the Greek village of the present time.

Undoubtedly fabulous threads are spun through this description. Quite
too lavish a use is made of the precious metals in the house of
Alcinous, as in some fairy tale or romantic ballad; so much gold is
found nowhere outside of wonderland. In the garden fruit is never
wanting, some of it just ripe, some still green, some in flower. No
change of season, yet the effect of all seasons; surely a marvelous
country it appears; still we learn that in Campania are some sorts of
grapes which produce thrice a year. A mythical garden is indeed the
delight of human fancy. Eden has its counterparts everywhere. Indeed a
significant parallel might be drawn between Greek Phaeacia and the
Hebrew Paradise; in the one, man unfolds out of savagery, in the other
he is created at once by a divine act. Can we not see Orient and
Occident imaging themselves in their respective ideal products? The one
from below upwards, the other from above downwards; both movements, the
Greek and the Hebrew, belong to man, and have entered into his
civilization. The next world-poet, Dante, will unite the two streams.

III.

Ulysses now comes to the internal element of Phaeacia, to its soul as it
were, manifested in the institutional life of Family and State. From
this indeed is derived the beautiful world which we have just
witnessed; Art builds up a dwelling-place, which images the spirit of
the people to themselves and to others.

In accord with his instructions from both. Pallas and Nausicaa, he
first goes to Arete and clasps her knees in supplication, begging for
an escort to his country. But behold! She hesitates, notwithstanding
his strong appeal to her domestic feeling and her sympathy with
suffering. What can be the matter? Another Phaeacian, not of the royal
house apparently, but of the nobles, is the first to speak and command
the stranger to be raised up and to be hospitably received. An old
religious man who sees the neglect of Zeus in the neglect of the
suppliant, a man of long experience, "knowing things many and ancient,"
is this Echeneus; him at once the king obeys, the queen still remaining
silent.

Soon, however, we catch the reason of her conduct in the question:
"Stranger, where did you get those garments?" She noticed Ulysses
wearing the mantle and tunic "which she herself had made with her
servants," and which Nausicaa had given him. Surely this is a matter
which must be accounted for befor