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As she spoke the goddess
dispersed the mist and the land appeared. Then Odysseus rejoiced at
finding himself again in his own land, and kissed the bounteous soil;
he lifted up his hands and prayed to the nymphs, saying, "Naiad
nymphs, daughters of Zeus, I made sure that I was never again to see
you, now therefore I greet you with all loving salutations, and I
will bring you offerings as in the old days, if Zeus’
redoubtable daughter will grant me life, and bring my son to
manhood."
"Take heart, and do not trouble
yourself about that," rejoined Athena, "let us rather set about
stowing your things at once in the cave, where they will be quite
safe. Let us see how we can best manage it all."
Therewith she went down into the
cave to look for the safest hiding places, while Odysseus brought up
all the treasure of gold, bronze, and good clothing which the
Phaeacians had given him. They stowed everything carefully away, and
Athena set a stone against the door of the cave. Then the two sat
down by the root of the great olive, and consulted how to compass the
destruction of the wicked suitors.
"Odysseus," said Athena, "noble
son of Laertes, think how you can lay hands on these disreputable
people who have been lording it in your house these three years,
courting your wife and making wedding presents to her, while she does
nothing but mourning your nostos, giving hope and sending
encouraging messages to every one of them, but meaning [in her
noos] the very opposite of all she says."
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