a lazy daughter?
Homeric Greek
εἵματα μέν τοι κεῖται ἀκηδέα σιγαλόεντα,
σοὶ δὲ γάμος σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἵνα χρὴ καλὰ μὲν αὐτὴν
ἕννυσθαι, τὰ δὲ τοῖσι παρασχεῖν, οἵ κέ σ' ἄγωνται.
ἐκ γάρ τοι τούτων φάτις ἀνθρώπους ἀναβαίνει
30ἐσθλή, χαίρουσιν δὲ πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.
Transliteration
heimata men toi keitai akēdea sigaloenta,
soi de gamos schedon estin, hina chrē kala men autēn
hennysthai, ta de toisi paraschein, hoi ke s' agōntai.
ek gar toi toutōn phatis anthrōpous anabainei
30esthlē, chairousin de patēr kai potnia mētēr.
English
Here are your clothes all lying in disorder, yet you are going to be married almost immediately, and should not only be well dressed yourself, but should find good clothes for those who attend you. This is the way to get yourself a good name, and to make your father and mother proud of you.
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ἴομεν πλυνέουσαι ἅμ' ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι:
καί τοι ἐγὼ συνέριθος ἅμ' ἕψομαι, ὄφρα τάχιστα
ἐντύνεαι, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔτι δὴν παρθένος ἔσσεαι:
ἤδη γάρ σε μνῶνται ἀριστῆες κατὰ δῆμον
35πάντων Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι γένος ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτῇ.
Transliteration
all' iomen plyneousai ham' ēoi phainomenēphi:
kai toi egō synerithos ham' hepsomai, ophra tachista
entyneai, epei ou toi eti dēn parthenos esseai:
ēdē gar se mnōntai aristēes kata dēmon
35pantōn Phaiēkōn, hothi toi genos esti kai autēi.
English
Suppose, then, that we make tomorrow a washing day, and start at daybreak. I will come and help you so that you may have everything ready as soon as possible, for all the best young men throughout your own dêmos are courting you, and you are not going to remain a young girl much longer.
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐπότρυνον πατέρα κλυτὸν ἠῶθι πρὸ
ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσαι, ἥ κεν ἄγῃσι
ζῶστρά τε καὶ πέπλους καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδ' αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον ἠὲ πόδεσσιν
40ἔρχεσθαι: πολλὸν γὰρ ἀπὸ πλυνοί εἰσι πόληος."
Transliteration
all' ag' epotrynon patera klyton ēōthi pro
hēmionous kai amaxan ephoplisai, hē ken agēisi
zōstra te kai peplous kai rhēgea sigaloenta.
kai de soi hōd' autēi poly kallion ēe podessin
40erchesthai: pollon gar apo plynoi eisi polēos."
English
Ask your father, therefore, to have a wagon and mules ready for us at daybreak, to take the rugs, robes, and belts; and you can ride, too, which will be much pleasanter for you than walking, for the washing-cisterns are some way from the town."
Homeric Greek
ἡ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
Οὔλυμπόνδ', ὅθι φασὶ θεῶν ἕδος ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ
ἔμμεναι. οὔτ' ἀνέμοισι τινάσσεται οὔτε ποτ' ὄμβρῳ
δεύεται οὔτε χιὼν ἐπιπίλναται, ἀλλὰ μάλ' αἴθρη
45πέπταται ἀνέφελος, λευκὴ δ' ἐπιδέδρομεν αἴγλη:
Transliteration
hē men ar' hōs eipous' apebē glaukōpis Athēnē
Oulympond', hothi phasi theōn hedos asphales aiei
emmenai. out' anemoisi tinassetai oute pot' ombrōi
deuetai oute chiōn epipilnatai, alla mal' aithrē
45peptatai anephelos, leukē d' epidedromen aiglē:
English
When she had said this Athena went away to Olympus, which they say is the everlasting home of the gods. Here no wind beats roughly, and neither rain nor snow can fall; but it abides in everlasting sunshine and in a great peacefulness of light, wherein the blessed gods are illumined for ever and ever.
Homeric Greek
τῷ ἔνι τέρπονται μάκαρες θεοὶ ἤματα πάντα.
ἔνθ' ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε κούρῃ.
αὐτίκα δ' Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐύθρονος, ἥ μιν ἔγειρε
Ναυσικάαν ἐύπεπλον: ἄφαρ δ' ἀπεθαύμασ' ὄνειρον,
50βῆ δ' ἰέναι διὰ δώμαθ', ἵν' ἀγγείλειε τοκεῦσιν,
Transliteration
tōi eni terpontai makares theoi ēmata panta.
enth' apebē glaukōpis, epei diepephrade kourēi.
autika d' Ēōs ēlthen euthronos, hē min egeire
Nausikaan eupeplon: aphar d' apethaumas' oneiron,
50bē d' ienai dia dōmath', hin' angeileie tokeusin,
English
This was the place to which the goddess went when she had given instructions to the girl. By and by morning came and woke Nausicaa, who began wondering about her dream; she therefore went to the other end of the house to tell her father and mother all about it, and found them in their own room.
Homeric Greek
πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητρί: κιχήσατο δ' ἔνδον ἐόντας:
ἡ μὲν ἐπ' ἐσχάρῃ ἧστο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσ' ἁλιπόρφυρα: τῷ δὲ θύραζε
ἐρχομένῳ ξύμβλητο μετὰ κλειτοὺς βασιλῆας
55ἐς βουλήν, ἵνα μιν κάλεον Φαίηκες ἀγαυοί.
Transliteration
patri philōi kai mētri: kichēsato d' endon eontas:
hē men ep' escharēi hēsto syn amphipoloisi gynaixin
ēlakata strōphōs' haliporphyra: tōi de thyraze
erchomenōi xymblēto meta kleitous basilēas
55es boulēn, hina min kaleon Phaiēkes agauoi.
English
Her mother was sitting by the fireside spinning her purple yarn with her maids around her, and she happened to catch her father just as he was going out to attend a meeting of the town council, which the Phaeacian aldermen had convened.
Homeric Greek
ἡ δὲ μάλ' ἄγχι στᾶσα φίλον πατέρα προσέειπε:
"πάππα φίλ', οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἐφοπλίσσειας ἀπήνην
ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ἵνα κλυτὰ εἵματ' ἄγωμαι
ἐς ποταμὸν πλυνέουσα, τά μοι ῥερυπωμένα κεῖται;
60καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ ἔοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντα.
Transliteration
hē de mal' anchi stasa philon patera proseeipe:
"pappa phil', ouk an dē moi ephoplisseias apēnēn
hypsēlēn eukyklon, hina klyta heimat' agōmai
es potamon plyneousa, ta moi rherypōmena keitai;
60kai de soi autōi eoike meta prōtoisin eonta.
English
She stopped him and said: "Papa dear, could you manage to let me have a good big wagon? I want to take all our dirty clothes to the river and wash them. You are the chief man here, so it is only right that you should have a clean shirt when you attend meetings of the council.
Homeric Greek
βουλὰς βουλεύειν καθαρὰ χροί̈ εἵματ' ἔχοντα.
πέντε δέ τοι φίλοι υἷες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
οἱ δύ' ὀπυίοντες, τρεῖς δ' ἠίθεοι θαλέθοντες:
οἱ δ' αἰεὶ ἐθέλουσι νεόπλυτα εἵματ' ἔχοντες
65ἐς χορὸν ἔρχεσθαι: τὰ δ' ἐμῇ φρενὶ πάντα μέμηλεν."
