ODYSSEY BOOK X
NOW did we come to the isle Aeolian, home of the monarch
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Aeolus, Hippotas' son, by the gods everlasting belovéd.
This is an island that floats, and a rampart is builded about it
Bronzen, unbroken; and sheer from the water the precipice rises.
Now to the monarch had been twelve children born in the palace,
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Six were daughters and six were sons in the bloom of their manhood.
Therefore to each of the sons he had given a daughter in marriage.
These in the halls of their father belovéd and excellent mother
Ever do feast; for at hand are ever unfailing provisions;
Filled is the house and the court with the odours and noises of feasting
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All of the day, but at night at the side of their honour'd consorts
Covered with wrappers they slumber on bedsteads with beautiful carvings.
Now when at last we arrived at the city and home of the monarch,
One whole month he entreated me well, and of all he inquiréd,
Troy and the Argive fleet and the homeward return of the Grecians.
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Then, when the whole of the story in order was duly related,
I too uttered request concerning my journey, and begged him
Speed my return, and he made not refusal, but furnished an escort,
Flaying me also the skin of a nine-year ox for a wallet,
Where fast-bound he imprisoned the ways of the blustering storm-blasts,
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Seeing that him as the Keeper of winds hath elected Cronion,
Either to lull them to rest or to raise whichever he listeth.
This in my hollow ship with a cord resplendent of silver
Firmly he bound, to allow not a breath to escape, not the faintest,
Letting alone fare forth with its favouring breezes the Zephyr
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Homeward to carry the vessels and us; yet fated he was not
This to accomplish, because our own mad folly destroyed us.
Nine days long did we sail, and the nights no less than the daytime;
Till, on the tenth, in the even, we sighted the fields of the homeland,
Ay and beheld quite near us the folk as they tended the beacons.
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Now sweet sleep came creeping upon me, outworn with my labours,
Seeing that ever I managed the sheet and to none of my comrades
Trusted it, hoping the quicker to come to the land of my fathers.
Meanwhile thus did my mates hold converse one with another,
Saying that home I was bringing a treasure of gold and of silver,
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Presents by Hippotas' son, the munificent Aeolus, given :
So did they secretly talk as they looked each man at his neighbour:
'Lo, how dear, how honoured this fellow is ever with all men,
Every mortal the land or the city of whom he arriveth!
Many a treasure he bringeth from Troy, magnificent prizes
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Out of the booty; but we, who the selfsame journey have ended,
Homeward return nought having withal save hands that are empty.
This too sure is a gift which lately hath lavished in friendship
Aeolus. Come now, quick let us spy what is here and discover
How great treasure of gold and of silver is stowed in the wallet.'
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Thus did they speak, and the men were won by the counsel of mischief.
Loosing the bag they untied it—and out rushed every storm-wind,
Seized them with might of a tempest and carried them suddenly seaward
Wailing and weeping, afar from the land of their fathers; whereat I
Waked from my slumber, and straight with my spirit unerring I communed
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Whether to leap from the ship and to seek for my death in the waters
Or to endure it in silence and still to remain with the living.
Well I endured and remained, and wrapt in my cloak on the vessel
Lay, as the ships swept on, by the terrible blast of the storm-wind
Back to the isle Aeolian borne, midst groans of my comrades.
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Here on the shore disembarking we drew from a fountain of water;
Hastily then did my mates make midday meal by the vessels.
Now when of meat and of drink we had all of us fully partaken,
Then did I, taking as escort a herald and one of my shipmates,
Go to the glorious palace, and here King Aeolus found I
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Feasting, and near him was seated his queen, and beside her the children.
Entering therefore the house, on the threshold anigh to the door-posts
Sat we adown, while all were filled with amazement, and asked me :
'Why art thou hither returned? What deity harmed thee, Odysseus?
Surely a speeding we gave thee enow, sufficing to bring thee
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Back to thy land and thy home, or whither thy soul desireth.'
Thus did they speak; whereat with a heart right heavy I answered :
'Harmed have evil companions, and pitiless slumber hath harmed me,
Woe to it!—Nay now, heal us, my friends, since yours is the power.'
So did I speak, and besought them with gentlest words of persuasion;
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Yet all silent they sat. Then answered the father in anger :
'Hence from the Isle forthwith, most infamous mortal that liveth!
