Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/108

72 to thee in form, and in stature, to look at; for she is mortal, but thou art immortal and free from old age: but even so I wish and desire all my days, both to go home and behold the day of my return. But if any one of the gods breaks me down on the dark sea, I will endure it, having a patient mind in my breast; for I have already suffered very many things, and have endured many toils in the waves and in war; and let this happen after these."

Thus he spoke; but the sun set, and darkness came on; they then going to the recess of the hollow cave, were delighted with love, remaining near to each other.

But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, Ulysses immediately put on a cloak and a garment, and the Nymph herself put on a large white veil, thin and graceful, but around her loins she placed a beauteous golden girdle; and she placed a head-dress on her head: and then she prepared the voyage for the strong-hearted Ulysses. She gave him a large axe, fitted to his hands, of steel sharpened on both sides: and with it a very beautiful handle, of olive wood, well fitted to it: then she gave him a well-polished adze; and she led the way to the extreme part of the island, where tall trees sprung up, alder, and poplar, and there was pine reaching to heaven, long since seasoned, very dry, which would sail lightly for him. But when she had shown where the tall trees had sprung up, Calypso, divine one of goddesses, returned to the house; but he began to cut the wood, and his work was quickly performed. And he felled twenty in all, and cut them with the steel, and polished them skilfully, and directed them by a rule. In the mean time Calypso, divine one of goddesses, brought augers, and he then perforated all, and fitted them to one another: and he fixed it with pegs and cramps. As large a bottom of a wide ship of burden, as any man, who was well-skilled in workmanship, would mark out, so large did Ulysses make the wide raft. And erecting the ribs, fixing them with many beams, he made it, and