Scheria far from those who would loot them. He ran a wall round
about the city, built houses and temples, and allotted the lands
among his people; but he was gathered to his fathers, and the good
king Alcinous was now reigning. To his palace then Minerva hastened
that she might help Ulysses to get home.

"She went straight to the painted bedroom of Nausicaa, who was
daughter to King Alcinous, and lovely as a goddess. Near her there
slept two maids-in-waiting, both very pretty, one on either side of
the doorway, which was closed with a beautifully made door. She
took the form of the famous Captain Dumas's daughter, who was a
bosom friend of Nausicaa and just her own age; then coming into the
room like a breath of wind she stood near the head of the bed and
said--

"'Nausicaa, what could your mother have been about to have such a
lazy daughter? Here are your clothes all lying in disorder, yet you
are going to be married almost directly, and should not only be
well-dressed yourself, but should see that those about you look
clean and tidy also. This is the way to make people speak well of
you, and it will please your father and mother, so suppose we make
to-morrow a washing day, and begin the first thing in the morning.
I will come and help you, for all the best young men among your own
people are courting you, and you are not going to remain a maid much
longer. Ask your father, then, to have a horse and cart ready for
us at daybreak to take the linen and baskets, and you can ride too,
which will be much pleasanter for you than walking, for the washing
ground is a long way out of the town.'

"When she had thus spoken Minerva went back to Olympus. By and by