Translation of: The Odyssey of Homer: Book VI

ARGUMENT     Minerva designing an interview between the daughter of Alcinos and Ulysses, admonishes her in a dream to carry down her clothes to the river, that she may wash them, and make them ready for her approaching nuptials. That task performed, the Princess and her train amuse themselves with play; by accident they awake Ulysses; he comes forth from the wood, and applies himself with much address to Nausicaa, who compassionating his distressed condition, and being much affected by the dignity of his appearance, interests himself in his favour, and conducts him to the city.             There then the noble suff'rer lay, by sleep             Oppress'd and labour; meantime, Pallas sought             The populous city of Phacia's sons.             They, in old time, in Hypereia dwelt             The spacious, neighbours of a giant race             The haughty Cyclops, who, endued with pow'r             Superior, troubled them with frequent wrongs.             Godlike Nausithos then arose, who thence             To Scheria led them, from all nations versed             In arts of cultivated life, remote;             With bulwarks strong their city he enclosed,             Built houses for them, temples to the Gods,             And gave to each a portion of the soil.             But he, already by decree of fate             Had journey'd to the shades, and in his stead             Alcinos, by the Gods instructed, reign'd.             To his abode Minerva azure-eyed             Repair'd, neglecting nought which might advance             Magnanimous Ulysses' safe return.             She sought the sumptuous chamber where, in form             And feature perfect as the Gods, the young             Nausicaa, daughter of the King, reposed.             Fast by the pillars of the portal lay             Two damsels, one on either side, adorn'd             By all the Graces, and the doors were shut.             Soft as a breathing air, she stole toward             The royal virgin's couch, and at her head             Standing, address'd her. Daughter she appear'd             Of Dymas, famed for maritime exploits,             Her friend and her coeval; so disguised             Crulean-eyed Minerva thus began.                 Nausicaa! wherefore hath thy mother borne             A child so negligent? Thy garments share,             Thy most magnificent, no thought of thine.             Yet thou must marry soon, and must provide             Robes for thyself, and for thy nuptial train.             Thy fame, on these concerns, and honour stand;             These managed well, thy parents shall rejoice.             The dawn appearing, let us to the place             Of washing, where thy work-mate I will be             For speedier riddance of thy task, since soon             The days of thy virginity shall end;             For thou art woo'd already by the prime             Of all Phacia, country of thy birth.             Come then--solicit at the dawn of day             Thy royal father, that he send thee forth             With mules and carriage for conveyance hence             Of thy best robes, thy mantles and thy zones.             Thus, more commodiously thou shalt perform             The journey, for the cisterns lie remote.                 So saying, Minerva, Goddess azure-eyed,             Rose to Olympus, the reputed seat             Eternal of the Gods, which never storms             Disturb, rains drench, or snow invades, but calm             The expanse and cloudless shines with purest day.             There the inhabitants divine rejoice             For ever, (and her admonition giv'n)             Crulean-eyed Minerva thither flew.                 Now came Aurora bright-enthroned, whose rays             Awaken'd fair Nausicaa; she her dream             Remember'd wond'ring, and her parents sought             Anxious to tell them. Them she found within.             Beside the hearth her royal mother sat,             Spinning soft fleeces with sea-purple dyed             Among her menial maidens, but she met             Her father, whom the Nobles of the land             Had summon'd, issuing abroad to join             The illustrious Chiefs in council. At his side             She stood, and thus her filial suit preferr'd.                 Sir![23] wilt thou lend me of the royal wains             A sumpter-carriage? for I wish to bear             My costly cloaths but sullied and unfit             For use, at present, to the river side.             It is but seemly that thou should'st repair             Thyself to consultation with the Chiefs             Of all Phacia, clad in pure attire;             And my own brothers five, who dwell at home,             Two wedded, and the rest of age to wed,             Are all desirous, when they dance, to wear             Raiment new bleach'd; all which is my concern.                 So spake Nausicaa; for she dared not name             Her own glad nuptials to her father's ear,             Who, conscious yet of all her drift, replied.                 I grudge thee neither mules, my child, nor aught             That thou canst ask beside. Go, and my train             Shall furnish thee a sumpter-carriage forth             High-built, strong-wheel'd, and of capacious size.                 So saying, he issued his command, whom quick             His grooms obey'd. They in the court prepared             The sumpter-carriage, and adjoin'd the mules.             And now the virgin from her chamber, charged             With raiment, came, which on the car she placed,             And in the carriage-chest, meantime, the Queen,             Her mother, viands of all kinds disposed,             And fill'd a skin with wine. Nausicaa rose             Into her seat; but, ere she went, received             A golden cruse of oil from the Queen's hand             For unction of herself, and of her maids.             