Odysseus, his entertainment by Aeolus, of whom he received a fair wind
for the present, and all the rest of the winds tied up in a bag; which
his men untying, flew out, and carried him back to Aeolus, who refused
to receive him. His adventure at Laestrygonia with Antiphates, where of
twelve ships he lost eleven, men and all. How he went thence to the
Isle of Aea, where half of his men were turned by Circe into swine, and
how he went himself, and by the help of Hermes recovered them and
stayed with Circe a year.
“Then we came to the isle Aeolian, where dwelt Aeolus, son of Hippotas,
dear too the deathless gods, in a floating island, and all about it is
a wall of bronze unbroken, and the cliff runs up sheer from the sea.
His twelve children to abide there in his halls, six daughters and six
lusty sons; and, behold, he gave his daughters to his sons to wife. And
they feast evermore by their dear father and their kind mother, and
dainties innumerable lie ready to their hands. And the house is full of
the savour of feasting, and the noise thereof rings round, yea in the
courtyard, by day, and in the night they sleep each one by his chaste
wife in coverlets and on jointed bedsteads. So then we came to their
city and their goodly dwelling, and the king entreated me kindly for a
whole month, and sought out each thing, Ilios and the ships of the
Argives, and the return of the Achaeans. So I told him all the tale in
order duly. But when I in turn took the word and asked of my journey,
and bade him send me on my way, he too denied me not, but furnished an
escort. He gave me a wallet, made of the hide of an ox of nine seasons
old, which he let flay, and therein he bound the ways of all the noisy
winds; for him the son of Cronos made keeper of the winds, either to
lull or to rouse what blasts he will. And he made it fast in the hold
of the ship with a shining silver thong, that not the faintest breath
might escape. Then he sent forth the blast of the West Wind to blow for
me, to bear our ships and ourselves upon our way; but this he was never
to bring to pass, for we were undone through our own heedlessness.
“For nine whole days we sailed by night and day continually, and now on
the tenth day my native land came in sight, and already we were so near
that we beheld the folk tending the beacon fires. Then over me there
came sweet slumber in my weariness, for all the time I was holding the
sheet, nor gave it to any of my company, that so we might come quicker
to our own country. Meanwhile my company held converse together, and
said that I was bringing home for myself gold and silver, gifts from
Aeolus the high-hearted son of Hippotas. And thus would they speak
looking each man to his neighbour:
“‘Lo now, how beloved he is and highly esteemed among all men, to the
city and land of whomsoever he may come. Many are the goodly treasures
he taketh with him out of the spoil from Troy, while we who have
fulfilled like journeying with him return homeward bringing with us but
empty hands. And now Aeolus hath given unto him these things freely in
his love. Nay come, let us quickly see what they are, even what wealth
of gold and silver is in the wallet.’
“So they spake, and the evil counsel of my company prevailed. They
loosed the wallet, and all the winds brake forth. And the violent blast
seized my men, and bare them towards the high seas weeping, away from
their own country; but as for me, I awoke and communed with my great
heart, whether I should cast myself from the ship and perish in the
deep, or endure in silence and abide yet among the living. Howbeit I
hardened my heart to endure, and muffling my head I lay still in the
ship. But the vessels were driven by the evil storm-wind back to the
isle Aeolian, and my company made moan.
“There we stepped ashore and drew water, and my company presently took
their midday meal by the swift ships. Now when we had tasted bread and
wine, I took with me a herald and one of my company, and went to the
famous dwelling of Aeolus: and I found him feasting with his wife and
children. So we went in and sat by the pillars of the door on the
threshold, and they all marvelled and asked us:
“‘How hast thou come hither, Odysseus? What evil god assailed thee?
Surely we sent thee on thy way with all diligence, that thou mightest
get thee to thine own country and thy home, and whithersoever thou
wouldest.’
“Even so they said, but I spake among them heavy at heart: ‘My evil
company hath been my bane, and sleep thereto remorseless. Come, my
friends, do ye heal the harm, for yours is the power.’
“So I spake, beseeching them in soft words, but they held their peace.
And the father answered, saying: ‘Get thee forth from the island
straightway, thou that art the most reprobate of living men. Far be it
from me to help or to further that man whom the blessed gods abhor! Get
thee forth, for lo, thy coming marks thee hated by the deathless gods.’
