Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 10. PHAECIAN NIGHTS: 1. OF THE LAESTRYGONES, by HOMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 10. PHAECIAN NIGHTS: 1. OF THE LAESTRYGONES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thither when we came
Last Line: Those other ships were lost there in a pack.
Subject(s): Mythology - Classical


Thither when we came
To the fair haven, where about there runs
On either side unbroken a high scarp,
And at its mouth facing each other stretch
Two jutting cliffs and make the entrance strait --
Then all the others steered their curved ships in,
And they were moored inside the hollow haven
Close-packed, for in it never swelled a wave,
Little or big, but bright calm lay on all.
But I alone moored my black ship outside
At the land's end, and roped her to a rock;
And climbed and stood upon a craggy hill,
A look-out place; and there appeared no sign
Of men's or cattle's labour; only smoke
We saw up-curling from the land. So then
Some of my crew I sent to go and learn
What kind of men were these who lived by bread
On earth. Two men I picked and with them sent
A third as herald. And being gone ashore
They followed a smooth road, whereby the carts
Were wont to bring down fire-wood to the city
From the high hills. Outside the town they met
A damsel drawing water, the tall daughter
Of Laestrygonian Antiphates.
To the fair-flowing spring, Artacia,
Whence people carried water to the city,
She had come down. So up to her they went,
And spoke and asked her who was king of the land
And over whom he ruled: and she at once
Showed them the high-roofed dwelling of her father.
Now then they stepped within the noble house,
Therein they found his wife, as huge of bulk
As a hill-top, and were appalled at her:
And she forthwith called from the meeting-place
Renowned Antiphates, her mate, who planned
A ghastly death for them. Straightway he seized
One of my men, and made his breakfast ready.
The other two sprang up and fled to the ships;
Thereon he raised the war-cry through the city,
And at the sound from this side and from that
The mighty Laestrygonians came thronging
Past number, not like men but like the Giants.
With boulders heavy as a man could carry
They stoned us from the cliffs, and through the fleet
Arose a dismal din of dying men
And shattered ships as well; and spearing them
Like fishes, they bore off their loathsome feast.
Now while they went on killing those within
The harbour gulf, my keen sword from my side
I pulled, and with it cut the ropes that moored
My blue-prowed ship, and called on my men quick
To dig their oars in, that we might escape
Our evil case. They all tore up the brine
In fear of death; and from the beetling rocks
My ship shot gladly out to sea; but all
Those other ships were lost there in a pack.





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