Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca / Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece

s, Alkino?s, in order to hasten the return of Odysseus to his native land. She entered the house, where she f

e princess seemed to hear Athena say: "Nausica?, why art thou so slothful? Thy beautiful robes lie neglected and thy wedding-day is at hand, on which thou surely shouldst wear garments of dazzling whiteness, and thou shoulds

to meet his chiefs in council. The princess approached her father and said: "Dearest father, I pray that thou wilt give me two mules and a wagon, that I may go with my maids to the river and take all the clothes that need washing, for

tiful daughter brought from the linen-room the soiled garments and put them on the wagon,

anoint herself after the washing. Then she mounted the wagon, seized the whip and

ts down from the wagon and tossed them into the marble vats which they had filled with the limpid water of the stream. When they had washed them clean they spread

Nausica? threw the ball. She looked as tall and royal among he

ong as they froli

ted, Nausica? once more threw the ball to one of the maidens, who failed to catch it. The ball rebounded from the ro

le, or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It seems to me I heard cries of women. Perhaps they were those of the nymphs who inhab

lking along like a great lion. When the girls saw him they shrieked and scattered in every direction. Nausica? alone stood her ground, for Athena gave her courage. When Odysseus saw her he w

ou art a goddess, I should take thee to be Artemis, because thou art so tall and graceful. If, however, thou art a mortal, thrice happy thy father and hon

earth ever produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and reverence. So am I amazed at thy beauty, and I fear to approach

ry waves in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this shore to make me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my suffe

I pray, and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coar

f mean birth or breeding, and thou art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who distributes gifts to

tell thee about the people living in it, for I am the daughter of the king, Alkino?s, who reigns over this island." When Nausica? had spoken thus to Odysseus, sh

came back and led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and tunic on the sand, and the bottle of oil which the q

hair, and when the bath was over he put on the robes that Nausica? had sent. Athena

is man does not come among our godlike brothers against the will of the gods. I thought him rough and homely, but now he seems like one o

bundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was glad to