line of the sea and shut the harbour in。 These shelter it from the
storms of wind and sea that rage outside； so that； when once within
it； a ship may lie without being even moored。 At the head of this
harbour there is a large olive tree； and at no distance a fine
overarching cavern sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads。 There
are mixing…bowls within it and wine…jars of stone； and the bees hive
there。 Moreover； there are great looms of stone on which the nymphs
weave their robes of sea purple… very curious to see… and at all times
there is water within it。 It has two entrances； one facing North by
which mortals can go down into the cave； while the other comes from
the South and is more mysterious； mortals cannot possibly get in by
it； it is the way taken by the gods。
Into this harbour； then； they took their ship； for they knew the
place； She had so much way upon her that she ran half her own length
on to the shore； when； however； they had landed； the first thing
they did was to lift Ulysses with his rug and linen sheet out of the
ship； and lay him down upon the sand still fast asleep。 Then they took
out the presents which Minerva had persuaded the Phaeacians to give
him when he was setting out on his voyage homewards。 They put these
all together by the root of the olive tree； away from the road； for
fear some passer by might come and steal them before Ulysses awoke；
and then they made the best of their way home again。
But Neptune did not forget the threats with which he had already
threatened Ulysses； so he took counsel with Jove。 〃Father Jove；〃
said he； 〃I shall no longer be held in any sort of respect among you
gods； if mortals like the Phaeacians； who are my own flesh and
blood； show such small regard for me。 I said I would Ulysses get
home when he had suffered sufficiently。 I did not say that he should
never get home at all； for I knew you had already nodded your head
about it； and promised that he should do so； but now they have brought
him in a ship fast asleep and have landed him in Ithaca after
loading him with more magnificent presents of bronze； gold； and
raiment than he would ever have brought back from Troy； if he had
had his share of the spoil and got home without misadventure。〃
And Jove answered； 〃What； O Lord of the Earthquake； are you
talking about？ The gods are by no means wanting in respect for you。 It
would be monstrous were they to insult one so old and honoured as
you are。 As regards mortals； however； if any of them is indulging in
insolence and treating you disrespectfully； it will always rest with
yourself to deal with him as you may think proper； so do just as you
please。〃
〃I should have done so at once；〃 replied Neptune； 〃if I were not
anxious to avoid anything that might displease you； now； therefore；
I should like to wreck the Phaecian ship as it is returning from its
escort。 This will stop them from escorting people in future； and I
should also like to bury their city under a huge mountain。〃
〃My good friend；〃 answered Jove； 〃I should recommend you at the very
moment when the people from the city are watching the ship on her way；
to turn it into a rock near the land and looking like a ship。 This
will astonish everybody； and you can then bury their city under the
mountain。〃
When earth…encircling Neptune heard this he went to Scheria where
the Phaecians live； and stayed there till the ship； which was making
rapid way； had got close…in。 Then he went up to it； turned it into
stone； and drove it down with the flat of his hand so as to root it in
the ground。 After this he went away。
The Phaeacians then began talking among themselves； and one would
turn towards his neighbour； saying； 〃Bless my heart； who is it that
can have rooted the ship in the sea just as she was getting into port？
We could see the whole of her only moment ago。〃
This was how they talked； but they knew nothing about it； and
Alcinous said； 〃I remember now the old prophecy of my father。 He
said that Neptune would be angry with us for taking every one so
safely over the sea； and would one day wreck a Phaeacian ship as it
was returning from an escort； and bury our city under a high mountain。
This was what my old father used to say； and now it is all coming
true。 Now therefore let us all do as I say； in the first place we must
leave off giving people escorts when they come here； and in the next
let us sacrifice twelve picked bulls to Neptune that he may have mercy
upon us； and not bury our city under the high mountain。〃 When the
people heard this they were afraid and got ready the bulls。
