Assembly of the Phaeacians and Demodocus' First Song — Odyssey §8.1-8.75 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

When early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,

ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆς ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

then arose from his bed the sacred strength of Alcinous,

ἂν δʼ ἄρα διογενὴς ὦρτο πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς.

and up also rose the Zeus-born, city-sacker Odysseus.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο

And the sacred strength of Alcinous led them

Φαιήκων ἀγορήνδʼ, ἥ σφιν παρὰ νηυσὶ τέτυκτο.

to the Phaeacians' assembly place, which had been built for them beside the ships.

ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισι

Having come, they sat down on polished stones

πλησίον. ἡ δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ μετῴχετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

near to one another. And Pallas Athena went through the city,

εἰδομένη κήρυκι δαΐφρονος Ἀλκινόοιο,

likening herself to the herald of wise Alcinous,

νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα,

planning the return of great-hearted Odysseus,

καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον·

and standing by each man she spoke her word:

δεῦτʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,

"Come now, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians,

εἰς ἀγορὴν ἰέναι¹, ὄφρα ξείνοιο πύθησθε,

go to the assembly place, so that you may hear of the stranger,

ὃς νέον Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα

who recently came to the house of wise Alcinous,

πόντον ἐπιπλαγχθείς, δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος.

after wandering over the sea, in body like the deathless gods."

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

Having thus spoken, she aroused the strength and heart of each.

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι

Quickly the assembly place and seats were filled with men

ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες

gathering; and indeed many, looking upon him, marveled at

υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη

the wise son of Laertes; and upon him Athena

θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις

poured wondrous grace, over his head and shoulders,

καί μιν μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι²,

and she made him taller and stouter to look upon,

ὥς κεν Φαιήκεσσι φίλος πάντεσσι γένοιτο

so that he might become dear to all the Phaeacians,

δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε καὶ ἐκτελέσειεν ἀέθλους

and wondrous and respected, and might accomplish the many contests

πολλούς, τοὺς Φαίηκες ἐπειρήσαντʼ Ὀδυσῆος³.

by which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,

But when they had gathered and were assembled together,

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

Alcinous addressed them in assembly and spoke:

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,

"Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

so that I may speak what the heart in my breast bids me.

ξεῖνος ὅδʼ, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅς τις, ἀλώμενος ἵκετʼ ἐμὸν δῶ,

This stranger, I know not who he is, has come wandering to my house,

ἠὲ πρὸς ἠοίων ἦ ἑσπερίων ἀνθρώπων·

whether from eastern or western men;

πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνει, καὶ λίσσεται ἔμπεδον εἶναι.

and he urges for his sending-off, and entreats that it be made secure.

ἡμεῖς δʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, ἐποτρυνώμεθα πομπήν.

Let us, as indeed in time past, hasten his sending-off.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, ὅτις κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται,

For indeed no other person either, whoever comes to my house,

ἐνθάδʼ ὀδυρόμενος δηρὸν μένει εἵνεκα πομπῆς.

remains here lamenting for a long time on account of his sending-off.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν

But come, let us draw a black ship down into the divine sea,

πρωτόπλοον, κούρω δὲ δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα

one that is on her first voyage, and let fifty-two young men

κρινάσθων κατὰ δῆμον, ὅσοι πάρος εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.

be chosen from the people, those who are hitherto the best.

δησάμενοι δʼ ἐὺ πάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσιν ἐρετμὰ

And when you have all bound the oars well to the rowlocks,

ἔκβητʼ· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα

disembark; but after that, coming to our house,

ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντες· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐὺ πᾶσι παρέξω.

prepare a swift feast; and I will provide well for all.

κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

These things I command the young men; but as for the others,

σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματα καλὰ

the scepter-bearing kings, come to my beautiful house,

ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φιλέωμεν,

so that we may welcome the stranger in our halls,

μηδέ τις ἀρνείσθω. καλέσασθε δὲ θεῖον ἀοιδὸν

and let no one refuse. And call the divine singer

Δημόδοκον· τῷ γάρ ῥα θεὸς πέρι δῶκεν ἀοιδὴν

Demodocus; for to him the god has given song above others

τέρπειν, ὅππῃ θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃσιν ἀείδειν.

to give pleasure, in whatever way his heart prompts him to sing."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

Having thus spoken, he led the way, and they followed together,

σκηπτοῦχοι· κῆρυξ δὲ μετῴχετο θεῖον ἀοιδόν.

the scepter-bearing kings; and the herald went after the divine singer.

κούρω δὲ κρινθέντε δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα

And the chosen fifty-two young men

βήτην, ὡς ἐκέλευσʼ, ἐπὶ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο.

went, as he commanded, to the shore of the barren sea.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,

But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,

νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,

they drew the black ship down into the deep of the sea,

ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,

and they placed the mast and the sails in the black ship,

ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισι,

and they secured the oars in the leather oar-loops,

πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν.

all in due order, and they spread the white sails.

ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

High in the deep water they moored her; and then

βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἐς μέγα δῶμα.

they went to go to the great house of wise Alcinous.

πλῆντο δʼ ἄρʼ αἴθουσαί τε καὶ ἕρκεα καὶ δόμοι ἀνδρῶν

And the porticoes and the courtyards and the halls were filled with men

ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί.

gathering; and there were many, both young and old.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος δυοκαίδεκα μῆλʼ ἱέρευσεν,

For them Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep,

ὀκτὼ δʼ ἀργιόδοντας ὕας, δύο δʼ εἰλίποδας βοῦς·

and eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen;

τοὺς δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, τετύκοντό τε δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν.

these they flayed and prepared, and made ready a lovely feast.

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,

And the herald came near, leading the trusty singer,

τὸν πέρι μοῦσʼ ἐφίλησε, δίδου δʼ ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε·

whom the Muse loved exceedingly, and she gave him both good and evil;

ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδου δʼ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν.

she deprived him of his eyes, but gave him sweet song.

τῷ δʼ ἄρα Ποντόνοος θῆκε θρόνον ἀργυρόηλον

For him Pontonous placed a silver-studded seat

μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας·

in the midst of the banqueters, leaning it against a tall pillar;

κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν

and from a peg he hung the clear-toned lyre

αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἐπέφραδε χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι⁴

above his head, and the herald showed him how to take it with his hands;

κῆρυξ· πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει κάνεον καλήν τε τράπεζαν,

and beside him he placed a basket and a beautiful table,

πὰρ δὲ δέπας οἴνοιο, πιεῖν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.

and beside him a cup of wine, to drink whenever his heart prompted him.

οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

And they stretched forth their hands to the good things lying ready before them.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

But when they had put away their desire for drink and food,

μοῦσʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνῆκεν ἀειδέμεναι κλέα ἀνδρῶν,

the Muse prompted the singer to sing the glorious deeds of men,

οἴμης τῆς τότʼ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκανε,

from the lay whose fame had then reached the wide heaven,

νεῖκος Ὀδυσσῆος καὶ Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος,

the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus,

Syntax notes4 items

8.12ἰέναι
The infinitive ἰέναι ("to go") functions as an epexegetical or imperative infinitive, complementing and directing the preceding exhortation δεῦτʼ ἄγε ("come"). It can be understood as expressing purpose or standing in place of an imperative.
8.20ἰδέσθαι
The aorist middle infinitive ἰδέσθαι is used as an epexegetical infinitive (or infinitive of respect) modifying the comparative adjectives μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα ("taller and stouter"), meaning "to look upon" or "in appearance."
8.23Ὀδυσῆος
The genitive Ὀδυσῆος is the object of the verb πειράομαι ("to make trial of, challenge"). Together with the relative pronoun τοὺς (referring to ἀέθλους, "contests"), it forms a construction meaning "the contests in which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus" or "challenged Odysseus to."
8.68ἑλέσθαι
The infinitive ἑλέσθαι acts as the complement (or object) of the verb ἐπέφραδε ("showed, indicated"), expressing the purpose or manner: "showed him [how] to take it down with his hands."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.1-8.75