PS -: Is /<^/^ SHORES OF HAPPINESS A PAGEANT WHEREOF ODYSSEUS IS HERO BY FRANCES O. J. GAITHER Copyright, 1919 By Frances O. J. Gaither For acting rights apply to author MiQ '^ ^^'^ SHORES OF HAPPINESS A PAGEANT WHEREOF ODYSSEUS IS HERO BY FRANCES O. J. GAITHER Copyright, 1919 By Frances O. J. Gaither For acting rights apply to author ©OLD 52417 CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY The God Poskidon. The Goddess Athene. Sea-Nymphs. EuRYMEDUSA, nurse to Nausicaa. Laodamas, son of Alcinous and Arete. Nausicaa, the princess, daughter of Alcinous and Arete. A Bevy of Gires. HAEIUS i r A, • J A . Ceytoneus [ '°"' °^ Alcinous and Arete. Odysseus. PoNTONous, a page. Arete, queen of Phaeacia. Aecinous, king of Phaeacia. Pages. Phaeacians. Athletes. Judges. Dancers. Euryalus, an athlete. Demodocus, the blind bard. Oarsmen. SHORES OF HAPPINESS {The scene is before the palace of Alcinous in the laud of Phaeacia. There passes a chorus of Phaeacian folk singing of a raft descried at sea. When their voices have died away, the god Poseidon appears. He waves his trident, causing sea-nymphs to come with dancing steps from every direction, the stress of the sea in their movements. Poseidon moves among them, whirling his trident above his head. Just as the dance has become very \turbulent, the goddess Athene ap- pears between the tall columns at the head of the steps. At sound of her lance struck suddenly against her shield, the nymphs are startled into immobility.) ATHENE Hold, Poseidon, Shaker of Shores! Still the sea that Odysseus may drift in upon the white sands. POSEIDON Odysseus! Never shall seas be calm for him. Rather shall I gather clouds, stir the passions of the deep, sum- mon Eurus and Notus and Zephyrus and Boreas to loose mighty tempests from the heavens. Sands, indeed! No, goddess, upon rocks shall Odysseus be pounded. (He lifts his trident to the nymphs, but Athene com- ing down, strikes it down with her lance. She smiles.) ATHENE I say he shall not. Upon the smooth beach even now is he standing and a princess serves him. [5] POSEIDON A princess? ATHENE Even Nausicaa of these your beloved Phaeacians. POSEIDON (Threatening her with his trident.) You have done this? ATHENE Father Zeus decreed it. I merely arranged the details. (Poseidon throws down his trident in anger and dis- perses the nymphs with a gesture of furious despair. He follows them. Athene 'leaves the steps still smil- ing and goes to stand apart. Eurymedusa comes out of the palace and looks off down the road that leads to the seashore. She is a bent old woman, as wrinkled as parchment, and, zvhen she would descend the steps, must steady her rheumatic leg with careful hand. She shakes her head querulously when she sees no one, coming, and hobbles down another step or two to look again. She mutters continually.) EURYMEDUSA In my youth it would never have been permitted, girls going off down the beach for the whole day! Folly, folly! What will it lead to, all this indulgence? What do parents expect? "Father dear," (She mimics.) "could you not have a chariot harnessed for me, so that I may go to the seashore to wash out tunics for you to wear to the council? And, surely, you would count it shame if my brothers went to a dance wearing clothes that were not fresh." — So. Not a word of dreams and bridegrooms 1 [6] And the doting parents — "anything, my darling child, anything you wish, mules, chariot, a chest of your fa- vorite dainties, wine in goatskin bottle, oil in a golden flask—" (Laodamas, a splendid, tall youth, emerges from the palace.) LAODAMAS Nurse, has my sister not come? EURYMEDUSA The gods alone know what keeps her. Maybe she has met that bridegroom she dreamed of last night. (Laodamas laughs and points where two girls come run- ning. Their hair is in disorder, and they shriek zvith laugh- ter as they sink dozvn on the steps before Biirymedusa.) Where is she? Where is Nausicaa? (They laugh and pant so that they can only shake their heads for answer and, finally, when Burymedusa shakes them angrily, try to pull away from her.) What have you done with the princess? (One of the girls points down the road and Laodamas runs lightly forth to look.) LAODAMAS Here she comes, old woman, with kirtle blowing and whip in air. (Then he shouts.) Ho, Halius ! Ho, Clyto- neus! Our sister is coming! (Nausicaa drives her chariot adorned with wreaths be- fore the palace. Beside her run a bevy of girls, their flowing hair garlanded in flowers. They carry branches of green which they wave as they run. La- odamas helps Nausicaa to dismount, kissing