Transliteration
boulas bouleuein kathara chroï heimat' echonta.
pente de toi philoi huies eni megarois gegaasin,
hoi dy' opuiontes, treis d' ēitheoi thalethontes:
hoi d' aiei ethelousi neoplyta heimat' echontes
65es choron erchesthai: ta d' emēi phreni panta memēlen."
English
Moreover, you have five sons at home, two of them married, while the other three are good-looking bachelors; you know they always like to have clean linen when they go to a dance, and I have been thinking about all this."
Homeric Greek
ὣς ἔφατ': αἴδετο γὰρ θαλερὸν γάμον ἐξονομῆναι
πατρὶ φίλῳ. ὁ δὲ πάντα νόει καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ:
"οὔτε τοι ἡμιόνων φθονέω, τέκος, οὔτε τευ ἄλλου.
ἔρχευ: ἀτάρ τοι δμῶες ἐφοπλίσσουσιν ἀπήνην
70ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ὑπερτερίῃ ἀραρυῖαν."
Transliteration
hōs ephat': aideto gar thaleron gamon exonomēnai
patri philōi. ho de panta noei kai ameibeto mythōi:
"oute toi hēmionōn phthoneō, tekos, oute teu allou.
ercheu: atar toi dmōes ephoplissousin apēnēn
70hypsēlēn eukyklon, hyperteriēi araruian."
English
She did not say a word about her own wedding, for she did not like to, but her father knew and said, "You shall have the mules, my love, and whatever else you have a mind for. Be off with you, and the men shall get you a good strong wagon with a body to it that will hold all your clothes."
Homeric Greek
ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο, τοὶ δ' ἐπίθοντο.
οἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἐκτὸς ἄμαξαν ἐύτροχον ἡμιονείην
ὥπλεον, ἡμιόνους θ' ὕπαγον ζεῦξάν θ' ὑπ' ἀπήνῃ:
κούρη δ' ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρεν ἐσθῆτα φαεινήν.
75καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐυξέστῳ ἐπ' ἀπήνῃ,
Transliteration
hōs eipōn dmōessin ekekleto, toi d' epithonto.
hoi men ar' ektos amaxan eutrochon hēmioneiēn
hōpleon, hēmionous th' hypagon zeuxan th' hyp' apēnēi:
kourē d' ek thalamoio pheren esthēta phaeinēn.
75kai tēn men katethēken euxestōi ep' apēnēi,
English
On this he gave his orders to the servants, who got the wagon out, harnessed the mules, and put them to, while the girl brought the clothes down from the linen room and placed them on the wagon.
Homeric Greek
μήτηρ δ' ἐν κίστῃ ἐτίθει μενοεικέ' ἐδωδὴν
παντοίην, ἐν δ' ὄψα τίθει, ἐν δ' οἶνον ἔχευεν
ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ: κούρη δ' ἐπεβήσετ' ἀπήνης.
δῶκεν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
80ἧος χυτλώσαιτο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
Transliteration
mētēr d' en kistēi etithei menoeike' edōdēn
pantoiēn, en d' opsa tithei, en d' oinon echeuen
askōi en aigeiōi: kourē d' epebēset' apēnēs.
dōken de chryseēi en lēkythōi hygron elaion,
80hēos chytlōsaito syn amphipoloisi gynaixin.
English
Her mother prepared her a basket of provisions with all sorts of good things, and a goat skin full of wine; the girl now got into the wagon, and her mother gave her also a golden cruse of oil, that she and her women might anoint themselves.
Homeric Greek
ἡ δ' ἔλαβεν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,
μάστιξεν δ' ἐλάαν: καναχὴ δ' ἦν ἡμιόνοιιν.
αἱ δ' ἄμοτον τανύοντο, φέρον δ' ἐσθῆτα καὶ αὐτήν,
οὐκ οἴην, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.
85αἱ δ' ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο ῥόον περικαλλέ' ἵκοντο,
Transliteration
hē d' elaben mastiga kai hēnia sigaloenta,
mastixen d' elaan: kanachē d' ēn hēmionoiin.
hai d' amoton tanyonto, pheron d' esthēta kai autēn,
ouk oiēn, hama tēi ge kai amphipoloi kion allai.
85hai d' hote dē potamoio rhoon perikalle' hikonto,
English
Then she took the whip and reins and lashed the mules on, whereon they set off, and their hoofs clattered on the road. They pulled without flagging, and carried not only Nausicaa and her wash of clothes, but the maids also who were with her. When they reached the water side they went to
Homeric Greek
ἔνθ' ἦ τοι πλυνοὶ ἦσαν ἐπηετανοί, πολὺ δ' ὕδωρ
καλὸν ὑπεκπρόρεεν μάλα περ ῥυπόωντα καθῆραι,
ἔνθ' αἵ γ' ἡμιόνους μὲν ὑπεκπροέλυσαν ἀπήνης.
καὶ τὰς μὲν σεῦαν ποταμὸν πάρα δινήεντα
90τρώγειν ἄγρωστιν μελιηδέα: ταὶ δ' ἀπ' ἀπήνης
Transliteration
enth' ē toi plynoi ēsan epēetanoi, poly d' hydōr
kalon hypekproreen mala per rhypoōnta kathērai,
enth' hai g' hēmionous men hypekproelysan apēnēs.
kai tas men seuan potamon para dinēenta
90trōgein agrōstin meliēdea: tai d' ap' apēnēs
English
the washing-cisterns, through which there ran at all times enough pure water to wash any quantity of linen, no matter how dirty. Here they unharnessed the mules and turned them out to feed on the sweet juicy herbage that grew by the water side.
Homeric Greek
εἵματα χερσὶν ἕλοντο καὶ ἐσφόρεον μέλαν ὕδωρ,
στεῖβον δ' ἐν βόθροισι θοῶς ἔριδα προφέρουσαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πλῦνάν τε κάθηράν τε ῥύπα πάντα,
ἑξείης πέτασαν παρὰ θῖν' ἁλός, ἧχι μάλιστα
95λάιγγας ποτὶ χέρσον ἀποπλύνεσκε θάλασσα.
Transliteration
heimata chersin helonto kai esphoreon melan hydōr,
steibon d' en bothroisi thoōs erida propherousai.
autar epei plynan te kathēran te rhypa panta,
hexeiēs petasan para thin' halos, hēchi malista
95laingas poti cherson apoplyneske thalassa.
English
They took the clothes out of the wagon, put them in the water, and vied with one another in treading them in the pits to get the dirt out. After they had washed them and got them quite clean, they laid them out by the sea side,
Homeric Greek
αἱ δὲ λοεσσάμεναι καὶ χρισάμεναι λίπ' ἐλαίῳ
δεῖπνον ἔπειθ' εἵλοντο παρ' ὄχθῃσιν ποταμοῖο,
εἵματα δ' ἠελίοιο μένον τερσήμεναι αὐγῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτου τάρφθεν δμῳαί τε καὶ αὐτή,
100σφαίρῃ ταὶ δ' ἄρ' ἔπαιζον, ἀπὸ κρήδεμνα βαλοῦσαι:
Transliteration
hai de loessamenai kai chrisamenai lip' elaiōi
deipnon epeith' heilonto par' ochthēisin potamoio,
heimata d' ēelioio menon tersēmenai augēi.
autar epei sitou tarphthen dmōiai te kai autē,
100sphairēi tai d' ar' epaizon, apo krēdemna balousai:
English
where the waves had raised a high beach of shingle, and set about washing themselves and anointing themselves with olive oil. Then they got their dinner by the side of the stream, and waited for the sun to finish drying the clothes.
Homeric Greek
τῇσι δὲ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μολπῆς.
