CIRCÈ INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO HADES
"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a youth
whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the gods. He gently
took hold of my hand and, looking compassionately on me, said: 'Thou
most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone in these wild parts?
Or art thou bound on the errand of delivering thy friends who have
all been changed by Circè into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest
meet with the same fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if
thou wouldst destroy the treacherous schemes of Circè.
"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the gods, and no
wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it carefully. Its root
is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, and it is hard for men
to tear it from the ground. Take this herb and go fearlessly into
the dwelling of the sorceress; it will guard thee against all mishap.
She will bring thee a bowl of wine mingled with the juice of
enchantment, but do not fear to eat or drink anything she may offer
thee, and when she touches thy head with her magic wand, then rush
upon her quickly with drawn sword as though about to slay her. She
will crouch in fear and entreat thee with soft words to spare her.
But do not give way to her until she has pledged herself by the great
oath of the gods to do thee no harm.'
"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high Olympos,
and I walked to the house of Circè with a braver heart. As I came
near the palace I called out to the goddess with a loud voice, and
she threw open the doors for me to enter. She bade me sit down on
a beautiful throne and placed a golden foot-stool under my feet. Then
she gave me the dangerous cup and I drank it off, but her charm did
not work.
"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the goddess struck me with her
wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where friends await
thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand and rushed upon
her as if to kill her. Circè shrieked with fear and fell on her knees
to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and whence dost thou come?' said
Circè. 'Thou art the first man over whom my magic wine has had no
power. Art thou really that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he
was to come here after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease
to be angry with me and let us trust each other.'
"I answered her: 'O, goddess, how can I have faith in thy words, since
thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost plot the same
fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt not harm me, and
I shall trust thy words.'
"Circè at once took the great oath, that she would never again try
to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants to spread a feast
before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat down in silence, my mind
full of grief and doubt.
"When Circè saw that I did not touch the food she said: 'Why art thou
so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not taste the food and
wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath to do thee no harm!'
But I answered: 'What man with a loyal heart, O goddess, could eat
and drink with any pleasure while his comrades are kept in bondage
and degradation? If thou art really kind and wouldst have me enjoy
this bounteous feast, O let me see my dear companions free once more!'
"The goddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out the swine.
She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and their bristles fell
off and they stood up and were men again. They knew me, and each one
seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. Then I sent for the rest of
my men at the ship, who eagerly came up, and together we entered the
halls of Circè, all of us weeping with joy.
"Circè's heart was softened also, and she said to me: 'Son of Laertes,
noble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any longer. I know what
hardships thou hast endured on land and sea. Take courage, for thy
sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down to the sea and hide thy
boat near the shore and come back to my halls, thou and all thy men,
where I will make it a happy home for all until thou art rested and
ready to sail again for thy native land.'
"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circè, feasting and enjoying
ourselves, and fully recovered our strength. The desire of reaching
my beloved Ithaca grew stronger within me day by day, and at last
I begged Circè to allow us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of
Laertes,' Circè answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against
thy wish, but it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing
from my island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and
Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, on
whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving his
memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving about
as empty shadows.'
"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire to live
or see the light of day. I said to the goddess: 'Who will show me
the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone there before.'
She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, Odysseus, for there will
be no need of one. Launch thy boat, unfurl the sails, and quietly
sit down. The north wind will waft thee to the shore of Hades. There
flows the river Styx, black and terrible. It flows between the poplars
and willows in the groves of Persephone, and meets the broad waters
of Okeanos. Sail up its dark stream until thou dost reach the rock
where its two branches meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat
and dig a ditch in the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which
thou shalt pour honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the
dead.
"'At the same time pray to the gods of Hades, and promise the shades
of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice
to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and to Tiresias
especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female,
kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the nations of the dead.
"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They will come
by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they may have their
minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back until the spirit
of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to get back to thy native
land.'
"As Circè said this the daylight appeared, and I woke my companions
and told them to make ready to go with me. We started at once for
our ship, and got everything in readiness to leave. I told them that
before setting out for our own country we had, by the advice of Circè,
to go down to Hades in order to consult the seer Tiresias about our
journey. When they heard this they sat down, and wept, and began to
tear the hair from their heads.
"Circè meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep into the ship,
and we sailed sadly away."