Thy charge and indication. And when with sharp
Stretches of toilsome clambering we drew nigh
This shaggy island’s summit, where the ground
Sloped smoother, as these rude prickly folds gave way
To a tall grove of sombre trees which thrust
Their welcome shadows against the mounting sun,—
There ’twixt the spectral boles our upward glance
Fell on a portly mansion’s shimmering sides.
But first, as we clomb higher, a court-yard wall
Barr’d, though with open portals, our approach.
For at its mouth a glowering throng, Ulysses,
Of pards and grisly wolves sat by; not wild,
But of a tameness stranger and more awful
Than fierce beasts’ native temper—’twas sure sign,
And not the last, of foul enchantment. These
Strove not to tear and rend us, but were fain
Like petted dogs to fawn, wagging long tails
And monstrous paws on lap or shoulders throwing;
While in their eyes sad looks, half human, seem’d
To deprecate and warn. But we press’d on,
Heeding thy charge, Ulysses, to mark well
The human dwellers’ aspect and of them
Inquire, proved they not unbenign or harsh.
Dwellers indeed we saw not; but the whole pile,
As near its door we stood, did reek and rumble
With devilish witchery. Scaly serpents writhed
At every coigne; faces with fiery eyeballs
Peer’d out amid the foliage; and o’er all
Weird flashes leapt of lurid sulphurous flame.
Yet that which most profoundly stirr’d my doubts
And dark suspicions, was the unearthly _song_,
With languorous music mixt, that issued forth
To charm and tempt us with seductive spell.
Myself shrank back when on my ear that strain
Of woman’s guile or witch’s magic struck.
Not so the rest, Ulysses,—our lost comrades;
But the song bound and pull’d them; nor could I
Stem their mad folly. One spoke forth and call’d;
And as the doors swang wider all were swept
Under the hellish gap; which, closing, swallow’d
Like an engulfing whirlpool the doom’d crew.
For though, as the song ceased, I watch’d and waited
Long time for tidings or some sign, none came:
Naught but a dismal silence and increase
Of snaky menace and blue infernal gleams!
[_Immediately upon the conclusion of EURYLOCHUS’ narrative ULYSSES, who
has listened intently, reaches for his sword near by; takes a quick look
at the blade as he draws it partly out and then pushes it back into the
scabbard; slings the weapon over his shoulder, puts on his helmet, and
then turns to EURYLOCHUS again. The latter exhibits fresh dismay at
seeing ULYSSES thus arm himself. The other men also are visibly affected
by their commander’s movements._]
ULYSSES
So then thou knowest the way, Eurylochus:
Lead on forthwith by the same path; show me
The spot where thou didst leave them.
EURYLOCHUS
[_Falling at the feet of ULYSSES and clasping his knees_]
Not thither, great Ulysses! Take me not thither!
Thyself will ne’er return, I know right well.
It is the road to death or to some state
Of hideous, vile bewitchment worse than death.
Thou canst not rescue them! What power hath man
To battle with foul uncanny spirits?—Nay,
This isle is haunted. Let us fly; we are
Thus many left alive. To ship and fly!
ULYSSES
[_Scornfully_] Eurylochus, ’tis thy privilege; thou art free
To nurse thy safety, tarrying by the ship.
On _me_ a duty rests; my course lies clear:
My comrades’ fate I go to prove.
[_EURYLOCHUS retreats and cowers while ULYSSES speaks, at the same time
gradually rising to a standing posture with his face toward the speaker.
He does not join the group of the other men. These have their eyes fixed
on the commander, some of them moving anxiously toward him. With his last
words ULYSSES starts to go out at the Right. EURYLOCHUS turns away and
sits upon a stone near the ship and the water at the Left, covering his
face._]
PHILEMON
May we not, sir, accompany you as guard
Or help at hazard?
ULYSSES
Nay, good men; remain
And guard the vessel. My errand’s of espial
And wary circumspection: meet for one;
For more, unsuited. I shall not slip. Farewell!
SEVERAL VOICES
Farewell! farewell, sir!
