IN THE COURT OF ALKINOOS

 

Part One The Spell

 

Athene: The hero alone, forlorn and weary Slumbered in darkness dreary So, leaving him I swiftly sped To chase the moonlight whence it fled To find for him a savior

 

I sought her out, a princess fair Who seemed a goddess lying there 'Neath the starlight, mid the gloom None fairer born of mortal womb I wove a spell to snare her

 

Athene: Get thee to the water Nausikaa I'll rise come the morning Athene: Get thee to the water Nausikaa: I'll rise come the daybreak

 

Athene: Get thee to the water For one is waiting there A wild thing cast upon the shore Human wreckage the tempest tore And you I have chosen

 

Nausikaa: I will go to the water Athene: And you I have chosen

 

Part Two Nausikaa

 

Nausikaa: Daybreak, I must awake now Something bids me go Come now my fair attendants For there is something I must know Waiting for me Down by the sea

 

Dreaming, dreaming

 

All sing: Grab the white dress and the linen Hitch the team and follow me Dreaming, the princess saw a wedding She thinks the time is right to marry

 

Nausikaa: There are days like Heaven Spent beneath the sun Play now, for we're but maidens And life has only just begun

 

Waiting for me Down by the sea

 

All sing: Rising, the hero looks the savage Waking, a lion fit to rage Yet now the princess will not cower Fearless, fearless is she!

 

 

Part Three Odysseus

 

Odysseus: Where am I? What fell thing is seeking now to gore me? Where am I? No one-eyed giants standing now before me? I just want to go home!

 

Where am I? And who this goddess? Have you come to aid me? Where am I? Or should I curse again the gods that made me? I just want to go home!

 

Nausikaa: Come, follow if you will I'll lead you somewhere A city shining bright A ship you will find there

 

My father is the King 'Tis he you must query He'll think you are the man That I'm meant to marry!

 

 

Part Four The King

 

King Alkinoos: He knelt before the throne of the hallowed prince And there he made his supplication known They never knew - 'twas the sacker of cities And for his sake the truth could not be shown

 

The king was moved as the hero told his tale Of weary travels ore the stormy foam He'd give his daughter to this hero kneeling there And grant a ship and crew to speed him home

 

Nausikaa: Waiting for me Down by the sea

 

All sing: First the king declares a feast Now the hero's need is withheld Lo, his head is dipped in sorrow He is waiting for tomorrow Waiting Waiting

 

King Alkinoos: Call forth the blind one To sing us a story Of swords and of fire Of battle and glory

 

Nausikaa: Oh sing to us of warriors bold For we have heard a legend told Of one doomed to sail the sea In search of his love But never to find her

 

Part Five The Singer

 

Demodokos: "Hear his story Hearken well now For this hero Hath angered the gods!" All sing: To his torment There before him Sang the singer A song of his doom

 

Odysseus: Say no more Say no more

 

All sing: No one sees that Tears are flowing No one knows that Here sits the one

 

Sing on singer Sing unceasing You have brought low The hero of the ages

 

Odysseus: Say no more Say no more

 

All sing: Sing on singer Sing unceasing You have brought low The hero of the ages

 

Part Six The Dance (Instrumental)

 

Part Seven The Competition (Instrumental)

 

Part Eight Wounding One Hero

 

Demodokos and Choir: The feasting complete The songs have been sung The games have been won A champion crowned

 

Demodokos and Odysseus: Once was a man, who by ruse of war Gained access to the city of Troy and all its wealth Now comes a man, who by craft of words Hath broken down the gates of the hero's heart

 

There is but one, one hero who will conquer From Heaven up above - God of glory and of love Here is my gift, my ruse of war, my Trojan Horse For to His glory I'll sing forever more.

 

King Alkinoos: No! Stop this madness now! Can't you see? He's broken down with sorrow While you sing of heroes, of riddles and of gods There remains one question And I would have my answer now

 

What is your name?