§8.1ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, §8.2ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆς ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο, §8.3ἂν δʼ ἄρα διογενὴς ὦρτο πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς.
When early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, then arose from his bed the sacred strength of Alcinous, and up also rose the Zeus-born, city-sacker Odysseus.
And the sacred strength of Alcinous led them to the Phaeacians' assembly place, which had been built for them beside the ships.
Having come, they sat down on polished stones near to one another.
ἡ δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ μετῴχετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη §8.8εἰδομένη κήρυκι δαΐφρονος Ἀλκινόοιο, §8.9νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα, §8.10καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον· §8.11δεῦτʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες, §8.12εἰς ἀγορὴν ἰέναι, ὄφρα ξείνοιο πύθησθε, §8.13ὃς νέον Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα §8.14πόντον ἐπιπλαγχθείς, δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος. §8.15ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
And Pallas Athena went through the city, likening herself to the herald of wise Alcinous, planning the return of great-hearted Odysseus, and standing by each man she spoke her word: "Come now, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians, go to the assembly place, so that you may hear of the stranger, who recently came to the house of wise Alcinous, after wandering over the sea, in body like the deathless gods." Having thus spoken, she aroused the strength and heart of each.
§8.16καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι §8.17ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες §8.18υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη §8.19θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις §8.20καί μιν μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι, §8.21ὥς κεν Φαιήκεσσι φίλος πάντεσσι γένοιτο §8.22δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε καὶ ἐκτελέσειεν ἀέθλους §8.23πολλούς, τοὺς Φαίηκες ἐπειρήσαντʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
Quickly the assembly place and seats were filled with men gathering; and indeed many, looking upon him, marveled at the wise son of Laertes; and upon him Athena poured wondrous grace, over his head and shoulders, and she made him taller and stouter to look upon, so that he might become dear to all the Phaeacians, and wondrous and respected, and might accomplish the many contests by which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus.
§8.24αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο, §8.25τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε· §8.26κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες, §8.27ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
But when they had gathered and were assembled together, Alcinous addressed them in assembly and spoke: "Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians, so that I may speak what the heart in my breast bids me.
§8.28ξεῖνος ὅδʼ, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅς τις, ἀλώμενος ἵκετʼ ἐμὸν δῶ, §8.29ἠὲ πρὸς ἠοίων ἦ ἑσπερίων ἀνθρώπων· §8.30πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνει, καὶ λίσσεται ἔμπεδον εἶναι.
This stranger, I know not who he is, has come wandering to my house, whether from eastern or western men; and he urges for his sending-off, and entreats that it be made secure.
§8.31ἡμεῖς δʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, ἐποτρυνώμεθα πομπήν.
Let us, as indeed in time past, hasten his sending-off.
§8.32οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, ὅτις κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται, §8.33ἐνθάδʼ ὀδυρόμενος δηρὸν μένει εἵνεκα πομπῆς.
For indeed no other person either, whoever comes to my house, remains here lamenting for a long time on account of his sending-off.
§8.34ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν §8.35πρωτόπλοον, κούρω δὲ δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα §8.36κρινάσθων κατὰ δῆμον, ὅσοι πάρος εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.
But come, let us draw a black ship down into the divine sea, one that is on her first voyage, and let fifty-two young men be chosen from the people, those who are hitherto the best.
§8.37δησάμενοι δʼ ἐὺ πάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσιν ἐρετμὰ §8.38ἔκβητʼ· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα §8.39ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντες· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐὺ πᾶσι παρέξω.
And when you have all bound the oars well to the rowlocks, disembark; but after that, coming to our house, prepare a swift feast; and I will provide well for all.
§8.40κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι §8.41σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματα καλὰ §8.42ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φιλέωμεν, §8.43μηδέ τις ἀρνείσθω.
These things I command the young men; but as for the others, the scepter-bearing kings, come to my beautiful house, so that we may welcome the stranger in our halls, and let no one refuse.
καλέσασθε δὲ θεῖον ἀοιδὸν §8.44Δημόδοκον· τῷ γάρ ῥα θεὸς πέρι δῶκεν ἀοιδὴν §8.45τέρπειν, ὅππῃ θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃσιν ἀείδειν. §8.46ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο §8.47σκηπτοῦχοι· κῆρυξ δὲ μετῴχετο θεῖον ἀοιδόν.
And call the divine singer Demodocus; for to him the god has given song above others to give pleasure, in whatever way his heart prompts him to sing." Having thus spoken, he led the way, and they followed together, the scepter-bearing kings; and the herald went after the divine singer.
And the chosen fifty-two young men went, as he commanded, to the shore of the barren sea.
§8.50αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν, §8.51νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν, §8.52ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ, §8.53ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισι, §8.54πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν.
But when they had come down to the ship and the sea, they drew the black ship down into the deep of the sea, and they placed the mast and the sails in the black ship, and they secured the oars in the leather oar-loops, all in due order, and they spread the white sails.
§8.55ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα §8.56βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἐς μέγα δῶμα.
High in the deep water they moored her; and then they went to go to the great house of wise Alcinous.
§8.57πλῆντο δʼ ἄρʼ αἴθουσαί τε καὶ ἕρκεα καὶ δόμοι ἀνδρῶν §8.58ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί.
And the porticoes and the courtyards and the halls were filled with men gathering; and there were many, both young and old.
§8.59τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος δυοκαίδεκα μῆλʼ ἱέρευσεν, §8.60ὀκτὼ δʼ ἀργιόδοντας ὕας, δύο δʼ εἰλίποδας βοῦς· §8.61τοὺς δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, τετύκοντό τε δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν.
For them Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep, and eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen; these they flayed and prepared, and made ready a lovely feast.
§8.62κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν, §8.63τὸν πέρι μοῦσʼ ἐφίλησε, δίδου δʼ ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε· §8.64ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδου δʼ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν.
And the herald came near, leading the trusty singer, whom the Muse loved exceedingly, and she gave him both good and evil; she deprived him of his eyes, but gave him sweet song.
§8.65τῷ δʼ ἄρα Ποντόνοος θῆκε θρόνον ἀργυρόηλον §8.66μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας· §8.67κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν §8.68αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἐπέφραδε χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι §8.69κῆρυξ· πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει κάνεον καλήν τε τράπεζαν, §8.70πὰρ δὲ δέπας οἴνοιο, πιεῖν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.
For him Pontonous placed a silver-studded seat in the midst of the banqueters, leaning it against a tall pillar; and from a peg he hung the clear-toned lyre above his head, and the herald showed him how to take it with his hands; and beside him he placed a basket and a beautiful table, and beside him a cup of wine, to drink whenever his heart prompted him.
§8.71οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
And they stretched forth their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
§8.72αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο, §8.73μοῦσʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνῆκεν ἀειδέμεναι κλέα ἀνδρῶν, §8.74οἴμης τῆς τότʼ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκανε, §8.75νεῖκος Ὀδυσσῆος καὶ Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος,
But when they had put away their desire for drink and food, the Muse prompted the singer to sing the glorious deeds of men, from the lay whose fame had then reached the wide heaven, the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus,