So sang the famous bard, while inly pleased Ulysses heard, and pleased were all the rest, Phaeacia’s sons, expert with oar and sail.
Alcinoüs called his sons Laodamas And Halius forth, and bade them dance alone, For none of all the others equalled them. Then taking a fair purple ball, the work Of skilful Polybus, and, bending back, One flung it toward the shadowy clouds on high, The other springing upward easily Grasped it before he touched the ground again. And when they thus had tossed the ball awhile, They danced upon the nourishing earth, and oft Changed places with each other, while the youths, That stood within the circle filled the air With their applauses; mighty was the din. Then great Ulysses to Alcinoüs said:— “O King Alcinoüs! mightiest of the race For whom thou hast engaged that they excel All others in the dance, what thou hast said Is amply proved. I look and am amazed.”
Well pleased Alcinoüs the mighty heard, And thus to his seafaring people spake:—
“Leaders and chiefs of the Phaeacians, hear! Wise seems the stranger. Haste we to bestow Gifts that may well beseem his liberal hests. Twelve honored princes in our land bear sway, The thirteenth prince am I. Let each one bring A well-bleached cloak, a tunic, and beside Of precious gold a talent. Let them all Be brought at once, that, having seen them here, Our guest may with a cheerful heart partake The evening meal. And let Euryalus, Who spake but now so unbecomingly, Appease him both with words and with a gift.”
He spake; they all approved, and each one sent His herald with a charge to bring the gifts, And thus Euryalus addressed the king:—
“O King Alcinoüs, mightiest of our race, I will obey thee, and will seek to appease Our guest. This sword of brass will I bestow, With hilt of silver, and an ivory sheath New wrought, which he may deem a gift of price.”