[_The curtain falls as ULYSSES disappears, while the men stand following
his footsteps with their eyes._]
VI
The same as Scene II. CIRCE’S banquet-hall.—As the curtain rises the
party who entered the palace at the close of Scene IV are shown seated
at the table on the Left, while THERMIA and other nymphs serve them with
food and wine. The cups are filled by pouring from tall slender pitchers
of silver, and these in turn by dipping the wine with ladles from the
punch-bowl on the sideboard. The Enchantress and her companions are in
their usual places. MYRTO turns her wheel slowly and intermittently
without noticeable sound. CIRCE, seated as before at the head of the
table on the Right, wears the same dress as in Scene II, but her black
robe is not thrown off. The wand lies upon the table near her right hand,
neither carelessly nor conspicuously placed. The throne at her left
hand, behind which PHILINNA stands, is occupied by _Mikkos_, who wears a
brightly polished collar.
The guests are all at the table farthest from CIRCE. The throne at its
head, opposite her throne, is occupied by ELPENOR. At his left, near the
corner of the table, sits PHORBAS, partaking freely of the banquet, but
glancing nervously, now toward _Mikkos_ and now toward the door behind
the dais where they had entered. At the left of PHORBAS sit some feasters
with their backs to the audience. On the other side of the table, facing
the audience, are THERON the cook (at ELPENOR’S right) wearing his cap;
GLAUCUS (the farthest in the direction toward _Mikkos_); and other men
between THERON and GLAUCUS.
It is near the close of the entertainment. Appearances indicate that
the banqueters have begun to feel the effects of the wine that is still
poured freely. They are also partly dazed and partly exhilarated by the
presence of the Enchantress and her elegant nymphs. The symptoms of
intoxication and bewilderment on the part of the men become by degrees
more manifest as the conversation proceeds. GLAUCUS preserves his dignity
rather better than his companions; but he seems fascinated by CIRCE,
to whom he is the nearest in his position at table; and he does not
refrain from drinking copiously, nor show due caution or a disposition
to remember the details of the mission with which EURYLOCHUS had been
entrusted.
CIRCE
[_After a pause_] Ye do full justice, strangers and kind guests,
To this our welcome and the cheer we spread.
’Tis right. Go on; and so with act sincere,
Not by the hollow word, those virtues prove
Which to my bounty I would fain impute.
And truly, until a guest hath quell’d the pangs
Of sharp importunate hunger, it were ungracious
To crave of him accounts or ply his ear
With curious question.—I am well pleased to wait
Upon your silence keeping even pace
With appetite.—Ye have not sat of late,
I judge, at flowing boards.
ELPENOR
[_Loudly_] We had roast _deer_ yesterday.
THERON
[_Flourishing his fork_] Done to a turn!
CIRCE
Ah!—did ye then venture
To hunt and slay the creatures that frequent
My island park? It were no jest to play
The involuntary cannibal!
[_Some of the men are seen to be startled by this remark._]
Follow’d perchance
Unusual visions in the wake of the feast?
PHORBAS
Yes, yes! my sleep ran ghostly; but I thought
’Twas a mere nightmare.
ELPENOR
I thought I saw a _horse_!
CIRCE
Of our four-footed denizens we note
Two sorts: one of original beastly shape;
Another, to which the brutal guise hath fallen
As fit encasement of their human habits.
And these two kinds, one from the other with sure
Discrimination to distinguish, proves
Sometimes not easy. Thus our good _Mikkos_ here
[_Patting the ape lightly_]
Was once a philosopher of the ancient sect
Call’d pre-Ionic—in his day the most
Redoubtable of doubters.
GLAUCUS
[_Gravely; nodding his head unsteadily_]
Madam, we doubt it not.
CIRCE
Fate ordain’d
That to this island he should drift and taste
Our cordials. Whereon he was profoundly struck
With my maid Myrto.
[_Here MYRTO without looking up sets her wheel a-spinning loudly
for a brief moment, causing the banqueters to turn their eyes in her
direction._]
From that hour a change
Came o’er him.
MYRTO
It was a harmless fancy;
And he is harmless now.
[_Upon hearing MYRTO’S voice_ Mikkos _without turning toward her begins
to raise himself by his hands upon the arms of the chair, but at a sign
from CIRCE lowers himself to sitting posture._]
THERON
[_To CIRCE; pointing with his fork to PHILINNA_]
But why, madam?—why did he not choose
That young miss there behind him?
CIRCE
He was a philosopher, I said.