οἵη δ' Ἄρτεμις εἶσι κατ' οὔρεα ἰοχέαιρα,
ἢ κατὰ Τηύ̈γετον περιμήκετον ἢ Ἐρύμανθον,
τερπομένη κάπροισι καὶ ὠκείῃς ἐλάφοισι:
105τῇ δέ θ' ἅμα νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
Transliteration
tēisi de Nausikaa leukōlenos ērcheto molpēs.
hoiē d' Artemis eisi kat' ourea iocheaira,
ē kata Tēÿgeton perimēketon ē Erymanthon,
terpomenē kaproisi kai ōkeiēis elaphoisi:
105tēi de th' hama nymphai, kourai Dios aigiochoio,
English
When they had done dinner they threw off the veils that covered their heads and began to play at ball, while Nausicaa sang for them. As the huntress Artemis goes forth upon the mountains of Taygetus or Erymanthus to hunt wild boars or deer, and the wood-nymphs, daughters of Aegis-bearing Zeus,
Homeric Greek
ἀγρονόμοι παίζουσι, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα Λητώ:
πασάων δ' ὑπὲρ ἥ γε κάρη ἔχει ἠδὲ μέτωπα,
ῥεῖά τ' ἀριγνώτη πέλεται, καλαὶ δέ τε πᾶσαι:
ὣς ἥ γ' ἀμφιπόλοισι μετέπρεπε παρθένος ἀδμής.
110ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ ἄρ' ἔμελλε πάλιν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
Transliteration
agronomoi paizousi, gegēthe de te phrena Lētō:
pasaōn d' hyper hē ge karē echei ēde metōpa,
rheia t' arignōtē peletai, kalai de te pasai:
hōs hē g' amphipoloisi meteprepe parthenos admēs.
110all' hote dē ar' emelle palin oikonde neesthai
English
take their sport along with her (then is Leto proud at seeing her daughter stand a full head taller than the others, and eclipse the loveliest amid a whole bevy of beauties), even so did the girl outshine her handmaids. When it was time for them to start home, and
Homeric Greek
ζεύξασ' ἡμιόνους πτύξασά τε εἵματα καλά,
ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὡς Ὀδυσεὺς ἔγροιτο, ἴδοι τ' ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἥ οἱ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ἡγήσαιτο.
115σφαῖραν ἔπειτ' ἔρριψε μετ' ἀμφίπολον βασίλεια:
Transliteration
zeuxas' hēmionous ptyxasa te heimata kala,
enth' aut' all' enoēse thea, glaukōpis Athēnē,
hōs Odyseus egroito, idoi t' euōpida kourēn,
hē hoi Phaiēkōn andrōn polin hēgēsaito.
115sphairan epeit' erripse met' amphipolon basileia:
English
they were folding the clothes and putting them into the wagon, Athena began to consider how Odysseus should wake up and see the handsome girl who was to conduct him to the city of the Phaeacians. The girl, therefore, threw a ball at one of the maids, which missed her and fell into deep water.
Homeric Greek
ἀμφιπόλου μὲν ἅμαρτε, βαθείῃ δ' ἔμβαλε δίνῃ:
αἱ δ' ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄυσαν: ὁ δ' ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἑζόμενος δ' ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν:
"ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;
120ἦ ῥ' οἵ γ' ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
Transliteration
amphipolou men hamarte, batheiēi d' embale dinēi:
hai d' epi makron ausan: ho d' egreto dios Odysseus,
hezomenos d' hōrmaine kata phrena kai kata thymon:
"ō moi egō, teōn aute brotōn es gaian hikanō;
120ē rh' hoi g' hybristai te kai agrioi oude dikaioi,
English
On this they all shouted, and the noise they made woke Odysseus, who sat up in his bed of leaves and began to wonder what it might all be. "Alas," said he to himself, "what kind of people have I come amongst?
Homeric Greek
ἦε φιλόξεινοι καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;
ὥς τέ με κουράων ἀμφήλυθε θῆλυς ἀυτή:
νυμφάων, αἳ ἔχουσ' ὀρέων αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα
καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.
125ἦ νύ που ἀνθρώπων εἰμὶ σχεδὸν αὐδηέντων;
Transliteration
ēe philoxeinoi kai sphin noos esti theoudēs;
hōs te me kouraōn amphēlythe thēlys autē:
nymphaōn, hai echous' oreōn aipeina karēna
kai pēgas potamōn kai pisea poiēenta.
125ē ny pou anthrōpōn eimi schedon audēentōn;
English
Are they cruel, savage, and uncivilized, or hospitable and endowed with a god-fearing noos? I seem to hear the voices of young women, and they sound like those of the nymphs that haunt mountaintops, or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. At any rate I am among a race of men and women.
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐγὼν αὐτὸς πειρήσομαι ἠδὲ ἴδωμαι."
ὣς εἰπὼν θάμνων ὑπεδύσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐκ πυκινῆς δ' ὕλης πτόρθον κλάσε χειρὶ παχείῃ
φύλλων, ὡς ῥύσαιτο περὶ χροὶ̈ μήδεα φωτός.
130βῆ δ' ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
Transliteration
all' ag' egōn autos peirēsomai ēde idōmai."
hōs eipōn thamnōn hypedyseto dios Odysseus,
ek pykinēs d' hylēs ptorthon klase cheiri pacheiēi
phyllōn, hōs rhysaito peri chroï mēdea phōtos.
130bē d' imen hōs te leōn oresitrophos alki pepoithōs,
English
Let me try if I cannot manage to get a look at them." As he said this he crept from under his bush, and broke off a bough covered with thick leaves to hide his nakedness. He looked like some lion of the wilderness that stalks about exulting in his strength and defying both wind and rain;
Homeric Greek
ὅς τ' εἶσ' ὑόμενος καὶ ἀήμενος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δαίεται: αὐτὰρ ὁ βουσὶ μετέρχεται ἢ ὀίεσσιν
ἠὲ μετ' ἀγροτέρας ἐλάφους: κέλεται δέ ἑ γαστὴρ
μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν:
135ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισιν ἔμελλε
Transliteration
hos t' eis' hyomenos kai aēmenos, en de hoi osse
daietai: autar ho bousi meterchetai ē oiessin
ēe met' agroteras elaphous: keletai de he gastēr
mēlōn peirēsonta kai es pykinon domon elthein:
135hōs Odyseus kourēisin euplokamoisin emelle
English
his eyes glare as he prowls in quest of oxen, sheep, or deer, for he is famished, and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead, trying to get at the sheep - even such did Odysseus seem to the young women, as he drew near to them all naked as he was, for he was in great want.
Homeric Greek
μίξεσθαι, γυμνός περ ἐών: χρειὼ γὰρ ἵκανε.
σμερδαλέος δ' αὐτῇσι φάνη κεκακωμένος ἅλμῃ,
τρέσσαν δ' ἄλλυδις ἄλλη ἐπ' ἠιόνας προὐχούσας:
οἴη δ' Ἀλκινόου θυγάτηρ μένε: τῇ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
140θάρσος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε καὶ ἐκ δέος εἵλετο γυίων.
Transliteration
mixesthai, gymnos per eōn: chreiō gar hikane.
smerdaleos d' autēisi phanē kekakōmenos halmēi,
tressan d' allydis allē ep' ēionas prouchousas:
oiē d' Alkinoou thygatēr mene: tēi gar Athēnē
140tharsos eni phresi thēke kai ek deos heileto guiōn.
