Arrival in Ithaca — The Phaeacians bring Odysseus home

Book 13 of The Odyssey by Homer

So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence, held spellbound throughout the shadowy halls. At length Alcinous made answer and spoke to him: "Odysseus, now that thou hast come to my high-roofed house with its floor of bronze, thou shalt not be driven wandering further ere thou reach thy home, though thou hast suffered much. And to each of you I speak who drink ever in my halls the dark wine of the elders and listen to the minstrel — the stranger's gifts are already laid in the polished coffer, with the wrought gold and all the raiment that the Phaeacian counsellors brought hither. Come now, let us each give him a great tripod and a cauldron, and we in turn will gather the cost from among the people and repay ourselves, for it were hard that one man should give without recompense." So he spoke, and his word was pleasing to them all. Then each man went to his house to rest, and when early rosy-fingered Dawn appeared they hastened to the ship and brought the bronze that gladdens mortals.

And the strength of Alcinous himself went through the ship and bestowed the gifts carefully beneath the benches, that they might not hinder any of the crew in their rowing when they laboured at the oars. Then they went to the house of Alcinous and fell to feasting. The strength of Alcinous sacrificed an ox to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronos, who is lord of all. When they had burned the thigh-pieces they shared the glorious feast and made merry, and among them the divine minstrel Demodocus sang, honoured of the people. But Odysseus kept turning his head toward the blazing sun, as one fain to hasten its setting, for he was most eager to return. As a man longs for his supper for whom all day long a yoke of dark oxen has been drawing the jointed plough through fallow land, and welcome to him the light of the sun sinks that he may go to supper, and his knees are weary as he goes — even so welcome to Odysseus was the sinking of the sun. Straightway he spoke among the Phaeacians, lovers of the oar, and to Alcinous above all he made known his word: "Lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, pour ye the drink-offering and send me safe upon my way, and fare ye well. For now all is fulfilled that my heart desired — an escort and loving gifts. May the gods of heaven bless them to me, and may I find my noble wife at home with those I love unharmed."

They placed him aboard the hollow ship and laid him down upon the deck to sleep in silence. The ship sped over the waves like a team of four stallions on the plain, all springing forward together beneath the lash. Her stern rose and fell and behind her the dark wave of the sounding sea surged mightily. Safely and steadily she ran; not even the circling hawk, the swiftest of winged things, could have kept pace with her. So lightly did she speed and cut the waves of the sea, bearing a man whose wisdom was as the wisdom of the gods, one who had suffered many sorrows of heart in time past, amid the wars of men and the grievous waves, but who now slept in peace, forgetful of all that he had endured. When the star came up that is brightest of all and is most wont to herald the light of early Dawn, the seafaring ship drew near to Ithaca. Now there is in that land a certain harbour of Phorcys, the old man of the sea, and at its head is a long-leaved olive tree, and hard by is a pleasant cave, dusky and sacred to the nymphs that are called Naiads. The Phaeacian mariners carried Odysseus forth from the hollow ship and set him down upon the sand, still fast asleep. They lifted out all the goods which the lordly Phaeacians had given him, and laid them in a heap by the trunk of the olive tree, apart from the road, lest some wayfarer should come upon them ere Odysseus woke and despoil him. Then they set out upon the voyage home.