71) Homer Odyssey 7.19

   But when he was about to enter the lovely city, then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, met him [20] in the guise of a young maiden carrying a pitcher, and she stood before him; and goodly Ulysses questioned her, saying: 
   -My child, could you not guide me to the house of him they call Alcinous, who is lord among the people here? 
   For I am come towards this place a stranger sore-tried [25] from afar, from a distant country; wherefore I know no one of the people who possess this city and land. 

   Then the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him: 
   -Then truly, Sir stranger, I will show you the palace as you do ask me, for it lies hard by the house of my own noble father. 
   [30] Only go you quietly, and I will lead the way. 
   But turn not your eyes upon any man nor question any, for the men here endure not stranger-folk, nor do they give kindly welcome to him who comes from another land. 
   They, indeed, trusting in the speed of their swift ships, [35] cross over the great gulf of the sea, for this the Earth-shaker [Poseidon] has granted them; and their ships are swift as a bird on the wing or as a thought. 

   So speaking, Pallas Athena led the way quickly, and he followed in the footsteps of the Goddess. 

   [40] And as he went through the city in the middle of them, the Phaeacians, famed for their ships, took no heed of him, for fair-tressed Athena, the dread Goddess, would not suffer it, but shed about him a wonderful mist, for her heart was kind toward him. 
   And Ulysses marveled at the harbors and the stately ships, at the meeting-places where the heroes themselves gathered, and the walls, long and [45] high and crowned with palisades, a wonder to behold. 

   But when they had come to the glorious palace of the king, the Goddess, bright-eyed Athena, was the first to speak, saying: 
   -Here, Sir stranger, is the house which you did ask me show to you, and you will find the kings, fostered of Zeus, [50] feasting at the banquet. 
   Go you within, and let your heart fear nothing; for a bold man is better in all things, though he be a stranger from another land. 
   The queen shall you approach first in the palace; Arete is the name by which she is called, [55] and she is sprung from the same line as is the king Alcinous. 
   Nausithous at the first was born from the earth-shaker Poseidon and Periboea, the comeliest of women, youngest daughter of great-hearted Eurymedon, who once was king over the insolent Giants. [60] But he brought destruction on his perverse people, and was himself destroyed. 
   But with Periboea lay Poseidon and begot a son, great-hearted Nausithous, who ruled over the Phaeacians; and Nausithous begot Rhexenor and Alcinous. Rhexenor, when as yet he had no son, Apollo of the silver bow smote [65] in his living room, a bridegroom though he was, and he left only one daughter, Arete. 
   Her Alcinous made his wife, and honored her as no other woman on earth is honored, of all those who in these days direct their households in subjection to their husbands; so heartily is she honored, [70] and has ever been, by her children and by Alcinous himself and by the people, who look upon her as upon a Goddess, and greet her as she goes through the city. 
   For she of herself is no wise lacking in good understanding, and for the women to whom she has good will she makes an end of strife even among their husbands. [75] If in her sight you do win favor, then there is hope that you will see your friends, and return to your high-roofed house and unto your native land.

   So saying, bright-eyed Athena departed over the unresting sea, and left lovely Scheria. [80] She came to Marathon and broad-wayed Athens, and entered the well-built house of Erechtheus; but Ulysses went to the glorious palace of Alcinous. 

   For as the Phaeacian men are skilled above all others in speeding a swift ship upon the sea, so are the women [110] cunning workers at the loom, for Athena has given to them above all others skill in fair handiwork, and an understanding heart. 

   There the much-enduring goodly Ulysses stood and gazed. But when he had marveled in his heart at all things, [135] he passed quickly over the threshold into the house. 
   There he found the leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians pouring libations from their cups to the keen-sighted Argeiphontes, to whom they were accustomed to pour the wine last of all, when they were minded to go to their rest. 
   But the much-enduring goodly Ulysses went through the living room, [140] wrapped in the thick mist which Athena had shed about him, till he came to Arete and to Alcinous the king. 
   About the knees of Arete Ulysses cast his hands, and straightway the wonderful mist melted from him, and a hush fell upon all that were in the room at sight of the man, [145] and they marveled as they looked upon him. 

   And again Alcinous answered him, and said:
   -Stranger, not such is the heart in my breast, [310] to be filled with wrath without a cause. 
   Better is due measure in all things. 
   I would, O father Zeus, and Athena and Apollo, that you, so goodly a man, and like-minded with me, would have my daughter to wife, and be called my son, and remain here; a house and possessions would I give you, [315] if you should choose to remain, but against your will shall no one of the Phaeacians keep you; let not that be the will of father Zeus. 

   As soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, the strong and mighty Alcinous rose from his couch, and up rose also Zeus-born Ulysses, the sacker of cities. 
   And the strong and mighty Alcinous led the way [5] to the place of assembly of the Phaeacians, which was builded for them hard by their ships. 
   Towards that place they came and sat down on the polished stones close by one another; and Pallas Athena went throughout the city, in the likeness of the herald of wise Alcinous, devising a return for great-hearted Ulysses. 
   [10] To each man's side she came, and spoke and said: 
   -Towards this place now, leaders and counselors of the Phaeacians, come to the place of assembly, that you may learn of the stranger who has newly come to the palace of wise Alcinous after his wanderings over the sea, and in form is like unto the immortals. 
   [15] So saying she roused the spirit and heart of each man, and speedily the place of assembly and the seats were filled with men that gathered.