"Ah Odysseus," Alcinous replied, "one look at you
and we know that you are no one who would cheat us –
no fraud, such as the dark soil breeds and spreads
across the face of the earth these days. Crowds of vagabonds
frame their lies so tightly none can test them. But you,
what grace you give your words, and what good sense within!
You have told your story with all a singer’s skill,
the miseries you endured, your great Achaeans too."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 11, lines 411-418. Alcinous is impressed by Odysseus’ storytelling skills, after he regales the Phaeacians with his tales from the underworld and the characters he meets on his journey there. The king has high praise for Odysseus’ honesty. But his words about Odysseus being "no fraud" must sound ironic to the reader. For we know that Odysseus sometimes invents false stories to test people or get the better of them. However, in this instance, he happens to be telling the truth.