Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/147

430—465. very beautiful, golden, that remembering me all his days, he may pour forth libations in his palace, both to Jove and the other gods."

Thus he spoke; and Arete told her handmaidens, with all haste to place a large tripod on the fire. And they placed a three-footed laver on the bright fire; and poured water in it, and taking wood kindled it beneath. The fire encircled the belly of the tripod, and the water was warmed. But in the meanwhile Arete brought out of her chamber a very beautiful chest for the stranger, and placed in it handsome presents, a garment, and gold, which the Phæacians gave him; and in it she put a cloak and beautiful tunic, and speaking, addressed to him winged words:

"Thyself now look to the lid, and quickly put a chain upon it, lest any one should defraud thee on thy way, when again thou sleepest sweet slumber, going in the black ship."

But when much-enduring divine Ulysses heard this, he immediately fitted on the lid, and quickly put upon it a various chain, which venerable Circe sometime taught him in his mind. And the housekeeper bade him forthwith wash himself, having gone into the bathing tub: and he gladly in his mind beheld the warm bath; because he had not been at all used to take care of himself since he left the dwelling of the fair-haired Calypso; but so long at least care of himself was continual to him, as to a god. When therefore the handmaidens had washed and anointed him with oil, and had thrown about him a beautiful mantle and tunic, having gone out of the bath, he went to the men who were drinking wine; but Nausicaa, possessing beauty from the gods, stood by a pillar of the well-made roof; and she admired Ulysses, seeing him with her eyes, and speaking she addressed to him winged words: "Farewell, stranger, that sometime being in thy paternal land thou mayest remember me, that thou owest to me first the debt of preservation of thy life."

But her much-counselling Ulysses addressed in answer: "Nausicaa, daughter of strong-hearted Alcinous, thus now may Jove, the mighty-sounding husband of Juno, grant to