Odysseus, the great teller of tales, launched out on his story: “Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people, what a fine thing it is to listen to such a bard as we have here-the man sings like a god. The crown of life, I’d say. There’s nothing better than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks, enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine from a mixing-bowl the steward
