l holiday, and even labor takes on a festal
appearance.

Ulysses gives the palm of excellence in the dance to the Phaeacians, and
with this recognition the king proposes a large number of
presents--hospitable gifts, such as the host gives to his honored
guest. Moreover an apology and a gift are required of that Euryalus who
recently offended Ulysses. Thus reconciliation is the word and the
deed. Then all are ready to return to the palace into the presence of
Arete, who is the orderer, and she makes arrangements for packing up
the gifts. Note the warm bath again, supposed sign of effeminacy; here
it is taken by Ulysses with decided approbation. Nausicaa, too, appears
in a passing glance, and simply asks to be remembered for her deed; the
response of Ulysses is emphatic: when he gets home he "will pray to her
as to a God day by day, for thou, O maiden, hast saved my life."

In this round of recognition, the bard must not be forgotten; he is
again led in, a banquet is served, and Ulysses takes special pains to
honor him "with a part of the fat back of a white-tusked boar," and to
speak a strong word of commendation: "Demodocus, I praise thee above
all mortals; either the Muse or Apollo has taught thee, so well dost
thou sing the fate of the Greeks."

III.

The praise of the bard naturally leads to the third portion of the
Book, introduced by another song, which has its intimate connection
with the preceding ones. Then its effect is noted upon Ulysses, who
weeps as before, being stirred by many memories of companions lost.
Verily Troy is a tearful subject. What motive for weeping? Who is this
stranger anyhow? Alcinous now starts his interrogations which Ulysses
answers in the following Book. Still, though nameless, he has unfolded
himself quite fully through his actions in this Book. Again we hear the
deeds of the aforetime sung by the poet, and see their influence in the
present.

1. Ulysses himself now asks the poet to sing of the Wooden Horse which
"was made by Epeius with the aid of Pallas," the Goddess here standing
for skill, as it is now skill which takes Troy, not mere courage. Then
mark further: Ulysses was the man who introduced it within the Trojan
walls by stratagem--clearly another case of brain-work rather than
brawn-work. This famous Wooden Horse was "filled with men who took
Troy." Such is the song which Ulysses now calls for, mentioning himself
by name--a fact which makes the announcement of his nam