The Slaughter of the Sun God’s Cattle (Homer’s The Odyssey, Book 12 – Part 12)

I'm So spake Eurylochus, and the rest of the company consented thereto.

Forthwith they drave off the best of the kine of Helios that were nigh at hand, for the fair kine of Shamblingate and Broad of Brow were feeding no great way from the dark-prowed ship.

Then they stood around the cattle and prayed to the gods, plucking the fresh leaves from an oak of lofty boughs, for they had no white barley on board the decked ship.

Now after they had prayed and cut the throats of the kine and flayed them, they cut out slices of the thighs and wrapped them in the fat, making a double fold, and thereon they laid raw flesh.

Yet had they no pure wine to pour over the flaming sacrifices.

but they made libation with water and roasted the entrails over the fire.

Now when the thighs were quite consumed and they had tasted the inner parts, they cut up the rest small and spitted it on spits.

In the same hour, deep sleep sped from my eyelids, and I sallied forth to the swift ship and the sea banks.

But on my way, as I drew near to the curved ship, the sweet savor of the fat came all about me, and I groaned and spake out before the deathless gods.

Father Zeus, and all ye other blessed gods that live forever, verily to my undoing ye have lulled me to a ruthless sleep, and my company abiding behind have imagined a monstrous deed.

Then swiftly to Helios Hyperion came Lampetii of the long robes with the tidings that we had slain his kine, and straight he spake with angry heart amid the immortals.

Father Zeus and all ye other blessed gods that live forever, take vengeance, I pray you, on the company of Odysseus, son of Laertes, that have insolently slain my cattle, wherein I was wont to be glad as I went toward the starry heaven, and when I again turned earthward from the firmament.

And if they pay me not full atonement for the cattle, I will go down to Hades and shine among the dead.