Welcomed to the Hearth

10He ended, and sat down upon the hearth
Among the ashes, near the fire, and all
Were silent utterly. At length outspoke
Echeneus, oldest and most eloquent chief
Of the Phaeacians; large his knowledge was
Of things long past. With generous intent,
And speaking to the assembly, he began: —

11“Alcinous, this is not a seemly sight —
A stranger sitting on the hearth among
The cinders. All the others here await
Your order, and move not. I pray you, raise
The stranger up, and seat him on a throne
Studded with silver. Be your heralds called,
And bid them mingle wine, which we may pour
To Zeus, the god of thunders, who attends
And honors every suppliant. Let the dame
Who oversees the palace feast provide
Our guest a banquet from the stores within.”

12This when the reverend king Alcinous heard,
Forthwith he took Odysseus by the hand —
That man of wise devices —raised him up
And seated him upon a shining throne,
From which he bade Laodamas arise,
His manly son, whose seat was next to his.

13“Now mingle wine, Protonous, in a vase,
For all within the palace, to be poured
To Zeus, the god of thunders, who attends
And honors every suppliant.” As he spoke
Protonous mingled the delicious wines,
And passed from right to left, distributing
The cups to all; and when they all had poured
A part to Zeus, and all had drunk their fill,
Alcinous took the word, and thus he said: —