1 The queen is preparing for her marriage with one or other of us.
2 Suitors of the illustrious queen, listen that I may speak even as I am minded.
3 As for himself, he slept in an inner room of the house, with the queen his wife by his side.
4 Then the queen went back to her room upstairs, and her maids brought the presents after her.
5 "Holy queen," he continued, "vouchsafe to send down thy grace upon myself, my good wife, and my children."
6 And now, O queen, have pity upon me, for you are the first person I have met, and I know no one else in this country.
7 Farewell, queen," said he, "henceforward and for ever, till age and death, the common lot of mankind, lay their hands upon you.
8 Maids, servants of Ulysses who has so long been absent, go to the queen inside the house; sit with her and amuse her, or spin, and pick wool.
9 The house re-echoed with the sound of men and women dancing, and the people outside said, "I suppose the queen has been getting married at last."
10 So Ulysses slept in a bed placed in a room over the echoing gateway; but Alcinous lay in the inner part of the house, with the queen his wife by his side.
11 Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in turn; the others each from his own seat made a drink-offering to the blessed gods that live in heaven, but Ulysses rose and placed the double cup in the hands of queen Arete.