Speaker 1: Hello, this is let's talk about myths, baby, and I
Speaker 1: am your host to live here with another episode of
Speaker 1: the Odyssey. Oh Odysseus, how things are moving along for you?
Speaker 1: Before we dive in, just here with your periodic reminder
Speaker 1: that if you want to read the Odyssey for yourself,
Speaker 1: please don't read this translation. It's very old and very dated.
Speaker 1: You can and should read Emily Wilson's translation, which is
Speaker 1: so good. That's the translation I worked off of when
Speaker 1: I was doing the regular Odyssey episodes in the show.
Speaker 1: It was so accessible and beautiful and just. It is
Speaker 1: the perfect one in my opinion. But I would never
Speaker 1: break copyright like that. So we are reading this one.
Speaker 1: This is Homer's Odyssey, translated by Samuel Butler, Book eight. Now,
Speaker 1: when the child of Mourning rosy fingered Dawn appeared, Alcinous
Speaker 1: and Odysseus. Both Rose and Alcinous led the way to
Speaker 1: the Featian place of assembly, which was near the ships.
Speaker 1: When they got there, they sat down side by side
Speaker 1: on a seat of polished stone, while Minerva took the
Speaker 1: form of one of Alcinous's servants and went round the
Speaker 1: town in order to help Odysseus to get home. She
Speaker 1: went up to the citizens man by man, and said,
Speaker 1: aldermen and town counselors of the Theeatians, come to the assembly,
Speaker 1: all you, and listen to the stranger who has just
Speaker 1: come off a long voyage to the house of King Alcinous.
Speaker 1: He looks like an immortal god. With these words, she
Speaker 1: made them all want to come, and they flocked to
Speaker 1: the assembly till seats and standing room were alike crowded.
Speaker 1: Everyone was struck with the appearance of Odysseus, for Minerva
Speaker 1: had beautified him about the head and shoulders, making him
Speaker 1: look taller and stouter than he really was, that he
Speaker 1: might impress the Featians favorably as being a very remarkable man,
Speaker 1: and might come off well in the many trials of
Speaker 1: skills to which they would challenge him. Then, when they
Speaker 1: were got together, Alcinous spoke hear me, said he aldermen
Speaker 1: and town counselors of the Featians, that I may speak
Speaker 1: even as I am minded. This stranger, whoever he may be,
Speaker 1: has found his way to my house from somewhere or other,
Speaker 1: either east or west. He wants an escort and wishes
Speaker 1: to have the matter settled. Let us then get one
Speaker 1: ready for him, as we have done for others before him. Indeed,
Speaker 1: no one who ever yet came to my house has
Speaker 1: been able to complain of me for nought speeding on
Speaker 1: his way. Soon enough, let us draw a ship into
Speaker 1: the sea, one that has never yet made a voyage,
Speaker 1: and man her with two and fifty of our smartest
Speaker 1: young sailors. Then, when you've made fasterr oars, each by
Speaker 1: his own seat, leave the ship and come to my
Speaker 1: house to prepare a feast. I will find you in everything.
Speaker 1: I am giving these instructions to the young men who
Speaker 1: will form the crew, for as regards you, aldermen and
Speaker 1: town counselors, you will join me in entertaining our guest
Speaker 1: in the cloisters. I can take no excuses, and we
Speaker 1: will have Demodocus to sing to us, for there is
Speaker 1: no bard like him. Whatever he may choose to sing
Speaker 1: about also has then led the way, and the others
Speaker 1: followed after while a servant went to fetch Demodocus. The
Speaker 1: fifty two picked oarsmen went to the seashore as they
Speaker 1: had been told, And when they got there, they drew
Speaker 1: the ship into the water, got her mast and sails
Speaker 1: inside her, bound the oars to the whole pins with
Speaker 1: twisted thongs of leather, all in due course, and spread
Speaker 1: the white sails aloft. They moored the vessel a little
Speaker 1: way out from land, and then came on shore and
Speaker 1: went to the house of King Alcinous. The outhouses, yards,
Speaker 1: and all the precincts were filled with crowds of men
Speaker 1: in great multitudes, both old and young, and Alcinous killed
Speaker 1: them a dozen sheep, eight full grown pigs, and two oxen.
Speaker 1: These they skinned and dressed so as to provide a
Speaker 1: magnificent banquet. A servant presently led in the famous bar Demodocus,
Speaker 1: whom the Muse had dearly loved, but to whom she
Speaker 1: had given both good and evil, For though she had
Speaker 1: endowed him with a divine gift of song, she had
Speaker 1: robbed him of his eyesight. Pontonous set a seat for
Speaker 1: him among the guests, leaning it up against a bearing post.
Speaker 1: He hung the lyre for him on a peg over
Speaker 1: his head, and showed him where he was to feel
Speaker 1: for it with his hands. He also set a fair
Speaker 1: table with a basket of victuals by his side, and
Speaker 1: a cup of wine from which he might drink when
Speaker 1: ever he was so disposed. The company then laid their
Speaker 1: hands upon the good things that were before them. But
Speaker 1: as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
Speaker 1: the muse inspired Demodocus to sing the feats of heroes,
Speaker 1: and more especially a matter that was then in the
Speaker 1: mouths of all men. To it the quarrel between Odysseus
Speaker 1: and Achilles, and the fierce words that they had heaped
Speaker 1: on one another as they sat together at a banquet.
Speaker 1: But Agamemnon was glad when he heard his chieftains quarreling
Speaker 1: with one another, for Apollo had foretold him this at Pitho,
Speaker 1: when he crossed the stone floor to consult the oracle.
Speaker 1: Here was the beginning of the evil that will, by
Speaker 1: the will of Jove, fall both upon Dannians and Trojans.
Speaker 1: Thus sang the Bard, But Odysseus drew his purple mantle
Speaker 1: over his head and covered his face, for he was
Speaker 1: ashamed to let the Featians see that he was weeping.
Speaker 1: When the Bard left off singing, he wiped the tears
Speaker 1: from his eyes, uncovered his face, and, taking his cup,
Speaker 1: made a drink offering to the gods. But when the
Speaker 1: Theatians pressed Demoticus to sing further, for they delighted in
Speaker 1: his lays. Then Odysseus again drew his mantle over his
Speaker 1: head and wept bitterly. No one noticed his distress except Alcinous,
Speaker 1: who was sitting near him, and heard the heavy sighs
Speaker 1: that he was heaving. So he had once said, aldermen
Speaker 1: and town counselors of the Theatians, we have had enough now,
Speaker 1: both of the feast and of the minstrel see that
Speaker 1: is its due accompaniment. Let Us proceed therefore to the
Speaker 1: athletic sports, so that our guest, on his return home,
Speaker 1: may be able to tell his friends how much we
Speaker 1: surpass all other nations as boxers, wrestlers, jumpers, and runners.
Speaker 1: With these words, he led the way, and the others
Speaker 1: followed after. A servant hung Demodocus's lyre on its peg
Speaker 1: for him, led him out of the cloister, and set
Speaker 1: him on the same way as that, a long which
Speaker 1: all the chief men of the Theatians were going to
Speaker 1: see the sports. A crowd of several thousand of people
Speaker 1: followed them, and there were many excellent competitors for all
Speaker 1: the prizes, Acronios, Ochielus, Elatreus, Nautius, Primnius, and Kilis, Eretmius, Pontius, Proius,
Speaker 1: thun and Abyssinius, and Amphialus son of Polymius, son of Tecton.
Speaker 1: There was also your realist, son of Nobilis, who was
Speaker 1: like Mars himself and was the best looking man among
Speaker 1: the Theatians except Lao Damas, three sons of Alcinous, Lao Damas,
Speaker 1: Halios and Claytonius competed. Also, the foot races came first.
Speaker 1: The first was set out for them from the starting post,
Speaker 1: and they raised a dust upon the plane as they
Speaker 1: all flew forward. At the same moment, Claytonius came in
Speaker 1: first by a long way. He left everyone else behind
Speaker 1: him by the length of the furrow that a couple
Speaker 1: of mules can plow in a fallow field. They then
Speaker 1: turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here your
Speaker 1: realists proved to be the best man. Amphilis excelled all
Speaker 1: the others in jumping, while at throwing the disk there
Speaker 1: was no one who could approach Elatrius Alcinous. His son
Speaker 1: loud Damas, was the best boxer, and he was who
Speaker 1: presently said, when they had all been diverted with the games,
Speaker 1: let us ask the stranger. Whether he excels in any
Speaker 1: of these sports, he seems very powerfully built. His thighs, calves,
Speaker 1: hands and neck are of a prodigious strength. Nor is
Speaker 1: he at all old. But he has suffered much lately.
Speaker 1: And there is nothing like the sea for making havoc
Speaker 1: with a man, no matter how strong he is. You
Speaker 1: are quite right, loud Damas, replied, your realists, go up
Speaker 1: to your guest and speak to him about it yourself.
Speaker 1: When loud Damis heard this, he made his way into
Speaker 1: the middle of the crowd and said to Odysseus, I hope, sir,
Speaker 1: that you will enter yourself for some one or other
Speaker 1: of our competitions, if you are scaled in any of them,
Speaker 1: and you must have gone in for many a one.
Speaker 1: For now, there is nothing that does anyone so much
Speaker 1: credit all his life long as showing himself a proper
Speaker 1: man with his hands and feet. Have a try therefore,
Speaker 1: at something, and banish all sorrow from your mind. Your
Speaker 1: return home will not be long delayed, for the ship
Speaker 1: is already drawn into the water, and the crew is found.
Speaker 1: Odysseus answered, loud Annie, why do you taunt me in
Speaker 1: this way? My mind is set rather on cares than contests.
Speaker 1: I have been through infinite trouble, and am come among
Speaker 1: you now as a suppliant, praying your king and people
Speaker 1: to further me on my return home. Then your realists
Speaker 1: reviled him outright and said, I gather then that you
Speaker 1: are unskilled in any of the many sports that men
Speaker 1: generally delight in. I suppose you are one of those
Speaker 1: grasping traders that go about in ships as captains or merchants,
Speaker 1: and who think of nothing but of their outward freights
Speaker 1: and homeward cargoes. There does not seem to be much
Speaker 1: of the athlete about you. For shame, sir, answered Odysseus fiercely.
Speaker 1: You are an insolent fellow. So true is it that
Speaker 1: the gods do not grace all men alike in speech,
Speaker 1: person and understanding. One man maybe of weak presence, but
Speaker 1: Heaven has adorned him with such good conversation that he
Speaker 1: charms everyone who sees him. His honeyed moderation carries his
Speaker 1: hearers with him, so that he is the leader in
Speaker 1: all assemblies of his fellows, And wherever he goes he
Speaker 1: has looked up to. Another may be as handsome as
Speaker 1: a god. But his looks are not crowned with discretion.
Speaker 1: This is your case. No God could make a finer
Speaker 1: looking fellow than you are. But you are a fool.
Speaker 1: Your ill judged remarks have made me exceedingly angry, and
Speaker 1: you are quite mistaken. For I excel in a great
Speaker 1: many athletic exercises. Indeed, so long as I had youth
Speaker 1: and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age. Now, however,
Speaker 1: I am worn out by labor and sorrow, for I
Speaker 1: have gone through much, both on the field of battle
Speaker 1: and by the waves of the weary sea. Still, in
Speaker 1: spite of all this, I will compete, for your taunts
Speaker 1: have stung me to the quick. So he hurried up,
Speaker 1: without even taking his cloak off, and seized a disc larger,
Speaker 1: more massive, and much heavier than those used by the
Speaker 1: Featians when disc throwing among themselves. Then swinging it back,
Speaker 1: he threw it from his brawny hand, and it made
Speaker 1: a humming sound in the air. As he did so.
Speaker 1: The Peatians quailed beneath thrushing of its flight as it
Speaker 1: sped gracefully from his hand and flew beyond any mark
Speaker 1: that had been made yet Minerva, in the form of
Speaker 1: a man came and marked the place where it had fallen.
Speaker 1: A blind man. Sir said, she could easily tell your
Speaker 1: mark by groping for it. It is so far ahead
Speaker 1: of any other. You may make your mind easy about
Speaker 1: this contest, for no feation can come near to such
Speaker 1: a throw as yours. Odysseus was glad when he found
Speaker 1: he had a friend among the lookers on, so he
Speaker 1: began to speak more pleasantly. Young men said he come
Speaker 1: up to that throw if you can, and I will
Speaker 1: throw another disc as heavy or even heavier. If anyone
Speaker 1: wants to have about with me, let him come on,
Speaker 1: for I am exceedingly angry. I will box, wrestle, or run.
Speaker 1: I do not care what it is with any man
Speaker 1: if you except loud Damas, but not with him, because
Speaker 1: I am his guest, and one cannot compete with one's
Speaker 1: own personal friend. At least. I do not think it
Speaker 1: prudent or a sensible thing for a guest to challenge
Speaker 1: his host's family at any game, especially when he is
Speaker 1: in a foreign country. He will cut the ground from
Speaker 1: under his own feet if he does. But I make
Speaker 1: no exception as regards for anyone else, for I want
Speaker 1: to have the matter out and know which is the
Speaker 1: best man. I am a good hand at every kind
Speaker 1: of athletic sport known among mankind. I am an excellent
Speaker 1: archer in battle. I am always the first to bring
Speaker 1: a man down with my arrow, no matter how many
Speaker 1: more are taking aim at him. Alongside of me. Philick
Speaker 1: Teds was the only man who could shoot better than
Speaker 1: I could when we at Cayan's were before Troy, And
Speaker 1: in practice I far excel everyone else in the whole world,
Speaker 1: of those who still bread upon the face of the earth.