THERON
He was a _pig_!—
CIRCE
Ah, by the by, Thermia, didst thou tell Graea
To renovate those sties?
THERMIA
I did, my lady.
More swine, she says, have bolted
And to the woods run wild. One sty stands empty.
CIRCE
It shall be fill’d erelong.
PHORBAS
[_Looking anxiously at a platter before him_]
Might there be a possible doubt about these spareribs?
CIRCE
Not the least;
I have a discriminating cook.
THERON
[_Helping himself to more meat_] You can wager
_She_ knows pork when she sees it!
ELPENOR
My father feeds hogs too.
CIRCE
Thy father, gentle youth, will be to-morrow
One pig the poorer.—But where dwells he pray?
ELPENOR
He dwells at home; I left him there.
THERON
Lady, the lad forgets; I do much doubt
If his own name he can remember right now.
CIRCE
It is an infirmity that ofttimes with wassail
Waxes apace. But haply you, good sir,
Can tell me whence ye came?
THERON
O sure, ma’am! we came lately from a cove
Call’d Æolus.
CIRCE
Ah, what!—from my great kinsman,
The steward of the winds?
THERON
A windy stew
He brew’d for _us_!—Great Juno! _was_ it breezy, Glauc?
GLAUCUS
Madam, I am a sailor; but I never
Saw such incessant, damnable contrary winds
In all my voyaging!
PHORBAS
[_Rousing himself excitedly_]
Yes, yes; but who?
Who let ’em out? Who let ’em out?
[_GLAUCUS looks fiercely at the speaker and THERON extends his fist
threateningly toward him. PHORBAS shrinks away._]
CIRCE
But, gentlemen, pray inform me; whither now
Would ye be wafted? From which quarter should
Those breezes blow enabling you to reach
The desired haven?
THERON
We don’t know that, because
We don’t know where we are.
ELPENOR
We’re _here_ now.
GLAUCUS
We’re downright weary o’ pulling
Across head winds!
CIRCE
But which of you is leader?
Which one doth stand for steering and shrewd guidance?
ELPENOR
He stopp’d outside.
PHORBAS
We thought he enter’d with us; but once inside,
We miss’d him.
CIRCE
What _he_ hath miss’d he knows not. I shall send
Mikkos to fetch him.
GLAUCUS
Our leader, lady,
Is a good careful man, yet over wary
Of women or witchcraft. So soon he caught the strain
Of the song you sang it paralyzed him.
CIRCE
Ah!
GLAUCUS
Were he here now, he could not look you
Square in the face, as I do.
[_GLAUCUS is gazing at CIRCE admiringly._]
ELPENOR
He might see
That brass snake on her arm.
GLAUCUS
He would abhor
The arm worse than the serpent.
CIRCE
Is then my arm
So frightful?
THERON
The arm’s all right, ma’am; but there’s something wrong
About Eurylochus.
CIRCE
So; Eurylochus is your leader?
GLAUCUS
Only a bit
Backward about leading, when he scents
A woman in the wind.
CIRCE
And he would fear
Us hospitable maidens?—and, we trust,
Of aspect not forbidding.
THERON
O, it’s all one
About the aspect. You could tree him, ma’am,
As quick as the giant’s daughter.
CIRCE
The giant’s daughter?
THERON
Yes, ma’am; we landed lately on a lot
Of bloody cannibals—this big gal first;
And Eurylochus took to a tree.
ELPENOR
[_Pointing to PHORBAS_] He climb’d up too.
CIRCE
What! does your friend fear women also?
THERON
O no, ma’am. Phorb’s a trifle timid like,
Whether it’s a he or she. You see, it’s this way:
Phorb was a-fear’d, because she was so large;
And Eurylochus, because she was a lady.
CIRCE
She _was_ a lady then?
PHORBAS
She laid out Theron
When he made up to her.
THERON
I had half a mind
To make pork chop o’ the bloomin’ hussy!—Ye gods!
This meat-knife here does hang plumb heavy
For an after-dinner appendage.
[_He detaches the cleaver from his belt and lays it on the table, at the
same time loosening the belt._]
I don’t want
The dang’d thing dangling at my haunches when
The dancing begins.
ELPENOR
When does it begin, Theron?
THERON
Split me if I know! There’s a raft more drinks
On the tapis yet.
CIRCE
My friends, I shall soon show you
A new dance call’d the four-step.
