61) Homer Odyssey 6.22

   [20] But like a breath of air the Goddess sped to the couch of the maiden, and stood above her head, and spoke to her, taking the form of the daughter of Dymas, famed for his ships, a girl who was of like age with Nausicaa, and was dear to her heart. 
   Likening herself to her, the bright-eyed Athena spoke and said: 
   [25] -Nausicaa, how comes it that your mother bore you so heedless? 
   Your bright clothing is lying uncared for; yet your marriage is near at hand, when you must needs yourself be clad in fair garments, and give other such to those who escort you. 
   It is from things like these, you know, that good report goes up among men, [30] and the father and honored mother rejoice. 
   Nay, come, let us go to wash them at break of day, for I will follow with you to aid you, that you may with speed make you ready; for you shall not long remain a maiden. 
   Even now you has suitors in the land, the noblest [35] of all the Phaeacians, from whom is your own lineage. 
   Nay, come, bestir your noble father early this morning that he make ready mules and a wagon for you, to bear the girdles and robes and bright coverlets. 
   And for yourself, too, it is far more seemly [40] to go thus than on foot, for the washing tanks are far from the city. 

   So saying, the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, departed to Olympus, where, they say, is the abode of the Gods that stands fast forever. 
   Neither is it shaken by winds nor ever wet with rain, nor does snow fall upon it, but the air [45] is outspread clear and cloudless, and over it hovers a radiant whiteness. 
   Therein the blessed Gods are glad all their days, and towards that place went the bright-eyed one, when she had spoken all her word to the maiden. 

   [110] But when she was about to yoke the mules, and fold the fair clothing, in order to return homeward, then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, took other counsel, that Ulysses might awake and see the fair-faced maid, who should lead him to the city of the Phaeacians. 
   [115] So then the princess tossed the ball to one of her maidens; the maiden indeed she missed, but cast it into a deep eddy, and thereat they cried aloud, and goodly Ulysses  awoke, and sat up, and thus he pondered in mind and heart: 
   -Woe is me! to the land of what mortals am I now come? 
   [120] Are they cruel, and wild, and unjust? or do they love strangers and fear the Gods in their thoughts? 
   There rang in my ears a cry as of maidens, of nymphs who frequent the towering peaks of the mountains, the springs that feed the rivers, and the grassy meadows! 
   [125] Can it be that I am somewhere near men of human speech? 
   Nay, I will myself make trial and see.

   [135] Even so Ulysses  was about to enter the company of the fair-tressed maidens, naked though he was, for need had come upon him. 
   But terrible did he seem to them, all befouled with brine, and they shrank in fear, one here, one there, along the jutting sand-spits. 
   Alone the daughter of Alcinous kept her place, for [140] in her heart Athena put courage, and took fear from her limbs. 
   She fled not, but stood and faced him; and Ulysses pondered whether he should embrace the knees of the fair-faced maid, and make his prayer, or whether, standing apart as he was, he should ask earnestly her with gentle words, in hope that she might show him the city and give him clothing. 

   Then they set Ulysses in a sheltered place, as Nausicaa, the daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, bade, and beside him they put a cloak and a tunic for clothing, [215] and gave him soft olive oil in the flask of gold, and bade him bathe in the streams of the river. 
   Then among the maidens spoke goodly Ulysses: 
   -Maidens, stand over there apart, that by myself I may wash the brine from my shoulders, and [220] anoint myself with olive oil; for of a truth it is long since oil came near my skin. But in your presence will I not bathe, for I am ashamed to make me naked in the middle of fair-tressed maidens. 
   So he said, and they went apart and told the princess. But with water from the river goodly Ulysses washed from his skin [225] the brine which clothed his back and broad shoulders, and from his head he wiped the scurf of the unresting sea. 
   But when he had washed his whole body and anointed himself with oil, and had put on him the clothing which the unmarried maid had given him, then Athena, the daughter of Zeus, made him [230] taller to look upon and mightier, and from his head she made the locks to flow in curls like unto the hyacinth flower. 

   And as when a man overlays silver with gold, a cunning workman whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught all manner of craft, and full of grace is the work he produces, [235] even so the Goddess shed grace upon his head and shoulders. 
   Then he went apart and sat down on the shore of the sea, gleaming with beauty and grace; and the damsel marveled at him, and spoke to her fair-tressed handmaids, saying: 
   -Listen, white-armed maidens, that I may say somewhat. [240] Not without the will of all the Gods who hold Olympus does this man come among the godlike Phaeacians. 
   Before he seemed to me uncouth, but now he is like the Gods, who hold broad heaven. 
   Would that a man such as he might be called my husband, [245] dwelling here, and that it might please him here to remain. 
   But come, my maidens; give to the stranger food and drink. 

   Nay, stranger, do you quickly listen to my words, that with all speed [290] you may win from my father an escort and a return to your land. 
   You will find a goodly grove of Athena hard by the road, a grove of poplar trees. 
   In it a spring wells up, and round about is a meadow. 
   There is my father's park and fruitful vineyard, as far from the city as a man's voice carries when he shouts. 
   [295] Sit you down there, and wait for a time, until we come to the city and reach the house of my father.

   Well did they trot, well did they ply their ambling feet, and she drove with care that [320] the maidens and Ulysses might follow on foot, and with judgment did she ply the lash. 
   Then the sun set, and they came to the glorious grove, sacred to Athena. 
   There Ulysses sat him down, and straightway prayed to the daughter of great Zeus: 
   -Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, unwearied one. 
   [325] Listen now to my prayer, since before you did not listen when I was smitten, what time the glorious Earth-shaker smote me. 
   Grant that I may come to the Phaeacians as one to be welcomed and to be pitied. 

   So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him; but she did not yet appear to him face to face, for she feared [330] her father's brother [Poseidon]; but he furiously raged against godlike Ulysses, until at length he reached his own land. 

   Then Ulysses roused himself to go to the city, and Athena, [15] with kindly purpose, cast about him a thick mist, that no one of the great-hearted Phaeacians, meeting him, should speak mockingly to him, and ask him who he was.