Wicked I hold it to treat as a guest or to speed on his journey
One whom thus pursueth the hate of the deities blesséd.
Hence and begone! since hated of gods everlasting thou camest.'
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Spake—and away from his palace he ordered me grievously groaning.
Onward thence as we sailed, our hearts sore laden with sorrow,
Spent was the soul of the men by the grievous labour of rowing.
Ah, for that folly of ours! for the vanished hope of the homeland!
Six days long did we voyage, the nights no less than the daytime,
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Till, on the seventh, we came to the mountainous stronghold of Lamos,
Laestrygonian Telepylos, where shepherd to shepherd
Calls, as the one comes home with his flock and the other is starting.
Here might twofold wages be won by a man that was sleepless,
Once as a herd of the kine, once white flocks tending as shepherd,
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Such in the land is the nearness of night and of day in their courses.
Now when at last we had come to the glorious haven—(around it
Both to the right and the left is a cliff's precipitous rampart;
Two bluff headlands as well jut opposite one to the other
Out to the mouth of the haven and make right narrow the entry) —
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Then brought all of the others within it their twy-beaked vessels.
These inside of the bay of the hollow harbour they fastened
One by the other for never ariseth a billow within it,
Great nor little, but round there spreadeth a radiant calmness—
While for myself, I alone did my black ship moor on the outside,
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Right at the outermost point, to a rock fast binding the cable;
Then I upmounted the crags and stationed myself on an outlook.
Nowhere either of oxen or men to be seen was the labour,
Only a smoke I perceived from the inland flickering upward.
So of my men did I send forth certain to go and assure them
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What was this people, of all bread-nourished races of mortals;
Two of my comrades I chose, and a third as a herald I added.
These then landed and went by a road right level, that wagons
Used when they brought to the city the wood from the heights of the mountains.
Issuing forth of the city for water approached them a damsel,
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Laestrygonian Antiphates' gigantic daughter,
Hither descending to draw from the source of a beautiful freshet,
Fount Artacia, whence to the city the water is carried.
Now when anigh she had come they accosted and questioned her fully
Who was the king of the country and what was the nation he governed.
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Then straightway did she point to the high-roofed house of her father.
So to the glorious house of the monarch they came and the mother
Found there, like to the peak of a hill; and they sickened with horror.
Then forthwith from the place of the council she summoned her husband,
Antiphates; and he plotted at once their cruel destruction.
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One of my men in his clutches he seized and prepared him for dinner,
While that the twain sped swiftly away and escaped to the vessels.
Then in the city he raised an alarm, which hearing the mighty
Laestrygonians flocking collected from this and from that side,
Thousands and thousands, not like to an army of men but of Giants.
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These then down from the headlands with boulders as big as a burden
Cast, and a pitiful din of a sudden arose in the vessels,
Crashing of shattered ships and shrieking of men in their anguish,
Whom like fishes they speared and bare to their horrible banquet.
Whilst such slaughter was done in the inner recess of the harbour,
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Drawing the sharp-edged sword which hung at my thigh from its scabbard
Quickly I severed the cable that fastened my blue-bowed galley.
Hastily then I excelled my fellows and urgently bade them
Lay them with might on the oar and win them escape from disaster.
Then did they tug uptossing the brine in their fear of destruction.
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So right gladly from 'neath the precipitous cliffs to the open
Fluttered my ship; but the rest, ay every vessel, had perished.
Onward thence did we sail, our hearts sore laden with sorrow,
Gladly escaping from death, yet mourning for much-loved comrades.
Then to the isle Aeaea we came, whereon had her dwelling
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Circe of beautiful locks, dread goddess with voice as a mortal.
True-born sister is she to the baleful wizard Aeëtes.
Each was begotten of Eëlios who shineth on mortals,
Born of the selfsame mother, of Persé, daughter of Ocean.
Here to the shore of the island we brought our vessel in silence,
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Into a sheltering bay, to the which some deity led us.
Then disembarking we lay two days and two nights on the dry land,
Ever in grief and exhaustion consuming the spirit within us,
Till when the third day rose from the lap of the fair-tressed morning,
Taking my keen-edged sword and a lance, by myself I departed.
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Hastily leaving the ship, to a height commanding I mounted,
Hoping to notice the labours of men or the sound of their voices.
Thus I upmounted the crags and stationed myself on an outlook,
Whence I had sight of a smoke mid the wide expanse of the landscape
Rising from Circe's hall, through dense oak-thickets and woodland.
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Then long while did I ponder in mind and in spirit within me,
Whether to go and explore this fiery smoke I had sighted.
Thus as he pondered thereon, this plan seemed surely the better :
First to the swift-winged ship to return and the shore of the ocean,
Give to the men their meal, then send some forth on a questing.
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Now when at last I was drawing anigh to the twy-beaked galley,
Then in my loneliness sure some god who had pity upon me
PATTEN WILSON
CIRCE AND THE COMRADES OF ODYSSEUS
Sent me a stag enormous, with antlers loftily branching,
Right in my path, to the river descending from glades of the forest,
Thirsting to drink; for the might of the sun smote sorely upon him.
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While from the river he came, in the midst of his back by the backbone
Smote him the blade of my lance, and it pierced right through to the belly;
Over he rolled in the dust with a scream, and fled was his spirit.
Then on the body I planted a foot and the brass-bound spear-shaft
Dragged from the wound, and down on the earth close by I reclined it.
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Here did I leave it, and gathered a number of withies and saplings.
These to a rope of a fathom in length tight-twisted from both ends
Plaiting, I fastened the feet of the monstrous creature together,
Slung him across on the nape of my neck, then made for the vessel
Leaning me hard on my spear, on the shoulder unable to bear him
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Grasped by the one hand only—for wondrous huge was the creature.
Then to the front of the vessel I cast him and roused my companions
Standing in turn near each, and with words consoling addressed them :
'Courage, my friends! Not yet shall we go, though sorely afflicted,
Down to the mansion of Death, till the destined day be arisen.
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Come! while yet there is meat and is drink in the swift-winged vessel,
Be not forgetful of food, nor pine thus famished for hunger.'
Thus did I speak, and harking at once to my words of persuasion,
Straight they unmuffled, and there on the shore of the waste salt water
Marvelling gazed at the stag—so wondrous huge was the creature.
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Then, when at last they had sated their eyes with the pleasure of gazing,
Washing their hands they began to prepare them a glorious banquet.
So for the whole of the day till the sun went down in the ocean
Sitting we feasted on flesh in abundance and quaffed of the wine-cup.
Then, when the sun sank down and come was the gloom of the twilight,
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Weary we laid us to sleep on the surf-beat strand of the ocean.
Now when the morning was newly arisen, the roseate-fingered,
Calling together a council of all, these words I addressed them :
'List to my words, though fortune is verily evil, my comrades.
Friends no longer we know of the region of gloom or of dawning,
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Neither the place where setteth the sun which shineth on mortals,
Nay nor where he ariseth; and now let us quickly consider
Whether remains aught else to devise. There's nought I can think of.
All I beheld when I mounted the crags—for I came to an outlook.
This is an isle, all round by the infinite ocean encircled.
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Lowly and flat is the island itself; and a smoke in the middle
Clearly I noticed arising in dense oak-thickets and woodlands.'
Thus did I speak, and the hearts of my mates were broken within them,
Calling to mind those deeds of the Laestrygonian giant,
Calling the fury to mind of the insolent cannibal Cyclops.
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Loudly lamenting they wept, and poured forth tears in abundance,
Vainly for nought was the profit they gained by their weeping and wailing.
Then two parties I formed of the whole of my well-greaved comrades,
Equally numbered, and leaders for both of the bands I selected,
Godlike Eurylochus of the one and myself of the other.
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Then in a brass-bound helm when the lots were hastily shaken,
First of the lots to outleap was of Eurylochus great-hearted.
Thus then starting he went with his two and twenty companions
Bitterly wailing; and us did they leave lamenting behind them.
Soon in the woodland glades they discovered the palace of Circe
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Builded of stones smooth-cut, on a site with a beautiful prospect.
Roaming around it at will were wolves of the mountain and lions.
These had the goddess bewitched with her potions of evil enchantment.
Nor did the beasts make rush at my comrades, but (verily 'twas so !)
Fawning upon them they waved long tails and ramping upreared them,
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Even as dogs that encircle the master who comes from a banquet
Fawning—for scraps to appease their ravening ever he bringeth—
Thus came ramping around them the strong-clawed wolves and the lions
Fawning, and frighted the men as they saw these terrible monsters.
