BOOK XARGUMENTUlysses, in pursuit of his narrative, relates his arrival at the island of Æolus, his departure thence, and the unhappy occasion of his return thither. The monarch of the winds dismisses him at last with much asperity. He next tells of his arrival among the Læstrygonians, by whom his whole fleet, together with their crews, are destroyed, his own ship and crew excepted. Thence he is driven to the island of Circe. By her the half of his people are transformed into swine. Assisted by Mercury, he resists her enchantments himself, and prevails with the Goddess to recover them to their former shape. In consequence of Circe’s instructions, after having spent a complete year in her palace, he prepares for a voyage to the infernal regions.We came to the Æolian isle; there dwellsÆolus, son of Hippotas, belov’dBy the Immortals, in an isle afloat.A brazen wall impregnable on all sidesGirds it, and smooth its rocky coast ascends.His children, in his own fair palace born,Are twelve; six daughters, and six blooming sons.He gave his daughters to his sons to wife;They with their father hold perpetual feastAnd with their royal mother, still supplied10With dainties numberless; the sounding domeIs fill’d with sav’ry odours all the day,And with their consorts chaste at night they sleepOn stateliest couches with rich arras spread.Their city and their splendid courts we reach’d.A month complete he, friendly, at his boardRegaled me, and enquiry made minuteOf Ilium’s fall, of the Achaian fleet,And of our voyage thence. I told him all.But now, desirous to embark again,20I ask’d dismission home, which he approved,And well provided for my prosp’rous course.He gave me, furnish’d by a bullock slay’dIn his ninth year, a bag; ev’ry rude blastWhich from its bottom turns the Deep, that bagImprison’d held; for him Saturnian JoveHath officed arbiter of all the winds,To rouse their force or calm them, at his will.He gave me them on board my bark, so boundWith silver twine that not a breath escaped,30Then order’d gentle Zephyrus to fillOur sails propitious. Order vain, alas!So fatal proved the folly of my friends.Nine days continual, night and day we sail’d,And on the tenth my native land appear’d.Not far remote my Ithacans I sawFires kindling on the coast; but me with toilWorn, and with watching, gentle sleep subdued;For constant I had ruled the helm, nor giv’nThat charge to any, fearful of delay.40Then, in close conference combined, my crewEach other thus bespake—He carries homeSilver and gold from Æolus received,Offspring of Hippotas, illustrious Chief—And thus a mariner the rest harangued.Ye Gods! what city or what land soe’erUlysses visits, how is he belov’dBy all, and honour’d! many precious spoilsHe homeward bears from Troy; but we return,(We who the self-same voyage have perform’d)50With empty hands. Now also he hath gain’dThis pledge of friendship from the King of winds.But come—be quick—search we the bag, and learnWhat stores of gold and silver it contains.So he, whose mischievous advice prevailed.They loos’d the bag; forth issued all the winds,And, caught by tempests o’er the billowy waste,Weeping they flew, far, far from Ithaca.I then, awaking, in my noble mindStood doubtful, whether from my vessel’s side60Immersed to perish in the flood, or calmTo endure my sorrows, and content to live.I calm endured them; but around my headWinding my mantle, lay’d me down below,While adverse blasts bore all my fleet againTo the Æolian isle; then groan’d my people.We disembark’d and drew fresh water there,And my companions, at their galley’s sidesAll seated, took repast; short meal we made,When, with an herald and a chosen friend,70I sought once more the hall of Æolus.Him banqueting with all his sons we found,And with his spouse; we ent’ring, on the floorOf his wide portal sat, whom they amazedBeheld, and of our coming thus enquired.Return’d? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow’rRepuls’d hast thou arrived? we sent thee henceWell-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,Thy palace, or what place soe’er thou would’st.So they—to whom, heart-broken, I replied.80My worthless crew have wrong’d me, nor aloneMy worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow’r is yours!So I their favour woo’d. Mute sat the sons,But thus their father answer’d. Hence—be gone—Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretchOf all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,Receiving here, and giving conduct henceTo one detested by the Gods as thou.Away—for hated by the Gods thou com’st.90So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o’er the DeepWe still proceeded sorrowful, our forceExhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,And, through our own imprudence, hopeless nowOf other furth’rance to our native isle.Six days we navigated, day and night,The briny flood, and on the seventh reach’dThe city erst by Lamus built sublime,Proud Læstrygonia, with the distant gates.100The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,38Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.The sleepless there might double wages earn,Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazedBy day, close border, both, the city-walls.To that illustrious port we came, by rocksUninterrupted flank’d on either sideOf tow’ring height, while prominent the shoresAnd bold, converging at the haven’s mouth110Leave narrow pass. We push’d our galleys in,Then moor’d them side by side; for never surgeThere lifts its head, or great or small, but clearWe found, and motionless, the shelter’d flood.Myself alone, staying my bark without,Secured her well with hawsers to a rockAt the land’s point, then climb’d the rugged steep,And spying stood the country. Labours noneOf men or oxen in the land appear’d,Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth120Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sentBefore me two, adding an herald third,To learn what race of men that country fed.Departing, they an even track pursuedMade by the waggons bringing timber downFrom the high mountains to the town below.Before the town a virgin bearing forthHer ew’r they met, daughter of him who ruledThe Læstrygonian race, Antiphatas.Descending from the gate, she sought the fount130Artacia; for their custom was to drawFrom that pure fountain for the city’s use.Approaching they accosted her, and ask’dWhat King reign’d there, and over whom he reign’d.She gave them soon to know where stood sublimeThe palace of her Sire; no sooner theyThe palace enter’d, than within they found,In size resembling an huge mountain-top,A woman, whom they shudder’d to behold.She forth from council summon’d quick her spouse140Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughtsOf carnage, and, arriving, seized at onceA Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.With headlong terrour the surviving twoFled to the ships. Then sent AntiphatasHis voice through all the town, and on all sides,Hearing that cry, the Læstrygonians flock’dNumberless, and in size resembling moreThe giants than mankind. They from the rocksCast down into our fleet enormous stones,150A strong man’s burthen each; dire din aroseOf shatter’d galleys and of dying men,Whom spear’d like fishes to their home they bore,A loathsome prey. While them within the portThey slaughter’d, I, (the faulchion at my sideDrawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,And all my crew enjoin’d with bosoms laidProne on their oars, to fly the threaten’d woe.They, dreading instant death tugg’d resupineTogether, and the galley from beneath160Those beetling39rocks into the open seaShot gladly; but the rest all perish’d there.Proceeding thence, we sigh’d, and roamed the waves,Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.We came to the Ææan isle; there dweltThe awful Circe, Goddess amber-hair’d,Deep-skill’d in magic song, sister by birthOf the all-wise Æætes; them the Sun,Bright luminary of the world, begatOn Perse, daughter of Oceanus.170Our vessel there, noiseless, we push’d to landWithin a spacious haven, thither ledBy some celestial Pow’r. We disembark’d,And on the coast two days and nights entireExtended lay, worn with long toil, and eachThe victim of his heart-devouring woes.Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm’d,I left the ship to climb with hasty stepsAn airy height, thence, hoping to espieSome works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice.180Exalted on a rough rock’s craggy pointI stood, and on the distant plain, beheldSmoke which from Circe’s palace through the gloomOf trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern’d,I ponder’d next if thither I should haste,Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,But chose at last, as my discreter course,To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatchBefore me, others, who should first enquire.190But, ere I yet had reach’d my gallant bark,Some God with pity viewing me aloneIn that untrodden solitude, sent forthAn antler’d stag, full-sized, into my path.His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,For he was thirsty, and already parch’dBy the sun’s heat. Him issuing from his haunt,Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired.200Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck’dMy weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,I tore away the osiers with my handsAnd fallows green, and to a fathom’s lengthTwisting the gather’d twigs into a band,Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair’dToward my sable bark, propp’d on my lance,Which now to carry shoulder’d as beforeSurpass’d my pow’r, so bulky was the load.210Arriving at the ship, there I let fallMy burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,Man after man addressing, cheer’d my crew.My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seekThe shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.Behold a feast! and we have wine on board—Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.I spake; they readily obey’d, and eachIssuing at my word abroad, besideThe galley stood, admiring, as he lay,220The stag, for of no common bulk was he.At length, their eyes gratified to the fullWith that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,And preparation made of noble cheer.That day complete, till set of sun, we spentFeasting deliciously without restraint,And quaffing generous wine; but when the sunWent down, and darkness overshadow’d all,Extended, then, on Ocean’s bank we lay;And when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,230Look’d