places of assembly, and the walls. And when they came to the
palace, Athene said: "This is the place for which thou didst
inquire. Enter in; here thou shalt find kings at the feast; but be
not afraid; the fearless man ever fares the best. And look thou
first for Queen Arete.[Footnote: A-re'-te.] If she be well
disposed to thee, doubtless thou wilt see thy native country
again."

Having thus spoken, Athene departed, and Ulysses entered the
palace. In it there was a gleam as of the sun or the moon.

A wondrous place it was, with walls of brass and doors of gold,
hanging on posts of silver; and on either side of the door were
dogs of gold and silver, and against the wall, all along from the
threshold to the inner chamber, were set seats, on which sat the
chiefs of the Phaeacians, feasting; and youths wrought in gold
stood holding torches in their hands, to give light in the
darkness. Fifty women were in the house, grinding corn and weaving
robes, for the women of the land are no less skilled to weave than
are the men to sail the sea. And round about the house were
beautiful gardens, with orchards of fig, and apple, and pear, and
pomegranate, and olive. Drought hurts them not, nor frost, and
harvest comes after harvest without ceasing. Also there was a
vineyard; and some of the grapes were parching in the sun, and
some were being gathered, and some again were but just turning
red. And there were beds of all manner of flowers; and in the
midst of all were two fountains which never failed.

These things Ulysses regarded for a space, and then passed into
the hall. And there the chiefs of Phaeacia were drinking their