Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy - Part 7

Starting point is 00:00:01 Hi there. For the best Sleepcove experience, you can listen to our Sleepcove Premium Supporters feed for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus episodes at sleepcove.com slash support. Now a quick word from our sponsors, then make the free version of Sleepcove possible. Hello everyone and welcome to the next chapters of the adventures of Odysseus and the tale of Troy. Previously, the story reached one of its most moving moments, as the aging king Priam bravely entered the Greek camp to beg Achilles for the return of Hector's body. Faced with Priam's grief, Achilles was reminded of his own father and the terrible losses caused by war, and for a time anger gave way to compassion. The story then returned to the final days of Troy and to the cunning of Odysseus. The Greeks devised the famous wooden horse, hiding warriors inside, while the rest of the army appeared to sail away, and the Trojans brought the strange offering within their city walls.

Starting point is 00:01:27 That night, the hidden Greeks emerged. from the wooden horse and open the gates to their returning army, and the long war finally came to an end. Menelaus told Telemachus that he thought his father Odysseus was still alive. Telemachus then began his journey back towards Ithaca, where danger still awaited for him, and where the story of Odysseus was drawing ever closer to her. home. This is part two of the story, focusing on Odysseus' Odyssey. Coming up, the story finally returns to Odysseus himself, still stranded far from home on the beautiful island of Calypso.

Starting point is 00:02:21 At last, the gods decide that his long captivity must end, but his journey across the sea proves anything but safe. After facing a terrifying storm and being cast helplessly onto a strange shore, Odysseus encounters the young princess Narcicchio, whose kindness may offer him his first real hope of getting home. The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy, part two, how Odysseus left Calypso's island and came to the land. of the phoenicians, how he fared with the cyclops and went past the terrible Scylla and Churribdis and came to the island of Pharninica. Ever mindful was Athena of Odysseus, although she might not help him openly because of a wrong he had done Poseidon,

Starting point is 00:03:29 the god of the sea. But she spoke at the count of the council. of the gods, and she won from Zeus a pledge that Odysseus would now be permitted to return to his own land. On that day she went to Ithaca and appearing to Telemachus moved him, as he had been told, to go on the voyage in search of his father. And on that day too, Hermes, by the will of Zeus went to Aegean, to the island, where the ancient one of the sea had shown Menelaus, that Odysseus was held by the nymph Calypso. Beautiful indeed was the island. All round the cave, where Calypso lived, was a blossoming wood.

Starting point is 00:04:28 Older, popular and cypress trees were there. and on their branches roosted long-winged birds, falcons and owls and chattering sea-crows. Before the cave was a soft meadow in which thousands of violets bloomed, and with four fountains that gushed out of the ground and made clear streams through the grass. across the cave grew a straggling vine heavy with clusters of grapes Kinipso was within the cave and as her maze came near

Starting point is 00:05:16 he heard her singing one of her magic songs She was before a loom weaving the threads With a golden shuttle And she knew Hermes, and was pleased to see him on her island. But as soon as he spoke of Odysseus, and how it was the will of Zeus, that he should be permitted to leave the island, her song ceased, and the golden shuttle fell from her hand.

Starting point is 00:05:52 Woe is me, she said, and woe to any immortal, who loves a mortal? For the gold. God's are always jealous of their love. I do not hold him here because I hate Odysseus, but because I love him greatly, and would have him dwell with me here. More than this, Hermes, I would make him an immortal so that he would know neither old age nor death.

Starting point is 00:06:28 He does not desire to be freed from old age and death, said Hermes. He desires to return to his own land and to live with his dear wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, and Zeus, the greatest of the gods, commands that you let him go upon his way. I have no ship to give him, said Calypso, and I have no company of men to help him to cross the sea. He must leave the island and cross the sea. Zeus commands it, Hermes said. I must help him to make his way across the sea. If it must be so, Calypso said, then she bowed her head.