rosy forth, convening all my crewTo council, I arose, and thus began.My fellow-voyagers, however wornWith num’rous hardships, hear! for neither WestKnow ye, nor East, where rises, or where setsThe all-enlight’ning sun. But let us think,If thought perchance may profit us, of whichSmall hope I see; for when I lately climb’dYon craggy rock, plainly I could discernThe land encompass’d by the boundless Deep.240The isle is flat, and in the midst I sawDun smoke ascending from an oaken bow’r.So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,And at remembrance of AntiphatasThe Læstrygonian, and the Cyclops’ deeds,Ferocious feeder on the flesh of man,Mourn’d loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.Then numb’ring man by man, I parted themIn equal portions, and assign’d a ChiefTo either band, myself to these, to those250Godlike Eurylochus. This done, we castThe lots into the helmet, and at onceForth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.He went, and with him of my people march’dTwenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselvesWept less, at separation from our friends.Low in a vale, but on an open spot,They found the splendid house of Circe, builtWith hewn and polish’d stones; compass’d she dweltBy lions on all sides and mountain-wolves260Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow’rs.Nor were they mischievous, but as my friendsApproach’d, arising on their hinder feet,Paw’d them in blandishment, and wagg’d the tail.As, when from feast he rises, dogs aroundTheir master fawn, accustom’d to receiveThe sop conciliatory from his hand,Around my people, so, those talon’d wolvesAnd lions fawn’d. They, terrified, that troopOf savage monsters horrible beheld.270And now, before the Goddess’ gates arrived,They heard the voice of Circe singing sweetWithin, while, busied at the loom, she woveAn ample web immortal, such a workTransparent, graceful, and of bright designAs hands of Goddesses alone produce.Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friendHighest in my esteem, the rest bespake.Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weavesAn ample web within, and at her task280So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floorRe-echoes; human be she or divineI doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.He ceas’d; they call’d; soon issuing at the sound,The Goddess open’d wide her splendid gates,And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,All save Eurylochus, who fear’d a snare.She, introducing them, conducted eachTo a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new,290But medicated with her pois’nous drugsTheir food, that in oblivion they might loseThe wish of home. She gave them, and they drank,—When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,In body, and in bristles they becameAll swine, yet intellected as before,And at her hand were dieted aloneWith acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine.300Back flew Eurylochus toward the ship,To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixtWith anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.Me boding terrours occupied. At length,When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.Renown’d Ulysses! as thou bad’st, we wentThrough yonder oaks; there, bosom’d in a vale,But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll310With polish’d rock, we found a stately dome.Within, some Goddess or some woman woveAn ample web, carolling sweet the while.They call’d aloud; she, issuing at the voice,Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,And bade them in. Heedless they enter’d, all,But I remain’d, suspicious of a snare.Ere long the whole band vanish’d, none I sawThenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch’d.He ended; I my studded faulchion huge320Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,Then bade him lead me thither by the wayHimself had gone; but with both hands my kneesHe clasp’d, and in wing’d accents sad exclaim’d.My King! ah lead me not unwilling back,But leave me here; for confident I judgeThat neither thou wilt bring another thence,Nor come thyself again. Haste—fly we swiftWith these, for we, at least, may yet escape.So he, to whom this answer I return’d.330Eurylochus! abiding here, eat thouAnd drink thy fill beside the sable bark;I go; necessity forbids my stay.So saying, I left the galley and the shore.But ere that awful vale ent’ring, I reach’dThe palace of the sorceress, a GodMet me, the bearer of the golden wand,Hermes. He seem’d a stripling in his prime,His cheeks cloath’d only with their earliest down,For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock’d340His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.Unhappy! whither, wand’ring o’er the hills,Stranger to all this region, and alone,Go’st thou? Thy people—they within the wallsAre shut of Circe, where as swine close-pentShe keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?I tell thee, never wilt thou thence returnThyself, but wilt be prison’d with the rest.Yet hearken—I will disappoint her wiles,And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug;350Possessing this, enter the Goddess’ houseBoldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.Lo! I reveal to thee the cruel artsOf Circe; learn them. She will mix for theeA potion, and will also drug thy foodWith noxious herbs; but she shall not prevailBy all her pow’r to change thee; for the forceSuperior of this noble plant, my gift,Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.When she shall smite thee with her slender rod,360With faulchion drawn and with death-threat’ning looksRush on her; she will bid thee to her bedAffrighted; then beware. Decline not thouHer love, that she may both release thy friends,And may with kindness entertain thyself.But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav’nThat she will other mischief none deviseAgainst thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.So spake the Argicide, and from the earth370That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,Then taught me all its pow’rs. Black was the root,Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its nameIn heav’n; not easily by mortal manDug forth, but all is easy to the Gods.Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair’dTo heav’n, and I to Circe’s dread abode,In gloomy musings busied as I went.Within the vestibule arrived, where dweltThe beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps,380I call’d aloud; she heard me, and at onceIssuing, threw her splendid portals wide,And bade me in. I follow’d, heart-distress’d.Leading me by the hand to a bright throneWith argent studs embellish’d, and beneathFootstool’d magnificent, she made me sit.Then mingling for me in a golden cupMy bev’rage, she infused a drug, intentOn mischief; but when I had drunk the draughtUnchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said.390Hence—seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.She spake; I drawing from beside my thighMy faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looksRush’d on her; she with a shrill scream of fearRan under my rais’d arm, seized fast my knees,And in wing’d accents plaintive thus began.Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.Amazed I see thee with that potion drench’d,Yet uninchanted; never man beforeOnce pass’d it through his lips, and liv’d the same;400But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proofAgainst all charms. Come then—I know thee well.Thou art Ulysses artifice-renown’d,Of whose arrival here in his returnFrom Ilium, Hermes of the golden wandWas ever wont to tell me. Sheath againThy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforthEach other, without jealousy or fear.The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied.410O Circe! canst thou bid me meek becomeAnd gentle, who beneath thy roof detain’stMy fellow-voyagers transform’d to swine?And, fearing my escape, invit’st thou meInto thy bed, with fraudulent pretextOf love, that there, enfeebling by thy artsMy noble spirit, thou may’st make me vile?No—trust me—never will I share thy bedTill first, O Goddess, thou consent to swearThe dread all-binding oath, that other harm420Against myself thou wilt imagine none.I spake. She swearing as I bade, renouncedAll evil purpose, and (her solemn oathConcluded) I ascended, next, her bedMagnificent. Meantime, four graceful nymphsAttended on the service of the house,Her menials, from the fountains sprung and groves,And from the sacred streams that seek the sea.Of these, one cast fine linen on the thrones,Which, next, with purple arras rich she spread;430Another placed before the gorgeous seatsBright tables, and set on baskets of gold.The third, an argent beaker fill’d with wineDelicious, which in golden cups she served;The fourth brought water, which she warm’d withinAn ample vase, and when the simm’ring floodSang in the tripod, led me to a bath,And laved me with the pleasant stream profusePour’d o’er my neck and body, till my limbsRefresh’d, all sense of lassitude resign’d.440When she had bathed me, and with limpid oilAnointed me, and cloathed me in a vestAnd mantle, next, she led me to a throneOf royal state, with silver studs emboss’d,And footstool’d soft beneath; then came a nymphWith golden ewer charged and silver bowl,Who pour’d pure water on my hands, and placedThe polish’d board before me, which with foodVarious, selected from her present stores,The cat’ress spread, then, courteous, bade me eat.450But me it pleas’d not; with far other thoughtsMy spirit teem’d, on vengeance more intent.Soon, then, as Circe mark’d me on my seatFast-rooted, sullen, nor with outstretch’d handsDeigning to touch the banquet, she approach’d,And in wing’d accents suasive thus began.Why sits Ulysses like the Dumb, dark thoughtsHis only food? loaths he the touch of meat,And taste of wine? Thou fear’st, as I perceive,Some other snare, but idle is that fear,460For I have sworn the inviolable oath.She ceas’d, to whom this answer I return’d.How can I eat? what virtuous man and just,O Circe! could endure the taste of wineOr food, till he should see his prison’d friendsOnce more at liberty? If then thy wishThat I should eat and drink be true, produceMy captive people; let us meet again.So I; then Circe, bearing in her handHer potent rod, went forth, and op’ning wide470The door, drove out my people from the sty,In bulk resembling brawns of the ninth year.They stood before me; she through all the herdProceeding, with an unctuous antidoteAnointed each, and at the wholesome touchAll shed the swinish bristles by the drugDread Circe’s former magic gift, produced.Restored at once to manhood, they appear’dMore vig’rous far, and sightlier than before.They knew me, and with grasp affectionate480Hung on my hand. Tears follow’d, but of joy,And with loud cries the vaulted palace rang.Even the awful Goddess felt, herself,Compassion, and, approaching me, began.