roughing it； nor to going about among gatherings of men。 I am even
more anxious about him than about my husband； I am all in a tremble
when I think of him； lest something should happen to him； either
from the people among whom he has gone； or by sea； for he has many
enemies who are plotting against him； and are bent on killing him
before he can return home。〃
Then the vision said； 〃Take heart； and be not so much dismayed。
There is one gone with him whom many a man would be glad enough to
have stand by his side； I mean Minerva； it is she who has compassion
upon you； and who has sent me to bear you this message。〃
〃Then；〃 said Penelope； 〃if you are a god or have been sent here by
divine commission； tell me also about that other unhappy one… is he
still alive； or is he already dead and in the house of Hades？〃
And the vision said； 〃I shall not tell you for certain whether he is
alive or dead； and there is no use in idle conversation。〃
Then it vanished through the thong…hole of the door and was
dissipated into thin air； but Penelope rose from her sleep refreshed
and comforted； so vivid had been her dream。
Meantime the suitors went on board and sailed their ways over the
sea； intent on murdering Telemachus。 Now there is a rocky islet called
Asteris； of no great size； in mid channel between Ithaca and Samos；
and there is a harbour on either side of it where a ship can lie。 Here
then the Achaeans placed themselves in ambush。
BOOK V。
AND NOW； as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus… harbinger of
light alike to mortals and immortals… the gods met in council and with
them； Jove the lord of thunder； who is their king。 Thereon Minerva
began to tell them of the many sufferings of Ulysses； for she pitied
him away there in the house of the nymph Calypso。
〃Father Jove；〃 said she； 〃and all you other gods that live in
everlasting bliss； I hope there may never be such a thing as a kind
and well…disposed ruler any more； nor one who will govern equitably。 I
hope they will be all henceforth cruel and unjust； for there is not
one of his subjects but has forgotten Ulysses； who ruled them as
though he were their father。 There he is； lying in great pain in an
island where dwells the nymph Calypso； who will not let him go； and he
cannot get back to his own country； for he can find neither ships
nor sailors to take him over the sea。 Furthermore； wicked people are
now trying to murder his only son Telemachus； who is coming home
from Pylos and Lacedaemon； where he has been to see if he can get news
of his father。〃
〃What； my dear； are you talking about？〃 replied her father； 〃did you
not send him there yourself； because you thought it would help Ulysses
to get home and punish the suitors？ Besides； you are perfectly able to
protect Telemachus； and to see him safely home again； while the
suitors have to come hurry…skurrying back without having killed him。〃
When he had thus spoken； he said to his son Mercury； 〃Mercury； you
are our messenger； go therefore and tell Calypso we have decreed
that poor Ulysses is to return home。 He is to be convoyed neither by
gods nor men； but after a perilous voyage of twenty days upon a raft
he is to reach fertile Scheria； the land of the Phaeacians； who are
near of kin to the gods； and will honour him as though he were one
of ourselves。 They will send him in a ship to his own country； and
will give him more bronze and gold and raiment than he would have
brought back from Troy； if he had had had all his prize money and
had got home without disaster。 This is how we have settled that he
shall return to his country and his friends。〃
Thus he spoke； and Mercury； guide and guardian； slayer of Argus； did
as he was told。 Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals
with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea。 He took the
wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep or wakes them just as
he pleases； and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria； then he
swooped down through the firmament till he reached the level of the
sea； whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing
every hole and corner of the ocean； and drenching its thick plumage in
the spray。 He flew and flew over many a weary wave； but when at last
he got to the island which was his journey's end； he left the sea
and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso
lived。
He found her at home。 There was a large fire burning on the
hearth； and one could smell from far the fragrant reek of burning
cedar and sandal wood。 As for herself； she was busy at her loom；
shooting her golden shuttle through the warp and singing
beautifully。 Round her cave there was a thick wood of alder； poplar；
and sweet smelling cypress trees； wherein all kinds of great birds had
built their nests… owls； hawks； and chattering sea…crows that occupy
their business in the waters。 A vine loaded with grapes was trained
and grew luxuriantly about the mouth of the cave； there were also four
running rills of water in channels cut pretty close together； and
turned hither and thither so as to irrigate the beds of violets and
luscious herbage over which they flowed。 Even a god could not help
being charmed with such a lovely spot； so Mercury stood still and
looked at it； but when he had admired it sufficiently he went inside
the cave。
Calypso knew him at once… for the gods all know each other； no
matter how far they live from one another… but Ulysses was not within；
he was on the sea…shore as usual； looking out upon the barren ocean
with tears in his eyes； groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow。
Calypso gave Mercury a seat and said： 〃Why have you come to see me；
Mercury… honoured； and ever welcome… for you do not visit me often？
Say what you want； I will do it for be you at once if I can； and if it
can be done at all； but come inside； and let me set refreshment before
you。
As she spoke she drew a table loaded with ambrosia beside him and
mixed him some red nectar； so Mercury ate and drank till he had had
enough； and then said：
〃We are speaking god and goddess to one another； one another； and
you ask me why I have come here； and I will tell you truly as you
would have me do。 Jove sent me； it was no doing of mine； who could
possibly want to come all this way over the sea where there are no
cities full of people to offer me sacrifices or choice hecatombs？
Nevertheless I had to come； for none of us other gods can cross
Jove； nor transgress his orders。 He says that you have here the most
ill…starred of alf those who fought nine years before the city of King
Priam and sailed home in the tenth year after having sacked it。 On
their way home they sinned against Minerva； who raised both wind and
waves against them； so that all his brave companions perished； and
he alone was carried hither by wind and tide。 Jove says that you are
to let this by man go at once； for it is decreed that he shall not
perish here； far from his own people； but shall return to his house
and country and see his friends again。〃
Calypso trembled with rage when she heard this； 〃You gods；〃 she
exclaimed； to be ashamed of yourselves。 You are always jealous and
hate seeing a goddess take a fancy to a mortal man； and live with
him in open matrimony。 So when rosy…fingered Dawn made love to
Orion； you precious gods were all of you furious till Diana went and
killed him in Ortygia。 So again when Ceres fell in love with Iasion；
and yielded to him in a thrice ploughed fallow field； Jove came to
hear of it before so long and killed Iasion with his thunder…bolts。
And now you are angry with me too because I have a man here。 I found
the poor creature sitting all alone astride of a keel； for Jove had
struck his ship with lightning and sunk it in mid ocean； so that all
his crew were drowned； while he himself was driven by wind and waves
on to my island。 I got fond of him and cherished him； and had set my
heart on making him immortal； so that he should never grow old all his
days； still I cannot cross Jove； nor bring his counsels to nothing；
therefore； if he insists upon it； let the man go beyond the seas
again； but I cannot send him anywhere myself for I have neither
ships nor men who can take him。 Nevertheless I will readily give him
such advice； in all good faith； as will be likely to bring him
safely to his own country。〃
〃Then send him away；〃 said Mercury； 〃or Jove will be angry with
you and punish you〃'
On this he took his leave； and Calypso went out to look for Ulysses；
for she had heard Jove's message。 She found him sitting upon the beach
with his eyes ever filled with tears； and dying of sheer
home…sickness； for he had got tired of Calypso； and though he was
forced to sleep with her in the cave by night； it was she； not he；
that would have it so。 As for the day time； he spent it on the rocks
and on the sea…shore； weeping； crying aloud for his despair； and
always looking out upon the sea。 Calypso then went close up to him
said：
〃My poor fellow； you shall not stay here grieving and fretting
your life out any longer。 I am going to send you away of my own free
will； so go； cut some beams of wood； and make yourself a large raft
wi