the sea, and her father she met as he was going to the council
with the chiefs of the land. Then she said: "Give me, father, the
wagon with the mules, that I may take the garments to the river to
wash them. Thou shouldest always have clean robes when thou goest
to the council; and there are my five brothers also, who love to
have newly washed garments at the dance."

But of her own marriage she said nothing. And her father, knowing
her thoughts, said: "I grudge thee not, dear child, the mules or
aught else. The men shall harness for thee a wagon with strong
wheels and fitted also with a frame."

Then he called to the men, and they made ready the wagon, and
harnessed the mules; and the maiden brought the raiment out of her
chamber, and put it in the wagon. Also her mother filled a basket
with all manner of food, and poured wine in a goat-skin bottle.
Olive oil also she gave her, that Nausicaa and her maidens might
anoint themselves after the bath. And Nausicaa took the reins, and
touched the mules with the whip. Then was there a clatter of
hoofs, and the mules went on with their load, nor did they grow
weary.

When they came to the river, where was water enough for the
washing of raiment, the maidens loosed the mules from the chariot,
and set them free to graze in the sweet clover by the river-bank.
Then they took the raiment from the wagon, and bare it to the
river, and trod it in the trenches. And when they had cleansed all
the garments, they laid them on the shore of the sea, where the
waves had washed the pebbles clean. After that they bathed, and
anointed themselves; and then they sat down to eat and drink by