When Dawn showed her fingers of rose, Alcinous and Odysseus rose. Athena walked the town in a herald’s shape and called the Phaeacian counselors to assembly, praising the stranger’s build and bearing so that seats and standing room alike filled fast.
Athena went through the city in a herald’s shape and called the Phaeacian counselors to assembly, praising the stranger’s build and bearing so that seats and standing room alike filled fast.
Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep, eight white-tusked boars, and two oxen. They flayed them and made ready a feast in the stranger’s honor while the chosen crew made the ship ready at the shore.
Alcinous spoke to the gathering. This guest — whoever he was — had washed up on their shore. They must see to his convoy. He named fifty-two chosen young men to ready a ship, then led the rest to the palace for a feast in the stranger’s honor.
A herald brought blind Demodocus, whom the Muse loved and hurt together: she gave him sweet song and took his sight. Odysseus cut him a rich portion of meat and wine. When hunger was gone the Muse stirred the bard to sing the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles at Troy — how they clashed in words at a feast of the gods, and Agamemnon rejoiced, for Apollo had told him that strife would be a sign of victory.
The fifty-two chosen oarsmen drew a black ship into the water, set mast and sails, and moored her out in the stream. Then they went to Alcinous’s house. The courts filled with people young and old. Alcinous sacrificed sheep, boars, and oxen for the feast.
Whenever the divine bard paused, Odysseus wiped his tears, uncovered his face, and poured a drink-offering to the gods. When the song of Troy’s quarrel resumed, he covered his head again and groaned.