English
On seeing one so unkempt and so begrimed with salt water, the others scampered off along the spits that jutted out into the sea, but the daughter of Alkinoos stood firm, for Athena put courage into her heart and took away all fear from her.
Homeric Greek
στῆ δ' ἄντα σχομένη: ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἢ γούνων λίσσοιτο λαβὼν ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἦ αὔτως ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι
λίσσοιτ', εἰ δείξειε πόλιν καὶ εἵματα δοίη.
145ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
Transliteration
stē d' anta schomenē: ho de mermērixen Odysseus,
ē gounōn lissoito labōn euōpida kourēn,
ē autōs epeessin apostada meilichioisi
lissoit', ei deixeie polin kai heimata doiē.
145hōs ara hoi phroneonti doassato kerdion einai,
English
She stood right in front of Odysseus, and he doubted whether he should go up to her, throw himself at her feet, and embrace her knees as a suppliant, or stay where he was and entreat her to give him some clothes and show him the way to the town.
Homeric Greek
λίσσεσθαι ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι,
μή οἱ γοῦνα λαβόντι χολώσαιτο φρένα κούρη.
αὐτίκα μειλίχιον καὶ κερδαλέον φάτο μῦθον.
"γουνοῦμαί σε, ἄνασσα: θεός νύ τις, ἦ βροτός ἐσσι;
150εἰ μέν τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
Transliteration
lissesthai epeessin apostada meilichioisi,
mē hoi gouna labonti cholōsaito phrena kourē.
autika meilichion kai kerdaleon phato mython.
"gounoumai se, anassa: theos ny tis, ē brotos essi;
150ei men tis theos essi, toi ouranon euryn echousin,
English
In the end he deemed it best to entreat her from a distance in case the girl should take offense at his coming near enough to clasp her knees, so he addressed her in honeyed and persuasive language. "O queen," he said, "I implore your aid - but tell me, are you a goddess or are you a mortal woman?
Homeric Greek
Ἀρτέμιδί σε ἐγώ γε, Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τ' ἄγχιστα ἐίσκω:
εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν, τοὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάουσιν,
τρὶς μάκαρες μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
155τρὶς μάκαρες δὲ κασίγνητοι: μάλα πού σφισι θυμὸς
Transliteration
Artemidi se egō ge, Dios kourēi megaloio,
eidos te megethos te phyēn t' anchista eiskō:
ei de tis essi brotōn, toi epi chthoni naietaousin,
tris makares men soi ge patēr kai potnia mētēr,
155tris makares de kasignētoi: mala pou sphisi thymos
English
If you are a goddess and dwell in heaven, I can only conjecture that you are Zeus’ daughter Artemis, for your face and figure resemble none but hers; if on the other hand you are a mortal and live on earth, thrice happy are your father and mother - thrice happy, too, are your brothers and sisters;
Homeric Greek
αἰὲν ἐυφροσύνῃσιν ἰαίνεται εἵνεκα σεῖο,
λευσσόντων τοιόνδε θάλος χορὸν εἰσοιχνεῦσαν.
κεῖνος δ' αὖ περὶ κῆρι μακάρτατος ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
ὅς κέ σ' ἐέδνοισι βρίσας οἶκόνδ' ἀγάγηται.
160οὐ γάρ πω τοιοῦτον ἴδον βροτὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
Transliteration
aien euphrosynēisin iainetai heineka seio,
leussontōn toionde thalos choron eisoichneusan.
keinos d' au peri kēri makartatos exochon allōn,
hos ke s' eednoisi brisas oikond' agagētai.
160ou gar pō toiouton idon broton ophthalmoisin,
English
how proud and delighted they must feel when they see so fair a scion as yourself going out to a dance ; most happy, however, of all will he be whose wedding gifts have been the richest, and who takes you to his own home. I never yet saw any one so beautiful, neither man nor woman, and am lost in admiration as I behold you.
Homeric Greek
οὔτ' ἄνδρ' οὔτε γυναῖκα: σέβας μ' ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
Δήλῳ δή ποτε τοῖον Ἀπόλλωνος παρὰ βωμῷ
φοίνικος νέον ἔρνος ἀνερχόμενον ἐνόησα:
ἦλθον γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε, πολὺς δέ μοι ἕσπετο λαός,
165τὴν ὁδὸν ᾗ δὴ μέλλεν ἐμοὶ κακὰ κήδε' ἔσεσθαι.
Transliteration
out' andr' oute gynaika: sebas m' echei eisoroōnta.
Dēlōi dē pote toion Apollōnos para bōmōi
phoinikos neon ernos anerchomenon enoēsa:
ēlthon gar kai keise, polys de moi hespeto laos,
165tēn hodon hēi dē mellen emoi kaka kēde' esesthai.
English
I can only compare you to a young palm tree which I saw when I was at Delos growing near the altar of Apollo - for I was there, too, with many people after me, when I was on that journey which has been the source of all my troubles.
Homeric Greek
ὣς δ' αὔτως καὶ κεῖνο ἰδὼν ἐτεθήπεα θυμῷ
δήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τοῖον ἀνήλυθεν ἐκ δόρυ γαίης,
ὡς σέ, γύναι, ἄγαμαί τε τέθηπά τε, δείδια δ' αἰνῶς
γούνων ἅψασθαι: χαλεπὸν δέ με πένθος ἱκάνει.
170χθιζὸς ἐεικοστῷ φύγον ἤματι οἴνοπα πόντον:
Transliteration
hōs d' autōs kai keino idōn etethēpea thymōi
dēn, epei ou pō toion anēlythen ek dory gaiēs,
hōs se, gynai, agamai te tethēpa te, deidia d' ainōs
gounōn hapsasthai: chalepon de me penthos hikanei.
170chthizos eeikostōi phygon ēmati oinopa ponton:
English
Never yet did such a young plant shoot out of the ground as that was, and I admired and wondered at it exactly as I now admire and wonder at yourself. I dare not clasp your knees, but I am in great distress ; yesterday made the twentieth day that I had been tossing about upon the sea.
Homeric Greek
τόφρα δέ μ' αἰεὶ κῦμ' ἐφόρει κραιπναί τε θύελλαι
νήσου ἀπ' Ὠγυγίης. νῦν δ' ἐνθάδε κάββαλε δαίμων,
ὄφρ' ἔτι που καὶ τῇδε πάθω κακόν: οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
παύσεσθ', ἀλλ' ἔτι πολλὰ θεοὶ τελέουσι πάροιθεν.
175ἀλλά, ἄνασσ', ἐλέαιρε: σὲ γὰρ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
Transliteration
tophra de m' aiei kym' ephorei kraipnai te thyellai
nēsou ap' Ōgygiēs. nyn d' enthade kabbale daimōn,
ophr' eti pou kai tēide pathō kakon: ou gar oiō
pausesth', all' eti polla theoi teleousi paroithen.
175alla, anass', eleaire: se gar kaka polla mogēsas
English
The winds and waves have taken me all the way from the Ogygian island, and now a daimôn has flung me upon this coast that I may endure still further suffering; for I do not think that I have yet come to the end of it, but rather that the gods have still much evil in store for me. "And now, O queen, have pity upon me, for you
Homeric Greek
ἐς πρώτην ἱκόμην, τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.
ἄστυ δέ μοι δεῖξον, δὸς δὲ ῥάκος ἀμφιβαλέσθαι,
εἴ τί που εἴλυμα σπείρων ἔχες ἐνθάδ' ἰοῦσα.
180σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
Transliteration
es prōtēn hikomēn, tōn d' allōn ou tina oida
anthrōpōn, hoi tēnde polin kai gaian echousin.
asty de moi deixon, dos de rhakos amphibalesthai,
ei ti pou eilyma speirōn eches enthad' iousa.
