Sixth Episode - Phaeacians
(a s told by Homer and Odysseus in Books V, VII, XI and XIII)



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Poseidon
Odysseus (alone after the loss of all his companions)
Alcinoos (King of the Phaeacians)



(Book V)

On the screen appears
(278) He sailed seventeen days, faring on the sea,
(279) And on the eighteenth there appeared
(280) the land of the Phaeacia ns
(282) But the earth-shaking ruler
(283) saw him from afar

Poseidon
(286) Well the gods have now made quite a different plan
(287) About Odysseus,
(290) And I think I will still drive him into quite enough evil.



(Book VII)

On the screen appears
(272) He stirred up winds
(273) And he raised an indescribable sea
(280) But I withdrew and swam the other way until I came
(281) To the river,
(285) I stepped out and went to sleep in the bushes

 (14) And then Odysseus got up to go to the city,
 (82) Went to the famous house of Alcinoos.


(Book XI)< BR>
Zeus
is typing on the computerscreen
(330) "[...] Now it is time
(331) For me to sleep, whether I go to my companions on the swift ship
(332) Or stay here. The convoy shall be your concern, and the gods".
(333) So he said. And they all became silent in stillness.
(334) They were held in rapture through the shadowy halls.

Alcinoos
(3 48) So shall this word come about, if I be indeed
(349) Alive and rule the Phaecians, who are fond of rowing
(350) Let the stranger, though greatly desiring a return,
(351) Still endure to wait till tomorrow until I complete
(352) The enti re gift. The convoy will concern all the men,
(353) And me especially, as I have power in the land.

Odysseus
(355) Lordly Alcinoos, exalted among all your people,
(356) Even if you should bid me to stay here for a year
(357) And urged on an convoy and gave glorious gifts,
(358) I would want to do it, since it would be better by far
(359) To reach oneís dear fatherland with a fuller h and;

Alcinoos
(363) Odysseus, as we look on you we would not think you
(364) To be a deceiver and cheat the way many men are
(365) Whom the black earth nourishes, and are widely dispersed,
(373) This night is prodigiously long. It is not yet time
(374) To sleep in the hall. Do tell me your wondrous deeds.
(375) I would hold out until the godly dawn, so long
(376) As you could endure to r ecount your cares in the hall.

Odysseus
(379) There is a time for many tales and also a time for sleep.
(380) But if you are still longing to listen, I woul d not myself.
(381) Refuse you in this, to tell other more piteous things,
(382) The cares of my companions who perished afterward,
(383) Who escaped from the grievous war cry of the Trojans
(384) But died on returning at the will of an evil woman.


(Book XIII)

Odysseus
 (38) Lordly Alcinoos, exalted among all your people,
 (39) Pour a libation and send me home unharmed. Farewell to you!

On the screen appears
 (81) the ship
 (86) ran safely and steadily,
 (89) Carrying a man who had plans like those of the gods,
 (90) Who in time past had suffered very many pains in his heart,
 (91) Passing through the wars of men and the troublesome waves.

(113) The men
(119) set him down on the sand overcome with sleep.
(125) Then they started back homeward.



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