And Zeus the gatherer of the clouds, answered him, saying:  ’Friend, learn now what seems best in my sight.  At an hour when the folk are all looking forth from the city at the ship upon her way, smite her into a stone hard by the land; a stone in the likeness of a swift ship, that all mankind may marvel, and do thou overshadow their city with a great mountain.’

Now when Poseidon, shaker of the earth, heard this saying, he went on his way to Scheria, where the Phaeacians dwell.  There he abode awhile; and lo, she drew near, the seafaring ship, lightly sped upon her way.  Then nigh her came the shaker of the earth, and he smote her into a stone, and rooted her far below with the down-stroke of his hand; and he departed thence again.

Then one to the other they spake winged words, the Phaeacians of the long oars, mariners renowned.  And thus would they speak, looking each man to his neighbour: 

’Ah me! who is this that fettered our swift ship on the deep as she drave homewards?  Even now she stood full in sight.’

Even so they would speak; but they knew not how these things were ordained.  And Alcinous made harangue and spake among them: 

’Lo now, in very truth the ancient oracles of my father have come home to me.  He was wont to say that Poseidon was jealous of us, for that we give safe escort to all men.  He said that the day would come when the god would smite a fair ship of the Phaeacians, as she came home from a convoy on the misty deep, and overshadow our city with a great mountain.  Thus that ancient one would speak; and lo, all these things now have an end.  But come, let us all give ear and do according to my word.  Cease ye from the convoy of mortals, whensoever any shall come unto our town, and let us sacrifice to Poseidon twelve choice bulls, if perchance he may take pity, neither overshadow our city with a great mountain.’

So spake he, and they were dismayed and got ready the bulls.  Thus were they praying to the lord Poseidon, the princes and counsellors of the land of the Phaeacians, as they stood about the altar.

Even then the goodly Odysseus awoke where he slept on his native land; nor knew he the same again, having now been long afar, for around him the goddess had shed a mist, even Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, to the end that she might make him undiscovered for that he was, and might expound to him all things, that so his wife should not know him neither his townsmen and kinsfolk, ere the wooers had paid for all their transgressions.  Wherefore each thing showed strange to the lord of the land, the long paths and the sheltering havens and the steep rocks and the trees in their bloom.  So he started up, and stood and looked upon his native land, and then he made moan withal, and smote on both his thighs with the down-stroke of his hands, and making lament, he spake, saying: