The Odyssey: Book 05 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSR CTRDHUNVWXWLYZA2CJLC B2FC2LED2CB2E2B2QF2H G2H2WWI2WJ2K2EFVELVL 2H2RWF2M2WRN2EEEO2B2 P2WWNIEQ2LWBRWQ2RER2 F2S2EHEB2EQTTLBT2EU2 V2ELEWTM2B2LUW2HX2Y2 Q2Z2RQ2Q2EEA3CAEB3LC 3LRWQ2D3AQQE3B2H2EQ2 WEF3Q2N2G3HEQ2B2WWH3 I3M2J3C3Q2K3K2L3L2AQ 2M3CN3O3P3WELLLQ2WEA QQ3R3WACM3ACEB2ELCS3 Q2IR3LCF3EXLL2T3B3C3 WIRU3H2B2R3H3AQHHV3C K3W3LRR3Y2C3EX3L2Y3S 2EZ3F2A4WULERGB4Q2X2 F3Q2C4ED4EHLA4W2CLEK 2CHE4CWF4WQ2B3WES2G4 W2H4QA4R3I4EQLG3J4LK 4L4ELERB3CV2IW2CHCH2 H2LLBWM4W2K2B2L2CRQE R3B2CX2AQN4M2QRERN4R S2CH2ELV2RRQ2QRO4ARC EQQ2RLRRQ2RH2EERRLR3 QRBEE

And now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus harbinger of	A
light alike to mortals and immortals the gods met in council and with	B
them Jove the lord of thunder who is their king Thereon Minerva	C
began to tell them of the many sufferings of Ulysses for she pitied	D
him away there in the house of the nymph Calypso	E
Father Jove said she and all you other gods that live in	F
everlasting bliss I hope there may never be such a thing as a kind	G
and well disposed ruler any more nor one who will govern equitably I	H
hope they will be all henceforth cruel and unjust for there is not	I
one of his subjects but has forgotten Ulysses who ruled them as	J
though he were their father There he is lying in great pain in an	K
island where dwells the nymph Calypso who will not let him go and he	L
cannot get back to his own country for he can find neither ships	M
nor sailors to take him over the sea Furthermore wicked people are	N
now trying to murder his only son Telemachus who is coming home	O
from Pylos and Lacedaemon where he has been to see if he can get news	P
of his father	Q
What my dear are you talking about replied her father did you	R
not send him there yourself because you thought it would help Ulysses	S
to get home and punish the suitors Besides you are perfectly able to	R
protect Telemachus and to see him safely home again while the	C
suitors have to come hurry skurrying back without having killed him	T
When he had thus spoken he said to his son Mercury Mercury you	R
are our messenger go therefore and tell Calypso we have decreed	D
that poor Ulysses is to return home He is to be convoyed neither by	H
gods nor men but after a perilous voyage of twenty days upon a raft	U
he is to reach fertile Scheria the land of the Phaeacians who are	N
near of kin to the gods and will honour him as though he were one	V
of ourselves They will send him in a ship to his own country and	W
will give him more bronze and gold and raiment than he would have	X
brought back from Troy if he had had had all his prize money and	W
had got home without disaster This is how we have settled that he	L
shall return to his country and his friends	Y
Thus he spoke and Mercury guide and guardian slayer of Argus did	Z
as he was told Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals	A2
with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea He took the	C
wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep or wakes them just as	J
he pleases and flew holding it in his hand over Pieria then he	L
swooped down through the firmament till he reached the level of the	C
sea whose waves he skimmed like a cormorant that flies fishing	B2
every hole and corner of the ocean and drenching its thick plumage in	F
the spray He flew and flew over many a weary wave but when at last	C2
he got to the island which was his journey's end he left the sea	L
and went on by land till he came to the cave where the nymph Calypso	E
lived	D2
He found her at home There was a large fire burning on the	C
hearth and one could smell from far the fragrant reek of burning	B2
cedar and sandal wood As for herself she was busy at her loom	E2
shooting her golden shuttle through the warp and singing	B2
beautifully Round her cave there was a thick wood of alder poplar	Q
and sweet smelling cypress trees wherein all kinds of great birds had	F2
built their nests owls hawks and chattering sea crows that occupy	H
their business in the waters A vine loaded with grapes was trained	G2
and grew luxuriantly about the mouth of the cave there were also four	H2
running rills of water in channels cut pretty close together and	W
turned hither and thither so as to irrigate the beds of violets and	W
luscious herbage over which they flowed Even a god could not help	I2
being charmed with such a lovely spot so Mercury stood still and	W
looked at it but when he had admired it sufficiently he went inside	J2
the cave	K2
Calypso knew him at once for the gods all know each other no	E
matter how far they live from one another but Ulysses was not within	F
he was on the sea shore as usual looking out upon the barren ocean	V
with tears in his eyes groaning and breaking his heart for sorrow	E
Calypso gave Mercury a seat and said Why have you come to see me	L
Mercury honoured and ever welcome for you do not visit me often	V
Say what you want I will do it for be you at once if I can and if it	L2
