Ulysses praises Demodocus as a bard with a divine voice.
See evidence text
“a bard with such a divine voice as this man has”
Book 09
ULYSSES DECLARES HIMSELF AND BEGINS HIS STORY—-THE CICONS, LOTOPHAGI, AND CYCLOPES.
44 passages133 observations · 21 observed placesSHA a82dfa5f0dd6…
Passage 1
Lines 4–5
Source text
And Ulysses answered, ‘King Alcinous, it is a good thing to hear a bard with such a divine voice as this man has. There is nothing better or more delightful than when a whole people make merry together, with the guests sitting orderly to listen, while the table is loaded with bread and meats, and the cup-bearer draws wine and fills his cup for every man. This is indeed as fair a sight as a man can see. Now, however, since you are inclined to ask the story of my sorrows, and rekindle my own sad memories in respect of them, I do not know how to begin, nor yet how to continue and conclude my tale, for the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me.
Claims for this passage
2
Claims for this passage
Ulysses says that recalling his sorrows rekindles sad memories and that heaven has laid a heavy hand upon him.
See evidence text
“Now, however, since you are inclined to ask the story of my sorrows, and rekindle my own sad memories in respect of them, I do not know how to begin, nor yet how to continue and conclude my tale, for the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me.”
Published summary
Ulysses praises the delight of an orderly feast accompanied by a divinely voiced bard, then tells King Alcinous that recounting his sorrows under heaven's heavy hand will revive painful memories and leave him unsure how to shape the tale.