NAUSICAA AND ALCINOÜS.
Now the king of Phæacia was Alcinoüs, and he had five sons and one
daughter, Nausicaa. To her, where she slept with her two maidens by
her, Athené went, taking the shape of her friend, the daughter of
Dymas, and said,--
“Why hath thy mother so idle a daughter, Nausicaa? Lo! thy garments lie
unwashed, and thy wedding must be near, seeing that many nobles in the
land are suitors to thee. Ask then thy father that he give thee the
wagon with the mules, for the laundries are far from the city, and I
will go with thee.”
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, 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, “It is well. The men shall harness the wagon for thee.”
So they put the clothing into the wagon. And her mother put also food
and wine, and olive oil also, wherewith she and her maidens might
anoint themselves after the bath. So they climbed into the wagon and
went to the river. And then they washed the clothing, and spread it
out to dry on the rocks by the sea. And after that they had bathed and
anointed themselves, 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, fair as Artemis when she hunts on Taygetus or Erymanthus wild
goats and stags, led the song. But when they had nearly ended their
play, the princess, throwing the ball to one of her maidens, cast it
so wide that it fell into the river. Whereupon 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, or am I near the
dwellings of men?”
Then he twisted leaves about his loins, and rose up and went towards
the maidens, who indeed were frighted to see him (for he was wild of
aspect), and fled hither and thither. But Nausicaa stood and fled not.
Then Ulysses thought within himself, should he go near and clasp her
knees, or, lest haply this should anger her, should he stand and speak?
And this he did, saying,--
“I am thy suppliant, O queen. Whether thou art a goddess, I know not.
But if thou art a mortal, happy 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 in Delos, springing by the temple of the god. But as
for me, I have been cast on this shore, having come from the island
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; and as for thy plight, the gods give good fortune or bad,
as they will. Thou shalt not lack clothing or food, or anything that a
suppliant should have. And I will take thee to the city. Know also that
this land is Phæacia, and that I am daughter to Alcinoüs, 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
we also live in an island of the sea, so that men may not approach to
work us wrong; but if one cometh here overborne by trouble, it is well
to succor 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 a tunic and a cloak
to clothe himself withal, and also oil-olive 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 Athené made him taller and fairer to see, and caused the
hair to be thick on his head, in color as a hyacinth. Then he sat down
on the sea-shore, right beautiful to behold, and the maiden said,--
“Not without some 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. But 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,--
“Follow thou with the maidens, and I will lead the way in the wagon.
For I would not that the people should speak lightly of me. And I doubt
not that were thou with me, some one of the baser sort 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 of us men of Phæacia she thinks
scorn,’ It would be shame that such words should be spoken. And indeed
it is ill-done of a maiden who, father and mother unknowing, companies
with men. Do thou, then, follow behind, and when we are come to the
city, tarry in a poplar grove that thou shalt see (’tis the grove of
Athené) till I shall have come to my father’s house. Then follow; and
for the house, that any one, even a child can show thee, for the other
Phæacians 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 lay hold of her knees,
and pray her that she give thee safe return to thy country.”
It was evening when they came to the city. And Nausicaa drove the
wagon to the palace. Then her brothers came out to her, and loosed the
mules and carried in the clothing. Then she went to her chamber, where
Eurymedusa, who was her nurse, lighted a fire and prepared a meal.
Meanwhile Ulysses came from the grove, and, lest any one should see
him, Athené spread a mist about him; and when he had now reached the
city, she took the shape of a young maiden carrying a pitcher, and met
him.
Then Ulysses asked her, “My child, canst thou tell me where dwells
Alcinoüs? for I am a stranger in this place.”
And she answered, “I will show thee, for indeed he dwells nigh to my
own father. But be thou silent, for we Phæacians love not strangers
over much.” Then she led him to the palace. 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, the work
of Hephæstus, and against the wall, all along from the threshold to
the inner chamber, were set seats, on which sat the chiefs of the
Phæacians, 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 gardens beautiful exceedingly, 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 Phæacia were drinking their last cup to
Hermes. Quickly he passed through them, and put his hands on the knees
of Areté, and said,--and as he spake the mist cleared from about him,
and all that were in the hall beheld him,--
“I am a suppliant to thee, and to thy husband, and to thy guests. The
gods bless thee and them, and grant you to live in peace, and that your
children should come peacefully after you. Only do you send me home to
my native country.”
And he sat down in the ashes of the hearth. Then for a space all were
silent; but at the last spake Echeneüs, who was the oldest man in the
land,--
“King Alcinoüs, 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 to Father Zeus, who is the friend of suppliants, and let the
keeper of the house give him meat and drink.”
And Alcinoüs did so, bidding his eldest born, Laodamas, 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 to
Father Zeus, King Alcinoüs said that they would take counsel on the
morrow about sending this stranger to his home. And they answered that
it should be so, and went each to his home. Only Ulysses was left in
the hall, and Alcinoüs and Areté with him. And Areté saw his cloak and
tunic, that she and her maidens had made them, 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.
But Alcinoüs blamed the maiden that she had not herself brought him to
the house. “For thou wast her suppliant,” he said.
“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 Alcinoüs, “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 stay against his will.
And as for sending thee to thy home, that is easy; for thou shalt
sleep, and they shall take thee meanwhile.”
