[324] "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of
Aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable, hear me now, for you gave no heed to
my prayers when Poseidon was wrecking me. Now, therefore, have pity
upon me and grant that I may find friends and be hospitably received
by the Phaeacians."
[328] Thus did he pray, and Athena
heard his prayer, but she would not show herself to him openly, for
she was afraid of her uncle Poseidon, who was still furious in his
endeavors to prevent Odysseus from getting home.
[331]
Book 7
Scroll 7
[1] Thus, then, did Odysseus wait and
pray; but the girl drove on to the town. When she reached her
father's house she drew up at the gateway, and her brothers -
comely as the gods - gathered round her, took the mules out of the
wagon, and carried the clothes into the house, while she went to her
own room, where an old servant, Eurymedousa of Apeira, lit the fire
for her. This old woman had been brought by sea from Apeira, and had
been chosen as a prize for Alkinoos because he was king over the
Phaeacians, and the people in the dmos obeyed him as
though he were a god. She had been nurse to Nausicaa, and had now lit
the fire for her, and brought her supper for her into her own
room.
[14] Presently Odysseus got up to go
towards the town; and Athena shed a thick mist all round him to hide
him in case any of the proud Phaeacians who met him should be rude to
him, or ask him who he was. Then, as he was just entering the town,
she came towards him in the likeness of a little girl carrying a
pitcher. She stood right in front of him, and Odysseus
said:
[22] "My dear, will you be so kind as
to show me the house of king Alkinoos? I am an unfortunate foreigner
in distress, and do not know one in your town and
country."
[27] Then Athena said, "Yes, father
stranger, I will show you the house you want, for Alkinoos lives
quite close to my own father. I will go before you and show the way,
but say not a word as you go, and do not look at any man, nor ask him
questions; for the people here cannot abide strangers, and do not
like men who come from some other place. They are a sea-faring folk,
and sail the seas by the grace of Poseidon in ships that glide along
like thought, or as a bird in the air."
