“My task is done: the mansion you inquire Appears before you: enter, and admire. High-throned, and feasting, there thou shalt behold The sceptred rulers. Fear not, but be bold: A decent boldness ever meets with friends, Succeeds, and even a stranger recommends First to the queen prefer a suppliant’s claim, Alcinous’ queen, Arete is her name. The same her parents, and her power the same. For know, from ocean’s god Nausithous sprung, And Peribæa, beautiful and young (Eurymedon’s last hope, who ruled of old The race of giants, impious, proud, and bold: Perish’d the nation in unrighteous war, Perish’d the prince, and left this only heir), Who now, by Neptune’s amorous power compress’d, Produced a monarch that his people bless’d, Father and prince of the Phæacian name; From him Rhexenor and Alcinous came. The first by Phœbus’ hurtling arrows fired, New from his nuptials, hapless youth! expired. No son survived; Arete heir’d his state, And her, Alcinous chose his royal mate. With honours yet to womankind unknown. This queen he graces, and divides the throne; In equal tenderness her sons conspire, And all the children emulate their sire. When through the streets she gracious deigns to move (The public wonder and the public love), The tongues of all with transport sound her praise, The eyes of all, as on a goddess, gaze. She feels the triumph of a generous breast; To heal divisions, to relieve the oppress’d; In virtue rich; in blessing others, bless’d. (to then secure, thy humble suit prefer And owe thy country and thy friends to her.” With that the goddess deign’d no longer stay, But o’er the world of waters wing’d her way; Forsaking Scheria’s ever-pleasing shore, The winds to Marathon the virgin bore: Thence, where proud Athens rears her towery head, With opening streets and shining structures spread, She pass’d, delighted with the well-known seats; And to Erectheus’ sacred dome retreats.