their harbours； ships； places of assembly； and the lofty walls of
the city； which； with the palisade on top of them； were very striking；
and when they reached the king's house Minerva said：
〃This is the house； father stranger； which you would have me show
you。 You will find a number of great people sitting at table； but do
not be afraid； go straight in； for the bolder a man is the more likely
he is to carry his point； even though he is a stranger。 First find the
queen。 Her name is Arete； and she comes of the same family as her
husband Alcinous。 They both descend originally from Neptune； who was
father to Nausithous by Periboea； a woman of great beauty。 Periboea
was the youngest daughter of Eurymedon； who at one time reigned over
the giants； but he ruined his ill…fated people and lost his own life
to boot。
〃Neptune； however； lay with his daughter； and she had a son by
him； the great Nausithous； who reigned over the Phaecians。
Nausithous had two sons Rhexenor and Alcinous； Apollo killed the first
of them while he was still a bridegroom and without male issue； but he
left a daughter Arete； whom Alcinous married； and honours as no
other woman is honoured of all those that keep house along with
their husbands。
〃Thus she both was； and still is； respected beyond measure by her
children； by Alcinous himself； and by the whole people； who look
upon her as a goddess； and greet her whenever she goes about the city；
for she is a thoroughly good woman both in head and heart； and when
any women are friends of hers； she will help their husbands also to
settle their disputes。 If you can gain her good will； you may have
every hope of seeing your friends again； and getting safely back to
your home and country。〃
Then Minerva left Scheria and went away over the sea。 She went to
Marathon and to the spacious streets of Athens； where she entered
the abode of Erechtheus； but Ulysses went on to the house of Alcinous；
and he pondered much as he paused a while before reaching the
threshold of bronze； for the splendour of the palace was like that
of the sun or moon。 The walls on either side were of bronze from end
to end； and the cornice was of blue enamel。 The doors were gold； and
hung on pillars of silver that rose from a floor of bronze； while
the lintel was silver and the hook of the door was of gold。
On either side there stood gold and silver mastiffs which Vulcan；
with his consummate skill； had fashioned expressly to keep watch
over the palace of king Alcinous； so they were immortal and could
never grow old。 Seats were ranged all along the wall； here and there
from one end to the other； with coverings of fine woven work which the
women of the house had made。 Here the chief persons of the Phaecians
used to sit and eat and drink； for there was abundance at all seasons；
and there were golden figures of young men with lighted torches in
their hands； raised on pedestals； to give light by night to those
who were at table。 There are fifty maid servants in the house； some of
whom are always grinding rich yellow grain at the mill； while others
work at the loom； or sit and spin； and their shuttles go； backwards
and forwards like the fluttering of aspen leaves； while the linen is
so closely woven that it will turn oil。 As the Phaecians are the
best sailors in the world； so their women excel all others in weaving；
for Minerva has taught them all manner of useful arts； and they are
very intelligent。
Outside the gate of the outer court there is a large garden of about
four acres with a wall all round it。 It is full of beautiful trees…
pears； pomegranates； and the most delicious apples。 There are luscious
figs also； and olives in full growth。 The fruits never rot nor fail
all the year round； neither winter nor summer； for the air is so
soft that a new crop ripens before the old has dropped。 Pear grows
on pear； apple on apple； and fig on fig； and so also with the
grapes； for there is an excellent vineyard： on the level ground of a
part of this； the grapes are being made into raisins； in another
part they are being gathered； some are being trodden in the wine tubs；
others further on have shed their blossom and are beginning to show
fruit； others again are just changing colour。 In the furthest part
of the ground there are beautifully arranged beds of flowers that
are in bloom all the year round。 Two streams go through it； the one
turned in ducts throughout the whole garden； while the other is
carried under the ground of the outer court to the house itself； and
the town's people draw water from it。 Such； then； were the
splendours with which the gods had endowed the house of king Alcinous。
So here Ulysses stood for a while and looked about him； but when
he had looked long enough he crossed the threshold and went within the
precincts of the house。 There he found all the chief people among
the Phaecians making their drink…offerings to Mercury； which they
always did the last thing before going away for the night。 He went
straight through the court； still hidden by the cloak of darkness in
which Minerva had enveloped him； till he reached Arete and King
Alcinous； then he laid his hands upon the knees of the queen； and at
that moment the miraculous darkness fell away from him and he became
visible。 Every one was speechless with surprise at seeing a man there；
but Ulysses began at once with his petition。
〃Queen Arete；〃 he exclaimed； 〃daughter of great Rhexenor； in my
distress I humbly pray you； as also your husband and these your guests
（whom may heaven prosper with long life and happiness； and may they
leave their possessions to their children； and all the honours
conferred upon them by the state） to help me home to my own country as
soon as possible； for I have been long in trouble and away from my
friends。〃
Then he sat down on the hearth among the ashes and they all held
their peace； till presently the old hero Echeneus； who was an
excellent speaker and an elder among the Phaeacians； plainly and in
all honesty addressed them thus：
〃Alcinous；〃 said he； 〃it is not creditable to you that a stranger
should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth； every one is
waiting to hear what you are about to say； tell him； then； to rise and
take a seat on a stool inlaid with silver； and bid your servants mix
some wine and water that we may make a drink…offering to Jove the lord
of thunder； who takes all well…disposed suppliants under his
protection； and let the housekeeper give him some supper； of
whatever there may be in the house。〃
When Alcinous heard this he took Ulysses by the hand； raised him
from the hearth； and bade him take the seat of Laodamas； who had
been sitting beside him； and was his favourite son。 A maid servant
then brought him water in a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a
silver basin for him to wash his hands； and she drew a clean table
beside him； an upper servant brought him bread and offered him many
good things of what there was in the house； and Ulysses ate and drank。
Then Alcinous said to one of the servants； 〃Pontonous； mix a cup of
wine and hand it round that we may make drink…offerings to Jove the
lord of thunder； who is the protector of all well…disposed
suppliants。〃
Pontonous then mixed wine and water； and handed it round after
giving every man his drink…offering。 When they had made their
offerings； and had drunk each as much as he was minded； Alcinous said：
〃Aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians； hear my words。 You
have had your supper； so now go home to bed。 To…morrow morning I shall
invite a still larger number of aldermen； and will give a
sacrificial banquet in honour of our guest； we can then discuss the
question of his escort； and consider how we may at once send him
back rejoicing to his own country without trouble or inconvenience
to himself； no matter how distant it may be。 We must see that he comes
to no harm while on his homeward journey； but when he is once at
home he will have to take the luck he was born with for better or
worse like other people。 It is possible； however； that the stranger is
one of the immortals who has come down from heaven to visit us； but in
this case the gods are departing from their usual practice； for
hitherto they have made themselves perfectly clear to us when we
have been offering them hecatombs。 They come and sit at our feasts
just like one of our selves； and if any solitary wayfarer happens to
stumble upon some one or other of them； they affect no concealment；
for we are as near of kin to the gods as the Cyclopes and the savage
giants are。〃
Then Ulysses said： 〃Pray； Alcinous； do not take any such notion into
your head。 I have nothing of the immortal about me； neither in body
nor mind； and most resemble those among you who are the most
afflicted。 Indeed； were I to tell you all that heaven has seen fit
to lay upon me； you would say that I was still worse off than they
are。 Nevertheless； let me sup in spite of sorrow； for an empty stomach
is a very importunate thing； and thrusts itself on a man's notice no
matter how dire is his distress。 I am in great trouble； yet it insists
that I shall eat and drink； bids me lay aside all memory of my sor