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neys on high; but he deprived them of their return.6 → goddess, daughter of Jove, relate to us also some of these things. Now all the others, as many as had escaped from utter destruction, were at home, having escaped both the war and the sea. But him alone, anxious for a return [home], and for his wife, the venerable nymph Calypso, a divine one of the goddesses, detained in her hollow grot, desiring him to be her husband. But when, after revolving years,9 the time had now arrived, in which the gods destined him to return home to Ithaca, not even then was he freed from labours, although amongst his own friends. But all the gods pitied him except Neptune; but he was unceasingly angry with godlike Ulysses, before he arrived in his own land. But he [Neptune] had gone to the Æthiopians who dwell afar off, (the Ethiopians who are divided into two parts, the most distant of men, some at the setting of the sun, others at the rising,) in order to obtain 10 a hecatomb of bulls and lambs. There sitting down he was delighted with a feast; but the other [gods] were assembled together in the palace of Olympian Jove. And unto them the father of men and of gods began discourse; for he remembered in his mind the noble Ægisthus, whom far-famed Orestes, the son of Agamemnon, slew: and remembering him, he spoke [these] words to the immortals.

"Alas! How, forsooth, do mortals reproach the gods! For they say that their evils are from us: whereas they themselves, through their own infatuation, suffer griefs beyond what is destined. Thus even now Ægisthus, contrary to the degrees of fate, married the wedded wife of Atrides, and slew him on his return, although aware that utter destruction [awaited himself]; since we forewarned him, (having sent the trusty Mercury, the slayer of Argus,) neither to kill him, nor to woo his wife; for from Orestes revenge shall 12 follow 6 Literally, "the day of return."

* ἀμόθεν, ποθέν, Hesych. " ab aliqua parte.”

8 i. e. of the Grecian princes.

This is the genitive absolute, and so translated by Virgil's "volventibus annis."

10 avriówv is the Attic future, as shown by Buttm. Lexil. p. 142. 11 A word used by the Dryopians and Scythians to signify gods, (cf. Alberti on Hesych. s. v.,) and hence used as a term of surprise or deprecation. σχετλιαστικὸν ἐπίρρημα, Schol.

12 Jove quotes the very words of Mercury, which accounts for the bold change of tense. See Ernesti.

for Atrides, when he grows to man's estate, and longs for his country. Thus spoke Mercury: but although he gave good advice, he did not persuade the mind of Ægisthus; but now has he at once atoned for all these things."

The blue-eyed 13 goddess Minerva then answered him: "O father mine, thou son of Saturn, highest of kings, of a truth he has perished by a fitting destruction; so too may another perish who perpetrates such deeds. But my heart burns 14 for the prudent 15 ill-fated Ulysses, who, away from his friends for a long time, is suffering calamities in a sea-girt island, where is the centre 16 of the sea, a woody island: and in her mansion a goddess dwells, the daughter of all-wise Atlas, who kens the depths of the whole sea, and holds up the lofty columns which separate the earth and the heaven; but his daughter detains [Ulysses] unhappy, lamenting and she continually soothes him with soft and winning words, that he may forget Ithaca. But Ulysses, longing to behold even the smoke leaping up from his own land, desires to die. Nor does thy heart, O Olympian [Jove], at all turn towards him. Did not then Ulysses gratify thee, performing sacrifices in spacious Troy near the ships of the Argives? Why then, O Jove, art thou so angry with him?"

But her the cloud-compelling Jove in answer addressed: "My child, what word has escaped thy lips? 17 How could I forget divine Ulysses, who excels amongst mortals in understanding, and has abundantly given sacrifice to the immortal gods, who possess the wide heaven? But earth-possessing Neptune is for ever immovably angry on account of the Cyclops, 18 whose eye he blinded, the godlike Polyphemus, whose power is greatest amongst all the Cyclops: him the nymph Thöosa brought forth, the daughter of Phorcys, ruler of the barren sea, embraced by Neptune in a hollow cave.

13 This translation is rather conventional than correct. The true meaning of yλavkoi, for which we have no direct equivalent in English, is "cæsii, quales sunt felis, leonis, et noctuæ oculi," according to Plin. H. N. viii. 21. See Loewe.

14 So Virgil," talia flammato secum dea corde volutans."

15 I have followed Butmann, p. 211, who says that daippov must bear this sense throughout the Odyssey. In the Iliad it almost always means "warlike."

On this account, then, does earth-shaking Neptune not kill Ulysses, but causes him to wander from his native land. But come, let all of us contrive his return, in what way he may come, and Neptune remit his anger; for he will not indeed be able against the will of all the immortal gods, to contend alone against all.

Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva answered him: "O father mine, thou son of Saturn, highest of kings, if indeed then this is grateful to the blessed gods that prudent Ulysses should return home, let us immediately despatch the messenger 19 Mercury, the slayer of Argus, to the island Ogygia, that he may with all haste declare to the fair-haired nymph our unerring counsel, the return of patient Ulysses, that he may return home. But I will go to Ithaca, that I may rouse his son more, and give strength to his mind, calling the longhaired Grecians to an assembly, to forbid all the suitors, who are continually killing his tender sheep, and curved-footed, crooked-horned oxen. And I will send him to Sparta and to sandy Pylos, to inquire for the return of his dear father, if he can any where hear of him, and that a good reputation amongst men may fall to his lot.”

