Any that beareth the sceptre as king, nor righteously minded !
Nay, let him rather be hard and be cruel and practise injustice !
So is it true that the godlike Odysseus by none is remembered.
None of the people he governed and lovingly ruled as a father.
Now on an island he lieth, and cruel the pain that he suffers.
Held in Calypso's halls ; for the sea-nymph still with compulsion
Keepeth him there all hopeless of reaching the land of his fathers,
Since no ship well-fitted with oars he possesseth or shipmates.
Such as to help him to traverse the wide expanses of ocean.
Also his dearly-beloved, his son, they are meaning to murder
While he is voyaging homeward ; for hoping to hear of his father
Lately he journeyed to Pylos the fair and divine Lacedaemon."
Her then in turn gave answer the Father who gathers the storm-clouds :
"Nay but my child, what word by the door of thy lips hath escaped thee ?
Surely the plan was devised, and by none but thyself, that Odysseus
Safely returned to his home should wreak his revenge on the suitors.
Telemachus do thou guard with thy guidance (for well thou art able)
So that without all harm he shall come to the land of his fathers.
While all baffled the suitors return once more in the vessel."

These words uttered, to Hermes, his well-loved son, he addressed him:
"Hermes — for ever as herald thou bear'st the behests of immortals —
Bring to the fair-tressed nymph our will's immutable verdict.
Even that patient Odysseus return and arrive at his homeland.
