Odysseus wakes up

He woke up to laughter and shouting, which he heard in his sleep, and sat up to see who it was. Then he saw many girls in the river nearby, playing, running and laughing.

It was Nausicaa, the king's daughter, who had come with her servants to wash the clothes. So when they had finished washing and laid out the clothes to dry, they all washed and sat down to eat. Then they got up and began to play with a topiary.

Odysseus and Nausicaa

For a moment, however, the topiary slipped and fell into the river. Then all the girls cried out together and woke Odysseus.

The hero stood up, but saw that he was naked. He then took a tufted branch, covered himself and walked towards the girls. The others saw him and all ran away, frightened. But Nausicaa stood unafraid and looked at him.

Odysseus approached her and begged her, saying:

- Daughter beautiful, if you are a goddess, I say you will be Artemis. If you're mortal, then you'll be queen. Happy parents and brothers and sisters who pride you, so beautiful you are. Twenty days I've been tortured in the sea and I'm naked and hungry. I pray you, daughter, give me a garment to dress and show me the way to the state

And Nausicaa answered him:

- Strangers, I am Nausicaa, the daughter of King Alcinus. You are on the island of the Phaeacians and we will help you as the gods command.

Then he called the servants who gave him clothes. Odysseus went to the river, washed, washed, dressed and sat down to eat at the table that had been set for him.

And in the afternoon, when the clothes were dry, they packed up and set off for the state. Nausicaa was in the front of the car, Nausicaa went in the back, the others came in the rear, and Odysseus came last, clean and rested.

When they arrived at the palace, Odysseus was left to admire its beauty. It was all white marble, the doors were gold and the columns silver.

Odysseus and Queen Arete

He went inside and entered the great hall of the palace. A large table was in the middle and around it were fine armchairs with soft velvet. There the lords of the land sat and ate.

Then Odysseus goes and kneels near Queen Arete and begs her to help him to return to his home, his wife and child, who think him dead for so many years for being away from them.

The rhapsodically

The queen kindly invites him, but the king, seeing Odysseus' proud stature, invited him to their table. Odysseus sat down and ate with them in silence and sorrow. As they decided, the rhapsodist came with his lyre and began to sing heroic songs. And among other things, he sang one about the Trojan War and its heroes.

Odysseus reveals who he is

Then Odysseus wept and everyone asked him why.

- For I am Odysseus, he says, and I have been torturing myself for so many years to return to my homeland, but I have not yet succeeded.

Everyone was asking him about the Trojan War. And he told them late into the night, the hardships he endured until he reached their island.

The King's promise

The lords of the Phaeacians listened to him with admiration and sympathized with the brave Odysseus. And when, late in the day, he finished his story, King Alcinus promised to send him home.

He then ordered the servants to make a soft bed for the stranger and to treat him as best they could.