So saying, the maiden led the way swiftly, and Odysseus followed, keeping close behind.  He remarked with wonder that though the streets were full of people, so that they had to walk carefully, and thread their way through the crowd, none seemed to notice him or his companion, or gave any sign of being conscious of their presence.  The truth was that the supposed maiden was none other than his patron goddess Athene, who so ordered it that he was invisible to all eyes but hers.

As they went, his companion entertained him with an account of the family history of the Phaeacian king, Alcinous, whose father, Nausithous, was the son of Poseidon.  Alcinous married Arete, who was related to him by blood, and was honoured exceedingly by her husband and by all the Phaeacians.  “She is the idol of her household,” continued the maiden, “and all eyes follow her with love and reverence when she goes through the town.  So high is her character that even men consult her in their differences, and defer to her judgment.  If thou canst enlist her on thy side, thou wilt soon obtain the safe conduct which thou desirest, and reach thy home in safety and honour.”

They had now reached a large enclosed piece of land, surrounded by a tall fence, above which appeared the boughs of goodly trees, laden with their burden of fruit.  “Here is the garden of Alcinous,” whispered the maiden, “and yonder is the gate.  Enter boldly in, and seek out the queen, who is now sitting at meat with her husband’s guests.  Make thy petition to her, for if her heart incline unto thee all will be well.”

With that word she vanished from his sight, and left him standing at the gates of Alcinous.  Wondering greatly he entered the garden, and gazed about him.  So fair a sight had never met his eyes.  Fruit-trees without number stood ranged in ordered rows, pear-trees, and pomegranates, and rosy apples, the luscious fig, and olives in their bloom.  Their fruit never failed, summer or winter, all the year round.  There blows the warm west wind without ceasing, nursing the tender blossom, and mellowing the swelling fruit.  He saw pears and figs hanging on the trees in every stage of growth.  Another part of the enclosure was set apart for the cultivation of the vine; and here also the same wonder was to be seen, springtime and summer dancing hand-in-hand, and yellow autumn treading close in their footsteps.  Side by side hung the ripe, purple cluster, the crude grape just turning from green to red, and tiny green bunches lately formed from the blossom.  There the labour of the vintagers never ceased, and the winepress overflowed without end.

Between the rows of fruit-trees were garden-beds, in which grew all manner of flowers and useful herbs; and the whole was watered by a perennial stream, divided into channels which brought the water to every part of the garden.