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will lead the way myself。 Presently； however； we shall come to the
town； where you will find a high wall running all round it； and a good
harbour on either side with a narrow entrance into the city； and the
ships will be drawn up by the road side； for every one has a place
where his own ship can lie。 You will see the market place with a
temple of Neptune in the middle of it； and paved with large stones
bedded in the earth。 Here people deal in ship's gear of all kinds；
such as cables and sails； and here； too； are the places where oars are
made； for the Phaeacians are not a nation of archers； they know
nothing about bows and arrows； but are a sea…faring folk； and pride
themselves on their masts； oars； and ships； with which they travel far
over the sea。
〃I am afraid of the gossip and scandal that may be set on foot
against me later on； for the people here are very ill…natured； and
some low fellow； if he met us； might say； 'Who is this fine…looking
stranger that is going about with Nausicaa？ Where did she End him？ I
suppose she is going to marry him。 Perhaps he is a vagabond sailor
whom she has taken from some foreign vessel； for we have no
neighbours； or some god has at last come down from heaven in answer to
her prayers； and she is going to live with him all the rest of her
life。 It would be a good thing if she would take herself of I for sh
and find a husband somewhere else； for she will not look at one of the
many excellent young Phaeacians who are in with her。' This is the kind
of disparaging remark that would be made about me； and I could not
complain； for I should myself be scandalized at seeing any other
girl do the like； and go about with men in spite of everybody； while
her father and mother were still alive； and without having been
married in the face of all the world。
〃If； therefore； you want my father to give you an escort and to help
you home； do as I bid you； you will see a beautiful grove of poplars
by the road side dedicated to Minerva； it has a well in it and a
meadow all round it。 Here my father has a field of rich garden ground；
about as far from the town as a man' voice will carry。 Sit down
there and wait for a while till the rest of us can get into the town
and reach my father's house。 Then； when you think we must have done
this； come into the town and ask the way to the house of my father
Alcinous。 You will have no difficulty in finding it； any child will
point it out to you； for no one else in the whole town has anything
like such a fine house as he has。 When you have got past the gates and
through the outer court； go right across the inner court till you come
to my mother。 You will find her sitting by the fire and spinning her
purple wool by firelight。 It is a fine sight to see her as she leans
back against one of the bearing…posts with her maids all ranged behind
her。 Close to her seat stands that of my father； on which he sits
and topes like an immortal god。 Never mind him； but go up to my
mother； and lay your hands upon her knees if you would get home
quickly。 If you can gain her over； you may hope to see your own
country again； no matter how distant it may be。〃
So saying she lashed the mules with her whip and they left the
river。 The mules drew well and their hoofs went up and down upon the
road。 She was careful not to go too fast for Ulysses and the maids who
were following on foot along with the waggon； so she plied her whip
with judgement。 As the sun was going down they came to the sacred
grove of Minerva； and there Ulysses sat down and prayed to the
mighty daughter of Jove。
〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃daughter of Aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable；
hear me now； for you gave no heed to my prayers when Neptune was
wrecking me。 Now； therefore； have pity upon me and grant that I may
find friends and be hospitably received by the Phaecians。〃
Thus did he pray； and Minerva heard his prayer； but she would not
show herself to him openly； for she was afraid of her uncle Neptune；
who was still furious in his endeavors to prevent Ulysses from getting
home。
BOOK VII。
THUS； then； did Ulysses wait and pray； but the girl drove on to
the town。 When she reached her father's house she drew up at the
gateway； and her brothers… comely as the gods… gathered round her；
took the mules out of the waggon； and carried the clothes into the
house； while she went to her own room； where an old servant；
Eurymedusa of Apeira； lit the fire for her。 This old woman had been
brought by sea from Apeira； and had been chosen as a prize for
Alcinous because he was king over the Phaecians； and the people obeyed
him as though he were a god。 She had been nurse to Nausicaa； and had
now lit the fire for her； and brought her supper for her into her
own room。
Presently Ulysses got up to go towards the town； and Minerva shed
a thick mist all round him to hide him in case any of the proud
Phaecians who met him should be rude to him； or ask him who he was。
Then； as he was just entering the town； she came towards him in the
likeness of a little girl carrying a pitcher。 She stood right in front
of him； and Ulysses said：
〃My dear； will you be so kind as to show me the house of king
Alcinous？ I am an unfortunate foreigner in distress； and do not know
one in your town and country。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Yes； father stranger； I will show you the
house you want； for Alcinous lives quite close to my own father。 I
will go before you and show the way； but say not a word as you go； and
do not look at any man； nor ask him questions； for the people here
cannot abide strangers； and do not like men who come from some other
place。 They are a sea…faring folk； and sail the seas by the grace of
Neptune in ships that glide along like thought； or as a bird in the
air。〃
On this she led the way； and Ulysses followed in her steps； but
not one of the Phaecians could see him as he passed through the city
in the midst of them； for the great goddess Minerva in her good will
towards him had hidden him in a thick cloud of darkness。 He admired
their harbours； ships； places of assembly； and the lofty walls of
the city； which； with the palisade on top of them； were very striking；
and when they reached the king's house Minerva said：
〃This is the house； father stranger； which you would have me show
you。 You will find a number of great people sitting at table； but do
not be afraid； go straight in； for the bolder a man is the more likely
he is to carry his point； even though he is a stranger。 First find the
queen。 Her name is Arete； and she comes of the same family as her
husband Alcinous。 They both descend originally from Neptune； who was
father to Nausithous by Periboea； a woman of great beauty。 Periboea
was the youngest daughter of Eurymedon； who at one time reigned over
the giants； but he ruined his ill…fated people and lost his own life
to boot。
〃Neptune； however； lay with his daughter； and she had a son by
him； the great Nausithous； who reigned over the Phaecians。
Nausithous had two sons Rhexenor and Alcinous； Apollo killed the first
of them while he was still a bridegroom and without male issue； but he
left a daughter Arete； whom Al