Then, seizing scourge and reins, she lash'd the mules.             They trampled loud the soil, straining to draw             Herself with all her vesture; nor alone             She went, but follow'd by her virgin train.             At the delightful rivulet arrived             Where those perennial cisterns were prepared             With purest crystal of the fountain fed             Profuse, sufficient for the deepest stains,             Loosing the mules, they drove them forth to browze             On the sweet herb beside the dimpled flood.             The carriage, next, light'ning, they bore in hand             The garments down to the unsullied wave,             And thrust them heap'd into the pools, their task             Dispatching brisk, and with an emulous haste.             When they had all purified, and no spot             Could now be seen, or blemish more, they spread             The raiment orderly along the beach             Where dashing tides had cleansed the pebbles most,             And laving, next, and smoothing o'er with oil             Their limbs, all seated on the river's bank,             They took repast, leaving the garments, stretch'd             In noon-day fervour of the sun, to dry.             Their hunger satisfied, at once arose             The mistress and her train, and putting off             Their head-attire, play'd wanton with the ball,             The princess singing to her maids the while.             Such as shaft-arm'd Diana roams the hills,             Tygetus sky-capt, or Erymanth,             The wild boar chasing, or fleet-footed hind,             All joy; the rural nymphs, daughters of Jove,             Sport with her, and Latona's heart exults;             She high her graceful head above the rest             And features lifts divine, though all be fair,             With ease distinguishable from them all;             So, all her train, she, virgin pure, surpass'd.                 But when the hour of her departure thence             Approach'd (the mules now yoked again, and all             Her elegant apparel folded neat)             Minerva azure-eyed mused how to wake             Ulysses, that he might behold the fair             Virgin, his destin'd guide into the town.             The Princess, then, casting the ball toward             A maiden of her train, erroneous threw             And plunged it deep into the dimpling stream.             All shrieked; Ulysses at the sound awoke,             And, sitting, meditated thus the cause.                 Ah me! what mortal race inhabit here?             Rude are they, contumacious and unjust?             Or hospitable, and who fear the Gods?             So shrill the cry and feminine of nymphs             Fills all the air around, such as frequent             The hills, clear fountains, and herbaceous meads.             Is this a neighbourhood of men endued             With voice articulate? But what avails             To ask; I will myself go forth and see.                 So saying, divine Ulysses from beneath             His thicket crept, and from the leafy wood             A spreading branch pluck'd forcibly, design'd             A decent skreen effectual, held before.             So forth he went, as goes the lion forth,             The mountain-lion, conscious of his strength,             Whom winds have vex'd and rains; fire fills his eyes,             And whether herds or flocks, or woodland deer             He find, he rends them, and, adust for blood,             Abstains not even from the guarded fold,             Such sure to seem in virgin eyes, the Chief,             All naked as he was, left his retreat,             Reluctant, by necessity constrain'd.             Him foul with sea foam horror-struck they view'd,             And o'er the jutting shores fled all dispersed.             Nausicaa alone fled not; for her             Pallas courageous made, and from her limbs,             By pow'r divine, all tremour took away.             Firm she expected him; he doubtful stood,             Or to implore the lovely maid, her knees             Embracing, or aloof standing, to ask             In gentle terms discrete the gift of cloaths,             And guidance to the city where she dwelt.             Him so deliberating, most, at length,             This counsel pleas'd; in suppliant terms aloof             To sue to her, lest if he clasp'd her knees,             The virgin should that bolder course resent.             Then gentle, thus, and well-advised he spake.                 Oh Queen! thy earnest suppliant I approach.             Art thou some Goddess, or of mortal race?             For if some Goddess, and from heaven arrived,             Diana, then, daughter of mighty Jove             I deem thee most, for such as hers appear             Thy form, thy stature, and thy air divine.             But if, of mortal race, thou dwell below,             Thrice happy then, thy parents I account,             And happy thrice thy brethren. Ah! the joy             Which always for thy sake, their bosoms fill,             When thee they view, all lovely as thou art,             Ent'ring majestic on the graceful dance.             But him beyond all others blest I deem,             The youth, who, wealthier than his rich compeers,             Shall win and lead thee to his honour'd home.             For never with these eyes a mortal form             Beheld I comparable aught to thine,             In man or woman. Wonder-wrapt I gaze.             