with him and killed him because he challenged him as an archer。 I
can throw a dart farther than any one else can shoot an arrow。 Running
is the only point in respect of which I am afraid some of the
Phaecians might beat me； for I have been brought down very low at sea；
my provisions ran short； and therefore I am still weak。〃
They all held their peace except King Alcinous； who began； 〃Sir；
we have had much pleasure in hearing all that you have told us； from
which I understand that you are willing to show your prowess； as
having been displeased with some insolent remarks that have been
made to you by one of our athletes； and which could never have been
uttered by any one who knows how to talk with propriety。 I hope you
will apprehend my meaning； and will explain to any be one of your
chief men who may be dining with yourself and your family when you get
home； that we have an hereditary aptitude for accomplishments of all
kinds。 We are not particularly remarkable for our boxing； nor yet as
wrestlers； but we are singularly fleet of foot and are excellent
sailors。 We are extremely fond of good dinners； music； and dancing； we
also like frequent changes of linen； warm baths； and good beds； so
now； please； some of you who are the best dancers set about dancing；
that our guest on his return home may be able to tell his friends
how much we surpass all other nations as sailors； runners； dancers；
minstrels。 Demodocus has left his lyre at my house； so run some one or
other of you and fetch it for him。〃
On this a servant hurried off to bring the lyre from the king's
house； and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward。
It was their business to manage everything connected with the
sports； so they made the ground smooth and marked a wide space for the
dancers。 Presently the servant came back with Demodocus's lyre； and he
took his place in the midst of them； whereon the best young dancers in
the town began to foot and trip it so nimbly that Ulysses was
delighted with the merry twinkling of their feet。
Meanwhile the bard began to sing the loves of Mars and Venus； and
how they first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan。 Mars
made Venus many presents； and defiled King Vulcan's marriage bed； so
the sun； who saw what they were about； told Vulcan。 Vulcan was very
angry when he heard such dreadful news； so he went to his smithy
brooding mischief； got his great anvil into its place； and began to
forge some chains which none could either unloose or break； so that
they might stay there in that place。 When he had finished his snare he
went into his bedroom and festooned the bed…posts all over with chains
like cobwebs； he also let many hang down from the great beam of the
ceiling。 Not even a god could see them； so fine and subtle were
they。 As soon as he had spread the chains all over the bed； he made as
though he were setting out for the fair state of Lemnos； which of
all places in the world was the one he was most fond of。 But Mars kept
no blind look out； and as soon as he saw him start； hurried off to his
house； burning with love for Venus。
Now Venus was just come in from a visit to her father Jove； and
was about sitting down when Mars came inside the house； an said as
he took her hand in his own； 〃Let us go to the couch of Vulcan： he
is not at home； but is gone off to Lemnos among the Sintians； whose
speech is barbarous。〃
She was nothing loth； so they went to the couch to take their
rest； whereon they were caught in the toils which cunning Vulcan had
spread for them； and could neither get up nor stir hand or foot； but
found too late that they were in a trap。 Then Vulcan came up to
them； for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos； when his scout
the sun told him what was going on。 He was in a furious passion； and
stood in the vestibule making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all
the gods。
〃Father Jove；〃 he cried； 〃and all you other blessed gods who live
for ever； come here and see the ridiculous and disgraceful sight
that I will show you。 Jove's daughter Venus is always dishonouring
me because I am lame。 She is in love with Mars； who is handsome and
clean built； whereas I am a cripple… but my parents are to blame for
that； not I； they ought never to have begotten me。 Come and see the
pair together asleep on my bed。 It makes me furious to look at them。
They are very fond of one another； but I do not think they will lie
there longer than they can help； nor do I think that they will sleep
much； there； however； they shall stay till her father has repaid me
