| Homer, Odyssey (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry; hexameter] [word count] [lemma count] [Hom. Od.]. | ||
| <<Hom. Od. 14.191 | Hom. Od. 14.299 (Greek English(2)) | >>Hom. Od. 14.390 |
14.262"But the men in their insolence
[hubris ] disobeyed my orders, took to their own
devices, and ravaged the land of the Egyptians, killing the men, and
taking their wives and children captive. The alarm was soon carried
to the city, and when they heard the war cry, the people came out at
daybreak till the plain was filled with horsemen and foot soldiers
and with the gleam of armor. Then Zeus spread panic among my men, and
they would no longer face the enemy, for they found themselves
surrounded. The Egyptians killed many of us, and took the rest alive
to do forced labor for them. Zeus, however, put it in my mind to do
thus - and I wish I had died then and there in Egypt instead, for
there was much sorrow in store for me - I took off my helmet and
shield and dropped my spear from my hand; then I went straight up to
the king's chariot, clasped his knees and kissed them, whereon
he spared my life, bade me get into his chariot, and took me weeping
to his own home. Many made at me with their ashen spears and tried to
kill me in their fury, but the king protected me, for he feared the
mênis of Zeus the protector of strangers, who punishes
those who do evil.
Phoenicia , where his house and his possessions lay. I stayed there
for a whole twelve months, but at the end of that time when months
and days had gone by till the same season [hôra ]
had come round again, he set me on board a ship bound for Libya , on a
pretense that I was to take a cargo along with him to that place, but
really that he might sell me as a slave and take the wealth I
fetched. I suspected his intention, but went on board with him, for I
could not help it.
Crete and
Libya ; there, however, Zeus counseled their destruction, for as soon
as we were well out from Crete and could see nothing but sea and sky,
he raised a black cloud over our ship and the sea grew dark beneath
it. Then Zeus let fly with his thunderbolts and the ship went round
and round and was filled with fire and brimstone as the lightning
struck it. The men fell all into the sea; they were carried about in
the water round the ship looking like so many sea-gulls, but the god
presently deprived them of all chance of homecoming
[nostos ] again. I was all dismayed; Zeus, however,
sent the ship's mast within my reach, which saved my life, for I
clung to it, and drifted before the fury of the gale. Nine days did I
drift but in the darkness of the tenth night a great wave bore me on
to the Thesprotian coast. There Pheidon king of the Thesprotians
entertained me hospitably without charging me anything at all, for
his son found me when I was nearly dead with cold and fatigue,
whereon he raised me by the hand, took me to his father's house
and gave me clothes to wear.
Dodona that he might learn Zeus’ mind from
the god's high oak tree, and know whether after so long an
absence he should return to the dêmos of Ithaca openly,
or in secret. Moreover the king swore in my presence, making
drink-offerings in his own house as he did so, that the ship was by
the water side, and the crew found, that should take him to his own
country. He sent me off however before Odysseus returned, for there
happened to be a Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat-growing
island of Dulichium, and he told those in charge of her to be sure
and take me safely to King Akastos.
Ithaca , and there they bound me with a strong rope fast in the ship,
while they went on shore to get supper by the sea side. But the gods
soon undid my bonds for me, and having drawn my rags over my head I
slid down the rudder into the sea, where I struck out and swam till I
was well clear of them, and came ashore near a thick wood in which I
lay concealed. They were very angry at my having escaped and went
searching about for me, till at last they thought it was no further
use and went back to their ship. The gods, having hidden me thus
easily, then took me to a good man's door - for it seems that I
am not to die yet awhile."
14.285"I stayed there for seven years and got together much wealth among the Egyptians, for they all gave me something; but when it was now going on for eight years there came a certain Phoenician, a cunning rascal, who had already committed all sorts of villainy, and this man talked me over into going with him to
14.299"The ship ran before a fresh North wind till we had reached the sea that lies between
14.321"There it was that I heard news of Odysseus, for the king told me he had entertained him, and shown him much hospitality while he was on his homeward journey. He showed me also the treasure of gold, and wrought iron that Odysseus had got together. There was enough to keep his family for ten generations, so much had he left in the house of king Pheidon. But the king said Odysseus had gone to
14.337"These men hatched a plot against me that would have reduced me to the very extreme of misery, for when the ship had got some way out from land they resolved on selling me as a slave. They stripped me of the shirt and cloak that I was wearing, and gave me instead the tattered old clouts in which you now see me; then, towards nightfall, they reached the tilled lands of
| Homer, Odyssey (English) (XML Header) [genre: poetry; hexameter] [word count] [lemma count] [Hom. Od.]. | ||
| <<Hom. Od. 14.191 | Hom. Od. 14.299 (Greek English(2)) | >>Hom. Od. 14.390 |
