Hermes Sent by Zeus to Calypso's Island — Odyssey §5.1-5.72 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ Τιθωνοῖο

And Dawn rose from her bed from beside lordly Tithonus,

ὤρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·

to bring light to immortals and to mortal men;

οἱ δὲ θεοὶ θῶκόνδε καθίζανον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσι

and the gods were sitting in council, and among them

Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

Zeus who thunders on high, whose power is greatest.

τοῖσι δʼ Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος

And Athena was telling them of the many griefs of Odysseus,

μνησαμένη· μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης·

remembering them; for it was a care to her that he was in the dwelling of the nymph.

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,

"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are forever,

μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων¹ ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω

let no sceptre-bearing king henceforth be kind and gentle

σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,

with all his heart, nor let him mind justice in his mind,

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·

but let him ever be harsh and work unrighteousness;

ὡς² οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο

since no one remembers godlike Odysseus

λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.

of the people whom he ruled, and he was gentle as a father.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων

But he lies in an island, suffering strong griefs,

νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ

in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who by force

ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·

keeps him; and he cannot return to his native land.

οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,

For he has no oared ships and no companions

οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.

who might speed him on his way over the broad back of the sea.

νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀποκτεῖναι μεμάασιν

And now again they are eager to slay his beloved son

οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν

as he returns home; for he has gone to seek tidings of his father

ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.

to sacred Pylos and to divine Lacedaemon."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, answered her and said:

τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.

"My child, what word has escaped the barrier of your teeth?

οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,

For did you not yourself plan this counsel,

ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;

that Odysseus should indeed return and take vengeance on those men?

Τηλέμαχον δὲ σὺ πέμψον ἐπισταμένως, δύνασαι γάρ,

But do you convoy Telemachus wisely, for you have the power,

ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται,

that he may reach his native land quite unscathed,

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐν νηὶ· παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέωνται.

and the suitors in their ship may sail back disappointed."

ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἑρμείαν, υἱὸν φίλον, ἀντίον ηὔδα·

He spoke, and addressed Hermes, his beloved son, saying:

Ἑρμεία, σὺ γὰρ αὖτε τά τʼ ἄλλα περ ἄγγελός ἐσσι,

"Hermes, since you are our messenger at other times as well,

νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἰπεῖν νημερτέα βουλήν,

declare to the fair-tressed nymph our unerring counsel,

νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται

even the return of stout-hearted Odysseus, how he shall return,

οὔτε θεῶν πομπῇ οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

neither with the guidance of gods nor of mortal men;

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου πήματα πάσχων

but on a well-bound raft, suffering woes,

ἤματί κʼ εἰκοστῷ Σχερίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοιτο,

on the twentieth day he shall come to fertile Scheria,

Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,

to the land of the Phaeacians, who are near of kin to the gods.

οἵ κέν μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσιν,

They shall honor him in their hearts like a god,

πέμψουσιν δʼ ἐν νηὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

and speed him on his way in a ship to his dear native land,

χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες,

giving him bronze and gold and raiment in abundance,

πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,

more than Odysseus would ever have brought away from Troy,

εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε³, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληίδος αἶσαν.

if he had come home unscathed, having won his share of the spoil.

ὣς γάρ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

For on this wise it is his fate to see his friends, and to return

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

to his high-roofed home and to his native land."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.

So he spoke, and the messenger, Argeiphontes, did not disobey.

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

Straightway then he bound under his feet his beautiful sandals,

ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν

ambrosial, golden, which bore him both over the wet

ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.

and over the limitless land, swift as the breath of the wind.

εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,

And he took his wand, with which he lulls the eyes of men,

ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει.

whomever he wills, and others again who are asleep he awakens.

τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.

With this in his hands the strong Argeiphontes flew.

Πιερίην δʼ ἐπιβὰς ἐξ αἰθέρος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ·

And light upon Pieria, he leapt from the upper air into the sea,

σεύατʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ κῦμα λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς⁴,

and then he sped over the wave like a gull,

ὅς τε κατὰ δεινοὺς κόλπους ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο

which down the dread gulfs of the barren sea

ἰχθῦς ἀγρώσσων πυκινὰ πτερὰ δεύεται ἅλμῃ·

hunting for fish, wets its thick plumage in the brine;

τῷ ἴκελος πολέεσσιν ὀχήσατο κύμασιν Ἑρμῆς.

like to it, Hermes rode over the many waves.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφίκετο τηλόθʼ ἐοῦσαν,

But when indeed he came to the island which lay afar,

ἔνθʼ ἐκ πόντου βὰς ἰοειδέος ἤπειρόνδε

then, stepping forth from the violet sea onto the land,

ἤιεν, ὄφρα μέγα σπέος ἵκετο, τῷ ἔνι νύμφη

he went until he came to a great cave, wherein the nymph

ναῖεν ἐυπλόκαμος· τὴν δʼ ἔνδοθι τέτμεν ἐοῦσαν.

of the fair tresses dwelt; and he found her within.

πῦρ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν μέγα καίετο, τηλόσε δʼ ὀδμὴ

A great fire was burning on the hearth, and from afar the fragrance

κέδρου τʼ εὐκεάτοιο θύου τʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ὀδώδει

of split cedar and arbor-vitae wafted throughout the island

δαιομένων· ἡ δʼ ἔνδον ἀοιδιάουσʼ ὀπὶ καλῇ

as they burned; and she within was singing with a sweet voice,

ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη χρυσείῃ κερκίδʼ ὕφαινεν.

as she went to and fro before the loom, weaving with a golden shuttle.

ὕλη δὲ σπέος ἀμφὶ πεφύκει τηλεθόωσα,

And a wood grew luxuriant around the cave,

κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τε καὶ εὐώδης κυπάρισσος.

alder and poplar and sweet-smelling cypress.

ἔνθα δέ τʼ ὄρνιθες τανυσίπτεροι εὐνάζοντο,

Therein roosted birds with long wings,

σκῶπές τʼ ἴρηκές τε τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι

owls and hawks and long-tongued crows

εἰνάλιαι, τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.

of the sea, whose business is in the waters.

ἡ δʼ αὐτοῦ τετάνυστο περὶ σπείους γλαφυροῖο

And right there, trailing over the hollow cave,

ἡμερὶς ἡβώωσα, τεθήλει δὲ σταφυλῇσι.

a garden vine grew luxuriantly, rich with clusters.

κρῆναι δʼ ἑξείης πίσυρες ῥέον ὕδατι λευκῷ,

And four fountains in order flowed with clear water,

πλησίαι ἀλλήλων τετραμμέναι ἄλλυδις ἄλλη.

near to one another, but turned each a different way.

ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμῶνες μαλακοὶ ἴου ἠδὲ σελίνου

And all around soft meadows of violet and parsley

Syntax notes4 items

5.8μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων...
The syntax shifts from the third-person imperative (ἔστω) to the third-person optative (εἴη, ῥέζοι) in line 10. This transitions into an ironical wish reflecting Athena's disappointment and indignation.
5.11ὡς
Here ὡς acts as a causal conjunction meaning "since" or "because".
5.39ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε... εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε
The combination of ἂν with the indicative aorist (ἐξήρατο) and εἴ περ with the indicative aorist (ἦλθε) forms a past counterfactual conditional sentence: "more than he would have brought away, even if he had come home unscathed."
5.51λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς
The dative lárōi órnithi is governed by the participle eoikṓs, meaning "resembling a gull".

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:5.1-5.72