her upon the forehead.) [7] EURYMEDUSA How you have troubled me, perverse one ! LAODAMAS (Holding Nausicaa from him and teasing her.) And why so happy? Did you meet a god down there by the river? {Nausicaa struggles away from him and the girls laugh aloud. They crowd about Laodamas telling him about their adventure as Nausicaa goes up to embrace Burymedusa. Halius and Clytoneus come down to greet her. To each in turn she lifts a careless cheek, not interrupting in the smallest degree the animated narrative whith she begins for Burymedusa's imme- diate enlightenment. Nausicaa is not a talkative maid, but her tongue is loosed by the miraculous occasion and her swiftly gesticulating hands are set free as zvell. Her voice is lost in the chorus of girlish voices — "We had just been playing — " "Or still were — "' "Nausicaa threzv the ball—" "No, it was I — '' "He rose from the bushes — "" "Like the sun — '' "No, like a lion or a god — '' "You ran first — '' "I only screamed, you ran — ". The princes lead the chariot off, and the girls go upon the steps where they con- tinue to talk among themselves laughing and nodding.) NAUSICAA As I dreamed, so I met him, nurse. EURYMEDUSA Like a god, was he? Such a man as you never saw before? No, little one, any man would have appeared pleasing to a merry crowd of damsels. It was the blue sky and the silver beach that made him look so. [8] NAUSICAA But what of my dream? Did not Athene saj'- I should soon wed? EURYMKDUSA Wed! For shame to talk of wedding! A beggar whom you had to clothe ! shame, shame ! {The girls laugh, and Nausicaa slips from her detain- ing hand to dance upon the grass. It is a dance of joy to which Nausicaa yields, of joy and of the dawn of love. When it is ended she runs back to throw her arms about Eurymedusa.) NAUSICAA Shall a maid be ashamed of love, grumbling one? — But I know not whether it be love, even so. I was glad when I beheld him, and my heart sang to think it was I who should save his life there on the stark beach. {She draws a flower from her wreath and muses as she plucks it apart. Eurymedusa stares at her a moment and then turns within somewhat sadly. While Nau- sicaa sits on the steps plucking at her tllozver, the girls go dozvn and dance upon the grass and at last go into the palace looking back and calling her, "Nausi- caa! Nausicaa! Odysseus comes down the road from the seashore, and pauses when he sees her staring at the barren Hower stem in youthful trance. Athene steps forth and leads him toward the girl.) ODYSSEUS NAUSICAA (Springing to her feet and thrusting her flower behind her.) You! (They stand looking at each other. Athene vanishes.) ODYSSEUS You saved my life, and now by your direction I am here to ask the hospitaHty of your father and lady- mother. NAUSICAA (As if she had not heard.) Tell me — are you a god? ODYSSEUS I, a god? Not from you should such a question come to me. Rather should I ask what goddess are you, ap- pearing miraculously with food and clothes for ship- wrecked wanderer. NAUSICAA But the goddesses are beautiful — and tall. ODYSSEUS And do you not know your own loveliness? When I saw you standing there on the beach, your maidens fleeing in shrill abandon, I thought I had never seen a sight so lovely — but one time only. NAUSICAA And that? ODYSSEUS At Deles beside Apollo's altar I saw a young palm- shoot springing up. [10] NAUSICAA Ah! You thought of me like that? ODYSSEUS How else? And on the instant I thought, too, of how happy must be the father and mother of such a daughter — and the brothers, too, surely their hearts warm within them when they see you swaying like a blossom in the dance. NAUSICAA But of course one's own kindred — (She pauses vaguely ivith depreciating gesture.) ODYSSEUS I, too. In my heart, I envied them, and then I en- vied more the man who should some day come and lead you from your father's house to his own home. NAUSICAA You envied him? ODYSSEUS Yes. {Burymedusa appears at head of steps.) EURYMEDUSA Princess! {Nausicaa goes in, bending her head before the re- proaches of Burymedusa. Odysseus watches them. Then he mounts to head of steps and beats with his staff upon a column and shouts, ''Ho, within." The page Pontonous comes out to him.) [11] PONTONOUS What will you, stranger? ODYSSEUS Audience of King Alcinous and his honored Queen Arete. PONTONOUS But stand lower, sir. Alcinous and his court come now. (Pages bring through the doorway behind him three thrones, which they place upon the steps. Odysseus descends and stands waiting while the court ranges itself about the