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.”