Then follows a fine description of his struggle with the breakers, and how his flesh was torn and his skin peeled against the sharp rocks:— “He from the echoing breakers swam right fain, Skirting the coast; if chance his eyes explore Or far or near some haven of the main, Or mild declivity of shelving shore. But when he came the river-month before, And his gaze rested on the long white gleam, By rocks unchafed and windless evermore, Here to his thought best landing-place did seem, And in his soul he prayed, feeling the calm sweet stream.” Then the landing and climbing up into the wood, and hiding himself under a mound of gathered leaves:— “Where o’er his weary head, Athene all night long pain-healing slumber shed.” But I recommend every one to read the last hundred lines of the fifth book of the Odyssey. It is one of the most natural and beautiful descriptions of sea-coast scenery, heightened in its interest by the presence of man in strife with the waters, that is to be found in any poet. The whole of this passage is commented on by Mr. Ruskin at length, but I think his comments are one-sided and overdone. No doubt the shipwrecked man kisses the corn-growing land when at last he reaches it, and gladly covers himself with the dead leaves. But it is not, as Mr. Ruskin says, that the Greek mind shrank from wild things, and took pleasure only in things subservient to human use. It is because it was the action natural to a shipwrecked man just escaped from the hateful sea to hug the land he had so much toil to reach; and it was natural for a poet, when describing his hero tossed and drenched for days amid the hungry foam, to bring out in strong contrast all the warmth and comfort of the dry cheerful earth.[14] One sample of Homer’s home-painting must be given, where we see— “All things are in order stored— A home of ancient peace;”— “Outside the court-yard stretched a planted space Of orchard, and a fence environed all the place. “There, in full prime, the orchard-trees grew tall, Sweet-fig, pomegranate, apple fruited fair, Pear and the healthful olive. Each and all Both summer droughts and chills of winter spare. All the year round they flourish. Some the air Of zephyr warms to life, some doth mature, Apple grows old on apple, pear on pear, Fig follows fig, vintage doth vintage lure; Thus the rich revolution doth for age endure. “With well-sunned floor for drying, there is seen The vineyard. Here the grapes they cull, there tread. Here falls the blossom from the clusters green, There the first blushings by the suns are shed. Last, flowers forever fadeless, bed by bed; Two streams: one waters the whole garden fair; One through the court-yard, near the house is led, Whereto with pitcher all the folk repair. All these the God-sent gifts to King Alcinous were.”