Book Six
Odysseus and Nausicaa

[Athena visits Nausicaa while she is sleeping in the palace and tells her to take the washing to the river; Nausicaa asks her father, Alcinous, to provide a wagon and mules; Nausicaa and her attendants go the river, wash the clothes, and wake up Odysseus; Odysseus emerges naked and talks to Nausicaa; she agrees to help him; Odysseus bathes, dresses, and eats; they set off for the city and reach the outskirts; Odysseus prays to Athena.]

While much-enduring lord Odysseus slept there,
overcome with weariness and sleep,  Athena
went to the land of the Phaeacians, to their city.
Many years ago these people used to live
in wide Hypereia, close to the Cyclopes,
proud arrogant men and much more powerful,
who kept on robbing them.  So god-like Nausithous
had taken them away and led them off to settle
in Scheria, far from any men who have to work
to earn their daily bread.  He'd had them build a wall                           10
around the city, put up homes, raise temples
to the gods, and portion out the land for farming.                                       [10]
But some time past his Fate had struck him and he'd gone
down to the house of Hades.  Now Alcinous was king,
a man to whom the gods had granted wisdom.
Athena, bright-eyed goddess, went to this man's home,
to arrange a journey home for brave Odysseus.
She moved into a wonderfully furnished room
where a young girl slept, one like immortal goddesses
in form and loveliness.  She was Nausicaa,                                           20
daughter of great-hearted Alcinous.  Close by her,
beside each door post, her two attendants slept,
girls whose beauty had been given by the Graces.
The shining doors were closed.  Like a gust of wind,                                   [20]
Athena slipped over to the young girl's bed,
stood there above her head, and then spoke to her.
Her appearance changed to look like Dymas' daughter—
he was a man famous for the ships he owned.
His daughter was the same age as Nausicaa,
whose heart was well disposed to her.  In that form,                             30
bright-eyed Athena spoke out and said:

                                                        "Nausicaa,
how did your mother bear a girl so careless?                                      [30]
Your splendid clothes are lying here uncared for.
And your wedding day is not so far away,
when you must dress up in expensive robes
and give them to your wedding escort, too.
You know it's things like these that help to make
a noble reputation among men
and please your honoured mother and your father.
Come on, at day break let's wash the clothing.                           40
I'll go as well to help you, so with all speed
you can prepare yourself—it won't be long
before you, too, are a married woman.
You've already got men from this country
asking for your hand in marriage, the finest
in all Phaeacia, from whom you yourself
derive your lineage.  So come on now,
ask your noble father to provide you,
this morning early, a wagon and some mules,
so you can carry the bright coverlets,                                          50
the robes and sashes.  That would be preferable
to going on foot, because the washing tubs
are some distance from the town."                                                     [40]

                                                                 With these words,
bright-eyed Athena went back to Olympus, 
where, men say, gods' home endures forever,
undisturbed by winds and never drenched with rain
or covered by the snow—instead high overhead
the air is always bright. Blessed gods are happy there
each and every day.  The bright-eyed goddess went there,
once she'd finished speaking to Nausicaa.                                             60

As soon as Dawn on her splendid throne arrived 
and woke fair-robed Nausicaa, she was curious
about her dream.  So she went through the house                                       [50]
to tell her dear father and her mother.  She found them
in the house—her mother sitting by the hearth
with her servant women, spinning purple yarn.
She came across her father as he was going out
to meet some well-known kings in an assembly—
he'd been summoned by Phaeacian noblemen.
Nausicaa went to stand close by her father                                           70
and then spoke to him:

                            "Dear father, can you prepare
a high wagon with sturdy wheels for me,
so I can carry my fine clothing out
and wash it in the river? It's lying here
all dirty.  And it's appropriate for you
to wear fresh garments on your person
when you're with our leading men in council.                                    [60]
You have five dear sons living in your home—
two are married, but three are now young men
still unattached, and they always require                                     80
fresh-washed clothing when they go out dancing.
All these things I have to think about."