Such erst, in Delos, I beheld a palm             Beside the altar of Apollo, tall,             And growing still; (for thither too I sail'd,             And num'rous were my followers in a voyage             Ordain'd my ruin) and as then I view'd             That palm long time amazed, for never grew             So strait a shaft, so lovely from the ground,             So, Princess! thee with wonder I behold,             Charm'd into fixt astonishment, by awe             Alone forbidden to embrace thy knees,             For I am one on whom much woe hath fall'n.             Yesterday I escaped (the twentieth day             Of my distress by sea) the dreary Deep;             For, all those days, the waves and rapid storms             Bore me along, impetuous from the isle             Ogygia; till at length the will of heav'n             Cast me, that I might also here sustain             Affliction on your shore; for rest, I think,             Is not for me. No. The Immortal Gods             Have much to accomplish ere that day arrive.             But, oh Queen, pity me! who after long             Calamities endured, of all who live             Thee first approach, nor mortal know beside             Of the inhabitants of all the land.             Shew me your city; give me, although coarse,             Some cov'ring (if coarse cov'ring _thou_ canst give)             And may the Gods thy largest wishes grant,             House, husband, concord! for of all the gifts             Of heav'n, more precious none I deem, than peace             'Twixt wedded pair, and union undissolved;             Envy torments their enemies, but joy             Fills ev'ry virtuous breast, and most their own.                 To whom Nausicaa the fair replied.             Since, stranger! neither base by birth thou seem'st,             Nor unintelligent, (but Jove, the King             Olympian, gives to good and bad alike             Prosperity according to his will,             And grief to thee, which thou must patient bear,)             Now, therefore, at our land and city arrived,             Nor garment thou shalt want, nor aught beside             Due to a suppliant guest like thee forlorn.             I will both show thee where our city stands,             And who dwell here. Phacia's sons possess             This land; but I am daughter of their King             The brave Alcinos, on whose sway depends             For strength and wealth the whole Phacian race.                 She said, and to her beauteous maidens gave             Instant commandment--My attendants, stay!             Why flee ye thus, and whither, from the sight             Of a mere mortal? Seems he in your eyes             Some enemy of ours? The heart beats not,             Nor shall it beat hereafter, which shall come             An enemy to the Phacian shores,             So dear to the immortal Gods are we.             Remote, amid the billowy Deep, we hold             Our dwelling, utmost of all human-kind,             And free from mixture with a foreign race.             This man, a miserable wand'rer comes,             Whom we are bound to cherish, for the poor             And stranger are from Jove, and trivial gifts             To such are welcome. Bring ye therefore food             And wine, my maidens, for the guest's regale,             And lave him where the stream is shelter'd most.                 She spake; they stood, and by each other's words             Encouraged, placed Ulysses where the bank             O'erhung the stream, as fair Nausicaa bade,             Daughter of King Alcinos the renown'd.             Apparel also at his side they spread,             Mantle and vest, and, next, the limpid oil             Presenting to him in the golden cruse,             Exhorted him to bathe in the clear stream.             Ulysses then the maidens thus bespake.                 Ye maidens, stand apart, that I may cleanse,             Myself, my shoulders from the briny surf,             And give them oil which they have wanted long.             But in your presence I bathe not, ashamed             To show myself uncloath'd to female eyes.                 He said; they went, and to Nausicaa told             His answer; then the Hero in the stream             His shoulders laved, and loins incrusted rough             With the salt spray, and with his hands the scum             Of the wild ocean from his locks express'd.             Thus wash'd all over, and refresh'd with oil,             He put the garments on, Nausicaa's gift.             Then Pallas, progeny of Jove, his form             Dilated more, and from his head diffused             His curling locks like hyacinthine flowers.             As when some artist, by Minerva made             And Vulcan wise to execute all tasks             Ingenious, binding with a golden verge             Bright silver, finishes a graceful work,             Such grace the Goddess o'er his ample chest             Copious diffused, and o'er his manly brows.             Retiring, on the beach he sat, with grace             And dignity illumed, where, viewing him,             The virgin Princess, with amazement mark'd             His beauty, and her damsels thus bespake.                 My white-arm'd maidens, listen to my voice!             Not hated, sure, by all above, this man             Among Phacia's godlike sons arrives.             At first I deem'd him of plebeian sort             Dishonourable, but he now assumes             A near resemblance to the Gods above.             Ah! would to heaven it were my lot to call             Husband, some native of our land like him             Accomplish'd, and content to inhabit here!             