_The brazen walls Athwart and endlong from the threshold went_ _Even to the inmost chamber up the hall; And a great frieze of blue ran round the wall; And golden doors the stately house within Shut off, and silver doorway pillars tall_ _Out of the brazen threshold sprang to hold The silver lintel; and the latch was gold; And gold and silver hounds on either hand Stood._[12] To this gorgeous palace, Alcinous and Arete give Odysseus a royal welcome. They are charmed with their guest: and when the queen, recognizing her handiwork on the robe that he is wearing, elicits an account of his meeting with Nausicaa, the king flames into anger. _Answered and said Alcinous: “Sooth to tell, Guest, in this thing my daughter did not well, That hither with her maids she brought you not Herself, since first before her feet you fell.”_ _And subtle-souled Odysseus answer made: “Prince, on that faultless maiden be there laid No blame herein: for with her hand-maidens She bade me follow; but behind I stayed_ _“For fear of shame, lest haply should you see, Your mind might deem some hateful thought of me.”_[12] This is not exactly what had happened, as we know; but we do not love Odysseus any the less for the chivalrous lie. The most loving father can be unreasonable sometimes, and Alcinous would not have the sacred laws of hospitality broken, even for the maidenly prudence of his own sweet daughter. Impetuously he tries to make amends: “_Nay, O guest, Not so is framed my heart within my breast, To be stirred up to anger without cause. In all things to observe the law is best._ “_Fain were I—Zeus our Father hear me vow, And thou, Athena, and Apollo, thou!— Such as you are and minded as I am, You took to wife my daughter even now,_ “_And were called son-in-law of me the king, Abiding with us._“[12]