So tall and handsome and strong did Odysseus look, with his hair curling like hyacinth flowers around his head, that Nausicaa said to her maidens:  “This man, who seemed to us so dreadful so short a time ago, now looks like a god.  I would that my husband, if ever I have one, should be as he.”

Then she and her maidens brought him food and wine, and he ate hungrily, for it was many days since he had eaten.

When he had finished, they packed the linen into the wagon, and yoked the mules, and Nausicaa climbed into her place.

“So long as we are passing through the fields,” she said to Odysseus, “follow behind with my maidens, and I will lead the way.  But when we come near the town with its high walls and towers, and harbors full of ships, the rough sailors will stare and say, ’Hath Nausicaa gone to find herself a husband because she scorns the men of Phaeacia who would wed her?  Hath she picked up a shipwrecked stranger, or is this one of the gods who has come to make her his wife?’ Therefore come not with us, I pray thee, for the sailors to jest at.  There is a fair poplar grove near the city, with a meadow lying round it.  Sit there until thou thinkest that we have had time to reach the palace.  Then seek the palace—­any child can show thee the way—­and when thou art come to the outer court pass quickly into the room where my mother sits.  Thou wilt find her weaving yarn of sea-purple stain by the light of the fire.  She will be leaning her head back against a pillar, and her maidens will be standing round her.  My father’s throne is close to hers, but pass him by, and cast thyself at my mother’s knees.  If she feels kindly towards thee and is sorry for thee, then my father is sure to help thee to get safely back to thine own land.”

Then Nausicaa smote her mules with the whip, and they trotted quickly off, and soon left behind them the silver river with its whispering reeds, and the beach with its yellow sand.

Odysseus and the maidens followed the wagon, and just as the sun was setting they reached the poplar grove in the meadow.

There Odysseus stayed until Nausicaa should have had time to reach the palace.  When she got there, she stopped at the gateway, and her brothers came out and lifted down the linen, and unharnessed the mules.  Nausicaa went up to her room, and her old nurse kindled a fire for her and got ready her supper.

When Odysseus thought it was time to follow, he went to the city.  He marveled at the great walls and at the many gallant ships in the harbors.  But when he reached the King’s palace, he wondered still more.  Its walls were of brass, so that from without, when the doors stood open, it looked as if the sun or moon were shining within.  A frieze of blue ran round the walls.  All the doors were made of gold, the doorposts were of silver, the thresholds of brass, and the hook of the door was of gold.  In the halls were golden figures of animals,