Then Alcinous told Laodamas and Halius to dance alone, for there was no one to compete with them. So they took a red ball which Polybus had made for them, and one of them bent himself backwards and threw it up towards the clouds, while the other jumped from off the ground and caught it with ease before it came down again. When they had done throwing the ball straight up into the air they began to dance, and at the same time kept on throwing it backwards and forwards to one another, while all the young men in the ring applauded and made a great stamping with their feet. Then Ulysses said:Odyssey 8.33 · Odyssey · 8
Odyssey 8.33
Odyssey · translated by Samuel Butler
Themes in this passage
Loneliness in other traditions
The same theme, as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism address it.
He alone who, without ceasing, practises the duty of sitting alone and sleeping alone, he, subduing himself, will rejoice in the destruction of all desires alone, as if living in a forest.Dhp 21.305 · Dhammapada · Miscellaneous
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.Quran 1:5 · Quran · The Opening
They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.Jeremiah 12:11 · Bible · Jeremiah
"'"The Sadhyas said, 'Who alone among the Brahmanas is always happy? Who alone amongst them can observe the vow of silence though dwelling in the midst of many? Who alone amongst them, though weak, is still regarded as strong? And who alone amongst them does not quarrel?'Mbh 12.300.7 · Mahabharata · SANTI PARVA
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