when he had beheld The whole in silent wonderment, he crossed The threshold quickly, entering the hall Where the Phaeacian peers and princes poured Wine from their goblets to the sleepless one, The Argus-queller, to whose deity They made the last libations when they thought Of slumber. The great sufferer, concealed In a thick mist, which Pallas raised and cast Around him, hastened through the hall and came Close to Aretè and Alcinoüs, The royal pair. Then did Ulysses clasp Aretè’s knees, when suddenly the cloud Raised by the goddess vanished. All within The palace were struck mute as they beheld The man before them. Thus Ulysses prayed:—
“Aretè, daughter of the godlike chief Rhexenor! to thy husband I am come And to thy knees, from many hardships borne, And to these guests, to whom may the good gods Grant to live happily, and to hand down, Each one to his own children, in his home, The wealth and honors which the people’s love Bestowed upon him. Grant me, I entreat, An escort, that I may behold again And soon my own dear country. I have passed Long years in sorrow, far from all I love.”