Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/213

55—93. the blessed gods who possess the wide heaven, in the same place from their seats; and divine Ulysses rose up, and he placed the round cup in the hands of Arete, and addressing her, spoke winged words:

"Farewell, O queen, continually, until old age comes, and death, which happen to men. But I am going, and do thou be delighted in this house with thy children, and the people, and king Alcinous."

Thus speaking, divine Ulysses went over the threshold; but with him the strength of Alcinous sent forward a herald, to conduct him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. And Arete sent women servants with him; one having a well-washed robe, and garment, and another she sent with him to carry a heavy coffer: and another carried both bread and red wine. But when they came to the ship and the sea, his illustrious conductors immediately receiving the things, placed them in the hollow ship, all the drink and meat: and then they strewed a rug and linen for Ulysses, on the deck of the hollow ship, that he might sleep without waking, at the stern; but he himself embarked and laid down in silence; and each of them sat on the benches in order; and they loosed the cable from the perforated stone: there they, reclining, threw up the sea with the oar, and sweet sleep fell upon his eyelids, unwakeful, most pleasant, the nearest like death. But it, like as four-yoked male horses in the plain, all incited together by the blows of the scourge, lifting themselves on high, swiftly pass over the way; so its prow indeed lifted itself up, and the mighty purple billow of the much-rolling sea rushed behind. And very safely it ran, steadily: nor could a falcon-hawk, swiftest of birds, have followed it close. So it running swiftly cut the waves of the sea, bearing a man who possessed counsels equal to the gods: who before had suffered very many griefs in his mind, both wars of men, and passing the terrible waves: then indeed he slept fearlessly, forgetting whatever things he had suffered.

When a very shining star arose, which especially comes