"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13

Inept at combat, am I? Not entirely. Give me a smooth bow; I can handle it, and I might well be first to hit my man amid a swarm of enemies, though archers in company around me drew together.

O majesty, model of all your folk, your promise was to show me peerless dancers

Here are twelve princes of the kingdom—lords paramount, and I who make thirteen; let each one bring a laundered cloak and tunic, and add one bar of honorable gold.

He turned to give the broadsword to Odysseus, facing him, saying blithely: “Sir, my best wishes, my respects; if I offended, I hope the seawinds blow it out of mind.

For when the Trojans pulled it in, themselves, up to the citadel, they sat nearby with long-drawn-out and hapless argument

We had prepared here, on our friend’s behalf, safe conduct in a ship, and gifts to cheer him, holding that any man with a grain of wit will treat a decent suppliant like a brother.

Some kin of yours, then, died at Ilion, some first rate man, by marriage near to you, next your own blood most dear? Or some companion of congenial mind and valor?

Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships, and driving veils of squall moved down like night on land and sea.

Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea before dangerous high winds.

We cried aloud, lifting our hands to Zeus, powerless, looking on at this, appalled; but Kyklops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey

Come back, Odysseus, and I’ll treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you—his son I am, for he by his avowal fathered me, and, if he will, he may heal me of this black wound

Down in the bilge I lay, pulling my sea cloak over my head, while the rough gale blew the ships and rueful crews clear back to Aiolia.

Here, then, we found a curious bay with mountain walls of stone to left and right, and reaching far inland,—a narrow entrance opening from the sea where cliffs converged as though to touch and close.

But working with dry lips to speak a word he could not, being so shaken; blinding tears welled in his eyes; foreboding filled his heart.

Thus to assuage the nations of the dead I pledged these rites, then slashed the lamb and ewe, letting their black blood stream into the wellpit.

Son of great Laertes, Odysseus, master mariner and soldier, bad luck shadowed me, and no kindly power; ignoble death I drank with so much wine.

Though you survive alone, bereft of all companions, lost for years, under strange sail shall you come home, to find your own house filled with trouble

I bit my lip, rising perplexed, with longing to embrace her, and tried three times, putting my arms around her, but she went sifting through my hands, impalpable as shadows are, and wavering like a dream.

I saw the mother of Oidipous, Epikaste, whose great unwitting deed it was to marry her own son.

And I saw Leda, wife of Tyndareus, upon whom Tyndareus had sired twins indomitable: Kastor, tamer of horses, and Polydeukes, best in the boxing ring.