’And after her I beheld Iphimedeia, bed-fellow of Aloeus, who said that she had lain with Poseidon, and she bare children twain, but short of life were they, godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes.  Now these were the tallest men that earth, the graingiver, ever reared, and far the goodliest after the renowned Orion.  At nine seasons old they were of breadth nine cubits, and nine fathoms in height.  They it was who threatened to raise even against the immortals in Olympus the din of stormy war.  They strove to pile Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa Pelion with the trembling forest leaves, that there might be a pathway to the sky.  Yea, and they would have accomplished it, had they reached the full measure of manhood.  But the son of Zeus, whom Leto of the fair locks bare, destroyed the twain, ere the down had bloomed beneath their temples, and darkened their chins with the blossom of youth.

’And Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne, the daughter of wizard Minos, whom Theseus on a time was bearing from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens, yet had he no joy of her; for Artemis slew her ere that in sea-girt Dia, by reason of the witness of Dionysus.

’And Maera and Clymene I saw, and hateful Eriphyle, who took fine gold for the price of her dear lord’s life.  But I cannot tell or name all the wives and daughters of the heroes that I saw; ere that, the immortal night would wane.  Nay, it is even now time to sleep, whether I go to the swift ship to my company or abide here:  and for my convoy you and the gods will care.’

So spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were spell-bound throughout the shadowy halls.  Then Arete of the white arms first spake among them:  ’Phaeacians, what think you of this man for comeliness and stature, and within for wisdom of heart?  Moreover he is my guest, though every one of you hath his share in this honour.  Wherefore haste not to send him hence, and stint not these your gifts for one that stands in such sore need of them; for ye have much treasure stored in your halls by the grace of the gods.’

Then too spake among them the old man, lord Echeneus, that was an elder among the Phaeacians:  ’Friends, behold, the speech of our wise queen is not wide of the mark, nor far from our deeming, so hearken ye thereto.  But on Alcinous here both word and work depend.’

Then Alcinous made answer, and spake unto him:  ’Yea, the word that she hath spoken shall hold, if indeed I am yet to live and bear rule among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar.  Howbeit let the stranger, for all his craving to return, nevertheless endure to abide until the morrow, till I make up the full measure of the gift; and men shall care for his convoy, all men, but I in chief, for mine is the lordship in the land.’

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying:  My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, if ye bade me tarry here even for a year, and would speed my convoy and give me splendid gifts, even that I would choose; and better would it be for me to come with a fuller hand to mine own dear country, so should I get more love and worship in the eyes of all men, whoso should see me after I was returned to Ithaca.’