Nausicaa said these words because she felt ashamed
to remind her father of  her own happy thoughts
of getting married.  But he understood all that
and answered, saying:

                              "I have no objection,
my child, to providing mules for you,
or any other things.  Go on your way.
The slaves will get the four-wheeled wagon ready
with a high box framed on top."                                                         [70]

                                                              Once he'd said this,                 90
he called out to his slaves, and they did what he ordered.
They prepared a smooth-running wagon made for mules,
led up the animals, and then yoked them to it.
Nausicaa brought her splendid clothing from her room.
She placed it in the polished wagon bed.  Her mother
loaded on a box full of all sorts of tasty food.
She put in delicacies, as well, and poured some wine
into a goat skin.  The girl climbed on the wagon.
Her mother also gave her some smooth olive oil
in a golden flask, so she and her attendants                                           100
could use it when they'd bathed.  Then Nausicaa                                        [80]
took the bright reins and whip, and lashed the mules ahead.
With a clatter of hooves, the mules moved quickly off,
carrying the clothing and the girl, not by herself,
for her attendants went with her as well.

When they reached the stream of the fair-flowing river,
where the washing tubs were always standing ready, 
full of fresh water flowing up from underneath
and spilling over, enough to clean one's clothing,
even garments really soiled.  They took the mules                                110
out of their wagon harnesses, then drove them
along the banks beside the swirling river,
to let them graze on clover sweet as honey.                                                 [90]
The girls picked up the clothing from the wagon,
carried it in their arms down to the murky water,
and trampled it inside the washing trenches, 
each one trying to work more quickly than the others.
Once they'd washed the clothes and cleaned off all the stains,
they laid the items out in rows along the sea shore,
right where the waves which beat upon the coast                                  120
had washed the pebbles clean.  When they had bathed themselves
and rubbed their bodies well with oil, they ate a meal
beside the river mouth, waiting for the clothes to dry
in the sun's warm rays.  When they'd enjoyed their food,
the girl and her attendants threw their head scarves off                               [100]
to play catch with a ball, and white-armed Nausicaa
led them in a song.  Just as when archer Artemis 
moves across the mountains, along the lofty ridges
of Erymanthus or Taygetus, full of joy,
as she pursues wild boars and swiftly running deer,                              130
with nymphs attending on her, daughters of Zeus,
who bears the aegis, taking pleasure in the hunt, 
and Leto's heart rejoices, while Artemis 
holds her head and eyebrows high above them all,
so recognizing her is easy, though all of them
are beautiful—that's how that unmarried girl
stood out then from her attendants.*  

                                                          But when the girl                                [110]
was going to harness up the mules and start to fold
the splendid clothes to make the journey homeward,
Athena, bright-eyed goddess, thought of something else,                      140
so that Odysseus might wake up and then could see
the lovely girl, who would conduct him to the city
of Phaeacian men.  So when the princess threw the ball
at one of those attendants with her, she missed the girl
and tossed it in the deep and swirling river.
They gave a piercing cry which woke up lord Odysseus.
So he sat up, thinking in his heart and mind:

"Here's trouble!  In this country I have reached,
what are the people like?  Are they violent
and wild, without a sense of justice?                                            150  [120]
Or are they kind to strangers? In their minds
do they fear the gods?  A young woman's shout
rang out around me—nymphs who live along
steep mountain peaks and by the river springs
and grassy meadows. Could I somehow be
near men with human speech?  Come on then,
I'm going to try to find out for myself."

