Ulysses takes his leave of Alcinous and Arete, and embarks in the
evening. Next morning the ship arrives at Ithaca; where the sailors, as
Ulysses is yet sleeping, lay him on the shore with all his treasures.
On their return, Neptune changes their ship into a rock. In the
meantime Ulysses, awaking, knows not his native Ithaca, by reason of a
mist which Pallas had cast around him. He breaks into loud
lamentations; till the goddess appearing to him in the form of a
shepherd, discovers the country to him, and points out the particular
places. He then tells a feigned story of his adventures, upon which she
manifests herself, and they consult together of the measures to be
taken to destroy the suitors. To conceal his return, and disguise his
person the more effectually, she changes him into the figure of an old
beggar.