Instructions for the City

18White-armed Nausicaa then had other cares.
She placed the smoothly folded robes within
The sumptuous chariot, yoked the firm-hoofed mules,
And mounted to her place, and from the seat
Spoke kindly, counselling Odysseus thus: —

19“Now, stranger, rise and follow to the town,
And to my royal father’s palace I
Will be your guide, where, doubt not, you will meet
The noblest men of our Phaeacian race.
But do as I advise —for not inapt
I deem you. While we traverse yet the fields
Among the tilth, keep you among my train
Of maidens, following fast behind the mules
And chariot. I will lead you in the way.
But when our train goes upward toward the town,
Fenced with its towery wall, and on each side
Embraced by a fair haven, with a strait
Of narrow entrance, where our well-oared barques
Have each a mooring-place along the road,
And there round Poseidon’s glorious fane extends
A marketplace, surrounded by huge stones,
Dragged from the quarry hither, where is kept
The rigging of the barques —sailcloth and ropes —
And oars are polished there —for little reck
Phaeacians of the quiver and the bow,
And give most heed to masts and shrouds and ships
Well poised, in which it is their pride to cross
The foamy deep —when there I would not bring
Rude taunts upon myself, for in the crowd
Are brutal men. One of the baser sort
Perchance might say, on meeting us: ‘What man,
Handsome and lusty-limbed, is he who thus
Follows Nausicaa? where was it her luck
To find him? will he be her husband yet?
Perhaps she brings some wanderer from his ship,
A stranger from strange lands, for we have here
No neighbors; or, perhaps, it is a god
Called down by fervent prayer from heaven to dwell
Henceforth with her. It is well if she have found
A husband elsewhere, since at home she meets
Her many noble wooers with disdain;
They are Phaeacians.’ Thus the crowd would say,
And it would bring reproach upon my name.
I too would blame another who should do
The like, and, while her parents were alive,
Without their knowledge should consort with men
Before her marriage. Stranger, now observe
My words, and you shall speedily obtain
Safe-conduct from my father, and be sent
Upon your voyage homeward. We shall reach
A beautiful grove of poplars by the way,
Sacred to Athena; from it flows a brook,
And round it lies a meadow. In this spot
My father has his country-grounds, and here
His garden flourishes, as far from town
As one could hear a shout. There sit you down
And wait till we are in the city’s streets
And at my father’s house. When it shall seem
That we are there, arise and onward fare
To the Phaeacian city, and inquire
Where dwells Alcinous the large-souled king,
My father; it is not hard to find; a child
Might lead you thither. Of the houses reared
By the Phaeacians there is none like that
In which Alcinous the hero dwells.
When you are once within the court and hall,
Go quickly through the palace till you find
My mother where she sits beside the hearth,
Leaning against a column in its blaze,
And twisting threads, a marvel to behold,
Of bright sea-purple, while her maidens sit
Behind her. Near her is my father’s throne,
On which he sits at feasts, and drinks the wine
Like one of the immortals. Pass it by
And clasp my mother’s knees; so may you see
Soon and with joy the day of your return,
Although your home be far. For if her mood
Be kindly toward you, you may hope to greet
Your friends once more, and enter yet again
Your own fair palace in your native land.”

20Thus having said, she raised the shining scourge
And struck the mules, that quickly left behind
The river. On they went with easy pace
And even steps. The damsel wielded well
The reins, and used the lash with gentle hand,
So that Odysseus and her train of maids
On foot could follow close. And now the sun
Was sinking when they came to that fair grove
Sacred to Athena. There the noble chief
Odysseus sat him down, and instantly
Prayed to the daughter of imperial Zeus: —