And Zeus answered, "What, O Lord
of the Earthquake, are you talking about? The gods are by no means
wanting in respect for you. It would be monstrous were they to insult
one so old and honored as you are. As regards mortals, however, if
any of them is indulging in insolence [biê] and
treating you disrespectfully, it will always rest with yourself to
deal with him as you may think proper, so do just as you
please."
"I should have done so at once,"
replied Poseidon, "if I were not anxious to avoid anything that might
displease you; now, therefore, I should like to wreck the Phaeacian
ship as it is returning from its escort. This will stop them from
escorting people in future; and I should also like to envelop their
city under a huge mountain."
"My good friend," answered Zeus,
"I should recommend you at the very moment when the people from the
city are watching the ship on her way, to turn it into a rock near
the land and looking like a ship. This will astonish everybody, and
you can then envelop their city under the mountain."
When earth-encircling Poseidon
heard this he went to Scheria where the Phaeacians live, and stayed
there till the ship, which was making rapid way, had got close-in.
Then he went up to it, turned it into stone, and drove it down with
the flat of his hand so as to root it in the ground. After this he
went away.
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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