Book VIII · Episode 3 of 5
Songs and Reconciliation
Demodocus sings Hephaestus’s trap on lovers
Scenes
- Alcinoüs Calls for Dance — Alcinoüs praises dance, calls dancers
- A hush falls over the assembly
- Alcinoüs assures no one blames Odysseus
- Phaeacians admit they are no boxers
- He boasts of swiftness, feasting, soft beds
- Guest may report Phaeacian skill at home
- Hephaestus’s Snare — Hephaestus forges net to trap lovers
- Demodocus sings as dancers fill the floor
- Helios warns Hephaestus of their guilt
- Hephaestus feigns departure for Lemnos
- Ares slips in once Hephaestus departs
- Ares assures Aphrodite Hephaestus is away
- Gods Gather to Laugh — Gods gather, laugh at trapped lovers
- Hephaestus demands repayment of bridal gifts
- Poseidon, Hermes, and Apollo answer his call
- Goddesses stay home out of modesty
- A god notes wrongdoing never prospers
- Slow Hephaestus traps the swiftest god
- Apollo, Hermes, Poseidon — Apollo teases Hermes, Poseidon pleads
- Hermes would bear triple the bonds
- Only Poseidon stays silent, then pleads
- Poseidon pledges Ares will pay the fine
- Hephaestus doubts a fleeing debtor’s pledge
- Poseidon vows to cover Ares’ debt himself
- Ares and Aphrodite Freed — Hephaestus frees Ares and Aphrodite, who flee
- Ares flees to Thrace
- Aphrodite retreats to her grove at Paphos
- The Graces bathe and anoint her
- Odysseus listens with quiet pleasure
- Phaeacian sailors delight in the song too