Homer, Odyssey 5.408–450.

“Ah me, when Zeus has at length granted me to see the land beyond my hopes, and lo, I have
prevailed to cleave my way and to cross this gulf, [410] nowhere doth there appear a way to
come forth from the grey sea. For without are sharp crags, and around them the wave roars
foaming, and the rock runs up sheer, and the water is deep close in shore, so that in no wise is it
possible to plant both feet firmly and escape ruin. [415] Haply were I to seek to land, a great
wave may seize me and dash me against the jagged rock, and so shall my striving be in vain. But
if I swim on yet further in hope to find shelving beaches and harbors of the sea, I fear me lest the
storm-wind may catch me up again, [420] and bear me, groaning heavily, over the teeming deep;
or lest some god may even send forth upon me some great monster from out the sea—and many
such does glorious Amphitrite breed. For I know that the glorious Earth-shaker is filled with
wrath against me.” While he pondered thus in mind and heart, [425] a great wave bore him
against the rugged shore. There would his skin have been stripped off and his bones broken, had
not the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena, put a thought in his mind. On he rushed and seized the
rock with both hands, and clung to it, groaning, until the great wave went by. [430] Thus then did
he escape this wave, but in its backward flow it once more rushed upon him and smote him, and
flung him far out in the sea. And just as, when a cuttlefish is dragged from its hole, many pebbles
cling to its suckers, even so from his strong hands [435] were bits of skin stripped off against the
rocks; and the great wave covered him. Then verily would hapless Odysseus have perished
beyond his fate, had not flashing-eyed Athena given him prudence. Making his way forth from
the surge where it belched upon the shore, he swam outside, looking ever toward the land in
hope to find [440] shelving beaches and harbors of the sea. But when, as he swam, he came to
the mouth of a fair-flowing river, where seemed to him the best place, since it was smooth of
stones, and besides there was shelter from the wind, he knew the river as he flowed forth, and
prayed to him in his heart: [445] “Hear me, O king, whosoever thou art. As to one greatly
longed-for do I come to thee, seeking to escape from out the sea from the threats of Poseidon.
Reverend even in the eyes of the immortal gods is that man who comes as a wanderer, even as I
have now come to thy stream and to thy knees, after many toils. [450] Nay, pity me, O king, for I
declare that I am thy suppliant.”