Athena's Dream to Nausicaa and Her Request for a Wagon — Odyssey §6.1-6.67 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

Thus he slept there, the much-enduring noble Odysseus,

ὕπνῳ καὶ καμάτῳ ἀρημένος· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη

subdued by sleep and weariness; but Athena

βῆ ῥʼ ἐς Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,

went indeed to the land and the city of the Phaeacian men,

οἳ πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιον ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ὑπερείῃ,

who once indeed dwelt in spacious Hypereia,

ἀγχοῦ Κυκλώπων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων,

near the Cyclopes, overbearing men,

οἵ σφεας σινέσκοντο, βίηφι δὲ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.

who used to plunder them, and were stronger in might.

ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγε Ναυσίθοος θεοειδής,

Thence Nausithous, peer to gods, made them arise and led them,

εἷσεν δὲ Σχερίῃ, ἑκὰς ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστάων,

and settled them in Scheria, far from wheat-eating men,

ἀμφὶ δὲ τεῖχος ἔλασσε πόλει, καὶ ἐδείματο οἴκους,

and drove a wall around the city, and built houses,

καὶ νηοὺς ποίησε θεῶν, καὶ ἐδάσσατʼ ἀρούρας.

and made temples for the gods, and divided the fields.

ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,

But he indeed, already subdued by fate, had gone to the house of Hades,

Ἀλκίνοος δὲ τότʼ ἦρχε, θεῶν ἄπο μήδεα εἰδώς.

and Alcinous then ruled, knowing counsels from the gods.

τοῦ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

To his house went the goddess, flashing-eyed Athena,

νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα.

planning a return for great-hearted Odysseus.

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον πολυδαίδαλον, ᾧ ἔνι κούρη

She went to the richly wrought chamber, wherein a maiden

κοιμᾶτʼ ἀθανάτῃσι φυὴν καὶ εἶδος ὁμοίη,

was sleeping, like the immortals in stature and form,

Ναυσικάα, θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,

Nausicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous,

πὰρ δὲ δύʼ ἀμφίπολοι, Χαρίτων ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσαι,

and beside her were two handmaidens, having beauty from the Graces,

σταθμοῖιν ἑκάτερθε· θύραι δʼ ἐπέκειντο φαειναί.

on either side of the doorposts; and the shining doors were closed.

ἡ δʼ ἀνέμου ὡς πνοιὴ ἐπέσσυτο δέμνια κούρης,

And like a breath of wind she rushed to the bed of the maiden,

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν,

and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her,

εἰδομένη¹ κούρῃ ναυσικλειτοῖο Δύμαντος,

likening herself to the daughter of Dymas, famous for ships,

ἥ οἱ ὁμηλικίη μὲν ἔην, κεχάριστο δὲ θυμῷ.

who was her equal in age, and was dear to her heart.

τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

Likening herself to her, flashing-eyed Athena spoke:

Ναυσικάα, τί νύ σʼ ὧδε μεθήμονα γείνατο μήτηρ;

"Nausicaa, why indeed did your mother bear you so careless?

εἵματα μέν τοι κεῖται ἀκηδέα σιγαλόεντα,

For your shining garments lie uncared for,

σοὶ δὲ γάμος σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἵνα χρὴ καλὰ μὲν αὐτὴν

yet your marriage is near, when you must yourself wear beautiful clothes,

ἕννυσθαι, τὰ δὲ τοῖσι παρασχεῖν, οἵ κέ σʼ ἄγωνται.

and provide them for those who will lead you away.

ἐκ γάρ τοι τούτων φάτις ἀνθρώπους ἀναβαίνει

For from these things a good report goes abroad among men,

ἐσθλή, χαίρουσιν δὲ πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.

and your father and lady mother rejoice.

ἀλλʼ ἴομεν² πλυνέουσαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι·

But let us go to wash them with the breaking of dawn;

καί τοι ἐγὼ συνέριθος ἅμʼ ἕψομαι, ὄφρα τάχιστα

and I will follow as your helper, that you may most quickly

ἐντύνεαι, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔτι δὴν παρθένος ἔσσεαι·

get ready, since you will not remain a maiden much longer.

ἤδη γάρ σε μνῶνται ἀριστῆες κατὰ δῆμον

For already the nobles woo you throughout the land

πάντων Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι γένος ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτῇ.

of all Phaeacians, where indeed is your own lineage too.

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐπότρυνον πατέρα κλυτὸν ἠῶθι πρὸ

But come, urge your illustrious father before dawn

ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσαι, ἥ κεν ἄγῃσι

to harness the mules and the wagon, which may carry

ζῶστρά τε καὶ πέπλους καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.

the waistbands and robes and shining rugs.

καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον ἠὲ πόδεσσιν

And indeed for yourself too it is much better thus than to go

ἔρχεσθαι· πολλὸν γὰρ ἀπὸ πλυνοί εἰσι πόληος.

on foot; for the washing pools are very far from the city."

ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

Having thus spoken, flashing-eyed Athena departed

Οὔλυμπόνδʼ, ὅθι φασὶ θεῶν ἕδος ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ

to Olympus, where they say is the ever secure seat of the gods.

ἔμμεναι. οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι τινάσσεται οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρῳ

It is neither shaken by winds, nor ever wet

δεύεται οὔτε χιὼν ἐπιπίλναται, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἴθρη

with rain, nor does snow come near; but a cloudless

πέπταται ἀνέφελος, λευκὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν αἴγλη·

ether is spread out, and a white splendor plays over it.

τῷ ἔνι τέρπονται μάκαρες θεοὶ ἤματα πάντα.

Therein the blessed gods rejoice all their days.

ἔνθʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε κούρῃ.

Thither departed the flashing-eyed goddess, when she had spoken to the maiden.

αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐύθρονος, ἥ μιν ἔγειρε

And straightway came beautiful-throned Dawn, who awakened

Ναυσικάαν ἐύπεπλον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀπεθαύμασʼ ὄνειρον,

Nausicaa of the beautiful robe; and she marveled at her dream,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι διὰ δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀγγείλειε τοκεῦσιν,

and went through the house to tell her parents,

πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητρί· κιχήσατο δʼ ἔνδον ἐόντας·

her dear father and mother; and she found them within.

ἡ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἧστο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν

The mother indeed sat by the hearth with her handmaidens,

ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσʼ ἁλιπόρφυρα· τῷ δὲ θύραζε

spinning sea-purple yarn; and her father she met

ἐρχομένῳ ξύμβλητο μετὰ κλειτοὺς βασιλῆας

going out to the illustrious lords

ἐς βουλήν, ἵνα μιν κάλεον Φαίηκες ἀγαυοί.

to the council, whither the noble Phaeacians called him.

ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχι στᾶσα φίλον πατέρα προσέειπε·

And she, standing very close, spoke to her dear father:

πάππα φίλʼ, οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἐφοπλίσσειας³ ἀπήνην

"Dear papa, would you not indeed harness for me a wagon,

ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ἵνα κλυτὰ εἵματʼ ἄγωμαι

high and well-wheeled, so that I may take my glorious clothes

ἐς ποταμὸν πλυνέουσα, τά μοι ῥερυπωμένα κεῖται;

to the river to wash them, which now lie soiled?

καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ ἔοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντα

And indeed for yourself too it is fitting, when you are among the first men

βουλὰς βουλεύειν καθαρὰ χροΐ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.

deliberating counsels, to have clean clothes upon your body.

πέντε δέ τοι φίλοι υἷες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,

And you have five dear sons born in your halls,

οἱ δύʼ ὀπυίοντες, τρεῖς δʼ ἠίθεοι θαλέθοντες·

two indeed married, and three lusty bachelors;

οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ ἐθέλουσι νεόπλυτα εἵματʼ ἔχοντες

and they always wish to go to the dance

ἐς χορὸν ἔρχεσθαι· τὰ δʼ ἐμῇ φρενὶ πάντα μέμηλεν.

having newly washed clothes; and all these things are a care to my mind."

ὣς ἔφατʼ· αἴδετο γὰρ θαλερὸν γάμον ἐξονομῆναι

So she spoke; for she was ashamed to name her fruitful marriage

πατρὶ φίλῳ. ὁ δὲ πάντα νόει καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

to her dear father. But he understood all and answered with a word:

Syntax notes3 items

6.22εἰδομένη
The participle εἰδομένη (present middle/passive participle of εἴδομαι "to appear, resemble", feminine singular nominative) modifies the subject of the main clause, Athena. It governs the dative κούρῃ, meaning "likening herself to the daughter".
6.31ἴομεν
Short-vowel subjunctive for the regular ἴωμεν ("let us go"). It functions as a hortatory subjunctive in the main clause.
6.57οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἐφοπλίσσειας
The optative mood (ἐφοπλίσσειας, aorist optative second-person singular) with the negative οὐκ and the particle ἄν expresses a polite request or gentle query ("would you not indeed harness..."), avoiding a direct command.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:6.1-6.67