Speaker 1: But I should not like to shoot against the mighty dead,
Speaker 1: such as Hercules or Euritas, the Akalian men, who could
Speaker 1: shoot against the gods themselves. This, in fact, was how
Speaker 1: Euritas came prematurely by his end, for Apollo was angry
Speaker 1: with him and killed him because he challenged him. As
Speaker 1: an archer, I can throw a dart farther than anyone
Speaker 1: else can shoot an arrow. Running is the only point
Speaker 1: in respect of which I am afraid some of the
Speaker 1: theattions might beat me, for I have been brought down
Speaker 1: low at sea. My provisions ran short, and therefore I
Speaker 1: am still weak. They all held their peace except King
Speaker 1: Alcinous who began. Sir, we have had much pleasure in
Speaker 1: hearing all that you have told us, from which I
Speaker 1: understand that you are willing to show your prowess as
Speaker 1: having been displeased with some insolent remarks that have been
Speaker 1: made to you by other of our athletes, and which
Speaker 1: could never have been uttered by anyone who knows how
Speaker 1: to talk with propriety. I hope you will apprehend my meaning,
Speaker 1: and will explain to any one of your chief men,
Speaker 1: who may be dining with your cell and your family
Speaker 1: when you get home, that we have a hereditary aptitude
Speaker 1: for accomplishments of all kinds. We are not particularly remarkable
Speaker 1: for our boxing, nor yet as wrestlers, but we are
Speaker 1: singularly fleet of foot and our excellent sailors. We are
Speaker 1: extremely fond of good dinners, music and dancing. We also
Speaker 1: like frequent changes of linen, warm baths, and good beds.
Speaker 1: So now, please, some of you, who are the best dancers,
Speaker 1: set about dancing, that our guest may, on his return home,
Speaker 1: be able to tell his friends how much we surpass
Speaker 1: all other nations as sailors, runners, dancers, and minstrels. Demoonicus
Speaker 1: has left his lyre at my house, so run some
Speaker 1: one or other of you to fetch it for him.
Speaker 1: On this a servant hurried off to bring the liar
Speaker 1: from the king's house, and the nine men who had
Speaker 1: been chosen as stewards stood forward. It was their business
Speaker 1: to manage everything connected with the sports, so they made
Speaker 1: the ground smooth and marked a wide space for the dancers. Presently,
Speaker 1: the servant came back with Demodocus's lyre, and he took
Speaker 1: his place in the midst of them, where on the
Speaker 1: best young dancers in the town began to foot and
Speaker 1: trip it so nimbly that Odysseus was delighted with the
Speaker 1: merry twinkling of their feet. Meanwhile, the bard began to
Speaker 1: sing the loves of Mars and Venus, and how they
Speaker 1: first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan. Mars
Speaker 1: made Venus many presents and defiled King Vulcan's marriage bed.
Speaker 1: So the Sun, who saw what they were about, told Vulcan.
Speaker 1: Vulcan was very angry when he heard such dreadful news,
Speaker 1: so he went to his smithy, brooding mischief, got his
Speaker 1: great anvil into its place, and began to forge some
Speaker 1: chains which none could either unloose or break, so that
Speaker 1: they might stay in that place. When he had finished
Speaker 1: his snare, he went into his bedroom and festooned the
Speaker 1: bedposts all over with chains like cobwebs. He also let
Speaker 1: many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling.
Speaker 1: Not even a god could see them, so fine and
Speaker 1: subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the
Speaker 1: chains all over the bed, he made as though he
Speaker 1: were setting out for the fair state of Lemnos, which
Speaker 1: of all places in the world, was the one he
Speaker 1: was most fond of. But Mars kept no blind lookout,
Speaker 1: and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off
Speaker 1: to his house, burning with love for Venus. Now, Venus
Speaker 1: was just come in from a visit to her father Jove,
Speaker 1: and was about sitting down when Mars came inside the
Speaker 1: house and said, as he took her hand in his own,
Speaker 1: let us go to the couch of Vulcan. He is
Speaker 1: not at home, but he has gone off to Lemnos
Speaker 1: among the Scentians, whose speech is barbarous. She was nothing loth.
