Final answer:
Odysseus's men request to understand the 'great sea's voice,' suggesting a wish to interpret its entrancing sound. This is associated with the sirens' call in the Odyssey.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "sound" request that Odysseus's men make can be identified in the passage where it states, "and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters." This describes the mystical experience of the men hearing the powerful and enchanting voice of the sea, implying their desire or request to understand its profound message, historically attributed to the sirens' call in the Odyssey, where sailors are tempted by their entrancing sounds.