Page 139 - the-odyssey

bearing-posts supporting the cloister, that he might lean
against it. Then Ulysses cut off a piece of roast pork with
plenty of fat (for there was abundance left on the joint) and
said to a servant, ‘Take this piece of pork over to Demodo-
cus and tell him to eat it; for all the pain his lays may cause
me I will salute him none the less; bards are honoured and
respected throughout the world, for the muse teaches them
their songs and loves them.’
The servant carried the pork in his fingers over to Demo-
docus, who took it and was very much pleased. They then
laid their hands on the good things that were before them,
and as soon as they had had to eat and drink, Ulysses said
to Demodocus, ‘Demodocus, there is no one in the world
whom I admire more than I do you. You must have stud-
ied under the Muse, Jove’s daughter, and under Apollo, so
accurately do you sing the return of the Achaeans with all
their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there your-
self, you must have heard it all from some one who was.
Now, however, change your song and tell us of the wooden
horse which Epeus made with the assistance of Minerva,
and which Ulysses got by stratagem into the fort of Troy
after freighting it with the men who afterwards sacked the
city. If you will sing this tale aright I will tell all the world
how magnificently heaven has endowed you.’
The bard inspired of heaven took up the story at the
point where some of the Argives set fire to their tents and
sailed away while others, hidden within the horse, {73} were
waiting with Ulysses in the Trojan place of assembly. For
the Trojans themselves had drawn the horse into their for-

1 The Odyssey