Classic Adventure Books - Daily
05 - The Odyssey - Homer
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- Duration:
- 30m
- Broadcast on:
- 06 Aug 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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And now, as dawn rose from her couch, besides tithenous, harbinger of lighter like to mortals and in mortals, the guards met in counsel and with them, Joe the Lord of Thunder, who is their king. There on Minerva began to tell them of the many sufferings of Ulysses, for she pitied him away there in the house of the nymph, Galypso, Father Jove, said she, and all you other gods that live in everlasting bliss. I hope there may never be such a thing as a kind and well disposed ruler anymore, nor one who will govern equitably. I hope it will all be henceforth cruel and unjust, for there is not one of his subjects, but as forgotten Ulysses, who ruled them as though he were their father. There he is, lying in great pain, in an island where dwells the nymph, Galypso, who will not let him go, and it cannot get back to his own country, for he can find other ships, nor sailors, to take him over the sea. Furthermore, wicked people are now trying to murder his only son, Delamarcus, who is coming home from Aelis and Lassa demon, where he has been to see if he can get further news of his father. What, my dear, are you talking about, replied her father? Did you not send him there yourself, because you thought it would help Ulysses to get home and punish the sutas? Besides, you are perfectly able to protect Delamarcus and to see him safely home again. While the sutas have to come already scurrying back without having killed him, when he had thus spoken, he said to his son Mercury. Mercury, you are our messenger. Go there for, and El Galypso, we have decreed that poor Ulysses is to return home, is to be convoyed, neither by God nor men. But after a perilous voyage of 20 days upon a raft, he is to reach fertilizeria, the land of the fasions, who are near of kin to the gods, and will honor him as though he were one of ourselves. They will send him in a ship to his own country, and will give him more bronze and gold and raiment than he would have brought back from Troy, if he had had. All his prize money and had got home without disaster. This is how we have settled that he shall return to his country and his friends. Thus he spoke, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of August, did it he was told, forthwith, he bound on his glittering golden sandals, with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep, or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand over pyrea. Then he swooped down through the phenomenon, till he reached the level of the sea, whose waves he skinned like a cormorant, that flies fishing every hole in corner of the ocean, and drenching its thick plumage in the spray. He flew and flew over many a weary wave, but when at last he got to the island, which was his journey's end, he left the sea, and went on by land till he came to the cave, where the nymph, Calypso, lived. He found her, at home. There was a large fire burning on the hearth, and one could smell from far the fragrant reek of burning cedar and sandalwood, as for herself. She was busy at her loom. Shooting her golden shuttle through the warp, and singing beautifully, rounder gave, there was a thick wood of alder, poplar, and sweet-smelling cypress trees, wherein all kinds of grapebirds had built their nests, owls, hawks, and jattering sea crows, that occupy their business in the waters. A vine loaded with grapes was trained and grew luxuriantly, about the mouth of the cave. There were also four running reels of water, and channels cut pretty close together, and turned hither and bither, so as to irrigate the beds of violets, and luscious herbage over which they flowed, even a god could not help being charmed with such a lovely spot. So Mercury stood still, and looked at it, but when he added mud, it sufficiently, he went inside the cave. Calypso knew him at once, for the gods all know each other, no matter how far they live from one another. But Ulysses was not within. He was on the seizure, as usual, looking out upon the barren ocean, with tears in his eyes, groaning and breaking his art for sorrow. Calypso gave Mercury his seat and said, "Why have you come to see me, Mercury?" "Honored and ever welcome, for you do not visit me often. "Say what you want. "I will do it for you at once, if I can, "and if it can be done at all. "But come inside, and let me set refreshment before you." As she spoke, she drew a table loaded with ambrosia beside him, and mixed him some red nectar. So Mercury ate and drank till he had had enough, and then said, "We are speaking God and Goddess to one another. "And you ask me why I have come here, "and I will tell you truly, as you would have me do. "Jove sent me, it was no doing of mine, "who could possibly want to come all this way over the sea, "where there are no cities full of people "to