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Hence to the shore, and to thy gallant bark;First, hale her safe aground, then, hiding allYour arms and treasures in the caverns, comeThyself again, and hither lead thy friends.So spake the Goddess, and my gen’rous mind490Persuaded; thence repairing to the beach,I sought my ship; arrived, I found my crewLamenting miserably, and their cheeksWith tears bedewing ceaseless at her side.As when the calves within some village rear’dBehold, at eve, the herd returning homeFrom fruitful meads where they have grazed their fill,No longer in the stalls contain’d, they rushWith many a frisk abroad, and, blaring oft,With one consent, all dance their dams around,500So they, at sight of me, dissolved in tearsOf rapt’rous joy, and each his spirit feltWith like affections warm’d as he had reach’dJust then his country, and his city seen,Fair Ithaca, where he was born and rear’d.Then in wing’d accents tender thus they spake.Noble Ulysses! thy appearance fillsOur soul with transports, such as we should feelArrived in safety on our native shore.Speak—say how perish’d our unhappy friends?510So they; to whom this answer mild I gave.Hale we our vessel first ashore, and hideIn caverns all our treasures and our arms,Then, hasting hence, follow me, and ere longYe shall behold your friends, beneath the roofOf Circe banqueting and drinking wineAbundant, for no dearth attends them there.So I; whom all with readiness obey’d,All save Eurylochus; he sought aloneTo stay the rest, and, eager, interposed.520Ah whither tend we, miserable men?Why covet ye this evil, to go downTo Circe’s palace? she will change us allTo lions, wolves or swine, that we may guardHer palace, by necessity constrain’d.So some were pris’ners of the Cyclops erst,When, led by rash Ulysses, our lost friendsIntruded needlessly into his cave,And perish’d by the folly of their Chief.He spake, whom hearing, occupied I stood530In self-debate, whether, my faulchion keenForth-drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,To tumble his lopp’d head into the dust,Although he were my kinsman in the bondsOf close affinity; but all my friendsAs with one voice, thus gently interposed.Noble Ulysses! we will leave him hereOur vessel’s guard, if such be thy command,But us lead thou to Circe’s dread abode.So saying, they left the galley, and set forth540Climbing the coast; nor would EurylochusBeside the hollow bark remain, but join’dHis comrades by my dreadful menace awed.Meantime the Goddess, busily employ’d,Bathed and refresh’d my friends with limpid oil,And clothed them. We, arriving, found them allBanqueting in the palace; there they met;These ask’d, and those rehearsed the wond’rous tale,And, the recital made, all wept aloudTill the wide dome resounded. Then approach’d550The graceful Goddess, and address’d me thus.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Provoke ye not each other, now, to tears.I am not ignorant, myself, how dreadHave been your woes both on the fishy Deep,And on the land by force of hostile pow’rs.But come—Eat now, and drink ye wine, that soYour freshen’d spirit may revive, and yeCourageous grow again, as when ye leftThe rugged shores of Ithaca, your home.560For now, through recollection, day by day,Of all your pains and toils, ye are becomeSpiritless, strengthless, and the taste forgetOf pleasure, such have been your num’rous woes.She spake, whose invitation kind prevail’d,And won us to her will. There, then, we dweltThe year complete, fed with delicious fareDay after day, and quaffing gen’rous wine.But when (the year fulfill’d) the circling hoursTheir course resumed, and the successive months570With all their tedious days were spent, my friends,Summoning me abroad, thus greeted me.Sir! recollect thy country, if indeedThe fates ordain thee to revisit safeThat country, and thy own glorious abode.So they; whose admonition I receiv’dWell-pleas’d. Then, all the day, regaled we satAt Circe’s board with sav’ry viands rare,And quaffing richest wine; but when, the sunDeclining, darkness overshadow’d all,580Then, each within the dusky palace tookCustom’d repose, and to the Goddess’ bedMagnificent ascending, there I urgedMy earnest suit, which gracious she receiv’d,And in wing’d accents earnest thus I spake.O Circe! let us prove thy promise true;Dismiss us hence. My own desires, at length,Tend homeward vehement, and the desiresNo less of all my friends, who with complaintsUnheard by thee, wear my sad heart away.590So I; to whom the Goddess in return.Laertes’ noble son, Ulysses famedFor deepest wisdom! dwell not longer here,Thou and thy followers, in my abodeReluctant; but your next must be a courseFar diff’rent; hence departing, ye must seekThe dreary house of Ades and of dreadPersephone there to consult the SeerTheban Tiresias, prophet blind, but blestWith faculties which death itself hath spared.600To him alone, of all the dead, Hell’s QueenGives still to prophesy, while others flitMere forms, the shadows of what once they were.She spake, and by her words dash’d from my soulAll courage; weeping on the bed I sat,Reckless of life and of the light of day.But when, with tears and rolling to and froSatiate, I felt relief, thus I replied.O Circe! with what guide shall I performThis voyage, unperform’d by living man?610I spake, to whom the Goddess quick replied.Brave Laertiades! let not the fearTo want a guide distress thee. Once on board,Your mast erected, and your canvas whiteUnfurl’d, sit thou; the breathing North shall waftThy vessel on. But when ye shall have cross’dThe broad expanse of Ocean, and shall reachThe oozy shore, where grow the poplar grovesAnd fruitless willows wan of Proserpine,Push thither through the gulphy Deep thy bark,620And, landing, haste to Pluto’s murky abode.There, into Acheron runs not aloneDread Pyriphlegethon, but Cocytus loud,From Styx derived; there also stands a rock,At whose broad base the roaring rivers meet.There, thrusting, as I bid, thy bark ashore,O Hero! scoop the soil, op’ning a trenchEll-broad on ev’ry side; then pour aroundLibation consecrate to all the dead,First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,630Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.Next, supplicate the unsubstantial formsFervently of the dead, vowing to slay,(Return’d to Ithaca) in thy own house,An heifer barren yet, fairest and bestOf all thy herds, and to enrich the pileWith delicacies such as please the shades;But, in peculiar, to Tiresias vowA sable ram, noblest of all thy flocks.When thus thou hast propitiated with pray’r640All the illustrious nations of the dead,Next, thou shalt sacrifice to them a ramAnd sable ewe, turning the face of eachRight toward Erebus, and look thyself,Meantime, askance toward the river’s course.Souls num’rous, soon, of the departed deadWill thither flock; then, strenuous urge thy friends,Flaying the victims which thy ruthless steelHath slain, to burn them, and to sooth by pray’rIllustrious Pluto and dread Proserpine.650While thus is done, thou seated at the foss,Faulchion in hand, chace thence the airy formsAfar, nor suffer them to approach the blood,Till with Tiresias thou have first conferr’d.Then, glorious Chief! the Prophet shall himselfAppear, who will instruct thee, and thy courseDelineate, measuring from place to placeThy whole return athwart the fishy flood.While thus she spake, the golden dawn arose,When, putting on me my attire, the nymph660Next, cloath’d herself, and girding to her waistWith an embroider’d zone her snowy robeGraceful, redundant, veil’d her beauteous head.Then, ranging the wide palace, I arousedMy followers, standing at the side of each—Up! sleep no longer! let us quick depart,For thus the Goddess hath, herself, advised.So I, whose early summons my brave friendsWith readiness obey’d. Yet even thenceI brought not all my crew. There was a youth,670Youngest of all my train, Elpenor; oneNot much in estimation for desertIn arms, nor prompt in understanding more,Who overcharged with wine, and covetousOf cooler air, high on the palace-roofOf Circe slept, apart from all the rest.Awaken’d by the clamour of his friendsNewly arisen, he also sprang to rise,And in his haste, forgetful where to findThe deep-descending stairs, plunged through the roof.680With neck-bone broken from the vertebræOutstretch’d he lay; his spirit sought the shades.Then, thus to my assembling friends I spake.Ye think, I doubt not, of an homeward course,But Circe points me to the drear abodeOf Proserpine and Pluto, to consultThe spirit of Tiresias, Theban seer.I ended, and the hearts of all alikeFelt consternation; on the earth they satDisconsolate, and plucking each his hair,690Yet profit none of all their sorrow found.But while we sought my galley on the beachWith tepid tears bedewing, as we went,Our cheeks, meantime the Goddess to the shoreDescending, bound within the bark a ramAnd sable ewe, passing us unperceived.For who hath eyes that can discern a GodGoing or coming, if he shun the view?38It is supposed by Eustathius that the pastures being infested by gad flies and other noxious insects in the day-time, they drove their sheep a-field in the morning, which by their wool were defended from them, and their cattle in the evening, when the insects had withdrawn. It is one of the few passages in Homer that must lie at the mercy of conjecture.39The word has the authority of Shakspeare, and signifies overhanging.
Ulysses, in pursuit of his narrative, relates his arrival at the island of Æolus, his departure thence, and the unhappy occasion of his return thither. The monarch of the winds dismisses him at last with much asperity. He next tells of his arrival among the Læstrygonians, by whom his whole fleet, together with their crews, are destroyed, his own ship and crew excepted. Thence he is driven to the island of Circe. By her the half of his people are transformed into swine. Assisted by Mercury, he resists her enchantments himself, and prevails with the Goddess to recover them to their former shape. In consequence of Circe’s instructions, after having spent a complete year in her palace, he prepares for a voyage to the infernal regions.