“Therewith he sent me forth from the house making heavy moan. Thence we
sailed onwards stricken at heart. And the spirit of the men was spent
beneath the grievous rowing by reason of our vain endeavour, for there
was no more any sign of a wafting wind. So for the space of six days we
sailed by night and day continually, and on the seventh we came to the
steep stronghold of Lamos, Telepylos of the Laestrygons, where herdsman
hails herdsman as he drives in his flock, and the other who drives
forth answers the call. There might a sleepless man have earned a
double wage, the one as neat-herd, the other shepherding white flocks:
so near are the outgoings of the night and of the day. Thither when he
had come to the fair haven, whereabout on both sides goes one steep
cliff unbroken and jutting headlands over against each other stretch
forth at the mouth of the harbour, and strait is the entrance;
thereinto all the others steered their curved ships. Now the vessels
were bound within the hollow harbour each hard by other, for no wave
ever swelled within it, great or small, but there was a bright calm all
around. But I alone moored my dark ship without the harbour, at the
uttermost point thereof, and made fast the hawser to a rock. And I went
up a craggy hill, a place of out-look, and stood thereon: thence there
was no sign of the labour of men or oxen, only we saw the smoke curling
upward from the land. Then I sent forth certain of my company to go and
search out what manner of men they were who here live upon the earth by
bread, choosing out two of my company and sending a third with them as
herald. Now when they had gone ashore, they went along a level road
whereby wains were wont to draw down wood from the high hills to the
town. And without the town they fell in with a damsel drawing water,
the noble daughter of Laestrygonian Antiphates. She had come down to
the clear-flowing spring Artacia, for thence it was custom to draw
water to the town. So they stood by her and spake unto her, and asked
who was king of that land, and who they were he ruled over. Then at
once she showed them the high-roofed hall of her father. Now when they
had entered the renowned house, they found his wife therein: she was
huge of bulk as a mountain peak and was loathly in their sight.
Straightway she called the renowned Antiphates, her lord, from the
assembly-place, and he contrived a pitiful destruction for my men.
Forthwith he clutched up one of my company and made ready his midday
meal, but the other twain sprang up and came in flight to the ships.
Then he raised the war cry through the town, and the valiant
Laestrygons at the sound thereof, flocked together from every side, a
host past number, not like men but like the Giants. They cast at us
from the cliffs with great rocks, each of them a man’s burden, and anon
there arose from the fleet an evil din of men dying and ships shattered
withal. And like folk spearing fishes they bare home their hideous
meal. While as yet they were slaying my friends within the deep
harbour, I drew my sharp sword from my thigh, and with it cut the
hawsers of my dark-prowed ship. Quickly then I called to my company,
and bade them dash in with the oars, that we might clean escape this
evil plight. And all with one accord they tossed the sea water with the
oar-blade, in dread of death, and to my delight my barque flew forth to
the high seas away from the beetling rocks, but those other ships were
lost there, one and all.
“Thence we sailed onward stricken at heart, yet glad as men saved from
death, albeit we had lost our dear companions. And we came to the isle
Aeaean, where dwelt Circe of the braided tresses, an awful goddess of
mortal speech, own sister to the wizard Aeetes. Both were begotten of
Helios, who gives light to all men, and their mother was Perse,
daughter of Oceanus. There on the shore we put in with our ship into
the sheltering haven silently, and some god was our guide. Then we
stept ashore, and for two days and two nights lay there, consuming our
own hearts for weariness and pain. But when now the fair-tressed Dawn
had brought the full light of the third day, then did I seize my spear
and my sharp sword, and quickly departing from the ship I went up unto
a place of wide prospect, if haply I might see any sign of the labour
of men and hear the sound of their speech. So I went up a craggy hill,
a place of out-look, and I saw the smoke rising from the broad-wayed
earth in the halls of Circe, through the thick coppice and the
woodland. Then I mused in my mind and heart whether I should go and
make discovery, for that I had seen the smoke and flame. And as I
thought thereon this seemed to me the better counsel, to go first to
the swift ship and to the sea-banks, and give my company their midday
meal, and then send them to make search. But as I came and drew nigh to
the curved ship, some god even then took pity on me in my loneliness,
and sent a tall antlered stag across my very path. He was coming down
from his pasture in the woodland to the river to drink, for verily the
might of the sun was sore upon him. And as he came up from out of the
stream, I smote him on the spine in the middle of the back, and the
brazen shaft went clean through him, and with a moan he fell in the
dust, and his life passed from him. Then I set my foot on him and drew
forth the brazen shaft from the wound, and laid it hard by upon the
ground and let it lie. Next I broke withies and willow twigs, and wove
me a rope a fathom in length, well twisted from end to end, and bound
together the feet of the huge beast, and went to the black ship bearing
him across my neck, and leaning on a spear, for it was in no wise
possible to carry him on my shoulder with the one hand, for he was a
mighty quarry. And I threw him down before the ship and roused my
company with soft words, standing by each man in turn:
“‘Friends, for all our sorrows we shall not yet a while go down to the
house of Hades, ere the coming of the day of destiny; go to then, while
as yet there is meat and drink in the swift ship, let us take thought
thereof, that we be not famished for hunger.’
