haven’s mouth. An olive-tree With spreading branches at the farther end Of that fair haven stands, and overbrows A pleasant shady grotto of the nymphs Called Naiads. Cups and jars of stone are ranged Within, and bees lay up their honey there. There from their spindles wrought of stone the nymphs Weave their sea-purple robes, which all behold With wonder; there are ever-flowing springs. Two are the entrances: one toward the north By which men enter; but a holier one Looks toward the south, nor ever mortal foot May enter there. By that way pass the gods.
They touched the land, for well they knew the spot. The galley, urged so strongly by the arms Of those who plied the oar, ran up the beach Quite half her length. And then the crew came forth From the good ship, and first they lifted out Ulysses with the linen and rich folds Of tapestry, and laid him on the sands In a deep slumber. Then they also took The presents from the hold, which, as he left Their isle, the princes of Phaeacia gave By counsel of wise Pallas. These they piled Close to the olive-tree, without the way, That none, in passing, ere Ulysses woke, Might do their owner wrong. Then homeward sailed The crew; but Neptune, who could not forge The threats which he had uttered long before Against the godlike chief Ulysses, thus Sought to explore the will of Jupiter:—
“O Father Jove! I shall no more be held In honor with the gods, since mortal men, The people of Phaeacia, though their race Is of my lineage, do not honor me. I meant Ulysses should not reach his home Save with much suffering, though I never thought To hinder his return, for thou hadst given Thy promise and thy nod that it should be. Yet these Phaeacians, in a gallant barque, Have borne him o’er the deep, and while he slept, Have laid him down in Ithaca, and given Large gifts, abundant store of brass and gold, And woven work, more than he could have brought From captured Ilium, if he had returned Safely, with all his portion of the spoil.”