Starting point is 00:07:26 and Hermes went from her. Straightaway, Calypso left her cave and went down to the sea. By the shore Odysseus stained, looking across the white sea with tears in his eyes. She came to him and she said, Be not sorrowful anymore, Odysseus. This time has come when other, mayst depart from my island. Come now, I will show how I can help thee on my way. She brought him to the side of the island, where great trees grew, and she put in his hands a double-edged axe,

Starting point is 00:08:18 and it adds, then Odysseus started to hew down the timber. Twenty-three, He felled with his axe of bronze, and he smoothed them and made straight the. Calypso came to him at the dawn of the next day, and she brought augurs for boring, and he made the beams fast. He built a raft, making it very broad, and set a mast upon it, and fixed a rudder to. a rudder to guide it. To make it more secure, he wove out of Osir rods a fence that went from stem to stern as a bulwark against the waves, and he strengthened the bulwark with wood placed behind. Kinipsoe wove him a web of cloth for sails, and these he made very skillfully.

Starting point is 00:09:27 Then he fastened the braces and the hayyards and sheets and he pushed the raft with levers down to the sea. This was on the fourth day. On the fifth, Calypso gave him garments for the journey and brought provision down to the raft. two skins of wine and a great skin of water, corn and many dainties. She showed Odysseus how to guide his course by the star that some call the bear and others the wane. And she bade farewell to him.

Starting point is 00:10:13 He took his place on the raft and set his sail to the breeze, and he sailed away from a gigia, the island where Calypso had held him for so long. But not easily or safely did he make his way across the sea. The winds blew upon the raft and the waves dushed against it. A fierce blast came and broke the mast in the middle. The sail and the army yard fell. into the deep. Then Odysseus was flown down on the bottom of the raft. For a long time he lay there overwhelmed by the water that broke over him. The winds drove the raft to and fro.

Starting point is 00:11:06 The south wind tossed it to the north to bear along and the east wind tossed it to the west to chase. In the depths of the sea There was a nymph Who saw his toils and his troubles Who had pity upon him I know was her name She rose from the waves

Starting point is 00:11:31 In the likeness of a single And she sat upon the raft And she spoke to Odysseus in words Hapless man She said Besidon the god of the sea is still rough with thee. It may be that the waters will destroy the raft which you sail. Then there will be no hope for thee. But do what I bid and you shalt yet

Starting point is 00:12:04 escape. Strip off your garments and take this veil from me and wind it around thy breast. As long as it is upon thee, you cannot drown. But when you have reached the mainland, lose the veil and cast it into the sea so that it may come back to me. She gave him the veil, and then, in the likeness of a seagull, she dived into the sea, and the waves closed over her. Edizius took the veil and wound it around his breast, but he would not leave the raft, as long as its timbers held together.

Starting point is 00:12:56 Then a great wave came and shattered the raft. He helped himself on a single beam, as one holds himself on a horse. And then with the veil, bound across his breast. He threw himself into the waves. For two nights and two days, he was tossed about on the waters.

Starting point is 00:13:21 When on the third day, the dawn came and the winds fell, he saw land very near. He swam eagerly towards it. But when he drew nearer, he heard the crash of waves, as they struck against rocks that were all covered.

Starting point is 00:13:39 with foam. Then, indeed, Odysseus was afraid. A great wave took hold of him and flung him towards the shore. Now, his bones would have been broken upon the rocks if he had not been ready-minded enough to rush towards a rock and to cling to it with both hands until the wave dashed by. His backwards drag took him and carried him back to the deep, with the skin stripped from his hands, the waves closed over him. When he rose again, he swam around, looking for a place where there might be not rocks, but some easy opening into the lands. The waves closed over him.

Starting point is 00:14:33 When he rose again He swam round Looking for a place Where there might be not rocks But some easy opening into the land At last he saw the mouth Of a river He swam towards it

Starting point is 00:14:50 Until he felt its stream Flowing through the water of the sea Then in his heart He prayed to the river Hear me O River was what he said. I am come to thee as a suppliant, fleeing from the anger of Poseidon,

Starting point is 00:15:11 God of the sea. Even by the gods, is the man pitied who comes to them as a wanderer and a hapless man. I am thy suppliant, O river, pity me and help me in my need. Now the river water,

Starting point is 00:15:30 were smooth for his swimming, and he came safely to its mouth. He came to a place where he might land, but with his flesh swollen and streams of salt water gushing from his mouth and nostrils, he lay on the ground without breath or speech, swooning with a terrible weariness that was upon him. but in a while his breath came back to him and his courage rose. He remembered the veil that the sea nymph had given him and he loosened it and let it fall back into the flowing river.

