[4] _Συναγεἰρω—Mendicando colligo._ [5] _Ὤιδεε_ of _ὠδἰνω ἁ partu doleo._ [6] A metaphorical hyperbole, expressing the winter’s extremity of sharpness. THE SIXTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS THE ARGUMENT Minerva in a vision stands Before Nausicaa: and commands She to the flood her weeds should bear; For now her nuptial day was near. Nausicaa her charge obeys, And then with other virgins plays. Their sports make wak’d Ulysses rise; Walk to them, and beseech supplies Of food and clothes. His naked sight Puts th’ other maids, afraid, to flight; Nausicaa only boldly stays, And gladly his desire obeys. He, furnish’d with her favour’s shown, Attends her and the rest to town. ANOTHER ARGUMENT _Ζη̑τα._ Here olive leaves T’ hide shame began, The maid receives The naked man. The much-sustaining, patient, heav’nly man, Whom Toil and Sleep had worn so weak and wan,[1] Thus won his rest. In mean space Pallas went To the Phæacian city, and descent That first did broad Hyperia’s lands divide, Near the vast Cyclops, men of monstrous pride, That prey’d on those Hyperians, since they were Of greater pow’r; and therefore longer there Divine Nausithous dwelt not, but arose, And did for Scheria all his pow’rs dispose; Far from ingenious art-inventing men But there did he erect a city then, First drew a wall round, then he houses builds, And then a temple to the Gods, the fields Lastly dividing. But he, stoop’d by Fate, Div’d to th’ infernals; and Alcinous sate In his command, a man the Gods did teach Commanding counsels. His house held the reach Of grey Minerva’s project, to provide That great-soul’d Ithacus might be supplied With all things fitting his return. She went Up to the chamber, where the fair descent Of great Alcinous slept; a maid, whose parts In wit and beauty wore divine deserts. Well-deck’d her chamber was; of which the door Did seem to lighten, such a gloss it bore Betwixt the posts, and now flew ope to find The Goddess entry. Like a puft of wind She reach’d the virgin bed; neat which there lay Two maids, to whom the Graces did convey Figure and manners. But above the head Of bright Nausicaa did Pallas tread The subtle air, and put the person on Of Dymas’ daughter, from comparison Exempt in business naval. Like his seed Minerva look’d now; whom one year did breed[2] With bright Nausicaa, and who had gain’d Grace in her love, yet on her thus complain’d: “Nausicaa! Why bred thy mother one So negligent in rites so stood upon By other virgins? Thy fair garments lie Neglected by thee, yet thy nuptials nigh; When rich in all attire both thou shouldst be, And garments give to others honouring thee, That lead thee to the temple. Thy good name Grows amongst men for these things; they inflame Father and rev’rend mother with delight. Come, when the Day takes any wink from Night, Let’s to the river, and repurify Thy wedding garments. My society Shall freely serve thee for thy speedier aid, Because thou shalt no mote stand on the maid.