she dived down again like a sea…gull and vanished beneath the dark
blue waters。
But Ulysses did not know what to think。 〃Alas；〃 he said to himself
in his dismay； 〃this is only some one or other of the gods who is
luring me to ruin by advising me to will quit my raft。 At any rate I
will not do so at present； for the land where she said I should be
quit of all troubles seemed to be still a good way off。 I know what
I will do… I am sure it will be best… no matter what happens I will
stick to the raft as long as her timbers hold together； but when the
sea breaks her up I will swim for it； I do not see how I can do any
better than this。〃
While he was thus in two minds； Neptune sent a terrible great wave
that seemed to rear itself above his head till it broke right over the
raft； which then went to pieces as though it were a heap of dry
chaff tossed about by a whirlwind。 Ulysses got astride of one plank
and rode upon it as if he were on horseback； he then took off the
clothes Calypso had given him； bound Ino's veil under his arms； and
plunged into the sea… meaning to swim on shore。 King Neptune watched
him as he did so； and wagged his head； muttering to himself and
saying； 〃'There now； swim up and down as you best can till you fall in
with well…to…do people。 I do not think you will be able to say that
I have let you off too lightly。〃 On this he lashed his horses and
drove to Aegae where his palace is。
But Minerva resolved to help Ulysses； so she bound the ways of all
the winds except one； and made them lie quite still； but she roused
a good stiff breeze from the North that should lay the waters till
Ulysses reached the land of the Phaeacians where he would be safe。
Thereon he floated about for two nights and two days in the water；
with a heavy swell on the sea and death staring him in the face； but
when the third day broke； the wind fell and there was a dead calm
without so much as a breath of air stirring。 As he rose on the swell
he looked eagerly ahead； and could see land quite near。 Then； as
children rejoice when their dear father begins to get better after
having for a long time borne sore affliction sent him by some angry
spirit； but the gods deliver him from evil； so was Ulysses thankful
when he again saw land and trees； and swam on with all his strength
that he might once more set foot upon dry ground。 When； however； he
got within earshot； he began to hear the surf thundering up against
the rocks； for the swell still broke against them with a terrific
roar。 Everything was enveloped in spray； there were no harbours
where a ship might ride； nor shelter of any kind； but only
headlands； low…lying rocks； and mountain tops。
Ulysses' heart now began to fail him； and he said despairingly to
himself； 〃Alas； Jove has let me see land after swimming so far that
I had given up all hope； but I can find no landing place； for the
coast is rocky and surf…beaten； the rocks are smooth and rise sheer
from the sea； with deep water close under them so that I cannot
climb out for want of foothold。 I am afraid some great wave will
lift me off my legs and dash me against the rocks as I leave the
water… which would give me a sorry landing。 If； on the other hand； I
swim further in search of some shelving beach or harbour； a
hurricane may carry me out to sea again sorely against my will； or
heaven may send some great monster of the deep to attack me； for
Amphitrite breeds many such； and I know that Neptune is very angry
with me。〃
While he was thus in two minds a wave caught him and took him with
such force against the rocks that he would have been smashed and
torn to pieces if Minerva had not shown him what to do。 He caught hold
of the rock with both hands and clung to it groaning with pain till
the wave retired； so he was saved that time； but presently the wave
came on again and carried him back with it far into the sea…tearing
his hands as the suckers of a polypus are torn when some one plucks it
from its bed； and the stones come up along with it even so did the
rocks tear the skin from his strong hands； and then the wave drew
him deep down under the water。
Here poor Ulysses would have certainly perished even in spite of his
own destiny； if Minerva had not helped him to keep his wits about him。
He swam seaward again； beyond reach of the surf that was beating
against the land； and at the same time he kept looking towards the
shore to see if he could find some haven； or a spit that should take
the waves aslant。 By and by； as he swam on； he came to the mouth of
a river； and here he thought would be the best place； for there were