can be done at all but come inside and let me set refreshment before	H2
you	R
As she spoke she drew a table loaded with ambrosia beside him and	W
mixed him some red nectar so Mercury ate and drank till he had had	F2
enough and then said	M2
We are speaking god and goddess to one another one another and	W
you ask me why I have come here and I will tell you truly as you	R
would have me do Jove sent me it was no doing of mine who could	N2
possibly want to come all this way over the sea where there are no	E
cities full of people to offer me sacrifices or choice hecatombs	E
Nevertheless I had to come for none of us other gods can cross	E
Jove nor transgress his orders He says that you have here the most	O2
ill starred of alf those who fought nine years before the city of King	B2
Priam and sailed home in the tenth year after having sacked it On	P2
their way home they sinned against Minerva who raised both wind and	W
waves against them so that all his brave companions perished and	W
he alone was carried hither by wind and tide Jove says that you are	N
to let this by man go at once for it is decreed that he shall not	I
perish here far from his own people but shall return to his house	E
and country and see his friends again	Q2
Calypso trembled with rage when she heard this You gods she	L
exclaimed to be ashamed of yourselves You are always jealous and	W
hate seeing a goddess take a fancy to a mortal man and live with	B
him in open matrimony So when rosy fingered Dawn made love to	R
Orion you precious gods were all of you furious till Diana went and	W
killed him in Ortygia So again when Ceres fell in love with Iasion	Q2
and yielded to him in a thrice ploughed fallow field Jove came to	R
hear of it before so long and killed Iasion with his thunder bolts	E
And now you are angry with me too because I have a man here I found	R2
the poor creature sitting all alone astride of a keel for Jove had	F2
struck his ship with lightning and sunk it in mid ocean so that all	S2
his crew were drowned while he himself was driven by wind and waves	E
on to my island I got fond of him and cherished him and had set my	H
heart on making him immortal so that he should never grow old all his	E
days still I cannot cross Jove nor bring his counsels to nothing	B2
therefore if he insists upon it let the man go beyond the seas	E
again but I cannot send him anywhere myself for I have neither	Q
ships nor men who can take him Nevertheless I will readily give him	T
such advice in all good faith as will be likely to bring him	T
safely to his own country	L
Then send him away said Mercury or Jove will be angry with	B
you and punish you '	T2
On this he took his leave and Calypso went out to look for Ulysses	E
for she had heard Jove's message She found him sitting upon the beach	U2
with his eyes ever filled with tears and dying of sheer	V2
home sickness for he had got tired of Calypso and though he was	E
forced to sleep with her in the cave by night it was she not he	L
that would have it so As for the day time he spent it on the rocks	E
and on the sea shore weeping crying aloud for his despair and	W
always looking out upon the sea Calypso then went close up to him	T
said	M2
My poor fellow you shall not stay here grieving and fretting	B2
your life out any longer I am going to send you away of my own free	L
will so go cut some beams of wood and make yourself a large raft	U
with an upper deck that it may carry you safely over the sea I will	W2
put bread wine and water on board to save you from starving I	H
will also give you clothes and will send you a fair wind to take	X2
you home if the gods in heaven so will it for they know more about	Y2
these things and can settle them better than I can	Q2
Ulysses shuddered as he heard her Now goddess he answered	Z2
there is something behind all this you cannot be really meaning to	R
help me home when you bid me do such a dreadful thing as put to sea on	Q2
a raft Not even a well found ship with a fair wind could venture on	Q2
such a distant voyage nothing that you can say or do shall mage me go	E
on board a raft unless you first solemnly swear that you mean me no	E
mischief	A3
Calypso smiled at this and caressed him with her hand You know a	C
great deal said she but you are quite wrong here May heaven above	A
and earth below be my witnesses with the waters of the river Styx	E
and this is the most solemn oath which a blessed god can take that	B3
I mean you no sort of harm and am only advising you to do exactly	L
what I should do myself in your place I am dealing with you quite	C3
straightforwardly my heart is not made of iron and I am very sorry	L
for you	R
When she had thus spoken she led the way rapidly before him and	W
Ulysses followed in her steps so the pair goddess and man went on	Q2
and on till they came to Calypso's cave where Ulysses took the seat	D3
that Mercury had just left Calypso set meat and drink before him of	A
the food that mortals eat but her maids brought ambrosia and nectar	Q
for herself and they laid their hands on the good things that were	Q