Give him, my maidens, food, and give him wine.                 She ended; they obedient to her will,             Both wine and food, dispatchful, placed, and glad,             Before Ulysses; he rapacious ate,             Toil-suff'ring Chief, and drank, for he had lived             From taste of aliment long time estranged.                 On other thoughts meantime intent, her charge             Of folded vestments neat the Princess placed             Within the royal wain, then yoked the mules,             And to her seat herself ascending, call'd             Ulysses to depart, and thus she spake.                 Up, stranger! seek the city. I will lead             Thy steps toward my royal Father's house,             Where all Phacia's Nobles thou shalt see.             But thou (for I account thee not unwise)             This course pursue. While through the fields we pass,             And labours of the rural hind, so long             With my attendants follow fast the mules             And sumpter-carriage. I will be thy guide.             But, once the summit gain'd, on which is built             Our city with proud bulwarks fenced around,             And laved on both sides by its pleasant port             Of narrow entrance, where our gallant barks             Line all the road, each station'd in her place,             And where, adjoining close the splendid fane             Of Neptune, stands the forum with huge stones             From quarries thither drawn, constructed strong,             In which the rigging of their barks they keep,             Sail-cloth and cordage, and make smooth their oars;             (For bow and quiver the Phacian race             Heed not, but masts and oars, and ships well-poised,             With which exulting they divide the flood)             Then, cautious, I would shun their bitter taunts             Disgustful, lest they mock me as I pass;             For of the meaner people some are coarse             In the extreme, and it may chance that one,             The basest there seeing us shall exclaim--             What handsome stranger of athletic form             Attends the Princess? Where had she the chance             To find him? We shall see them wedded soon.             Either she hath received some vagrant guest             From distant lands, (for no land neighbours ours)             Or by her pray'rs incessant won, some God             Hath left the heav'ns to be for ever hers.             'Tis well if she have found, by her own search,             An husband for herself, since she accounts             The Nobles of Phacia, who her hand             Solicit num'rous, worthy to be scorn'd--             Thus will they speak, injurious. I should blame             A virgin guilty of such conduct much,             Myself, who reckless of her parents' will,             Should so familiar with a man consort,             Ere celebration of her spousal rites.             But mark me, stranger! following my advice,             Thou shalt the sooner at my father's hands             Obtain safe conduct and conveyance home.             Sacred to Pallas a delightful grove             Of poplars skirts the road, which we shall reach             Ere long; within that grove a fountain flows,             And meads encircle it; my father's farm             Is there, and his luxuriant garden plot;             A shout might reach it from the city-walls.             There wait, till in the town arrived, we gain             My father's palace, and when reason bids             Suppose us there, then ent'ring thou the town,             Ask where Alcinos dwells, my valiant Sire.             Well known is his abode, so that with ease             A child might lead thee to it, for in nought             The other houses of our land the house             Resemble, in which dwells the Hero, King             Alcinos. Once within the court received             Pause not, but, with swift pace advancing, seek             My mother; she beside a column sits             In the hearth's blaze, twirling her fleecy threads             Tinged with sea-purple, bright, magnificent!             With all her maidens orderly behind.             There also stands my father's throne, on which             Seated, he drinks and banquets like a God.             Pass that; then suppliant clasp my mother's knees,             So shalt thou quickly win a glad return             To thy own home, however far remote.             Her favour, once, and her kind aid secured,             Thenceforth thou may'st expect thy friends to see,             Thy dwelling, and thy native soil again.             So saying, she with her splendid scourge the mules             Lash'd onward. They (the stream soon left behind)             With even footsteps graceful smote the ground;             But so she ruled them, managing with art             The scourge, as not to leave afar, although             Following on foot, Ulysses and her train.             The sun had now declined, when in that grove             Renown'd, to Pallas sacred, they arrived,             In which Ulysses sat, and fervent thus             Sued to the daughter of Jove gis-arm'd.                 Daughter invincible of Jove supreme!             Oh, hear me! Hear me now, because when erst             The mighty Shaker of the shores incensed             Toss'd me from wave to wave, thou heard'st me not.             Grant me, among Phacia's sons, to find             Benevolence and pity of my woes!                 He spake, whose pray'r well-pleas'd the Goddess heard,             But, rev'rencing the brother of her sire,[24]             Appear'd not to Ulysses yet, whom he             Pursued with fury to his native shores.