“Even so I spake, and they speedily hearkened to my words. They
unmuffled their heads, and there on the shore of the unharvested sea
gazed at the stag, for he was a mighty quarry. But after they had
delighted their eyes with the sight of him, they washed their hands and
got ready the glorious feast. So for that time we sat the livelong day
till the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet
wine. But when the sun sank and darkness had come on, then we laid us
to rest upon the sea beach. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the
rosy-fingered, I called a gathering of my men and spake in the ears of
them all:
“‘Hear my works, my fellows, despite your evil case. My friends, lo,
now we know not where is the place of darkness or of dawning, nor where
the Sun, that gives light to men, goes beneath the earth, nor where he
rises; therefore let us advise us speedily if any counsel yet may be:
as for me, I deem there is none. For I went up a craggy hill, a place
of out-look, and saw the island crowned about with the circle of the
endless sea, the isle itself lying low; and in the midst thereof mine
eyes beheld the smoke through the thick coppice and the woodland.’
“Even so I spake, but their spirit within them was broken, as they
remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestrygonian, and all the evil
violence of the haughty Cyclops, the man-eater. So they wept aloud
shedding big tears. Howbeit no avail came of their weeping.
“Then I numbered my goodly-greaved company in two bands, and appointed
a leader for each, and I myself took the command of the one part, and
godlike Eurylochus of the other. And anon we shook the lots in a
brazen-fitted helmet, and out leapt the lot of proud Eurylochus. So he
went on his way, and with him two and twenty of my fellowship all
weeping; and we were left behind making lament. In the forest glades
they found the halls of Circe builded, of polished stone, in a place
with wide prospect. And all around the palace mountain-bred wolves and
lions were roaming, whom she herself had bewitched with evil drugs that
she gave them. Yet the beasts did not set on my men, but lo, they
ramped about them and fawned on them, wagging their long tails. And as
when dogs fawn about their lord when he comes from the feast, for he
always brings them the fragments that soothe their mood, even so the
strong-clawed wolves and the lions fawned around them; but they were
affrighted when they saw the strange and terrible creatures. So they
stood at the outer gate of the fair-tressed goddess, and within they
heard Circe singing in a sweet voice, as she fared to and fro before
the great web imperishable, such as is the handiwork of goddesses, fine
of woof and full of grace and splendour. Then Polites, a leader of men,
the dearest to me and the trustiest of all my company, first spake to
them:
“‘Friends, forasmuch as there is one within that fares to and fro
before a mighty web singing a sweet song, so that all the floor of the
hall makes echo, a goddess she is or a woman; come quickly and cry
aloud to her.’
“He spake the word and they cried aloud and called to her. And
straightway she came forth and opened the shining doors and bade them
in, and all went with her in their heedlessness. But Eurylochus tarried
behind, for he guessed that there was some treason. So she led them in
and set them upon chairs and high seats, and made them a mess of cheese
and barley-meal and yellow honey with Pramnian wine, and mixed harmful
drugs with the food to make them utterly forget their own country. Now
when she had given them the cup and they had drunk it off, presently
she smote them with a wand, and in the styes of the swine she penned
them. So they had the head and voice, the bristles and the shape of
swine, but their mind abode even as of old. Thus were they penned there
weeping, and Circe flung them acorns and mast and fruit of the cornel
tree to eat, whereon wallowing swine do always batten.
