Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 6. NAUSICAA, by HOMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 6. NAUSICAA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now when at last they arrived at the beautiful stream of the river
Last Line: Joy to the wishers of good; but the joy in their hearts is the loudest.'
Subject(s): Mythology - Classical


NOW when at last they arrived at the beautiful stream of the river,
Here the perennial basins they found where waters abundant
Welled up brightly enough for the cleansing of dirtiest raiment.
So their mules they unloosened from under the yoke of the wagon,
Letting them wander at will on the bank of the eddying river,
Browsing on clover as sweet as the honey, and then from the carriage
Bearing within their arms to the deep dark water the garments,
Cast them in trenches and trod them in rivalry one with another.
So, when the raiment was washed and was thoroughly cleansed of the dirt-stains,
All on the shore of the ocean in order they spread on the shingle
Where it is washed by the tides of the sea as they sweep to the dry land.
There did they bathe and anointing themselves with the oil of the olive
Set them adown to the mid-day meal on the bank of the river,
Leaving the garments to dry on the beach in the glare of the sunlight.
Now when in food they had fully delighted, both she and her maidens,
Casting aside their scarfs with a ball they betook them to playing,
White-armed Nausicaa with the choral melody leading.
E'en as descending a height moves Artemis, darter of arrows,
Either on Taygetus long-ridged or on huge Erymanthus,
Taking delight in the chase of the boar and of timorous roe-deer,
Whilst all round her the daughters of Zeus who beareth the aegis,
Nymphs of the woodland play -- and Leto sees it rejoicing;
Even as over the rest uplifting her brows and her forehead
Easily known in her beauty she stands, though fair be the others,
Thus shone forth in her beauty the maiden amidst her attendants.
Now when at last it was come to the moment of homeward returning,
After the mules were yoked and folded the beautiful garments,
Other was then the device of the grey-eyed goddess Athene,
E'en that Odysseus awaking and seeing the fair-faced maiden
Her might follow as guide and reach Phaeacia's city.
Seizing the ball, at a maiden among her attendants the princess
Flung it, but missing the maiden it fell in a bottomless eddy.
Piercingly all of them shrieked; and godlike Odysseus, awakened,
Sat straight up and pondered thereon in his heart and his spirit:
'Ah me! what is the folk whose country I now am arrived at?
Dwell here savages wanton and wild, despisers of justice?
Have they a love for the stranger and hearts that revere the immortals?
Lo, how piercing a cry as of maidens ringeth around me,
Nymphs peradventure that dwell on precipitous summits of mountains,
Or by the fountain springs of the rivers and leas of the lowlands;
Else, maybe, I am near to a folk of articulate language.
Nay, go to, I will test for myself this matter and view it.'

These words uttered, from under the bushes the godlike Odysseus
Issued, and breaking a branch with his powerful hand from the thicket
Girdled his body with leaves, its nakedness striving to cover.
Thus in the pride of his strength from his lair in the mountain a lion
Stalks forth soaked with the rain and battered with wind, and his two eyes
Flame as he prowleth abroad midst droves of the sheep and the oxen
Or on the track of the deer, and often his belly will bid him
Making assay on the flocks e'en strong-built granges to enter;
So to the fair-tressed maidens Odysseus was fain to betake him,
Though all naked his body -- on such distress was he fallen.
Sight terrific he seemed to the maidens, disfigured with sea-brine.
Hastily hither and thither in panic they fled to the sandspits.
Sole stood firmly the daughter of Alcinous: for Athene
Gave to her courage of heart and took from her limbs all trembling;
Facing him calmly she stood; and Odysseus pondered within him
Whether as suppliant clasping the knees of the beautiful maiden,
Or as he was, at a distance, to speak soft words of entreaty,
Begging her show him the city and grant him the gift of a garment.
Thus as he pondered thereon, this plan seemed surely the better,
Holding apart, from a distance, to speak soft words of entreaty,
Since that by clasping her knees he was fearful to anger the maiden.
Straightway therefore a word both gentle and cunning he uttered:
'Thee, O queen, I implore. O . . . whether a goddess or mortal!
Art thou a goddess -- of those who inhabit the infinite heaven --
Then it is Artemis surely, the daughter of Zeus the Almighty,
Both in thy form and thy stature and beauty to whom thou art likest.
Art thou a daughter of man, and dwellest on earth as a mortal,
Happy I deem, yea three times happy, thy mother and father,
Happy and three times happy thy brothers; for surely exultant
Gloweth in gladness the spirit within them, whene'er they behold thee
Entering into the dance, so lovely a flower of girlhood.
Yet, ah, how in his heart more happy than every other
He that with gifts shall prevail and homeward lead thee as lover!
Never till now have seen mine eyes such beauty in mortal,
Man nor woman: amazement possesseth me while I behold it.
Suchlike wonder indeed by Apollo's altar in Delos
Once I beheld -- uprearing its column a sapling of datepalm;
(Yea, e'en thither I came, and was followed by many a fighter,
Holding a course whereon sore sorrow was fated to meet us).
Even as then this wonder beholding I marvelled in spirit,
Long time gazing -- for ne'er such shaft from the earth shot upward --
Thus, O lady, I marvel at thee and am greatly astonished,
Fearing thy knees to approach, though sorrow hath fallen upon me.
Yester-e'en to the shore I escaped from the wine-dark ocean.
Nineteen days from the isle Ogygia billows and stormblasts
Ceaselessly bore me, and hither at last some deity cast me,
Planning, meseemeth, that still I shall suffer; for never, I fear me,
All of my travail shall end till the Gods much more shall accomplish.
Nay, O queen, have pity! To thee, outworn with my labours,
Lo, as a suppliant first I am come, and of others I know not
Any, of all of the folk that inhabit the town or the country.
Show me the city, and give me a garment, to cast it about me.
Even a rag, or the wrapper perchance that thou broughtst for the linen!
So shall the gods all blessings bestow that thy soul desireth --
Husband and home; and oneness of heart may heaven vouchsafe thee,
Blessing supreme -- since naught can be wished that is greater and better
While united in heart and in mind are dwelling together
Husband and wife. 'Tis a sight brings sorrow to wishers of evil,
Joy to the wishers of good; but the joy in their hearts is the loudest.'





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