offer me sacrifices, or choice egotumes. "Nevertheless, I had to come, "for none of us other gods can cross Jove, "nor transgress his orders." He says that you have here. The most ill-starred of all those who fought nine years before the city of King Brian, and sailed home in the 10th year after having sacked it. On their way home, they sinned against Minerva, who raised both wind and waves against them, so that all his brave companions perished, and he alone was carried hither by wind and died. Jove says that you are to let this man go at once, for it is decreed that he shall not perish here, far from his own people, but Jove returned to his house and country, and sees his friends again, calypso trembled with rage when she heard this. You, God, she exclaimed, ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You are always jealous in aiding a goddess, take a fancy to a mortal man, and live with him in open matrimony. So when Rosie Fingard Dawn made love to Orion, you precious gods were all view furious till Diana went and killed him in Ortasia. So again, when Ceres fell in love with Aishin, and yielded to him in a thrice-plowed fellow field, Jove came to hear of it before so long and killed Aishin with his thunderbolts, and now you are angry with me too, because I have a man here. I've found the pork-creature sitting all alone in the stride of a gill, for Jove had struck his ship with lightning and sunk it in Mid-Ogion, so that all his crew were drowned, while he himself was driven by wind and waves onto my island. I got fond of him and cherished him and had set my heart on making him immortal, so that he should never grow old all his days, still I cannot cross Jove, nor bring his counsels to nothing. Therefore, if he insists upon it, let the man go beyond the seas again, but I cannot send him anywhere myself, for I have neither ships nor men who can take him. Nevertheless, I will readily give him such advice in all good faith, as will be likely to bring him safely to his own country. Then send him away, said Mercury, or Jove will be angry with you and punish you. On this he took his leave, and Galipso went out to look for Ulysses, for she had a Jove's message. She found him sitting upon the beach, with his eyes ever filled with tears, and dying of your homesickness. Boy, he had got tired of Galipso, and though he was forced to sleep with her in the cave by night, it was she, not he, that would have it so. As for the daytime, he spent it on the rocks and on the seashore, weeping, crying aloud for his despair, and always looking out upon the sea. Galipso then went close up to him and said, "My poor fellow, you shall not stay "agrieving and fretting your life out any longer. "I am going to send you away of my own free will. "So go. "Cut some beams of wood and make yourself a large raft, "with an upper deck that it may carry you safely over the sea. "I will put bread, wine, and water on board "to save you from starving. "I will also give you clothes, "and will send you a fair wind to take you home "if the gods in heaven sow will it, "for they know more about these things "and can settle them better than I can. "You lissies shuttered as he oughta. "Now, goddess," he answered. "There is something behind all this. "You cannot be really meaning to help me home "when you bid me do such a dreadful thing "as put to sea on a raft. "Not even a well-found ship with a fair wind "a good venture on such a distant voyage. "Nothing that you can say or do. "So make me go on board a raft unless you first solemnly swear "that you mean me, no mischief. "Calypso smiled at this and caressed him with her hand. "You know a great deal, said she, "but you are quite wrong here. "May heaven above and earth below be my witnesses "with the waters of the river sticks, "and this is the most solemn oath which a blessed God can take "that I mean you, no sort of arm, "and am only advising you to do exactly "what I should do myself in your place. "I am dealing with you quite straightforwardly. "My heart is not made of iron, "and I am very sorry for you." When she had thus spoken, she led the way rapidly before him, and Ulysses followed in her steps. So the pair, goddess and man, went on and on until they came to Calypso's cave, where Ulysses took the seat that mercury had just left. Calypso set meat and drink before him of the food that mortals eat, but her maids brought ambrosia and nectar for herself, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them. When they had satisfied themselves with meat and drink, Calypso spoke, saying, "Ulysses, nobles and of leardies, "so you would start home to your own land at once. "Good luck go with you, "but if you could only know "what my suffering is in store for you "before you get back to your own country, "you would stay where you are. "Keep house alarm with me, "and let me make you immortal. "No matter how anxious you may be to see this wife of yours, "of whom you are thinking all the time, day after day, "yet I've louder myself, "that I am