“Now Eurylochus came back to the swift black ship to bring tidings of
his fellows, and of their unseemly doom. Not a word could he utter, for
all his desire, so deeply smitten was he to the heart with grief, and
his eyes were filled with tears and his soul was fain of lamentation.
But when we all had pressed him with our questions in amazement, even
then he told the fate of the remnant of our company.
“‘We went, as thou didst command, through the coppice, noble Odysseus:
we found within the forest glades the fair halls, builded of polished
stone, in a place with wide prospect. And there was one that fared
before a mighty web and sang a clear song, a goddess she was or a
woman, and they cried aloud and called to her. And straightway she came
forth, and opened the shining doors and bade them in, and they all went
with her in their heedlessness. But I tarried behind, for I guessed
that there was some treason. Then they vanished away one and all, nor
did any of them appear again, though I sat long time watching.’
“So spake he, whereon I cast about my shoulder my silver-studded sword,
a great blade of bronze, and slung my bow about me and bade him lead me
again by the way that he came. But he caught me with both hands, and by
my knees he besought me, and bewailing him spake to me winged words:
“‘Lead me not thither against my will, oh fosterling of Zeus, but leave
me here! For well I know thou shalt thyself return no more, nor bring
any one of all thy fellowship; nay, let us flee the swifter with those
that be here, for even yet may we escape the evil day.’
“On this wise he spake, but I answered him, saying: ‘Eurylochus, abide
for thy part here in this place, eating and drinking by the black
hollow ship: but I will go forth, for a strong constraint is laid on
me.’
“With that I went up from the ship and the sea-shore. But lo, when in
my faring through the sacred glades I was now drawing near to the great
hall of the enchantress Circe, then did Hermes, of the golden wand,
meet me as I approached the house, in the likeness of a young man with
the first down on his lip, the time when youth is most gracious. So he
clasped my hand and spake and hailed me:
“‘Ah, hapless man, whither away again, all alone through the wolds,
thou that knowest not this country? And thy company yonder in the hall
of Circe are penned in the guise of swine, in their deep lairs abiding.
Is it in hope to free them that thou art come hither? Nay, methinks,
thou thyself shalt never return but remain there with the others. Come
then, I will redeem thee from thy distress, and bring deliverance. Lo,
take this herb of virtue, and go to the dwelling of Circe, that it may
keep from thy head the evil day. And I will tell thee all the magic
sleight of Circe. She will mix thee a potion and cast drugs into the
mess; but not even so shall she be able to enchant thee; so helpful is
this charmed herb that I shall give thee, and I will tell thee all.
When it shall be that Circe smites thee with her long wand, even then
draw thou thy sharp sword from thy thigh, and spring on her, as one
eager to slay her. And she will shrink away and be instant with thee to
lie with her. Thenceforth disdain not thou the bed of the goddess, that
she may deliver thy company and kindly entertain thee. But command her
to swear a mighty oath by the blessed gods, that she will plan nought
else of mischief to thine own hurt, lest she make thee a dastard and
unmanned, when she hath thee naked.’
“Therewith the slayer of Argos gave me the plant that he had plucked
from the ground, and he showed me the growth thereof. It was black at
the root, but the flower was like to milk. Moly the gods call it, but
it is hard for mortal men to dig; howbeit with the gods all things are
possible.
“Then Hermes departed toward high Olympus, up through the woodland
isle, but as for me I held on my way to the house of Circe, and my
heart was darkly troubled as I went. So I halted in the portals of the
fair-tressed goddess; there I stood and called aloud and the goddess
heard my voice, who presently came forth and opened the shining doors
and bade me in, and I went with her heavy at heart. So she led me in
and set me on a chair with studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and
beneath was a footstool for the feet. And she made me a potion in a
golden cup, that I might drink, and she also put a charm therein, in
the evil counsel of her heart.
“Now when she had given it and I had drunk it off and was not
bewitched, she smote me with her wand and spake and hailed me:
“‘Go thy way now to the stye, couch thee there with the rest of thy
company.’
