Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/104

68 that were burning, shed odour through the island: but she within was singing with a beautiful voice, and going over the web, wove with a golden shuttle. But a flourishing wood sprung up around her grot, alder and poplar, and sweet-smelling cypress. There also birds with spreading wings slept, owls and hawks, and wide-tongued crows of the ocean, to which maritime employments are a care. There a vine in its prime was spread about the hollow grot, and it flourished with clusters. But four fountains flowed in succession with white water, turned near one another each in different ways; but around there flourished soft meadows of violets, and of parsley. There indeed even an immortal coming would admire it when he beheld, and would be delighted in his mind; there the messenger, the slayer of Argus, standing, admired. But when he had admired all things in his mind, he immediately came to the wide cave; nor was Calypso, divine one of goddesses, when she saw him before her, ignorant who he was. (For the immortal gods are not unknown to one another, even if any one inhabits dwellings at a distance.) But he did not find magnanimous Ulysses within. For he was weeping, seated on the shore, where before wasting his mind with tears, and groans, and griefs, he used to look o'er the barren sea, pouring forth tears. But Calypso, divine one of goddesses, sitting on her shining, brilliant throne, inquired of Mercury:

"Why hast thou come unto me, O Mercury, with a golden rod, thou who art revered and beloved? hitherto thou dost not visit me often. Tell me of what thou art thinking; for my mind exhorts me to perform it, if at least I can accomplish it, and if it is to be performed. But follow onward, that I may place before thee the rites of hospitality."

Thus having spoken, the goddess set near him a table, having filled it with ambrosia; and mixed ruby nectar. But the messenger Mercury drank and ate. But when he had supped and refreshed his mind with food, then answering her with words he addressed her:

"Dost thou, who art a goddess, ask me a god who am come?