abode for seven years continually, and watered with my tears the imperishable raiment that Calypso gave me.  But when the eighth year came round in his course, then at last she urged and bade me to be gone, by reason of a message from Zeus, or it may be that her own mind was turned.  So she sent me forth on a well-bound raft, and gave me plenteous store, bread and sweet wine, and she clad me in imperishable raiment, and sent forth a warm and gentle wind to blow.  For ten days and seven I sailed, traversing the deep, and on the eighteenth day the shadowy hills of your land showed in sight, and my heart was glad,—­wretched that I was—­for surely I was still to be the mate of much sorrow.  For Poseidon, shaker of the earth, stirred up the same, who roused against me the winds and stopped my way, and made a wondrous sea to swell, nor did the wave suffer me to be borne upon my raft, as I made ceaseless moan.  Thus the storm winds shattered the raft, but as for me I cleft my way through the gulf yonder, till the wind bare and the water brought me nigh your coast.  Then as I strove to land upon the shore, the wave had overwhelmed me, dashing me against the great rocks and a desolate place, but at length I gave way and swam back, till I came to the river, where the place seemed best in mine eyes, smooth of rocks, and withal there was a shelter from the wind.  And as I came out I sank down, gathering to me my spirit, and immortal night came on.  Then I gat me forth and away from the heaven-fed river, and laid me to sleep in the bushes and strewed leaves about me, and the god shed over me infinite sleep.  There among the leaves I slept, stricken at heart, all the night long, even till the morning and mid-day.  And the sun sank when sweet sleep let me free.  And I was aware of the company of thy daughter disporting them upon the sand, and there was she in the midst of them like unto the goddesses.  To her I made my supplication, and she showed no lack of a good understanding, behaving so as thou couldst not hope for in chancing upon one so young; for the younger folk lack wisdom always.  She gave me bread enough and red wine, and let wash me in the river and bestowed on me these garments.  Herein, albeit in sore distress, have I told thee all the truth.’

And Alcinous answered again, and spake saying:  ’Sir, surely this was no right thought of my daughter, in that she brought thee not to our house with the women her handmaids, though thou didst first entreat her grace.’

And Odysseus of many counsels answered, and said unto him:  ’My lord, chide not, I pray thee, for this the blameless maiden.  For indeed she bade me follow with her company, but I would not for fear and very shame, lest perchance thine heart might be clouded at the sight; for a jealous race upon the earth are we, the tribes of men.’