Speaker 1: So they went to the couch to take their rest,
Speaker 1: whereon they were caught in the toils which cunning Vulcan
Speaker 1: had spread for them. And could neither get up nor
Speaker 1: stir hand or foot, but found too late that they
Speaker 1: were in a trap. Then Vulcan came up to them,
Speaker 1: for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos. When his
Speaker 1: scout the Son, told him what is going on, he
Speaker 1: was in a furious passion and stood in the vestibule,
Speaker 1: making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods.
Speaker 1: Father Jove, he cried, and all you other blessed gods
Speaker 1: who live forever, come here and see their ridiculous and
Speaker 1: disgraceful sight that I will show you. Jove's daughter Venus
Speaker 1: is always dishonoring me because I am lame. She is
Speaker 1: in love with Mars, who is handsome and clean built,
Speaker 1: whereas I am a cripple. But my parents are to
Speaker 1: blame for that, not I. They ought never to have
Speaker 1: begotten me. Come and see the pair together asleep on
Speaker 1: my bed, and makes me furious to look at them.
Speaker 1: They are very fond of one another. But I do
Speaker 1: not think they will lie there longer than they can help,
Speaker 1: nor do I think that they will sleep much there. However,
Speaker 1: they shall stay till her father has repaid me the
Speaker 1: sum I gave to him for his baggage of a
Speaker 1: daughter who is fair but not honest. On this, the
Speaker 1: gods gathered to the house of Vulcan, earthen circling. Neptune came,
Speaker 1: and Mercury, the bringer of luck, and King Apollo, But
Speaker 1: the goddesses stayed at home, all of them for shame.
Speaker 1: Then the givers of all good things stood in the doorway,
Speaker 1: and the blessed gods roared with inextinguishable laughter as they
Speaker 1: saw how cunning Vulcan had been. Whereon one would turn
Speaker 1: towards his neighbor saying it'll deeds do not prosper. And
Speaker 1: the week confound the strong see how limping Vulcan, lame
Speaker 1: as he is, has caught Mars, who is the fleetest
Speaker 1: god in heaven. And now Mars will be cast in
Speaker 1: heavy damages. Thus did they converse. But King Apollo said
Speaker 1: to Mercury messenger, Mercury, giver of good things, you would
Speaker 1: not care how strong the chains were, would you if
Speaker 1: you could sleep with Venus. King Apollo answered Mercury, I
Speaker 1: only wish I might get the chance, though there were
Speaker 1: three times as many chains, and you might look on
Speaker 1: all of you gods and goddesses. But I would sleep
Speaker 1: with her if I could. The more gods burst out
Speaker 1: laughing as they heard him, but Neptune took it all
Speaker 1: seriously and kept on imploring Vulcan to set Mars free again.
Speaker 1: Let him go, he cried, and I will undertake as
Speaker 1: you require, that he shall pay you all the damages
Speaker 1: that are held reasonable among the immortal gods. Do not,
Speaker 1: replied Vulcan ask me to do this? A bad man's
Speaker 1: bond is bad security. What remedy could I enforce against you?
Speaker 1: If Mars should go away and leave his debts behind
Speaker 1: him along with his chains? Vulcan said, Neptune, if Mars
Speaker 1: goes away without paying his damages, I will pay you myself.
Speaker 1: So Vulcan answered, in this case, I cannot and must
Speaker 1: not refuse you. Thereon, he loosed the bonds that bound them,
Speaker 1: and as soon as they were free, they scampered off,
Speaker 1: Mars to Thrace and laughter loving Venus to Cyprus and
Speaker 1: to Paphos, whereas her grove and her alter fragrant with
Speaker 1: burnt offerings. Here, the graces bathed her and anointed her
Speaker 1: with oil of ambrosia, such as the immortal gods make
Speaker 1: use of, and they clothed her in raiment of the
Speaker 1: most enchanting beauty. Thus sang the bard, and both Odysseus
Speaker 1: and the seafaring feations were charmed as they heard him.
Speaker 1: Then Alcinous told loud, Damas and Halias to dance along,
Speaker 1: for there was no one to compete with them. So
Speaker 1: they took a red ball which Polybus had made for them,
Speaker 1: and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it
Speaker 1: up towards the clouds, while the other jumped from off
Speaker 1: the ground and caught it with ease before it came
Speaker 1: down again. When they had done throwing the ball straight
Speaker 1: up into the air, they began to dance, and at
Speaker 1: the same time kept on throwing it backwards and forwards
Speaker 1: to one another, while all the young men in the
Speaker 1: ring applauded and made a great stamping with their feet.
