Page 238 - the-odyssey

ing went ill with any of our ships, and we had no sickness
on board, but sat where we were and let the ships go as the
wind and steersmen took them. On the fifth day we reached
the river Aegyptus; there I stationed my ships in the river,
bidding my men stay by them and keep guard over them
while I sent out scouts to reconnoitre from every point of
vantage.
‘But the men disobeyed my orders, took to their own de-
vices, and ravaged the land of the Egyptians, killing the men,
and taking their wives and children captive. The alarm was
soon carried to the city, and when they heard the war cry,
the people came out at daybreak till the plain was filled with
horsemen and foot soldiers and with the gleam of armour.
Then Jove spread panic among my men, and they would
no longer face the enemy, for they found themselves sur-
rounded. The Egyptians killed many of us, and took the rest
alive to do forced labour for them. Jove, however, put it in
my mind to do thus—and I wish I had died then and there
in Egypt instead, for there was much sorrow in store for
me—I took off my helmet and shield and dropped my spear
from my hand; then I went straight up to the king’s chariot,
clasped his knees and kissed them, whereon he spared my
life, bade me get into his chariot, and took me weeping to
his own home. Many made at me with their ashen spears
and tried to kill me in their fury, but the king protected me,
for he feared the wrath of Jove the protector of strangers,
who punishes those who do evil.
‘I stayed there for seven years and got together much
money among the Egyptians, for they all gave me some-