Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/118

82 chariot: and her mother put varied food, grateful to the mind, in a chest, and she put in it dainties, and poured wine into a flagon of goat-skin; and the damsel mounted the chariot; and she gave to her moist oil in a golden cruse, that she might anoint herself with her women attendants. And she took the whip, and the beautiful reins, and lashed [the mules] that they might go on; and there was a noise of the mules: for they were on the stretch without ceasing: and they carried the garments and her, not alone; [for] other handmaidens also went with her.

When they had now reached the most beautiful stream of the river, where were continual places for washing, and much beautiful water flowed out, [enough] even to cleanse very filthy things: there they loosed the mules from under the chariot, and drove them close to the eddying river, that they might eat the sweet grass; but they took the garments out of the chariot with their hands, and put them into the black water; and they trod them in the cisterns, quickly showing rivalry. But when they had washed and cleared all the filth, they spread them in order on the shore of the sea, where the wave most washed the stones to the beach. And having washed and anointed themselves with the smooth oil, they then took their meal near the banks of the river: but they waited for their garments to be dried by the beams of the sun. But when her handmaidens and herself were satiated with food, they played at ball, having thrown off their head-dresses; and white-armed Nausicaa began the song for them. Such as Diana who rejoices in the bow, traverses over the mountain, either lofty Täygetus or Erimanthus, delighting herself with boars and fleet stags, and with her the rural nymphs, daughters of Ægis-bearing Jove, sport; and Latona rejoices in her mind; and she is [eminent] above all by her head and her forehead, for she is easily known, but all of them are fair: so this chaste virgin excelled amongst her handmaidens. But when they were now about to return home again, having yoked the