The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy

Athene, went to the City of the Ph?acia

ber where the King's daughter, Nausicaa slept. She entered into Nausicaa's dream, appear

ny garments ready by that time-garments to bring with you to your husband's house, and garments to give to those who will attend you at your wedding. There is much to be done, Nausicaa. Be ready at the break of day, and take

f her girl-friend. Having put the task of washing into her mind, the

marriage day-since her parents had not spoken to her about such a thing. Saying that she was going to the river to wash the garments of the household, she asked for a wagon and for mules. 'So many garments have I lying soiled,' she said.

and wagon thou mayst have, Nausicaa, and the

garments of the household to the wagon. And her mother, so that Nausicaa and her maids might eat while they were from home, put in a basket fil

took the whip in her hands and started the mules, and they

essed and the mules were left to graze along the river side. Now when they had washed the garments they took them to the sea-shore and l

lled on her companions to play. Straightway they took a ball and threw it from one to the other, each singing a song that went with the game

urn it was to catch missed it. The ball went into the river and was carried down the stream. At that they all raised a cry.

girls in the meadow he wanted to go to them to beg for their help. But when they looked on him they were terribly frightened an

me in my bitter need. I would kneel to thee and clasp thy knees only I fear thine anger. Have pity upon me. Y

d to see thee in the dance, for thou art the very flower of maidens. And happy above all will he be who will lead thee to his home as his bride. Never have my eyes beheld one who had such beauty and such nobleness. I think thou art like to the young palm-tree I once saw springing up by the altar of Apollo in Delos-a tree

a man of worth. 'Stranger,' she said, 'since thou hast come to our land, thou shalt not lack fo

aid, 'is the land of the Ph?acians, and Alcinous is K

his is not an enemy, but a helpless and an unfriended man. We must befrie

himself when he bathed in the river. And Odysseus was very glad to get this oil for his back and shoulders were all crusted over with flakes of brine. He went into the river and

e is most handsome and stately. Would that we might see more

tasted food. And while he ate, Nausicaa and her companions went down to the seashore and gathered the garments that

ields and by the farms walk thou behind, keeping near the wagon. But when we enter the ways of the City, go no further with us. People might speak unkindly of me if they saw me with a stranger such as thou. They might say, "Who does Nausic

he City and ask thy way to the palace of the King. When thou hast come to it, pass quickly through the court and through the great chamber and come to where my mother sits weaving yarn by the light of the fire. My father will be sitting near, drinki

me to the grove that was outside the City-the grove of Pallas Athene. Odysseus went into it and sat by the spring. And while he was in her grove he