Ζ- Nausica

Το πρωινό εκείνο, η Ναυσικά με άλλα κορίτσια του παλατιού βρέθηκαν στο δάσος για το πλύσιμο των ρούχων. Όταν τελείωσαν με τις δουλειές τους, άρχισαν να παίζουν με ένα τόπι. Ο Οδυσσέας ακούγοντας τις κοπέλες να τσιρίζουν στο παιχνίδι τους,ξύπνησε και άρχισε να αναζητά τρόπους να αναγνωρίσει το μέρος όπου βρισκόταν. Μια επιλογή θα ήταν να εμφανιστεί μπροστά στις ντόπιες κοπέλες, αλλά μετά από τόσες μέρες στη θάλασσα, το παρουσιαστικό του θα τις τρόμαζε. Παίρνοντας μια φυλλωσιά, προσπάθησε να καλύψει το κορμί του, και εμφανίστηκε μπροστά στις κοπέλες που έπαιζαν εκεί κοντά. Εκείνες όπως ήταν φυσικό, τρόμαξαν στη θέα του αγριεμένου και θαλασσοδαρμένου γυμνού άνδρα και το έβαλαν στα πόδια.

That morning, Nausica and other palace girls went to the forest to wash clothes. When they were done with their chores, they started playing with a topi. Odysseus hearing the girls squealing in their game, woke up and started looking for ways to identify the place where he was. One option would be to perform in front of the local girls, but after so many days at sea, his appearance would frighten them. Grabbing a leaf, he tried to cover his body, and appeared in front of the girls playing nearby. Naturally, they were frightened at the sight of the wild and seasick naked man and put him to his feet.

The daughter of Alcinous reassured him by telling him how hospitable the Phaeacians are, while she told him that she was the princess daughter of Alcinous. Finally she had the other girls dress and feed and clean the stranger.

Having groomed Odysseus, he appeared bright and noble as evidenced by his royal lineage, which impressed Nausicaa. She advised him how to conduct himself in the presence of kings in the palace, while she urged him to appear after her alone, as he should not be seen in the carriage with the princess unknown as he was in those parts. Odysseus agreed and so after a while he stayed there as a monk.

He thanked Athena for his good fortune, and begged her to guide him, that he might find allies and hospitality among the inhabitants of that country.