And after this they slept. And the next day the King called the chiefs
to an assembly, and told them of his purpose, that he would send this
stranger to his home, for that it was their wont to show such kindness
to such as needed it. And he bade fifty and two of the younger men make
ready a ship, and that the elders should come to his house, and bring
Demodocus, the minstrel, with them, for that he was minded to make a
great feast for this stranger before he departed. So the youths made
ready the ship. And afterwards there were gathered together a great
multitude, so that the palace was filled from the one end to the other.
And Alcinoüs slew for them twelve sheep and eight swine and two oxen.
And when they had feasted to the full, the minstrel sang to them of how
Achilles and Ulysses had striven together with fierce words at a feast,
and how King Agamemnon was glad, seeing that so the prophecy of Apollo
was fulfilled, saying that when valor and counsel should fall out, the
end of Troy should come. But when Ulysses heard the song, he wept,
holding his mantle before his face.
This Alcinoüs perceived, and said to the chiefs, “Now that we have
feasted and delighted ourselves with song, let us go forth, that this
stranger may see that we are skilful in boxing and wrestling and
running.”
So they went forth, a herald leading Demodocus by the hand, for the
minstrel was blind. Then stood up many Phæacian youths, and the fairest
and strongest of them all was Laodamas, eldest son to the King, and
after him Euryalus. And next they ran a race, and Clytoneus was the
swiftest. And among the wrestlers Euryalus was the best; and of the
boxers, Laodamas. And in throwing the quoit Elatrius excelled; and in
leaping at the bar, Amphialus.
Then Laodamas, Euryalus urging him, said to Ulysses, “Father, wilt
thou not try thy skill in some game, and put away the trouble from thy
heart?”
But Ulysses answered, “Why askest thou this? I think of my troubles
rather than of sport, and sit among you, caring only that I may see
again my home.”
Then said Euryalus, “And in very truth, stranger, thou hast not the
look of a wrestler or boxer. Rather would one judge thee to be some
trader, who sails over the sea for gain.”
“Nay,” answered Ulysses, “this is ill said. So true is it that the
gods give not all gifts to all men, beauty to one and sweet speech to
another. Fair of form art thou, no god could better thee; but thou
speakest idle words. I am not unskilled in these things, but stood
among the first in the old days; but since have I suffered much in
battle and shipwreck. Yet will I make trial of my strength, for thy
words have angered me.”
Whereupon he took a quoit, heavier far than such as the Phæacians were
wont to throw, and sent it with a whirl. It hurtled through the air, so
that the brave Phæacians crouched to the ground in fear, and fell far
beyond all the rest.
Then said Ulysses, “Come now, I will contend in wrestling or boxing,
or even in the race, with any man in Phæacia, save Laodamas only, for
he is my friend. I can shoot with the bow, and only Philoctetes could
surpass me; and I can cast a spear as far as other men can shoot an
arrow. But as for the race, it may be that some one might outrun me,
for I have suffered much on the sea.”
But they all were silent, till the King stood up and said, “Thou hast
spoken well. But we men of Phæacia are not mighty to wrestle or to box;
only we are swift of foot, and skilful to sail upon the sea. And we
love feasts, and dances, and the harp, and gay clothing, and the bath.
In these things no man may surpass us.”
Then the King bade Demodocus the minstrel sing again. And when he had
done so, the King’s two sons, Alius and Laodamas, danced together; and
afterwards they played with the ball, throwing it into the air, cloud
high, and catching it right skilfully.
And afterwards the king said, “Let us each give this stranger a mantle
and a tunic and a talent of gold, and let Euryalus make his peace with
words and with a gift.”
And they all (now there were twelve princes, and Alcinoüs the
thirteenth) said that it should be so; also Euryalus gave Ulysses a
sword with a hilt of silver and a scabbard of ivory. And after this
Ulysses went to the bath, and then they all sat down to the feast. But
as he went to the hall, Nausicaa, fair as a goddess, met him and said,--
“Hail, stranger; thou wilt remember me in thy native country, for thou
owest me thanks for thy life.”
And he answered, “Every day in my native country will I remember thee,
for indeed, fair maiden, thou didst save my life.”
And when they were set down to the feast, Ulysses sent a portion of the
chine, which the King had caused to be set before him, to the minstrel
Demodocus, with a message that he should sing to them of the Horse of
wood which Epeius made, Athené helping him, and how Ulysses brought it
into Troy, full of men of war who should destroy the city.
Then the minstrel sang how that some of the Greeks sailed away, having
set fire to their tents, and some hid themselves in the horse with
Ulysses, and how the men of Troy sat around, taking counsel what they
should do with it, and some judged that they should rip it open, and
some that they should throw it from the hill-top, and others again that
they should leave it to be a peace-offering to the gods; and how the
Greeks issued forth from their lurking-place and spoiled the city, and
how Ulysses and Menelaüs went to the house of Deïphobus.
So he sang, and Ulysses wept to hear the tale. And when Alcinoüs
perceived that he wept, he bade Demodocus cease from his song, for
that some that were there liked it not. And to Ulysses he said that he
should tell them who was his father and his mother, and from what land
he came, and what was his name. All these things Ulysses told them, and
all that he had done and suffered, down to the time when the Princess
Nausicaa found him on the river shore. And when he had ended, King
Alcinoüs bade that the princes should give Ulysses yet other gifts; and
after that they went each man to his house to sleep.
The next day King Alcinoüs put all the gifts into the ship. And when
the evening was come, Ulysses bade farewell to the King and to the
Queen, and departed.