no wit less tall or well-looking than she is, "for it is not to be expected "that a mortal woman should compare in beauty "with an immortal. "Goddess, glad youlysses do not be angry with me about this. "I am quite aware that my wife, Penelope, "is nothing like so tall or so beautiful as yourself. "She is only a woman, whereas you are an immortal. "Nevertheless, I want to get home "and can think of nothing else. "If some god wrecks me when I am on the sea, "I will bear it and make the best of it. "I have had infinite trouble both by land and sea already, "so let this go with the rest. "Resently the sunset, and it became dark. "We're on the very tired into the inner part of the cave "and went to bed. "When the child of mourning, rosy finger dawn appeared. "Ulysses put on his shirt and cloak. "While the goddess wore a dress of a light "galsam of fabric, very fine and graceful, "with a beautiful golden girdle about her waist "and a veil to cover her head. "She at once had herself to think "how she could speed Ulysses on his way. "So she gave him a great bronze axe that suited his hands. "It was sharpened on both sides "and had a beautiful olive wood handle "that had firmly on to it. "She also gave him a sharp add "and then led the way to the far end of the island "with the largest trees grow. "Alder, poplar and vine, that reached the sky, "very dry and well-seasoned, "so as to sail light for him in the water. "Then when she had shown him where the best trees grow, "kalipso went home, leaving him to cut them, "which he soon finished doing. "He got down 20 trees and all and adds them smooth, "squaring them by rule in good workmen like fashion. "Meanwhile, kalipso came back with some augusts, "so he bore holes with them "and fitted the timbers together with bolts and rivets. "He made the raft as broad as a skilled shipwright, "makes the beam of a large vessel "and he filed a deck on top of the ribs "and ran a gun wall all around it. "He also made a mast of yardaw and a rudder to steer with. "He fenced the raft all round with wicker hurdles "as a protection against the waves "and then he threw on a quantity of wood. "By and by, kalipso brought him some linen "to make the sails and he made these two excellently, "making them fast with braces and sheets. "Last of all, with the help of levers, "he drew the raft down into the water. "In four days, he had completed the whole work. "And on the fifth, kalipso sent him from the island "after washing him and giving him some clean clothes. "She gave him a goat's skin full of black wine "and another lodge of one of water. "She also gave him a wallet full of provisions "and found him much good meat. "Moreover, she made the wind fair and warm for him "and gladly did Ulysses spread his sail before it. "Police sat and guided the raft skillfully by means of the rudder. "He never closed his eyes, "but kept them fixed on the Pleiades, "on late setting booths and on the bare, "which men also called the Wayne, "which turns round and round where it is, "facing Orion, and alone never dipping "into the stream of Oceonus. "For kalipso had told him to keep this to his left. "Day seven and ten did he sail over the sea. "And on the 18, the dim outlines of the mountains "on the nearest part of the Fish and Coast appeared, "rising like a shield on the horizon. "The King Neptune, who was returning from the Ethiopians, "caught sight of Ulysses a long way off "from the mountains of the Salami. "He could see him sailing upon the sea, "and it made him very angry. "So he wagged his head and muttered to himself, "saying heavens so the gods had been changing their minds "about Ulysses while I was away in Ethiopia. "And now he is close to the land of the Fasions, "where it is decreed that he shall escape "from the calamities that have befallen him till. "He shall have plenty of our trip yet "before he has done with it. "Thereon he gathered his clouds together, "rasped his dried and dirt at round in the sea, "and roused the rage of every wind "that blows till earth, sea and sky, "were hidden in cloud. "And nights rang forth out of the heavens, "Winds from east, south, north and west, "fell upon him all at the same time. "And a tremendous sea got up "so that Ulysses' heart began to fail him. "Alas, he said to himself in his dismay, "Whatever will be come of me. "I am afraid Calypso was right "when she said I should have troubled "I see before I got back home. "It is all coming through. "How black is Jove making heaven with his clouds, "and what a sea the winds are raising "from every quarter at once. "I am now safe to perish. "Blessed him thrice, blessed were those Danons, "who fell before a try in the cause of the sons of Atreus. "Would that had been gilled on the day "when the Trojans were pressing me so sorely "about the dead body of Achilles? "For then I should have adieu burial, "and the Achaeans would have honored my name, "but now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable "and as he spoke, a sea broke over him "with such terrific fury