81) Homer Odyssey 8.18

   And many marveled at the sight of the wise son of Laertes, for wonderful was the grace that Athena shed upon his head and shoulders; [20] and she made him taller and sturdier to behold, that he might be welcomed by all the Phaeacians, and win awe and reverence, and might accomplish the many feats wherein the Phaeacians made trial of Ulysses. 

   He [Ulysses] spoke, and, leaping up with his cloak about him as it was, seized a discus larger than the rest and thick, no little heavier than those with which the Phaeacians were accustomed to contend one with another. 
   This with a whirl he sent from his stout hand, [190] and the stone hummed as it flew; and down they crouched to the earth, the Phaeacians of the long oars, men famed for their ships, beneath the rush of the stone. 
   Past the marks of all it flew, speeding lightly from his hand, and Athena, in the likeness of a man, set the mark, and she spoke and addressed him: 
   [195] -Even a blind man, stranger, could distinguish this mark, groping for it with his hands, for it is in nowise confused with the throng of the others, but is far the first. 
   Be you of good cheer for this bout at least: no one of the Phaeacians will reach this, or cast beyond it. 

   So he [Ulysses] spoke, and the herald bore the portion and placed it in the hands of the lord Demodocus, and he took it and was glad at heart. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. 
   [485] But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then to Demodocus said Ulysses of many wiles: 
   -Demodocus, truly above all mortal men do I praise you, whether it was the Muse, the daughter of Zeus, that taught you, or Apollo; for well and truly do you sing of the fate of the Achaeans, [490] all that they worked and suffered, and all the toils they endured, as though unfortunately you had yourself been present, or had heard the tale from another. 
   But come now, change your theme, and sing of the building of the horse of wood, which Epeius made with Athena'shelp, the horse which once Ulysses led up into the citadel as a thing of guile, [495] when he had filled it with the men who sacked Ilios. 
   If you do indeed tell me this tale rightly, I will declare to all mankind that the God [Apollo] has of a ready heart granted you the gift of divine song. 

   And he [the minstrel] sang how the sons of the Achaeans [515] poured forth from the horse [of wood] and, leaving their hollow ambush, sacked the city [of Troy]. 
   Of the others he sang how in divers ways they wasted the lofty city, but of Ulysses, how he went like Ares to the house of Deiphobus together with godlike Menelaus. 
   There it was, he said, that Ulysses braved the most terrible fight [520] and in the end conquered by the aid of great-hearted Athena. 

   As soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, he rekindled the fire and milked his goodly flocks all in turn, and beneath each dam placed her young. 
   [310] Then, when he had busily performed his tasks, again he seized two men at once and made ready his meal. 
   And when he had made his meal he drove his fat flocks forth from the cave, easily moving away the great door-stone; and then he put it in place again, as one might set the lid upon a quiver. [315] 
   Then with loud whistling the Cyclops turned his fat flocks toward the mountain, and I was left there, devising evil in the deep of my heart, if in any way I might take vengeance on him, and Athena grant me glory. 

   And other spirits of those dead and gone stood sorrowing, and each asked of those dear to him. 
   Alone of them all the spirit of Aias, son of Telamon, stood apart, still full of wrath for the victory [545] that I [Ulysses] had won over him in the contest by the ships for the arms of Achilles, whose honored mother had set them for a prize; and the judges were the sons of the Trojans and Pallas Athena. 
   I would that I had never won in the contest for such a prize, over so noble a head did the earth close because of those arms, [550] even over Aias, who in comeliness and in deeds of war was above all the other Achaeans, next to the peerless son of Peleus.

   And after him I marked the mighty Hercules -- his phantom; for he himself among the immortal Gods takes his joy in the feast, and has to wife Hebe, of the fair ankles, daughter of great Zeus and of Here, of the golden sandals. 
   [605] About him rose a clamor from the dead, as of birds flying everywhere in terror; and he like dark night, with his bow bare and with arrow on the string, glared about him terribly, like one in act to shoot.
   Awful was the belt about his breast, [610] a baldric of gold, whereon wonderful things were fashioned, bears and wild boars, and lions with sparkling eyes, and conflicts, and battles, and murders, and slayings of men. May he never have designed, or hereafter design such another, even he who stored up in his craft the device of that belt. 
   [615] He in turn knew me when his eyes beheld me, and weeping spoke to me winged words: 
   -Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, Ulysses of many devices, ah, wretched man, do you, too, drag out an evil lot such as I once bore beneath the rays of the sun? 
   [620] I was the son of Zeus, son of Cronos, but I had affliction beyond measure; for to a man far worse than I was I made subject, and he laid on me hard labours. 
   Yea, he once sent me towards this place to fetch the dog of Hades, for he could devise for me no other task mightier than this. 
   [625] The dog I carried off and led forth from the house of Hades; and Hermes was my guide, and bright-eyed Athena. 

   Then they stepped forth from the benched ship upon the land, and first they lifted Ulysses out of the hollow ship, with the linen sheet and bright rug as they were, and laid him down on the sand, still overpowered by sleep. 
   [120] And they lifted out the goods which the lordly Phaeacians had given him, as he set out for home, through the favor of great-hearted Athena. 
   These they set all together by the trunk of the olive tree, out of the path, that unfortunately some traveler, before Ulysses awoke, might come upon them and spoil them. [125] Then they themselves returned home again. 

   [185] Thus they were praying to the lord Poseidon, the leaders and counselors of the land of the Phaeacians, as they stood about the altar, but Ulysses awoke out of his sleep in his native land. 
   Yet he knew it not after his long absence, for about him the Goddess had shed a mist, [190] equable Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, that she might render him unknown, and tell him all things, so that his wife might not know him, nor his townsfolk, nor his friends, until the suitors had paid the full price of all their transgressions. 
   Therefore all things seemed strange to their lord, [195] the long paths, the bays offering safe anchorage, the sheer cliffs, and the luxuriant trees. 

   Then, mournfully longing for his native land, [220] he [Ulysses] paced by the shore of the loud-sounding sea, uttering many a moan. 
   And Athena drew near him in the form of a young man, a herdsman of sheep, one most delicate, as are the sons of princes. 
   In a double fold about her shoulders she wore a well-wrought cloak, [225] and beneath her shining feet she had sandals, and in her hands a spear. 
   Then Ulysses was glad at sight of her, and came to meet her, and he spoke, and addressed her with winged words: 
   -Friend, since you are the first to whom I have come in this land, hail to you, and may you meet me with no evil mind. 
   [230] Nay, save this treasure, and save me; for to you do I pray, as to a God, and am come to your dear knees. 
   And tell me this also truly, that I may know full well. What land, what people is this? What men dwell here? Is it some clear-seen island, or a shore [235] of the deep-soiled mainland that lies resting on the sea?