thrones. Attendants with lances and shields take their stand under the portico between the columns. Pages unroll a crimson carpet. Alcinous leads Arete to her throne. Her women follow and array themselves formally upon the steps. The sons of Alcinous stand behind the thrones. Alcinous, in- viting Laodamas by gesture to sit upon the middle throne and turning about to seat himself sees Odys- seus.) AI.CINOUS Whence comes this stranger? ODYSSEUS A wanderer, Alcinous, cast upon your shores by anger of Poseidon and saved from death by your daughter the princess. I come to ask of you and honored Arete, aid and comfort. (He prostrates himself before Arete, clasping her knees.) [12] ALCINOUS Rise, Laodamas, and seat the stranger. May he yet bless the wrath of Poseidon that hurled him on Phaea- cian sands. May these shores be the shores of happi- ness for you, O, stranger! We are a joyful folk and shall delight to make you joyful, too. Are you a god that you come wandering to far-off Phaeacia? ODYSSEUS (Sadly.) Call me not a god, Alcinous. Too well I know death to be named an immortal. But for chance I might now be lying where vultures sweep. There was once when I felt the cold spear pressing my breast — no, no, only a man, weary and sore hungry. LAODAMAS Where was this fight you speak of? ARETE (Rising.) Shall the host be greedy of tales while the guest hun- gers? Come, stranger. (She leads Odysseus ivithin, some of her women fol- lowing. Nausicaa comes out and stands behind her father, putting her hands before his eyes. He pulls them down about his neck, and she laughs as she comes before him. When she is seated cosily at his feet, her maidens come in whispering by twos and threes to sit upon the steps on either hand.) NAUSICAA How do you like my stranger? [13] MUCINOUS I have seen worse. NAUSICAA {Suddenly serious.) He has a far look in his eyes. Father, I know not whether it is what he has seen or what he longs to see. But it is as if he dreamed of other lands than Phaeacia. What if he will not stay? ALCINOUS Do you want him to stay? NAUSICAA Yes. ALCINOUS Then he shall change his dreams. Who can fail to be happy here? Who can dream of aught beside if Nau- sicaa, the white-armed, be his? Laodamas, and you, Halius and Clytoneus, send abroad through Phaeacia the summons to all young men and athletes. Games we shall have in honor of the stranger that he may lose that far look from his eyes. Call the dancers and those who wrestle. Assemble the nine grave judges who shall award the laurels. {His sons go off, follozved by attend- ants.) And do you, Pontonous, bring hither the sacred bard, Demodocus, the blind. In his songs may the stran- ger joy as in the very acts of valor, so like to life he sings of heroes' deeds. (Pontonous goes into the palace.) And we must have feasting. Let there be got ready for the sacrifice twelve sheep, eight white-toothed swine, two swing-paced oxen. Go damsels, bring fruit and flow- ers. (He turns within, follozved by the remaining attend- [14] ants. Nausicaa is left alone sitting on the steps before her father's vacant throne. Odysseus comes forth and stands looking down at hew. Without turning, she speaks.) NAUSICAA Did you mean what you said? ODYSSEUS About the palm-tree? NAUSICAA No, no. About envying him — because if you did, you need not. {Odysseus comes down and stoops to look into her face.) ODYSSEUS If I did, I need not — what? NAUSICAA Ah, must I say the syllables to you slowly as to a lit- tle child ! Envy, stranger, it is envy for which you have no need. Alcinous, my father, has said you may have all that you long for, present comfort and in time to come you would naturally share Phaeacia with my brothers. He says you shall come to bless the storm that tossed you on our shores. ODYSSEUS He offers me you? NAUSICAA (Nodding serenely.) Yes. (Odysseus gathers her extended palms into one of his [15 1 own and lifts her to her feet. He looks into her up- turned eyes a moment and then turns his own away sadly. Suddenly he seems very old and zvorn beside her rose-hued youth. He hesitates long before he speaks.) ODYSSEUS Child, you do not understand. Alcinous decrees the impossible. {She tries to read his averted face.) NAUSICAA Then you did not mean it. You did not envy him whom I shall wed. ODYSSEUS Listen, Nausicaa. You love Phaeacia. To you it is the land of happiness. {She nods.) What Phaeacia is to you, so is Ithaca to me. {She studies his rapt face.) NAUSICAA Ithaca is your home, then. Is it so fair as Phaeacia? Has it tranquil orchards and lush meadows? Do curved- prowed ships ride on the