Starting point is 00:16:17 A wave came and bore it back to Inau who caught it in her hands. But Odysseus was still fearful and he said in his heart, Army, what is to before me now? Here am I, naked and forlorn, and I know not amongst what people, and what shall I do with myself when night comes on? If I lie by the river, in the frost and dew, I may perish of the cold, and if I climb up yonder to the woods and seek refuge in the thickets, I may become the prey of wild beasts. He went from the cold of the river up to the woods and he found two olive trees growing side by side,

Starting point is 00:17:14 twining together so they made a shelter against the winds. He went and lay between them among a bed of leaves. And with leaves he covered himself over. there in that shelter and with that warmth he lay and sleep came on him and at last he rested from perils and toils chapter two and while he rested the goddess Athena went to the city of the Phoenicians to whose land Odysseus had now come She came to the palace of the king And passing through all the doors Came to the chamber

Starting point is 00:18:05 Where the king's daughter Norsechia slept She entered into Norsechia's dream Appearing to her in it As one of her girl comrades And in the dream She spoke to the princess

Starting point is 00:18:22 Norsechia she said The garments of your household are all uncared for, and the time is near, when more than ever you have need to have much and beautiful raiment. Your marriage day will be soon. You will have to have many garments ready by that time, garments to bring with you to your husband's house, and garments to give to those who will attend you at your wedding. There is much to be done, nor secure. Be ready at the break of day and take your maidens with you and bring the garments of your household to the river to be washed. I will be your mate in the toil. Beg your father to give you a wagon

Starting point is 00:19:17 with mules to carry all the garments that we need to wash. So in a dream, Athena spoke to the princess in the likeness of her girlfriend. Having put the task of washing into her mind, the goddess left the palace of the king and the country of the Phoenicians. Norsechia, when she rose, fought upon a dream, and she went through the palace and found her father. He was going to the assembly of the Phoenicians. And she came to him, but she was shy about speaking of that which had been in her dream, her marriage day, since her parents had not spoken to her about such a thing, saying that she was going to the river to wash the garments of the household. She asked for a wagon and for meals.

Starting point is 00:20:18 So many garments have I lying soiled, she said. Yes, and thou to my father Should have fresh raiment When you go forth to the assembly of the Venetians And in our house Are the two unwedded youths My brothers Who are always eager for new washed garments

Starting point is 00:20:42 Wherein to go to dancers Her father smiled on her and said The mules and wagon Thou must have have, Norsechia, and servants shall get them ready for thee now. He called to the servants and bade them get ready the mules and the wagon. The Norsechia gathered her maids together and brought the soiled garments of the household to the wagon, and her mother said that Norsechia and her maids might eat while they were

Starting point is 00:21:22 from home, put in a basket filled with dainties and a skin of wine, and she gave them a jar of olive oil, so they might rub themselves with oil while bathing in the river. Pyong Norsekiya herself drove the wagon. She mounted it, and took the whip in her hands, and started the mules, and they went through fields, and by far. and came to the river bank. The girls brought the garments to the stream and leaving them in the shadow parts, trod them with their bare feet.

Starting point is 00:22:05 The wagon was unharnessed and the mules were left to graze along the river side. So when they had washed the garments, they took them to the seashore and left them on the clean pebbles to dry the sun. Then Norsechia and her companions went into the river and bathed and sported in the water. When they had bathed, they sat down and ate the meal that had been put on the wagon for them. The garments were not yet dried, and Nelsicchia called on her companions to play.

Starting point is 00:22:48 Straight away, they took a ball and threw it from one to the other. each singing a song that went with a game. As they played on the meadow, they made a lovely company, and the Princess Norsicaea was the taunest and fairest and noblest of them all. Before they left the river side to load the wagon, they played a last game. The princess threw the ball, and the girl, whose turn it was to kill. catch missed it. The bull went into the river and was carried down the stream. At that they all raised a cry. It was the cry that woke up Odysseus, who covered with leaves, was then sleeping

Starting point is 00:23:39 in the shelter of two olive trees. He crept out from under the thicket, covering his nakedness with leafy branches that he broke off the trees. And when he saw the girls in the meadow, he wanted to go to them to beg for their help. And when they looked on him, they were terribly frightened, and they ran this way and that way, and hid themselves.

