Odyssey 7.186 · Book 7, lines 186–188
Hear me, chiefs of the Phaeacians
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Alcinous — κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει. νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·
Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians, that I may say what the heart in my breast bids me. Now, having feasted, go home to your rest;
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The setting
Alcinous addresses the assembled Phaeacian nobles. Resolved to help the stranger home, he opens his plan by dismissing the company for the night and framing what he says as the counsel of his own heart.
A note on this passage
Alcinous speaks as a chairman, not a despot. He calls the chiefs to listen, frames what follows as what his own heart bids him say, and gives the first, easy order: the feast is over, so go home and sleep. The real business he holds for daylight.
The undercurrent is how power works among the Phaeacians. Even a king puts his will as counsel — 'hear me,' 'what my heart bids' — and moves the assembly by consent rather than command. The stranger, still unnamed, is already the axis the whole council will turn on tomorrow.
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Odyssey 7.186 — The Great Library Project interlinear edition · greatlibraryproject.com/book/odyssey/7.186/