still bosom of its harbor? Do tall men and lovely women move gladly among high- roofed houses? In Ithaca does the west wind breathe on the fruits so that some are mellow while some are yet in bud? I will not believe that anywhere but Phaea- cia does pear ripen upon pear and fig upon fig — ODYSSEUS Ithaca is my home. [16] NAUSICAA But not so fair as Phaeacia. ODYSSEUS More rugged, a land of clififs and thick woods, a land far seen, lifting gaunt headlands against the western sky. Oh, Nausicaa, I have traveled far, but no sweeter spot have I seen than my own land. NAUSICAA And will the people welcome you and make you merry with games and feasting such as my father has ordered in your honor? ODYSSEUS Sterner deeds wait to be done in Ithaca — but, Nau- sicaa, can you not see that in such things, rather than in merry-making, a man might hope to forget? NAUSICAA Forget? ODYSSEUS {Standing away from her and drawing himself to his full height.) I am Odysseus. I saw Ilium fall. {Before this, Nausicaa seetned almost on the point of understanding him, but at this revelation her youth- ful excitability gets the better of her. She forgets her own sadness and Odysseus' love of home. Even the grievous sadness with which he speaks has no meaning for her now. She clasps her hands to her breast and gazes at him with worshipping joy. It is as if she exulted in this proof of all her intuitions about the greatness of the stranger.) [17] NAUSICAA Odysseus! What stories you can tell us at the feast! You talk of forgetting — but that is just your modesty. All heroes are modest. You shall tell us everything — how Achilles looked in his god-like armor; and how the Greeks leaped from the wooden horse and dashed through the streets; and how the plumed head of Mec- tor was laid low. I shall tell no one who you are until Demodocus has sung your fame. {She runs up the steps and pauses at the top, lifting her arms.) You shall forget your home-sickness in games, and then you shall see what Phaeacia thinks of a hero ! {Odysseus puts out his hand as if to stop her and then lets it fall again. He turns away as she vanishes through the door.) ODYSSEUS A child, simply. She dreams not what war does to women. If it were not cruel I might name to her Cas- sandra, Andromache, Mecuba. They knew, as does she who waits through weary nights — Penelope. {He sinks upon the center throne and takes small ac- count of the activity and hustle that begins about him. The Phaeacian populace assembles to the sound of gay music and much talk. The twelve Phaeacian kings with their attendants range themselves upon the steps. Torch bearers mount the pedestals of the bal- ustrade on either hand, colored streamers looping the torch of each with that of his fellow. Girls come from the palace with dancing steps. They carry Hozv- ers which figure in their dance and in the subsequent festal effect, garlanded columns, scattered petals, and [18] the like. Athletes come up from the throng and gather in knots. The judges arrive. Pages hustle about at everybody's heck and call. — Through it all, Odysseus sits thoughtful and curiously alone in the midst of the rejoicing folk. The music changes to a processional and the court of Alcinous comes out of the palace, Alcinous leading Arete to her throne as before. His sons are hailed from the athletes on the ground, "Ho, Laodamas! Ho, H alius! Ho, Clyto- neus!" Alcinous stills the chattering groups with lifted hand.) ALCINOUS Hearken, Phaeacian Captains and Councilors, a stran- ger has come to our shores (Odysseus bows in acknowl- edgment), and it is fitting that we make games and re- joicing in his honor. Let us revel in the feast, the harp, the dance, as is our wont, that he may bless the wrath of Posseidon that cast him among the happy Phaeacian folk. Go, fetch Demodocus and his tuneful lyre. {Pontonous springs to obey, and leads Demodocus forth from behind one of the great columns of th portico. The hard is blind and follows the page haltingly. When they have come to the center of the steps below Odysseus' chair^ Demodocus sits down, Pontonous placing the harp beside him and guiding his fingers to the strings. He sings of magic Phaeacia.) [19] A Song op Phaeacia. With kin of gods, come live in Phaeacia, where A heavenly magic warms to ripeness pear on pear, Where deep are harbors, trim are ships. And high are palisades. Where every day too quickly slips In joy for men and maids. Chorus. Such a sunlight on the green Surely cries for dancing. Such a breeze can only mean, "Follow me and dance !" Let others toil and fret their lives