Then cloud-compelling Jupiter replied: “Earth-shaker, ruler of a mighty realm! What hast thou said? The gods deny thee not Due honor; perilous it were for them To show contempt for one who stands in age And might above them all. But if among The sons of men be one who puts such trust In his own strength as not to honor thee, Do as seems good to thee, and as thou wilt.”
Promptly the god who shakes the shores replied; “What thou dost bid me I would do at once, But that I fear and would avoid thy wrath. I would destroy that fair Phaeacian barque In its return across the misty sea From bearing home Ulysses, that no more May the Phaeacians lend an escort thus To wandering men, and I would also cause A lofty mount to rise and hide their town.”
Then spake again the Cloud-compeller Jove: “Thus were it best, my brother: when the crowd Of citizens already see the ship Approaching, then transform it to a rock In semblance of a galley, that they all May gaze in wonder; thus wilt thou have caused A lofty mount to stand before their town.”
This when the shaker of the shores had heard, He flew to Scheria, the Phaeacian isle, And stood, until that galley, having crossed The sea, came swiftly scudding. He drew near And smote it with his open palm, and made The ship a rock, fast rooted in the bed Of the deep sea, and then he went his way.
Then winged words were spoken in that throng Of the Phaeacians, wielders of long oars, And far renowned in feats of seamanship. And, looking on each other, thus they said:—
“Ha! what has stayed our good ship on the sea? This moment we beheld her hastening home.”
’Twas thus they talked, unweeting of the cause. But then Alcinoüs to the assembly said:—