Speechs, Games And Feasting

BOOK 8
In the morning Alcinous and Odyesseus go to the place of assembly, and the towns people start to gather. Then Alcinous makes a speech about giving Odyesseus escort an home, ship is then drawn into the water and the oarsmen chosen. After this they have a feast and Demodus the bard comes to sing. about the heroes and Troy, Odyesseus starts to weep. The only one who notices is Alcinous, and he calls an end to the feast and that the games should start. With the games starting Laodamas, goes and asks Odyesseus if he would like to participate, in the process insults Odyesseus. Odyesseus lets Laodamas know that he can compete in the games and he picks up a discus , one heavier than the Phaeacians were using, and throws it further than any of them. After this show the dancing starts and the bard begins to sing again. The bard sings about Ares and Aphrodite, that story was scandalous to say the least, talk about your sins will find you out. When the singing and dancing is done Alcinous asks the chief men to bring cloaks, shirts and talents of gold and Euryalus make a formal apology to Odyesseus.
The crowd goes back to the house of Alcinous, and Arete has her maids give Odyesseus a bath. He talks awhile with Nausicaa and then supper is served.
During supper Odysseus talks with Demodocus and asks him to sing about the night the Greeks took Troy, again Odysseus is moved to tears. Again Alcinous asks the bard to leave off singing and asks Odysseus to tell of his home, and about his wanderings.