[436] Here poor Odysseus would have
certainly perished even in spite of his own destiny, if Athena had
not helped him to keep his wits about him. He swam seaward again,
beyond reach of the surf that was beating against the land, and at
the same time he kept looking towards the shore to see if he could
find some haven, or a spit that should take the waves aslant. By and
by, as he swam on, he came to the mouth of a river, and here he
thought would be the best place, for there were no rocks, and it
afforded shelter from the wind. He felt that there was a current, so
he prayed inwardly and said:
[445] "Hear me, O King, whoever you may
be, and save me from the anger of the sea-god Poseidon, for I
approach you prayerfully. Anyone who has lost his way has at all
times a claim even upon the gods, wherefore in my distress I draw
near to your stream, and cling to the knees of your riverhood. Have
mercy upon me, O king, for I declare myself your
suppliant."
[451] Then the god stayed his stream
and stilled the waves, making all calm before him, and bringing him
safely into the mouth of the river. Here at last Odysseus knees
and strong hands failed him, for the sea had completely broken him.
His body was all swollen, and his mouth and nostrils ran down like a
river with sea-water, so that he could neither breathe nor speak, and
lay swooning from sheer exhaustion; presently, when he had got his
breath and came to himself again, he took off the scarf that Ino had
given him and threw it back into the salt stream of the river,
whereon Ino received it into her hands from the wave that bore it
towards her. Then he left the river, laid himself down among the
rushes, and kissed the bounteous earth.
[464] "Alas," he cried to himself in
his dismay, "what ever will become of me, and how is it all to end?
If I stay here upon the river bed through the long watches of the
night, I am so exhausted that the bitter cold and damp may make an
end of me - for towards sunrise there will be a keen wind blowing
from off the river. If, on the other hand, I climb the hill side,
find shelter in the woods, and sleep in some thicket, I may escape
the cold and have a good night's rest, but some savage beast may
take advantage of me and devour me."
