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like some lion of the wilderness that stalks about exulting in his
strength and defying both wind and rain； his eyes glare as he prowls
in quest of oxen； sheep； or deer； for he is famished； and will dare
break even into a well…fenced homestead； trying to get at the sheep…
even such did Ulysses seem to the young women； as he drew near to them
all naked as he was； for he was in great want。 On seeing one so
unkempt and so begrimed with salt water； the others scampered off
along the spits that jutted out into the sea； but the daughter of
Alcinous stood firm； for Minerva put courage into her heart and took
away all fear from her。 She stood right in front of Ulysses； and he
doubted whether he should go up to her； throw himself at her feet； and
embrace her knees as a suppliant； or stay where he was and entreat her
to give him some clothes and show him the way to the town。 In the
end he deemed it best to entreat her from a distance in case the
girl should take offence at his coming near enough to clasp her knees；
so he addressed her in honeyed and persuasive language。
〃O queen；〃 he said； 〃I implore your aid… but tell me； are you a
goddess or are you a mortal woman？ If you are a goddess and dwell in
heaven； I can only conjecture that you are Jove's daughter Diana；
for your face and figure resemble none but hers； if on the other
hand you are a mortal and live on earth； thrice happy are your
father and mother… thrice happy； too； are your brothers and sisters；
how proud and delighted they must feel when they see so fair a scion
as yourself going out to a dance； most happy； however； of all will
he be whose wedding gifts have been the richest； and who takes you
to his own home。 I never yet saw any one so beautiful； neither man nor
woman； and am lost in admiration as I behold you。 I can only compare
you to a young palm tree which I saw when I was at Delos growing
near the altar of Apollo… for I was there； too； with much people after
me； when I was on that journey which has been the source of all my
troubles。 Never yet did such a young plant shoot out of the ground
as that was； and I admired and wondered at it exactly as I now
admire and wonder at yourself。 I dare not clasp your knees； but I am
in great distress； yesterday made the twentieth day that I had been
tossing about upon the sea。 The winds and waves have taken me all
the way from the Ogygian island； and now fate has flung me upon this
coast that I may endure still further suffering； for I do not think
that I have yet come to the end of it； but rather that heaven has
still much evil in store for me。
〃And now； O queen； have pity upon me； for you are the first person I
have met； and I know no one else in this country。 Show me the way to
your town； and let me have anything that you may have brought hither
to wrap your clothes in。 May heaven grant you in all things your
heart's desire… husband； house； and a happy； peaceful home； for
there is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be
of one mind in a house。 It discomfits their enemies； makes the
hearts of their friends glad； and they themselves know more about it
than any one。〃
To this Nausicaa answered； 〃Stranger； you appear to be a sensible；
well…disposed person。 There is no accounting for luck； Jove gives
prosperity to rich and poor just as he chooses； so you must take
what he has seen fit to send you； and make the best of it。 Now；
however； that you have come to this our country； you shall not want
for clothes nor for anything else that a foreigner in distress may
reasonably look for。 I will show you the way to the town； and will
tell you the name of our people； we are called Phaeacians； and I am
daughter to Alcinous； in whom the whole power of the state is vested。〃
Then she called her maids and said； 〃Stay where you are； you
girls。 Can you not see a man without running away from him？ Do you
take him for a robber or a murderer？ Neither he nor any one else can
come here to do us Phaeacians any harm； for we are dear to the gods；
and live apart on a land's end that juts into the sounding sea； and
have nothing to do with any other people。 This is only some poor man
who has lost his way； and we must be kind to him； for strangers and
foreigners in distress are under Jove's protection； and will take what
they can get and be thankful； so； girls； give the poor fellow
something to eat and drink； and wash him in the stream at some place
that is sheltered from the wind。〃
On this the maids left off running away and began calling one
another back。 They made Ulysses sit down in the shelter as Nausicaa
had told them； and brought him a shirt and cloak。 They also brought
him the little golden cruse of oil； and told him to go wash in the
stream。 But Ulysses said； 〃Young women； please to stand a little on
one side that I may wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself
with oil； for it is long enough since my skin has had a drop of oil
upon it。 I cannot wash as long as you all keep standing there。 I am
ashamed to strip before a number of good…looking young women。〃
Then they stood on one side and went to tell the girl； while Ulysses
washed himself in the stream and scrubbed the brine from his back
and from his broad shoulders。 When he had thoroughly washed himself；
and had got the brine out of his hair； he anointed himself with oil；
and put on the clothes which the girl had given him； Minerva then made
him look taller and stronger than before； she also made the hair
grow thick on the top of his head； and flow down in curls like
hyacinth blossoms； she glorified him about the head and shoulders as a
skilful workman who has studied art of all kinds under Vulcan and
Minerva enriches a piece of silver plate by gilding it… and his work
is full of beauty。 Then he went and sat down a little way off upon the
beach； looking quite young and handsome； and the girl gazed on him
with admiration； then she said to her maids：
〃Hush； my dears； for I want to say something。 I believe the gods who
live in heaven have sent this man to the Phaeacians。 When I first
saw him I thought him plain； but now his appearance is like that of
the gods who dwell in heaven。 I should like my future husband to be
just such another as he is； if he would only stay here and not want to
go away。 However； give him something to eat and drink。〃
They did as they were told； and set food before Ulysses； who ate and
drank ravenously； for it was long since he had had food of any kind。
Meanwhile； Nausicaa bethought her of another matter。 She got the linen
folded and placed in the waggon； she then yoked the mules； and； as she
took her seat； she called Ulysses：
〃Stranger；〃 said she； 〃rise and let us be going back to the town；
I will introduce you at the house of my excellent father； where I
can tell you that you will meet all the best people among the
Phaecians。 But be sure and do as I bid you； for you seem to be a
sensible person。 As long as we are going past the fields… and farm
lands； follow briskly behind the waggon along with the maids and I
will lead the way myself。 Presently； however； we shall come to the
town； where you will find a high wall running all rou