The Splendor of Alcinous' Palace and Gardens — Odyssey §7.71-7.142 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

καὶ λαῶν¹, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες

and by the people, who, looking upon her as a god,

δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.

welcome her with words whenever she goes through the city.

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·

For indeed, she herself is in no way lacking in excellent understanding;

ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι² καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.

she settles disputes even for men, among those for whom she has kindly feelings.

εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

If she indeed should feel kindly toward you in her heart,

ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι

then there is hope for you to see your friends and to reach

οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

your high-roofed house and your own native land."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

So speaking, flashing-eyed Athena departed

πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,

over the barren sea, and left lovely Scheria,

ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,

and came to Marathon and wide-wayed Athens,

δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

and entered the strong house of Erechtheus. But Odysseus

Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ

went toward the glorious palace of Alcinous; and his heart

ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ³, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.

pondered many things as he stood, before he reached the bronze threshold.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης

For a gleam as of the sun or the moon there was

δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.

through the high-roofed house of great-hearted Alcinous.

χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

For bronze walls were driven this way and that,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·

from the threshold to the innermost chamber, and around them ran a frieze of cyanus;

χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·

golden doors closed the sturdy house within,

σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,

and silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,

ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.

with a silver lintel above, and a golden handle.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,

And golden and silver dogs were on either side,

οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι

which Hephaestus had fashioned with cunning mind

δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

to guard the house of great-hearted Alcinous,

ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.

being immortal and ageless for all days.

ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

And within, seats were fixed along the wall this way and that,

ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι

from the threshold to the innermost chamber all along, and on them fine,

λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.

well-woven robes were cast, the handiwork of women.

ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο

There the leaders of the Phaeacians sat,

πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.

drinking and eating; for they had a continuous supply.

χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν

And golden youths stood upon well-built altars,

ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,

holding burning torches in their hands,

φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.

giving light by night through the palace to the banqueters.

πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες

And fifty handmaidens he had in the house:

αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,

some grind the yellow grain on the millstones,

αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν

others weave webs and turn the spindles,

ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα⁴ μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·

as they sit, like the leaves of a tall poplar tree;

καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον⁵.

and from the closely woven linen wet oil drips off.

ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν

As much as the Phaeacian men are skilled above all others

νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ⁶ γυναῖκες

in driving a swift ship on the sea, so are the women

ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη

practiced in weaving; for Athena has given them exceedingly

ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.

rich knowledge of beautiful handiwork and excellent minds.

ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων

And outside the courtyard, near the doors, is a great orchard

τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

of four acres; and a hedge is run around it on both sides.

ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,

And there tall, luxuriant trees grow,

ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι

pears and pomegranates and apple trees with bright fruit,

συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.

and sweet figs and olives rich in bloom.

τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει

Of these the fruit never perishes nor fails,

χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

neither in winter nor in summer, but lasts all year; ever

Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.

the West Wind breathing makes some grow and others ripen.

ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,

Pear upon pear grows old, apple upon apple,

αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.

and grape upon grape, and fig upon fig.

ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,

And there a fruitful vineyard is rooted for him,

τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

of which one part, a warm drying-ground on a level spot,

τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,

is parched by the sun, while other grapes they are gathering,

ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν

and others they are treading; and in the forefront are unripe grapes

ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.

shedding their blossom, and others are turning dark.

ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον

And there well-ordered garden beds of all kinds

παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·

are planted along the furthest row, smiling all year round.

ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα

And in it are two springs; one scatters its water

σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι

through the whole garden, while the other flows from the other side under the threshold of the courtyard

πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.

toward the high house, whence the citizens drew water.

τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

Such indeed were the glorious gifts of the gods in the house of Alcinous.

ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

There the much-enduring noble Odysseus stood and marveled.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,

But when he had marveled at all things in his heart,

καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.

swiftly he stepped over the threshold inside the house.

εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας

And he found the leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians

σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,

pouring libations from their cups to the keen-sighted Argeiphontes,

ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.

to whom they always poured the last libation, when they thought of bed.

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

But the much-enduring noble Odysseus went through the hall,

πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,

wrapped in the thick mist which Athena had shed about him,

ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.

until he came to Arete and Alcinous the king.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,

And Odysseus cast his hands around the knees of Arete;

Syntax notes6 items

7.71καὶ λαῶν
A genitive parallel to ἔκ τε... ἔκ τʼ... in the preceding line (§7.70), expressing the source of honor. Understood as "and [honored] by the people."
7.74ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι
ᾗσι is a poetic feminine form of the relative pronoun in the dative plural (= οἷσι), standing here for the dative of interest containing its own antecedent: "for those whom she favors" (including men).
7.83ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ
The subject of the verb ὥρμαινʼ (imperfect ὥρμαινε) is κῆρ (heart). The dative participle ἱσταμένῳ agrees with the dative pronoun οἱ (for him). "His heart pondered many things as he stood."
7.106οἷά τε φύλλα
A simile comparing the busy, light movement of the maidservants' hands in weaving to the leaves of a tall poplar tree trembling in the wind.
7.107ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον
The expression "wet oil drips off" is a figurative or hyperbolic description indicating that the fabric is woven so closely and finely that it has a glossy, oil-like sheen, or that even oil would slide off it.
7.108ὅσσον... ὣς δὲ
A correlative construction with ὅσσον and ὣς δέ, showing a comparison: "just as much as the men are skilled in driving a ship, so also are the women practiced in weaving."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:7.71-7.142