Stirred now by the Muse , the bard launched out
in a fine blaze of song , starting at just the point
where the main Achaean force , setting their camps afire ,
had boarded the oarswept ships and sailed for home
but famed Odysseus’ men already crouched and hiding‒
in the heart of Troy’s assembly‒ dark in that horse
the Trojans dragged themselves to the city heights .
Now it stood there , looming…
and round its bulk the Trojans sat debating ,
clashing , days on end , three plans split their ranks :
either to hack open the hollow vault with ruthless bronze
or haul it up to the highest ridge and pitch it down the cliffs
or let it stand‒ a glorious offering made to pacify the gods‒
and that , that final plan , was bound to win the day .
For Troy was fated to perish once the city lodged
inside her walls the monstrous wooden horse
where the prime of Argive power lay in wait
with death and slaughter bearing down on Troy .
And he sang how troops of Achaeans broke from cover ,
streaming out from the horse’s hollow flanks to plunder Troy‒
he sang how left and right they ravaged the steep city ,
sang how Odysseus marched right up to Deiphobus’ house
like the god of war on attack with diehard Menelaus .
There , he sang , Odysseus fought the grimmest fight
he had ever braved but he won through at last ,
thanks to Athena’s superhuman power .

That was the song the famous harper sang
but great Odysseus melted into tears ,
running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks…
as a woman weeps , her arms flung round her darling husband ,
a man who fell in battle , fighting for town and townsmen ,
trying to beat the day of doom from home and children .
Seeing the man go down , dying , gasping for breath ,
she clings for dear life , screams and shrills‒
but the victors , just behind her ,
digging spear buts into her back and shoulders ,
drag her off in bondage , yoked to hard labor , pain ,
and the most heartbreaking torment wastes her cheeks .
So from Odysseus’ eyes ran tears of heartbreak now .

ὣς φάθʼ , ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο , φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν ,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον , πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες ,
Ἀργεῖοι , τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο .
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει , τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν · τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή ,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης ,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι ,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν ·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι , ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον , ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες .
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι , κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες .
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν ,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι , ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ .
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην .
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός · αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο , δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς .
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα ,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν ,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει · οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι , πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν ·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί ·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν .

Thus he spoke , and the man urged on by a god was beginning , and was making a song appear ,
from that point choosing how the men , stepping aboard ships with sturdy banks of oars
were sailing off , having thrown fire into the huts ,
the Argives , and verily they were already sitting around renowned Odysseus in the assembly of Troy after concealing themselves within the horse .
For the Trojans themselves dragged it into the citadel .
Thus it had stood , while they indeed were making many confused speeches ,
sitting around this thing . The council satisfied them with three plans :
either to cleave asunder the hollow wood with pitless bronze ,
or to toss the thing down from cliffs after dragging it onto a headland ,
or to permit that the great thing be a soothing gift for the gods ,
and so for this plan it was destined at all events that they would then see it through .
For it was appointed that they destroy themselves , after the city should receive
the great wooden horse , when all the best
of the Argives were sitting within , bearing murder and ruin for the Trojans .
As he sang , the sons of the Achaeans laid waste to the city ,
pouring forth from the horse , after forsaking the hollow ambuscade .
He was singing that one for another they ravaged the lofty city ,
yet Odysseus strode towards the house of Deiphobus ,
like Ares together with godlike Menelaus .
He was saying that after enduring his grimmest fight
he saw victory through great-hearted Athena .
There and then the renowned bard was singing about these things . Yet Odysseus
was melting and his tears were drenching the cheeks beneath his eyelids .
As a woman weeps , embracing her dear husband ,
who fell before both his city and his people ,
warding off the ruthless day for his city and his children .
Seeing him dying and gasping for breath ,
she lets out a piercing shriek , pouring tears all around him . And the soldiers ,
striking her from behind on her back and shoulders with spears
lead her into slavery , to have toil and misery .
Her cheeks waste away with the most pitiable wretchedness .
Just so , Odysseus let fall piteous tears beneath his eyebrows .