away, — In pleasant Phaeacia we have found a better way: So gay the feast, so glad the song. So swift the twinkling feet, That Phaeacian hours seem half as long, And every hour is sweet. (During the first lines of the song, Nausicaa steals through the crowd between the columns and comes down to stand listening enthralled. As Demodocus sings on, she looks up to see if Odysseus is moved. She sees his abstraction relax until, at end of the song, he is smiling at her. When the song is over A herald mounts the steps and summons the athletes to the various events. Nausicaa leads Demodocus to one side and sits down by him.) [20] HERALD Ho, Laodamas! Ho, Halius ! Ho, Clytoneus ! (As they come down, he turns back to populace.) Ho, Acro- neus, Ocyalus, Elatreus, Nanteus, Prymneus, Anchialus, Eretmus, Ponteus, Proreus, Thoon, Anabasimeus, Am- phialus, — Ho, all ye Phaeacian athletes ! Stand upon the mark and see which shall be fleetest in the foot-race. (The judges stand in their places and even Alcinous rises from his throne with interest. The people elbow each other for room upon the margin of the course, cheering their favorites. When Clytoneus has won, the other athletes bring him back upon their shoul- ders, a shouting throng pressinig close behind. The judges confer, and Alcinous crowns him with laurel, the herald proclaiming him victor. At sound of mu- sic, the crowd falls back, and dancing-girls come dozvn and dance a mimicry of the games. Then fol- low javelin-throwing, relay racing, discus-throwing, with the same ceremony. At discus-throwing Ela- treus is winner and at boxing, Laodamas. After the award for discus-throzving is made, Buryalus speaks to Laodamas.) EURYALUS The stranger whom the games honor appears not over- pleased with them. Challenge him if he can do better. LAODAMAS (Shouting.) Stranger, will you come down and try for glory with us? [21] ODYSSEUS (Shaking his head sadly.) Your challenge mocks my sorrow, Laodamas. I have suffered too much to have a heart for games. EURYALUS (Laughing.) I thought as much. You look less like an athlete than some trader whose mind is taken up with cargoes and filthy gains. (Odysseus rises and measures with his eye the impu- dent youth mocking him from the ground.) ODYSSEUS And you — well, the gods have fashioned you an ex- cellent appearance, but your words betray the quality of your brain ! (As everybody laughs, and Buryalus turns with a shrug, Odysseus comes quickly down the steps and seises the discus. From the radius of his powerful arm, the spectators and athletes draw away. Nausicaa rises to see the better. The discus goes far ahead of the mark scored by Blatreus, and the croivd bursts into cheers. Alcinous advances to lead Odysseus back to his seaty apologizing in low tones for Burylus' un- mannerliness.) ALCINOUS (Aloud.) Come, Euryalus, you shall give satisfaction to the stranger by word and gift for your unmannerly taunt. (Euryalus conies forward and offers a sword, "brazen, zvith hilt of silver and sheath of fresh-cut ivory.") [22] EURYALUS May the winds bear away my rude words ! (Odysseus bows and accepts the sword. The athletes applaud. Alcinous calls, ''And now the dance!" Halius and Laodamas dance with a purple ball. When they have finished, pages and damsels, moving to music, bring -flowers, platters of fruit and food, silver flagons of wine, to the twelve kings and the athletes reclining on the lower steps. Others serve Alcinous, Arete, and Odysseus on their thrones.) ALCINOUS Sing, Demodocus, sing! There is no sauce like a sweet song. (Nausicaa leads the singer back to his central place before Odysseus. He gropes vainly for his harp.) DKMODOCUS What shall I sing? NAUSICAA (Bending over him to guide his fingers.) Sing of Ilium and of him whose cunning brought about its fall. Song of Odysseus. Who crosses the plain where corpses lie? It is a slinking Trojan spy In wolfskin prowling over the dead, His javelin ready, his helm on head. He stops, he trembles in deadly fright, The clink of armor sounds in the night. Odysseus then he dimly sees — And with him brave Diomedes. [23] With crafty word and many wiles, Odysseus the man beguiles: "Take heart, truly of Troy's allies. Where encamped, their strength, and their planning, likewise." Thus cunning from witless much knowledge does hear Ere he slays the fool and bestrips him of gear. Ere speaking lips with dust are a-hush And helmet swings from tamarisk bush. Odysseus, of the hardy heart. Of all has heard a single part; That of Rhesos' horses so swift and so white. His chariot fair and his armor bedight. Though night is awane and the dawn glimmers nigh, He burns to follow the heron's cry To Thracians sleeping in rows on the ground, By every man his horses well-bound. See midmost are the coveted, glorious pair Of Rhesos, alert and so wondrously fair! Then swords with desire run a swift, scarlet race. And deal a sure death to the men of Thrace — The horses quiver. They sniff the dead. To tread their lords they are sorely afraid. Odysseus, with bow of might, Subdues them, driving them through the night. (As Deniodociis sings, Odysseus looks first horror- stricken and then crushed. Tozvard the end, he drazi's his cloak before his eyes and sits sunk in grief. [24] When the song is over, and a page has led Demodociis in, Alcinous touches Odysseus' arm.) ALCINOUS Why do you grieve, stranger? These things are now past. The gods brought death to men in those days that we, sitting happy at the banquet, might have a song of glory. (He tries to drazv Odysseus' cloak away from his eyes. Odysseus rises and slowly lowers his arm from his haggard face. With bozued head he speaks.) ODYSSEUS I am Odysseus. (The Phaeacians take the announcement as did Nausicaa. There is the beginning of cheer. The athletes start forward in enthusiasm. Odysseus checks the tide of excitement.) At Ilium I fought as a man must. What was to be, I endured. But to be sung a hero now, that I cannot endure. NAUSICAA But you are a hero. Look how the Phaeacians long to honor you and make you happy. LAODAM AS (Mounting the steps toward Odysseus by enthusiastic leaps followed by Halius and Clytoneus.) Forbear modesty, Odysseus. Give us the story of Ilium. PHAEACEANS The story! The story! [25] LAODAMAS Pity youths who have not seen the glorious deeds on the plains of Ilium! Like nurselings we can but stam- mer the heroic tale. Only Damodocus' songs have we. You had the rumble of chariot wheels, the flash of ar- mor, the splendid facing of death. PHAEACEANS Odysseus! The story! EAODAM AS We play at games of war. You fought beside Aga- memnon. {Girls in double columns come down opposite sides of the steps zvith shields and spears. They pause on the steps and threaten each other with weapons. Then they descend to the grass and dance the glory of bat- tle. All zvatch eagerly except Odysseus who covers his face with his hands. When it is over, Alcinous turns to Odysseus.) AIvCINOUS Surely not to the victor does the tale of war bring sorrow. ODYSSEUS Alcinous, of war there is but one vision for victor and vanquished, a vision of the happiness of women blighted by death. (Nausicaa understands at last. She conies down and dances on the grass, a dance of the cruetly of war. When it is ended she goes to sit at her mother's feet. Arete puts her arm about her and they both bend to- ward Odysseus.) r26l ARETE It is the women who suffer most in wars? (Odysseus comes down several steps, standing before Arete.) ODYSSEUS Men only die, but women wait. Oh, Penelope. (The name bursts from him as if agaijist his will.) NAUSICAA Penelope? ODYSSEUS Her I left when I sailed for Ilium. NAUSICAA Ah, in Ithaca. (He nods.) She is divinely fair? ODYSSEUS Fair? No, there are many fairer, but she is — Penelope. (Nausicaa drazvs her mother doivn and whispers to her pleadingly. Arete, assenting, rises.) ARETE Let US send Odysseus home, Alcinous, to Ithaca, where Penelope waits even as I for you were the Phaeacians warriors. (Nausicaa comes around and stands beside her father, coaxing him.) AECINOUS (To Odysseus.) I had thought you would find happiness here. (He looks up fondly at Nausicaa.) [27 1 ODYSSEUS Phaeacia is a land of fair pleasures, but for the war- weary- NAUSICAA I understand. Before Ilium he might have been happy here. ARETE It is the shores of the homeland he longs for, Alci- nous, the rough familiar crags of Ithaca where wait for him homely duties and his Penelope. {At her speech a light breaks over Odysseus' face which Nausicaa scrutinizes now with perfect under- standing, tinged with sadness.) ALCINOUS (Rising so that he stands, too, beside Odysseus.) Hearken, ye Phaeacian Captains and Councilors, our guest longs for other shores than these, and I, your lord, say he shall not long in vain. (N'atisicaa looks proudly up at her father as he speaks.) Launch a lofty ship, fit the oars into their leathern slings, spread the white sail. By the magic of our seamen, Odysseus shall tomorrow be in Ithaca. ARETE Shall the guest leave Phaeacia empty-handed, Alci- nous? ALCINOUS Go, bring gifts to load the vessel. Ye sceptered kings bring presents commensurate with your rank; spotless