she were a goddess. When she goes Abroad into the streets, all welcome her With acclamations. Never does she fail In wise discernment, but decides disputes Kindly and justly between man and man. And if thou gain her favor, there is hope That thou mayst see thy friends once more, and stand In thy tall palace on thy native soil.”
The blue-eyed Pallas, having spoken thus, Departed o’er the barren deep. She left The pleasant isle of Scheria, and repaired To Marathon and to the spacious streets Of Athens, entering there the massive halls Where dwelt Erectheus, while Ulysses toward The gorgeous palace of Alcinoüs turned His steps, yet stopped and pondered ere he crossed The threshold. For on every side beneath The lofty roof of that magnanimous king A glory shone as of the sun or moon. There from the threshold, on each side, were walls Of brass that led towards the inner rooms, With blue steel cornices. The doors within The massive building were of gold, and posts Of silver on the brazen threshold stood, And silver was the lintel, and above Its architrave was gold; and on each side Stood gold and silver mastiffs, the rare work Of Vulcan’s practised skill, placed there to guard The house of great Alcinoüs, and endowed With deathless life, that knows no touch of age. Along the walls within, on either side, And from the threshold to the inner rooms, Were firmly planted thrones on which were laid Delicate mantles, woven by the hands Of women. The Phaeacian princes here Were seated; here they ate and drank, and held Perpetual banquet. Slender forms of boys In gold upon the shapely altars stood, With blazing torches in their hands to light At eve the palace guests; while fifty maids Waited within the halls, where some in querns Ground small the yellow grain; some wove the web Or twirled the spindle, sitting, with a quick Light motion, like the aspen’s glancing leaves. The well-wrought tissues glistened as with oil. As far as the Phaeacian race excel In guiding their swift galleys o’er the deep, So far the women in their woven work Surpass all others. Pallas gives them skill In handiwork and beautiful design. Without the palace-court, and near the gate, A spacious garden of four acres lay. A hedge enclosed it round, and