the sum I gave him for his baggage of a daughter； who is fair but
not honest。〃
On this the gods gathered to the house of Vulcan。 Earth…encircling
Neptune came； and Mercury the bringer of luck； and King Apollo； but
the goddesses stayed at home all of them for shame。 Then the givers of
all good things stood in the doorway； and the blessed gods roared with
inextinguishable laughter； as they saw how cunning Vulcan had been；
whereon one would turn towards his neighbour saying：
〃Ill deeds do not prosper； and the weak confound the strong。 See how
limping Vulcan； lame as he is； has caught Mars who is the fleetest god
in heaven； and now Mars will be cast in heavy damages。〃
Thus did they converse； but King Apollo said to Mercury；
〃Messenger Mercury； giver of good things； you would not care how
strong the chains were； would you； if you could sleep with Venus？〃
〃King Apollo；〃 answered Mercury； 〃I only wish I might get the
chance； though there were three times as many chains… and you might
look on； all of you； gods and goddesses； but would sleep with her if I
could。〃
The immortal gods burst out laughing as they heard him； but
Neptune took it all seriously； and kept on imploring Vulcan to set
Mars free again。 〃Let him go；〃 he cried； 〃and I will undertake； as you
require； that he shall pay you all the damages that are held
reasonable among the immortal gods。〃
〃Do not；〃 replied Vulcan； 〃ask me to do this； a bad man's bond is
bad security； what remedy could I enforce against you if Mars should
go away and leave his debts behind him along with his chains？〃
〃Vulcan；〃 said Neptune； 〃if Mars goes away without paying his
damages； I will pay you myself。〃 So Vulcan answered； 〃In this case I
cannot and must not refuse you。〃
Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them； and as soon as they
were free they scampered off； Mars to Thrace and laughter…loving Venus
to Cyprus and to Paphos； where is her grove and her altar fragrant
with burnt offerings。 Here the Graces hathed her； and anointed her
with oil of ambrosia such as the immortal gods make use of； and they
clothed her in raiment of the most enchanting beauty。
Thus sang the bard； and both Ulysses and the seafaring Phaeacians
were charmed as they heard him。
Then Alcinous told Laodamas and Halius to dance alone； for there was
no one to compete with them。 So they took a red ball which Polybus had
made for them； and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it
up towards the clouds； while the other jumped from off the ground
and caught it with ease before it came down again。 When they had
done throwing the ball straight up into the air they began to dance；
and at the same time kept on throwing it backwards and forwards to one
another； while all the young men in the ring applauded and made a
great stamping with their feet。 Then Ulysses said：
〃King Alcinous； you said your people were the nimblest dancers in
the world； and indeed they have proved themselves to be so。 I was
astonished as I saw them。〃
The king was delighted at this； and exclaimed to the Phaecians
〃Aldermen and town councillors； our guest seems to be a person of
singular judgement； let us give him such proof of our hospitality as
he may reasonably expect。 There are twelve chief men among you； and
counting myself there are thirteen； contribute； each of you； a clean
cloak； a shirt； and a talent of fine gold； let us give him all this in
a lump down at once； so that when he gets his supper he may do so with
a light heart。 As for Euryalus he will have to make a formal apology
and a present too； for he has been rude。〃
Thus did he speak。 The others all of them applauded his saying；
and sent their servants to fetch the presents。 Then Euryalus said；
〃King Alcinous； I will give the stranger all the satisfaction you
require。 He shall have sword； which is of bronze； all but the hilt；
which is of silver。 I will also give him the scabbard of newly sawn
ivory into which it fits。 It will be worth a great deal to him。〃
As he spoke he placed the sword in the hands of Ulysses and said；
〃Good luck to you； father stranger； if anything has been said amiss
may the winds blow it away with them； and may heaven grant you a
safe return； for I understand you have been long away from home； and
have gone through much hardship。〃
To which Ulysses answered； 〃Good luck to you too my friend； and
may the gods grant you every happiness。 I hope you will not miss the
sword you have given me along with your apology。〃
With these words he girded the sword about his shoulders and towards
sundown the presents began to make their appearance； as the servants
of the