BOOK SEVENTH.

THUS prayed the much-enduring chief to Pallas in his need,
Whilst to the town her sturdy mules Nausicaa bore with speed.

Her sire's famed halls she reached anon, then at the gate drew rein ;

Her brothers, beauteous as the gods, flocked forth to meet the wain.

The mules they from the car unyoked, and thence the raiment brought 5
Within the mansion, whilst the maid her inner chamber sought.
Therein a fire was lit for her by her old chamber-dame,
Eurymedusa, who of old from Apereia came,

sway,

Brought o'er the seas, and fell a prize to king Alcinous' claim.
For he o'er all Phæacia's sons with power supreme held
And, as it were a god's, his voice they heard but to obey.
She for white-armed Nausicaa from infancy had cared,
And kindled for her now her fire, and evening meal prepared.
Then rose Ulysses from his seat, and to the city sped;
And o'er his form, with loving care, thick mist Athene shed,

3. Her sire's famed halls she reached anon, &c.

IO

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"The combination of magnificence with simplicity is of a wholly oriental character. The appliances of the Court might be those of a modern Eastern potentate; yet the queen is a thrifty housekeeper, the princess-royal superintends the family wash, and the five sons of the royal family, when their sister comes home, themselves come forward and unyoke her mules from the wain which has brought home the linen."--The Odyssey, by the Rev. W. LUCAS COLLINS, Blackwood's 'Ancient Classics,' p. 57.

15. And o'er his form, &c.

"At Venus obscuro gradientes aere sepsit,

Et multo nebulæ circum dea fudit amictu,

Cernere ne quis eos, neu quis contingere posset,

Molirive moram, aut veniendi discere causas."—VIRG. Æn, i. 411.

Lest that some proud Phæacian chief, encount'ring him, should dare
Revile him, and demand his name, and what his business there.

But as, about to pass within, he the fair city neared,
Pallas Athene face to face upon his path appeared.

A girl that bore a water-jar, in youthful maidenhood,

She seemed to be, and thus he asked, as she before him stood :

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"My child, to great Alcinous' halls couldst thou direct my way,—
The mighty king, whose power supreme this people all obey?
A toil-worn stranger, I am here come from a far-off strand,
Not knowing who this city hold, or dwell upon the land."

To him the goddess answer made: "Yea, surely, well I know
The halls thou seekest, stranger sire, and easily can show,-
For nigh unto th' abode where dwells my noble sire, dwells he;
In silence follow thou my steps, and I thy guide will be.
Let eye and tongue refrain from glance or question indiscreet,—
Strangers our people welcome not, nor lovingly entreat.
Their swift sea-passing ships their pride, their one and only care;
In these they trust, in these they love the mighty gulf to dare.
For by the sea-god's gift their ships across the deep can fly,
Swifter than passing flash of thought, or bird that soars on high."
Thus spake Athene, stern-eyed maid, and quick the way she led :
With equal swiftness, step for step, the chief behind her sped.
But of the far-famed sailor race none marked him as he went
Adown the city through their midst; this Pallas did prevent,
Who in a wondrous mist his form enwrapt with loving care,—
For toward him aye within her breast goodwill the goddess bare.

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19. Pallas Athene face to face, &c.

"Cui mater mediâ sese tulit obvia silvâ

Virginis os habitumque gerens.”—VIRG. Æn., i. 314.

35. Swifter than passing flash of thought, &c.

"Ye sulphurous and thought-executing fires."

-SHAKESPEARE, King Lear, Act iii. sc. 4.

"With wings more momentary swift than thought."

-Ibid., Troilus and Cressida, Act iv. sc. 2.

38. But of the far-famed sailor race, &c.

"Infert se septus nebulâ (mirabile dictu)

Per medios, miscetque viris, neque cernitur ulli."-VIRG. Æn., i. 439.

All-seeing though unseen he passed the shipping and the port;
Admiring viewed the market-place, the heroes' chief resort;
Beheld the wall, that, guarding all, uprose both long and high,
And bristled sharp with palisades, a marvel to the eye.

