For I am no weakling in all sports, even in the feats of men.  I know well how to handle the polished bow, and ever the first would I be to shoot and smite my man in the press of foes, even though many of my company stood by, and were aiming at the enemy.  Alone Philoctetes in the Trojan land surpassed me with the bow in our Achaean archery.  But I avow myself far more excellent than all besides, of the mortals that are now upon the earth and live by bread.  Yet with the men of old time I would not match me, neither with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia, who contended even with the deathless gods for the prize of archery.  Wherefore the great Eurytus perished all too soon, nor did old age come on him in his halls, for Apollo slew him in his wrath, seeing that he challenged him to shoot a match.  And with the spear I can throw further than any other man can shoot an arrow.  Only I doubt that in the foot race some of the Phaeacians may outstrip me, for I have been shamefully broken in many waters, seeing that there was no continual sustenance on board; wherefore my knees are loosened.’

So spake he and all kept silence; and Alcinous alone answered him, saying: 

’Stranger, forasmuch as these thy words are not ill-taken in our gathering, but thou wouldest fain show forth the valour which keeps thee company, being angry that yonder man stood by thee in the lists, and taunted thee, in such sort as no mortal would speak lightly of thine excellence, who had knowledge of sound words; nay now, mark my speech; so shalt thou have somewhat to tell another hero, when with thy wife and children thou suppest in thy halls, and recallest our prowess, what deeds Zeus bestoweth even upon us from our fathers’ days even until now.  For we are no perfect boxers, nor wrestlers, but speedy runners, and the best of seamen; and dear to us ever is the banquet, and the harp, and the dance, and changes of raiment, and the warm bath, and love, and sleep.  Lo, now arise, ye dancers of the Phaeacians, the best in the land, and make sport, that so the stranger may tell his friends, when he returneth home, how far we surpass all men besides in seamanship, and speed of foot, and in the dance and song.  And let one go quickly, and fetch for Demodocus the loud lyre which is lying somewhere in our halls.’

So spake Alcinous the godlike, and the henchman rose to bear the hollow lyre from the king’s palace.  Then stood up nine chosen men in all, the judges of the people, who were wont to order all things in the lists aright.  So they levelled the place for the dance, and made a fair ring and a wide.  And the henchman drew near bearing the loud lyre to Demodocus, who gat him into the midst, and round him stood boys in their first bloom, skilled in the dance, and they smote the good floor with their feet.  And Odysseus gazed at the twinklings of the feet, and marvelled in spirit.