Starting point is 00:24:09 Only Norsechius stood still, for Athena had taken fear from her mind. Odysseus, stood a little way from her, and spoke to her in a beseeching voice. I supplicate to thee, lady, to help me in my bitter need. I would kneel to thee and clasp thy knees, only I fear your anger. Have pity upon me. Yesterday was the twentieth day, I was upon the sea, driven hither and thither by the waves and winds. And still Norsechius stood, and Odysseus looking upon her was filled with reverence for her, so noble she seemed.

Starting point is 00:24:58 I know not as I look upon thee, he said, whether you are a goddess or a mortal maiden. If you are a mortal maiden, happy your father must be and your mother and your brothers. surely they must be proud and glad to see you in the dance, for you are the very flower of maidens, and happy above all will he be who will lead thee to his home as his bride. Never have my eyes beheld one who had such beauty and such nobleness. I think you are like to the young palm tree. I once saw springing up by the altar of Apollo in Delos, a tree that many marveled to look at. O lady, after many and saw trials, to you first of all, the people I have come.

Starting point is 00:26:01 I know that you will be gracious to me, show me the way to the town, give me an old garment to cast about me, and may the gods grant you. you thy wish and heart's desire, a noble husband, who will cherish thee? She spoke to him, as a princess should, seeing that in spite of the evil plight he was in, he was a man of worth. Stranger, she said, since you have come to our land, you shall not lack for raiment, nor aught else that is given to a supplicant. I shall show thee the way to the town also. He asked what land he was in.

Starting point is 00:26:53 This stranger, she said, is the land of the Phoenicians, and Alki nois is king over them, and I in the king's daughter, Norsekia. And she called to her companions, Do not hide yourselves, she said. This is not an enemy, but a helpless and unfriended man. We must befriend him, for it is well said that the stranger and the beggar are from God. The girls came back and they brought Odysseus to a sheltered place, and they made him sit down and laid a garment beside him.

Starting point is 00:27:37 He brought the jar of olive oil, that he might clean himself when he bathed in the river. An Odysseus was very glad to get this oil, for his back and shoulders were all crusted over with flakes of brine. He went into the river and bathed and rubbed himself with the oil. Then he put on the garment that had been brought him, so well he looked, that when he came towards them again, the princess said to the maize, Look, now the man, who a while ago, seems so terrifying, he is most handsome and stately, would that we might see more of him.

Starting point is 00:28:24 Now my maidens, bring the stranger meat and drink. They came to him, and they served him with meat and drink, and he ate and drank eagerly, for it was long since he had tasted food. And while he ate, Norsechia and her companions went down to the sea-shore and gathered the garments that were now dried singing songs the while. They harassed the mules and folded the garments and left them on the wagon. When they were ready to go, Norsechia went to Odysseus and said to him, stranger If you would make the way

Starting point is 00:29:07 Into the city Come with us now So that we may guide thee But first listen To what I would say While we are going through the fields And by the farms Walk thou behind

Starting point is 00:29:23 Keeping near the wagons But when we enter the ways of the city Go no further with us People might speak and kindly of me. If they saw me with a stranger such as you, they might say, who does Norsikia bring to her father's house? Someone she would like to make her husband most likely. So that we may not meet with such rudeness, I would have thee come along to my father's house. Listen now, and I will tell thee how you may do it.

Starting point is 00:30:03 There is a grove kept for the goddess Athena within a man's shout of the city. In that grove is a spring, and when we come near, I would have you go and rest thyself by it. Then when you think we have come to my father's house, enter the city and ask the way to the palace of the king. When you have come to it, pass quickly through the court. and through the great chamber and come to where my mother sits weaving yarn by the light of the fire. My father will be sitting near, drinking his wine in the evening. Pass by his seat and come to my mother and cast your hands about her knees and ask for her aid. If she becomes friendly to thee, you will be helped by our people and will be given the means

Starting point is 00:31:03 of returning to your own land. So Norsechia bade him as she touched the mules with a whip and the wagon went on. Odysseus walked with the maids behind. As the sun set they came to the grove that was outside the city, the grove of Athena. Odysseus went into it and sat by the spring. And while he was in her grove, he prayed. to the goddess. Hear me Athena, and grant that I may come before the king of this land, as one well worthy of his pity and his help.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy - Part 7

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