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On this she led the way, and
Odysseus followed in her steps; but not one of the Phaeacians could
see him as he passed through the city in the midst of them; for the
great goddess Athena in her good will towards him had hidden him in a
thick cloud of darkness. He admired their harbors, ships, places of
assembly, and the lofty walls of the city, which, with the palisade
on top of them, were very striking, and when they reached the
king's house Athena said:
"This is the house, father
stranger, which you would have me show you. You will find a number of
great people sitting at table, but do not be afraid; go straight in,
for the bolder a man is the more likely he is to carry his point,
even though he is a stranger. First find the queen. Her name is
Arete, and she comes of the same family as her husband Alkinoos. They
both descend originally from Poseidon, who was father to Nausithoos
by Periboia, a woman of great beauty. Periboia was the youngest
daughter of Eurymedon, who at one time reigned over the giants, but
he ruined his ill-fated people and lost his own life to
boot.
"Poseidon, however, lay with his
daughter, and she had a son by him, the great Nausithoos, who reigned
over the Phaeacians. Nausithoos had two sons Rhexenor and Alkinoos;
Apollo killed the first of them while he was still a bridegroom and
without male issue; but he left a daughter Arete, whom Alkinoos
married, and honors as no other woman is honored of all those that
keep house along with their husbands.
"Thus she both was, and still is,
respected beyond measure by her children, by Alkinoos himself, and by
the whole people, who look upon her as a goddess, and greet her
whenever she goes about the city, for she is a thoroughly good woman
both in head [noos] and heart, and when any women are
friends of hers, she will help their husbands also to settle their
disputes. If you can gain her good will, you may have every hope of
seeing your friends again, and getting safely back to your home and
country."
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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