before them When they had satisfied themselves with meat and drink	E3
Calypso spoke saying	B2
Ulysses noble son of Laertes so you would start home to your	H2
own land at once Good luck go with you but if you could only know	E
how much suffering is in store for you before you get back to your own	Q2
country you would stay where you are keep house along with me and	W
let me make you immortal no matter how anxious you may be to see this	E
wife of yours of whom you are thinking all the time day after day	F3
yet I flatter myself that at am no whit less tall or well looking than	Q2
she is for it is not to be expected that a mortal woman should	N2
compare in beauty with an immortal	G3
Goddess replied Ulysses do not be angry with me about this I	H
am quite aware that my wife Penelope is nothing like so tall or so	E
beautiful as yourself She is only a woman whereas you are an	Q2
immortal Nevertheless I want to get home and can think of nothing	B2
else If some god wrecks me when I am on the sea I will bear it and	W
make the best of it I have had infinite trouble both by land and	W
sea already so let this go with the rest	H3
Presently the sun set and it became dark whereon the pair retired	I3
into the inner part of the cave and went to bed	M2
When the child of morning rosy fingered Dawn appeared Ulysses put	J3
on his shirt and cloak while the goddess wore a dress of a light	C3
gossamer fabric very fine and graceful with a beautiful golden	Q2
girdle about her waist and a veil to cover her head She at once set	K3
herself to think how she could speed Ulysses on his way So she gave	K2
him a great bronze axe that suited his hands it was sharpened on both	L3
sides and had a beautiful olive wood handle fitted firmly on to it	L2
She also gave him a sharp adze and then led the way to the far end of	A
the island where the largest trees grew alder poplar and pine	Q2
that reached the sky very dry and well seasoned so as to sail	M3
light for him in the water Then when she had shown him where the	C
best trees grew Calypso went home leaving him to cut them which	N3
he soon finished doing He cut down twenty trees in all and adzed them	O3
smooth squaring them by rule in good workmanlike fashion Meanwhile	P3
Calypso came back with some augers so he bored holes with them and	W
fitted the timbers together with bolts and rivets He made the raft as	E
broad as a skilled shipwright makes the beam of a large vessel and he	L
filed a deck on top of the ribs and ran a gunwale all round it He	L
also made a mast with a yard arm and a rudder to steer with He	L
fenced the raft all round with wicker hurdles as a protection	Q2
against the waves and then he threw on a quantity of wood By and	W
by Calypso brought him some linen to make the sails and he made these	E
too excellently making them fast with braces and sheets Last of	A
all with the help of levers he drew the raft down into the water	Q
In four days he had completed the whole work and on the fifth	Q3
Calypso sent him from the island after washing him and giving him some	R3
clean clothes She gave him a goat skin full of black wine and	W
another larger one of water she also gave him a wallet full of	A
provisions and found him in much good meat Moreover she made the	C
wind fair and warm for him and gladly did Ulysses spread his sail	M3
before it while he sat and guided the raft skilfully by means of	A
the rudder He never closed his eyes but kept them fixed on the	C
Pleiads on late setting Bootes and on the Bear which men also	E
call the wain and which turns round and round where it is facing	B2
Orion and alone never dipping into the stream of Oceanus for Calypso	E
had told him to keep this to his left Days seven and ten did he	L
sail over the sea and on the eighteenth the dim outlines of the	C
mountains on the nearest part of the Phaeacian coast appeared	S3
rising like a shield on the horizon	Q2
But King Neptune who was returning from the Ethiopians caught	I
sight of Ulysses a long way off from the mountains of the Solymi	R3
He could see him sailing upon the sea and it made him very angry	L
so he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying heavens so the	C
gods have been changing their minds about Ulysses while I was away	F3
in Ethiopia and now he is close to the land of the Phaeacians	E
where it is decreed that he shall escape from the calamities that have	X
befallen him Still he shall have plenty of hardship yet before he	L
has done with it	L2
Thereon he gathered his clouds together grasped his trident	T3
stirred it round in the sea and roused the rage of every wind that	B3
blows till earth sea and sky were hidden in cloud and night	C3
sprang forth out of the heavens Winds from East South North and	W
West fell upon him all at the same time and a tremendous sea got	I
up so that Ulysses' heart began to fail him Alas he said to	R
himself in his dismay what ever will become of me I am afraid	U3
Calypso was right when she said I should have trouble by sea before	H2
I got back home It is all coming true How black is Jove making	B2
heaven with his clouds and what a sea the winds are raising from	R3
every quarter at once I am now safe to perish Blest and thrice blest	H3
were those Danaans who fell before Troy in the cause of the sons of	A
Atreus Would that had been killed on the day when the Trojans were	Q
pressing me so sorely about the dead body of Achilles for then I	H
should have had due burial and the Achaeans would have honoured my	H
name but now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end	V3
As he spoke a sea broke over him with such terrific fury that the	C
raft reeled again and he was carried overboard a long way off He let	K3
go the helm and the force of the hurricane was so great that it broke	W3
the mast half way up and both sail and yard went over into the sea	L
For a long time Ulysses was under water and it was all he could do to	R
rise to the surface again for the clothes Calypso had given him	R3
weighed him down but at last he got his head above water and spat out	Y2
the bitter brine that was running down his face in streams In spite	C3
of all this however he did not lose sight of his raft but swam as	E
fast as he could towards it got hold of it and climbed on board	X3
again so as to escape drowning The sea took the raft and tossed it	L2
about as Autumn winds whirl thistledown round and round upon a road	Y3
It was as though the South North East and West winds were all	S2
playing battledore and shuttlecock with it at once	E
When he was in this plight Ino daughter of Cadmus also called	Z3
Leucothea saw him She had formerly been a mere mortal but had	F2
been since raised to the rank of a marine goddess Seeing in what	A4
great distress Ulysses now was she had compassion upon him and	W
rising like a sea gull from the waves took her seat upon the raft	U
My poor good man said she why is Neptune so furiously angry	L
with you He is giving you a great deal of trouble but for all his	E
bluster he will not kill you You seem to be a sensible person do	R
then as I bid you strip leave your raft to drive before the wind	G
and swim to the Phaecian coast where better luck awaits you And here	B4
take my veil and put it round your chest it is enchanted and you can	Q2
come to no harm so long as you wear it As soon as you touch land take	X2
it off throw it back as far as you can into the sea and then go away	F3
again With these words she took off her veil and gave it him Then	Q2
she dived down again like a sea gull and vanished beneath the dark	C4
blue waters	E
But Ulysses did not know what to think Alas he said to himself	D4
in his dismay this is only some one or other of the gods who is	E
luring me to ruin by advising me to will quit my raft At any rate I	H
will not do so at present for the land where she said I should be	L
quit of all troubles seemed to be still a good way off I know what	A4
I will do I am sure it will be best no matter what happens I will	W2
stick to the raft as long as her timbers hold together but when the	C
sea breaks her up I will swim for it I do not see how I can do any	L
better than this	E
While he was thus in two minds Neptune sent a terrible great wave	K2
that seemed to rear itself above his head till it broke right over the	C
raft which then went to pieces as though it were a heap of dry	H
chaff tossed about by a whirlwind Ulysses got astride of one plank	E4
and rode upon it as if he were on horseback he then took off the	C
clothes Calypso had given him bound Ino's veil under his arms and	W
plunged into the sea meaning to swim on shore King Neptune watched	F4
him as he did so and wagged his head muttering to himself and	W
saying 'There now swim up and down as you best can till you fall in	Q2
with well to do people I do not think you will be able to say that	B3
I have let you off too lightly On this he lashed his horses and	W
drove to Aegae where his palace is	E
But Minerva resolved to help Ulysses so she bound the ways of all	S2
the winds except one and made them lie quite still but she roused	G4
a good stiff breeze from the North that should lay the waters till	W2
Ulysses reached the land of the Phaeacians where he would be safe	H4
Thereon he floated about for two nights and two days in the water	Q
with a heavy swell on the sea and death staring him in the face but	A4
when the third day broke the wind fell and there was a dead calm	R3
without so much as a breath of air stirring As he rose on the swell	I4
he looked eagerly ahead and could see land quite near Then as	E
children rejoice when their dear father begins to get better after	Q
having for a long time borne sore affliction sent him by some angry	L
spirit but the gods deliver him from evil so was Ulysses thankful	G3
when he again saw land and trees and swam on with all his strength	J4
that he might once more set foot upon dry ground When however he	L
got within earshot he began to hear the surf thundering up against	K4
the rocks for the swell still broke against them with a terrific	L4
