“Sir, and all of you, farewell.  Make your drink-offerings and send me on my way rejoicing, for you have fulfilled my heart’s desire by giving me an escort, and making me presents, which heaven grant that I may turn to good account; may I find my admirable wife living in peace among friends, {109} and may you whom I leave behind me give satisfaction to your wives and children; {110} may heaven vouchsafe you every good grace, and may no evil thing come among your people.”

Thus did he speak.  His hearers all of them approved his saying and agreed that he should have his escort inasmuch as he had spoken reasonably.  Alcinous therefore said to his servant, “Pontonous, mix some wine and hand it round to everybody, that we may offer a prayer to father Jove, and speed our guest upon his way.”

Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in turn; the others each from his own seat made a drink-offering to the blessed gods that live in heaven, but Ulysses rose and placed the double cup in the hands of queen Arete.

“Farewell, queen,” said he, “henceforward and for ever, till age and death, the common lot of mankind, lay their hands upon you.  I now take my leave; be happy in this house with your children, your people, and with king Alcinous.”

As he spoke he crossed the threshold, and Alcinous sent a man to conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore.  Arete also sent some maidservants with him—­one with a clean shirt and cloak, another to carry his strong box, and a third with corn and wine.  When they got to the water side the crew took these things and put them on board, with all the meat and drink; but for Ulysses they spread a rug and a linen sheet on deck that he might sleep soundly in the stern of the ship.  Then he too went on board and lay down without a word, but the crew took every man his place and loosed the hawser from the pierced stone to which it had been bound.  Thereon, when they began rowing out to sea, Ulysses fell into a deep, sweet, and almost deathlike slumber. {111}

The ship bounded forward on her way as a four in hand chariot flies over the course when the horses feel the whip.  Her prow curvetted as it were the neck of a stallion, and a great wave of dark blue water seethed in her wake.  She held steadily on her course, and even a falcon, swiftest of all birds, could not have kept pace with her.  Thus, then, she cut her way through the water, carrying one who was as cunning as the gods, but who was now sleeping peacefully, forgetful of all that he had suffered both on the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea.