Ulysses, the great sufferer, as she spake Shuddered, and thus with winged words replied:—
“Some other purpose than to send me home Is in thy heart, O goddess, bidding me To cross this frightful sea upon a raft— This perilous sea, where never even ships Pass with their rapid keels, though Jove bestow The wind that glads the seaman. Nay, I climb No raft, against thy wish, unless thou swear The great oath of the gods that thou in this Dost meditate no other harm to me.”
He spake; Calypso, glorious goddess, smiled, And smoothed his forehead with her hand, and said:—
“Perverse, and slow to see where guile is not!
How could thy heart permit thee thus to speak?
Now bear me witness, Earth, and ye broad Heavens Above us, and ye waters of the Styx That flow beneath us, mightiest oath of all, And most revered by all the blessed gods, That I design no other harm to thee, But that I plan for thee, and counsel thee What I would do were I in need like thine.
I bear a juster mind; my bosom holds A pitying heart, and not a heart of steel.”
Thus having said, the glorious goddess moved Away with hasty steps, and where she trod He followed, till they reached the vaulted cave— The goddess and the hero. There he took The seat whence Hermes had just risen. The nymph Brought forth whatever mortals eat and drink To set before him. She right opposite To that of great Ulysses took her seat. Ambrosia there her maidens laid, and there Poured nectar. Both put forth their hands, and took The ready viands, till at length the calls Of hunger and of thirst were satisfied; Calypso, glorious goddess, then began:—