though grieved, to take my supper. For there is not any thing more shameless at the time of a hateful belly,[1] which commands one to be mindful of itself by its necessity, although one is much afflicted, and has grief in one's mind. Thus too I indeed have grief in my mind, but it always exhorts me to eat and drink; and it makes me forget all things, as many as I have suffered, and commands me to fill myself. But do thou hasten, as soon as morning appears, that thou mayest place me, wretched one, in mine own country, although I have suffered many things; and may even life leave me on beholding my possession, and my servants and lofty-roofed large house."
Thus he spoke, but they all approved and advised to conduct the stranger, since he had spoken rightly. But when they had made libations, and drunk as much as their mind wished, they, each of them, went home about to sleep; but divine Ulysses was left behind in the palace, and near him sat Arete, and godlike Alcinous; and the handmaidens took away the preparations of the feast. But white-armed Arete began speaking to them, for she knew the veil and the tunic, when she beheld the beautiful garments, which she herself had wrought with her women attendants; and addressing him, she spoke winged words:
"O stranger, I will myself first ask thee this, who art thou? from whence art thou amongst men? who gave thee these garments? Surely thou dost not say that thou camest here wandering over the sea?"
But her the much-planning divine Ulysses addressed in answer: "It is difficult, O queen, to relate my griefs entirely through, since the heavenly gods have given me many; but I will tell thee this which thou askest, and inquirest of me. A certain island, Ogygia, lies far off in the sea, where deceitful Calypso, daughter of Atlas, a fair-haired crafty goddess, dwells: nor with her does any one of gods or mortal men associate; but fortune led me alone, unhappy one, to her hearth,
- ↑ The student must beware of regarding this as = στυγερῆς γαστέρος. It rather means "tempore ventris esurientis, i. e. esurienti cuique nihil molestius est (sc. ea ipsa)." Loewe. Translate therefore, "There is nothing more shameless than hunger, when the stomach craves for food." Cf. Oppian. Hal. iii. 399, ὡς οὐδὲν λιμοῖο κακώτερον οὐδὲ βαρείης Γαστέρος, ἣ κρατέει μὲν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἀπηνὴς, καὶ χαλεπὴ δέσποινα συνέστιος.
