Thus he spoke, and Hermes, guide
and guardian, slayer of Argos, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound
on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the
wind over land and sea. He took the wand with which he seals
men's eyes in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew
holding it in his hand over Pieria; then he swooped down through the
firmament till he reached the level of the sea, whose waves he
skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing every hole and corner of
the ocean, and drenching its thick plumage in the spray. He flew and
flew over many a weary wave, but when at last he got to the island
which was his journey's end, he left the sea and went on by land
till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso lived.
He found her at home. There was a
large fire burning on the hearth, and one could smell from far the
fragrant reek of burning cedar and sandal wood. As for herself, she
was busy at her loom, shooting her golden shuttle through the warp
and singing beautifully. Round her cave there was a thick wood of
alder, poplar, and sweet smelling cypress trees, wherein all kinds of
great birds had built their nests - owls, hawks, and chattering
sea-crows that have their business in the waters. A vine loaded with
grapes was trained and grew luxuriantly about the mouth of the cave;
there were also four running rills of water in channels cut pretty
close together, and turned here and there so as to irrigate the beds
of violets and luscious herbage over which they flowed. Even a god
could not help being charmed with such a lovely spot, so Hermes stood
still and looked at it; but when he had admired it sufficiently he
went inside the cave.
Calypso knew him at once - for the
gods all know each other, no matter how far they live from one
another - but Odysseus was not within; he was on the sea-shore as
usual, looking out upon the barren ocean with tears in his eyes,
groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow. Calypso gave Hermes a
seat and said: "Why have you come to see me, Hermes - honored, and
ever welcome - for you do not visit me often? Say what you want; I
will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done at all;
but come inside, and let me set refreshment before you.
As she spoke she drew a table
loaded with ambrosia beside him and mixed him some red nectar, so
Hermes ate and drank till he had had enough, and then
said:
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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