Now when at last they had come to the porch of the fair-tressed goddess,
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Circe they heard in the palace. With beautiful voice she was singing,
Weaving a great and ambrosial web—such raiment as only
Goddesses work, so delicate fine, so splendid and lovely.
First then uttered a word Polites, leader of heroes,
He that was dearest of all of my mates and trustiest also :
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'Listen, my friends! for within at a great loom plieth her shuttle,
Singing with voice so sweet that it maketh the floor to re-echo,
Either a goddess or woman. But come and at once let us call her!'
Thus did he speak and at once all raised their voices and called her.
Speedily then forth coming she opened the glittering portal,
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Calling them in; and they all in their foolishness followed and entered,
All save Eurylochus, for he tarried, suspicious of treason.
Bringing them into her palace she set them on chairs and on couches,
Mixed them of cheese and of meal and of yellow honey a batter
Mingled with Pramnian wine, and noxious drugs of enchantment
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Added, that all might utterly fail to remember their homeland.
Now so soon he had drained what she gave him, behold, of a sudden
Smiting the man with her wand she imprisoned him close in a pig-sty,
Having already the head of a pig and the voice and the bristles,
Ay and the body, but reason remaining unchanged as aforetime.
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Thus imprisoned in sties they made lamentation, and Circe
Flung to them acorns and mast of the ilex and fruit of the cornel,
Food that by wallowing swine is at all times greedily eaten.
Meantime Eurylochus came hurriedly back to the vessel,
Tidings to bring of his mates and the shameful fate they had suffered.
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Yet not a word was he able to utter for all his endeavour,
Pierced to the heart as he seemed by a speechless sorrow, his eyes too
Flooded with tears, and his soul all eager for loud lamentation,
Till at the last, when we all in amazement had urged him with questions,
Thus did he speak, and related the doom of the rest of his comrades:
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'E'en as thou badest, we traversed the oak-lands, noble Odysseus,
Till in the glades of the wood we discovered a fair-built mansion
Builded of stones smooth-cut, on a site with a beautiful prospect.
Here in the palace was plying her shuttle and sweetly was singing
Either a goddess or woman; and raising their voices they called her.
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Speedily then forth coming she opened the glittering portal,
Calling them in; and they all in their foolishness followed and entered,
All but myself—for I tarried behind, suspicious of treason.
Thus did they totally vanish away from my sight, nor did any
Further appear, though long there seated I watched and I waited.'
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Thus did he speak; but a great sword, studded with silver and bronzen,
Over my shoulder I hung, and my bow too slinging around me
Back by the selfsame road I commanded my comrade to guide me;
Whereat clasping my knees with his hands he began to implore me,
While with a woeful wail these swift-winged words he addressed me :
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'Take me not thither unwilling, my master, but leave me behind here!
Well do I know thou'lt never return, nor canst thou another
Bring of thy shipmates back. Nay rather, with these the survivors
Haste we to flee, while still to escape is the day of destruction.'
Thus did he speak in entreaty, and thus I addressed him in answer:
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'Eurylochus concerning thyself—stay here if thou wishest,
Eating and drinking thy fill by the side of the blue-prow'd vessel!
But—for myself—I shall go; for a strong constraint is upon me.'
These words uttered, I mounted the land from the ship and the sea-shore.
Now when at last I was come through wondrous glades of the forest
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Close to the palace of Circe, that mistress of many enchantments,
There I was met by the god of the golden wand, Hermeias,
While to the palace anigh I was drawing. A youth he resembled
Scarce with a down on the lip, in the flower of grace and of beauty.
Forthwith grasping me firm by the hand he addressed me a greeting:
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'Whither, unfortunate, thus dost thou wander alone in the highlands,
Strange to the place? It is surely thy comrades that yonder at Circe's
Closely imprisoned as pigs lie wallowing deeply in litter.
Comest thou hither perchance to release them? Alas, I assure thee
Never shalt thou come back, but remain there e'en as the others.
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Natheless listen! for, lo, I will free thee of peril and save thee.
See here! Bearing this powerful charm, in the palace of Circe
Enter and thus from thy head shall be warded the day of destruction.
Now will I tell thee of all the devices pernicious of Circe.
Mead will she mix thee and mingle a noxious drug in the batter.
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Yet e'en thus her enchantment shall fail—so strongly against it
Works the beneficent charm that I give thee; and all will I tell thee.
E'en at the moment that raising her long rod Circe shall strike thee,
Drawing the sharp-edged sword that thou bear'st at thy side from the scabbard
Spring on her—even on Circe—as eagerly longing to slay her.
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Then will she cower in fear and will offer thee tender embracements.
Yield thee at last, no longer refusing the love of the goddess;
So will she grant to thy mates a release, and will kindly entreat thee.
Yet thou shalt bid her to swear by the terrible oath of the Blesséd
Never to plot a device that is evil against thee, to harm thee,
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Lest that unclothed and defenceless she make thee a fool and unman thee."
Thus then speaking, the charm to me offered the Slayer of Argus,
Plucked from the ground; and he showed me the plant and its fashion of growing:
Black at the root; but the flower was even as milk in its whiteness.
Moly 'tis called by the gods, and to dig it is difficult labour,
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Labour for mortals, I mean—but to gods are possible all things.
Then Hermeias departed, returning to lofty Olympus
Thorough the woods of the island; and I to the palace of Circe
Held on my way, while darkly my spirit was troubled within me.
Soon at the doors of the palace I stood of the fair-tressed goddess.
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Here did I halt, and I called, and the goddess was ware of my calling.
Speedily then forth coming she opened the glittering portal,
Calling me in; and with heart right heavy I followed and entered
Into the hall, and a chair rich-studded with silver she gave me,
Beautiful, skilfully wrought—and beneath for the feet was a footstool.
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Then did she mix me a mead in a gold-wrought cup for a potion,
Adding a noxious drug, in her spirit devising me evil.
Now so soon I had taken and quaffed it (nor felt the bewitchment),
Forthwith giving a stroke with her wand she commanded me, saying:
'Off to the sty! Go, crouch thee along with the rest of thy fellows!'
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Thus did she speak; then drawing my sharp-edged sword from the scabbard
Quickly on Circe I cast me, as eagerly longing to slay her.
She with a shriek slipped under and clasping my knees in entreaty,
Uttering woeful wails, these swift-winged words she addressed me:
'Say, what mortal art thou, and from whence? what city and parents?
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Sorely I marvel that drinking the potion thou feelst not enchantment.
Never before hath another of mortals resisted the potion,
None that hath drunk it when once by the door of his teeth it had entered.
Surely within thy breast is a soul too strong for bewitchment.
Verily thou art Odysseus the wary and wise, who was destined
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Hither to come (so said to me ever the Slayer of Argus),
Home from the Trojan land in a swift black vessel returning.
Nay now, hide in the scabbard thy weapon, and come let us hasten
On to my couch to ascend and folded in tender embracement
Revel in love and in sleep, and trust each other for ever.'
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Thus did she speak; forthwith then in answer thus I addressed her:
'Nay, O Circe, thou canst not expect it of me to be loving,
After bewitching and turning my comrades to pigs in thy palace.
Me too, now thou hast gotten me here, thou deceitfully biddest
Enter thy chamber and mount on thy bed, to repose me beside thee,
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Plotting, when bared and defenceless, to make me a fool and unman thee.
Nay, I will never consent to ascend on thy bed and repose me,
Art thou not willing to swear me a solemn oath and to promise
Never again to devise what is evil against me, to harm me.'
Thus did I speak, and she readily gave me the oath I demanded.
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So, when at last she had given the oath and finished the plighting,
Into the beautiful bed I ascended of Circe the goddess.
Now meanwhile in the halls were handmaids busily working,
Even the four that attend on the goddess and serve in the palace.
These are nymphs and the daughters of sacred groves and of fountains,
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Yea and of hallowed rivers that run to the salt of the ocean.
One of them cast on the chairs their coverlets splendid of purple
(Purple the tissue above; but she laid smooth linen beneath it),
While that another in front of the chairs set tables in order
Fashioned of silver, and baskets of gold on the tables she stationed.
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Wine honey-hearted the third of the handmaids mixed in a wine-bowl;
Sweet was the wine and silver the bowl and golden the goblets.
Water was borne by the fourth, and a fire set speedily blazing
Under a spacious tripod, and quickly was heated the water.
Then, so soon as the water had boiled in the glittering cauldron,
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Setting me into a bath, from the vessel capacious she poured it,
Pleasantly tempered with cold, down over my head and my shoulders,
Till from my limbs she had taken the soul-consuming exhaustion.
Then, when my body was washed and anointed with oil of the olive,
Casting around me a beautiful tunic and mantle, she led me
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Back to the hall, and gave me a chair rich-studded with silver,
Beautiful, skilfully wrought; and beneath for the feet was a footstool.
Water for washing of hands by a maiden was brought in an ewer
Beautiful, golden, and over a basin of silver she poured it,
Bidding me wash, and she stationed a polished table beside me.
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Then did a grave house-dame bring bread, and she set it before me,
Lavishly adding thereto from her stores full many a dainty,
Urging me also to eat; but my soul took pleasure in nothing;
Sitting I brooded on thoughts far other, and boded of evil.
Circe, as soon as she noticed me sitting, and over the viands
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Busying never a hand, as with grievous sorrow afflicted,
Placed her anigh to my side, and with swift-winged words she addressed me :
'Why art thou sitting, Odysseus, as dumb as a man that is voiceless,
Eating thy heart, nor touchest the food nor touchest the wine-cup?
Surely thou bodest of treason again! Nay, truly thou shouldst not
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Cherish the fear, for I gave thee an oath and solemnly sware it.'
Thus did she speak; and at once these words I addressed her in answer:
'Yea, O Circe,— but how shall a man that is honest and decent
Find in his heart to delight him in food and in quaffing the wine-cup,
Ere that he gaineth release for his friends and beholds them before him ?
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Dost thou persuade me to eat and to drink with a friendly intention,
Free them and grant me again to behold my beloved companions.'
Thus did I speak. Then forth from the hall went Circe the goddess
Bearing her wand in the hand; and she opened the doors of the pig-sty.
Out of it all of them trooped, like nine-year hogs in appearance.
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Then in the front of her huddled they stood, and passing amidst them
Each of the beasts in his turn with a different drug she anointed.
Straight dropped off from the bodies the bristles that thickly had grown there
Bred by the venom pernicious that Circe the goddess had given.
Men they became once more, and younger they seemed than aforetime,
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Yea and goodlier far to behold and taller in person.
Quickly they knew me and clung to my hands, each after the other,
All by a passionate sobbing o'erwhelmed; and the mansion around us
Echoed the terrible wail, and even the goddess had pity.
Placing her then at my side thus spake to me Circe the goddess :
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'Zeus-born son of Laertes, thou wise and wileful Odysseus,
Now to thy swift-winged vessel return and the shore of the ocean.
There shall ye firstly of all draw out of the water the vessel ;
All of the gear then stowing away, and the goods, in the caverns,
Hither thyself come back with the rest of thy trusty companions.'
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Thus did she speak, and within me my valiant soul was persuaded.
So I betook me at once to the ship and the shore of the ocean.
Here on the swift-winged ship I discovered my faithful companions
Uttering woeful laments and shedding tears in abundance.
Then, as the calves of a farm encircle the cows from the pasture
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Home to the steading returned, full-fed and contented with grazing—
All come frisking around them together, nor longer the farmyard
Keepeth them back, and with ceaseless lowings they joyfully gambol
Greeting their mothers—so seeing me standing before them my comrades
Thronged me about; and they wept for it verily seemed to their fancy
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Even as though they had come to the land of their fathers, the rugged
Ithacan isle, and the town that was home of their youth and their birthplace.
Then with a pitiful wail these swift-winged words they addressed me :
'Seeing thee safely returned, O master, we joy at thy coming,
Even as though we had reached our own dear Ithacan island.
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Yet—ah, tell us the tale of the fate of thy other companions.'
Thus did they speak, but with words consoling I answered them, saying:
'Nay, let us firstly of all draw out of the water the vessel;
All of the gear then stowing away, and the goods, in the caverns,
Quickly bestir yourselves and all make ready to follow;
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So shall ye see your mates in the wonderful palace of Circe
Eating and drinking—for there they enjoy unfailing abundance.'
Thus did I speak, and hearing my words all quickly obeyed me,
All save Eurylochus, who had fain withholden his comrades.
Calling aloud to his mates these swift-winged words he addressed them :
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'Ah, unfortunates, where will ye go? Why love ye misfortune,
Getting you down to the palace of Circe the goddess, who surely
Either to pigs or to wolves or to ravening lions will change us,
Ever to serve as the guards of her house, enthralled to her service,
Just as befell when before to the innermost den of the Cyclops
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Ventured the men who followed this all too hardy Odysseus ?
Yea, it is he through whose audacious folly they perished!'
Thus did he speak; and I pondered in doubt, and it seemed to me better
Drawing the long-edged sword by my sinewy thigh from the scabbard
Swiftly to smite him his head clean off and to tumble it earthward,
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Though right near me in kin was the man; which seeing, my comrades,
One and the other, with words of entreaty restraining addressed me:
'Zeus-born, lo, this man will we suffer, if such be thy pleasure,
Here on the spot to remain and to keep by the ship and defend it,
While for ourselves—lead on to the wonderful palace of Circe!'
445
These words uttered, they mounted the land from the ship and the sea-shore,
Nor stayed Eurylochus by the hollow vessel remaining;
He too followed, for much was he cowed by my terrible anger.
Meantime all of the rest of my mates in her palace had Circe
Carefully tended and bathed and anointed with oil of the olive;
450
Then she had clothed them in raiment, in mantles of wool and in doublets.
All of them banqueting nobly we found in the hall of the palace.
Then as they looked each one on the face of the others and knew them,
Weeping they made a lament, and the house with the wailing resounded,
Till at the last came nigh and addressed me the beautiful goddess:
455
'Zeus-born son of Laertes, thou wise and wileful Odysseus,
Wake no longer this violent weeping! I know it myself too
How on the teeming expanses of ocean ye ceaselessly suffered,
How, too, mortals unkind on the dry land cruelly used you.
Nay come, sit and regale you with viands and quaff of the wine-cup,
460
Till once more ye recover the spirit and courage within you,
E'en as it was on the day when ye sailed from shores of the homeland,
Rock-bound Ithaca's isle. Ye are wayworn still and despondent,
Always the terrible journey recalling; nor ever for gladness
Have ye a heart—since verily bitter affliction ye suffered.'
465
Thus did she speak, and within us the valiant soul was persuaded.
Here then every day till the whole of the year was completed
Sitting we feasted on flesh in abundance and quaffed of the wine-cup.
Now when the year was complete with the slow revolution of seasons,
After the waning of months, when the long days came of the summer,
470
Calling me forth from the palace addressed me my faithful companions:
'Now, good Sir, it is time to remember thy native country,
Beest thou destined indeed to escape all perils and safely
Come to thy well-built home once more and the land of thy fathers.'
Thus did they speak, and within us the valiant soul was persuaded.
475
So for the rest of the day till the sun went down in the ocean
Sitting we feasted on flesh in abundance and quaffed of the wine-cup,
Till, when the sun sank down and come was the gloom of the twilight,
Weary they laid us to sleep in the shadowy halls of the palace.
Then to the beautiful bed I ascended of Circe the goddess.
480
Here I besought her, embracing her knees, and she heard my entreaty,
While upraising my voice these swift-winged words I addressed her :
'Circe, I pray thee at length to accomplish the promise thou madest
Homeward to send me. Already the heart in my bosom is restless,
Ay and the hearts of my men; and they weary the spirit within me,
485
Alway around me lamenting whenever thou haply art absent.'
Thus did I speak; whereat made answer the beautiful goddess:
'Zeus-born son of Laertes, thou wise and wileful Odysseus,
Nay, no longer remain unwillingly here in my palace.
First howbeit ye needs must go once more on a journey;
490
E'en to the mansion of Hades and dread Queen Persephoneia,
There to consult with the spirit of Teiresias the diviner,
Blind old prophet of Thebes whose reason remains as aforetime.
Even in death he is still permitted by Persephoneia
Mind to possess—he only: the rest are fluttering phantoms.'
495
Thus did she speak—and my spirit was utterly broken within me;
Bitterly weeping I sat on the bed, and the heart in my bosom
Cared no longer to live on the earth or to look on the sunlight.
Then, when at last I was sated of weeping and writhing in anguish,
Speaking again, these words I addressed to the goddess in answer:
500
'Circe, a journey as this what guide hath the power to pilot?
Ne'er in a black-hulled vessel hath mortal descended to Hades."
Thus did I speak; whereat made answer the beautiful goddess:
Zeus-born son of Laertes, thou wise and wileful Odysseus,
Let not the want of a leader to pilot thy vessel distress thee.
