NAUSICAA [Footnote: Nau-sic'-a-a.]
Meanwhile Athene went to the city of Phaeacians, to the palace of
Alcinous [Footnote: Al-cin'-o-us.], their King. There she betook
her to the chamber where slept Nausicaa, daughter of the King, a
maiden fair as are the gods. The goddess stood above the maiden,
in the likeness of a girl that was of equal age with her, and had
found favour in her sight.
Athene spake, saying: "Why hath thy mother so careless a child,
Nausicaa? Lo! thy raiment lieth unwashed, and yet the day of thy
marriage is at hand, when thou must have fair clothing for
thyself, and to give to them that shall lead thee to thy
bridegroom's house; for thus doth a bride win good repute. Do thou
therefore arise with the day, and go to wash the raiment, and I
will go with thee. Ask thy father betimes in the morning to give
thee mules and a wagon to carry the raiment and the robes. Also it
is more becoming for thee to ride than to go on foot, for the
washing places are far from the city."
And when the morning was come, Nausicaa awoke, marvelling at the
dream, and went seeking her parents. Her mother she found busy
with her maidens at the loom, spinning yarn dyed with purple of
the sea, and her father she met as he was going to the council
with the chiefs of the land. Then she said: "Give me, father, the
wagon with the mules, that I may take the garments to the river to
wash them. Thou shouldest always have clean robes when thou goest
to the council; and there are my five brothers also, who love to
have newly washed garments at the dance."
But of her own marriage she said nothing. And her father, knowing
her thoughts, said: "I grudge thee not, dear child, the mules or
aught else. The men shall harness for thee a wagon with strong
wheels and fitted also with a frame."
Then he called to the men, and they made ready the wagon, and
harnessed the mules; and the maiden brought the raiment out of her
chamber, and put it in the wagon. Also her mother filled a basket
with all manner of food, and poured wine in a goat-skin bottle.
Olive oil also she gave her, that Nausicaa and her maidens might
anoint themselves after the bath. And Nausicaa took the reins, and
touched the mules with the whip. Then was there a clatter of
hoofs, and the mules went on with their load, nor did they grow
weary.
When they came to the river, where was water enough for the
washing of raiment, the maidens loosed the mules from the chariot,
and set them free to graze in the sweet clover by the river-bank.
Then they took the raiment from the wagon, and bare it to the
river, and trod it in the trenches. And when they had cleansed all
the garments, they laid them on the shore of the sea, where the
waves had washed the pebbles clean. After that they bathed, and
anointed themselves; and then they sat down to eat and drink by
the river-side; and after the meal they played at ball, singing as
they played, and Nausicaa led the song. And Nausicaa was fairer
than all the maidens. And when they had ended their play, and were
yoking the mules, and folding up the raiment, then Athene
contrived that the princess, throwing the ball to one of her
maidens, cast it so wide that it fell into the river. Thereupon
they all cried aloud, and Ulysses awoke. And he said to himself:
"What is this land to which I have come? Are they that dwell
therein fierce or kind to strangers? Just now I seemed to hear the
voice of nymphs [Footnote: nymphs, spirits of the woods and
waters], or am I near the dwellings of men?"
Then he twisted a leafy bough about his loins, and rose up and
went towards the maidens, who were frightened to see him (for he
was wild-looking), and fled hither and thither. But Nausicaa stood
and fled not. Then Ulysses cried, saying:--
"O Queen, whether thou art a goddess, I know not. But if thou art
a mortal, happy are thy father and mother, and happy thy brothers,
and happiest of all he who shall win thee in marriage. Never have
I seen man or woman so fair. Thou art like a young palm tree that
but lately I saw springing by the temple of the god. But as for
me, I have been cast on this shore, having come from the island of
Ogygia. Pity me, then, and lead me to the city, and give me
something, a wrapper of this linen, maybe, to put about me. So may
the gods give thee all blessings!"
And Nausicaa made answer: "Thou seemest, stranger, to be neither
evil nor foolish. Thou shalt not lack clothing or food, and I will
take thee to the city. Know also that this land is Phaeacia, and
that I am daughter to Alcinous, who is king thereof."
Then she called to her maidens: "What mean ye to flee when ye see
a man? No enemy comes hither to harm us, for we are dear to the
gods, and also we live in an island of the sea, so that men may
not approach to work us wrong. If one cometh here overcome by
trouble, it is well to help him. Give this man, therefore, food
and drink, and wash him in the river, where there is shelter from
the wind."
So they brought him down to the river, and gave him clothing, and
also olive-oil in a flask of gold. Then, at his bidding, they
departed a little space, and he washed the salt from his skin and
out of his hair, and anointed himself, and put on the clothing.
And Athene made him taller and fairer to see, and caused the hair
to be thick on his head, in colour as a hyacinth. Then he sat down
on the seashore, right beautiful to behold, and the maiden said:--
"Not without the bidding of the gods comes this man to our land.
Before, indeed, I deemed him uncomely, but now he seems like to
the gods. I should be well content to have such a man for a
husband, and maybe he might will to abide in this land. Give him,
ye maidens, food and drink."
So they gave him, and he ate ravenously, having fasted long. Then
Nausicaa bade yoke the mules, and said to Ulysses:--
"Arise, stranger, come with me, that I may bring thee to the house
of my father. But do thou as I shall tell thee. So long as we
shall be passing through the fields, follow quickly with the
maidens behind the chariot. But when we shall come to the city,
--thou wilt see a high wall and a harbour on either side of the
narrow way that leadeth to the gate,--then follow the chariot no
more. Hard by the wall is a grove of Athene, a grove of poplars,
with a spring in the midst, and a meadow round about; there abide
till I have reached the house of my father. For I would not that
the people should speak lightly of me. And I doubt not that were
thou with me some one would say: `Who is this stranger, tall and
fair, that cometh with Nausicaa? Will he be her husband? Perchance
it is some god who has come down at her prayer, or a man from far
away; for she scorns us men of Phaeacia.' It would be a shame that
such words should be spoken. But when thou shalt judge that I have
come to the palace, then go up thyself and ask for my father's
house. Any one, even a child, can show it thee, for the other
Phaeacians dwell not in such. And when thou art come within the
doors, pass quickly through the hall to where my mother sits.
Close to the hearth is her seat, and my father's hard by, where he
sits with the wine-cup in his hand as a god. Pass him by, and
kneel to my mother, and pray her that she give thee safe return to
thy country."
Then she smote the mules with the whip. Quickly did they leave the
river behind them; but the maiden was heedful to drive them so
that Ulysses and the maidens might be able to follow on foot. At
sunset they came to the sacred grove of Athene, and there Ulysses
sat him down, and prayed to Athene, saying, "Hear me, now, O
daughter of Zeus, and grant that this people may look upon me with
pity."
So he spake, and Athene heard him, but showed not herself to him,
face to face, for she feared the wrath of her uncle Poseidon.