ALCINOUS
Nausicaa came to her father's house, and there her brothers
unyoked the mules from the wagon, and carried the garments into
the house; and the maiden went to her chamber, where a nurse
kindled for her a fire, and prepared a meal.
At the same time Ulysses rose to go to the city; and Athene spread
a mist about him, for she would not that any of the Phaeacians
should see him and mock him. And when he was now about to enter
the city, the goddess took upon herself the shape of a young
maiden carrying a pitcher, and met him.
Then Ulysses asked her: "My child, canst thou tell me where dwells
Alcinous? for I am a stranger in this place."
She answered: "I will show thee, for he dwells near to my own
father. But be thou silent, for we Phaeacians love not strangers
over much."
Then Athene led the way, and Ulysses followed after her; and much
he marvelled, as he went, at the harbours, and the ships, and the
places of assembly, and the walls. And when they came to the
palace, Athene said: "This is the place for which thou didst
inquire. Enter in; here thou shalt find kings at the feast; but be
not afraid; the fearless man ever fares the best. And look thou
first for Queen Arete.[Footnote: A-re'-te.] If she be well
disposed to thee, doubtless thou wilt see thy native country
again."
Having thus spoken, Athene departed, and Ulysses entered the
palace. In it there was a gleam as of the sun or the moon.
A wondrous place it was, with walls of brass and doors of gold,
hanging on posts of silver; and on either side of the door were
dogs of gold and silver, and against the wall, all along from the
threshold to the inner chamber, were set seats, on which sat the
chiefs of the Phaeacians, feasting; and youths wrought in gold
stood holding torches in their hands, to give light in the
darkness. Fifty women were in the house, grinding corn and weaving
robes, for the women of the land are no less skilled to weave than
are the men to sail the sea. And round about the house were
beautiful gardens, with orchards of fig, and apple, and pear, and
pomegranate, and olive. Drought hurts them not, nor frost, and
harvest comes after harvest without ceasing. Also there was a
vineyard; and some of the grapes were parching in the sun, and
some were being gathered, and some again were but just turning
red. And there were beds of all manner of flowers; and in the
midst of all were two fountains which never failed.
These things Ulysses regarded for a space, and then passed into
the hall. And there the chiefs of Phaeacia were drinking their
last cup to Hermes. Quickly he passed through them, and put his
hands on the knees of Arete and said--and as he spake the mist
cleared from about him, and all that were in the hall beheld
him:--
"I implore thee, and thy husband, and thy guests, to send me home
to my native country. The gods bless thee and them, and grant you
to live in peace, and that your children should come peacefully
after you!"
And he sat down in the ashes of the hearth. Then for a space all
were silent, but at the last spake Echeneus [Footnote: E-che-ne'-
us.], who was the oldest man in the land:--
"King Alcinous, this ill becomes you that this man should sit in
the ashes of the hearth. Raise him and bid him sit upon a seat,
and let us pour out an offering to Father Zeus, who is the friend
of strangers, and let the keeper of the house give him meat and
drink."
And Alcinous did so, bidding his eldest born, Laodamas [Footnote:
La-o'-da-mas.], rise from his seat. And an attendant poured water
on his hands, and the keeper of the house gave him meat and drink.
Then, when all had poured out an offering to Father Zeus, King
Alcinous spake, saying: "In the morning we will call an assembly
of the people, and consider how we may take this stranger to his
home, so that he may reach it without trouble or pain. Home will
we take him without hurt, but what things may befall him there, we
know not; these shall be as the Fates spun his thread. But, if he
is a god and not a man, then is this a new device of the gods. For
heretofore they have shown themselves openly in our midst, when we
offer sacrifice, and sit by our sides at feasts. Yea, and if a
traveller meet them on the way, they use no disguise, for indeed
they are near of kin to us."
Then spake Ulysses: "Think not such things within thy heart, O
King! I am no god but one that is most miserable among the sons of
men. Of many woes might I tell. Nevertheless, suffer me to eat;
for, however sad a man may be, yet he must eat and drink. But when
the day cometh, bestir yourselves, and carry me to my home. Fain
would I die if I could see my home again!"
And they answered that it should be so, and went each to his home.
Only Ulysses was left in the hall, and Alcinous and Arete with
him. And Arete recognized his clothing, and said:--
"Whence art thou, stranger? and who gave thee these garments?"
So Ulysses told her how he had come from the island of Calypso,
and what he had suffered, and how Nausicaa had found him on the
shore, and had guided him to the city.
And Alcinous blamed the maiden because she had not herself brought
him to the house. "Nay," said Ulysses, "she would have brought me,
but I would not, fearing thy wrath." For he would not have the
maiden blamed.
Then said Alcinous: "I am not one to be angered for such cause.
Gladly would I have such a one as thou art to be my son-in-law,
and I would give him house and wealth. But no one would I hold
against his will. As for sending thee to thy home, that is easy;
thou shalt lay thee down to sleep, and my men shalt smite the sea
with oars, and take thee whithersoever thou wilt, even though it
be to the furthest of all lands. For verily my ships are the best
that sail the sea, and my young men the most skilful of all that
ply the oar."
So he spake, and Ulysses rejoiced to hear his words. And he prayed
within himself, "Grant, Father Zeus, that Alcinous may fulfil all
that he hath said, and that I may come to my own land!"
Then Arete bade her handmaids prepare a bed for the stranger. So
they went from the hall, with torches in their hands, and made it
ready. And when they had ended they called Ulysses, saying, "Up,
stranger, and sleep, for thy bed is ready."
Right glad was he to sleep after all that he had endured.