180soi de theoi tosa doien hosa phresi sēisi menoināis,
English
are the first person I have met, and I know no one else in this country. Show me the way to your town, and let me have anything that you may have brought here to wrap your clothes in. May heaven grant you in all things your heart's desire - husband, house, and a happy, peaceful home;
Homeric Greek
ἄνδρα τε καὶ οἶκον, καὶ ὁμοφροσύνην ὀπάσειαν
ἐσθλήν: οὐ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ γε κρεῖσσον καὶ ἄρειον,
ἢ ὅθ' ὁμοφρονέοντε νοήμασιν οἶκον ἔχητον
ἀνὴρ ἠδὲ γυνή: πόλλ' ἄλγεα δυσμενέεσσι,
185χάρματα δ' εὐμενέτῃσι, μάλιστα δέ τ' ἔκλυον αὐτοί."
Transliteration
andra te kai oikon, kai homophrosynēn opaseian
esthlēn: ou men gar tou ge kreisson kai areion,
ē hoth' homophroneonte noēmasin oikon echēton
anēr ēde gynē: poll' algea dysmeneessi,
185charmata d' eumenetēisi, malista de t' eklyon autoi."
English
for there is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be of one mind in a house. It discomfits their enemies, makes the hearts of their friends glad, and they themselves know more about it than any one."
Homeric Greek
τὸν δ' αὖ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
"ξεῖν', ἐπεὶ οὔτε κακῷ οὔτ' ἄφρονι φωτὶ ἔοικας:
Ζεὺς δ' αὐτὸς νέμει ὄλβον Ὀλύμπιος ἀνθρώποισιν,
ἐσθλοῖς ἠδὲ κακοῖσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ:
190καί που σοὶ τάδ' ἔδωκε, σὲ δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.
Transliteration
ton d' au Nausikaa leukōlenos antion ēuda:
"xein', epei oute kakōi out' aphroni phōti eoikas:
Zeus d' autos nemei olbon Olympios anthrōpoisin,
esthlois ēde kakoisin, hopōs ethelēisin, hekastōi:
190kai pou soi tad' edōke, se de chrē tetlamen empēs.
English
To this Nausicaa answered, "Stranger, you appear to be a sensible, well-disposed person. There is no accounting for luck; Zeus gives prosperity to rich and poor just as he chooses, so you must take what he has seen fit to send you, and make the best of it.
Homeric Greek
νῦν δ', ἐπεὶ ἡμετέρην τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἱκάνεις,
οὔτ' οὖν ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,
ὧν ἐπέοιχ' ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα.
ἄστυ δέ τοι δείξω, ἐρέω δέ τοι οὔνομα λαῶν.
195Φαίηκες μὲν τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν,
Transliteration
nyn d', epei hēmeterēn te polin kai gaian hikaneis,
out' oun esthētos deuēseai oute teu allou,
hōn epeoich' hiketēn talapeirion antiasanta.
asty de toi deixō, ereō de toi ounoma laōn.
195Phaiēkes men tēnde polin kai gaian echousin,
English
Now, however, that you have come to this our country, you shall not want for clothes nor for anything else that a foreigner in distress may reasonably look for. I will show you the way to the town, and will tell you the name of our people:
Homeric Greek
εἰμὶ δ' ἐγὼ θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
τοῦ δ' ἐκ Φαιήκων ἔχεται κάρτος τε βίη τε."
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι κέλευσε:
"στῆτέ μοι, ἀμφίπολοι: πόσε φεύγετε φῶτα ἰδοῦσαι;
200ἦ μή πού τινα δυσμενέων φάσθ' ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν;
Transliteration
eimi d' egō thygatēr megalētoros Alkinooio,
tou d' ek Phaiēkōn echetai kartos te biē te."
ē rha kai amphipoloisin euplokamoisi keleuse:
"stēte moi, amphipoloi: pose pheugete phōta idousai;
200ē mē pou tina dysmeneōn phasth' emmenai andrōn;
English
we are called Phaeacians, and I am daughter to Alkinoos, in whom the whole strength and power of the state is vested." Then she called her maids and said, "Stay where you are, you girls. Can you not see a man without running away from him? Do you take him for a robber or a murderer?
Homeric Greek
οὐκ ἔσθ' οὗτος ἀνὴρ διερὸς βροτὸς οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἵκηται
δηιοτῆτα φέρων: μάλα γὰρ φίλοι ἀθανάτοισιν.
οἰκέομεν δ' ἀπάνευθε πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
205ἔσχατοι, οὐδέ τις ἄμμι βροτῶν ἐπιμίσγεται ἄλλος.
Transliteration
ouk esth' houtos anēr dieros brotos oude genētai,
hos ken Phaiēkōn andrōn es gaian hikētai
dēiotēta pherōn: mala gar philoi athanatoisin.
oikeomen d' apaneuthe polyklystōi eni pontōi,
205eschatoi, oude tis ammi brotōn epimisgetai allos.
English
Neither he nor any one else can come here to do us Phaeacians any harm, for we are dear to the gods, and live apart on a land's end that juts into the sounding sea, and have nothing to do with any other people.
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ὅδε τις δύστηνος ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνει,
τὸν νῦν χρὴ κομέειν: πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε, δόσις δ' ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε.
ἀλλὰ δότ', ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε,
210λούσατέ τ' ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθ' ἐπὶ σκέπας ἔστ' ἀνέμοιο."
Transliteration
all' hode tis dystēnos alōmenos enthad' hikanei,
ton nyn chrē komeein: pros gar Dios eisin hapantes
xeinoi te ptōchoi te, dosis d' oligē te philē te.
alla dot', amphipoloi, xeinōi brōsin te posin te,
210lousate t' en potamōi, hoth' epi skepas est' anemoio."
English
This is only some poor man who has lost his way, and we must be kind to him, for strangers and foreigners in distress are under Zeus’ protection, and will take what they can get and be thankful; so, girls, give the poor man something to eat and drink, and wash him in the stream at some place that is sheltered from the wind."
Homeric Greek
ὣς ἔφαθ', αἱ δ' ἔσταν τε καὶ ἀλλήλῃσι κέλευσαν,
κὰδ δ' ἄρ' Ὀδυσσῆ' εἷσαν ἐπὶ σκέπας, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
Ναυσικάα θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο:
πὰρ δ' ἄρα οἱ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματ' ἔθηκαν,
215δῶκαν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
Transliteration
hōs ephath', hai d' estan te kai allēlēisi keleusan,
kad d' ar' Odyssē' heisan epi skepas, hōs ekeleusen
Nausikaa thygatēr megalētoros Alkinooio:
par d' ara hoi pharos te chitōna te heimat' ethēkan,
215dōkan de chryseēi en lēkythōi hygron elaion,
English
On this the maids left off running away and began calling one another back. They made Odysseus sit down in the shelter as Nausicaa had told them, and brought him a shirt and cloak. They also brought him the little golden cruse of oil, and told him to go wash in the stream.
Homeric Greek
ἤνωγον δ' ἄρα μιν λοῦσθαι ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσιν.
δή ῥα τότ' ἀμφιπόλοισι μετηύδα δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:
"ἀμφίπολοι, στῆθ' οὕτω ἀπόπροθεν, ὄφρ' ἐγὼ αὐτὸς
ἅλμην ὤμοιιν ἀπολούσομαι, ἀμφὶ δ' ἐλαίῳ
220χρίσομαι: ἦ γὰρ δηρὸν ἀπὸ χροός ἐστιν ἀλοιφή.