“So spake she, but I drew my sharp sword from my thigh and sprang upon
Circe, as one eager to slay her. But with a great cry she slipped
under, and clasped my knees, and bewailing herself spake to me winged
words:
“‘Who art thou of the sons of men, and whence? Where is thy city? Where
are they that begat thee? I marvel to see how thou hast drunk of this
charm, and wast nowise subdued. Nay, for there lives no man else that
is proof against this charm, whoso hath drunk thereof, and once it hath
passed his lips. But thou hast, methinks, a mind within thee that may
not be enchanted. Verily thou art Odysseus, ready at need, whom he of
the golden wand, the slayer of Argos, full often told me was to come
hither, on his way from Troy with his swift black ship. Nay come, put
thy sword into the sheath, and thereafter let us go up into my bed,
that meeting in love and sleep we may trust each the other.’
“So spake she, but I answered her, saying: ‘Nay, Circe, how canst thou
bid me be gentle to thee, who hast turned my company into swine within
thy halls, and holding me here with a guileful heart requirest me to
pass within thy chamber and go up into thy bed, that so thou mayest
make me a dastard and unmanned when thou hast me naked? Nay, never will
I consent to go up into thy bed, except thou wilt deign, goddess, to
swear a mighty oath, that thou wilt plan nought else of mischief to
mine own hurt.’
“So I spake, and she straightway swore the oath not to harm me, as I
bade her. But when she had sworn and had done that oath, then at last I
went up into the beautiful bed of Circe.
“Now all this while her handmaids busied them in the halls, four
maidens that are her serving women in the house. They are born of the
wells and of the woods and of the holy rivers, that flow forward into
the salt sea. Of these one cast upon the chairs goodly coverlets of
purple above, and spread a linen cloth thereunder. And lo, another drew
up silver tables to the chairs, and thereon set for them golden
baskets. And a third mixed sweet honey-hearted wine in a silver bowl,
and set out cups of gold. And a fourth bare water, and kindled a great
fire beneath the mighty cauldron. So the water waxed warm; but when it
boiled in the bright brazen vessel, she set me in a bath and bathed me
with water from out a great cauldron, pouring it over head and
shoulders, when she had mixed it to a pleasant warmth, till from my
limbs she took away the consuming weariness. Now after she had bathed
me and anointed me well with olive oil, and cast about me a fair mantle
and a doublet, she led me into the halls and set me on a chair with
studs of silver, a goodly carven chair, and beneath was a footstool for
the feet. And a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly golden
ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to wash withal; and to my
side she drew a polished table, and a grave dame bare wheaten bread and
set it by me, and laid on the board many dainties, giving freely of
such things as she had by her. And she bade me eat, but my soul found
no pleasure therein. I sat with other thoughts, and my heart had a
boding of ill.
“Now when Circe saw that I sat thus, and that I put not forth my hands
to the meat, and that I was mightily afflicted, she drew near to me and
spake to me winged words:
“‘Wherefore thus, Odysseus, dost thou sit there like a speechless man,
consuming thine own soul, and dost not touch meat nor drink? Dost thou
indeed deem there is some further guile? Nay, thou hast no cause to
fear, for already I have sworn thee a strong oath not to harm thee.’
“So spake she, but I answered her, saying: ‘Oh, Circe, what righteous
man would have the heart to taste meat and drink ere he had redeemed
his company, and beheld them face to face? But if in good faith thou
biddest me eat and drink, then let them go free, that mine eyes may
behold my dear companions.’
“So I spake, and Circe passed out through the hall with the wand in her
hand, and opened the doors of the stye, and drave them forth in the
shape of swine of nine seasons old. There they stood before her, and
she went through their midst, and anointed each one of them with
another charm. And lo, from their limbs the bristles dropped away,
wherewith the venom had erewhile clothed them, that lady Circe gave
them. And they became men again, younger than before they were, and
goodlier far, and taller to behold. And they all knew me again and each
one took my hands, and wistful was the lament that sank into their
souls, and the roof around rang wondrously. And even the goddess
herself was moved with compassion.
“Then standing nigh me the fair goddess spake unto me: ‘Son of Laertes,
of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, depart now to thy swift
ship and the sea-banks. And first of all, draw ye up the ship ashore,
and bestow the goods in the caves and all the gear. And thyself return
again, and bring with thee thy dear companions.’
