Early the next morning, while yet the dawn was waiting for the sun, Odysseus arose and hastened tomake ready for his journey. The little galley which was to carry him across the sea had been alreadylaunched, and was floating close to the shore; and the oarsmen stood upon the beach impatient tobegin the voyage. The sea-stores, and the little chest in which the lad's wardrobe lay, were broughton board and placed beneath the rowers' benches. The old men of Ithaca, and the boys and themaidens, hurried down to the shore, that they might bid the voyagers God-speed. Odysseus, whenall was ready, spoke a few last kind words to his mother and sage Laertes, and then with a swellingheart went up the vessel's side, and sat down in the stern. And Phemius the bard, holding his sweettoned harp, followed him, and took his place in the prow. Then the sailors loosed the moorings, andwent on board, and, sitting on the rowers' benches, wielded the long oars; and the little vessel, driven by their well-timed strokes, turned slowly about, and then glided smoothly across the bay; andthe eyes of all on shore were wet with tears as they prayed the rulers of the air and the sea that thevoyagers might reach their wished-for port in safety, and in due time come back unharmed to Ithaca.No sooner had the vessel reached the open sea, than Pallas Athené sent after it a gentle westwind to urge it on its way. As the soft breeze, laden with the perfumes of blossoming orchards, stirred the water into rippling waves, Phemius bade the rowers lay aside their oars, and hoist the sail.They heeded his behest, and lifting high the slender mast, they bound it in its place; then theystretched aloft the broad white sail, and the west wind caught and filled it, and drove the little barkcheerily over the waves. And the grateful crew sat down upon the benches, and with Odysseus andPhemius the bard, they joined in offering heartfelt thanks to Pallas Athené, who had so kindlyprospered them. And by and by Phemius played soft melodies on his harp, such as the sea-nymphsliked to hear. And all that summer day the breezes whispered in the rigging, and the white wavesdanced in the vessel's wake, and the voyagers sped happily on their way.In the afternoon, when they had begun somewhat to tire of the voyage, Phemius askedOdysseus what they should do to lighten the passing hours."Tell us some story of the olden time," said Odysseus. And the bard, who was never betterpleased than when recounting some wonderful tale, sat down in the midships, where the oarsmencould readily hear him, and told the strange story of Phaethon, the rash son of Helios Hyperion.