The Phaeacian Dance and Gifts of Reconciliation — Odyssey §8.368-8.442 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

τέρπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀκούων ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι

Odysseus was delighted in his heart as he listened, and also the other

Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.

Phaeacians of the long oars, men famed for their ships.

Ἀλκίνοος δʼ Ἅλιον καὶ Λαοδάμαντα κέλευσεν

And Alcinous bade Halios and Laodamas

μουνὰξ ὀρχήσασθαι, ἐπεί σφισιν οὔ τις ἔριζεν.

to dance alone, since no one could rival them.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σφαῖραν καλὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἕλοντο,

So when they had taken a beautiful ball in their hands,

πορφυρέην, τήν σφιν Πόλυβος ποίησε δαΐφρων,

a purple one, which wise Polybus had made for them,

τὴν ἕτερος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα

one of them would throw it up toward the shadowy clouds,

ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω, ὁ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀερθεὶς

bending backward, and the other, leaping high from the earth,

ῥηιδίως μεθέλεσκε, πάρος ποσὶν οὖδας ἱκέσθαι¹.

would easily catch it before his feet reached the ground again.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σφαίρῃ ἀνʼ ἰθὺν πειρήσαντο,

But when they had made trial of throwing the ball straight up,

ὠρχείσθην δὴ ἔπειτα ποτὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ

they danced then upon the nourishing earth,

ταρφέʼ ἀμειβομένω· κοῦροι δʼ ἐπελήκεον ἄλλοι

rapidly exchanging places; and the other youths clapped their hands,

ἑστεῶτες κατʼ ἀγῶνα, πολὺς δʼ ὑπὸ κόμπος ὀρώρει.

as they stood in the lists, and a loud din arose.

δὴ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἀλκίνοον προσεφώνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

Then to Alcinous spoke noble Odysseus:

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

"Lord Alcinous, most illustrious of all the people,

ἠμὲν ἀπείλησας βητάρμονας εἶναι ἀρίστους,

you did indeed boast that your dancers were the best,

ἠδʼ ἄρʼ ἑτοῖμα τέτυκτο²· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.

and lo, it has been proved true; amazement holds me as I look."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο³,

So he spoke, and the sacred might of Alcinous rejoiced,

αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·

and straightway he spoke among the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar:

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.

"Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians.

ὁ ξεῖνος μάλα μοι δοκέει πεπνυμένος εἶναι.

The stranger seems to me to be very wise.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν ξεινήιον, ὡς ἐπιεικές.

Come then, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting.

δώδεκα γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριπρεπέες βασιλῆες

For twelve glorious kings rule as chiefs throughout our land,

ἀρχοὶ κραίνουσι, τρισκαιδέκατος δʼ ἐγὼ αὐτός·

and I myself am the thirteenth;

τῶν οἱ ἕκαστος φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα

let each of these bring him a well-washed cloak and a tunic,

καὶ χρυσοῖο τάλαντον ἐνείκατε τιμήεντος.

and a talent of precious gold.

αἶψα δὲ πάντα φέρωμεν ἀολλέα, ὄφρʼ ἐνὶ χερσὶν

Let us bring all these things together quickly, so that in his hands

ξεῖνος ἔχων ἐπὶ δόρπον ἴῃ χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

the stranger may go to his supper, rejoicing in his heart.

Εὐρύαλος δέ ἑ αὐτὸν ἀρεσσάσθω ἐπέεσσι

And let Euryalus make amends to him in person with words

καὶ δώρῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.

and a gift, since he spoke a word that was in no way fitting."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον,

So he spoke, and they all approved and gave orders,

δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.

and each sent his herald to bring the gifts.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

And Euryalus in turn answered him, and said:

Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,

"Lord Alcinous, most illustrious of all the people,

τοιγὰρ ἐγὼ τὸν ξεῖνον ἀρέσσομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

indeed I will make amends to the stranger, as you bid.

δώσω οἱ τόδʼ ἄορ παγχάλκεον, ᾧ ἔπι κώπη

I will give him this sword of solid bronze, on which is a hilt

ἀργυρέη, κολεὸν δὲ νεοπρίστου ἐλέφαντος

of silver, and a scabbard of newly sawn ivory

ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιον ἔσται.

is wound around it; and it will be of great value to him."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

So saying, he put into his hands the silver-studded sword,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and spoke, and addressed him with winged words:

χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· ἔπος δʼ εἴ πέρ τι βέβακται

"Hail, father stranger! And if any word has been spoken

δεινόν, ἄφαρ τὸ φέροιεν⁴ ἀναρπάξασαι ἄελλαι.

that was harsh, may the storm-winds snatch it up and carry it away at once.

σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ ἄλοχόν τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι

And to you may the gods grant to see your wife and reach your fatherland,

δοῖεν, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχεις.

since indeed you suffer hardships long away from your friends."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

And resourceful Odysseus answered him, and said:

καὶ σὺ φίλος μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.

"And to you too, friend, all hail, and may the gods grant you happiness;

μηδέ τι τοι ξίφεός γε ποθὴ μετόπισθε γένοιτο

and may you have no longing hereafter for this sword,

τούτου, ὃ δή μοι δῶκας ἀρεσσάμενος ἐπέεσσιν.

which you have given me, making amends with words."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι θέτο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον.

He spoke, and slung the silver-studded sword about his shoulders.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, καὶ τῷ κλυτὰ δῶρα παρῆεν.

And the sun set, and the glorious gifts were there for him.

καὶ τά γʼ ἐς Ἀλκινόοιο φέρον κήρυκες ἀγαυοί·

And these the noble heralds carried to the house of Alcinous;

δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο

and the sons of noble Alcinous received them,

μητρὶ παρʼ αἰδοίῃ ἔθεσαν περικαλλέα δῶρα.

and placed the beautiful gifts beside their honored mother.

τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,

And the sacred might of Alcinous led them,

ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι θρόνοισι.

and they came and sat down on high seats.

δή ῥα τότʼ Ἀρήτην προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·

Then to Arete spoke the might of Alcinous:

δεῦρο, γύναι, φέρε χηλὸν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἥ τις ἀρίστη·

"Bring hither, wife, a beautiful chest, the best you have;

ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ θὲς φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα.

and yourself place inside a well-washed cloak and a tunic.

ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ πυρὶ χαλκὸν ἰήνατε, θέρμετε δʼ ὕδωρ,

And heat for him a bronze cauldron on the fire, and warm water,

ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε ἰδών τʼ ἐὺ κείμενα πάντα

so that when he has bathed and seen all the gifts well laid out,

δῶρα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἀμύμονες ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν,

the gifts which the noble Phaeacians have brought him hither,

δαιτί τε τέρπηται καὶ ἀοιδῆς ὕμνον ἀκούων.

he may delight in the feast and in listening to the song of the minstrel.

καί οἱ ἐγὼ τόδʼ ἄλεισον ἐμὸν περικαλλὲς ὀπάσσω,

And I will give him this very beautiful cup of mine,

χρύσεον, ὄφρʼ ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα

a golden one, so that remembering me all his days

σπένδῃ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν.

he may pour libations in his hall to Zeus and to the other gods."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀρήτη δὲ μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν

So he spoke, and Arete bade her handmaids

ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν ὅττι τάχιστα.

to set a great tripod on the fire with all speed.

αἱ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,

And they set the tripod for the bath on the blazing fire,

ἔν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλοῦσαι.

and poured water in it, and took firewood and kindled it beneath.

γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·

The fire wrapped the belly of the tripod, and the water grew warm;

τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτη ξείνῳ περικαλλέα χηλὸν

meanwhile Arete brought out a very beautiful chest for the stranger

ἐξέφερεν θαλάμοιο, τίθει δʼ ἐνὶ κάλλιμα δῶρα,

from her chamber, and placed inside the beautiful gifts,

ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν·

the raiment and the gold, which the Phaeacians had given him;

ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ φᾶρος θῆκεν καλόν τε χιτῶνα,

and herself placed inside a beautiful cloak and a tunic,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and spoke, and addressed him with winged words:

Syntax notes4 items

8.376πάρος ποσὶν οὖδας ἱκέσθαι
The combination of the conjunction πάρος with the infinitive ἱκέσθαι (aorist of ἱκνέομαι) expresses temporal precedence ('before his feet touched the ground'). The main verb μεθέλεσκε contains the iterative suffix -σκε-, characteristic of the Epic/Ionic dialect, indicating a repeated past action.
8.384ἑτοῖμα τέτυκτο
The neuter plural nominative ἑτοῖμα ('ready things, realized facts') acts as the subject of the singular verb τέτυκτο (pluperfect passive of τεύχω, which takes a singular verb with a neuter plural subject), indicating that the boast has been fully realized.
8.385ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο
A periphrastic expression ('the sacred strength of Alcinous') typical of Homeric formulaic style, used to emphasize the majesty or vital force of a king or hero, functionally serving as the subject 'Alcinous himself'.
8.409φέροιεν
The third-person plural present optative, expressing a wish ('may they carry away'). It forms a context of prayer that the storm-winds (ἄελλαι) might instantly (ἄφαρ) sweep away any offensive words (ἔπος... δεινόν) that had been spoken.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.368-8.442