Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/216

180 made it a stone, and rooted it below, striking it with his hand laid flat downwards; and he went to a distance. But they, the long-oared Phæacians, men illustrious at sea, spoke winged words to one another. And thus some one said, looking to another near him:

"Alas, who has bound the swift ship in the sea while driving home? just now it all appeared before us." Thus some one said; but they knew not how these things were done. And Alcinous harangued and addressed them:

"Alas, surely now upon me are come the oracles uttered of old by my sire, who said that Neptune would be wrath with us, because we are safe conductors of all men. He said that some time or other he would destroy a very beautiful ship of the Phæacian men when returning home from an escort in the misty sea, and that a great mountain should cover the city around. Thus the old man spoke, and all these things are now accomplished. But come, let us all obey, as I command. Cease from the conduct of men, when any one comes to our city; and we will sacrifice twelve chosen bulls to Neptune, if he would pity us, and a great mountain may not cover our city around."

Thus he spoke; and they feared, and got ready the bulls. Thus the leaders and chiefs of the people of the Phæacians prayed to king Neptune, standing near the altar. But divine Ulysses awoke sleeping on his paternal land: nor did he know it, having been a long time absent; for the deity, Pallas Minerva, the daughter of Jove, shed a mist around him; that she might make him unknown, and might tell him every thing, that his wife might not know him, and his citizens and friends, before he had taken revenge for all their transgression upon the suitors. Therefore all things appeared of a different form to the king, both the long roads, and all-sheltering ports, and the sun-traversed rocks, and flourishing trees.

And he stood, having risen up in haste, and beheld his paternal land; and then he mourned, and struck his thighs with his hands laid flat downwards; and lamenting spoke thus:

"Woe is me! to the land of what mortals am I come? are they indeed injurious and fierce, nor just? or are they kind to strangers, and is their mind godlike? Where now shall I bear