Speaker 1: Then Odysseus said, King Alcinous, you said your people were
Speaker 1: the nimblest answers in the world, and indeed they have
Speaker 1: proved themselves to be. I was astonished as I saw them.
Speaker 1: The king was delighted at this, and exclaimed the featians,
Speaker 1: aldermen and town counselors, our guests seems to be a
Speaker 1: person of singular judgment. Let us give him such proof
Speaker 1: of our hospitality as he may reasonably expect. There are
Speaker 1: twelve chief men among you, and counting myself there are thirteen.
Speaker 1: Contribute each of you a clean cloak, a shirt, and
Speaker 1: a talent of fine gold. Let us give him all
Speaker 1: this in a lump down at once, so that when
Speaker 1: he gets his supper, he may do so with a
Speaker 1: light heart. As for your realists, he will have to
Speaker 1: make a formal apology and a present, too, for he
Speaker 1: has been rude. Thus did he speak. The others of
Speaker 1: all of them applaud at his saying, and sent their
Speaker 1: servants to fetch the presence. Then Eur Reelist, said King Alcinous,
Speaker 1: I will give the stranger all the satisfaction you require.
Speaker 1: He shall have my sword, which is of bronze, all
Speaker 1: but the hilt, which is of silver. I will also
Speaker 1: give him the scabbard of newly sawn ivory, into which
Speaker 1: it fits. It will be worth a great deal to him.
Speaker 1: As he spoke, he placed the sword in the hands
Speaker 1: of Odysseus and said, good luck to you, father stranger.
Speaker 1: If anything has been said amiss, may the winds blow
Speaker 1: it away with them, and may heaven grant you a
Speaker 1: safe return, for I understand you have been long away
Speaker 1: from home and have gone through much hardship, to which
Speaker 1: Odysseus answered, good luck to you too, my friend, and
Speaker 1: may the gods grant you every happiness. I hope you
Speaker 1: will not miss the sword you have given me along
Speaker 1: with your apology. With these words, he girded the sword
Speaker 1: about his shoulders and towards sundown. The presence began to
Speaker 1: make their appearance, as the servants of the donors kept
Speaker 1: bringing them to a house of King Alcinous. Here his
Speaker 1: sons received them and placed them under their mother's charge.
Speaker 1: Then Alcinous led the way to the house and bade
Speaker 1: his guests take their seats. Wife, said he, turning to
Speaker 1: Queen Arette, go fetch the best chest we have, and
Speaker 1: put a clean cloak and shirt in it. Also, set
Speaker 1: a copper on the fire and heat some water. Our
Speaker 1: guest will take a warm bath. See also to the
Speaker 1: careful packing of the presents that the noble Featians have
Speaker 1: made him. He will thus better enjoy both his supper
Speaker 1: and the singing that will follow. I shall myself give
Speaker 1: him this golden goblet, which is of exquisite workmanship, that
Speaker 1: he may be reminded of me for the rest of
Speaker 1: his life, whenever he makes a drink offering to Jove
Speaker 1: or to any of the gods. Then Arette told her
Speaker 1: maidens to set a large tripod upon the fire as
Speaker 1: fast they could. Whereon, they set a tripod full of
Speaker 1: bath water onto a clear fire. They threw on sticks
Speaker 1: to make it blaze, and the water became hot as
Speaker 1: the flame played about the belly of the tripod. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: Arette brought a magnificent chest from her own room, and
Speaker 1: inside it she packed all the beautiful presents of gold
Speaker 1: and raiment which the Peatians had brought. Lastly, she added
Speaker 1: a cloak and a good shirt from Alcinous, and said
Speaker 1: to Odysseus, see to the lid yourself, and have the
Speaker 1: whole bound round at once, for fear anyone should rob
Speaker 1: you by the way when you were asleep at your ship.
Speaker 1: When Odysseus heard this, he put the lid on the
Speaker 1: chest and made it fast with the bond that Circe
Speaker 1: had taught him. He had done so before an upper
Speaker 1: servant told him to come to the bath and wash himself.
Speaker 1: He was very glad of a warm bath, for he
Speaker 1: had had no one to wait upon him ever since
Speaker 1: he left the house of Calypso, who, as long as
Speaker 1: he remained with her, had taken good care of him
Speaker 1: as though he had been a god. When the servants
Speaker 1: had done washing and anointing him with oil, and had
Speaker 1: given him a clean cloak and shirt, he left the
Speaker 1: bathroom and joined the guests who were sitting over their wine.
