Then I answered Alcinous. “Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all people — there is a time for talk and a time for sleep, but since you ask, I will tell my name and my bitter road home. First know who I am, so that hereafter, if I escape the pitiless day, I may be your host though my home is far.”
“I am Odysseus son of Laertes, known among men for all manner of wiles, and my fame reaches heaven. I live in clear Ithaca. Around it lie Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. Ithaca itself lies low, farthest out toward the dusk, a rough land, but a good nurse of men. For my part I can see no sweeter sight than a man’s own country.”
“Calypso kept me in her hollow caves and wanted me for her husband. Circe of Aeaea held me the same way. Neither ever won my heart. Nothing is sweeter than a man’s own land. Now I will tell the hard road Zeus laid on me when I left Troy.”
The wind took me first to Ismarus, city of the Cicones. I sacked the town and killed the men. We took their wives and goods and divided them so no man went short. I ordered that we leave at once, but my men in their folly would not listen. They drank wine and slaughtered sheep and cattle on the shore.
Meanwhile the Cicones called inland kin, more and better armed. At dawn they came thick as leaves in spring. We fought by the ships. While day held, we Achaeans stood; when the sun tipped west, the Cicones broke us. Six from each ship of mine died. The rest escaped.
I would not sail on until we had called three times to each of those who died on the plain. Then Zeus raised a North Wind and hid land and sea under cloud. We lowered torn sails and rowed for the mainland, and lay there two days and nights eating our hearts for weariness. On the third day we set mast and sail again. Foul winds drove me nine days over the fish-filled sea.