With these words, lord Odysseus crept out of the bushes.
With his strong hands, he broke off from thick bushes  
a leafy branch to hold across his body and conceal                               160
his sexual organs.  He emerged, moving just like
a mountain lion which relies on its own strength—                                     [130]
though hammered by the rain and wind, it creeps ahead,
its two eyes burning, coming in among the herd
of sheep or cattle, or stalking a wild deer—
his belly tells him to move in against the flocks,
even within a well-built farm.  That how Odysseus
was coming out to meet those fair-haired girls,
although he was stark naked. He was in great distress,
but, caked with brine, he was a fearful sight to them,                           170
and they ran off in fear and crouched down here and there
among the jutting dunes of sand.  The only one
to stand her ground was Alcinous's daughter.
For Athena had put courage in her heart                                                      [140]
and taken from her arms and legs all sense of fear.
So she stood there facing up to him.  Odysseus
wondered whether he should grasp the lovely girl
around her knees and plead his case, or keep his distance,
remaining where he was, and with gentle words
entreat her to inform him where the city was                                        180
and provide him clothing.  As he thought about it,
it seem to him a better plan to stand apart
and appeal to her with words of reassurance,
in case her heart grew angry when he clasped her knee.
So he quickly used his cunning and spoke to her
with soothing language:

                                     "O divine queen,
I come here as a suppliant to you.
Are you a goddess or a mortal being?
If you're one of the gods who hold wide heaven,                               [150]
then I think you most resemble Artemis,                                     190
daughter of great Zeus, in your loveliness,
your stature, and your shape.  If you're human,
one of those mortals living on the earth, 
your father and noble mother are thrice-blest, 
and thrice-blest your brothers, too. In their hearts
they must glow with pleasure for you always,
when they see a child like you moving up
into the dance.  But the happiest heart,
more so than all the rest, belongs to him
who with his wedding gifts will lead you home.                          200
These eyes of mine have never gazed upon                                       [160]
anyone like you—either man or woman.
As I observe you, I'm gripped with wonder.
In Delos once I saw something like this—
a youthful palm-tree shoot growing up
beside Apollo's altar.  I'd gone there,
with many others in my company,
on the trip where Fate had planned for me
so many troubles.  But when I saw that,
my heart looked on a long time quite astonished—                     210
I'd never noticed such a lovely tree
springing from the earth.  And, lady, that's how
I am amazed at you, lost in wonder, 
and am very much afraid to clasp your knee.
But great distress has overtaken me.
Yesterday, my twentieth day afloat,                                                   [170]
I escaped the wine-dark sea.  Before that,
waves and swift-driving storm winds carried me
from Ogygia island.  And now a god
has tossed me on shore here, so that somehow                            220
I'll suffer trouble in this place as well.
For I don't think my problems will end now.
Before that day, there are still many more
the gods will bring about.  But, divine queen,
have pity.  You're the first one I've approached,
after going through so much grief.  I don't know
any other people, none of those who hold
the city and its land.  Show me the town.
Give me some rag to throw around myself,
perhaps some wrapping you had for the clothes                          230
when you came here.  As for you, may gods grant                              [180]
all your heart desires—may they give you
a husband, home, and mutual harmony,
a noble gift—for there is nothing better
or a stronger bond than when man and wife
live in a home sharing each other's thoughts.
That brings such pain upon their enemies 
and such delight to those who wish them well.
They know that themselves, more so than anyone."

White-armed Nausicaa then answered him and said:                             240

"Stranger, you don't seem to be a wicked man,
or foolish.  Olympian Zeus himself
gives happiness to bad and worthy men,
each one receiving just what Zeus desires.
So he has given you your share, I think.
Nonetheless you still must bear your lot.                                           [190]
But now you've reached our land and city, 
you'll not lack clothes or any other thing
we owe a hard-pressed suppliant we meet.
I'll show the town to you, and I'll tell you                                    250
what our country's called—the Phaeacians
own this city and this land.  As for me,
I am the daughter of brave Alcinous—
Phaeacian power and strength depend on him."

