Ulysses Discovered by Nausicaä
Nausicaä, daughter of Alcinoüs, king of the Phaeacians, directed by Pallas to go to the river and wash her marriage robes—Sports of her maidens after the washing is performed—Ulysses awakened by the noise, relieved and clothed by Nausicaä, and bidden to follow her into the city, and there make his suit to the queen, the wife of Alcinoüs.
Thus overcome with toil and weariness, The noble sufferer Ulysses slept, While Pallas hastened to the realm and town Peopled by the Phaeacians, who of yore Abode in spacious Hypereia, near The insolent race of Cyclops, and endured Wrong from their mightier hands. A godlike chief, Nausithoüs, led them, to a new abode, And planted them in Scheria, far away From plotting neighbors. With a wall he fenced Their city, built them dwellings there, and reared Fanes to the gods, and changed the plain to fields. But he had bowed to death, and had gone down To Hades, and Alcinoüs, whom the gods Endowed with wisdom, governed in his stead. Now to his palace, planning the return Of the magnanimous Ulysses, came The blue-eyed goddess Pallas, entering The gorgeous chamber where a damsel slept— Nausicaä, daughter of the large-souled king Alcinoüs, beautiful in form and face As one of the immortals. Near her lay, And by the portal, one on either side, Fair as the Graces, two attendant maids. The shining doors were shut. But Pallas came As comes a breath of air, and stood beside The damsel’s head and spake. In look she seemed The daughter of the famous mariner Dymas, a maiden whom Nausicaä loved, The playmate of her girlhood. In her shape The blue-eyed goddess stood, and thus she said:—
“Nausicaä, has thy mother then brought forth A careless housewife? Thy magnificent robes Lie still neglected, though thy marriage day Is near,