Games of the Phaeacians and the Invitation to Odysseus — Odyssey §8.76-8.148 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ὥς ποτε δηρίσαντο θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαλείῃ

Thus they once fought at the rich feast of the gods,

ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἄναξ δʼ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

with terrible words; and Agamemnon, lord of men,

χαῖρε νόῳ, ὅ τʼ¹ ἄριστοι Ἀχαιῶν δηριόωντο.

rejoiced in his mind when the best of the Achaeans were quarreling.

ὣς γάρ οἱ χρείων μυθήσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

For thus Phoebus Apollo had spoken to him in prophecy,

Πυθοῖ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθʼ ὑπέρβη λάινον οὐδὸν

in sacred Pytho, when he crossed the stone threshold

χρησόμενος· τότε γάρ ῥα κυλίνδετο πήματος ἀρχὴ

to consult the oracle; for then the beginning of woe was rolling upon

Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι Διὸς μεγάλου διὰ βουλάς.

Trojans and Danaans alike, through the counsel of great Zeus.

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

These things then the famous singer sang; but Odysseus,

πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι

taking a great purple cloak in his stout hands,

κὰκ κεφαλῆς εἴρυσσε, κάλυψε δὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα·

drew it down over his head, and hid his comely face;

αἴδετο γὰρ Φαίηκας ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λείβων.

for he was ashamed before the Phaeacians as he let tears fall from beneath his brows.

ἦ τοι ὅτε λήξειεν² ἀείδων θεῖος ἀοιδός,

Indeed, whenever the divine singer ceased singing,

δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενος κεφαλῆς ἄπο φᾶρος ἕλεσκε

he would wipe away his tears and take the cloak off his head,

καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον ἑλὼν σπείσασκε θεοῖσιν·

and taking a two-handled cup, would pour libations to the gods.

αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἂψ ἄρχοιτο καὶ ὀτρύνειαν ἀείδειν

But whenever he began again, and they urged him to sing,

Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐπεὶ τέρποντʼ ἐπέεσσιν,

the best of the Phaeacians, since they delighted in his words,

ἂψ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ κρᾶτα καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν.

Odysseus would again veil his head and wail.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,

Then he escaped the notice of all the others as he let tears fall,

Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν

but Alcinous alone noticed and marked him,

ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.

sitting near him, and heard him sighing heavily.

αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·

And quickly he spoke among the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar:

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.

"Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians.

ἤδη μὲν δαιτὸς κεκορήμεθα θυμὸν ἐίσης

Now indeed we have satisfied our heart with the equal feast,

φόρμιγγός θʼ, ἣ δαιτὶ συνήορός ἐστι θαλείῃ·

and with the lyre, which is the companion of the rich feast.

νῦν δʼ ἐξέλθωμεν καὶ ἀέθλων πειρηθῶμεν

But now let us go out and make trial of all

πάντων, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν

the contests, so that the stranger may tell his friends,

οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων

having returned home, how much we surpass others

πύξ τε παλαιμοσύνῃ τε καὶ ἅλμασιν ἠδὲ πόδεσσιν.

in boxing and wrestling and jumping and running."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο.

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

κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν,

And from the peg he hung the clear-toned lyre,

Δημοδόκου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἔξαγεν ἐκ μεγάροιο

and the herald took the hand of Demodocus and led him out of the hall,

κῆρυξ· ἦρχε δὲ τῷ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἥν περ οἱ ἄλλοι

the herald; and he guided him on the very same path that the others,

Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἀέθλια θαυμανέοντες.

the best of the Phaeacians, were taking to go to marvel at the contests.

βὰν δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, ἅμα δʼ ἕσπετο πουλὺς ὅμιλος,

And they went to go to the assembly place, and with them followed a great crowd,

μυρίοι· ἂν δʼ ἵσταντο νέοι πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.

thousands; and many noble young men stood up.

ὦρτο μὲν Ἀκρόνεώς τε καὶ Ὠκύαλος καὶ Ἐλατρεύς,

There arose Acroneus and Ocyalus and Elatreus,

Ναυτεύς τε Πρυμνεύς τε καὶ Ἀγχίαλος καὶ Ἐρετμεύς,

and Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus and Eretmeus,

Ποντεύς τε Πρωρεύς τε, Θόων Ἀναβησίνεώς τε

and Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon and Anabesineos,

Ἀμφίαλός θʼ, υἱὸς Πολυνήου Τεκτονίδαο·

and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tekton;

ἂν δὲ καὶ Εὐρύαλος, βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ,

and up also rose Euryalus, the peer of bane-of-mortals Ares,

Ναυβολίδης, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε

son of Naubolus, who was the best in form and beauty

πάντων Φαιήκων μετʼ ἀμύμονα Λαοδάμαντα.

of all the Phaeacians, after flawless Laodamas.

ἂν δʼ ἔσταν τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο,

And up stood the three sons of flawless Alcinous,

Λαοδάμας θʼ Ἅλιός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Κλυτόνηος.

