Section 14, Nausicaa Summary

Nausicaa, the sixteen year old princess of Phaeacia, turns down all of her suitors, causing her parents to lose patience. Her father, King Alcinous, tells Queen Arete that they may have to force their daughter to choose a husband, but Queen Arete dissuades him though she knows that he is correct. One night, Nausicaa dreams that Athene tells her to wash her clothes in the river tomorrow because she cannot have a wedding with dirty clothes. When Nausicaa tells her mother, Queen Arete advises her to follow Athene's orders. Nausicaa and her serving girls go to the river, wash their clothes and toss a ball around because of the beautiful day. Ulysses awakes in the reeds nearby and, seeing the maidens, hides because he is naked and bruised. When Nausicaa throws the ball hard and it lands near Ulysses, the other...