Transliteration
ēnōgon d' ara min lousthai potamoio rhoēisin.
dē rha tot' amphipoloisi metēuda dios Odysseus:
"amphipoloi, stēth' houtō apoprothen, ophr' egō autos
halmēn ōmoiin apolousomai, amphi d' elaiōi
220chrisomai: ē gar dēron apo chroos estin aloiphē.
English
But Odysseus said, "Young women, please to stand a little on one side that I may wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself with oil, for it is long enough since my skin has had a drop of oil upon it.
Homeric Greek
ἄντην δ' οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε λοέσσομαι: αἰδέομαι γὰρ
γυμνοῦσθαι κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετελθών."
ὣς ἔφαθ', αἱ δ' ἀπάνευθεν ἴσαν, εἶπον δ' ἄρα κούρῃ.
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ ποταμοῦ χρόα νίζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
225ἅλμην, ἥ οἱ νῶτα καὶ εὐρέας ἄμπεχεν ὤμους,
Transliteration
antēn d' ouk an egō ge loessomai: aideomai gar
gymnousthai kourēisin euplokamoisi metelthōn."
hōs ephath', hai d' apaneuthen isan, eipon d' ara kourēi.
autar ho ek potamou chroa nizeto dios Odysseus
225halmēn, hē hoi nōta kai eureas ampechen ōmous,
English
I cannot wash as long as you all keep standing there. I am ashamed to strip before a number of good-looking young women." Then they stood on one side and went to tell the girl, while Odysseus washed himself in the stream and scrubbed the brine from his back and from his broad shoulders.
Homeric Greek
ἐκ κεφαλῆς δ' ἔσμηχεν ἁλὸς χνόον ἀτρυγέτοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα λοέσσατο καὶ λίπ' ἄλειψεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαθ' ἅ οἱ πόρε παρθένος ἀδμής,
τὸν μὲν Ἀθηναίη θῆκεν Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα
230μείζονά τ' εἰσιδέειν καὶ πάσσονα, κὰδ δὲ κάρητος
Transliteration
ek kephalēs d' esmēchen halos chnoon atrygetoio.
autar epei dē panta loessato kai lip' aleipsen,
amphi de heimata hessath' ha hoi pore parthenos admēs,
ton men Athēnaiē thēken Dios ekgegauia
230meizona t' eisideein kai passona, kad de karētos
English
When he had thoroughly washed himself, and had got the brine out of his hair, he anointed himself with oil, and put on the clothes which the girl had given him; Athena then made him look taller and stronger than before, she also made the hair grow thick on the top of his head, and flow down in curls like hyacinth blossoms;
Homeric Greek
οὔλας ἧκε κόμας, ὑακινθίνῳ ἄνθει ὁμοίας.
ὡς δ' ὅτε τις χρυσὸν περιχεύεται ἀργύρῳ ἀνὴρ
ἴδρις, ὃν Ἥφαιστος δέδαεν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
τέχνην παντοίην, χαρίεντα δὲ ἔργα τελείει,
235ὣς ἄρα τῷ κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις.
Transliteration
oulas hēke komas, hyakinthinōi anthei homoias.
hōs d' hote tis chryson pericheuetai argyrōi anēr
idris, hon Hēphaistos dedaen kai Pallas Athēnē
technēn pantoiēn, charienta de erga teleiei,
235hōs ara tōi katecheue charin kephalēi te kai ōmois.
English
she poured down gracefulness over his head and shoulders as a skillful workman who has studied art of all kinds under Hephaistos and Athena enriches a piece of silver plate by gilding it - and his work is full of beauty.
Homeric Greek
ἕζετ' ἔπειτ' ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
κάλλεϊ καὶ χάρισι στίλβων: θηεῖτο δὲ κούρη.
δή ῥα τότ' ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετηύδα:
"κλῦτέ μευ, ἀμφίπολοι λευκώλενοι, ὄφρα τι εἴπω.
240οὐ πάντων ἀέκητι θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
Transliteration
hezet' epeit' apaneuthe kiōn epi thina thalassēs,
kalleï kai charisi stilbōn: thēeito de kourē.
dē rha tot' amphipoloisin euplokamoisi metēuda:
"klyte meu, amphipoloi leukōlenoi, ophra ti eipō.
240ou pantōn aekēti theōn, hoi Olympon echousin,
English
Then he went and sat down a little way off upon the beach, looking quite young and handsome, and the girl gazed on him with admiration; then she said to her maids: "Hush, my dears, for I want to say something. I believe the gods who live in heaven have sent this man to the Phaeacians.
Homeric Greek
Φαιήκεσσ' ὅδ' ἀνὴρ ἐπιμίσγεται ἀντιθέοισι:
πρόσθεν μὲν γὰρ δή μοι ἀεικέλιος δέατ' εἶναι,
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοιόσδε πόσις κεκλημένος εἴη
245ἐνθάδε ναιετάων, καὶ οἱ ἅδοι αὐτόθι μίμνειν.
Transliteration
Phaiēkess' hod' anēr epimisgetai antitheoisi:
prosthen men gar dē moi aeikelios deat' einai,
nyn de theoisin eoike, toi ouranon euryn echousin.
ai gar emoi toiosde posis keklēmenos eiē
245enthade naietaōn, kai hoi hadoi autothi mimnein.
English
When I first saw him I thought him plain, but now his appearance is like that of the gods who dwell in heaven. I should like my future husband to be just such another as he is, if he would only stay here and not want to go away.
Homeric Greek
ἀλλὰ δότ', ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε."
ὣς ἔφαθ', αἱ δ' ἄρα τῆς μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδ' ἐπίθοντο,
πὰρ δ' ἄρ' Ὀδυσσῆι ἔθεσαν βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε.
ἦ τοι ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
250ἁρπαλέως: δηρὸν γὰρ ἐδητύος ἦεν ἄπαστος.
Transliteration
alla dot', amphipoloi, xeinōi brōsin te posin te."
hōs ephath', hai d' ara tēs mala men klyon ēd' epithonto,
par d' ar' Odyssēi ethesan brōsin te posin te.
ē toi ho pine kai ēsthe polytlas dios Odysseus
250harpaleōs: dēron gar edētyos ēen apastos.
English
However, give him something to eat and drink." They did as they were told, and set food before Odysseus, who ate and drank ravenously, for it was long since he had had food of any kind.
Homeric Greek
αὐτὰρ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἄλλ' ἐνόησεν:
εἵματ' ἄρα πτύξασα τίθει καλῆς ἐπ' ἀπήνης,
ζεῦξεν δ' ἡμιόνους κρατερώνυχας, ἂν δ' ἔβη αὐτή,
ὤτρυνεν δ' Ὀδυσῆα, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:
255"ὄρσεο δὴ νῦν, ξεῖνε, πόλινδ' ἴμεν ὄφρα σε πέμψω
Transliteration
autar Nausikaa leukōlenos all' enoēsen:
heimat' ara ptyxasa tithei kalēs ep' apēnēs,
zeuxen d' hēmionous kraterōnychas, an d' ebē autē,
ōtrynen d' Odysēa, epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:
255"orseo dē nyn, xeine, polind' imen ophra se pempsō
English
Meanwhile, Nausicaa bethought her of another matter. She got the linen folded and placed in the wagon, she then yoked the mules, and, as she took her seat, she called Odysseus: "Stranger," said she, "rise and let us be going back to the town;
Homeric Greek
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ πρὸς δῶμα δαί̈φρονος, ἔνθα σέ φημι
πάντων Φαιήκων εἰδησέμεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.
