ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCÈ
"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on
the seventh day we reached the city of the Læstrygonians. There the
pastures are so rich in grass that the fields, which are grazed by
one flock of sheep during the day, yield abundant food for another
flock by night. The inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they
received us with a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at
our galleys. They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing
them like fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With
the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few
companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them out
to the high sea.
"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, where the
goddess Circè, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, lived. We landed
silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, for we were worn out
with toil and grief. On the third day I climbed to the top of a high
hill and looked over the island. Down below I saw a marble palace,
surrounded by a thick forest. There was smoke rising from the grounds,
so I resolved to return to my men and send out some of them to look
about and explore.
"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to drink,
and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my neck and
took him to the ship. I threw him at the feet of my men, who were
astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, and we feasted
upon the meat.
"That night we slept on the shore again, and in the morning I told
them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and that I
wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When my companions
thought of all their comrades who had been slain they wept aloud.
But their tears were useless. I divided them into two equal bands,
and we cast lots to see which party should make the adventure.
"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started forth,
and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the splendid house
of Circè, which was built of well-hewn stone. There were beasts of
prey, lions and wolves, around it. The animals were tame; they wagged
their tails and fawned like dogs, but the men were afraid of them.
Circè was weaving in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She
had bright, sunny hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she
went back and forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the
door and threw it wide open and bade them enter.
"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil would
come of it. The others followed her, and Circè seated them on thrones
and gave them food and wine, but in the wine she had secretly infused
a magic juice which made them forget home and friends and all desire
to see their native land.
"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she waved
her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were changed into
grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and threw acorns and
other food fit for swine before them. Although thus transformed and
covered with bristles, they still retained the human mind.
"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his
companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to the ship
to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over my shoulder
and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and soon found myself
not far from Circè's palace."