We came to the Æolian isle; there dwellsÆolus, son of Hippotas, belov’dBy the Immortals, in an isle afloat.A brazen wall impregnable on all sidesGirds it, and smooth its rocky coast ascends.His children, in his own fair palace born,Are twelve; six daughters, and six blooming sons.He gave his daughters to his sons to wife;They with their father hold perpetual feastAnd with their royal mother, still supplied10With dainties numberless; the sounding domeIs fill’d with sav’ry odours all the day,And with their consorts chaste at night they sleepOn stateliest couches with rich arras spread.Their city and their splendid courts we reach’d.A month complete he, friendly, at his boardRegaled me, and enquiry made minuteOf Ilium’s fall, of the Achaian fleet,And of our voyage thence. I told him all.But now, desirous to embark again,20I ask’d dismission home, which he approved,And well provided for my prosp’rous course.He gave me, furnish’d by a bullock slay’dIn his ninth year, a bag; ev’ry rude blastWhich from its bottom turns the Deep, that bagImprison’d held; for him Saturnian JoveHath officed arbiter of all the winds,To rouse their force or calm them, at his will.He gave me them on board my bark, so boundWith silver twine that not a breath escaped,30Then order’d gentle Zephyrus to fillOur sails propitious. Order vain, alas!So fatal proved the folly of my friends.Nine days continual, night and day we sail’d,And on the tenth my native land appear’d.Not far remote my Ithacans I sawFires kindling on the coast; but me with toilWorn, and with watching, gentle sleep subdued;For constant I had ruled the helm, nor giv’nThat charge to any, fearful of delay.40Then, in close conference combined, my crewEach other thus bespake—He carries homeSilver and gold from Æolus received,Offspring of Hippotas, illustrious Chief—And thus a mariner the rest harangued.Ye Gods! what city or what land soe’erUlysses visits, how is he belov’dBy all, and honour’d! many precious spoilsHe homeward bears from Troy; but we return,(We who the self-same voyage have perform’d)50With empty hands. Now also he hath gain’dThis pledge of friendship from the King of winds.But come—be quick—search we the bag, and learnWhat stores of gold and silver it contains.So he, whose mischievous advice prevailed.They loos’d the bag; forth issued all the winds,And, caught by tempests o’er the billowy waste,Weeping they flew, far, far from Ithaca.I then, awaking, in my noble mindStood doubtful, whether from my vessel’s side60Immersed to perish in the flood, or calmTo endure my sorrows, and content to live.I calm endured them; but around my headWinding my mantle, lay’d me down below,While adverse blasts bore all my fleet againTo the Æolian isle; then groan’d my people.We disembark’d and drew fresh water there,And my companions, at their galley’s sidesAll seated, took repast; short meal we made,When, with an herald and a chosen friend,70I sought once more the hall of Æolus.Him banqueting with all his sons we found,And with his spouse; we ent’ring, on the floorOf his wide portal sat, whom they amazedBeheld, and of our coming thus enquired.Return’d? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow’rRepuls’d hast thou arrived? we sent thee henceWell-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,Thy palace, or what place soe’er thou would’st.So they—to whom, heart-broken, I replied.80My worthless crew have wrong’d me, nor aloneMy worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow’r is yours!So I their favour woo’d. Mute sat the sons,But thus their father answer’d. Hence—be gone—Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretchOf all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,Receiving here, and giving conduct henceTo one detested by the Gods as thou.Away—for hated by the Gods thou com’st.90So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o’er the DeepWe still proceeded sorrowful, our forceExhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,And, through our own imprudence, hopeless nowOf other furth’rance to our native isle.Six days we navigated, day and night,The briny flood, and on the seventh reach’dThe city erst by Lamus built sublime,Proud Læstrygonia, with the distant gates.100The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,38Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.The sleepless there might double wages earn,Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazedBy day, close border, both, the city-walls.To that illustrious port we came, by rocksUninterrupted flank’d on either sideOf tow’ring height, while prominent the shoresAnd bold, converging at the haven’s mouth110Leave narrow pass. We push’d our galleys in,Then moor’d them side by side; for never surgeThere lifts its head, or great or small, but clearWe found, and motionless, the shelter’d flood.Myself alone, staying my bark without,Secured her well with hawsers to a rockAt the land’s point, then climb’d the rugged steep,And spying stood the country. Labours noneOf men or oxen in the land appear’d,Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth120Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sentBefore me two, adding an herald third,To learn what race of men that country fed.Departing, they an even track pursuedMade by the waggons bringing timber downFrom the high mountains to the town below.Before the town a virgin bearing forthHer ew’r they met, daughter of him who ruledThe Læstrygonian race, Antiphatas.Descending from the gate, she sought the fount130Artacia; for their custom was to drawFrom that pure fountain for the city’s use.Approaching they accosted her, and ask’dWhat King reign’d there, and over whom he reign’d.She gave them soon to know where stood sublimeThe palace of her Sire; no sooner theyThe palace enter’d, than within they found,In size resembling an huge mountain-top,A woman, whom they shudder’d to behold.She forth from council summon’d quick her spouse140Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughtsOf carnage, and, arriving, seized at onceA Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.With headlong terrour the surviving twoFled to the ships. Then sent AntiphatasHis voice through all the town, and on all sides,Hearing that cry, the Læstrygonians flock’dNumberless, and in size resembling moreThe giants than mankind. They from the rocksCast down into our fleet enormous stones,150A strong man’s burthen each; dire din aroseOf shatter’d galleys and of dying men,Whom spear’d like fishes to their home they bore,A loathsome prey. While them within the portThey slaughter’d, I, (the faulchion at my sideDrawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,And all my crew enjoin’d with bosoms laidProne on their oars, to fly the threaten’d woe.They, dreading instant death tugg’d resupineTogether, and the galley from beneath160Those beetling39rocks into the open seaShot gladly; but the rest all perish’d there.Proceeding thence, we sigh’d, and roamed the waves,Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.We came to the Ææan isle; there dweltThe awful Circe, Goddess amber-hair’d,Deep-skill’d in magic song, sister by birthOf the all-wise Æætes; them the Sun,Bright luminary of the world, begatOn Perse, daughter of Oceanus.170Our vessel there, noiseless, we push’d to landWithin a spacious haven, thither ledBy some celestial Pow’r. We disembark’d,And on the coast two days and nights entireExtended lay, worn with long toil, and eachThe victim of his heart-devouring woes.Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm’d,I left the ship to climb with hasty stepsAn airy height, thence, hoping to espieSome works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice.180Exalted on a rough rock’s craggy pointI stood, and on the distant plain, beheldSmoke which from Circe’s palace through the gloomOf trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern’d,I ponder’d next if thither I should haste,Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,But chose at last, as my discreter course,To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatchBefore me, others, who should first enquire.190But, ere I yet had reach’d my gallant bark,Some God with pity viewing me aloneIn that untrodden solitude, sent forthAn antler’d stag, full-sized, into my path.His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,For he was thirsty, and already parch’dBy the sun’s heat. Him issuing from his haunt,Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired.200Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck’dMy weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,I tore away the osiers with my handsAnd fallows green, and to a fathom’s lengthTwisting the gather’d twigs into a band,Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair’dToward my sable bark, propp’d on my lance,Which now to carry shoulder’d as beforeSurpass’d my pow’r, so bulky was the load.210Arriving at the ship, there I let fallMy burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,Man after man addressing, cheer’d my crew.My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seekThe shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.Behold a feast! and we have wine on board—Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.I spake; they readily obey’d, and eachIssuing at my word abroad, besideThe galley stood, admiring, as he lay,220The stag, for of no common bulk was he.At length, their eyes gratified to the fullWith that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,And preparation made of noble cheer.That day complete, till set of sun, we spentFeasting deliciously without restraint,And quaffing generous wine; but when the sunWent down, and darkness overshadow’d all,Extended, then, on Ocean’s bank we lay;And when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,230Look’d rosy forth, convening all my crewTo council, I arose, and thus began.My fellow-voyagers, however wornWith num’rous hardships, hear! for neither WestKnow ye, nor East, where rises, or where setsThe all-enlight’ning sun. But let us think,If thought perchance may profit us, of whichSmall hope I see; for when I lately climb’dYon craggy rock, plainly I could discernThe land encompass’d by the boundless Deep.240The isle is flat, and in the midst I sawDun smoke ascending from an oaken bow’r.So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,And at remembrance of AntiphatasThe Læstrygonian, and the Cyclops’ deeds,Ferocious feeder on the flesh of man,Mourn’d loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.Then numb’ring man by man, I parted themIn equal portions, and assign’d a ChiefTo either band, myself to these, to those250Godlike Eurylochus. This done, we castThe lots into the helmet, and at onceForth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.He went, and with him of my people march’dTwenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselvesWept less, at separation from our friends.Low in a vale, but on an open spot,They found the splendid house of Circe, builtWith hewn and polish’d stones; compass’d she dweltBy lions on all sides and mountain-wolves260Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow’rs.Nor were they mischievous, but as my friendsApproach’d, arising on their hinder feet,Paw’d them in blandishment, and wagg’d the tail.As, when from feast he rises, dogs aroundTheir master fawn, accustom’d to receiveThe sop conciliatory from his hand,Around my people, so, those talon’d wolvesAnd lions fawn’d. They, terrified, that troopOf savage monsters horrible beheld.270And now, before the Goddess’ gates arrived,They heard the voice of Circe singing sweetWithin, while, busied at the loom, she woveAn ample web immortal, such a workTransparent, graceful, and of bright designAs hands of Goddesses alone produce.Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friendHighest in my esteem, the rest bespake.Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weavesAn ample web within, and at her task280So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floorRe-echoes; human be she or divineI doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.He ceas’d; they call’d; soon issuing at the sound,The Goddess open’d wide her splendid gates,And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,All save Eurylochus, who fear’d a snare.She, introducing them, conducted eachTo a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new,290But medicated with her pois’nous drugsTheir food, that in oblivion they might loseThe wish of home. She gave them, and they drank,—When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,In body, and in bristles they becameAll swine, yet intellected as before,And at her hand were dieted aloneWith acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine.300Back flew Eurylochus toward the ship,To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixtWith anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.Me boding terrours occupied. At length,When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.Renown’d Ulysses! as thou bad’st, we wentThrough yonder oaks; there, bosom’d in a vale,But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll310With polish’d rock, we found a stately dome.Within, some Goddess or some woman woveAn ample web, carolling sweet the while.They call’d aloud; she, issuing at the voice,Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,And bade them in. Heedless they enter’d, all,But I remain’d, suspicious of a snare.Ere long the whole band vanish’d, none I sawThenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch’d.He ended; I my studded faulchion huge320Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,Then bade him lead me thither by the wayHimself had gone; but with both hands my kneesHe clasp’d, and in wing’d accents sad exclaim’d.My King! ah lead me not unwilling back,But leave me here; for confident I judgeThat neither thou wilt bring another thence,Nor come thyself again. Haste—fly we swiftWith these, for we, at least, may yet escape.So he, to whom this answer I return’d.330Eurylochus! abiding here, eat thouAnd drink thy fill beside the sable bark;I go; necessity forbids my stay.So saying, I left the galley and the shore.But ere that awful vale ent’ring, I reach’dThe palace of the sorceress, a GodMet me, the bearer of the golden wand,Hermes. He seem’d a stripling in his prime,His cheeks cloath’d only with their earliest down,For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock’d340His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.Unhappy! whither, wand’ring o’er the hills,Stranger to all this region, and alone,Go’st thou? Thy people—they within the wallsAre shut of Circe, where as swine close-pentShe keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?I tell thee, never wilt thou thence returnThyself, but wilt be prison’d with the rest.Yet hearken—I will disappoint her wiles,And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug;350Possessing this, enter the Goddess’ houseBoldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.Lo! I reveal to thee the cruel artsOf Circe; learn them. She will mix for theeA potion, and will also drug thy foodWith noxious herbs; but she shall not prevailBy all her pow’r to change thee; for the forceSuperior of this noble plant, my gift,Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.When she shall smite thee with her slender rod,360With faulchion drawn and with death-threat’ning looksRush on her; she will bid thee to her bedAffrighted; then beware. Decline not thouHer love, that she may both release thy friends,And may with kindness entertain thyself.But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav’nThat she will other mischief none deviseAgainst thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.So spake the Argicide, and from the earth370That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,Then taught me all its pow’rs. Black was the root,Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its nameIn heav’n; not easily by mortal manDug forth, but all is easy to the Gods.Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair’dTo heav’n, and I to Circe’s dread abode,In gloomy musings busied as I went.Within the vestibule arrived, where dweltThe beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps,380I call’d aloud; she heard me, and at onceIssuing, threw her splendid portals wide,And bade me in. I follow’d, heart-distress’d.Leading me by the hand to a bright throneWith argent studs embellish’d, and beneathFootstool’d magnificent, she made me sit.Then mingling for me in a golden cupMy bev’rage, she infused a drug, intentOn mischief; but when I had drunk the draughtUnchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said.390Hence—seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.She spake; I drawing from beside my thighMy faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looksRush’d on her; she with a shrill scream of fearRan under my rais’d arm, seized fast my knees,And in wing’d accents plaintive thus began.Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.Amazed I see thee with that potion drench’d,Yet uninchanted; never man beforeOnce pass’d it through his lips, and liv’d the same;400But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proofAgainst all charms. Come then—I know thee well.Thou art Ulysses artifice-renown’d,Of whose arrival here in his returnFrom Ilium, Hermes of the golden wandWas ever wont to tell me. Sheath againThy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforthEach other, without jealousy or fear.The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied.410O Circe! canst thou bid me meek becomeAnd gentle, who beneath thy roof detain’stMy fellow-voyagers transform’d to swine?And, fearing my escape, invit’st thou meInto thy bed, with fraudulent pretextOf love, that there, enfeebling by thy artsMy noble spirit, thou may’st make me vile?No—trust me—never will I share thy bedTill first, O Goddess, thou consent to swearThe dread all-binding oath, that other harm420Against myself thou wilt imagine none.I spake. She swearing as I bade, renouncedAll evil purpose, and (her solemn oathConcluded) I ascended, next, her bedMagnificent. Meantime, four graceful nymphsAttended on the service of the house,Her menials, from the fountains sprung and groves,And from the sacred streams that seek the sea.Of these, one cast fine linen on the thrones,Which, next, with purple arras rich she spread;430Another placed before the gorgeous seatsBright tables, and set on baskets of gold.The third, an argent beaker fill’d with wineDelicious, which in golden cups she served;The fourth brought water, which she warm’d withinAn ample vase, and when the simm’ring floodSang in the tripod, led me to a bath,And laved me with the pleasant stream profusePour’d o’er my neck and body, till my limbsRefresh’d, all sense of lassitude resign’d.440When she had bathed me, and with limpid oilAnointed me, and cloathed me in a vestAnd mantle, next, she led me to a throneOf royal state, with silver studs emboss’d,And footstool’d soft beneath; then came a nymphWith golden ewer charged and silver bowl,Who pour’d pure water on my hands, and placedThe polish’d board before me, which with foodVarious, selected from her present stores,The cat’ress spread, then, courteous, bade me eat.450But me it pleas’d not; with far other thoughtsMy spirit teem’d, on vengeance more intent.Soon, then, as Circe mark’d me on my seatFast-rooted, sullen, nor with outstretch’d handsDeigning to touch the banquet, she approach’d,And in wing’d accents suasive thus began.Why sits Ulysses like the Dumb, dark thoughtsHis only food? loaths he the touch of meat,And taste of wine? Thou fear’st, as I perceive,Some other snare, but idle is that fear,460For I have sworn the inviolable oath.She ceas’d, to whom this answer I return’d.How can I eat? what virtuous man and just,O Circe! could endure the taste of wineOr food, till he should see his prison’d friendsOnce more at liberty? If then thy wishThat I should eat and drink be true, produceMy captive people; let us meet again.So I; then Circe, bearing in her handHer potent rod, went forth, and op’ning wide470The door, drove out my people from the sty,In bulk resembling brawns of the ninth year.They stood before me; she through all the herdProceeding, with an unctuous antidoteAnointed each, and at the wholesome touchAll shed the swinish bristles by the drugDread Circe’s former magic gift, produced.Restored at once to manhood, they appear’dMore vig’rous far, and sightlier than before.They knew me, and with grasp affectionate480Hung on my hand. Tears follow’d, but of joy,And with loud cries the vaulted palace rang.Even the awful Goddess felt, herself,Compassion, and, approaching me, began.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Hence to the shore, and to thy gallant bark;First, hale her safe aground, then, hiding allYour arms and treasures in the caverns, comeThyself again, and hither lead thy friends.So spake the Goddess, and my gen’rous mind490Persuaded; thence repairing to the beach,I sought my ship; arrived, I found my crewLamenting miserably, and their cheeksWith tears bedewing ceaseless at her side.As when the calves within some village rear’dBehold, at eve, the herd returning homeFrom fruitful meads where they have grazed their fill,No longer in the stalls contain’d, they rushWith many a frisk abroad, and, blaring oft,With one consent, all dance their dams around,500So they, at sight of me, dissolved in tearsOf rapt’rous joy, and each his spirit feltWith like affections warm’d as he had reach’dJust then his country, and his city seen,Fair Ithaca, where he was born and rear’d.Then in wing’d accents tender thus they spake.Noble Ulysses! thy appearance fillsOur soul with transports, such as we should feelArrived in safety on our native shore.Speak—say how perish’d our unhappy friends?510So they; to whom this answer mild I gave.Hale we our vessel first ashore, and hideIn caverns all our treasures and our arms,Then, hasting hence, follow me, and ere longYe shall behold your friends, beneath the roofOf Circe banqueting and drinking wineAbundant, for no dearth attends them there.So I; whom all with readiness obey’d,All save Eurylochus; he sought aloneTo stay the rest, and, eager, interposed.520Ah whither tend we, miserable men?Why covet ye this evil, to go downTo Circe’s palace? she will change us allTo lions, wolves or swine, that we may guardHer palace, by necessity constrain’d.So some were pris’ners of the Cyclops erst,When, led by rash Ulysses, our lost friendsIntruded needlessly into his cave,And perish’d by the folly of their Chief.He spake, whom hearing, occupied I stood530In self-debate, whether, my faulchion keenForth-drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,To tumble his lopp’d head into the dust,Although he were my kinsman in the bondsOf close affinity; but all my friendsAs with one voice, thus gently interposed.Noble Ulysses! we will leave him hereOur vessel’s guard, if such be thy command,But us lead thou to Circe’s dread abode.So saying, they left the galley, and set forth540Climbing the coast; nor would EurylochusBeside the hollow bark remain, but join’dHis comrades by my dreadful menace awed.Meantime the Goddess, busily employ’d,Bathed and refresh’d my friends with limpid oil,And clothed them. We, arriving, found them allBanqueting in the palace; there they met;These ask’d, and those rehearsed the wond’rous tale,And, the recital made, all wept aloudTill the wide dome resounded. Then approach’d550The graceful Goddess, and address’d me thus.