that the raft reeled again "and he was carried overboard a long way off. "He let go thy own, and the force of the aric, "and was so great that it broke the mast halfway up, "and both sail and yod went over into the sea. "For a long time Ulysses was under water, "and it was all he could do to rise to the surface again "for the close Calypso had given him, weighed him down. "But at last he got his head above water "and spat out the bitter brine "that was running down his face in streams. "In spite of all this, however, "he did not lose sight of his raft, "but swam as fast as he could towards it, "got hold of it and climbed on board again, "so as to escape drowning. "The sea took the raft and tossed it about "as autumn winds whirl thistle down round and round upon a road. "It was as though the south, north, "east and west winds were all playing battle-door "and shuttlecock with it at once. "When he was in this flight, "you know, a daughter of Cadmus, "also called Luca Thea, saw him. "She had formerly been a mere mortal, "but had been since raised to the rank of a marine goddess. "Seeing in what great distress Ulysses now was, "she had compassion upon him and rising like a seagull "from the waves, took her seat upon the raft. "My poor good man said she. "Why is Neptune so furiously angry with you? "He is giving you a great deal of trouble. "But for all his bluster, he will not kill you. "You seem to be a sensible person. "Do then as I bid you. "Strip, leave your off to drive before the wind "and swim to the fayation ghost where better luck awaits you. "And here, take my veil and put it round your chest. "It is enchanted, and you can come to know alms "as long as you wear it. "As soon as you touch land, take it off. "Throw it back as far as you can into the sea "and then go away again. "With these words, she took off her veil "and gave it to him. "Then she dived down again like a seagull "and vanished beneath the dark blue waters. "But Ulysses did not know what to think. "Alas, he said to himself in his dismay. "This is only some one or other of the gods "who is luring me to ruin by advising me to quit my raft. "At any rate, I will not do so at present. "For the land where she said I should be quit "of all troubles seemed to be still a good way off. "I know what I will do. "I am sure it will be best, no matter what happens. "I will stick to the raft as long as her timbers all together. "But when the sea breaks her up, I will swim for it. "I do not see how I can do any better than this." Wally was thus in two minds. Neptune sent a terrible great wave that seemed to rear itself above his head. Philip broke right over the raft, which then went to pieces as though it were a heap of dry chaff tossed about by a whirlwind. Ulysses got a stride of one blank and rode upon it. As if he were on horseback, he then took off the glows' calypso had given him, bound Ino's veil under his arms and lunged into the sea, meaning to swim on Jor. King Neptune watched him as he did so and wagged his head, muttering to himself and saying, "There now, swim up and down as you best can. "Who you fall in with the well to do, people. "I do not think you will be able to say "that I have let you off too lightly. "On this he lashed his horses and drove to a jeer "where his palace is. "But Manova resolved to help Ulysses, "so she bound the ways of all the winds except one "and made them lie quite still. "But she roused a good stiff breeze from the north "that you lay the waters till Ulysses "reached the land of the fashions where you would be safe. "There are, and he floated about for two nights "and two days in the water, "with a heavy swell on the sea and death "staring him in the face. "But when the third day broke, the wind fell "and there was a dead garm "without so much as a breath of air stirring. "As he rose on the swell, he looked eagerly ahead "and could see land quite near then. "As children rejoice when their dear father begins "to get better after having for a long time "born sore of liction, sent him by some angry spirit. "But the gods delivery him from evil. "So was Ulysses thankful when he again saw land and trees "and swam on with all his strain "that he might once more set foot upon dry ground. "When, however, he got within earshot. "He began to hear the surf thundering up against the rock. "For this will still broke against them with a terrific roar. "Everything was enveloped in spray. "There were no avos where a ship might ride, "nor shelter of any kind. "But only Edlins, low-lying rocks and mountain-dop. "Ulysses art now began to fail him "and he said despairingly to himself alas. "Joe let me see land after swimming so far "that I had given up all hope, "but I can buy no landing place "for the coast is rocky and surf-beaten. "The rocks are smooth and rise shear from the sea "with deep water close under them "so that I cannot climb out for want of foot old. "I am afraid some great wave will lift me off my legs "and dash me against the rocks as I leave the water, "which would