Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/119

111—149. mules, and folded the beautiful garments, then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva meditated other things, that Ulysses should be roused, and behold the beautiful damsel, who might lead him to the city of the Phæacians. Then the queen threw the ball to a handmaiden: it missed the handmaiden, and fell into a deep eddy. But they cried out loudly; and divine Ulysses was aroused; and sitting up, he deliberated in his soul and in his mind.

"Woe is me, into the land of what mortals am I now come? Are they violent and wild, and not just? Or are they hospitable, and have they a holy mind? Since a female voice of damsel nymphs, who possess the lofty summits of the mountains, and the fountains of the rivers, and the grassy marshes, has come around me; or am I by chance near men who possess the power of speech? But come, I myself will try, and see."

Thus having spoken, divine Ulysses went from under the thickets; and with his strong hand he broke a branch of leaves from the thick wood, that he might cover the unseemly parts of a man around his body. And he hastened, like as a lion nourished in the mountains, trusting in his might, that goes rained and blown upon; and his eyes burn; and he comes after oxen, or sheep, or the wild stags; for hunger commands him to enter even a close abode to make an attempt upon the flocks: thus Ulysses, although naked, was about to mingle with the fair-haired damsels; for necessity came upon him. But he appeared dreadful to them, being defiled by the brine; and they fled in terror each in different ways through the projecting shores. But the daughter of Alcinous alone remained; for Minerva put confidence in her mind, and took fear from her limbs; and she stood keeping herself before him. But Ulysses meditated, whether taking hold of her knees he should supplicate the beautiful damsel, or as he was standing at a distance should beseech her with mild words, if she would show him the city, and give him garments. So, indeed, as he considered, it seemed to him to be better, standing at a distance, to beseech her with mild words, lest the damsel should be wrath with him in her mind, taking hold of her knees. Forthwith he spoke a mild and crafty word:

"I supplicate thee, O queen; whether thou art some god-