Odysseus ended up on the island of Scheria, which was inhabited by the phacias. Far from other people, feacs lead a righteous and calm life. They are beautiful sailors, but go out to sea only for pleasure, for they know neither trade nor wars. Their ships fly by sea faster than thought. they don’t need a steering wheel, as the ships have their own soul, which understands the intentions of travelers. It’s like ghost ships rushing among the waves, twisted by clouds and fog. These people do not know what danger is, the sea is always smooth and calm for them. The life of the feacs passes like an eternal holiday. They love music and all kinds of games, dress a lot, they have beautiful houses, with soft lodges, on which they rest after a warm font. The feacs prefer dancing than brandishing a sword or spear. To the afflicted poor fellow Odysseus, Scheria seemed like a fairy tale generated by longing in the long gloomy hours of a sea storm.
In the palace of Tsar Alkinoi, the walls were bronze, and the doors were golden. On high pedestals stood statues of young men with torches, they were lit when the feasts were dragged on until night. Behind the palace was a garden in which pears, fig trees, pomegranates, plums and apple trees yielded wonderful fruits year-round, because there was no winter in the land of feacs. When Odysseus entered the banquet hall, he saw the Phoenician nobles sitting on decorated chairs covered with embroidered carpets. Everyone drank, laughed and talked, and Tsar Alkina, who was sitting on the throne, next to his wife, led the cheerful meeting. The son of Laertes told them of his adventures and asked for a ship that would take him to Ithaca. The king and nobles made him such rich gifts that they exceeded the Trojan booty, which perished during sea voyages, in value. Tired of calamities and hope of return, Odysseus fell asleep on a comfortable bed set for him on the deck of the ship. Before his eyes in a dream there was a long image of a dull Navsikai, who said goodbye to him with a silent look.
Odysseus was still asleep when the Theakian ship arrived in Ithaca. His sleepy was carried ashore, and the treasures were hidden between the rocks. The sun was already high when Odysseus woke up. And he did not recognize his land. Then Athena appeared, opened his eyes and regained her memory. He tried to run home, to his wife, to his son. And the goddess held him back. One must be careful. Everyone believes that he died. From the neighboring islands came the young princesses-grooms. They seek Penelope’s hands and inheritance after the deceased. The kingdom is in decline. The faithful wife is no longer able to resist the perseverance of the suitors and deceives them as soon as she can. She said that she would not marry until she weaved the cellar for her father. To win time, she wove a cover for almost two years: what she managed to weave in the daytime, she loosened at night. Finally, her tricks were solved. Grooms insist that Penelope choose one of them. If Odysseus suddenly appears among them, they will inevitably kill him.
The goddess touched the traveler with a magic wand. His hands twisted, the figure doubled over, his skin sagged, a hole in rags covered the beggar, in which it was impossible to recognize the glorious warrior from under Troy. The changed Odysseus took the staff, threw a bag over his shoulders and went to the beggars in his own house and kingdom.
Indeed, he did not recognize the kingdom. Everywhere he went in freely, he asked for food and alms, like a beggar, who is under the care of Zeus. Only when he entered the courtyard of his palace did the unexpected happen. Under the gate, on a pile of dung, lay Argus - an old frail dog. He was bitten by parasites, achieved hunger. And suddenly a familiar voice came to his aged, dull ears. Distant memories emerged from the burden of years and hardships, and rotten nostrils suddenly caught the familiar smell of the owner under the rags of a wandering beggar. He stirred, wanted to crawl at the feet of Odysseus, straining all the power of dog devotion, rose to his numb legs, and died.