no rocks； and it afforded shelter from the wind。 He felt that there
was a current； so he prayed inwardly and said：
〃Hear me； O King； whoever you may be； and save me from the anger
of the sea…god Neptune； for I approach you prayerfully。 Any one who
has lost his way has at all times a claim even upon the gods；
wherefore in my distress I draw near to your stream； and cling to
the knees of your riverhood。 Have mercy upon me； O king； for I declare
myself your suppliant。〃
Then the god stayed his stream and stilled the waves； making all
calm before him； and bringing him safely into the mouth of the
river。 Here at last Ulysses' knees and strong hands failed him； for
the sea had completely broken him。 His body was all swollen； and his
mouth and nostrils ran down like a river with sea…water； so that he
could neither breathe nor speak； and lay swooning from sheer
exhaustion； presently； when he had got his breath and came to
himself again； he took off the scarf that Ino had given him and
threw it back into the salt stream of the river； whereon Ino
received it into her hands from the wave that bore it towards her。
Then he left the river； laid himself down among the rushes； and kissed
the bounteous earth。
〃Alas；〃 he cried to himself in his dismay； 〃what ever will become of
me； and how is it all to end？ If I stay here upon the river bed
through the long watches of the night； I am so exhausted that the
bitter cold and damp may make an end of me… for towards sunrise
there will be a keen wind blowing from off the river。 If； on the other
hand； I climb the hill side； find shelter in the woods； and sleep in
some thicket； I may escape the cold and have a good night's rest；
but some savage beast may take advantage of me and devour me。〃
In the end he deemed it best to take to the woods； and he found
one upon some high ground not far from the water。 There he crept
beneath two shoots of olive that grew from a single stock… the one
an ungrafted sucker； while the other had been grafted。 No wind；
however squally； could break through the cover they afforded； nor
could the sun's rays pierce them； nor the rain get through them； so
closely did they grow into one another。 Ulysses crept under these
and began to make himself a bed to lie on； for there was a great
litter of dead leaves lying about… enough to make a covering for two
or three men even in hard winter weather。 He was glad enough to see
this； so he laid himself down and heaped the leaves all round him。
Then； as one who lives alone in the country； far from any neighbor；
hides a brand as fire…seed in the ashes to save himself from having to
get a light elsewhere； even so did Ulysses cover himself up with
leaves； and Minerva shed a sweet sleep upon his eyes； closed his
eyelids； and made him lose all memories of his sorrows。
BOOK VI。
SO HERE Ulysses slept； overcome by sleep and toil； but Minerva
went off to the country and city of the Phaecians… a people who used
to live in the fair town of Hypereia； near the lawless Cyclopes。 Now
the Cyclopes were stronger than they and plundered them； so their king
Nausithous moved them thence and settled them in Scheria； far from all
other people。 He surrounded the city with a wall； built houses and
temples； and divided the lands among his people； but he was dead and
gone to the house of Hades； and King Alcinous； whose counsels were
inspired of heaven； was now reigning。 To his house； then； did
Minerva hie in furtherance of the return of Ulysses。
She went straight to the beautifully decorated bedroom in which
there slept a girl who was as lovely as a goddess； Nausicaa；
daughter to King Alcinous。 Two maid servants were sleeping near her；
both very pretty； one on either side of the doorway； which was
closed with well…made folding doors。 Minerva took the form of the
famous sea captain Dymas's daughter； who was a bosom friend of
Nausicaa and just her own age； then； coming up to the girl's bedside
like a breath of wind； she hovered over her head and said：
〃Nausicaa； what can your mother have been about； to have such a lazy
daughter？ Here are your clothes all lying in disorder； yet you are
going to be married almost immediately； and should not only be well
dressed yourself； but should find good clothes for those who attend
you。 This is the way to get yourself a good name； and to make your
father and mother proud of you。 Suppose； then； that we make tomorrow a
washing day； and start at daybreak。 I will come and help you so that
you may have everything ready as soon as possible； for all the best
youn