Odyssey 7.108–145
Homer, Odyssey 7.108–145 — the orchard of Alcinous; Odysseus enters the hall · 40 lines
108–110ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι·
As much as the Phaeacians are skilled beyond all men at driving a swift ship on the sea, so too the women are skilled at the loom;
110–111πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη ἔργα τ᾽ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.
for beyond others Athena granted them to know exceedingly beautiful handiwork, and good wits.
112–113ἔκτοσθεν δ᾽ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων τετράγυος· περὶ δ᾽ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
And outside the courtyard, near the doors, is a great orchard of four measures; and round it a hedge runs on both sides.
114ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,
And there tall trees have grown, flourishing:
115–116ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.
pear-trees and pomegranates and apple-trees with splendid fruit, and sweet fig-trees and flourishing olives.
117–118τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδ᾽ ἀπολείπει χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος·
Of these the fruit never perishes nor fails, in winter nor in summer, but lasts the whole year round;
118–119ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ αἰεὶ Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.
but ever the West Wind, blowing, brings some to birth and ripens others.
120–121ὄγχνη ἐπ᾽ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δ᾽ ἐπὶ μήλῳ, αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δ᾽ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.
Pear grows old upon pear, apple upon apple, cluster upon cluster, and fig upon fig.
122ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,
And there a fruitful vineyard has been planted for him,
123–124τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δ᾽ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,
of which one part, a drying-floor on level ground, is being dried in the sun, and others they gather,
125–126ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τ᾽ ὄμφακές εἰσιν ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δ᾽ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.
and others they tread; and in front are unripe grapes just shedding their blossom, while others are turning dark.
127–128ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·
And there well-ordered garden-beds of every kind grow along the furthest row, bright the whole year through.
129–131ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τ᾽ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα σκίδναται, ἡ δ᾽ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπ᾽ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.
And in it are two springs: the one scatters its water throughout the whole garden, while the other, on the far side, runs beneath the courtyard threshold toward the high house, whence the townsfolk drew their water.
132τοῖ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
Such, then, were the splendid gifts of the gods in the house of Alcinous.
133ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
There, standing, much-enduring godlike Odysseus gazed in wonder.
134–135αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ, καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.
But when indeed he had marvelled at everything in his heart, swiftly he stepped over the threshold into the house.
136–138εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ, ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.
And he found the leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians pouring libations from their cups to the keen-sighted Argeïphontes, to whom last of all they would pour, whenever they were minded of bed.
139–141αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς πολλὴν ἠέρ᾽ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη, ὄφρ᾽ ἵκετ᾽ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
But he, much-enduring godlike Odysseus, went through the hall holding the thick mist that Athena had shed about him, until he reached Arete and Alcinous the king.
142–143ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς, καὶ τότε δή ῥ᾽ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.
And Odysseus cast his arms about the knees of Arete, and just then the god-sent mist flowed back away from him.
144–145οἱ δ᾽ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες· θαύμαζον δ᾽ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
And they fell silent, seeing the man throughout the hall; and they marvelled as they gazed. But Odysseus made his entreaty: