Odysseus was honored as a hero since he not only made the stratagem of a Trojan horse and finally won the battle of Trojan, but also because after suffering all kinds of trials and tribulations in the foreign land, with an indomitably strong will and marvelous intelligence, he finally returned to his hometown and killed all the suitors for his wife Penelope, for people had thought he was dead. People honored him because he was strong, brave and intelligent. He was a hero, a king, a warrior, and a conqueror. Civilians worshiped him, and even God adored his courage.

However, intoxicated by the victory and the glamour of these glories, Odysseus seemed a little dissatisfied about this peaceful life. To a man who had experienced the world, an undisturbed domestic life bored him. In the bottom of his heart, he was longing for adventure and stimuli. But what he had now was just an unchangeable house, an unchanged woman, and regular food. These were secure, but dull.

Lying on the bed, Odysseus observed his wife secretly. Sometimes, he couldn’t even imagine this woman who slept next to him was the very faithful woman who had waited him for nearly 20 years. To be honest, in the bottom of Odyssey’s heart, he didn’t know how to face this woman, who gave up her most precious time waiting for him. When Penelope was making herself up in the mirror, Odysseus saw the crow’s feet around her eyes, and her white hair that she carefully hid, a little guilty at the idea that she was not as attractive as she was before. At night, Odysseus would have some dreams. In the dreams, he went back to this past wandering life and made love with the beautiful Naucicaa or sometimes went to the Arete Games and Feasting of the Phaeacians. For all these sensations that his past experience aroused, his peaceful life couldn’t give him.

One day, when his carriage was roaming the streets, he saw there was a group of people standing in a circle. Applause came from them every now and then. He got off the carriage, and saw a beautiful girl dancing in the square, with a crowd of onlookers around her. This girl looked very fair. She was tall and slim.

Odysseus was amazed at her beauty. Besides her good looks, there was a proud temperament in her, which made Odysseus subdued. The girl was dancing with swift and light footsteps, as if she was not dancing but flying on the ground.

Odysseus was amazed by this scene. He gazed steadily and never took his eyes off her.

Of course, the girl noticed Odysseus’ amazement and smiled secretly in her heart. Being adored by a hero was really flattering, and she recognized famous Odysseus at first sight. She smiled at Odysseus, and her eyes were shining brightly, as if they were a pair of stars.

After the dance, Odysseus came in front.

“Damsel, what is your name?”

“My name is Julia,” the girl said with a gracious smile. Odysseus felt himself charmed by her youth and beauty. Collecting himself, he asked, “Would you like to have a cup of coffee with me?”

“Sure.”

Odysseus led her to the most famous coffee house, with the highest taste in the city, where a lot of talents, blue stockings, and philosophers in Greece would join together and talk intelligently there. Many famous philosophers like Socrates always had a heated debate with some sophists in this coffee house.

Julia sat down, amazed at this coffee house’s culture and taste, when Odysseus asked her, “Julia, where are you from? Why are you dancing in the street?”

“I was once the princess in Sparta, but my country was defeated by the Athens in one battle and my parents were killed in the battle. Then I began to drift about on the street, walking from one city to another, and dancing in order to get some money. So that’s why I come here,” Julia was a little sad when she narrated her story.

She lowered down her head She lowered down her head when she spoke, and her eyes flashed. Julia was very appreciative and glad to have Odysseus as her listener to hear what happened in her past.

Odysseus trusted Julia immediately, just from her manner and temperament. Then, in his heart, there aroused a special feeling towards this girl, more than just sympathy and admiration of her beauty, but a comradeship. Similar to him, she also wandered from place to place, and saw what the rolling moral world looked like.

“Ah, I see.” Odysseus laughed, “So you are a wondering princess.”

Julia blushed a little.