Thus spake the maiden, being ashamed to make mention of her own marriage.  But Alcinous knew, and smiled to himself, as he ordered his thralls to prepare the waggon.  So when they had harnessed the mules, Nausicaae and her handmaids brought the soiled garments, and bestowed them behind the seat.  And her mother brought a basket with food for the midday meal and oil for her daughter and the other maidens when they took their bath.  Then they took their seats, Nausicaae grasped the reins, and they went off at a sharp trot towards the riverside.

After a pleasant drive, they came to the place where stood a row of cisterns on the river’s bank.  There they unharnessed the mules, and left them to crop the sweet clover in the water-meadows.  Then they unloaded the waggon, threw the garments into washing-troughs, and trod them with their feet until they were thoroughly cleansed, and having wrung them out, they spread them on the white pebbly beach to dry.  While the garments were bleaching in the wholesome sun and air, they took their bath, and afterwards sat down to the midday meal.  When that was ended, they threw off their veils, and stood up to play at ball.

It was a pretty and graceful sight; they were all comely maidens, glowing with youth and health.  Their sport was accompanied by dance and song, and as they chased the flying ball, keeping time with hand and foot and voice, they seemed like a choir of mountain nymphs, led by Artemis, when she goes forth to the chase, in the wild valleys of Arcady or Lacedaemon.  Tallest and fairest of them all was Nausicaae, who led the sport, moving like a queen among her vassals.

Presently they grew tired of their sport, and Nausicaae flung the ball for the last time to one of her handmaids.  The girl missed the ball, and it fell into the middle of the river, whereupon the whole company set up a sharp cry.  The sound came to the ears of Odysseus, and woke him from his long slumber.  He sat up in his bed of leaves and communed with himself:  “Behold I hear the shrill cry of women, or perhaps of the nymphs who haunt this wild place.  Now may I learn of what sort are the natives of this land, whether they be fierce and inhospitable, or gentle and kind to strangers.”  Plucking a leafy bough, and holding it before him to cover himself, he stepped forth from the thicket, and came in sight of that gentle company.  Grim and dreadful he looked, like a hungry lion, buffeted by rain and wind, who goes forth in a tempest to seek his prey; for he was haggard with long fasting, and sore disfigured by his battle with the sea; his eyes glared with famine, and his hair and beard hung ragged and unkempt about his face.  At this fearful apparition the maidens fled shrieking along the river bank, all but Nausicaae, who stood her ground, and gazed fearlessly, though in wonder, while Odysseus came slowly forward.  When he was still some way off he stopped, fearing to offend her delicacy if he came nearer.  Then with a gesture of entreaty he began to speak, and Nausicaae knew at once that it was no common man who stood before her.