Thus having spoken, she bound under her feet her sandals, beautiful, ambrosial,20 golden, which bore her both over the moist wave, and over the boundless earth, equally with 21 the gales of the wind. And she took a doughty spear, tipped with sharp brass, heavy, large, thick, with which she subdues the ranks of heroes, against whom she, born of a brave sire, is wrath. And she went darting down from the summit of Olympus, and stood amongst the people of Ithaca, at the portico of Ulysses, at the threshold of the hall; and in her hand she held a brazen spear, likened to a stranger Mentes, the governor of the Taphians. There she found the haughty suitors; some then were delighting their mind before the gates with drafts,22

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19 The most natural derivation of διάκτορος is from διάγω, 66 transveho," alluding to Mercury's office of escorting the dead to Hades. Buttman, however, is inclined to consider it as akin to diákovos servant of the gods." So Mercury is called dauóvwv diákovos by Esch. Prom. 942. So Horace, "te canam, magni Jovis et deorûm nuntium." clines to the former of these opinions.

20 i. e. immortal. Cf. Buttmann, Lex. p. 80, sq.

21

"Rapido pariter cum flamine portant." Virg. Æn. iv. 241.

Loewe in

22 See Liddell's Lexicon. It appears from Athenæus that the chief fun

sitting upon hides of oxen, which they themselves had slain. There with them were heralds and busy servants; some mixed wine and water in the cups, but others cleansed the tables with much-perforated sponges, and set them out, and cut up much meat. Her did godlike Telemachus see much the first, for he sat among the suitors sorrowing in his heart, eyeing 23 in his mind his excellent father, if coming from any where he should make a scattering of the suitors in the house, and should obtain honour himself and rule over his halls. Meditating on these things, whilst sitting amongst the suitors, he beheld Minerva. He then went straight to the portico, and was indignant in mind that a stranger should stand at the gates for a long time. And standing near her, he took hold of her right hand, and received her brazen spear; and addressing her, [thus] spoke winged words.

"Welcome, stranger; thou shalt be kindly received by us, but after thou hast obtained thy supper, thou shalt then relate what it behoves thee."

Thus having spoken, he led the way, and Pallas Minerva followed. And when they were within the lofty house, he took her spear, and placed it against a tall column within the well-polished armoury, where also stood many other spears of patient Ulysses and leading her he seated her on a beauteous, variegated throne, spreading a cloth 24 under her; and there was a footstool beneath her feet. And he himself placed near her a variously-worked seat, apart from the other 25 suitors, for fear the stranger, being troubled with the clamour, should be uncomfortable at his meal, coming amongst haughty men, and that he might inquire of him 26 concerning his absent sire.

of the game consisted in driving one piece, called Penelope, which was placed between the two halves of something like a modern backgammon board, twice out of its place by means of another. The winner was supposed to have some chance of gaining Penelope.

23 Shakspeare," in my mind's eye." So Buttman renders Od. V. 81, 'Odvoña boooμévn, "having Ulysses always in her mind's eye." Lex. p. 445.

24 Aíra is shown by Wolf to be the plural number, therefore the epithets must belong to Opóvov. See Loewe.

25 This does not mean that he was himself a suitor, but is a phrase common in Greek. So Milton,

20 Minerva has hitherto been mentioned in the feminine gender; but

And a handmaid bringing water, poured it from a beautiful golden ewer, over a silver bowl, to wash in; and near them spread a polished table. And the venerable housekeeper brought bread and set it near them, laying down many dainties,27 gratifying them as well as she could out of the provisions that were at hand. And the cook taking dishes of all kinds of meat, placed them near, and by their side set golden cups. And the herald went about continually pouring out wine for them. And the haughty suitors entered; they then sat down in order amongst the couches and thrones: and the heralds poured water on their hands; [and they distributed to all beginning with the cups.] 28 And the handmaidens heaped up bread in the baskets; but they stretched forth their hands to the viands lying ready before them, and the boys crowned the goblets with liquor. But when the suitors had taken away the desire of eating and drinking, other things were a care to their minds, the song and the dance; for these are the ornaments of a banquet. Then the herald placed a beautiful harp in the hands of Phemius, who sung among the suitors by constraint. He then, playing on the harp, struck up 29 to sing beautifully; but Telemachus addressed the blue-eyed Minerva, keeping his head near her, that the others might not hear.

"Dear stranger, wilt thou be angry with me on account of what I shall say? To these, these things, the harp and the song, are a care, easily, forsooth, since they are consuming with impunity the livelihood of another man, whose white bones are rotting some where in the shower, lying on the continent, or the wave rolls them in the sea. If, however, they were to see him returning to Ithaca, they would all pray to be swifter of foot than richer 30 in gold and raiment. But now he has thus perished by an evil fate, nor is there any comfort for us, even if any one of men on earth should say that he

Telemachus now addresses her as Mentes, whereas Homer before spoke of him as a goddess.

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eidara, pulmenta, quicquid cum pane et carne comeditur." Loewe. 28 A doubtful verse. It is, however, pretty certain that iπáρžaσ0αι is used in a religious sense, = "auspicari,' by drinking in honour of the gods." See Buttm. Lexil. p. 167, sqq.

29 ἀναβάλλομαι

any thing."

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to play the prelude," hence "to commence to do

30 Observe the two comparatives.