Odyssey 8.385 · Book 8, lines 385–390
Let us give him a gift
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ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο, αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
Alcinous — κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες. ὁ ξεῖνος μάλα μοι δοκέει πεπνυμένος εἶναι. ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν ξεινήιον, ὡς ἐπιεικές. δώδεκα γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριπρεπέες βασιλῆες
So he spoke, and the sacred might of Alcinous rejoiced, and at once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians: Hear me, leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians. This stranger seems to me to be very wise. But come, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting. For twelve illustrious kings throughout the land…
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The setting
Pleased by Odysseus's praise, Alcinous addresses the Phaeacian nobles. Judging the stranger a man of good sense, he proposes the guest-gift that hospitality demands, and begins to organize the giving among the twelve local kings.
A note on this passage
Odysseus's compliment lands. Alcinous is delighted and turns straight to his council: the stranger is plainly a man of sense, and hospitality now calls for a parting gift. He begins to arrange it — twelve kings rule the district, and each, with himself, will contribute.
The scene runs entirely on guest-friendship. Alcinous needs no name, no story, no proof of worth beyond good manners and evident wisdom to load a stranger with treasure. The gifts he now marshals are what will carry Odysseus home richer than he left Troy. And the phrase ἱερὸν μένος, 'the sacred might of Alcinous,' quietly dignifies a king pleased by flattery — the old formula lending grandeur to a very human warmth.
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