Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/230

194 embarking from spacious Crete, we sailed with a clear, beautiful north wind, easily, and as if down the stream; nor indeed was any one of my ships injured, but we sat unscathed and free from disease; and the wind and the helmsmen directed them. But on the fifth day we came to fair-streamed Egypt; and I stationed my ships, rowed on both sides, in the river Egyptus; then indeed I ordered my beloved companions to remain there near to the ships, and to draw up the ships; and I urged watches to go to watch-places. But they, yielding to insolence, following their own impulse, very quickly laid waste the beautiful fields of the Egyptians, and took away their wives and infant children, and slew them. And the clamour soon reached the city; and they, hearing the cry, came together with the shining morn: and the whole plain was filled with foot and horse, and the glittering of brass: but thunder-rejoicing Jove cast a cowardly panic upon my companions, nor did any one dare to remain opposed to them; for evils surrounded them from on every side. There they slew many of us indeed with the sharp brass, and some they led away alive, to work for them by necessity. But Jove himself put this thought in my breast, (would that I had died, and drawn on my fate there in Egypt! for calamity still then awaited me): I immediately took the well-made helmet from my head, and the shield from my shoulders, and I threw my spear out of my hand: but I came opposite the horses of the king, and taking hold of his knees I kissed them; but he freed me, and took pity on me: and having set me in his chariot, he led me home shedding tears. Many of them indeed rushed against me with their ash-shafted spears, desiring to kill me, (for they were very wroth,) but he warded them off: for he revered the anger of hospitable Jove, who is especially indignant at evil deeds. Then indeed I for seven years remained there, and collected many possessions amongst Egyptian men, for all offered gifts. But when at length the eighth year came revolving round, then a Phœnician man came, knowing deceitful things, crafty, who indeed had worked many evils for men; who took me away, over-per-