A Son-in-Law Offered

19And then Alcinous answered him and said: —
“Stranger, one duty has my child overlooked —
To bid you follow hither with her maids,
Since you did sue to her the first of all.”

20Odysseus, the sagacious, thus replied: —
“Blame not for that, O hero, I entreat,
Your faultless daughter. She commanded me
To follow with her maids, but I refrained
For fear and awe of you, lest, at the sight,
You might be displeased; for we are prone
To dark misgivings —we, the sons of men.”
Again Alcinous spoke: “The heart that beats
Within my bosom is not rashly moved
To wrath, and better is the temperate mood.
This must I say, O Father Zeus,
And Athena and Apollo! I could wish
That, being as you are, and of like mind
With me, you would receive to be your bride
My daughter, and be called my son-in-law,
And here abide. A palace I would give,
And riches, should you willingly remain.
Against your will let no Phaeacian dare
To keep you here. May Father Zeus forbid!
And that you may be sure of my intent,
I name tomorrow for your voyage home.
Sleep in your bed till then; and they shall row
Over the calm sea your galley, till you come
To your own land and home, or wherever
You will, though further off the coast should be
Than far Euboea, most remote of lands —
So do the people of our isle declare,
Who saw it when they over sea conveyed
The fair-haired Rhadamanthus, on his way
To visit Tityus, son of Earth. They went
Thither, accomplishing with little toil
Their voyage in the compass of a day,
And brought the hero to our isle again.
Now shall you learn, and in your heart confess,
How much our galleys and our youths excel
With bladed oars to stir the whirling brine.”