ἀλλὰ μάλ' ὧδ' ἔρδειν, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν:
ὄφρ' ἂν μέν κ' ἀγροὺς ἴομεν καὶ ἔργ' ἀνθρώπων,
260τόφρα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι μεθ' ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν
Transliteration
patros emou pros dōma daïphronos, entha se phēmi
pantōn Phaiēkōn eidēsemen hossoi aristoi.
alla mal' hōd' erdein, dokeeis de moi ouk apinyssein:
ophr' an men k' agrous iomen kai erg' anthrōpōn,
260tophra syn amphipoloisi meth' hēmionous kai amaxan
English
I will introduce you at the house of my excellent father, where I can tell you that you will meet all the best people among the Phaeacians. But be sure and do as I bid you, for you seem to be a sensible person. As long as we are going past the fields - and farm lands, follow briskly behind the wagon along with the maids and I will lead the way myself.
Homeric Greek
καρπαλίμως ἔρχεσθαι: ἐγὼ δ' ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πόλιος ἐπιβήομεν, ἣν πέρι πύργος
ὑψηλός, καλὸς δὲ λιμὴν ἑκάτερθε πόληος,
λεπτὴ δ' εἰσίθμη: νῆες δ' ὁδὸν ἀμφιέλισσαι
265εἰρύαται: πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστιόν ἐστιν ἑκάστῳ.
Transliteration
karpalimōs erchesthai: egō d' hodon hēgemoneusō.
autar epēn polios epibēomen, hēn peri pyrgos
hypsēlos, kalos de limēn hekaterthe polēos,
leptē d' eisithmē: nēes d' hodon amphielissai
265eiryatai: pasin gar epistion estin hekastōi.
English
Presently, however, we shall come to the town, where you will find a high wall running all round it, and a good harbor on either side with a narrow entrance into the city, and the ships will be drawn up by the road side, for every one has a place where his own ship can lie.
Homeric Greek
ἔνθα δέ τέ σφ' ἀγορὴ καλὸν Ποσιδήιον ἀμφίς,
ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι κατωρυχέεσσ' ἀραρυῖα.
ἔνθα δὲ νηῶν ὅπλα μελαινάων ἀλέγουσι,
πείσματα καὶ σπεῖρα, καὶ ἀποξύνουσιν ἐρετμά.
270οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι μέλει βιὸς οὐδὲ φαρέτρη,
Transliteration
entha de te sph' agorē kalon Posidēion amphis,
rhytoisin laessi katōrycheess' araruia.
entha de nēōn hopla melainaōn alegousi,
peismata kai speira, kai apoxynousin eretma.
270ou gar Phaiēkessi melei bios oude pharetrē,
English
You will see the market place with a temple of Poseidon in the middle of it, and paved with large stones bedded in the earth. Here people deal in ship's gear of all kinds, such as cables and sails, and here, too, are the places where oars are made, for the Phaeacians are not a nation of archers;
Homeric Greek
ἀλλ' ἱστοὶ καὶ ἐρετμὰ νεῶν καὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι,
ᾗσιν ἀγαλλόμενοι πολιὴν περόωσι θάλασσαν.
τῶν ἀλεείνω φῆμιν ἀδευκέα, μή τις ὀπίσσω
μωμεύῃ: μάλα δ' εἰσὶν ὑπερφίαλοι κατὰ δῆμον:
275καί νύ τις ὧδ' εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἀντιβολήσας:
Transliteration
all' histoi kai eretma neōn kai nēes eisai,
hēisin agallomenoi poliēn peroōsi thalassan.
tōn aleeinō phēmin adeukea, mē tis opissō
mōmeuēi: mala d' eisin hyperphialoi kata dēmon:
275kai ny tis hōd' eipēisi kakōteros antibolēsas:
English
they know nothing about bows and arrows, but are a sea-faring folk, and pride themselves on their masts, oars, and ships, with which they travel far over the sea. "I am afraid of the gossip and scandal that may be set on foot against me later on; for the people in the dêmos here are very ill-natured, and some lowly person, if he met us, might say, ‘Who is this fine-looking stranger that is going about with Nausicaa?
Homeric Greek
'τίς δ' ὅδε Ναυσικάᾳ ἕπεται καλός τε μέγας τε
ξεῖνος; ποῦ δέ μιν εὗρε; πόσις νύ οἱ ἔσσεται αὐτῇ.
ἦ τινά που πλαγχθέντα κομίσσατο ἧς ἀπὸ νηὸς
ἀνδρῶν τηλεδαπῶν, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινες ἐγγύθεν εἰσίν:
280ἤ τίς οἱ εὐξαμένῃ πολυάρητος θεὸς ἦλθεν
Transliteration
'tis d' hode Nausikaāi hepetai kalos te megas te
xeinos; pou de min heure; posis ny hoi essetai autēi.
ē tina pou planchthenta komissato hēs apo nēos
andrōn tēledapōn, epei ou tines engythen eisin:
280ē tis hoi euxamenēi polyarētos theos ēlthen
English
Where did she find him? I suppose she is going to marry him. Perhaps he is a vagabond sailor whom she has taken from some foreign vessel, for we have no neighbors; or some god has at last come down from heaven in answer to her prayers, and she is going to live with him all the rest of her life.
Homeric Greek
οὐρανόθεν καταβάς, ἕξει δέ μιν ἤματα πάντα.
βέλτερον, εἰ καὐτή περ ἐποιχομένη πόσιν εὗρεν
ἄλλοθεν: ἦ γὰρ τούσδε γ' ἀτιμάζει κατὰ δῆμον
Φαίηκας, τοί μιν μνῶνται πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.'
285ὣς ἐρέουσιν, ἐμοὶ δέ κ' ὀνείδεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.
Transliteration
ouranothen katabas, hexei de min ēmata panta.
belteron, ei kautē per epoichomenē posin heuren
allothen: ē gar tousde g' atimazei kata dēmon
Phaiēkas, toi min mnōntai polees te kai esthloi.'
285hōs ereousin, emoi de k' oneidea tauta genoito.
English
It would be a better thing if she would take herself away and find a husband somewhere else, for she will not look at one of the many excellent young Phaeacians in the dêmos who woo her.’ This is the kind of disparaging remark that would be made about me, and I could not complain, for I should myself be scandalized
Homeric Greek
καὶ δ' ἄλλῃ νεμεσῶ, ἥ τις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι,
ἥ τ' ἀέκητι φίλων πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς ἐόντων,
ἀνδράσι μίσγηται, πρίν γ' ἀμφάδιον γάμον ἐλθεῖν.
ξεῖνε, σὺ δ' ὦκ' ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
290πομπῆς καὶ νόστοιο τύχῃς παρὰ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο.
Transliteration
kai d' allēi nemesō, hē tis toiauta ge rhezoi,
hē t' aekēti philōn patros kai mētros eontōn,
andrasi misgētai, prin g' amphadion gamon elthein.
xeine, sy d' ōk' emethen xyniei epos, ophra tachista
290pompēs kai nostoio tychēis para patros emoio.
English
at seeing any other girl do the like, and go about with men in spite of everybody, while her father and mother were still alive, and without having been married in the face of all the world. "If, therefore, you want my father to give you an escort and to help you home, do as I bid you;
Homeric Greek
δήεις ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος Ἀθήνης ἄγχι κελεύθου
αἰγείρων: ἐν δὲ κρήνη νάει, ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμών:
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῦ τέμενος τεθαλυῖά τ' ἀλωή,
τόσσον ἀπὸ πτόλιος, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας.
