Beds Are Made

23So they conferred. White-armed Arete spoke,
And bade her maidens in the portico
Place couches, and upon them lay fair rugs
Of purple dye, and tapestry on these,
And for the outer covering shaggy cloaks.
Forth from the hall they issued, torch in hand;
And when with speed the ample bed was made,
They came and summoned thus the chief to rest: —

24“Rise, stranger, go to rest; your bed is made.”
Thus spoke the maidens, and the thought of sleep
Was welcome to Odysseus. So that night
On his deep couch the noble sufferer
Slumbered beneath the sounding portico.
Alcinous laid him down in a recess
Within his lofty palace, near to whom
The queen his consort graced the marriage-bed.