Laden with rich gifts, Telemachus set out on his return home, while the suitors sought to way-lay him. And, meantime. Calypso, warned by Hermes, let Ulysses depart from Ogygia on a raft. Which, being overwhelmed by storms, he yet made shore on the isle of Phæacia; where, finding shelter, he fell asleep. But Pallas visited the Princess Nausicaa in a dream. Straight rose the lovely morn, that up did raise Fair-veiled Nausicaa, whose dream her praise To admiration took. She went with her maidens, with raiment for cleansing, to the river, where, having washed the garments, They bathed themselves, and all with glittering oil Smoothed their white skins, refreshing then their toil With pleasant dinner. Then Nausicaa, With other virgins did at stool-ball play, Their shoulder-reaching head-tires laying by. Nausicaa, with wrists of ivory, The liking stroke struck, singing first a song, As custom ordered, and, amidst the throng, Nausicaa, whom never husband tamed, Above them all in all the beauties flamed. The queen now for the upstroke, struck the ball Quite wide off th' other maids, and made it fall Amidst the whirlpools. At which, out-shrieked all, And with the shriek did wise Ulysses wake; Who, hearing maidish voices, from the brake Put hasty head out; and his sight did press The eyes of soft-haired virgins ... Horrid was His rough appearance to them; the hard pass He had at sea stuck by him. All in flight The virgins scattered, frighted with this sight. All but Nausicaa fled; but she stood fast; Pallas had put a boldness in her breast, And in her fair limbs tender fear compress'd. And still she stood him, as resolved to know What man he was, or out of what should grow His strange repair to them. Then thus spake he; "Let me beseech, O queen, this truth of thee, Are you of mortal or the deified race? If of the gods that th' ample heavens embrace, I can resemble you to none alive So near as Cynthia, chaste-born birth of Jove. If sprung of humans that inhabit earth, Thrice blest are both the authors of your birth; But most blest he that hath the gift to engage Your bright neck in the yoke of marriage." He prayed her then for some garment, and that she would show him the town. Then she, calling her maidens, they brought for him food and oil and raiment, and went apart while he should cleanse and array himself. And Pallas wrought in him a grace full great From head to shoulders, and as sure did seat His goodly presence. As he sat apart, Nausicaa's eyes struck wonder through her heart; He showed to her till now not worth the note; But now he seemed as he had godhead got. Then, fearing the gossip of the market-place, she bade him follow afoot with her maidens, giving him directions how he should find her father's palace, which entering,