SEVERAL VOICES
Hi, hi! Hip, hip! [_They pound on the table with their cups._]
THERON
Ha, ha! The four-step; two-and-two two-step:
That means partners!
[_He leers again at PHILINNA, drains his cup and waves it toward
her.—Other men seem to pay increased attention to the nymphs serving
them._]
GLAUCUS
[_Admiringly, but unsteadily_] Do you dance it, madam, yourself?
CIRCE
O no; but Mikkos knows it.
[_Here the ape slowly raises himself by the hands until all four
extremities rest upon the arms of the chair, remaining a moment or two in
this position before lowering himself._]
THERON
Would you mind, ma’am,
Letting that there young miss step over here to take
The place of this one?
[_He points to PHILINNA and indicates THERMIA behind him with his left
thumb over the shoulder._]
ELPENOR
[_Parenthetically_] Don’t take _her_ away!
CIRCE
A moment, sir; I have some present need of her.
One choicest cordial I have not yet brought
To your attention. In my island only
The vintage can be stored.—A jar, Philinna;
Here on my table.
PHILINNA
Do you mean, my lady,
The wine which for ourselves alone we press?
CIRCE
Yes, child; these are no every-day arrivals; go!
[_PHILINNA goes out at Right 2. The other nymphs present, except MYRTO
and THERMIA, leave the room quietly and unobservedly, closing the Left
central door. THERON’S song begins as PHILINNA disappears. The refrain
and chorus are joined in by all the men except ELPENOR and PHORBAS, who
look at each other and laugh._]
THERON
[_Sings; still looking toward the door where PHILINNA went out._]
It was a stout sailor who cook’d for the crew;
ALL
Sing yo, heave yo!
THERON
A-shedding salt tears while he season’d the stew.
ALL
A-shedding salt tears while he season’d the stew.
Sing yo, heave yo, on the briny!
THERON
Salt tears for the sweetheart that jilted him last;
ALL
Sing yo, heave yo!
THERON
And the onions he peel’d made ’em fall thick and fast.
ALL
And the onions he peel’d made ’em fall thick and fast.
Sing yo, heave yo, on the briny!
CIRCE
[_To GLAUCUS_] Would _that_ song paralyze your leader, sir?
GLAUCUS
The allusion would prick him, madam; depend upon it.—
[_Turning to THERON_] One more, Thee,—till she’s back with the
bitters.
THERON
[_Sings_] One fine morning the pudding-bag busted a flap;
ALL
Sing yo, heave yo!
THERON
So he boil’d the noon mess in his greasy cook’s cap.
[_Here THERON takes his cap from his head and lays it over a plate._]
ALL
So he boil’d the noon mess in his greasy cook’s cap.
Sing yo, heave yo, on the briny!
THERON
“For God’s sake,” cried the captain, “what’s struck the plum-duff?”
ALL
Sing yo, heave yo!
THERON
“We don’t need hogs’ bristles to flavor the stuff!”
ALL
“We don’t need hogs’ bristles to flavor the stuff!”
Sing yo, heave yo, on the briny!
[_With the last chorus PHILINNA re-enters bearing a punch-bowl of elegant
pattern, smaller than the one on the sideboard at the opposite end of
the room. She places the bowl upon the table before CIRCE, while the men
become silent as they look on._]
MYRTO
My lady, may Mikkos have a drop?
[_At these words the ape begins to draw himself up by the hands again.
CIRCE nods assent to MYRTO._]
CIRCE
Philinna!
[_PHILINNA fills a cup from the bowl and hands it to the ape. She also
sets a small cup of wine before CIRCE._ Mikkos _drains the beaker,
holding it with both hands and throwing his head very far back; and while
the eyes of all the men are directed toward him with amused attention
CIRCE, opening a very small silver casket that hangs at her girdle, takes
a fine powder therefrom and quickly throws it into the bowl. She draws
the wand nearer to her hand._]
CIRCE
Thermia!
[_At the word, THERMIA passes up to CIRCE’S table and she and PHILINNA,
filling pitchers from CIRCE’S bowl, proceed to refill the cups of the
banqueters in regular order, THERMIA from left to right, PHILINNA from
right to left. Then as they meet at the centre both the nymphs retire
together to the extreme Right near CIRCE. Meanwhile the sombre figure of
GRAEA the Swine-maiden is discovered lurking in the corridor behind the
Right central doorway._]
CIRCE
[_Raising her cup_] To the health of your backward leader, my
brave guests!
