Who 'gainst the will of parents still alive,
Should join with men before her nuptial day :
My words heed, stranger, that in shortest space
Thou from my sire may gain means of return.
Near to the path is Pallas' beauteous grove
Of poplars; round are meadows, and a fount;
There too my sire's estate, and gardens are;
Just so far from the town a shout would reach ;
Sit down and wait a short time there till we
May reach the city and my father's house;
Go forward to the town then asking for
The palace of the great Alcinoüs;
'Tis found with ease, for ev'n a boy could guide,
An infant boy; no houses have been built
At all like that house of Alcinoüs,
The mighty chief; but when you are within,
Pass swiftly through the chambers, for to reach
My mother; she in firelight on the hearth
Sits weaving, wondrous, the sea-purple threads,
Reclin❜d by pillar, with her maids behind;
My father's seat too is towards the fire,
Where drinking wine, he like a god doth sit:
Him passing, stretch thy hands towards the knees,
Of my dear mother, seeking help from her
For glad return, though very far from home: (If that should be the fond wish of thy heart,
To see thy dear friends, by arriving at
Thy well-built house, and dear paternal land.)"
"Thus speaking, with her splendid whip she smote
The mules: these left with speed the flowing stream;
They trot well, lifting up their feet in turns;
She guides with care, she lightly us'd the whip
That they, the maids and chief, might follow her:
The sun set, when they reach'd the noble grove
To Pallas sacred, where he sat him down,
And pray'd unto the daughter of great Jove;
"Hear me ! O child invincible of Jove!
Hear me at last, ne'er hearing me before :
While toss'd about, fam'd Neptune tossing me!
Grant I find love and pity from these men!"
So spake he, praying-Pallas heard him then ;
But openly appear'd not to him, for she fear'd
The brother of her sire, who was much wroth
With brave Ulysses ere he reach'd his home.
ULYSSES' ENTRANCE TO ALCINOUS.
Ulysses' entrance to Alcinous.
Thus pray'd the much enduring god-like chief:
The mules drew safe the virgin to the town;
But she, when at her father's house arriv'd,
Did stand within the vestibule : round her
Her brothers stood so like immortal gods;
They then unyoke the mules, and bear within
The garments wash'd: she then ascends unto
Her chamber, and for her did light a fire,
Eurymedusa, her old nurse, a dame
Whom from Apēra once the ships had brought,
A gift unto Alcinous, their king,
Because he rul'd o'er all Phæacian men,
Rever'd as gods; then in the palace she
Did nourish up white arm'd Nausicäa.
Ulysses rose to go towards the town,
And Pallas caus'd thick mist to fall around,
With good desire: lest any meeting him
Of bold Phæacian men, should him insult
By their rude speech and ask him who he was.
When be the pleasant town was entering now,
The azure-eyed Minerva met him there,
In likeness of a youthful maid, holding
A pitcher in her hand, and stood before
The chief, and then Ulysses ask'd of her;
"O daughter, canst thou not me guide unto
The man Alcinöus' palace, who bears rule
Amidst these men? for I have hither come
A stranger, poor, and having suffer'd much;
From far off foreign land; wherefore I know
Not one of all inhabiting this town?"
The blue-eyed Goddess thus replied to him;
"The palace sought for by thee I will show
To thee, O father, stranger, since 'tis nigh
Unto mine own good father's house; do thou
In silence go, and I will lead the way:
Turn not thine eyes to any man, nor ask
Questions of one; these don't encourage much,
Men who are stranger guests, nor do embrace
With friendly welcome one who comes from far:
But putting all their confidence in ships,
They traverse ocean's depths by Neptune's gift:
Their vessels swift, light unto wings or thoughts."
Thus having spoken, Pallas led the way,
Right swiftly he her footsteps follow'd straight.
Those famous mariners perceiv'd him not,
Passing along through them, Minerva this
Permitted not, who then around him pour'd
A heavenly mist, desiring well to him.
Ulysses then admir'd the ports and ships,
The forums also, and the long built walls;
So lofty, wondrous, fenc'd with palisades.
But when they reach'd the palace of the king,
Minerva then began discourse the first;
"This, father, stranger, is the palace which Thou bidd'st me shew to thee, but thou wilt find The Jove-sprung royal line now banqueting;
But enter in, nor do thou be afraid,
At all in mind; a bold and daring man
Far better is in works of every kind,
Although he come from distant parts: the queen
Thou first will find within the palace halls;
Arētē's her surname, from parents sprung
Of that race which begat Alcinöus;
Neptune at first begat Nausithöus,
By Peribœa, comeliest of her sex;
The youngest daughter of Eurymedon,
The rude Gigantes who did govern once;
But soon that wicked people lost; he too
When thro' the town she passes, with kind words
Do welcome her, for she herself lacks not
A mind benevolent; she settles too
Disputes of men to whom she wishes well:
If she to thee should kindly be dispos'd,
Then is there hope for thee to see thy friends,
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