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Provoke ye not each other, now, to tears.I am not ignorant, myself, how dreadHave been your woes both on the fishy Deep,And on the land by force of hostile pow’rs.But come—Eat now, and drink ye wine, that soYour freshen’d spirit may revive, and yeCourageous grow again, as when ye leftThe rugged shores of Ithaca, your home.560For now, through recollection, day by day,Of all your pains and toils, ye are becomeSpiritless, strengthless, and the taste forgetOf pleasure, such have been your num’rous woes.She spake, whose invitation kind prevail’d,And won us to her will. There, then, we dweltThe year complete, fed with delicious fareDay after day, and quaffing gen’rous wine.But when (the year fulfill’d) the circling hoursTheir course resumed, and the successive months570With all their tedious days were spent, my friends,Summoning me abroad, thus greeted me.Sir! recollect thy country, if indeedThe fates ordain thee to revisit safeThat country, and thy own glorious abode.So they; whose admonition I receiv’dWell-pleas’d. Then, all the day, regaled we satAt Circe’s board with sav’ry viands rare,And quaffing richest wine; but when, the sunDeclining, darkness overshadow’d all,580Then, each within the dusky palace tookCustom’d repose, and to the Goddess’ bedMagnificent ascending, there I urgedMy earnest suit, which gracious she receiv’d,And in wing’d accents earnest thus I spake.O Circe! let us prove thy promise true;Dismiss us hence. My own desires, at length,Tend homeward vehement, and the desiresNo less of all my friends, who with complaintsUnheard by thee, wear my sad heart away.590So I; to whom the Goddess in return.Laertes’ noble son, Ulysses famedFor deepest wisdom! dwell not longer here,Thou and thy followers, in my abodeReluctant; but your next must be a courseFar diff’rent; hence departing, ye must seekThe dreary house of Ades and of dreadPersephone there to consult the SeerTheban Tiresias, prophet blind, but blestWith faculties which death itself hath spared.600To him alone, of all the dead, Hell’s QueenGives still to prophesy, while others flitMere forms, the shadows of what once they were.She spake, and by her words dash’d from my soulAll courage; weeping on the bed I sat,Reckless of life and of the light of day.But when, with tears and rolling to and froSatiate, I felt relief, thus I replied.O Circe! with what guide shall I performThis voyage, unperform’d by living man?610I spake, to whom the Goddess quick replied.Brave Laertiades! let not the fearTo want a guide distress thee. Once on board,Your mast erected, and your canvas whiteUnfurl’d, sit thou; the breathing North shall waftThy vessel on. But when ye shall have cross’dThe broad expanse of Ocean, and shall reachThe oozy shore, where grow the poplar grovesAnd fruitless willows wan of Proserpine,Push thither through the gulphy Deep thy bark,620And, landing, haste to Pluto’s murky abode.There, into Acheron runs not aloneDread Pyriphlegethon, but Cocytus loud,From Styx derived; there also stands a rock,At whose broad base the roaring rivers meet.There, thrusting, as I bid, thy bark ashore,O Hero! scoop the soil, op’ning a trenchEll-broad on ev’ry side; then pour aroundLibation consecrate to all the dead,First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,630Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.Next, supplicate the unsubstantial formsFervently of the dead, vowing to slay,(Return’d to Ithaca) in thy own house,An heifer barren yet, fairest and bestOf all thy herds, and to enrich the pileWith delicacies such as please the shades;But, in peculiar, to Tiresias vowA sable ram, noblest of all thy flocks.When thus thou hast propitiated with pray’r640All the illustrious nations of the dead,Next, thou shalt sacrifice to them a ramAnd sable ewe, turning the face of eachRight toward Erebus, and look thyself,Meantime, askance toward the river’s course.Souls num’rous, soon, of the departed deadWill thither flock; then, strenuous urge thy friends,Flaying the victims which thy ruthless steelHath slain, to burn them, and to sooth by pray’rIllustrious Pluto and dread Proserpine.650While thus is done, thou seated at the foss,Faulchion in hand, chace thence the airy formsAfar, nor suffer them to approach the blood,Till with Tiresias thou have first conferr’d.Then, glorious Chief! the Prophet shall himselfAppear, who will instruct thee, and thy courseDelineate, measuring from place to placeThy whole return athwart the fishy flood.While thus she spake, the golden dawn arose,When, putting on me my attire, the nymph660Next, cloath’d herself, and girding to her waistWith an embroider’d zone her snowy robeGraceful, redundant, veil’d her beauteous head.Then, ranging the wide palace, I arousedMy followers, standing at the side of each—Up! sleep no longer! let us quick depart,For thus the Goddess hath, herself, advised.So I, whose early summons my brave friendsWith readiness obey’d. Yet even thenceI brought not all my crew. There was a youth,670Youngest of all my train, Elpenor; oneNot much in estimation for desertIn arms, nor prompt in understanding more,Who overcharged with wine, and covetousOf cooler air, high on the palace-roofOf Circe slept, apart from all the rest.Awaken’d by the clamour of his friendsNewly arisen, he also sprang to rise,And in his haste, forgetful where to findThe deep-descending stairs, plunged through the roof.680With neck-bone broken from the vertebræOutstretch’d he lay; his spirit sought the shades.Then, thus to my assembling friends I spake.Ye think, I doubt not, of an homeward course,But Circe points me to the drear abodeOf Proserpine and Pluto, to consultThe spirit of Tiresias, Theban seer.I ended, and the hearts of all alikeFelt consternation; on the earth they satDisconsolate, and plucking each his hair,690Yet profit none of all their sorrow found.But while we sought my galley on the beachWith tepid tears bedewing, as we went,Our cheeks, meantime the Goddess to the shoreDescending, bound within the bark a ramAnd sable ewe, passing us unperceived.For who hath eyes that can discern a GodGoing or coming, if he shun the view?
We came to the Æolian isle; there dwellsÆolus, son of Hippotas, belov’dBy the Immortals, in an isle afloat.A brazen wall impregnable on all sidesGirds it, and smooth its rocky coast ascends.His children, in his own fair palace born,Are twelve; six daughters, and six blooming sons.He gave his daughters to his sons to wife;They with their father hold perpetual feastAnd with their royal mother, still supplied10With dainties numberless; the sounding domeIs fill’d with sav’ry odours all the day,And with their consorts chaste at night they sleepOn stateliest couches with rich arras spread.Their city and their splendid courts we reach’d.A month complete he, friendly, at his boardRegaled me, and enquiry made minuteOf Ilium’s fall, of the Achaian fleet,And of our voyage thence. I told him all.But now, desirous to embark again,20I ask’d dismission home, which he approved,And well provided for my prosp’rous course.He gave me, furnish’d by a bullock slay’dIn his ninth year, a bag; ev’ry rude blastWhich from its bottom turns the Deep, that bagImprison’d held; for him Saturnian JoveHath officed arbiter of all the winds,To rouse their force or calm them, at his will.He gave me them on board my bark, so boundWith silver twine that not a breath escaped,30Then order’d gentle Zephyrus to fillOur sails propitious. Order vain, alas!So fatal proved the folly of my friends.Nine days continual, night and day we sail’d,And on the tenth my native land appear’d.Not far remote my Ithacans I sawFires kindling on the coast; but me with toilWorn, and with watching, gentle sleep subdued;For constant I had ruled the helm, nor giv’nThat charge to any, fearful of delay.40Then, in close conference combined, my crewEach other thus bespake—He carries homeSilver and gold from Æolus received,Offspring of Hippotas, illustrious Chief—And thus a mariner the rest harangued.Ye Gods! what city or what land soe’erUlysses visits, how is he belov’dBy all, and honour’d! many precious spoilsHe homeward bears from Troy; but we return,(We who the self-same voyage have perform’d)50With empty hands. Now also he hath gain’dThis pledge of friendship from the King of winds.But come—be quick—search we the bag, and learnWhat stores of gold and silver it contains.So he, whose mischievous advice prevailed.They loos’d the bag; forth issued all the winds,And, caught by tempests o’er the billowy waste,Weeping they flew, far, far from Ithaca.I then, awaking, in my noble mindStood doubtful, whether from my vessel’s side60Immersed to perish in the flood, or calmTo endure my sorrows, and content to live.I calm endured them; but around my headWinding my mantle, lay’d me down below,While adverse blasts bore all my fleet againTo the Æolian isle; then groan’d my people.We disembark’d and drew fresh water there,And my companions, at their galley’s sidesAll seated, took repast; short meal we made,When, with an herald and a chosen friend,70I sought once more the hall of Æolus.Him banqueting with all his sons we found,And with his spouse; we ent’ring, on the floorOf his wide portal sat, whom they amazedBeheld, and of our coming thus enquired.Return’d? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow’rRepuls’d hast thou arrived? we sent thee henceWell-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,Thy palace, or what place soe’er thou would’st.So they—to whom, heart-broken, I replied.80My worthless crew have wrong’d me, nor aloneMy worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow’r is yours!So I their favour woo’d. Mute sat the sons,But thus their father answer’d. Hence—be gone—Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretchOf all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,Receiving here, and giving conduct henceTo one detested by the Gods as thou.Away—for hated by the Gods thou com’st.90So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o’er the DeepWe still proceeded sorrowful, our forceExhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,And, through our own imprudence, hopeless nowOf other furth’rance to our native isle.Six days we navigated, day and night,The briny flood, and on the seventh reach’dThe city erst by Lamus built sublime,Proud Læstrygonia, with the distant gates.100The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,38Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.The sleepless there might double wages earn,Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazedBy day, close border, both, the city-walls.To that illustrious port we came, by rocksUninterrupted flank’d on either sideOf tow’ring height, while prominent the shoresAnd bold, converging at the haven’s mouth110Leave narrow pass. We push’d our galleys in,Then moor’d them side by side; for never surgeThere lifts its head, or great or small, but clearWe found, and motionless, the shelter’d flood.Myself alone, staying my bark without,Secured her well with hawsers to a rockAt the land’s point, then climb’d the rugged steep,And spying stood the country. Labours noneOf men or oxen in the land appear’d,Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth120Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sentBefore me two, adding an herald third,To learn what race of men that country fed.Departing, they an even track pursuedMade by the waggons bringing timber downFrom the high mountains to the town below.Before the town a virgin bearing forthHer ew’r they met, daughter of him who ruledThe Læstrygonian race, Antiphatas.Descending from the gate, she sought the fount130Artacia; for their custom was to drawFrom that pure fountain for the city’s use.Approaching they accosted her, and ask’dWhat King reign’d there, and over whom he reign’d.She gave them soon to know where stood sublimeThe palace of her Sire; no sooner theyThe palace enter’d, than within they found,In size resembling an huge mountain-top,A woman, whom they shudder’d to behold.She forth from council summon’d quick her spouse140Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughtsOf carnage, and, arriving, seized at onceA Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.With headlong terrour the surviving twoFled to the ships. Then sent AntiphatasHis voice through all the town, and on all sides,Hearing that cry, the Læstrygonians flock’dNumberless, and in size resembling moreThe giants than mankind. They from the rocksCast down into our fleet enormous stones,150A strong man’s burthen each; dire din aroseOf shatter’d galleys and of dying men,Whom spear’d like fishes to their home they bore,A loathsome prey. While them within the portThey slaughter’d, I, (the faulchion at my sideDrawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,And all my crew enjoin’d with bosoms laidProne on their oars, to fly the threaten’d woe.They, dreading instant death tugg’d resupineTogether, and the galley from beneath160Those beetling39rocks into the open seaShot gladly; but the rest all perish’d there.Proceeding thence, we sigh’d, and roamed the waves,Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.We came to the Ææan isle; there dweltThe awful Circe, Goddess amber-hair’d,Deep-skill’d in magic song, sister by birthOf the all-wise Æætes; them the Sun,Bright luminary of the world, begatOn Perse, daughter of Oceanus.170Our vessel there, noiseless, we push’d to landWithin a spacious haven, thither ledBy some celestial Pow’r. We disembark’d,And on the coast two days and nights entireExtended lay, worn with long toil, and eachThe victim of his heart-devouring woes.Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm’d,I left the ship to climb with hasty stepsAn airy height, thence, hoping to espieSome works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice.180Exalted on a rough rock’s craggy pointI stood, and on the distant plain, beheldSmoke which from Circe’s palace through the gloomOf trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern’d,I ponder’d next if thither I should haste,Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,But chose at last, as my discreter course,To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatchBefore me, others, who should first enquire.190But, ere I yet had reach’d my gallant bark,Some God with pity viewing me aloneIn that untrodden solitude, sent forthAn antler’d stag, full-sized, into my path.His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,For he was thirsty, and already parch’dBy the sun’s heat. Him issuing from his haunt,Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired.200Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck’dMy weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,I tore away the osiers with my handsAnd fallows green, and to a fathom’s lengthTwisting the gather’d twigs into a band,Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair’dToward my sable bark, propp’d on my lance,Which now to carry shoulder’d as beforeSurpass’d my pow’r, so bulky was the load.210Arriving at the ship, there I let fallMy burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,Man after man addressing, cheer’d my crew.My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seekThe shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.Behold a feast! and we have wine on board—Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.I spake; they readily obey’d, and eachIssuing at my word abroad, besideThe galley stood, admiring, as he lay,220The stag, for of no common bulk was he.At length, their eyes gratified to the fullWith that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,And preparation made of noble cheer.That day complete, till set of sun, we spentFeasting deliciously without restraint,And quaffing generous wine; but when the sunWent down, and darkness overshadow’d all,Extended, then, on Ocean’s bank we lay;And when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,230Look’d rosy forth, convening all my crewTo council, I arose, and thus began.My fellow-voyagers, however wornWith num’rous hardships, hear! for neither WestKnow ye, nor East, where rises, or where setsThe all-enlight’ning sun. But let us think,If thought perchance may profit us, of whichSmall hope I see; for when I lately climb’dYon craggy rock, plainly I could discernThe land encompass’d by the boundless Deep.240The isle is flat, and in the midst I sawDun smoke ascending from an oaken bow’r.So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,And at remembrance of AntiphatasThe Læstrygonian, and the Cyclops’ deeds,Ferocious feeder on the flesh of man,Mourn’d loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.Then numb’ring man by man, I parted themIn equal portions, and assign’d a ChiefTo either band, myself to these, to those250Godlike Eurylochus. This done, we castThe lots into the helmet, and at onceForth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.He went, and with him of my people march’dTwenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselvesWept less, at separation from our friends.Low in a vale, but on an open spot,They found the splendid house of Circe, builtWith hewn and polish’d stones; compass’d she dweltBy lions on all sides and mountain-wolves260Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow’rs.Nor were they mischievous, but as my friendsApproach’d, arising on their hinder feet,Paw’d them in blandishment, and wagg’d the tail.As, when from feast he rises, dogs aroundTheir master fawn, accustom’d to receiveThe sop conciliatory from his hand,Around my people, so, those talon’d wolvesAnd lions fawn’d. They, terrified, that troopOf savage monsters horrible beheld.270And now, before the Goddess’ gates arrived,They heard the voice of Circe singing sweetWithin, while, busied at the loom, she woveAn ample web immortal, such a workTransparent, graceful, and of bright designAs hands of Goddesses alone produce.Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friendHighest in my esteem, the rest bespake.Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weavesAn ample web within, and at her task280So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floorRe-echoes; human be she or divineI doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.He ceas’d; they call’d; soon issuing at the sound,The Goddess open’d wide her splendid gates,And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,All save Eurylochus, who fear’d a snare.She, introducing them, conducted eachTo a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new,290But medicated with her pois’nous drugsTheir food, that in oblivion they might loseThe wish of home. She gave them, and they drank,—When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,In body, and in bristles they becameAll swine, yet intellected as before,And at her hand were dieted aloneWith acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine.300Back flew Eurylochus toward the ship,To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixtWith anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.Me boding terrours occupied. At length,When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.Renown’d Ulysses! as thou bad’st, we wentThrough yonder oaks; there, bosom’d in a vale,But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll310With polish’d rock, we found a stately dome.Within, some Goddess or some woman woveAn ample web, carolling sweet the while.They call’d aloud; she, issuing at the voice,Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,And bade them in. Heedless they enter’d, all,But I remain’d, suspicious of a snare.Ere long the whole band vanish’d, none I sawThenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch’d.He ended; I my studded faulchion huge320Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,Then bade him lead me thither by the wayHimself had gone; but with both hands my kneesHe clasp’d, and in wing’d accents sad exclaim’d.My King! ah lead me not unwilling back,But leave me here; for confident I judgeThat neither thou wilt bring another thence,Nor come thyself again. Haste—fly we swiftWith these, for we, at least, may yet escape.So he, to whom this answer I return’d.330Eurylochus! abiding here, eat thouAnd drink thy fill beside the sable bark;I go; necessity forbids my stay.So saying, I left the galley and the shore.But ere that awful vale ent’ring, I reach’dThe palace of the sorceress, a GodMet me, the bearer of the golden wand,Hermes. He seem’d a stripling in his prime,His cheeks cloath’d only with their earliest down,For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock’d340His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.Unhappy! whither, wand’ring o’er the hills,Stranger to all this region, and alone,Go’st thou? Thy people—they within the wallsAre shut of Circe, where as swine close-pentShe keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?I tell thee, never wilt thou thence returnThyself, but wilt be prison’d with the rest.Yet hearken—I will disappoint her wiles,And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug;350Possessing this, enter the Goddess’ houseBoldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.Lo! I reveal to thee the cruel artsOf Circe; learn them. She will mix for theeA potion, and will also drug thy foodWith noxious herbs; but she shall not prevailBy all her pow’r to change thee; for the forceSuperior of this noble plant, my gift,Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.When she shall smite thee with her slender rod,360With faulchion drawn and with death-threat’ning looksRush on her; she will bid thee to her bedAffrighted; then beware. Decline not thouHer love, that she may both release thy friends,And may with kindness entertain thyself.But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav’nThat she will other mischief none deviseAgainst thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.So spake the Argicide, and from the earth370That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,Then taught me all its pow’rs. Black was the root,Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its nameIn heav’n; not easily by mortal manDug forth, but all is easy to the Gods.Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair’dTo heav’n, and I to Circe’s dread abode,In gloomy musings busied as I went.Within the vestibule arrived, where dweltThe beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps,380I call’d aloud; she heard me, and at onceIssuing, threw her splendid portals wide,And bade me in. I follow’d, heart-distress’d.Leading me by the hand to a bright throneWith argent studs embellish’d, and beneathFootstool’d magnificent, she made me sit.Then mingling for me in a golden cupMy bev’rage, she infused a drug, intentOn mischief; but when I had drunk the draughtUnchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said.390Hence—seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.She spake; I drawing from beside my thighMy faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looksRush’d on her; she with a shrill scream of fearRan under my rais’d arm, seized fast my knees,And in wing’d accents plaintive thus began.Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.Amazed I see thee with that potion drench’d,Yet uninchanted; never man beforeOnce pass’d it through his lips, and liv’d the same;400But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proofAgainst all charms. Come then—I know thee well.Thou art Ulysses artifice-renown’d,Of whose arrival here in his returnFrom Ilium, Hermes of the golden wandWas ever wont to tell me. Sheath againThy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforthEach other, without jealousy or fear.The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied.410O Circe! canst thou bid me meek becomeAnd gentle, who beneath thy roof detain’stMy fellow-voyagers transform’d to swine?And, fearing my escape, invit’st thou meInto thy bed, with fraudulent pretextOf love, that there, enfeebling by thy artsMy noble spirit, thou may’st make me vile?No—trust me—never will I share thy bedTill first, O Goddess, thou consent to swearThe dread all-binding oath, that other harm420Against myself thou wilt imagine none.I spake. She swearing as I bade, renouncedAll evil purpose, and (her solemn oathConcluded) I ascended, next, her bedMagnificent. Meantime, four graceful nymphsAttended on the service of the house,Her menials, from the fountains sprung and groves,And from the sacred streams that seek the sea.Of these, one cast fine linen on the thrones,Which, next, with purple arras rich she spread;430Another placed before the gorgeous seatsBright tables, and set on baskets of gold.The third, an argent beaker fill’d with wineDelicious, which in golden cups she served;The fourth brought water, which she warm’d withinAn ample vase, and when the simm’ring floodSang in the tripod, led me to a bath,And laved me with the pleasant stream profusePour’d o’er my neck and body, till my limbsRefresh’d, all