GLAUCUS
[_Half-rising; unsteadily_] Out, out! To hostess, hostess!
Here’s to hostess!
[_All drink; and the effects of the drug straightway become apparent. An
expression of stupefaction and horror passes over the faces of the men.
They look at each other vacantly with forced smiles; their heads and
arms sway and droop; they swing round in their seats and are evidently
unconscious of their situation. At the first symptoms of this delirium
the Enchantress rises deliberately from her throne, wand in hand; and
gliding along the line toward the Left taps lightly and quickly each man
with the wand without pausing in her course. Then she steps upon the
dais._]
CIRCE
[_Sternly; with wand pointed upward and back toward the Right centre_]
Hence to the sty! your proper shapes assume!
[_Directly GRAEA, who during CIRCE’S movements has stridden noiselessly
into the room and has passed along its edge behind THERMIA and PHILINNA
and the Enchantress’ throne until in front of the other table near
the point where PHORBAS sits, raises her long whip and cracks it
fiercely with sharp detonation at the men’s feet. In a huddle they rush
tumultuously away with drooping heads and arms to the open rear doorway
and out through it, passing in front of MYRTO and her wheel and followed
by GRAEA lashing furiously. Some of the fugitives, as they drop on all
fours near the exit, are seen to have already developed curly pigs’ tails
at their posteriors. As the victims rush forth_ Mikkos _springs upon the
empty throne of CIRCE and balancing himself upon its arms gazes intently
into the bowl on the table before him, while MYRTO sets her wheel
revolving and humming loudly. The drop-curtain falls just as the door
closes behind the herd and GRAEA disappearing over the corridor._]
The several positions at the fall of the curtain are as follows: CIRCE
stands upon the dais with wand raised in the attitude described. MYRTO
sits at her wheel, which turns more and more slowly as the curtain
descends. PHILINNA and THERMIA stand near the boudoir, still holding
their pitchers, the hand of one girl resting on the other’s shoulder.
_Mikkos_, poised upon CIRCE’S chair, his head lower than his tail, pores
intently over the punch-bowl. No person exhibits signs of amusement or
excitement of any sort. Their faces are serene, their figures motionless.
The wheel comes to a standstill just as the descending curtain hides it.
VII
The same as Scenes III and V. The Seashore. EURYLOCHUS is still seated
on the stone by the ship, gloomy and dejected. The other men stand in a
group not far from him, apparently discussing some serious proposal.
FIRST SAILOR
Anyway he ordered us to stay here and guard the ship.
PHILEMON
Just so; I believe in obeying orders myself; but, lads, this is
an extraordinary case.
SECOND SAILOR
A case it is! But the commander’s equal to it I reckon.
XENIAS
The commander’s equal to anything on a square deal. But it’s
odds here against one man; he’ll need help if the land lies the
way the mate makes it out.
EURYLOCHUS
[_Turning and facing the others without rising_]
Are ye all mad, and will not lay to heart
The sights and sounds of foul bedevilment
Haunting this cursed island? Will ye follow
Into the pit the steps of that rash man,
Foolhardy Ulysses?—the same who prick’d us on
To explore the ogre’s cavern, where six brave men
Were sever’d limbmeal and devour’d!
SEVERAL VOICES
Out! out!
XENIAS
Bother the ogre! The commander’s started now to pull half
the ship’s company out of a hole and if a human subject
could compass the business he’s it. But if there’s a dash of
witchcraft here, we ought to be with him and shoulder our share.
FIRST SAILOR
Ay, ay! that’s the talk!
EURYLOCHUS
What signifies mere number, when mortal wills
Clash with uncanny spirits? It is all over
With him and them!—We are enough to row
Our galley launch’d and from these shores deliver’d.
SEVERAL VOICES
Ho, shame! shame!
PHILEMON
Mark my words, lads; if the other fellows have got to trot
round in wolf and tiger skins we’re bound to go on all
fours along with ’em and not leave ’em in the lurch. If the
commander’s beating his way back we shall meet him on the trip;
if he isn’t, he’ll need help for certain. We’ll walk into that
domicile, witch or no witch!