Speaker 1: Lovely Nasaka stood by one of the bearing posts supporting
Speaker 1: the roof of the cloister, and admired him. As she
Speaker 1: saw him pass farewell, Stranger said she, do not forget
Speaker 1: me when you are safe at home again, for it
Speaker 1: is to me first that you owe a ransom for
Speaker 1: having saved your life. And Odysseus said, nausicaa daughter of
Speaker 1: great Alcinous, made Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, grant
Speaker 1: that I may reach home. So shall I bless you
Speaker 1: as my guardian angel all my days, for it was
Speaker 1: you who saved me. When he had said this, he
Speaker 1: seated himself beside Alcinous. Supper was then served, and the
Speaker 1: wine was mixed for drinking. A servant let in the
Speaker 1: favorite bar Demodocus and set him in the midst of
Speaker 1: the company near one of the bearing posts supporting the cloister,
Speaker 1: that he might lean against it. Then Odysseus cut off
Speaker 1: a piece of roast pork and plenty of fat, for
Speaker 1: there was abundance left on the joint, and said to
Speaker 1: a servant, take this piece of pork over to Demoticus
Speaker 1: and tell him to eat it. For all the pain
Speaker 1: his lays may cause me, I will salute him none
Speaker 1: the less. Bards are honored and respected throughout the world,
Speaker 1: for the Muse teaches them their songs and loves them.
Speaker 1: The servant carried the pork and his fingers over to Demoticus,
Speaker 1: who took it and was very much pleased. They then
Speaker 1: laid their hands on the good things that were before them,
Speaker 1: and as soon as they had had to eat and drink,
Speaker 1: Odysseus said to Demoticus, Demoticus, there is no one in
Speaker 1: the world whom I admire more than I do you.
Speaker 1: You must have studied under the Muse, Jove's daughter, and
Speaker 1: under Apollo. So accurately do you sing the return of
Speaker 1: the Achaeans with all their sufferings and adventures. If you
Speaker 1: were not there yourself, you must have heard it all
Speaker 1: from some one who was now, however, change your song
Speaker 1: and tell us of the wooden horse, which Epius made
Speaker 1: with the assistance of Minerva, and which Odysseus got by
Speaker 1: stratagem into the ford of Troy after freighting it with
Speaker 1: men who afterwards sacked the city. If you will sing
Speaker 1: this tale aright, I will tell all the world how
Speaker 1: magnificently Heaven has endowed you. The Bard, inspired of Heaven,
Speaker 1: took up the story at the point where some of
Speaker 1: the argives set fire to their tents and sailed away,
Speaker 1: while others, hidden within the horse, were waiting with Odysseus
Speaker 1: in the Trojan place of assembly. For the Trojans themselves
Speaker 1: had drawn the horse into their fortress, and it stood
Speaker 1: there while they sat in council round it and were
Speaker 1: in three minds as to what they should do. Some
Speaker 1: were for breaking it up then and there. Others would
Speaker 1: have it dragged to the top of the rock on
Speaker 1: which the fortress stood, and then thrown down the precipice,
Speaker 1: while yet others were for letting it remain as an
Speaker 1: offering and propitiation for the gods. And this was how
Speaker 1: they settled it in the end, for the city was
Speaker 1: doomed when it took in that horse, within which were
Speaker 1: all the bravest of the argives, waiting to bring death
Speaker 1: and destruction on the Trojans Anon. He's sang how the
Speaker 1: sons of the Achaeans issued from within the horse and
Speaker 1: sacked the town. Breaking out from their ambuscade. He's saying
Speaker 1: how they overran the city hither and thither and ravaged it,
Speaker 1: And how Odysseus went raging like Mars, along with Mentelais,
Speaker 1: to the house of Diphobus. It was there that the
Speaker 1: fight raged most furiously. Nevertheless, by Minerva's help, he was victorious.
Speaker 1: All this he told. But Odysseus was overcome as he
Speaker 1: heard him, and his cheeks were wet with tears. He
Speaker 1: wept as a woman weeps when she throws herself on
Speaker 1: the body of her husband, who has fallen before his
Speaker 1: own city and people, fighting bravely in defense of his
Speaker 1: home and children. She s dreams aloud and flings her
Speaker 1: arms about him as he lies gasping for breath and dying.