give me a sorry landing. "If on the other hand I swam further in search "of some shelving beach or harbor. "A hurricane may carry me out to sea again, "so early against my will, or heaven. "May sense some great monster of the deep do attack me. "For amphitrite breeds many such "and I know that Neptune is very angry with me. "While he was thus in two minds, "a wave got him and took him with such force "against the rocks that he would have been smashed "and drawn to pieces of Minerva, "not showing him what to do. "He got hold of the rock with both hands "and clung to it, groaning with pain, "till the wave retired, so he was saved that time. "But presently the wave came on again "and carried him back with it, far into the sea, "daring his hands as the suckers of a polypos are torn "when someone lucks it from its bed "and the stones come up along with it, "even so did the rocks tear the skin from his strong hands "and then the wave drew him deep down under the water. "Here, poor Ulysses would have certainly perished, "even in spite of his own destiny "if Minerva had not helped him to give his wits about him. "He swam, see what again, beyond reach of the surf "that was beating against the land. "And at the same time, he kept looking towards the shore "to see if he could find some even, "or a spit that should take the waves as land. "By and by, as he swam on, he came to the mouth of a river "and here he thought would be the best place "where there were no rocks "and it afforded shelter from the wind. "He felt that there was a current, "so he prayed inwardly and said, "'Hear me, O king, whoever you may be, "'and save me from the anger of the sea, God, Neptune, "'for I approach you prayerfully. "'Anyone who has lost his way has at all times a claim, "'even upon the gods, wherefore in my distress, "'I draw near to your stream and cling to the knees "'of your riverbed, have mercy upon me, O king, "'for I declare myself, yours up there, "'then the God stayed his dream and still the waves, "'making all on before him, "and bringing him safely into the mouth of the river. "Here, at last, Ulysses' knees and strong hands failed him "for this he had completely broken him. "His body was all swollen, "and his mouth and nostrils ran down "like a river of sea water, "so that he could neither breathe nor speak, "and lay swooning with sheer exhaustion. "Presently, when he got his breath "and came to himself again, he took off his scarf "that, you know, had given him, "and threw it back into the salt stream of the river, "where I, you know, received it into her hands "from the wave that bore it towards the, "then he left the river, laid himself down "among the rushes and kissed the bound just earth. "Alas, he cried to himself in his dismay, "whatever will become of me, "and how is it all to end? "If I stay here upon the river bed, "through the long watches of the night, "I am so exhausted that the bitter, cold and damp "may make an end of me, for towards sunrise "there will be a keen wind blowing from off the river. "If on the other hand I climb the hillside, "find shelter in the woods and sleep in some thicket, "I may escape the cold and have a good night's rest, "but some savage beast may take advantage of me "and devour me. "In the end he deemed it best to take to the wood, "and he found one upon some eye-ground "not far from the water. "There he crept beneath two shoots of olive "that grew from a single stalk, "the one an ungrafted sucker, "while the other had been grafted. "No wind, however, squally, "could break through the cover they afforded, "nor could the sun's rays pierce them, "nor the rain get through them so closely "did they grow and do one another. "Ulysses crept under these and began to make himself "a bed to lie on, "for there was a great litter of dead leaves "lying about enough to make a covering for two or three men, "even in hard winter weather. "He was glad enough to see this, "so he laid himself down and heaped the leaves all round him. "Then is one who lives alone in the country, "thought from any neighbour, "hides a brand as fire-seared in the ashes "to save himself from having to get a light elsewhere. "Even so did you, Lissie's, cover himself up with leaves. "I'm in over a sweet sleep upon his eyes, "closed his eyelids, "and made him lose all memories of his sorrows." End of book five. Hey there, listeners. Are you ready to unlock a world of captivating stories, soothing sounds, and enlightening lectures? At Solgood Media, we believe in the power of audio to enrich your life, and now we're offering you a chance to experience it all for free. For a limited time, you can get a one-month free trial to our premium, ad-free service. Imagine having unlimited access to over 500 audio books, meditative sounds, and exclusive shows, all at your fingertips. Just head over to solgoodmedia.com and sign up to start your free trial today. No ads, no interruptions, just pure, immersive audio content. Don't miss out. 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