SECOND SAILOR
Take her by storm!
SEVERAL VOICES
Right, right! Come on! come on!
XENIAS
Eurylochus here’ll stand shipguard. He won’t shove her off all
alone I reckon.
PHILEMON
Take up your traps now! Lively!
[_The men stir about, making ready for their departure._]
Here we go!
[_They march away briskly, going out as the other party and ULYSSES had
gone. PHILEMON leads; XENIAS brings up the rear, watchfully._]
XENIAS
[_Turning back, at the last moment_]
Don’t let her fly away, old man;
If you hear hell howling, it’s _us_!
[_As the party disappears EURYLOCHUS with a gesture of despair flings
himself down by the keel of the vessel._]
VIII
A grove upon sloping ground near CIRCE’S palace. Large trees cast deep
shadows with sunny spaces between. The mansion itself is not visible; but
on the Left at some elevation a glimpse is afforded of the court-yard
wall. A faint pathway amid shrubbery winds from the Right front upward
and out on the Left at the rear.
Enter ULYSSES at the Right, tracing the path slowly and cautiously.
Perceiving the wall above and before him he pauses, moves his right
hand involuntary toward his sword-hilt and lifts the left to his lips
meditatively. While he thus stands reconnoitering and pondering, MERCURY
suddenly appears before him, stepping noiselessly from the shadow of a
tree upon the Left. At this apparition ULYSSES draws back an instant with
head slightly bowed, while his hand leaves the sword and is lifted to a
reverential gesture. The demeanor of MERCURY is easy and gracious. His
insignia, though plainly recognizable, are less conspicuous and brilliant
than they appeared in Scene II.
MERCURY
[_Taking the up-lifted hand of Ulysses_]
Whither now, fate-worn wanderer, whither tending
Thread’st thou the dim paths of this briery steep?
What region holds thee or perchance what guile
Lurks in its mazy folds, wouldst thou not prove?—
Ere to that dome ascending, where in foul sties
Thy luckless comrades grovel now and groan,
To swinish shape by the enchantress changed!
[_As the god speaks he withdraws his hand and indicates the direction of
the palace. ULYSSES recoils slightly at the last words of MERCURY._]
One only, so minded that in Circe’s song
He read the bane it glozed, did value well
His safety and proclaim’d their loss.—Whom thou
Aimest forsooth to rescue and redeem!
Rather methinks the porcine couch to share
With them and vanish from men, came not
Some guardian hand between.—But lo! there grows
An antidote—a good drug, that shall check
The baleful magic of her potions.
[_MERCURY pulls from the ground, moving aside the undergrowth which
concealed it, a small plant and shows it to ULYSSES._]
See!
Black at the root, milk-white the flower; ’tis _moly_:
So to the immortals known; of men, scarce found.
[_ULYSSES receives the herb from the hand of the god with an air of
profound attention and a shade of wonder._]
Now may thy steps to yon weird mansion mount
And tread its halls unscathed, Ulysses, if
My mandate thou shalt heed and ponder well.
[_ULYSSES shifts his attentive regard from the plant in his hand to the
speaker._]
Her song will thrill thee, but the transforming spell
Shall break before the potent herb thou holdest.
Undaunted wilt thou enter; nor be shamed
If thy quick pulses bound when Circe’s glance
Encounters thine, and the soft audible charm
Of low-voiced invitation laps thee round.
Thou may’st admire and still be master. Straight
With her own hand a fragrant wine-cup filling,
When by her side she thrones thee, she will proffer
And bid thee drink—it is the poison’d chalice.
Yet quaff thou undismay’d, Ulysses. Then,
So soon’t is swallow’d and thyself unchanged,
Her magic wand wielded in vain, draw thou
Swiftly thy sword and rush as if to slay
At the enchantress with high-threatening blade.
[_ULYSSES’ look of wonderment increases as MERCURY pauses._]
The issue thou wilt mark. But let not pity
Nor the new spell of female blandishment
O’ercome thy senses or disarm thy hand,
Ere to its mastery yet once more she yields
And their true forms to thy changed mates restores.
ULYSSES
O gracious Helper, it is thy spirit that guides
Where eye of mortal swerves: to whom full oft
We pour’d thank-offering at the banquet’s close.
MERCURY