505
Only with mast upraised and the white sails spread to the breezes
Seated remain. Of itself will the breath of the Boreas bear her.
Now so soon as thy vessel has traversed the stream of the Ocean,
Where is a shore rich-soiled and copses of Persephoneia,
Poplars soaring aloft and willows widowed of fruitage,
510
Beaching her there on the strand of the eddying current of Ocean,
Press thou forward thyself to the mouldering mansion of Hades.
Into the Acheron here red-flaming Phlegethon poureth,
And Cocytus, a channel that leads from the Stygian water,
Rocky ravine connecting the two loud-thundering rivers.
515
Drawing anigh to the place, O hero, e'en as I bid thee,
Dig thee a trench of a cubit in length and a cubit in wideness.
Then all round it to all of the dead pour out a libation,
Firstly of honey and milk, and of wine well-mellowed thereafter,
Thirdly of water; and sprinkle thereon white meal of the barley.
520
Make then many a vow to the host of the bodiless phantoms,
Ithaca reaching, the cow that is best of thy herd and is barren
Straight thou'lt slay in thy home, and a pyre deck richly with presents,
Solely to Teiresias devoting a ram as oblation
Perfectly black and the finest of all of the flocks of thy homestead.
525
Then, when appeased with thy prayers are Death's illustrious peoples,
See that thou slaughter a male of the sheep and a female, a black one,
Turning their heads to the nethermost Gloom; but with vision averted
Gaze thou intent on the stream of the river; and soon shall surround thee
Many a phantom—the spirits of those who are dead and departed.
530
Now is the moment to call on thy comrades and urgently bid them,
Flaying the sheep, which lie by the steel unpitying slaughtered,
Burnt oblation to make and prayers to the deities offer,
Hades' terrible power and dread Queen Persephoneia.
Then, with the keen-eyed sword at thy thigh drawn forth from the scabbard,
535
Seated remain, restraining the host of the bodiless phantoms
Back from the blood, till of Teiresias thou hast gotten an answer.
Then right soon will the prophet approach, O leader of heroes.
He shall declare thee the path and the bounds of thy journey and show thee
How to return to thy home and the teeming ocean to traverse;'
540
Thus did she speak, and soon came Morning enthroned in her glory.
Then, as she bade me, I clothed me in raiment, in tunic and mantle,
While that the nymph threw round her a garment of glistering whiteness,
Delicate, lovely, and over her waist then fastened a girdle
Beautiful, fashioned of gold; and her head in a hood she enveloped.
545
Straight to the hall of the palace I went and I roused my companions,
Standing in turn near each, and with words right gentle addressed them :
'Lie no longer asleep enjoying the sweetness of slumber!
Come, let us go! since all hath she told me, the beautiful Circe.'
Thus did I speak, and within them the valiant soul was persuaded.
550
Still, not even from here did I bring unscathed my companions.
Youngest of these was a certain Elpenor, neither exceeding
Sturdy in battle, nor having a mind compacted of wisdom.
He now far from the rest on the wonderful dwelling of Circe,
Longing for coolness and heavy with wine, had reclined him to slumber;
555
Then, as his mates were stirring, perceiving the voices and clatter,
Suddenly starting he sprang to his feet, and wholly forgetting
Back to descend by the way of the steep-built stair of the ladder,
Fell right down from the roof, and out of the joint of the backbone
Broken at once was the neck; and his spirit departed to Hades.
560
Now when the rest were well on the road these words I addressed them :
'Homeward doubtless ye deem—to the well-loved land of your fathers—
Now ye are bound; but a way far other hath Circe appointed,
E'en to the mansion of Hades and dread Queen Persephoneia,
There to consult with the spirit of Teiresias the diviner.'
565
Thus did I speak, and their hearts were utterly broken within them.
Sitting them down on the spot and tearing their hair they lamented,
Vainly for nought was the profit they gained by their weeping and wailing.
While to the swift-winged ship we returned and the shore of the ocean
Heavily laden with grief, outpouring tears in abundance,
570
Meantime Circe departed and reaching the black-hulled vessel
Tethered beside it a male of the sheep and a female, a black one,
Easily passing us by; for a goddess, unless she be willing,
Who shall behold with the eyes while hither or thither she goeth?
“Circe Invidiosa,” (1892). J. W. Waterhouse (English, 1849–1917).