Thus did the chiefs and rulers of the Phaecians to king Neptune；
standing round his altar； and at the same time Ulysses woke up once
more upon his own soil。 He had been so long away that he did not
know it again； moreover； Jove's daughter Minerva had made it a foggy
day； so that people might not know of his having come； and that she
might tell him everything without either his wife or his fellow
citizens and friends recognizing him until he had taken his revenge
upon the wicked suitors。 Everything； therefore； seemed quite different
to him… the long straight tracks； the harbours； the precipices； and
the goodly trees； appeared all changed as he started up and looked
upon his native land。 So he smote his thighs with the flat of his
hands and cried aloud despairingly。
〃Alas；〃 he exclaimed； 〃among what manner of people am I fallen？
Are they savage and uncivilized or hospitable and humane？ Where
shall I put all this treasure； and which way shall I go？ I wish I
had stayed over there with the Phaeacians； or I could have gone to
some other great chief who would have been good to me and given me
an escort。 As it is I do not know where to put my treasure； and I
cannot leave it here for fear somebody else should get hold of it。
In good truth the chiefs and rulers of the Phaeacians have not been
dealing fairly by me； and have left me in the wrong country； they said
they would take me back to Ithaca and they have not done so： may
Jove the protector of suppliants chastise them； for he watches over
everybody and punishes those who do wrong。 Still； I suppose I must
count my goods and see if the crew have gone off with any of them。〃
He counted his goodly coppers and cauldrons； his gold and all his
clothes； but there was nothing missing； still he kept grieving about
not being in his own country； and wandered up and down by the shore of
the sounding sea bewailing his hard fate。 Then Minerva came up to
him disguised as a young shepherd of delicate and princely mien；
with a good cloak folded double about her shoulders； she had sandals
on her comely feet and held a javelin in her hand。 Ulysses was glad
when he saw her； and went straight up to her。
〃My friend；〃 said he； 〃you are the first person whom I have met with
in this country； I salute you； therefore； and beg you to be will
disposed towards me。 Protect these my goods； and myself too； for I
embrace your knees and pray to you as though you were a god。 Tell
me； then； and tell me truly； what land and country is this？ Who are
its inhabitants？ Am I on an island； or is this the sea board of some
continent？〃
Minerva answered； 〃Stranger； you must be very simple； or must have
come from somewhere a long way off； not to know what country this
is。 It is a very celebrated place； and everybody knows it East and
West。 It is rugged and not a good driving country； but it is by no
means a bid island for what there is of it。 It grows any quantity of
corn and also wine； for it is watered both by rain and dew； it
breeds cattle also and goats； all kinds of timber grow here； and there
are watering places where the water never runs dry； so； sir； the
name of Ithaca is known even as far as Troy； which I understand to
be a long way off from this Achaean country。〃
Ulysses was glad at finding himself； as Minerva told him； in his own
country； and he began to answer； but he did not speak the truth； and
made up a lying story in the instinctive wiliness of his heart。
〃I heard of Ithaca；〃 said he； 〃when I was in Crete beyond the
seas； and now it seems I have reached it with all these treasures。 I
have left as much more behind me for my children； but am flying
because I killed Orsilochus son of Idomeneus； the fleetest runner in
Crete。 I killed him because he wanted to rob me of the spoils I had
got from Troy with so much trouble and danger both on the field of
battle and by the waves of the weary sea； he said I had not served his
father loyally at Troy as vassal； but had set myself up as an
independent ruler； so I lay in wait for him and with one of my
followers by the road side； and speared him as he was coming into town
from the country。 my It was a very dark night and nobody saw us； it
was not known； therefore； that I had killed him； but as soon as I
had done so I went to a ship and besought the owners； who were
Phoenicians； to take me on board and set me in Pylos or in Elis
where the Epeans rule； giving them as much spoil as satisfied them。
They meant no guile； but the wind drove them off their course； and
we sailed on till we came hither by night。 It was all we could do to
get inside the harbour； a