sense of lassitude resign’d.440When she had bathed me, and with limpid oilAnointed me, and cloathed me in a vestAnd mantle, next, she led me to a throneOf royal state, with silver studs emboss’d,And footstool’d soft beneath; then came a nymphWith golden ewer charged and silver bowl,Who pour’d pure water on my hands, and placedThe polish’d board before me, which with foodVarious, selected from her present stores,The cat’ress spread, then, courteous, bade me eat.450But me it pleas’d not; with far other thoughtsMy spirit teem’d, on vengeance more intent.Soon, then, as Circe mark’d me on my seatFast-rooted, sullen, nor with outstretch’d handsDeigning to touch the banquet, she approach’d,And in wing’d accents suasive thus began.Why sits Ulysses like the Dumb, dark thoughtsHis only food? loaths he the touch of meat,And taste of wine? Thou fear’st, as I perceive,Some other snare, but idle is that fear,460For I have sworn the inviolable oath.She ceas’d, to whom this answer I return’d.How can I eat? what virtuous man and just,O Circe! could endure the taste of wineOr food, till he should see his prison’d friendsOnce more at liberty? If then thy wishThat I should eat and drink be true, produceMy captive people; let us meet again.So I; then Circe, bearing in her handHer potent rod, went forth, and op’ning wide470The door, drove out my people from the sty,In bulk resembling brawns of the ninth year.They stood before me; she through all the herdProceeding, with an unctuous antidoteAnointed each, and at the wholesome touchAll shed the swinish bristles by the drugDread Circe’s former magic gift, produced.Restored at once to manhood, they appear’dMore vig’rous far, and sightlier than before.They knew me, and with grasp affectionate480Hung on my hand. Tears follow’d, but of joy,And with loud cries the vaulted palace rang.Even the awful Goddess felt, herself,Compassion, and, approaching me, began.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Hence to the shore, and to thy gallant bark;First, hale her safe aground, then, hiding allYour arms and treasures in the caverns, comeThyself again, and hither lead thy friends.So spake the Goddess, and my gen’rous mind490Persuaded; thence repairing to the beach,I sought my ship; arrived, I found my crewLamenting miserably, and their cheeksWith tears bedewing ceaseless at her side.As when the calves within some village rear’dBehold, at eve, the herd returning homeFrom fruitful meads where they have grazed their fill,No longer in the stalls contain’d, they rushWith many a frisk abroad, and, blaring oft,With one consent, all dance their dams around,500So they, at sight of me, dissolved in tearsOf rapt’rous joy, and each his spirit feltWith like affections warm’d as he had reach’dJust then his country, and his city seen,Fair Ithaca, where he was born and rear’d.Then in wing’d accents tender thus they spake.Noble Ulysses! thy appearance fillsOur soul with transports, such as we should feelArrived in safety on our native shore.Speak—say how perish’d our unhappy friends?510So they; to whom this answer mild I gave.Hale we our vessel first ashore, and hideIn caverns all our treasures and our arms,Then, hasting hence, follow me, and ere longYe shall behold your friends, beneath the roofOf Circe banqueting and drinking wineAbundant, for no dearth attends them there.So I; whom all with readiness obey’d,All save Eurylochus; he sought aloneTo stay the rest, and, eager, interposed.520Ah whither tend we, miserable men?Why covet ye this evil, to go downTo Circe’s palace? she will change us allTo lions, wolves or swine, that we may guardHer palace, by necessity constrain’d.So some were pris’ners of the Cyclops erst,When, led by rash Ulysses, our lost friendsIntruded needlessly into his cave,And perish’d by the folly of their Chief.He spake, whom hearing, occupied I stood530In self-debate, whether, my faulchion keenForth-drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,To tumble his lopp’d head into the dust,Although he were my kinsman in the bondsOf close affinity; but all my friendsAs with one voice, thus gently interposed.Noble Ulysses! we will leave him hereOur vessel’s guard, if such be thy command,But us lead thou to Circe’s dread abode.So saying, they left the galley, and set forth540Climbing the coast; nor would EurylochusBeside the hollow bark remain, but join’dHis comrades by my dreadful menace awed.Meantime the Goddess, busily employ’d,Bathed and refresh’d my friends with limpid oil,And clothed them. We, arriving, found them allBanqueting in the palace; there they met;These ask’d, and those rehearsed the wond’rous tale,And, the recital made, all wept aloudTill the wide dome resounded. Then approach’d550The graceful Goddess, and address’d me thus.Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!Provoke ye not each other, now, to tears.I am not ignorant, myself, how dreadHave been your woes both on the fishy Deep,And on the land by force of hostile pow’rs.But come—Eat now, and drink ye wine, that soYour freshen’d spirit may revive, and yeCourageous grow again, as when ye leftThe rugged shores of Ithaca, your home.560For now, through recollection, day by day,Of all your pains and toils, ye are becomeSpiritless, strengthless, and the taste forgetOf pleasure, such have been your num’rous woes.She spake, whose invitation kind prevail’d,And won us to her will. There, then, we dweltThe year complete, fed with delicious fareDay after day, and quaffing gen’rous wine.But when (the year fulfill’d) the circling hoursTheir course resumed, and the successive months570With all their tedious days were spent, my friends,Summoning me abroad, thus greeted me.Sir! recollect thy country, if indeedThe fates ordain thee to revisit safeThat country, and thy own glorious abode.So they; whose admonition I receiv’dWell-pleas’d. Then, all the day, regaled we satAt Circe’s board with sav’ry viands rare,And quaffing richest wine; but when, the sunDeclining, darkness overshadow’d all,580Then, each within the dusky palace tookCustom’d repose, and to the Goddess’ bedMagnificent ascending, there I urgedMy earnest suit, which gracious she receiv’d,And in wing’d accents earnest thus I spake.O Circe! let us prove thy promise true;Dismiss us hence. My own desires, at length,Tend homeward vehement, and the desiresNo less of all my friends, who with complaintsUnheard by thee, wear my sad heart away.590So I; to whom the Goddess in return.Laertes’ noble son, Ulysses famedFor deepest wisdom! dwell not longer here,Thou and thy followers, in my abodeReluctant; but your next must be a courseFar diff’rent; hence departing, ye must seekThe dreary house of Ades and of dreadPersephone there to consult the SeerTheban Tiresias, prophet blind, but blestWith faculties which death itself hath spared.600To him alone, of all the dead, Hell’s QueenGives still to prophesy, while others flitMere forms, the shadows of what once they were.She spake, and by her words dash’d from my soulAll courage; weeping on the bed I sat,Reckless of life and of the light of day.But when, with tears and rolling to and froSatiate, I felt relief, thus I replied.O Circe! with what guide shall I performThis voyage, unperform’d by living man?610I spake, to whom the Goddess quick replied.Brave Laertiades! let not the fearTo want a guide distress thee. Once on board,Your mast erected, and your canvas whiteUnfurl’d, sit thou; the breathing North shall waftThy vessel on. But when ye shall have cross’dThe broad expanse of Ocean, and shall reachThe oozy shore, where grow the poplar grovesAnd fruitless willows wan of Proserpine,Push thither through the gulphy Deep thy bark,620And, landing, haste to Pluto’s murky abode.There, into Acheron runs not aloneDread Pyriphlegethon, but Cocytus loud,From Styx derived; there also stands a rock,At whose broad base the roaring rivers meet.There, thrusting, as I bid, thy bark ashore,O Hero! scoop the soil, op’ning a trenchEll-broad on ev’ry side; then pour aroundLibation consecrate to all the dead,First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,630Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.Next, supplicate the unsubstantial formsFervently of the dead, vowing to slay,(Return’d to Ithaca) in thy own house,An heifer barren yet, fairest and bestOf all thy herds, and to enrich the pileWith delicacies such as please the shades;But, in peculiar, to Tiresias vowA sable ram, noblest of all thy flocks.When thus thou hast propitiated with pray’r640All the illustrious nations of the dead,Next, thou shalt sacrifice to them a ramAnd sable ewe, turning the face of eachRight toward Erebus, and look thyself,Meantime, askance toward the river’s course.Souls num’rous, soon, of the departed deadWill thither flock; then, strenuous urge thy friends,Flaying the victims which thy ruthless steelHath slain, to burn them, and to sooth by pray’rIllustrious Pluto and dread Proserpine.650While thus is done, thou seated at the foss,Faulchion in hand, chace thence the airy formsAfar, nor suffer them to approach the blood,Till with Tiresias thou have first conferr’d.Then, glorious Chief! the Prophet shall himselfAppear, who will instruct thee, and thy courseDelineate, measuring from place to placeThy whole return athwart the fishy flood.While thus she spake, the golden dawn arose,When, putting on me my attire, the nymph660Next, cloath’d herself, and girding to her waistWith an embroider’d zone her snowy robeGraceful, redundant, veil’d her beauteous head.Then, ranging the wide palace, I arousedMy followers, standing at the side of each—Up! sleep no longer! let us quick depart,For thus the Goddess hath, herself, advised.So I, whose early summons my brave friendsWith readiness obey’d. Yet even thenceI brought not all my crew. There was a youth,670Youngest of all my train, Elpenor; oneNot much in estimation for desertIn arms, nor prompt in understanding more,Who overcharged with wine, and covetousOf cooler air, high on the palace-roofOf Circe slept, apart from all the rest.Awaken’d by the clamour of his friendsNewly arisen, he also sprang to rise,And in his haste, forgetful where to findThe deep-descending stairs, plunged through the roof.680With neck-bone broken from the vertebræOutstretch’d he lay; his spirit sought the shades.Then, thus to my assembling friends I spake.Ye think, I doubt not, of an homeward course,But Circe points me to the drear abodeOf Proserpine and Pluto, to consultThe spirit of Tiresias, Theban seer.I ended, and the hearts of all alikeFelt consternation; on the earth they satDisconsolate, and plucking each his hair,690Yet profit none of all their sorrow found.But while we sought my galley on the beachWith tepid tears bedewing, as we went,Our cheeks, meantime the Goddess to the shoreDescending, bound within the bark a ramAnd sable ewe, passing us unperceived.For who hath eyes that can discern a GodGoing or coming, if he shun the view?
38It is supposed by Eustathius that the pastures being infested by gad flies and other noxious insects in the day-time, they drove their sheep a-field in the morning, which by their wool were defended from them, and their cattle in the evening, when the insects had withdrawn. It is one of the few passages in Homer that must lie at the mercy of conjecture.39The word has the authority of Shakspeare, and signifies overhanging.
38It is supposed by Eustathius that the pastures being infested by gad flies and other noxious insects in the day-time, they drove their sheep a-field in the morning, which by their wool were defended from them, and their cattle in the evening, when the insects had withdrawn. It is one of the few passages in Homer that must lie at the mercy of conjecture.
38It is supposed by Eustathius that the pastures being infested by gad flies and other noxious insects in the day-time, they drove their sheep a-field in the morning, which by their wool were defended from them, and their cattle in the evening, when the insects had withdrawn. It is one of the few passages in Homer that must lie at the mercy of conjecture.
39The word has the authority of Shakspeare, and signifies overhanging.
39The word has the authority of Shakspeare, and signifies overhanging.