“The courtesies which ye all have shewn me, and in particular yourself and princely daughter, O king Alcinous, demand from me that I should no longer keep you in ignorance of what or who I am; for to reserve any secret from you, who have with such openness of friendship embraced my love, would argue either a pusillanimous or an ungrateful mind in me.  Know then that I am that Ulysses, of whom I perceive ye have heard something; who heretofore have filled the world with the renown of my policies.  I am he by whose counsels, if Fame is to be believed at all, more than by the united valour of all the Grecians, Troy fell.  I am that unhappy man whom the heavens and angry gods have conspired to keep an exile on the seas, wandering to seek my home which still flies from me.  The land which I am in quest of is Ithaca; in whose ports some ship belonging to your navigation-famed Phaeacian state may haply at some time have found a refuge from tempests.  If ever you have experienced such kindness, requite it now; by granting to me, who am the king of that land, a passport to that land.”

Admiration seized all the court of Alcinous, to behold in their presence one of the number of those heroes who fought at Troy, whose divine story had been made known to them by songs and poems, but of the truth they had little known, or rather they had hitherto accounted those heroic exploits as fictions and exaggerations of poets; but having seen and made proof of the real Ulysses, they began to take those supposed inventions to be real verities, and the tale of Troy to be as true as it was delightful.

Then king Alcinous made answer:  “Thrice fortunate ought we to esteem our lot, in having seen and conversed with a man of whom report hath spoken so loudly, but, as it seems, nothing beyond the truth.  Though we could desire no felicity greater than to have you always among us, renowned Ulysses, yet your desire having been expressed so often and so deeply to return home, we can deny you nothing, though to our own loss.  Our kingdom of Phaeacia, as you know, is chiefly rich in shipping.  In all parts of the world, where there are navigable seas, or ships can pass, our vessels will be found.  You cannot name a coast to which they do not resort.  Every rock and every quick-sand is known to them that lurks in the vast deep.  They pass a bird in flight; and with such unerring certainty they make to their destination, that some have said that they have no need of pilot or rudder, but that they move instinctively, self-directed, and know the minds of their voyagers.  Thus much, that you may not fear to trust yourself in one of our Phaeacian ships.  To-morrow if you please you shall launch forth.  To-day spend with us in feasting; who never can do enough when the gods send such visitors.”