Nausicaa
Scheria was inhabited by a peaceful people, who cared more for commerce
and navigation than for agriculture and the chase. They had built a town
near the harbor, and had dockyards where busy workmen were to be seen
building ships. Order, morality, and prosperity reigned and the people
were ruled by gentle King Alcinous who had a magnificent palace in the
city, where the nobles gathered daily to offer sacrifice and to feast
with their king.
While the weary Ulysses was sleeping his friend Athene was planning a
means of making him acquainted with the foremost people of the island.
The king had a young and pretty daughter named Nausicaa, who was
dreaming sweetly one morning when Athene appeared in her dreams in the
form of one of her youthful companions and began to scold her. “Lazy
girl! when wilt thou think of washing the fine garments which are lying
soiled about the house? Thou wilt soon be a bride, and what if thy
garments are not in order? Arise quickly! Let thy father provide thee
with a cart and donkeys to take us to the washing place. I will go with
thee, and we will take our maidens and wash and dry so that father and
mother shall be delighted with our industry.”
Nausicaa, upon awaking, determined to obey the admonition. She begged
her father for the cart and, when it was ready, filled it with the
soiled garments. Her mother provided victuals and a skin of wine, and
when all was ready the pretty washer maiden seated herself on the cart,
took up the reins and whip, and drove out of the city, followed by her
companions. The washing place was beside a clear stream whose waters
filled little canals and basins which had been excavated for the
purpose. The clothes were thrown into one of these basins, the maidens
undressed and sprang into the water, where they trod the garments with
their feet. After being thus cleansed the clothes were spread out to dry
on a beach of clean pebbles by the side of the stream.
The maidens then bathed, anointed themselves with oil, and opened the
baskets and wine skin to enjoy an out-of-door breakfast. Next they
seated themselves in a circle. Nausicaa began to sing and the maidens to
dance and amuse themselves playing ball. When they had had enough of the
games they gathered up the garments, folded them neatly, and packed them
away in the cart, harnessed the donkeys, and made ready to depart.
Before she mounted, the sportive Nausicaa threw the ball once more
toward one of her companions. But it fell into the river far away,
making the frolicsome girls clap their hands and shriek with laughter,
which awoke the echoes along the shore. And behold Athene had so
arranged that these gay sounds should awaken the snoring Ulysses. He
raised himself, listening, rubbing his eyes and brushing the leaves from
his hair and beard.
“Those are human voices,” he thought; “but alas, what kind of people may
they be? Perchance rough barbarians who will not understand my language
and know nothing of the gods or of hospitality. But stay—are they not
the voices of laughing maidens? I will come out and take a look at
them.”
He crawled out of the thicket, shook off the dry leaves, and as he was
stark naked, broke off a thick bough with which to cover himself. Thus
he appeared like some wild forest monster. The maidens, who saw him
coming from a distance, were afraid, cried out, and ran away. But
Nausicaa was an intrepid girl, and Athene secretly encouraged her. She
stood still and quietly waited for the man to approach.
He came nearer, but did not presume to embrace her knees after the
manner of a petitioner, but made plea at a respectful distance. “Humbly
I approach thee, goddess or virgin, for I know not who thou art,” said
he. “Thy stature and thy splendid form tell me that if a goddess thou
must be Artemis. Art thou a mortal maiden, then are thy parents and thy
brethren fortunate; for truly their hearts must leap within them to see
thee in the dance. But happier than all others I count the man from
whose hands thy father shall accept the suitor’s gifts and who shall
take thee to his house, a bride. Truly I have never seen a human
creature so like a slender palm tree. Yesterday I was cast by the sea
upon this coast. I know it not, and no one here knows me. I do not
presume, noble maiden, to embrace thy knees, but I beg thee have
compassion on me; for after unspeakable trials thou art the first person
whom I have met. Show me the city where the men of this land live, and
give me some rags to cover myself. May the gods reward thee a thousand
times. May they give thee all that thy heart desires, a husband, a
house, and blessed harmony of life. For certainly nothing is so
desirable as that husband and wife shall live in peace and united in
tender love.”
This speech pleased pretty Nausicaa and she pitied the stranger. She
told him her name and all about her father and mother and promised him
hospitality. Then she recalled her maidens, commanded them to conduct
the guest to the bath and to refresh him with food and drink. But the
man was too fearsome a sight. One pushed forward the other until they at
last plucked up heart and led Ulysses to the river. Nausicaa sent him
some of the freshly washed clothes and the remains of their oil. The
maidens placed all these things beside the stream and withdrew while
Ulysses made his toilet.
The bath was very necessary, for he was covered with mud from head to
foot, but after it he was like one new born. Graced with the new
garments he appeared in renewed youth amongst the maidens, who were
astonished at his glowing countenance. He seemed to have grown taller
and handsomer. His matted hair now fell in shining ringlets over his
forehead and neck, and his whole appearance gave such an impression of
nobility and charm that Nausicaa could not help a secret wish that he
might remain in Scheria and take her to wife.
The maidens placed before him what was left of the food and wine, and
truly the poor man had fasted long enough. When he had eaten the company
prepared to return. Nausicaa mounted her cart, and the maidens followed
her on foot. As long as the road led through the fields Ulysses
accompanied them, but when they neared the city Nausicaa bade him wait
in a poplar grove until she should reach home; then he was to follow and
appear at her father’s house.
Thus she wished to avoid gossip so that no one might say: “Ah, see what
a stately stranger Nausicaa has picked out for herself. She wishes him
for her husband. She can really not wait until she is wooed. Of course
it is better to choose a stranger, for the noble youths among our own
people are certainly not good enough for her.” “No, stranger, not thus
shall they speak,” she added, blushing. “I have myself often found fault
with girls who have been seen with a man without the knowledge of their
parents and before the nuptials were celebrated.”
Nausicaa gave Ulysses one more direction. When he entered the royal hall
he was first to embrace the knees of the queen and to make his plea for
protection to her. If she favored him then he might hope to see his home
again. Not until then was he to approach the king.
Ulysses carefully noted all these directions and remained in the grove
until he was sure the maidens had arrived at their destination.
Meanwhile he prayed to his protector, Athene, that she might grant that
he find pity and favor with the men of this unknown people.