Page 220 - the-odyssey
P. 220

might come and steal them before Ulysses awoke; and then
         they made the best of their way home again.
            But Neptune did not forget the threats with which he
         had  already  threatened  Ulysses,  so  he  took  counsel  with
         Jove. ‘Father Jove,’ said he, ‘I shall no longer be held in any
         sort of respect among you gods, if mortals like the Phaea-
         cians, who are my own flesh and blood, show such small
         regard for me. I said I would let Ulysses get home when he
         had suffered sufficiently. I did not say that he should never
         get home at all, for I knew you had already nodded your
         head about it, and promised that he should do so; but now
         they have brought him in a ship fast asleep and have land-
         ed him in Ithaca after loading him with more magnificent
         presents of bronze, gold, and raiment than he would ever
         have brought back from Troy, if he had had his share of the
         spoil and got home without misadventure.’
            And Jove answered, ‘What, O Lord of the Earthquake,
         are you talking about? The gods are by no means wanting in
         respect for you. It would be monstrous were they to insult
         one so old and honoured as you are. As regards mortals,
         however, if any of them is indulging in insolence and treat-
         ing you disrespectfully, it will always rest with yourself to
         deal with him as you may think proper, so do just as you
         please.’
            ‘I  should  have  done  so  at  once,’  replied  Neptune,  ‘if  I
         were  not  anxious  to  avoid  anything  that  might  displease
         you; now, therefore, I should like to wreck the Phaeacian
         ship as it is returning from its escort. This will stop them
         from escorting people in future; and I should also like to

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