110 . But when she was about to yoke the mules , and fold the fair raiment , in order to return homeward , then the goddess , flashing-eyed Athena , took other counsel , that Odysseus might awake and see the fair-faced maid , who should lead him to the city of the Phaeacians .
115 . So then the princess tossed the ball to one of her maidens ; the maiden indeed she missed , but cast it into a deep eddy , and thereat they cried aloud , and goodly Odysseus awoke , and sat up , and thus he pondered in mind and heart : " Woe is me ! to the land of what mortals am I now come ?
120 . Are they cruel , and wild , and unjust ? or do they love strangers and fear the gods in their thoughts ? There rang in my ears a cry as of maidens , of nymphs who haunt the towering peaks of the mountains , the springs that feed the rivers , and the grassy meadows !
125 . Can it be that I am somewhere near men of human speech ? Nay , I will myself make trial and see . " So saying the goodly Odysseus came forth from beneath the bushes , and with his stout hand he broke from the thick wood a leafy branch , that he might hold it about him and hide therewith his nakedness .
130 . Forth he came like a mountain-nurtured lion trusting in his might , who goes forth , beaten with rain and wind , but his two eyes are ablaze : into the midst of the kine he goes , or of the sheep , or on the track of the wild deer , and his belly bids him go even into the close-built fold , to make an attack upon the flocks .
135 . Even so Odysseus was about to enter the company of the fair-tressed maidens , naked though he was , for need had come upon him . But terrible did he seem to them , all befouled with brine , and they shrank in fear , one here , one there , along the jutting sand-spits . Alone the daughter of Alcinous kept her place , for
140 . in her heart Athena put courage , and took fear from her limbs . She fled not , but stood and faced him ; and Odysseus pondered whether he should clasp the knees of the fair-faced maid , and make his prayer , or whether , standing apart as he was , he should beseech her with gentle words , in hope that she might show him the city and give him raiment .
145 . And , as he pondered , it seemed to him better to stand apart and beseech her with gentle words , lest the maiden ' s heart should be wroth with him if he clasped her knees ; so straightway he spoke a gentle word and crafty : " I beseech thee , O queen , —a goddess art thou , or art thou mortal ?
150 . If thou art a goddess , one of those who hold broad heaven , to Artemis , the daughter of great Zeus , do I liken thee most nearly in comeliness and in stature and in form . But if thou art one of mortals who dwell upon the earth , thrice-blessed then are thy father and thy honored mother ,
155 . and thrice-blessed thy brethren . Full well , I ween , are their hearts ever warmed with joy because of thee , as they see thee entering the dance , a plant note so fair . But he again is blessed in heart above all others , who shall prevail with his gifts of wooing and lead thee to his home .
160 . For never yet have mine eyes looked upon a mortal such as thou , whether man or woman ; amazement holds me as I look on thee . Of a truth in Delosonce I saw such a thing , a young shoot of a palm springing up beside the altar of Apollo—for thither , too , I went , and much people followed with me ,
165 . on that journey on which evil woes were to be my portion ; —even so , when I saw that , I marvelled long at heart , for never yet did such a tree spring up from the earth . And in like manner , lady , do I marvel at thee , and am amazed , and fear greatly to touch thy knees ; but sore grief has come upon me .
170 . Yesterday , on the twentieth day , I escaped from the wine-dark sea , but ever until then the wave and the swift winds bore me from the island of Ogygia ; and now fate has cast me ashore here , that here too , haply , I may suffer some ill . For not yet , methinks , will my troubles cease , but the gods ere that will bring many to pass .
175 . Nay , O queen , have pity ; for it is to thee first that I am come after many grievous toils , and of the others who possess this city and land I know not one . Shew me the city , and give me some rag to throw about me , if thou hadst any wrapping for the clothes when thou camest hither .
180 . And for thyself , may the gods grant thee all that thy heart desires ; a husband and a home may they grant thee , and oneness of heart—a goodly gift . For nothing is greater or better than this , when man and wife dwell in a home in one accord , a great grief to their foes

185 . and a joy to their friends ; but they know it best themselves . "