Nausicaa finished speaking.  Then she called out
to her fair-haired attendants:

                                              "Stand up, you girls,
Have you run off because you've seen a man?
Surely you don't think he is an enemy?                                               [200]
For there's no man now alive or yet to be
who'll reach this land of the Phaeacians                                       260
bringing war, because gods truly love us,
and we live far off in the surging sea,
the most remote of people.  Other men
never interact with us. No. So this man
is some poor wanderer who's just come here.
We must look after him, for every stranger,
every beggar, comes from Zeus, and any gift,
even something small, is to be cherished.
So, my girls, give this stranger food and drink.
Then bathe him in the river, in a place                                         270
where there's some shelter from the wind."                                        [210]

Nausicaa finished.  They stood up and called out
to one another.  Then they took Odysseus aside,
to a sheltered spot, following what Nausicaa,
daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, had ordered.
They set out clothing for him, a cloak and tunic,
and gave him the gold flask full of smooth olive oil.
Then they told him to bathe in the flowing river,
but lord Odysseus said to the attendants:

"Would you young ladies move some distance off,                     280
so I can wash salt water off my shoulders
by myself and then rub on the olive oil.
It's a long time since oil was on my skin.                                           [220]
I won't wash myself in front of you,
for I'm ashamed to stand stark naked
in the presence of such fair-haired girls."

Once he'd said this, the two attendants moved away
and told Nausicaa.  Then lord Odysseus 
washed his body in the river, rinsing off the salt
covering his broad shoulders and his back,                                            290
and wiping the encrusted brine out of his hair.
When he'd washed himself all over and rubbed on oil,
he put on clothes the unmarried girl had given him.
Then Athena, Zeus's daughter, made him appear
taller and stronger, and on his head she curled                                             [230]
his hair—it flowed up like a flowering hyacinth.
Just as a skilful workman sets a layer of gold
on top of silver, a craftsman who's been taught
all sorts of arts by Athena and Hephaestus,
and what he creates is truly beautiful,                                                    300
that's how the goddess graced his head and shoulders.
Then Odysseus went to sit some distance off,
beside the shore, glowing with charm and beauty.
Nausicaa gazed at him in admiration,
then spoke to her fair-haired attendants, saying: 

"Listen to me, my white-armed followers—
I have something to say.  This man here 
has not come among god-like Phaeacians
against the will of those immortals                                                     [240]
who possess Olympus.  Previously I thought                               310
he was crude and rough, but now he seems
like the gods who occupy wide heaven.
Would a man like that could be my husband,
living here and happy to remain.  But come, 
my girls, give the stranger food and drink."

When Nausicaa had spoken, they heard her words
and quickly did what they'd been told.  They set out
food and drink before resourceful lord Odysseus.
He ate and drank voraciously—many days had passed                                [250]
since he'd last tasted food.  Then white-armed Nausicaa                       320
thought of something else.  She folded up the clothes,
put them in the handsome wagon, harnessed up
the strong-hooved mules, and climbed up by herself.
She called out to Odysseus, then spoke to him:

"Get up now, stranger, and go to the city.
I'll take you to my wise father's house,
where, I tell you, you will get to meet
all the finest of Phaeacians. You seem
to me to have good sense, so act as follows—
while we are moving through the countryside                              330
past men's farms, walk fast with my attendants                                  [260]
behind the mules and wagon.  I'll lead the way.
Then we'll come up to the city.    A high wall
runs around it, and there's a lovely harbour
on each side—both have narrow entrances,
with curving boats drawn up along the road,
since each man has a place for his own ship.
The assembly ground stands there as well,
around the splendid temple to Poseidon,
built with huge stones set deep within the earth.                         340
Here the people tend to their black ships,
busy with the gear—fixing ropes and sails
and shaping tapered oars.  The Phaeacians
have no use for bow or quiver, but for masts,                                    [270]
boat oars, and well-trimmed ships, in which with joy
they cross the gray salt sea.  Their talk is crude,
and that I would avoid, in case someone 
insults me later on—among the people
there are really insolent men, and thus
one of the nastier types might well say,                                        350
if he bumped into us: 'Who's the man
who's following Nausicaa?  A stranger—
he's tall and handsome!  Where did she find him?
No doubt he'll be her husband.  She's brought here
some shipwrecked vagrant, a man whose people
live far away, for no one dwells near us,
or he's some god come down from heaven,                                        [280]
answering those prayers she's always making,
and she'll have him as her husband all her days.
It's better that way, even if she went                                            360
and found herself someone to marry
from another place—she has no respect
for those Phaeacians, her own countrymen,
the many noble men who'd marry her.'
That's what they would say, and their remarks
would injure me.  But I would do the same
to some other girl who acted just like that,
who, while her father and her mother lived,
against their wishes hung around with men
before the day she married one in public.                                    370
So, stranger, pay attention to what I say,
and with all speed you can get my father
to arrange an escort for your journey home.                                       [290]
You'll come across a fine grove to Athena—
it's near the road, a clump of poplar trees.
There's a fountain, with meadows all around.
My father has a fertile vineyard there
and some land, too, within shouting distance
of the town.  Sit down there, and wait a while, 
until we move into the city and reach                                          380
my father's house.  When you think we've had time
to reach my home, then go in the city
of the Phaeacians and inquire about
my father's house, great-hearted Alcinous.
It's easy to pick out—an infant child                                                  [300]
could lead you to it.  For Phaeacians homes
are built in a style utterly unlike
the palace of heroic Alcinous.
Once inside the house and in the courtyard,
move through the great hall quickly till you reach                       390
my mother seated at the hearth, in the firelight,
against a pillar, spinning purple yarn—
a marvelous sight.  Servants sit behind her.
My father's chair is there by the same pillar,
where, like a god, he sits and sips his wine.
Move past him. Then with your arms embrace                                   [310]
my mother's knees, if you desire to see
the joyful day of your return come soon,
even though your home is far away.
If her heart and mind are well-disposed to you,                           400
then there's hope you'll see your friends and reach
your well-built house and your own native land."

Saying this, Nausicaa cracked the shining whip
and struck the mules.  They quickly left the flowing river,
moving briskly forward at a rapid pace.
Using her judgment with the whip, she drove on                                          [320]
so Odysseus and her servants could keep up on foot.
Just at sunset, they reached the celebrated grove, 
sacred to Athena.  Lord Odysseus sat down there
and made a quick prayer to great Zeus' daughter:                                  410

"Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, 
unwearied goddess, listen to me now,
for you did not respond to me back then,
when I was being beaten down at sea
and the great Earthshaker smashed my raft.
Grant that I come to the Phaeacians
as a friend, someone worthy of their pity."

So he prayed.  And Pallas Athena heard him.
But she did not reveal herself to him directly—
she feared her father's brother, who was still furious,                             420  [330]
and would rage against godlike Odysseus
until he reached his native land at last.*

Notes to Book Six

*Graces: the Graces are the goddesses of charm and graceful temperament.  There are three of them: Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia. [Back to Text]

*Artemis . . . Leto: Artemis is the divine daughter of Zeus and Leto and brother of Apollo.  She is known as the virgin goddess of the hunt. [Back to Text]

*father's brother: the reference is to Poseidon, a brother of Zeus, still a bitter enemy of Odysseus.  [Back to Text]

Homer, The Iliad- , Bernard Knox (Introduction), Robert Fagles (Translator) Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (November 1, 1998) ISBN: 0140275363
Homer, The Odyssey-, Bernard Knox (Introduction), Robert Fagles (Translator), Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (November 29, 1999) ISBN: 0140268863
Stanley Lombardo, Homer: Odyssey (Audio CD)-- 2000 (ISBN 0872204847) has what is considered by many to be the best combination of faithfulness to the original Greek and a more vernacular style. An Audio CD recording read by the translator (ISBN 1930972067).