Laodamas and Halius and godlike Clytoneus.

οἱ δʼ ἦ τοι πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειρήσαντο πόδεσσι.

These indeed first made trial with their feet.

τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες

For them the course was stretched from the starting point; and they all together

καρπαλίμως ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο·

flew swiftly, raising dust over the plain.

τῶν δὲ θέειν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἔην Κλυτόνηος ἀμύμων·

And among them flawless Clytoneus was by far the best at running;

ὅσσον τʼ ἐν νειῷ οὖρον πέλει ἡμιόνοιιν³,

as far as is the range of a team of mules in fallow land,

τόσσον ὑπεκπροθέων λαοὺς ἵκεθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο.

so far he ran ahead and reached the people, and they were left behind.

οἱ δὲ παλαιμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς πειρήσαντο·

Then they made trial of painful wrestling;

τῇ δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπεκαίνυτο πάντας ἀρίστους.

and in this again Euryalus surpassed all who were best.

ἅλματι δʼ Ἀμφίαλος πάντων προφερέστατος ἦεν·

And in jumping Amphialus was the most excellent of all;

δίσκῳ δʼ αὖ πάντων πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν Ἐλατρεύς,

and with the discus again Elatreus was by far the best of all,

πὺξ δʼ αὖ Λαοδάμας, ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο.

and in boxing again Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθησαν φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,

But when they had all delighted their hearts with the contests,

τοῖς ἄρα Λαοδάμας μετέφη πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο·

then Laodamas, the son of Alcinous, spoke among them:

δεῦτε, φίλοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐρώμεθα εἴ τινʼ ἄεθλον

"Come, friends, let us ask the stranger if he knows

οἶδέ τε καὶ δεδάηκε. φυήν γε μὲν οὐ κακός ἐστι,

and has learned any contest. Indeed, in build he is not bad,

μηρούς τε κνήμας τε καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

in thighs and shins, and both arms above,

αὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν μέγα τε σθένος· οὐδέ τι ἥβης

and stout neck and great strength; nor is he at all lacking

δεύεται, ἀλλὰ κακοῖσι συνέρρηκται πολέεσσιν·

in youth, but he has been broken down by many evils;

οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι κακώτερον ἄλλο θαλάσσης

for I say that there is nothing else worse than the sea

ἄνδρα γε συγχεῦαι⁴, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη.

to break down a man, even if he be ever so strong."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

And Euryalus in turn answered him and said:

Λαοδάμα, μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

"Laodamas, you have spoken this word very properly.

αὐτὸς νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἰὼν καὶ πέφραδε μῦθον.

Go now yourself and challenge him, and speak your word."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο,

But when the good son of Alcinous heard this,

στῆ ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπε·

he went and stood in the midst, and addressed Odysseus:

δεῦρʼ ἄγε καὶ σύ, ξεῖνε πάτερ, πείρησαι ἀέθλων,

"Come hither, stranger father, you too make trial of the contests,

εἴ τινά που δεδάηκας· ἔοικε δέ σʼ ἴδμεν ἀέθλους·

if perhaps you have learned any; and it is likely that you know contests.

οὐ μὲν γὰρ μεῖζον κλέος ἀνέρος ὄφρα κʼ ἔῃσιν,

For indeed there is no greater glory for a man, as long as he lives,

ἤ ὅ τι ποσσίν τε ῥέξῃ καὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν.

than what he accomplishes with his feet and with his hands."

Syntax notes4 items

8.78ὅ τʼ
The form ὅ τʼ (elided form of ὅτε) is interpreted here as a temporal conjunction meaning "when". Although some scholars take it as ὅτι or ὅ (ὅ τε) meaning "because" or "that", it is naturally understood as referring to the specific moment when the best of the Achaeans quarreled, bringing joy to Agamemnon as a sign of the oracle's fulfillment.
8.87λήξειεν
The optatives in the temporal clauses (λήξειεν, ἄρχοιτο, ὀτρύνειαν) express repeated action in the past ("whenever..."), coordinating with the iterative past indicative forms ending in -σκε- (ἕλεσκε, σπείσασκε, γοάασκεν) in the main clauses to describe habitual actions.
8.124οὖρον ... ἡμιόνοιιν
οὖρον means "range" or "distance", and ἡμιόνοιιν is the genitive (or dative) dual of ἡμίονος ("mule"). The phrase refers to the distance that a team of mules (considered faster plowmen than oxen) plows in a fallow field before turning, serving as a figurative measure of the distance Clytoneus ran ahead of the others.
8.138κακώτερον ... συγχεῦαι
θαλάσσης is a genitive of comparison dependent on the comparative κακώτερον ("worse"). The infinitive συγχεῦαι (aorist infinitive of συγχέω, "to break down, ruin") is an epexegetic (explanatory) infinitive limiting the adjective, taking ἄνδρα ("a man") as its direct object: "nothing else is worse than the sea in breaking down a man."

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:8.76-8.148