Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/69

143—179. non; for he wished to detain the people, and to offer sacred hecatombs, that he might appease the dreadful wrath of Minerva, foolish man, nor knew he at all that he would not persuade her; for the intention of the gods who exist for ever is not soon turned. Thus they stood answering one another with bitter words; but the well-greaved Greeks leaped up with vast clamour; for the counsel pleased them in a divided manner. During the night we rested, meditating in our mind pernicious things to one another; for Jove was preparing further bane of evil. But in the morning we drew our ships into the boundless sea, and stowed our goods in them, and our deep-bosomed women: but half the people were detained, remaining there with Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, the shepherd of the people; but half of us having embarked weighed anchor. And these sailed very quickly; for a god smoothed the whale-like sea. And arriving at Tenedos we offered sacrifices to the gods, longing for home; but Jupiter did not yet design our return, severe indeed, who excited evil contention again a second time. The others with the prudent crafty king Ulysses embarked on the ships, rowed on both sides, having turned back again, gratifying Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. But I, with the collected ships which followed me, fled, since I knew that the deity meditated evil things. And the warlike son of Tydeus fled, and incited his companions. But auburn-haired Menelaus came late to us, and found us in Lesbos planning a long voyage, whether we should sail about rough Chios, to the island Psyria, keeping it on our left, or below Chios, near windy Mimas. We besought the god to show us a sign; and he showed us one, and commanded us to cut the middle of the sea to Eubœa, that we might escape away from evil as quickly as possible. But a shrill wind sprang up and blew; and the shires ran very swiftly through the fishy way; and during the night were carried to Geræstus; and we offered many thighs of bulls to Neptune, having measured the mighty sea. It was