Page 137 - the-odyssey

have been long away from home, and have gone through
much hardship.’
To which Ulysses answered, ‘Good luck to you too my
friend, and may the gods grant you every happiness. I hope
you will not miss the sword you have given me along with
your apology.’
With these words he girded the sword about his shoul-
ders and towards sundown the presents began to make their
appearance, as the servants of the donors kept bringing
them to the house of King Alcinous; here his sons received
them, and placed them under their mother’s charge. Then
Alcinous led the way to the house and bade his guests take
their seats.
‘Wife,’ said he, turning to Queen Arete, ‘Go, fetch the
best chest we have, and put a clean cloak and shirt in it.
Also, set a copper on the fire and heat some water; our guest
will take a warm bath; see also to the careful packing of the
presents that the noble Phaeacians have made him; he will
thus better enjoy both his supper and the singing that will
follow. I shall myself give him this golden goblet—which is
of exquisite workmanship—that he may be reminded of me
for the rest of his life whenever he makes a drink offering to
Jove, or to any of the gods.’ {70}
Then Arete told her maids to set a large tripod upon the
fire as fast as they could, whereon they set a tripod full of
bath water on to a clear fire; they threw on sticks to make it
blaze, and the water became hot as the flame played about
the belly of the tripod. {71} Meanwhile Arete brought a
magnificent chest from her own room, and inside it she

1 The Odyssey