roar Everything was enveloped in spray there were no harbours	E
where a ship might ride nor shelter of any kind but only	L
headlands low lying rocks and mountain tops	E
Ulysses' heart now began to fail him and he said despairingly to	R
himself Alas Jove has let me see land after swimming so far that	B3
I had given up all hope but I can find no landing place for the	C
coast is rocky and surf beaten the rocks are smooth and rise sheer	V2
from the sea with deep water close under them so that I cannot	I
climb out for want of foothold I am afraid some great wave will	W2
lift me off my legs and dash me against the rocks as I leave the	C
water which would give me a sorry landing If on the other hand I	H
swim further in search of some shelving beach or harbour a	C
hurricane may carry me out to sea again sorely against my will or	H2
heaven may send some great monster of the deep to attack me for	H2
Amphitrite breeds many such and I know that Neptune is very angry	L
with me	L
While he was thus in two minds a wave caught him and took him with	B
such force against the rocks that he would have been smashed and	W
torn to pieces if Minerva had not shown him what to do He caught hold	M4
of the rock with both hands and clung to it groaning with pain till	W2
the wave retired so he was saved that time but presently the wave	K2
came on again and carried him back with it far into the sea tearing	B2
his hands as the suckers of a polypus are torn when some one plucks it	L2
from its bed and the stones come up along with it even so did the	C
rocks tear the skin from his strong hands and then the wave drew	R
him deep down under the water	Q
Here poor Ulysses would have certainly perished even in spite of his	E
own destiny if Minerva had not helped him to keep his wits about him	R3
He swam seaward again beyond reach of the surf that was beating	B2
against the land and at the same time he kept looking towards the	C
shore to see if he could find some haven or a spit that should take	X2
the waves aslant By and by as he swam on he came to the mouth of	A
a river and here he thought would be the best place for there were	Q
no rocks and it afforded shelter from the wind He felt that there	N4
was a current so he prayed inwardly and said	M2
Hear me O King whoever you may be and save me from the anger	Q
of the sea god Neptune for I approach you prayerfully Any one who	R
has lost his way has at all times a claim even upon the gods	E
wherefore in my distress I draw near to your stream and cling to	R
the knees of your riverhood Have mercy upon me O king for I declare	N4
myself your suppliant	R
Then the god stayed his stream and stilled the waves making all	S2
calm before him and bringing him safely into the mouth of the	C
river Here at last Ulysses' knees and strong hands failed him for	H2
the sea had completely broken him His body was all swollen and his	E
mouth and nostrils ran down like a river with sea water so that he	L
could neither breathe nor speak and lay swooning from sheer	V2
exhaustion presently when he had got his breath and came to	R
himself again he took off the scarf that Ino had given him and	R
threw it back into the salt stream of the river whereon Ino	Q2
received it into her hands from the wave that bore it towards her	Q
Then he left the river laid himself down among the rushes and kissed	R
the bounteous earth	O4
Alas he cried to himself in his dismay what ever will become of	A
me and how is it all to end If I stay here upon the river bed	R
through the long watches of the night I am so exhausted that the	C
bitter cold and damp may make an end of me for towards sunrise	E
there will be a keen wind blowing from off the river If on the other	Q
hand I climb the hill side find shelter in the woods and sleep in	Q2
some thicket I may escape the cold and have a good night's rest	R
but some savage beast may take advantage of me and devour me	L
In the end he deemed it best to take to the woods and he found	R
one upon some high ground not far from the water There he crept	R
beneath two shoots of olive that grew from a single stock the one	Q2
an ungrafted sucker while the other had been grafted No wind	R
however squally could break through the cover they afforded nor	H2
could the sun's rays pierce them nor the rain get through them so	E
closely did they grow into one another Ulysses crept under these	E
and began to make himself a bed to lie on for there was a great	R
litter of dead leaves lying about enough to make a covering for two	R
or three men even in hard winter weather He was glad enough to see	L
this so he laid himself down and heaped the leaves all round him	R3
Then as one who lives alone in the country far from any neighbor	Q
hides a brand as fire seed in the ashes to save himself from having to	R
get a light elsewhere even so did Ulysses cover himself up with	B
leaves and Minerva shed a sweet sleep upon his eyes closed his	E
eyelids and made him lose all memories of his sorrows	E

Homer

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