Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/122

86 But when he had washed himself all over, and anointed himself with oil, and had put on the garments which the chaste virgins gave him; Minerva, born of Jove, made him greater and stouter to behold: and from his head she made his hair curled, like unto a hyacinthine flower. As when some skilful man, whom Vulcan and Pallas Minerva have instructed in a cunning art, pours gold round silver, and performs beautiful works; so she shed grace on his head and shoulders. Then, going to a distance, he sat down on the shore of the sea, shining with beauty and gracefulness; and the virgin admiring beheld him; then she spoke [thus] to the fair-haired handmaidens:

"Listen to me, ye white-armed handmaidens, whilst I shall say something. This man does not come amongst the godlike Phæacians, against the will of all the gods who possess the wide heaven. For he before appeared to me to be unseemly, but now he is like unto the gods, who possess the wide heaven. I wish such a one might be called my husband, dwelling here, and it might please him to remain here. But, O handmaidens, give to the stranger meat and drink."

Thus she spoke, and they heard her, and immediately obeyed, and near Ulysses they placed meat and drink. Much-enduring divine Ulysses indeed drank and eat greedily; for he had been a long time without tasting food. But white-armed Nausicaa thought upon other things; having folded the garments, she placed them on the beautiful chariot, and yoked the solid-hoofed mules; and she herself mounted it; and she encouraged Ulysses, and spoke and said:

"Rise now, O stranger, to go to the city, that I may conduct thee to the house of my prudent sire, where I think that thou wilt see as many as are the chief of all the Phæacians. But by all means do thus, for thou seemest to me not to be without understanding; whilst we go through the fields and the tillage of men, so long do thou come quickly with the handmaidens, after the mules and chariot: and I will lead the way. But when we shall go up to the city, around which