Festivals in Honor of Ulysses
A general council of the Phaeacians, in which it is determined to send Ulysses home to Ithaca—A solemn feast—Lay of the Trojan War, sung by Demodocus, the minstrel—Public games—Ulysses conquers in throwing the discus—The amour of Mars and Venus sung by Demodocus—His song of the Trojan horse and the fall of Troy.
When Morn appeared, the rosy-fingered child Of Dawn, Alcinoüs, mighty and revered, Rose from his bed. Ulysses, noble chief, Spoiler of cities, also left his couch. Alcinoüs, mighty and revered, went forth Before, and led him to the marketplace Of the Phaeacians, built beside the fleet, And there on polished stones they took their seats Near to each other. Pallas, who now seemed A herald of the wise Alcinoüs, went Through all the city, planning how to send Magnanimous Ulysses to his home, And came and stood by every chief and said:—
“Leaders and chiefs of the Phaeacians, come Speedily to the marketplace, and there Hear of the stranger who from wandering o’er The deep has come where wise Alcinoüs holds His court; in aspect he is like the gods.”
She spake, and every mind and heart was moved, And all the marketplace and all its seats Were quickly filled with people. Many gazed, Admiring, on Laertes’ well-graced son; For on his face and form had Pallas shed A glory, and had made him seem more tall And of an ampler bulk, that he might find Favor with the Phaeacians, and be deemed Worthy of awe and able to achieve The many feats which the Phaeacian chiefs, To try the stranger’s prowess, might propose.
And now when all the summoned had arrived, Alcinoüs to the full assembly spake:—