“So spake she, and my lordly spirit consented thereto. So I went on my
way to the swift ship and the sea-banks, and there I found my dear
company on the swift ship lamenting piteously, shedding big tears. And
as when calves of the homestead gather round the droves of kine that
have returned to the yard, when they have had their fill of pasture,
and all with one accord frisk before them, and the folds may no more
contain them, but with a ceaseless lowing they skip about their dams,
so flocked they all about me weeping, when their eyes beheld me. Yea,
and to their spirit it was as though they had got to their dear
country, and the very city of rugged Ithaca, where they were born and
reared.
“Then making lament they spake to me winged words: ‘O fosterling of
Zeus, we were none otherwise glad at thy returning, than if we had come
to Ithaca, our own country. Nay come, of our other companions tell us
the tale of their ruin.’
“So spake they, but I answered them with soft words: ‘Behold, let us
first of all draw up the ship ashore, and bestow our goods in the caves
and all our gear. And do ye bestir you, one and all, to go with me,
that ye may see your fellows in the sacred dwelling of Circe, eating
and drinking, for they have continual store.’
“So spake I, and at once they hearkened to my words, but Eurylochus
alone would have holden all my companions, and uttering his voice he
spake to them winged words:
“‘Wretched men that we are! whither are we going? Why are your hearts
so set on sorrow that ye should go down to the hall of Circe, who will
surely change us all to swine, or wolves, or lions, to guard her great
house perforce, according to the deeds that the Cyclops wrought, when
certain of our company went to his inmost fold, and with them went
Odysseus, ever hardy, for through the blindness of his heart did they
too perish?’
“So spake he, but I mused in my heart whether to draw my long hanger
from my stout thigh, and therewith smite off his head and bring it to
the dust, albeit he was very near of kin to me; but the men of my
company stayed me on every side with soothing words:
“‘Prince of the seed of Zeus, as for this man, we will suffer him, if
thou wilt have it so, to abide here by the ship and guard the ship; but
as for us, be our guide to the sacred house of Circe.’
“So they spake and went up from the ship and the sea. Nay, nor yet was
Eurylochus left by the hollow ship, but he went with us, for he feared
my terrible rebuke.
“Meanwhile Circe bathed the rest of my company in her halls with all
care, and anointed them well with olive oil; and cast thick mantles and
doublets about them. And we found them all feasting nobly in the halls.
And when they saw and knew each other face to face, they wept and
mourned, and the house rang around. Then she stood near me, that fair
goddess, and spake saying:
“‘Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, no
more now wake this plenteous weeping: myself I know of all the pains ye
endured upon the teeming deep, and the great despite done you by
unkindly men upon the land. Nay come, eat ye meat and drink wine, till
your spirit shall return to you again, as it was when first ye left
your own country of rugged Ithaca; but now are ye wasted and wanting
heart, mindful evermore of your sore wandering, nor has your heart ever
been merry, for very grievous hath been your trial.’
“So spake she, and our lordly spirit consented thereto. So there we sat
day by day for the full circle of a year, feasting on abundant flesh
and sweet wine. But when now a year had gone, and the seasons returned
as the months waned, and the long days came in their course, then did
my dear company call me forth, and say:
“‘Good sir, now is it high time to mind thee of thy native land, if it
is ordained that thou shalt be saved, and come to thy lofty house and
thine own country.’
“So spake they and my lordly spirit consented thereto. So for that time
we sat the livelong day till the going down of the sun, feasting on
abundant flesh and sweet wine. But when the sun sank and darkness came
on, they laid them to rest throughout the shadowy halls.
“But when I had gone up into the fair bed of Circe, I besought her by
her knees, and the goddess heard my speech, and uttering my voice I
spake to her winged words: ‘Circe, fulfil for me the promise which thou
madest me to send me on my homeward way. Now is my spirit eager to be
gone, and the spirit of my company, that wear away my heart as they
mourn around me, when haply thou art gone from us.’
