THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO THE ISLAND OF CIRCÈ
"When we reached Circè's isle, we dragged our vessel up on to the
beach, and lay down to sleep on the shore. At break of day I sent
my comrades forth to bring the body of Elpenor from the palace. We
took it out to a rocky place on the shore, and cut down trees to build
a funeral pyre. There we burned the body and performed the funeral
rites, and we built a tomb and placed an oar at the top of it.
"All this was done quietly, but Circè saw us and came with her maids,
bringing a generous supply of food and wine. Standing in our midst,
she said: 'Brave men, who living have gone down to Hades, all men
die once, but you are permitted to die twice. Take food, eat and drink
all day long, and to-morrow at daylight depart for your native land.
I will show you the way and teach you how to avoid all danger.'
"We spent the whole day on the shore, eating and drinking, but when
the sun sank down and the earth was covered with darkness my companions
went near the ship to seek rest. But I sat down by Circè, who questioned
me about my visit to Hades. After I had told her everything, she said:
'Odysseus, so far all is well, but there are a great many new dangers
ahead. Listen carefully to what I say. First, thou must pass the Sirens,
who bewitch with their melodious voices all who listen to them. Woe
to him who allows his ship to go near them! He will never reach his
native land, or see his wife and children again. The Sirens sit in
a green field and sing, while the bones of dead men lie in heaps near
them. Do not listen to them, but pass them by unnoticed.
"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay the
forfeit with thy life, let thy men bind thee hand and foot to the
mast of thy ship, so that thou canst not by any effort stir a limb
when the great longing seizes thee. And give thy men strict orders
to make thy bonds tighter shouldst thou entreat them to loose thee.
Before thou art bound, thou shalt knead soft wax in thy palms and
fill the ears of thy companions with it, that no sound may enter.
"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and Charybdis
dwell. On each side of the narrows is a steep cliff, one of which
is so high that its sharp top reaches the sky. It is so slippery that
no one is able to climb up or down its sides, nor could he if he had
twenty hands and feet. Not even a bird can safely perch on it.
"'No boat has ever come to the spot and left it without being wrecked,
except Jason's, when he was in search of the Golden Fleece, and he
escaped because a goddess was his guide, to pilot him through. A dark
gray fog forever broods over the head of the cliff, and on its western
side there yawns a fearful cave, where Skylla lives.
"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day and
night. She has twelve shapeless feet, and six heads set on long necks.
Each of her mouths shows three rows of deadly teeth. Half of her body
is hidden in the rock, but she thrusts out her heads and snatches
her prey, fish, whales, dolphins, or men. No sailor escapes, or,
indeed, any living creature that passes that way.
"'The other cliff is not so high, but is still more dangerous. There,
under the foliage of a wild fig-tree, Charybdis dwells, who sucks
in the dark waters of the sea three times a day and belches them forth
again three times with a terrible noise. Woe to thee if thou art near
when she sucks the waters down, for not even Poseidon himself could
save thee. It would be better far to steer close to Skylla, for then
only six of thy men would be snatched from the benches, but if
Charybdis seizes thy ship all must perish.
"'These pests are immortal. Do not try to overcome them. They cannot
die. It is better to fly from them with all haste. It would be rashness
and not courage to attack them.
"'Next in thy voyage thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria, where
the fine flocks of Hēlios are feeding. Two shining nymphs, daughters
of the Sun, tend them. There are seven herds of oxen and seven herds
of sheep, fifty in each herd and flock. These creatures are immortal,
and greatly beloved of Hēlios, who will send destruction to thy ship
and crew if any harm come to them. Forbid thy men to touch the cattle,
even though suffering for food. If thou art wise enough to escape
these dangers, thou shalt reach thy home without further mischance.'
"As the goddess finished, day broke. Circè sought her own dwelling,
while we put to sea with a favorable wind, and soon the island faded
from our sight."