tunics, talents of gold, and brazen tripods. Then will [28] Odysseus bless Phaeacia and the ship that bears him home. ARETE And I will have my women store the vessel with bread and ruddy wine and deck its high-curving prow with garlands. LAODAMAS I will summon the oarsmen. (All go off, the dancing girls gathering up the Howers from the steps and the pages carrying the thrones inside. When they are all gone, Odysseus is left standing alone. Nausicaa has gone above him and stands half hidden by one of the columns. Girls come down and dance a fragment of their early dance, this time zvist fully. Odysseus is so intent on the road that- leads seaward that he does not heed them. They go zvithin, and Nausicaa calls, "Odys- seus!" He does not hear her. Oarsmen approach singing, and he starts with a happy gesture toward them. As they pass, he follows them a little way until he is checked where the steps end. Even zvhen Nausicaa speaks his name again, he is still absorbed in his far vision of the oarsmen. Poseidon appears with his nymphs who dance the gentle movements of the calm seas for a brief moment and then go off. Athene appears between the central columns of the portico.) ATHENE Odysseus ! (He turns, but she has disappeared. Only Nausicaa is standing there with hand extended.) [29 1 NAUSICAA Odysseus, farewell ! (Odysseus comes to her and kneels.) ODYSSEUS Farewell, princess ! Zeus grant you long life in Phaea- cia, the fairest land I have seen in my wanderings. NAUSICAA (A little sadly.) Not fairer than Ithaca. ODYSSEUS For you, Nausicaa, because you are young, and for the unscarred youth who will some day come as you dreamed last night. (She shakes her head at that, but smiles up at him bravely before she turns away. He zvatches her go, and she looks back over her shoulder to smile again. At top of the steps, she turns zvith a gesture of fare- well, but he has already faced about to watch another group of oarsmen going down to the seashore singing the refrain of their song. When Nausicaa has gone inside the palace, the rest of the court comes out to sound of processional music, and the populace gathers below in pageant formation, groups bearing tripods and vases aloft, robes, gay silk banners, chests, trays of fruit, leather bottles of wine, garlands and baskets of flowers, one group playing on pipes, another lead- ing a heifer decked with garlands. Group after group pauses before the steps and offers its gifts to Oydsseus before taking its place in mass formation. [30] The flower girls enter dancing a few measures of their dance, the oarsmen singing the refrain of their song. Before Odysseus they sing the whole.) The Oarsmen's Song. To sea we shall slip as on magical wings, Decks apile with riches in bales. Then launch the black ship, fit the oars in their slings, Fling aloft the white, spreading sails. Refrain Toss up the spray with a vigorous oar, Toss up the bright, briny spray. Speed the swift ship to the beckoning shore, Speed her afar on her way. When sails are afling, and the oars all agree. Taut are muscles, miles race behind. 'Tis sweet then to sing with the lift of the sea, Steer by stars and fly in the wind. (A page brings a gold cup to Alcinous. He takes it and holds it aloft as he speaks.) AECINOUS Take my cup, Odysseus, in token of my wish that our seamen shall land you safely on Ithacan shores. There may you forget the strife that haunts you. ODYSSEUS (Taking the cup.) Grant Alcinous' wish and bless the kindly Phaeacians, O, Athene ! (He holds the cup on high and pours a libation as he [31] prays. When the stream of wine pours from the cup, Athene appears between the columns; and the people fall back on either hand and drop to their knees, Odysseus at the feet of the goddess.) ATHENE The gods are mindful of Phaeacia. It is you, Odys- seus, whom I would bless. I would bring you again to Ithaca where you who have looked on death may see again the homely sights, the early sun on the gaunt crags, the swineherd husbanding your flocks. You are war-weary, but duties invite where pleasures only pall. Go, take ship for home and Penelope. (There is the sound of music, a glad but stately pro- cessional, and Odysseus \rises zvith transfigured face to follow where Athene's lifted arm suggests. At bot- tom of the steps he pauses and seems about to speak, lifting his arm as did Athene. But, silent and still radiant, he lowers his arms and goes off. Behind him, group by group, the pageant forms and follows toward the sea. Athene is left alone. When the last of the pageant is moving away, she comes slowly down.) [ 32