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tell her father and mother all about it； and found them in their own
room。 Her mother was sitting by the fireside spinning her purple
yarn with her maids around her； and she happened to catch her father
just as he was going out to attend a meeting of the town council；
which the Phaeacian aldermen had convened。 She stopped him and said：
〃Papa dear； could you manage to let me have a good big waggon？ I
want to take all our dirty clothes to the river and wash them。 You are
the chief man here； so it is only right that you should have a clean
shirt when you attend meetings of the council。 Moreover； you have five
sons at home； two of them married； while the other three are
good…looking bachelors； you know they always like to have clean
linen when they go to a dance； and I have been thinking about all
this。〃
She did not say a word about her own wedding； for she did not like
to； but her father knew and said； 〃You shall have the mules； my
love； and whatever else you have a mind for。 Be off with you； and
the men shall get you a good strong waggon with a body to it that will
hold all your clothes。〃
On this he gave his orders to the servants； who got the waggon
out； harnessed the mules； and put them to； while the girl brought
the clothes down from the linen room and placed them on the waggon。
Her mother prepared her a basket of provisions with all sorts of
good things； and a goat skin full of wine； the girl now got into the
waggon； and her mother gave her also a golden cruse of oil； that she
and her women might anoint themselves。 Then she took the whip and
reins and lashed the mules on； whereon they set off； and their hoofs
clattered on the road。 They pulled without flagging； and carried not
only Nausicaa and her wash of clothes； but the maids also who were
with her。
When they reached the water side they went to the
washing…cisterns； through which there ran at all times enough pure
water to wash any quantity of linen； no matter how dirty。 Here they
unharnessed the mules and turned them out to feed on the sweet juicy
herbage that grew by the water side。 They took the clothes out of
the waggon； put them in the water； and vied with one another in
treading them in the pits to get the dirt out。 After they had washed
them and got them quite clean； they laid them out by the sea side；
where the waves had raised a high beach of shingle； and set about
washing themselves and anointing themselves with olive oil。 Then
they got their dinner by the side of the stream； and waited for the
sun to finish drying the clothes。 When they had done dinner they threw
off the veils that covered their heads and began to play at ball；
while Nausicaa sang for them。 As the huntress Diana goes forth upon
the mountains of Taygetus or Erymanthus to hunt wild boars or deer；
and the wood…nymphs； daughters of Aegis…bearing Jove； take their sport
along with her （then is Leto proud at seeing her daughter stand a full
head taller than the others； and eclipse the loveliest amid a whole
bevy of beauties）； even so did the girl outshine her handmaids。
When it was time for them to start home； and they were folding the
clothes and putting them into the waggon； Minerva began to consider
how Ulysses should wake up and see the handsome girl who was to
conduct him to the city of the Phaeacians。 The girl； therefore；
threw a ball at one of the maids； which missed her and fell into
deep water。 On this they all shouted； and the noise they made woke
Ulysses； who sat up in his bed of leaves and began to wonder what it
might all be。
〃Alas；〃 said he to himself； 〃what kind of people have I come
amongst？ Are they cruel； savage； and uncivilized； or hospitable and
humane？ I seem to hear the voices of young women； and they sound
like those of the nymphs that haunt mountain tops； or springs of
rivers and meadows of green grass。 At any rate I am among a race of
men and women。 Let me try if I cannot manage to get a look at them。〃
As he said this he crept from under his bush； and broke off a
bough covered with thick leaves to hide his nakedness。 He looked
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