295ἔνθα καθεζόμενος μεῖναι χρόνον, εἰς ὅ κεν ἡμεῖς
Transliteration
dēeis aglaon alsos Athēnēs anchi keleuthou
aigeirōn: en de krēnē naei, amphi de leimōn:
entha de patros emou temenos tethaluia t' alōē,
tosson apo ptolios, hosson te gegōne boēsas.
295entha kathezomenos meinai chronon, eis ho ken hēmeis
English
you will see a beautiful grove of poplars by the road side dedicated to Athena; it has a well in it and a meadow all round it. Here my father has a field of fertile garden ground, about as far from the town as a man's voice will carry.
Homeric Greek
ἄστυδε ἔλθωμεν καὶ ἱκώμεθα δώματα πατρός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἡμέας ἔλπῃ ποτὶ δώματ' ἀφῖχθαι,
καὶ τότε Φαιήκων ἴμεν ἐς πόλιν ἠδ' ἐρέεσθαι
δώματα πατρὸς ἐμοῦ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
300ῥεῖα δ' ἀρίγνωτ' ἐστί, καὶ ἂν πάϊς ἡγήσαιτο
Transliteration
astyde elthōmen kai hikōmetha dōmata patros.
autar epēn hēmeas elpēi poti dōmat' aphichthai,
kai tote Phaiēkōn imen es polin ēd' ereesthai
dōmata patros emou megalētoros Alkinooio.
300rheia d' arignōt' esti, kai an païs hēgēsaito
English
Sit down there and wait for a while till the rest of us can get into the town and reach my father's house. Then, when you think we must have done this, come into the town and ask the way to the house of my father Alkinoos. You will have no difficulty in finding it;
Homeric Greek
νήπιος: οὐ μὲν γάρ τι ἐοικότα τοῖσι τέτυκται
δώματα Φαιήκων, οἷος δόμος Ἀλκινόοιο
ἥρωος. ἀλλ' ὁπότ' ἄν σε δόμοι κεκύθωσι καὶ αὐλή,
ὦκα μάλα μεγάροιο διελθέμεν, ὄφρ' ἂν ἵκηαι
305μητέρ' ἐμήν: ἡ δ' ἧσται ἐπ' ἐσχάρῃ ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,
Transliteration
nēpios: ou men gar ti eoikota toisi tetyktai
dōmata Phaiēkōn, hoios domos Alkinooio
hērōos. all' hopot' an se domoi kekythōsi kai aulē,
ōka mala megaroio dielthemen, ophr' an hikēai
305mēter' emēn: hē d' hēstai ep' escharēi en pyros augēi,
English
any child will point it out to you, for no one else in the whole town has anything like such a fine house as he has. When you have got past the gates and through the outer court, go right across the inner court till you come to my mother.
Homeric Greek
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσ' ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι,
κίονι κεκλιμένη: δμωαὶ δέ οἱ εἵατ' ὄπισθεν.
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο θρόνος ποτικέκλιται αὐτῇ,
τῷ ὅ γε οἰνοποτάζει ἐφήμενος ἀθάνατος ὥς.
310τὸν παραμειψάμενος μητρὸς περὶ γούνασι χεῖρας
Transliteration
ēlakata strōphōs' haliporphyra, thauma idesthai,
kioni keklimenē: dmōai de hoi heiat' opisthen.
entha de patros emoio thronos potikeklitai autēi,
tōi ho ge oinopotazei ephēmenos athanatos hōs.
310ton parameipsamenos mētros peri gounasi cheiras
English
You will find her sitting by the fire and spinning her purple wool by firelight. It is a fine sight to see her as she leans back against one of the bearing-posts with her maids all ranged behind her. Close to her seat stands that of my father, on which he sits and topes like an immortal god.
Homeric Greek
βάλλειν ἡμετέρης, ἵνα νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἴδηαι
χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐσσί.
εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τ' ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
315οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν."
Transliteration
ballein hēmeterēs, hina nostimon ēmar idēai
chairōn karpalimōs, ei kai mala tēlothen essi.
ei ken toi keinē ge phila phroneēis' eni thymōi,
elpōrē toi epeita philous t' ideein kai hikesthai
315oikon euktimenon kai sēn es patrida gaian."
English
Never mind him, but go up to my mother, and lay your hands upon her knees if you would get home quickly. If you can win her over, you may hope to see your own country again, no matter how distant it may be."
Homeric Greek
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασ' ἵμασεν μάστιγι φαεινῇ
ἡμιόνους: αἱ δ' ὦκα λίπον ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα.
αἱ δ' ἐὺ μὲν τρώχων, ἐὺ δὲ πλίσσοντο πόδεσσιν:
ἡ δὲ μάλ' ἡνιόχευεν, ὅπως ἅμ' ἑποίατο πεζοὶ
320ἀμφίπολοί τ' Ὀδυσεύς τε, νόῳ δ' ἐπέβαλλεν ἱμάσθλην.
Transliteration
hōs ara phōnēsas' himasen mastigi phaeinēi
hēmionous: hai d' ōka lipon potamoio rheethra.
hai d' eu men trōchōn, eu de plissonto podessin:
hē de mal' hēniocheuen, hopōs ham' hepoiato pezoi
320amphipoloi t' Odyseus te, noōi d' epeballen himasthlēn.
English
So saying she lashed the mules with her whip and they left the river. The mules drew well and their hoofs went up and down upon the road. She was careful not to go too fast for Odysseus and the maids who were following on foot along with the wagon, so she plied her whip with judgment.
Homeric Greek
δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος καὶ τοὶ κλυτὸν ἄλσος ἵκοντο
ἱρὸν Ἀθηναίης, ἵν' ἄρ' ἕζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτ' ἠρᾶτο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο:
"κλῦθί μευ, αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, Ἀτρυτώνη:
325νῦν δή πέρ μευ ἄκουσον, ἐπεὶ πάρος οὔ ποτ' ἄκουσας
Transliteration
dyseto t' ēelios kai toi klyton alsos hikonto
hiron Athēnaiēs, hin' ar' hezeto dios Odysseus.
autik' epeit' ērato Dios kourēi megaloio:
"klythi meu, aigiochoio Dios tekos, Atrytōnē:
325nyn dē per meu akouson, epei paros ou pot' akousas
English
As the sun was going down they came to the sacred grove of Athena, and there Odysseus sat down and prayed to the mighty daughter of Zeus. "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of Aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable, hear me now, for you gave no heed to my prayers when Poseidon was wrecking me.
Homeric Greek
ῥαιομένου, ὅτε μ' ἔρραιε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.
δός μ' ἐς Φαίηκας φίλον ἐλθεῖν ἠδ' ἐλεεινόν."
ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
αὐτῷ δ' οὔ πω φαίνετ' ἐναντίη: αἴδετο γάρ ῥα
330πατροκασίγνητον: ὁ δ' ἐπιζαφελῶς μενέαινεν
Transliteration
rhaiomenou, hote m' erraie klytos ennosigaios.
dos m' es Phaiēkas philon elthein ēd' eleeinon."
hōs ephat' euchomenos, tou d' eklye Pallas Athēnē.
autōi d' ou pō phainet' enantiē: aideto gar rha
330patrokasignēton: ho d' epizaphelōs meneainen
English
Now, therefore, have pity upon me and grant that I may find friends and be hospitably received by the Phaeacians." Thus did he pray, and Athena heard his prayer, but she would not show herself to him openly, for she was afraid of her uncle Poseidon, who was still