“So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon: ‘Son of Laertes, of
the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, tarry ye now no longer in
my house against your will; but first must ye perform another journey,
and reach the dwelling of Hades and of dread Persephone to seek to the
spirit of Theban Teiresias, the blind soothsayer, whose wits abide
steadfast. To him Persephone hath given judgment, even in death, that
he alone should have understanding; but the other souls sweep
shadow-like around.’
“Thus spake she, but as for me, my heart was broken, and I wept as I
sat upon the bed, and my soul had no more care to live and to see the
sunlight. But when I had my fill of weeping and grovelling, then at the
last I answered and spake unto her saying: ‘And who, Circe, will guide
us on this way? for no man ever yet sailed to hell in a black ship.’
“So spake I, and the fair goddess answered me anon: ‘Son of Laertes, of
the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, nay, trouble not thyself
for want of a guide, by thy ship abiding, but set up the mast and
spread abroad the white sails and sit thee down; and the breeze of the
North Wind will bear thy vessel on her way. But when thou hast now
sailed in thy ship across the stream Oceanus, where is a waste shore
and the groves of Persephone, even tall poplar trees and willows that
shed their fruit before the season, there beach thy ship by deep
eddying Oceanus, but go thyself to the dank house of Hades. Thereby
into Acheron flows Pyriphlegethon, and Cocytus, a branch of the water
of the Styx, and there is a rock, and the meeting of the two roaring
waters. So, hero, draw nigh thereto, as I command thee, and dig a
trench as it were a cubit in length and breadth, and about it pour a
drink-offering to all the dead, first with mead and thereafter with
sweet wine, and for the third time with water, and sprinkle white meal
thereon; and entreat with many prayers the strengthless heads of the
dead, and promise that on thy return to Ithaca thou wilt offer in thy
halls a barren heifer, the best thou hast, and will fill the pyre with
treasure, and wilt sacrifice apart, to Teiresias alone, a black ram
without spot, the fairest of your flock. But when thou hast with
prayers made supplication to the lordly races of the dead, then offer
up a ram and a black ewe, bending their heads towards Erebus and
thyself turn thy back, with thy face set for the shore of the river.
Then will many spirits come to thee of the dead that be departed.
Thereafter thou shalt call to thy company and command them to flay the
sheep which even now lie slain by the pitiless sword, and to consume
them with fire, and to make prayer to the gods, to mighty Hades and to
dread Persephone. And thyself draw the sharp sword from thy thigh and
sit there, suffering not the strengthless heads of the dead to draw
nigh to the blood, ere thou hast word of Teiresias. Then the seer will
come to thee quickly, leader of the people; he will surely declare to
thee the way and the measure of thy path, and as touching thy
returning, how thou mayst go over the teeming deep.’
“So spake she, and anon came the golden throned Dawn. Then she put on
me a mantle and a doublet for raiment, and the nymph clad herself in a
great shining robe, light of woof and gracious, and about her waist she
cast a fair golden girdle, and put a veil upon her head. But I passed
through the halls and roused my men with smooth words, standing by each
one in turn:
“‘Sleep ye now no more nor breathe sweet slumber; but let us go on our
way, for surely she hath shown me all, the lady Circe.’
“So spake I, and their lordly soul consented thereto. Yet even thence I
led not my company safe away. There was one, Elpenor, the youngest of
us all, not very valiant in war neither steadfast in mind. He was lying
apart from the rest of my men on the housetop of Circe’s sacred
dwelling, very fain of the cool air, as one heavy with wine. Now when
he heard the noise of the voices and of the feet of my fellows as they
moved to and fro, he leaped up of a sudden and minded him not to
descend again by the way of the tall ladder, but fell right down from
the roof, and his neck was broken from the bones of the spine, and his
spirit went down to the house of Hades.
“Then I spake among my men as they went on their way, saying: ‘Ye deem
now, I see, that ye are going to your own dear country; but Circe hath
showed us another way, even to the dwelling of Hades and of dread
Persephone, to seek to the spirit of Theban Teiresias.’
“Even so I spake, but their heart within them was broken, and they sat
them down even where they were, and made lament and tore their hair.
Howbeit no help came of their weeping.
“But as we were now wending sorrowful to the swift ship and the
sea-banks, shedding big tears, Circe meanwhile had gone her ways and
made fast a ram and a black ewe by the dark ship, lightly passing us
by: who may behold a god against his will, whether going to or fro?”