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So to the monarch's famed abode the path they traversed o'er,
And then the goddess of stern eyes bespake the chief once more:
See, stranger sire, the halls to which thou bad'st me show the
There seated thou wilt find the chiefs feasting throughout the day.
But enter boldy, keep good heart, nor aught of fear betray,-
For him in every venture still doth fortune prosper best

way

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Who keeps, though cast on foreign land, stout heart within his breast.
First in the halls our royal queen (Arete is her name)

Thou❜lt seated find, sprung of the race from whence Alcinous came.
Poseidon first, earth-shaking god, Nausithous had for son,
Whom Peribœa bore, of all her sex the fairest one,

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Who youngest daughter was by birth of brave Eurymedon,

Who whilome o'er the Giants reigned, doomed by his pride to bring
Destruction on th' infatuate race, and on himself their king.
His daughter fair Poseidon erst in love's fond dalliance met,
And from her love Phæacia's king, Nausithous, did beget,-
Rhexenor and Alcinous he: the former of the twain
Was by Apollo's silver bow in his own palace slain.
New-wedded thus he sonless died, one daughter left to life,
Arete, whom our noble king, Alcinous, took to wife,
And doth to her such honour pay as greets no other spouse,
Amongst all women here on earth who keep a husband's house :
Such honour from their heart of hearts unto her lot doth fall
From children dear, and royal spouse, and people one and all.
Her as a goddess, when she walks along our city's street,
All men behold, and her approach with loyal welcome greet,—
For naught of good and feeling heart she lacks, nor mind discreet;
And oft the quarrels and the strife it is her part to quell
Of citizens, though men they be, to whom she wisheth well.
Good hope hast thou, if to thy suit her heart propitious be,
Thy high-roofed house, thy long-lost friends, thy fatherland to see."

51. For him in every venture still, &c.

"Audentes Fortuna juvat."-VIRG. Æn., x. 284.

Thus spake Athene, stern-eyed maid, and bent her flight in haste:
Leaving fair Scheria's island shore, across the wat’ry waste,
Passing o'er Marathon, she came to Athens' wide-wayed street,—
There in Erectheus' stately fane the goddess found retreat.
Meanwhile the king's famed palace-halls Ulysses quickly sought,
But at the brazen threshold paused, revolving many a thought;
For as of sun or moon in heaven, behold, a wondrous gleam
From out Alcinous' high-roofed halls with lustre bright did stream.
There on each side, zoned with a frieze of blue, a brazen wall
From door to innermost recess was stretched, enfolding all.

Two doors with golden leaves were set, the well-wrought house to close,
And from a brazen floor beneath their silver columns rose,-
Silver the lintel, gold the ring; and upon either hand
Dogs twain of silver and of gold did watchful guardians stand.
These erst with cunning hand and brain the mighty fire-god wrought,
And for eternal sentinels to the king's palace brought.
Unconquered by the stroke of death, there will they ever stay,
Nor bow their heads before th' approach of age and slow decay.
And many seats in long array beside the walls were set,
With women's work o'erstrewn, rich robes, and woven coverlet.
Phæacia's chiefs at festive board, as was their wont, sat there,—
For day by day continual feast was spread for all to share,
Whilst golden youths on pedestals each in his outstretched hand
At nightfall o'er the revellers held forth a lighted brand;
And in the house were fifty maids, her task to each assigned,
Some charged within the rolling mill the yellow corn to grind,
Whilst others sitting weave the web, or yarn on spindle wind.

95. And many seats, &c.

"At domus interior regali splendida luxu

Instruitur, mediisque parant convivia tectis.

Arte laboratæ vestes, ostroque superbo."-VIRG. Æn., i. 637.

99. Whilst golden youths, &c.

"Aurea sunt juvenum simulacra per ædeis,

Lampades igniferas manibus retinentia dextris,

Lumina nocturnis epulis ut suppeditentur."-LUCRETIUS, ii. 24.

101. And in the house, &c.

Quinquaginta intus famulæ, quibus ordine longo

Cura penum struere, et flammis adolere Penates."-VIRG. Æn., i. 703.