Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/105

98—141. but I will relate to you my word unerringly; for thou biddest me. Jupiter commanded me to come here against my will. For who would willingly run through so much salt water, immense as it is? nor is there any city near of mortals, who offer up to the gods sacrifices and chosen hecatombs. But indeed it is not possible that any other god should either transgress the will of Ægis-bearing Jupiter, or make it vain. He says that there is a man with thee, the most in calamity of all the men who fought for nine years about the city of Priam, and in the tenth, having destroyed the city, went home; but on their return they sinned against Minerva, who stirred up an evil wind and mighty waves against them. Then all the others, his excellent companions, perished, but him the wind and the wave carrying drove hither; he now commands thee to send him away as quickly as possible. For it is not the destiny for him to perish here at a distance from his friends, but it is still his destiny to behold his friends, and to reach his lofty-roofed house, and his own paternal land."

Thus he spoke. But Calypso, divine one of goddesses, shuddered, and addressing him spoke winged words: "Severe are ye gods, envious above others, who grudge that goddesses should sleep openly with men, if any one has made for herself a dear husband. As when rosy-fingered Aurora took Orion, so long you gods who live easily envied her, until in Ortygia chaste Diana of the golden throne slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons; and as when fair-haired Ceres, yielding to her passion, was united in love and in the couch with Jasion, in thrice-ploughed fallow land; nor was Jupiter a lone time without knowing it, who slew him, striking him with his white thunder. So now you gods grudge that a mortal man should be present with me, whom I indeed saved when going alone on the keel of a ship; when Jupiter striking his swift ship with white thunder, cleft it in the middle of the dark sea. [Then all the others, his excellent companions, perished, but him the wind and the wave carrying, drove hither:] him indeed I loved and nourished, and I said that I would make him immortal and free from old age all his days. But since it is not possible that any other god should either transgress the will of Ægis-bearing Jove or make it vain, let him go over the barren sea, if he excites and commands him; but I will not send him any where: for I have not ships