“Princes and chiefs of the Phaeacians, hear: I speak the promptings of my heart. This guest— I know him not—has come to my abode, A wanderer—haply from the tribes who dwell In the far East, or haply from the West— And asked an escort and safe-conduct home; And let us make them ready, as our wont Has ever been. No stranger ever comes Across my threshold who is suffered long To pine for his departure. Let us draw A dark-hulled ship down to the holy sea On her first voyage. Let us choose her crew Among the people, two-and-fifty youths Of our best seamen. Then make fast the oars Beside the benches, leave them there, and come Into our palace and partake in haste A feast which I will liberally spread For all of you. This I command the youths; But you, ye sceptred princes, come at once To my fair palace, that we there may pay The honors due our guest; let none refuse. Call also the divine Demodocus, The bard, on whom a deity bestowed In ample measure the sweet gift of song, Delightful when the spirit prompts the lay.”
He spake, and led the way; the sceptred train Of princes followed him. The herald sought Meantime the sacred bard. The chosen youths Fifty-and-two betook them to the marge Of the unfruitful sea; and when they reached The ship and beach they drew the dark hull down To the deep water, put the mast on board And the ship’s sails, and fitted well the oars Into the leathern rings, and, having moored Their barque in the deep water, went with speed To their wise monarch in his spacious halls. There portico and court and hall were thronged With people, young and old in multitude; And there Alcinoüs sacrificed twelve sheep, Eight white-toothed swine, and two splayfooted beeves. And these they flayed, and duly dressed, and made A noble banquet ready. Then appeared The herald, leading the sweet singer in, Him whom the Muse with an exceeding love Had cherished, and had visited with good And evil, quenched his eyesight and bestowed Sweetness of song. Pontonoüs mid the guests Placed for the bard a silver-studded throne, Against a lofty column hung his harp Above his head, and taught him how to find And take it down. Near him the herald set A basket and fair table, and a cup