Athena’s Dream Visit

1Thus overcome with toil and weariness,
The noble sufferer Odysseus slept,
While Athena hastened to the realm and town
Peopled by the Phaeacians, who of yore
Abode in spacious Hypereia, near
The insolent race of Cyclops, and endured
Wrong from their mightier hands. A godlike chief,
Nausithous, led them, to a new abode,
And planted them in Scheria, far away
From plotting neighbors. With a wall he fenced
Their city, built them dwellings there, and reared
Fanes to the gods, and changed the plain to fields.
But he had bowed to death, and had gone down
To Hades, and Alcinous, whom the gods
Endowed with wisdom, governed in his stead.
Now to his palace, planning the return
Of the magnanimous Odysseus, came
The blue-eyed goddess Athena, entering
The gorgeous chamber where a damsel slept —
Nausicaa, daughter of the large-souled king
Alcinous, beautiful in form and face
As one of the immortals. Near her lay,
And by the portal, one on either side,
Fair as the Graces, two attendant maids.
The shining doors were shut. But Athena came
As comes a breath of air, and stood beside
The damsel’s head and spoke. In look she seemed
The daughter of the famous mariner
Dymas, a maiden whom Nausicaa loved,
The playmate of her girlhood. In her shape
The blue-eyed goddess stood, and thus she said: —

2“Nausicaa, has your mother then brought forth
A careless housewife? Your magnificent robes
Lie still neglected, though your marriage day
Is near, when you are to array yourself
In seemly garments, and bestow the like
On those who lead you to the bridal rite;
For thus the praise of men is won, and thus
Your father and your gracious mother both
Will be rejoiced. Now with the early dawn
Let us all hasten to the washing-place.
I too would go with you, and help you there,
That you may sooner end the task, for you
Not long will be unwedded. You are wooed
Already by the noblest of the race
Of the Phaeacians, for your birth, like theirs,
Is of the noblest. Make your suit at morn
To your illustrious father, that he bid
His mules and car be harnessed to convey
Your girdles, robes, and mantles marvellous
In beauty. That were seemlier than to walk,
Since distant from the town the lavers lie.”

3Thus having said, the blue-eyed Athena went
Back to Olympus, where the gods have made,
So says tradition, their eternal seat.
The tempest shakes it not, nor is it drenched
By showers, and there the snow does never fall.
The calm clear ether is without a cloud;
And in the golden light, that lies on all,
Days after day the blessed gods rejoice.
Thither the blue-eyed goddess, having given
Her message to the sleeping maid, withdrew.