Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/137

66—97. the middle of the guests, leaning it against a tall pillar: and from a peg the herald had hung the clear-toned harp over his head, and taught him how to take it with his hands: and near him he placed a basket, and a beautiful table, and near him a cup of wine to drink, when his mind should incite him; they then stretched forth their hands to the food lying ready before them.

But when they had taken away the desire of drinking and eating, the Muse encouraged the bard to sing the glories of men, a song of which the fame then reached the wide heaven, the strife of Ulysses and Achilles, son of Peleus, how they formerly contended with vehement words in a splendid banquet of the gods; but Agamemnon, king of men, rejoiced in his mind, when the chiefs of the Grecians contended; for so Phœbus Apollo, giving an oracle, told him in divine Pylos, when he passed over the stone threshold to consult the oracle: for then the beginning of harm rolled on to the Trojans and the Grecians, through the will of mighty Jove.

These things the illustrious bard sang; but Ulysses, taking a large purple veil in his sturdy hands, drew it over his head, and covered his beauteous face; for he was ashamed before the Phæacians, shedding tears from under his eyebrows. But when the divine bard had ceased singing, having wiped away the tears, he took the veil from his head, and taking a round cup, he made libations to the gods: but when he began again, and the chiefs of the Phæacians incited him to sins, since they were delighted with his verses, Ulysses again, covering his head, mourned. Then indeed he escaped the notice of all the others, shedding tears, but Alcinous alone, sitting near him, marked and perceived him; for he heard him mourning heavily; he immediately therefore addressed the oar-loving Phæacians:

"Hear, ye leaders and rulers over the Phæacians, we are