Odyssey 7.81–107
Homer, Odyssey 7.81–107 — the palace of Alcinous · 30 lines
81δῦνε δ᾽ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον.
And she plunged into the close-built house of Erechtheus.
81–82αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματ᾽ ἴε κλυτά·
But Odysseus went to the glorious halls of Alcinous;
82–83πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ ὥρμαιν᾽ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.
and his heart pondered much as he stood, before he reached the bronze threshold.
84–85ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης δῶμα καθ᾽ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
For there was a radiance as of the sun or moon throughout the high-roofed house of great-hearted Alcinous.
86–87χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα, ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·
For walls of bronze ran this way and that, from the threshold to the innermost recess, and around ran a frieze of dark-blue enamel;
88χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·
and golden doors enclosed the close-built house within;
89σταθμοὶ δ᾽ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,
Silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,
90ἀργύρεον δ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.
and upon them a silver lintel, and a golden handle.
91χρύσειοι δ᾽ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,
And on either side were dogs of gold and silver,
92–93οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
which Hephaestus fashioned with cunning skill to guard the house of great-hearted Alcinous,
94ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.
being immortal and ageless for all their days.
95–96ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα, ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές,
And within, seats were fixed along the wall this way and that, from the threshold to the innermost recess, right through,
96–97ἔνθ᾽ ἐνὶ πέπλοι λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.
whereon soft, well-spun robes were thrown, the work of women.
98–99ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.
And there the leaders of the Phaeacians used to sit, drinking and eating; for they had unfailing supply.
100–101χρύσειοι δ᾽ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,
And golden youths stood upon well-built pedestals, holding blazing torches in their hands,
102φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.
giving light by night through the halls for the banqueters.
103πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμῳαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες
And fifty slave-women he has throughout the house,
104αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,
some of whom grind the yellow grain on the millstones,
105–106αἱ δ᾽ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·
while others weave webs and twirl the yarn as they sit, like the leaves of a tall poplar;
107καιρουσσέων δ᾽ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.
and from the close-woven linens the liquid oil drips down.