So spoke he in his prayer, and Pallas Athene heard, but did not yet appear to him in open presence; for she regarded still her father’s brother, who stoutly strove with godlike Odysseus until he reached his land.

Here, then, long-tried royal Odysseus made his prayer; but to the town the strong mules bore the maid.  And when she reached her father’s famous palace, she stopped before the door-way, and round her stood her brothers, men like immortals, who from the cart unyoked the mules and carried the clothing in.  The maid went to her chamber, where a fire was kindled for her by an old Apeirean woman, the chamber-servant Eurymedousa, whom long ago curved ships brought from Apeira; her they had chosen from the rest to be the gift of honor for Alcinoues, because he was the lord of all Phaeacians, and people listened to his voice as if he were a god.  She was the nurse of white-armed Nausicaae at the palace, and she it was who kindled her the fire and in her room prepared her supper.

And now Odysseus rose to go to the city; but Athene kindly drew thick clouds around Odysseus, for fear some bold Phaeacian meeting him might trouble him with talk and ask him who he was.  And just as he was entering the pleasant town, the goddess, clear-eyed Athene, came to meet him, disguised as a young girl who bore a water-jar.  She paused as she drew near, and royal Odysseus asked:—­

“My child, could you not guide me to the house of one Alcinoues, who is ruler of this people?  For I am a toil-worn stranger come from far, out of a distant land.  Therefore I know not one among the men who own this city and this land.”

Then said to him the goddess, clear-eyed Athene:  “Yes, good old stranger, I will show the house for which you ask, for it stands near my gentle father’s.  But follow in silence:  I will lead the way.  Cast not a glance at any man and ask no questions, for our people do not well endure a stranger, nor courteously receive a man who comes from elsewhere.  Yet they themselves trust in swift ships and traverse the great deep, for the Earth-shaker permits them.  Swift are their ships as wing or thought.”

Saying this, Pallas Athene led the way in haste, and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.  So the Phaeacians, famed for shipping, did not observe him walking through the town among them, because Athene, the fair-haired powerful goddess, did not allow it, but in the kindness of her heart drew a marvelous mist around him.  And now Odysseus admired the harbors, the trim ships, the meeting-places of the lords themselves, and the long walls that were so high, fitted with palisades, a marvel to behold.  Then as they neared the famous palace of the king, the goddess, clear-eyed Athene, thus began:—­