Odyssey Book 7.133-166

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ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς .
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ ,
καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω .
εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας
σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ ,
πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον , ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου .
αὐτὰρ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων , ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη ,
ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα .
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς ,
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ .
οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο , δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες ·
θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες . δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς ·

" Ἀρήτη , θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο ,
σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας
τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας · τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν
ζωέμεναι , καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν ·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
θᾶσσον , ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω . "
ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν
πὰρ πυρί · οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ .
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος ,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν
καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο , παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς ·
σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν ·
" Ἀλκίνοʼ , οὐ μέν τοι τόδε κάλλιον , οὐδὲ ἔοικε ,
ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν ,
οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται .
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
εἷσον ἀναστήσας , σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον
οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι , ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
σπείσομεν , ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ ·
δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων . "
Hardened , long-suffering Odysseus stood there and stared , astonished in his heart , then quickly strode across the palace threshold . He found the lordly leaders of Phaeacia pouring drink offerings for sharp-eyed Hermes , to whom they give libations before bed . Odysseus went in the house disguised in mist with which Athena covered him ,           
until he reached Arete and the king . He threw his arms around Arete’s knees , and all at once , the magic mist dispersed . They were astonished when they saw the man , and all fell silent . Then Odysseus said , " Queen Arete , child of Rhexenor , I have had many years of pain and loss . I beg you , and your husband , and these men who feast here—may the gods bless you in life , and may you leave your children wealth and honor .                
Now help me , please , to get back home , and quickly ! I miss my family . I have been gone so long it hurts . "
He sat down by the hearth among the ashes of the fire . They all were silent till Echeneus spoke up . He was an elder statesman of Phaeacia , a skillful orator and learned man . Wanting to help , he said , " Alcinous , you know it is not right to leave a stranger sitting there on the floor beside the hearth              
among the cinders . Everyone is waiting for you to give the word . Make him get up , and seat him on a silver chair , and order wine to be poured , so we may make libations to Zeus the Thunderlord , who loves the needy . The house girl ought to bring the stranger food out from the storeroom . "
Odysseus stood and gazed at all of the blessings
The gods had lavished on the house of Alcinous .
When he had taken it all in , he passed quickly
Over the threshold and entered the house .
There he found the Phaeacian nobles
Tipping their cups in honor of Hermes ,
To whom they poured libations last of all
When they thought it was time to take their rest .
Odysseus , the godlike survivor , went through the hall
In the heavy mist Athena had wrapped him in ,
Until he came to Arete and Lord Alcinous .
There he threw his arms around Arete ' s knees ,
And the magical mist melted away at that moment .
They were all hushed to silence , marveling
At the sight of Odysseus , who now made his prayer :
" Arete , daughter of godlike Rhexenor ,
To your husband and to your knees I come
In great distress , and to these banqueters also—
May the gods grant prosperity to them
In this life , and may each of them hand down
Their wealth and honor to their children after them .
Grant me but this : a speedy passage home ,
For I have suffered long , far from my people . "
And with that he sat down in the ashes
By the fireside . The hall fell silent .
Finally Echeneus , a Phaeacian elder ,
Wise in the old ways and the ways of words , Spoke out with good will among them :
" Alcinous , this will not do at all . It is not proper
That a guest sit in the ashes on the hearth .
We are all holding back , waiting on your word . Come , help the stranger up and have him sit
Upon a silver-studded chair . And bid the heralds
Mix wine , so we may pour libations also to Zeus , Lord of Thunder , who walks beside suppliants .
And let the housekeeper bring out food for our guest . "

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( 198 ) 64% GRC - ENG
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