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While Odysseus is asleep, his starving crew butcher the cattle of Helios:
At that time quiet sleep was lost from my eyelids,
and I went back down to my fast ship and the sand of the seashore,
but on my way, as I was close to the oar-swept vessel,
the pleasant savour of cooking meat came drifting round me,
and I cried my grief aloud to the gods immortal:
"Father Zeus, and you other everlasting and blessed
gods, with a pitiless sleep you lulled me, to my confusion,
and my companions staying here dared a deed that was monstrous."
Lampetia of the light robes ran swift with the message
to Hyperion the Sun God, that we had killed his cattle,
and angered at the heart he spoke forth among the immortals:
Father Zeus, and you other everlasting and blessed
gods, punish the companions of Odysseus, son of Laertes;
for they outrageously killed my cattle, in whom I always
delighted, on my way up into the starry heaven,
or when I turned back again from heaven toward earth. Unless
these are made to give me just recompense for my cattle,
I will go down to Hades and give my light to the dead men."
Then in turn Zeus who gathers clouds answered him:
"Helios, shine on as you do, among the immortals
and mortal men, all over the grain-giving earth. For my part
I will strike these men's fast ship midway on the open
wine-blue sea with a shining bolt and dash it to pieces." |