110 . ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πάλιν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
ζεύξασʼ ἡμιόνους πτύξασά τε εἵματα καλά ,
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά , γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη ,
ὡς Ὀδυσεὺς ἔγροιτο , ἴδοι τʼ ἐυώπιδα κούρην ,
ἥ οἱ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ἡγήσαιτο .
115 . σφαῖραν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψε μετʼ ἀμφίπολον βασίλεια ·
ἀμφιπόλου μὲν ἅμαρτε , βαθείῃ δʼ ἔμβαλε δίνῃ ·
αἱ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄυσαν · ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς ,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν ·
" ὤ μοι ἐγώ , τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω ;
120 . ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι ,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής ;
ὥς τέ με κουράων ἀμφήλυθε θῆλυς ἀυτή ·
νυμφάων , αἳ ἔχουσʼ ὀρέων αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα
καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα .
125 . ἦ νύ που ἀνθρώπων εἰμὶ σχεδὸν αὐδηέντων ;
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς πειρήσομαι ἠδὲ ἴδωμαι . "
ὣς εἰπὼν θάμνων ὑπεδύσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς ,
ἐκ πυκινῆς δʼ ὕλης πτόρθον κλάσε χειρὶ παχείῃ
φύλλων , ὡς ῥύσαιτο περὶ χροῒ μήδεα φωτός .
130 . βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς ,
ὅς τʼ εἶσʼ ὑόμενος καὶ ἀήμενος , ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δαίεται · αὐτὰρ ὁ βουσὶ μετέρχεται ἢ ὀίεσσιν
ἠὲ μετʼ ἀγροτέρας ἐλάφους · κέλεται δέ ἑ γαστὴρ
μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν ·
135 . ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισιν ἔμελλε
μίξεσθαι , γυμνός περ ἐών · χρειὼ γὰρ ἵκανε .
σμερδαλέος δʼ αὐτῇσι φάνη κεκακωμένος ἅλμῃ ,
τρέσσαν δʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλη ἐπʼ ἠιόνας προὐχούσας ·
οἴη δʼ Ἀλκινόου θυγάτηρ μένε · τῇ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
140 . θάρσος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε καὶ ἐκ δέος εἵλετο γυίων .
στῆ δʼ ἄντα σχομένη · ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεύς ,
ἢ γούνων λίσσοιτο λαβὼν ἐυώπιδα κούρην ,
ἦ αὔτως ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι
λίσσοιτʼ , εἰ δείξειε πόλιν καὶ εἵματα δοίη .
145 . ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι ,
λίσσεσθαι ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι ,
μή οἱ γοῦνα λαβόντι χολώσαιτο φρένα κούρη .
αὐτίκα μειλίχιον καὶ κερδαλέον φάτο μῦθον .
" γουνοῦμαί σε , ἄνασσα · θεός νύ τις , ἦ βροτός ἐσσι ;
150 . εἰ μέν τις θεός ἐσσι , τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν ,
Ἀρτέμιδί σε ἐγώ γε , Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο ,
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐίσκω ·
εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν , τοὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάουσιν ,
τρὶς μάκαρες μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ ,
155 . τρὶς μάκαρες δὲ κασίγνητοι · μάλα πού σφισι θυμὸς
αἰὲν ἐυφροσύνῃσιν ἰαίνεται εἵνεκα σεῖο ,
λευσσόντων τοιόνδε θάλος χορὸν εἰσοιχνεῦσαν .
κεῖνος δʼ αὖ περὶ κῆρι μακάρτατος ἔξοχον ἄλλων ,
ὅς κέ σʼ ἐέδνοισι βρίσας οἶκόνδʼ ἀγάγηται .
160 . οὐ γάρ πω τοιοῦτον ἴδον βροτὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ,
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα · σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα .
Δήλῳ δή ποτε τοῖον Ἀπόλλωνος παρὰ βωμῷ
φοίνικος νέον ἔρνος ἀνερχόμενον ἐνόησα ·
ἦλθον γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε , πολὺς δέ μοι ἕσπετο λαός ,
165 . τὴν ὁδὸν ᾗ δὴ μέλλεν ἐμοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι .
ὣς δʼ αὔτως καὶ κεῖνο ἰδὼν ἐτεθήπεα θυμῷ
δήν , ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τοῖον ἀνήλυθεν ἐκ δόρυ γαίης ,
ὡς σέ , γύναι , ἄγαμαί τε τέθηπά τε , δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς
γούνων ἅψασθαι · χαλεπὸν δέ με πένθος ἱκάνει .
170 . χθιζὸς ἐεικοστῷ φύγον ἤματι οἴνοπα πόντον ·
τόφρα δέ μʼ αἰεὶ κῦμʼ ἐφόρει κραιπναί τε θύελλαι
νήσου ἀπʼ Ὠγυγίης . νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε κάββαλε δαίμων ,
ὄφρʼ ἔτι που καὶ τῇδε πάθω κακόν · οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
παύσεσθʼ , ἀλλʼ ἔτι πολλὰ θεοὶ τελέουσι πάροιθεν .
175 . ἀλλά , ἄνασσʼ , ἐλέαιρε · σὲ γὰρ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἐς πρώτην ἱκόμην , τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων , οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν .
ἄστυ δέ μοι δεῖξον , δὸς δὲ ῥάκος ἀμφιβαλέσθαι ,
εἴ τί που εἴλυμα σπείρων ἔχες ἐνθάδʼ ἰοῦσα .
180 . σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς ,
ἄνδρα τε καὶ οἶκον , καὶ ὁμοφροσύνην ὀπάσειαν
ἐσθλήν · οὐ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ γε κρεῖσσον καὶ ἄρειον ,
ἢ ὅθʼ ὁμοφρονέοντε νοήμασιν οἶκον ἔχητον
ἀνὴρ ἠδὲ γυνή · πόλλʼ ἄλγεα δυσμενέεσσι ,
185 . χάρματα δʼ εὐμενέτῃσι , μάλιστα δέ τʼ ἔκλυον αὐτοί . "

