NAUSICAÄ IS SENT TO THE RIVER BY ATHENA
While Odysseus lay in a deep sleep, the goddess Athena went to the
royal dwelling of the king of the Phæacians, Alkinoös, in order to
hasten the return of Odysseus to his native land. She entered the
house, where she found Nausicaä, the king's daughter, sleeping in
her beautiful chamber. Near her lay two maids who served her.
Athena came as softly as a breath of air, and caused the maiden to
dream that her marriage-day was near and that it was her duty to arise
and hasten to the place by the river where they washed their clothing.
In her dream the princess seemed to hear Athena say: "Nausicaä, why
art thou so slothful? Thy beautiful robes lie neglected and thy
wedding-day is at hand, on which thou surely shouldst wear garments
of dazzling whiteness, and thou shouldst give such garments to those
maidens who lead thee forth to thy bridegroom. Therefore, as soon
as day breaks thou must ask thy father to give thee a pair of mules,
and we will hasten to the washing-place down by the river."
At the first dawn of day Nausicaä went in haste to her father and
mother to tell them of her dream. She found them in their splendid
hall. Her mother sat with her maidens spinning, and the king stood
on the threshold, just going forth to meet his chiefs in council.
The princess approached her father and said: "Dearest father, I pray
that thou wilt give me two mules and a wagon, that I may go with my
maids to the river and take all the clothes that need washing, for
it becomes the king and his sons to wear clean garments when they
go to the council of the chiefs. Thou hast five sons, three of whom
are youths not wedded, and they should be provided with fresh robes;
they will need them in the dance."
The king smiled, for he saw what was in her mind, and he ordered the
mules. Then his beautiful daughter brought from the linen-room the
soiled garments and put them on the wagon, while the queen prepared
a goodly lunch of cold meat and bread and a skin of sweet wine.
Nausicaä further received from her mother a bottle of fragrant oil
with which to anoint herself after the washing. Then she mounted the
wagon, seized the whip and reins, and drove out of the city, the
maidens of her train following her on foot.
When they came to the place where the river was flowing bright and
clear, they unhitched the mules and let them browse along the bank.
Then they took their garments down from the wagon and tossed them
into the marble vats which they had filled with the limpid water of
the stream. When they had washed them clean they spread them on the
white pebbles to dry. Having finished the task, they took a bath and
anointed themselves with oil. Then they sat down on the shore and
ate their lunch.
The repast over, they began to play ball. First the white-armed
Nausicaä threw the ball. She looked as tall and royal among her maids
as did Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, among her nymphs.
Nausicaä sang a song as they frolicked on the sand.
When it was time to go home they put the clean garments upon the wagon
and harnessed up the mules. Just as they started, Nausicaä once more
threw the ball to one of the maidens, who failed to catch it. The
ball rebounded from the rocks and fell into the river, at which the
girls raised such a shout that Odysseus, who was sleeping close by,
awoke.
He opened his eyes and sat up, saying to himself: "Woe is me! Have
I reached a country where people dwell? Are they wild and inhospitable,
or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It seems to me I heard
cries of women. Perhaps they were those of the nymphs who inhabit
the mountain heights, the springs of rivers, and the green meadows,
or those of people who live near by. But I will see who they are."
So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding slender
branches covered with leaves about him, and left the thicket where
he was hidden. He went in the direction of the voices, stalking along
like a great lion. When the girls saw him they shrieked and scattered
in every direction. Nausicaä alone stood her ground, for Athena gave
her courage. When Odysseus saw her he wondered which would be the
better, to throw himself at the feet of the maiden and beg her to
give him some clothes and to show him the way to the city, or to speak
to her with more formality.
It seemed better to him to remain at a distance, and so he addressed
her gently, saying: "O queen, I know not whether thou art a goddess
or a woman. If thou art a goddess, I should take thee to be Artemis,
because thou art so tall and graceful. If, however, thou art a mortal,
thrice happy thy father and honored mother. Greatly must they rejoice
when they see their beautiful child in the choral dance. But he will
be the happiest who shall win thee for a bride.
"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar in
the island of Dēlos. It was the most beautiful tree the earth ever
produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and reverence. So am I amazed
at thy beauty, and I fear to approach thee and throw myself as a
suppliant at thy feet, although I am in sore distress, for great
misfortunes have befallen me.
"It was only last night that I escaped from the sea. On my way from
Calypso's isle I was driven about for twenty days by the angry waves
in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this shore to make
me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my sufferings have come
to an end. Have pity on me, O queen, because thou art the first human
being I have met after so many misfortunes.
"I do not know one person in this country. Show me thy city, I pray,
and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coarse and poor, and
may the gods bestow all blessings upon thee."
Nausicaä looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: "Stranger, thou
dost not seem to me to be a man of mean birth or breeding, and thou
art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who distributes gifts to mortals,
both the good and the evil things of life, and thou must submit to
his will with patience.
"Since thou hast come into our land devoid of all things, even garments,
and art helpless, I will give thee clothing and tell thee the way
to the city. And I will tell thee about the people living in it, for
I am the daughter of the king, Alkinoös, who reigns over this island."
When Nausicaä had spoken thus to Odysseus, she turned to her maids
and commanded them not to flee from the wanderer, but to bring him
food and drink, since Zeus sent the poor and the stranger to be cared
for.
And she told them to lead him to some lonely spot by the side of the
river, where he might bathe at his ease. So the maids came back and
led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and tunic on the
sand, and the bottle of oil which the queen had given Nausicaä, that
Odysseus might anoint and clothe himself after his bath; then they
ran back to the princess.
Odysseus bathed in the fresh water of the river and washed the salt
sea-foam from his hair, and when the bath was over he put on the robes
that Nausicaä had sent. Athena shed a halo of beauty over him and
caused him to look taller and stronger than before.
As he walked along the beach to rejoin the maidens, they admired his
noble and kingly bearing, and Nausicaä said to her maids: "Surely
this man does not come among our godlike brothers against the will
of the gods. I thought him rough and homely, but now he seems like
one of the immortals. I would that I might call a man like him my
husband. Make haste to give him food and wine, for he has fasted a
long time."
The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of the
abundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was glad
to do. The princess then yoked up the mules and they started for home.