Speaker 1: But her enemies beat her from behind about the back
Speaker 1: and shoulders, and carry her off into slavery, to a
Speaker 1: life of labor and sorrow, and the beauty fathes from
Speaker 1: her cheeks. Even so piteously did Odysseus weep. But none
Speaker 1: of those present perceived his tears, except Alcinous, who was
Speaker 1: sitting near him, and could hear the sobs and sighs
Speaker 1: that he was heaving. The king therefore at once rose,
Speaker 1: and said Alderman in town counselors of the Theatians, let
Speaker 1: Demodicus cease his song, for there are those present who
Speaker 1: do not seem to like it. From the moment that
Speaker 1: we had done supper and Demodicus began to sing, our
Speaker 1: guest has been all the time groaning and lamenting. He
Speaker 1: is evidently in great trouble. So let the bard leave off,
Speaker 1: that we may all enjoy ourselves, hosts and guests alike.
Speaker 1: This will be much as it should be, for all
Speaker 1: these festivities, with the escort and the presence that we
Speaker 1: are making with so much goodwill, are wholly in his honor,
Speaker 1: And anyone with even a moderate amount of right feeling
Speaker 1: knows that he ought to treat a guest and a
Speaker 1: suppliant as though he were his own brother. Therefore, sir,
Speaker 1: do you want your part effect no more concealment nor
Speaker 1: reserve in the matter about which I shall ask you,
Speaker 1: it will be more polite in you to give me
Speaker 1: a plain answer. Tell me the name by which your
Speaker 1: father and mother over yonder used to call you, and
Speaker 1: by which you were known among your neighbors and fellow citizens.
Speaker 1: There is no one, neither rich nor poor, who is
Speaker 1: absolutely without any name whatever. For people's fathers and mothers
Speaker 1: give them names as soon as they are born. Tell
Speaker 1: me also your country, nation, and city, that our ships
Speaker 1: may shape their purpose accordingly and take you there. For
Speaker 1: the Featians have no pilots, their vessels have no rudders,
Speaker 1: as those of other nations have. But the ships themselves
Speaker 1: under stand what it is that we are thinking about
Speaker 1: and want. They know all the cities and countries in
Speaker 1: the whole world, and can traverse the sea just as well,
Speaker 1: even when it is covered with mist and cloud, so
Speaker 1: that there is no danger of being wrecked or coming
Speaker 1: to any harm. Still, I do remember hearing my father
Speaker 1: say that Neptune was angry with us for being too
Speaker 1: easy going in the matter of giving people escorts. He
Speaker 1: said that one of these days he should wreck a
Speaker 1: ship of ours as it was returning from having escorted someone,
Speaker 1: and bury our city under a high mountain. This is
Speaker 1: what my father used to say. But whether the God
Speaker 1: will carry out his threat or no is a matter
Speaker 1: which he will decide for himself. And now tell me,
Speaker 1: and tell me true, where have you been wandering and
Speaker 1: in what countries have you traveled? Tell us of the
Speaker 1: peoples themselves and of their cities, who were hostile, savage
Speaker 1: and uncivilized, and who, on the other hand, hospitable and humane.
Speaker 1: Tell us all so why you are made so unhappy
Speaker 1: on hearing about the return of the argive Dannians from Troy.
Speaker 1: The gods arranged all this and sent them their misfortunes
Speaker 1: in order that future generations might have something to sing about.
Speaker 1: Did you lose some brave kinsman of your wife's when
Speaker 1: you were before Troy? A son in law or father
Speaker 1: in law? Which are the nearest relations a man has
Speaker 1: outside his own flesh and blood? Or was it some
Speaker 1: brave and kindly natured comrade. For a good friend is
Speaker 1: as dear to a man as his own brother. Oh,
Speaker 1: a cliffhanger. This is where we leave Odysseus for now.
Speaker 1: We're about to get to the story. Oh thank you
Speaker 1: all for listening. Truly, still such a thrill to just
Speaker 1: read The Odyssey to you, and I love that you're
Speaker 1: enjoying it. Nothing makes me happier. I'm finding with this
Speaker 1: translation particular phrases and words when it comes to these
Speaker 1: kingdoms and the palaces cloisters Alderman I would say those
Speaker 1: are dating the translation to Samuel Butler's time and are
Speaker 1: a bit more descriptive of the world he lived in
Speaker 1: versus the ancient world. But then I don't know for sure,
Speaker 1: but it sure sounds like it. Well, you're all the best.
Speaker 1: Great review subscribe you know the thing. I am live
Speaker 1: and I love this ship.