Departure from Scheria

5He spoke; the assembly all approved his words,
And bade send forth the stranger on his way,
Who spoke so nobly. Then the mighty prince
Alcinous turned, and to the herald said: —

6“Now mix the wine, Pontonous, in a jar,
And bear a part to all beneath our roof,
That we with prayers to Father Zeus
May send the stranger to his native land.”

7He spoke; Pontonous mingled for the guests
The generous wine, and went with it to each,
Who poured it on the ground, from where they sat,
To all the dwellers of the ample heaven;
And then the great Odysseus, rising up,
Placed the round goblet in Arete’s hands,
And thus bespoke the queen with winged words: —

8“Farewell, O queen, through the long years, till age
And death, which are the lot of all, shall come.
Now I depart, but may you, here among
Your people, and the children of your love,
And King Alcinous, lead a happy life!”

9So spoke the highborn chieftain, and withdrew,
And crossed the threshold. King Alcinous sent
A herald with him to direct his way
To the fleet ship and border of the deep.
Arete also sent her servant-maids —
One bearing a fresh cloak and tunic, one
A coffer nobly wrought, and yet a third
Bread and red wine; and when they reached the ship
Beside the sea, the diligent crew received
Their burdens, and bestowed within the hold
The food and drink, but spread upon the deck
And at the stern a mat and linen sheet,
That there Odysseus undisturbed might sleep.
He went on board and silently lay down,
While all the rowers in due order took
Their seats upon the benches. Loosing first
The hawser from the perforated rock,
They bent them to their task, and flung the brine
Up from the oar, while on the chieftain’s lids
Lighted a sweet and deep and quiet sleep,
Most like to death. As, smitten by the lash,
Four harnessed stallions spring on high and dart
Across the plain together; so the prow
Rose leaping forward, while behind it rolled
A huge dark billow of the roaring sea.
Safely and steadily the galley ran,
Nor could a falcon, swiftest of the birds,
Have kept beside it, with such speed it flew,
Bearing a hero who was like the gods
In wisdom, and whose sufferings in the wars
And voyages among the furious waves
Were great and many, though he slumbered now
In peace, forgetful of misfortunes past.