But now , as she was about to fold her clothes
and yoke the mules and turn for home again ,
now clear-eyed Pallas thought of what came next ,
to make Odysseus wake and see this young beauty
and she would lead him to the Phaeacians’ town .
The ball‒
the princess suddenly tossed it to a maid
but it missed the girl , it splashed in a deep swirling pool
and they all shouted out‒
and this woke great Odysseus .
130 . He sat up with a start , puzzling , his heart pounding :
" Man of misery , whose land have I lit on now ?
What are they here‒ violent , savage , lawless ?
or friendly to strangers , god-fearing men ?
Listen : shouting , echoing round me‒ women , girls‒
or nymphs who haunt the rugged mountaintops
and the river springs and meadows lush with grass !
Or am I really close to people who speak my language ?
Up with you , see how the land lies , see for yourself now… "

Muttering so , great Odysseus crept out of the bushes ,
140 . stripping off with his massive hand a leafy branch
from the tangled olive growth to shield his body ,
hide his private parts . And out he stalked
as a mountain lion exultant in his power
strides through wind and rain and his eyes blaze
and he charges sheep and oxen or chases wild deer
but his hunger drives him on to go for flocks ,
even to raid the best-defended homestead .
So Odysseus moved out…
about to mingle with all those lovely girls ,
150 . naked now as he was , for the need drove him on ,
a terrible sight , all crusted , caked with brine‒
they scattered in panic down the jutting beaches .
Only Alcinous’ daughter held fast , for Athena planted
courage within her heart , dissolved the trembling in her limbs
and she firmly stood her ground and faced Odysseus , torn now‒
Should he fling his arms around her knees , the young beauty ,
plead for help , or stand back , plead with a winning word ,
beg her to lead him to the town and lend him clothing ?
This was the better way , he thought . Plead now
160 . with a subtle , winning word and stand well back ,
don’t clasp her knees , the girl might bridle , yes .
He launched in at once , endearing , sly and suave :
" Here I am at your mercy , princess‒
are you a goddess or a mortal ? If one of the gods
who rule the skies up there , you’re Artemis to the life ,
the daughter of mighty Zeus‒ I see her now‒ just look
at your build , your bearing , your lithe flowing grace…
But if you’re one of the mortals living here on earth ,
three times blest are your father , your queenly mother ,
170 . three times over your brothers too . How often their hearts
must warm with joy to see you striding into the dances‒
such a bloom of beauty . True , but he is the one
more blest than all other men alive , that man
who sways you with gifts and leads you home , his bride !
I have never laid eyes on anyone like you ,
neither man nor woman…
I look at you and a sense of wonder takes me .
Wait ,
once I saw the like‒ in Delos , beside Apollo’s altar‒
the young slip of a palm-tree springing into light .
180 . There I’d sailed , you see , with a great army in my wake ,
out on a long campaign that doomed my life to hardship .
That vision ! Just as I stood there gazing , rapt , for hours…
no shaft like that had ever risen up from the earth‒
so now I marvel at you , my lady : rapt , enthralled ,
too struck with awe to grasp you by the knees
though pain has ground me down .
Only yesterday ,

the twentieth day , did I escape the wine-dark sea .
Till then the waves and the rushing gales had swept me on
from the island of Ogygia . Now some power has tossed me here ,
190 . doubtless to suffer still more torments on your shores .
I can’t believe they’ll stop . Long before that
the gods will give me more , still more .
Compassion‒
princess , please ! You , after all that I have suffered ,
you are the first I’ve come to . I know no one else ,
none in your city , no one in you land .
Show me the way to town , give me a rag for cover ,
just some cloth , some wrapper you carried with you here .
And may the good gods give you all your heart desires :
husband , and house , and lasting harmony too .
200 . No finer , greater gift in the world than that…
when a man and woman possess their home , two minds ,
two hearts that work as one . Despair to their enemies ,
a joy to all their friends . Their own best claim to glory . "