Some work in looms; no hand least rest receives, But all had motion apt as aspen leaves. And from the weeds they wove, so fast they laid, And so thick thrust together thread by thread, That th’ oil, of which the wool had drunk his fill, Did with his moisture in light dews distill. As much as the Phæacian men excell’d All other countrymen in art to build A swift-sail’d ship; so much the women there For work of webs, past other women were. Past mean, by Pallas’ means, they understood The grace of good works; and had wits as good. Without the hall, and close upon the gate, A goodly orchard-ground was situate, Of near ten acres; about which was led A lofty quickset. In it flourished High and broad fruit trees, that pomegranates bore, Sweet figs, pears, olives; and a number more Most useful plants did there produce their store, Whose fruits the hardest winter could not kill, Nor hottest summer wither. There was still Fruit in his proper season all the year. Sweet Zephyr breath’d upon them blasts that were Of varied tempers. These he made to bear Ripe fruits, these blossoms. Pear grew after pear, Apple succeeded apple, grape the grape, Fig after fig came; time made never rape Of any dainty there. A spritely vine Spread here his root, whose fruit a hot sunshine Made ripe betimes; here grew another green. Here some were gath’ring, here some pressing, seen. A large-allotted sev’ral each fruit had; And all th’ adorn’d grounds their appearance made In flow’r and fruit, at which the king did aim To the precisest order he could claim. Two fountains grac’d the garden; of which, one Pour’d out a winding stream that over-run The grounds for their use chiefly, th’ other went Close by the lofty palace gate, and lent The city his sweet benefit. And thus The Gods the court deck’d of Alcinous. Patient Ulysses stood a while at gaze, But, having all observ’d, made instant pace Into the court; where all the peers he found, And captains of Phæacia, with cups-crown’d Off’ring to sharp-eyed Hermes, to whom last They us’d to sacrifice, when sleep had cast His inclination through their thoughts. But these Ulysses pass’d, and forth went; nor their eyes Took note of him, for Pallas stopp’d the light With mists about him, that, unstay’d, he might First to Alcinous, and Arete, Present his person; and, of both them, she, By Pallas’ counsel, was to have the grace Of foremost greeting. Therefore his embrace He cast about her knee. And then off flew The heav’nly air that hid him. When his view With silence and with admiration strook The court quite through; but thus he silence broke: “Divine Rhexenor’s offspring, Arete, To thy most honour’d husband, and to thee, A man whom many labours have distrest Is come for comfort, and to ev’ry guest. To all whom heav’n vouchsafe delightsome lives, And after to your issue that survives A good resignment of the goods ye leave, With all the honour that yourselves receive Amongst your people. Only this of me Is the ambition; that I may but see