Farewell to Nausicaa and the Song of the Trojan Horse — Odyssey §8.443-8.513 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

αὐτὸς νῦν ἴδε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλον,

"Look now yourself to the lid, and quickly cast a cord upon it,

μή τίς τοι καθʼ ὁδὸν δηλήσεται¹, ὁππότʼ ἂν αὖτε

lest someone despoil you on the way, when again

εὕδῃσθα γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἰὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.

you sleep sweet sleep, going in your black ship."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

But when much-enduring noble Odysseus heard this,

αὐτίκʼ ἐπήρτυε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλεν

straightway he fitted on the lid, and quickly cast upon it a cunning

ποικίλον, ὅν ποτέ μιν δέδαε φρεσὶ πότνια Κίρκη·

knot, which once lady Circe had taught his mind.

αὐτόδιον δʼ ἄρα μιν ταμίη λούσασθαι ἀνώγει

And straightway then the housekeeper bade him go to the bath

ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον βάνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρ ἀσπασίως ἴδε θυμῷ

and step into the tub; and he gladly saw in his heart

θερμὰ λοέτρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι κομιζόμενός γε θάμιζεν,

the warm bath, for he was not often cared for

ἐπεὶ δὴ λίπε δῶμα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο.

since he had left the house of fair-haired Calypso.

τόφρα δέ οἱ κομιδή γε θεῷ ὣς ἔμπεδος ἦεν.

Yet all that time his care had been constant, like a god's.

τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,

But when the handmaids had washed him and anointed him with oil,

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,

and cast about him a beautiful cloak and a tunic,

ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βὰς ἄνδρας μέτα οἰνοποτῆρας

he stepped out of the tub and went to join the men at their wine;

ἤιε· Ναυσικάα δὲ θεῶν ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσα

and Nausicaa, possessing beauty from the gods,

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

stood by the doorpost of the well-built hall,

θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶσα,

and she marveled at Odysseus, beholding him with her eyes,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and she spoke and addressed him with winged words:

χαῖρε, ξεῖνʼ, ἵνα καί ποτʼ ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ

"Farewell, stranger, so that when you are in your fatherland

μνήσῃ ἐμεῦ, ὅτι μοι πρώτῃ ζωάγριʼ² ὀφέλλεις.

you may remember me, since to me first you owe the price of your life."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.

And resourceful Odysseus answered her, and said:

Ναυσικάα θύγατερ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

"Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous,

οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,

so may Zeus now grant, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,

οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι·

that I may reach home and see the day of my return.

τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην

Then would I even there pray to you as to a god

αἰεὶ ἤματα πάντα· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἐβιώσαο, κούρη.

always, all my days; for you gave me life, maiden."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς θρόνον ἷζε παρʼ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα·

He spoke, and sat down upon a seat beside King Alcinous.

οἱ δʼ ἤδη μοίρας τʼ ἔνεμον κερόωντό τε οἶνον.

And they were already portioning out the messes and mixing the wine.

κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,

And a herald came near, leading the beloved minstrel,

Δημόδοκον λαοῖσι τετιμένον· εἷσε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸν

Demodocus, honored by the people; and he seated him

μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας.

in the midst of the feasted guests, leaning him against a tall pillar.

δὴ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

Then to the herald spoke resourceful Odysseus,

νώτου³ ἀποπροταμών, ἐπὶ δὲ πλεῖον ἐλέλειπτο,

cutting off a portion from the back—and more was left over—

ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, θαλερὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἀλοιφή·

of a white-tusked boar, and rich fat was all about it:

κῆρυξ, τῆ δή, τοῦτο πόρε κρέας, ὄφρα φάγῃσιν,

"Herald, take now this meat, and give it to Demodocus, that he may eat,

Δημοδόκῳ· καί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἀχνύμενός περ·

to Demodocus; and I will embrace him, even though I am grieved.

πᾶσι γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδοὶ

For among all men on earth minstrels

τιμῆς ἔμμοροί εἰσι καὶ αἰδοῦς, οὕνεκʼ ἄρα σφέας

have a share of honor and reverence, because the Muse

οἴμας μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, φίλησε δὲ φῦλον ἀοιδῶν.

has taught them the paths of song, and loved the tribe of minstrels."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκεν

So he spoke, and the herald took and placed it in the hands of

ἥρῳ Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.

the hero Demodocus; and he received it, and rejoiced in his heart.

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 from them the desire for drink and food,

δὴ τότε Δημόδοκον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

then to Demodocus spoke resourceful Odysseus:

Δημόδοκʼ, ἔξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων.

"Demodocus, I praise you far above all mortal men.

ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, Διὸς πάϊς, ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων·

Either the Muse, daughter of Zeus, has taught you, or Apollo;

λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις,

for too well and truly do you sing of the fate of the Achaeans,

ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί,

all that they did and suffered, and all the hardships they endured,

ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας.

as if you yourself had been present, or had heard it from another.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον

But come now, change your theme, and sing of the building of the wooden

δουρατέου, τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,

horse, which Epeius made with the help of Athena,

ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

the snare which noble Odysseus once led into the citadel,

ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν.

having filled it with the men who sacked Ilium.

αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς,

If you indeed relate these things to me in order,

αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν,

then will I straightway declare to all mankind

ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν.

that a kindly god has granted you the gift of divine song."

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο, φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν,

So he spoke, and the minstrel, moved by the god, began and showed his song,

ἔνθεν ἑλὼν⁴ ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν

taking up the theme from where the Argives had gone on board their well-benched ships

βάντες ἀπέπλειον, πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες,

and were sailing away, having set fire to their huts,

Ἀργεῖοι, τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα

while the others, now around renowned Odysseus,

ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ·

sat hidden in the horse in the assembly-place of the Trojans;

αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο.

for the Trojans themselves had dragged it into the citadel.

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει, τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον

So there it stood, and they spoke many undecided things,

ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν· τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,

sitting around it; and their counsel was divided three ways:

ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ,

either to cleave the hollow wood with pitiless bronze,

ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης,

or to drag it to the summit and cast it down the rocks,

ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι,

or to let it stand as a great offering to appease the gods,

τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·

which very way was destined to be the end of it;

αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι, ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ

for it was their fate to perish when the city should enclose

δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον, ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι

the great wooden horse, where sat all the best of the

Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.

Argives, bearing death and fate to the Trojans.

Syntax notes4 items

8.444μή τίς τοι καθʼ ὁδὸν δηλήσεται
The conjunction μή is followed by the future indicative (or short-vowel subjunctive) δηλήσεται, expressing a fear or apprehension about a future possibility ("lest someone should...").
8.462ζωάγριʼ
Accusative plural of ζωάγρια, meaning "the reward for saving a life" or "lifesaving debt." It refers to the deep obligation Odysseus owes to Nausicaa for rescuing him.
8.475νώτου
A partitive genitive dependent on the verb ἀποπροτέμνω ("to cut off from"), indicating that Odysseus cut off a portion "from the (whole) back."
8.500ἔνθεν ἑλὼν
A traditional epic formula meaning "taking it up from that point," used when a minstrel begins his song from a specific episode. The following ὡς clause describes the content of the song ("how they...").

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.443-8.513